Summer is here, and that means ’tis the season for fun, sexy reads you can take to the beach, the back porch or your dream vacation spot. This trio of fresh, fast-paced romance offerings couldn’t be more different from one another, and they are all standouts of the genre—so they’re sure to steam up your summer and keep the season exciting.

LAW AND ORDER
Henry Garrison has earned infamy and the nickname “Monster of Manhattan” due to his ruthless style in the courtroom and his media-documented personal demons. When he retreats to his cherished childhood home in Martha’s Vineyard for some solitude, the last thing he’s expecting is the beautiful, vibrant Win Hughes who—quite literally—topples into his broken world.

Win is everything Henry is missing. She is kind, vivacious and drop-dead stunning to boot. Beyond all that, she is emerging from her own battle that has left her scarred and vulnerable. Win and Henry are two of a kind, and the spark between them grows quickly to a blaze, until they mutually choose to stifle it in favor of moving on.

However, Win is not who Henry believes she is, and her past soon comes to light when her best friend is murdered at a very public celebrity function. Win needs a lawyer, and she knows just where to turn. Now Henry must come to terms with her new identity and what it means for the two of them.

Order of Protection is a fresh, expertly crafted novel that deftly walks the line between a good mystery and a mouthwatering romance. That is to be expected from an author like Lexi Blake, one of the most prolific and accomplished authors of the genre, who has a series for every taste, fantasy and desire.

What makes this novel a standout, however, is the constant innovation present in the story and in the chemistry between the leading couple. Every moment they share is taut but genuine, and never over-simplified or trite. The pace is engaging—this is as much a murder mystery as it is a love story. It takes a truly excellent writer to develop endearing characters that feel like real people, never mere plot devices. Pick up Order of Protection to make those long, lazy summer days sizzle.

SMALL-TOWN SWEETHEARTS
The best romance novels star the most unexpected protagonists, and a PTA mom is about as unexpected as it gets. The latest installment in the Hellcat Canyon novels, The First Time at Firelight Falls envelops readers in the kind of everyday love we all dream about, while elevating stakes and heart rates alike.

Eden Harwood has been juggling motherhood, a career and her family for the blissful 10 years since her daughter, Annelise, was born. As her life stabilizes and she and Annelise learn together what happiness looks like, Eden can’t imagine adding one more thing to her to-do list. Except, of course, for Gabe Caldera, her daughter’s mouthwatering ex-Navy SEAL principal.

Gabe is equally drawn to Eden, and he soon makes it clear that he wants to be part of the gorgeous redhead’s life. Unfortunately, new love is delicate, and it isn’t long before a figure from Eden’s past comes into the picture, forcing her to re-evaluate her own happiness, her daughter’s and that of her newfound beau.

What makes The First Time at Firelight Falls truly unique is author Julie Anne Long’s sparkling voice. The tone is light and sassy (Long is genuinely hilarious), the writing is insightful, and the whole novel is infused with important lessons on how vital it is to fill our lives with love from all sources—family, friends and, yes, lovers. Side note: This is the first romance novel I have ever read that made me go, “Oh, this was written by a woman, and thank God for that.” The ego trips and male posturing of the men in Eden’s life are punctured by some truly hilarious jokes, and are not tolerated or glorified for one moment.

Long ordinarily writes sumptuous historical romances, and her Hellcat Canyon books are a delicious foray into the contemporary side of the genre. The First Time at Firelight Falls is a fresh, funny, essential read for the summer bookshelf of the everyday romantic.

HIGHLAND FLING
A good romance novel gives its readers a great atmosphere, and Laird of the Black Isle proves the point flawlessly. Paula Quinn’s latest novel of the Highlands sweeps readers into a high-stakes encounter between a cold, formidable nobleman and a tempestuous young woman.

Since tragedy befell his family, Lachlan MacKenzie has needed nobody and nothing. He is a mystery to his people and takes comfort in the solitary existence he has carefully constructed for himself. That is, until he receives word that he may have a chance to right the wrongs of his past. All he has to do is kidnap a young woman of the MacGregor clan—an easy mission for a warrior like Lachlan.

Or so he believes, until he takes Mailie MacGregor hostage and gets far, far more than he bargained for. Mailie is breathtakingly beautiful, with a fierce spirit to match. She resolves to fight her captor with everything she has and to return home to her loved ones as quickly as possible. The longer the two of them are together, however, the more Mailie finds that her Highland kidnapper may not be the only one who’s caught off guard.

Quinn is well-seasoned in the art of the Highland romance novel. Her books are lush, detailed and irresistibly sexy. Laird of the Black Isle features one of the most engaging heroines of the genre, but more than the fiery, lovable characters, this story makes readers really and truly care. Almost every character here is deeply devoted to their family, and this theme lends the narrative a warm, engaging depth. A small note for those looking to devour this book the way I did: Because Quinn is incredibly dedicated to authenticity, this book is written phonetically. Words are spelled as they sound in a Scottish accent, and this particular detail may take some getting used to. But for anyone yearning after a summer read that’s hotter than the temperature outside, look no further than Laird of the Black Isle.

Looking for something deeper than the whirlwind of love at first sight? Delve into two romances between already established couples—reunited childhood sweethearts in Sally MacKenzie’s What Ales the Earl, and an already engaged pair in Alyson McLayne’s Highland Betrayal.

A LIGHT-HEARTED BREW
Most lovers of historical romance know the cardinal rule of Regency society: marry among your own class. A servant does not marry a lord, and an earl certainly does not marry a farmer’s daughter.

Penelope Barnes couldn’t care less about the gossip among the high-society members of the ton. She has enough on her plate. Between raising her young daughter, tending to the hopyard at the brewery and trying to attract a suitable husband to sustain her family, Pen has left behind all memory of intrigue or romance—until the new Earl of Darrow sweeps back into her orbit.

Harry Graham couldn’t be less enthused about the part of his duties that require choosing a wife and having an heir. Unfortunately, the last taste of real desire he had was shared with Pen nearly a decade prior, before his military service tore them apart. When business brings Harry to Pen’s little town and they are reunited, he falls for her harder than ever. With their different worlds looming between them, can he convince Pen to accept the love—and the lifestyle—he offers her?

What Ales the Earl marks the tantalizing beginning of MacKenzie’s new Widow’s Brew series. With so many titles in the Regency genre, it takes a singular kind of story to hook readers and keep them rapt till the resolution. What Ales the Earl presents its fleshed-out characters with stakes that are high but realistic and relatable to the audience. Pen is both strong and fallible, and she loves her daughter every bit as much (or more) as she does the man who pursues her. For his part, Harry is passionate about Pen but deeply respectful. He grows as a man, and his family supports him and his happiness in every way possible.

If you happen to be seeking a romance with uncomplicated sex appeal, a life-affirming message and a lot of well-brewed beer, What Ales the Earl is sure to quench your thirst.

BETTER TOGETHER
If you’re after a romance with a tough-as-nails heroine writing her own destiny, check out the Scottish historical subgenre. And if you’re looking for the best of the best this category has to offer, pick up Highland Betrayal, the newest title in Alyson McLayne’s red-hot series The Sons of Gregor MacLeod.

Laird Callum MacLean has been lucky—he is betrothed to Maggie MacDonnell, papers signed and promise sealed. And it is more than a political arrangement, as Callum and Maggie are drawn together by forces stronger than a written agreement. But when Callum’s father dies under mysterious circumstances and Maggie ends their betrothal, he fights his instincts to go to her and stays with his clan to investigate his father’s death.

Maggie misses Callum very much—more than she expected to—but when she uncovers a dark plot that threatens herself and her betrothed, she takes her fate in her own hands and runs away from home. She soon finds herself right back where she started, staring down Callum MacLean and faced with the decision to trust him or look only to herself. With so much violence and betrayal surrounding them, Maggie and Callum are forced to work together for the good of their people, and perhaps their union.

Although strong, no-nonsense heroines are trendy in the romance genre at the moment, Maggie is unlike any other character you’ll come across. She wields daggers along with a sharp tongue and a strong resolve, and she is as capable in strategy or combat as Callum. This does wonders for their chemistry, and it makes every moment between them as intoxicating to the reader as it is to the couple.

Besides that, the intrigue and danger put to the protagonists feels real and visceral. While reading one of the scenes wherein the lovers are attacked while vulnerable, I audibly gasped and scared the life out of my cat. Prepare to be drawn in deeply.

One of the charms particular to the romance genre is the gorgeous sense of escape offered by good love stories. This especially applies to historical romances with a dash or two of danger, like Once a Scoundrel by Mary Jo Putney and For the Duke’s Eyes Only by Lenora Bell. These two fast-paced titles offer searing romance alongside dangerous plots in times gone by and faraway places. If you like your romance novels to leave you breathless in more ways than one, give these two a try.

STAKE YOUR CLAIM
Who doesn’t love a romance with an extra layer or two? Stories you have to excavate—pun intended—are the ones that keep you on the edge on your seat till the last page, or up late into the night. For lovers of these stories, I recommend For the Duke’s Eyes Only.

Lady India Rochester is a woman who knows what she wants. Her career as an archeologist means everything to her, and she is hell-bent on advancing that career, no matter what the Duke of Rochester, her childhood best friend and present mortal enemy, has to say about it. But when the Rosetta Stone itself is stolen, India may just have to square with the fact that two heads, and perhaps two hearts, are better than one.

The duke, on the other hand, may not be the monster India thinks he is. Daniel has spent his entire adult life carefully cultivating his public image as a womanizer and a rogue, all to cover up his relentless pursuit of a traitor to the Crown. This pursuit has cost him everything, even India. Although he still craves her, body and soul, he must put aside his feelings to solve a mystery with worldwide consequences.

What makes this novel exceptional is its masterful mix of red-hot seduction and earnest, respectful, good-hearted love with a strong foundation. My first thought after finishing this book was, “This couple really is the complete package.” Daniel and Indy share a past, a strong teamwork dynamic and a real friendship alongside their insane chemistry, making For the Duke’s Eyes Only a rare and essential title for any romance lover’s library.

SEDUCTION ON THE HIGH SEAS
Romance novels with a pirate theme have a delicate line to walk: They must be better than the offensive bodice-rippers of the past, but still provide readers with a high-stakes story. Once a Scoundrel manages both beautifully.

Lady Aurora “Rory” Lawrence is the very definition of a free spirit. She bucks her parents’ ideas of an advantageous marriage and spends most of her time gallivanting across the globe with her cousin. Her escapades land her in hot water (literally) when she is captured by Barbary pirates and held for ransom. Even though a young, dashing captain comes to her rescue, moving forward with her feelings for that captain may put her heart in a tougher situation than the one her life is in.

Gabriel Hawkins has hit a low point. Although he hails from a proud Naval legacy, he has very effectively managed to get himself cut off and disgraced. With nothing left to lose, he accepts the mission to rescue Rory. But if rescuing a headstrong lady is a feat, bringing their budding romance back to England will be the mission of a lifetime.

The third title in the Rogues Redeemed series, Once a Scoundrel is yet another product of Putney’s prolific romance career. Her books have graced numerous national bestseller lists and are known for their complexity and unflinching willingness to confront serious topics like substance abuse and domestic violence. Once a Scoundrel is no less bold of a story. Taking on human trafficking (or the threat thereof) is no easy task, but it makes the love story that blossoms from such a horrid situation that much more endearing. Gabriel is an ideal romantic protagonist. At one point, Rory praises him, saying, “You listen. A lot of men don’t listen much to women.” It’s commendation enough for any reader weary of big, strong, overly assertive fictional men.

Come for the adventure, stay for the romance. It’s a winning formula for both Once a Scoundrel and For the Duke’s Eyes Only.

Gena Showalter’s paranormal romance Shadow and Ice pulses with exciting and near-unrelenting action. Irreverent heroine Vale London manages to maintain her equilibrium when she suddenly encounters supernatural soldiers engaged in a battle, even as she unwittingly and unwillingly becomes one of the competitors. When she reluctantly partners with immortal warrior Knox of Iviland, their fierce yet unexpected attraction is just another war to wage—and one they end up losing. Superb world building—from the governing body pulling the strings to the special powers of each combatant—fulfills the authorial promise of this high-concept romance. Readers will be enthralled by Showalter’s details and root for her ruthless yet sympathetic characters in this not-to-be-missed adventure.

FINDING FOREVER
Painful pasts stand in the way of future happiness in Recklessly Ever After by Heather Van Fleet. Although their best friends have become lovers, Gavin St. James and McKenna Brewer aren’t particularly comfortable in each other’s company. There’s a sizzling attraction between them, but he’s a forever-type guy, and she’s sworn off believing in a long-term relationship. But the closeness of their friend circle makes it hard to stay apart, and one night they give in, which leads to consequences that can’t be ignored. Along with gratifying glimpses of characters from the previous books in this series, Van Fleet ably explores her characters’ vulnerabilities and flaws in alternating first-person narratives. Gavin and McKenna aren’t perfect, but their imperfections will make readers root for them to overcome their doubts and fears. Frank language and sizzling love scenes make Recklessly Ever After a fast-paced and steamy read.

TOP PICK IN ROMANCE
Two people in desperate straits save each other in the latest historical by Grace Burrowes, My One and Only Duke. Facing execution for a crime he didn’t commit, wealthy banker Quinn Wentworth proposes marriage to minister’s daughter Jane Winston, saving her from poverty and also providing an escape from her sanctimonious father. Grateful to this man she’s barely met, Jane agrees, and they marry. Then at the last second, Quinn unexpectedly inherits a dukedom and is pardoned. He offers Jane an annulment, but she’s willing to stick by her vows. When they begin to live together as husband and wife, Burrowes delves into the heart of the marriage-of-convenience trope: the physical and romantic tension created by a sudden intimacy between two people who are still essentially strangers. Both Quinn and Jane soon discover they delight each other in the bedroom, but they must learn trust and compromise to build a real life together. This curl-up-and-enjoy read includes a mystery—who set Quinn up for certain death?—as well as intriguing family members who definitely deserve their own stories.

ALSO IN BOOKPAGE: Read our Q&A with Grace Burrowes about My One and Only Duke.

This article was originally published in the November 2018 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

Old-school romance novels can feel like the ultimate guilty pleasure. Where else can we have the fun of being ravaged by a sexy Scotsman or having a notorious pirate take us to bed (or in a carriage, or on horseback or up against a wall . . .)? But so many of the old classics mix erotic delights with the more unsettling elements of racism, sexism and a disturbing tendency to believe that if the scene is steamy enough, the reader won’t mind that the heroine said no and the hero treated it like a yes.

The remedy is found in delicious historical romances such as these three novels. They deliver on all the elements you’d expect: The historical settings are rich and engaging, the drama is fast-paced and exciting, the passion is turbulent and scorchingly hot and the men are strong and sexy (and Scottish, in two out of three—always a nice bonus). But above and beyond that, the heroines are fierce, forthright forces to be reckoned with as they defy conventions and choose their own paths to happiness.

A WOMAN BETRAYED
Athena Trappes, the lovely heroine of Between a Highlander and a Hard Place by Mary Wine, starts worlds away from rugged Scottish laird Symon Grant. We first meet her happily settled in Elizabethan England, on the verge of marriage to a handsome, charming royal courtier. She seems perfectly poised to live very properly ever after. But when her groom-to-be turns villainous and attempts to force Athena into becoming his mistress rather than his bride, her true strength is revealed. Far from swooning into the man’s arms or waiting to be rescued, she sets his house on fire and walks out with her head held high—right up until she’s forced to run for her life to avoid retribution. In a plot that might appeal to a certain bard of that period, Athena safeguards her passage by disguising herself as a boy. And this successfully protects her, until her true nature is discovered by Symon.

He’s the polar opposite of the man she’d once planned to marry—Scottish rather than British; rough-edged rather than manicured; plainspoken rather than full of empty compliments. But most of all, he’s honorable and generous rather than deceitful and cruel. He falls for Athena in an instant, but he challenges her to make her own decisions, to embrace her passion, and to choose a life with him. It’s not an easy journey for Athena, and more than once she finds herself held against her will and viewed as a commodity by ruthless men, yet through it all, she maintains her spirit and strength, and even finds the courage to love the gorgeous highlander who offers her his home and his heart.

A WOMAN ABANDONED
A loving home is exactly what the orphaned heroine lacks in Julia London’s Seduced by a Scot. Taken in—with reluctance—by a friend of her father’s in 18th-century Scotland, Maura Darby is treated with cold indifference when she’s a child. But that’s far better than the outright contempt she receives as she grows into a beautiful woman and attracts too much male attention away from Sorcha, the daughter of the house. When Sorcha’s betrothed forces a kiss on Maura—a kiss for which Maura is blamed, of course—both Sorcha and her mother insist Maura must leave, at once. But where exactly is a woman with no resources meant to go? And how can the family that raised her be rid of her without generating speculation? Clearly, the only solution is to call in Nichol Bain, the capable and clever “fixer” for the upper class. At the start, he’s so confident in his abilities that he’s actually disappointed to be given such an “easy” problem. Foolish, foolish man—he has no idea what he’s in for with Maura!

It doesn’t take long before he realizes that this is not a woman who will submit to having her life arranged without having her say—at full volume. Half of the fun of the story is seeing how thoroughly Maura ruffles Nichol, shaking him out of his comfort zone and pushing him to live his life to the upmost as she strives to do the same. This is a man who believes he has all the answers, but it isn’t until Maura enters his life that he starts asking the right questions—such as what a person might be willing to sacrifice for a true and lasting love.

A WOMAN ABUSED
Compared to these other adventures, the setting of Barbarous might seem almost staid by contrast. Our Regency-era heroine—Daphne Redvers, widow to the Earl of Davenport—is a bookish, bespectacled matron living quietly with her children on her late husband’s country estate. But she shows her grit right from the start when she breaks a man’s nose on the first page! The man in question—her evil cousin, Malcolm—spends most of the book stubbornly insisting he can overpower and intimidate her while she spends the book proving him wrong, with the assistance, of course, of the exceptionally dashing hero. Hugh Redvers is, technically, Daphne’s nephew-in-law—officially titled Baron Ramsay and standing next in line to become earl before Daphne’s sons were born. He’s also a pirate, both feared and revered on the high seas as One-Eyed Standish. (Yes, he has an eye patch. And a parrot. And a monkey.) He left his aristocratic family behind decades earlier, content to let them think he was dead while he pursued his own adventures, but when he receives word that Daphne might be in danger, he comes home to help—and is stunned to find himself in danger of losing his heart for the first time.

As with Dangerous, the first title in Minerva Spencer’s Outcasts series, the story brims with all the swashbuckling excitement anyone could ask for, mixed with high-society hijinks all wrapped around a blazingly hot love story. But this book also has the most poignant departure from the old romance model. Daphne is a mother to twin boys who are the result of sexual assault—something she grapples with over the course of the story. Healing comes with time, and with the shock of finding true understanding from Hugh who, following a capture at sea, spent time as a sultan’s slave. When he comforts her, he does it as someone with intimate knowledge of how it feels to be stripped of bodily autonomy; to be used with no concern for consent. It makes their conscious choice to be together—to share themselves and enjoy each other freely—all the sweeter.

What better time than the holidays to set aside a little “me time” with a good book? Romances are always good for your heart, but if you want some added adrenaline, try one of these suspenseful romances.

SCAPEGOAT
Jannine Gallant kicks off the appetizer course with Hidden Secrets, the third installment of her Siren Cove series. This cozy mystery is as comfortable as the lifelong friendship between restaurateur Quentin Radcliff and antiques shop owner Paige Shephard. It starts off with a simmer, after Quentin moves back home to open his latest restaurant, and kisses Paige on a whim. The slow burn kicks in when they decide to push the boundaries of their relationship and take a chance on love. After all, they’ve loved each other forever—they have to decide if they “can figure out how to be in love.”

But sometimes love isn’t the only answer, particularly when it’s been in front of you for a lifetime. Love and attraction and chemistry are the easy parts—trust is the challenge. Quentin’s last two girlfriends have turned up dead or missing, and he’s the scapegoat. Were it not for Paige’s unwavering trust in him, the investigation might not have turned its attention to an old, unsolved crime. And when Paige attracts the killer’s attention through her most recent antiques acquisition, she comes between him and the cover-up that’s been going on for years.

GUILTY CONSCIENCE
Marie Force is 13 books into her Fatal series and doesn’t see herself slowing down any time soon, thank goodness. Her most recent installment, Fatal Invasion, is a meaty main course, full of love and heartbreak, insider trading and organized crime, and a race to the finish line that’ll leave you breathless.

Fans of “it couple” police Lieutenant Sam Holland and Vice President Nick Cappuano will rejoice. They’re back and as likable as ever. One of the best hallmarks of this series is that although Sam is involved in every book of the series, each installment focuses on a different member of her investigative team. Invasion focuses on Sergeant Tommy “Gonzo” Gonzales, and his battle with an opioid addiction caused by debilitating guilt over the death of his partner nine months ago. Like most functional addicts, Gonzo is able to mask his illness from his fiancé and his colleagues. But hiding the truth and living with his addiction is bleeding over into every facet of his life. His police work is failing, his love life is failing, and his will to care is failing. So on top of the team’s main investigation—the murder of a wealthy couple whose two young children come to live with Sam and Nick—they have to circle the wagons to help one of their own heal. This is an excellent series that hits every emotional, psychological and romantic note.