Grace Burrowes weaves a plot as intricate and warm as a fine Scottish plaid in The Trouble with Dukes, the first in her Windham Brides series.

Blue-eyed and bespectacled, Megan Windham is worried on the night her family's ball kicks off the fall season in London. She's certain that the “goldenly glorious” Sir Fletcher Pilkington—a man she despises—will ask for her hand. How can she refuse his offer when she foolishly penned 31 love letters to the social-climbing cad?

Hamish MacHugh has distinctly different problems. Although he has a disdain for small talk and polite society, he’s just learned he’s a duke. Along with the title and wealth comes a wealth of responsibilities. The reluctant Hamish, now the Duke of Mordoch, declares his beloved bachelorhood to be doomed, but he’s pressured into donning his best kilt and attending the ball.

Megan Windham turns his head early on with her understated beauty, intelligence and confidence. But when she teaches Hamish how to waltz and throws a little Gaelic his way, he nearly swoons.

Sir Fletcher, eager to keep Megan for himself, spreads ugly rumors about Hamish. But winsome Megan sees something different in His Grace: strength, kindness and solidarity. These are qualities that Sir Fletcher, insistent on blackmailing her with her own love letters, lacks immensely. 

As Megan and Hamish fall in love, they hide dark secrets from each other. Though Hamish falls quickly for Megan, he warns her that he’ll never fit in with London society. Rumors and gossip follow him everywhere, and he’s known as the Duke of Murder for his fierceness in battle. Meg should forget about him. So naturally, she is all the more charmed, even as Sir Fletcher attempts to force her hand.

Burrowes' savvy knowledge of history, language, clothing and customs, paired with her graceful writing and witty dialogue raise the bar for period romance. The Windham women are a fierce and feisty group, and Megan is an especially appealing character. If all the Windham women are as engaging, and if all the Scots have equally attractive humor and wit, Grace Burrowe’s Windham Bride’s series will exceed reader’s expectations.

How unlikely is it for a strong Scottish lass to fall in love with a hardened British army officer? Extremely. Fortunately for Fiona Blackstock and Major Gabriel Forrester, their love lives are in the capable hands of bestselling historical romance author Suzanne Enoch, and a happily-ever-after just might be in their future in Hero in the Highlands, the first delightful installment in the No Ordinary Hero series.

A seasoned soldier with bravery in his blood and boldness to match, Gabriel lives for the fight. But when he suddenly inherits not only a title but a number of holdings as well—including a ducal seat, the cursed Lattimer castle in the Scottish Highlands—he’s forced to leave the battle against Napoleon’s men in Salamanca and see to his new duties across the channel. The turn of events is even less welcome news to the castle’s acting steward, Fiona Blackstock, who has kept the keep and its people from sinking into poverty with hardly any help. The last thing she needs is a man mucking about—and a British one at that,

When the two meet, sparks of all sorts fly, the enigmatic pull that each feels toward the other being the most notable. Though life away from the army has never held any interest for Gabriel, Fiona’s fiery temperament and deep devotion to the castle and her people stirs him in a way that speaks to his own sense of duty and honor. As for Fiona? She’d rather fail in her role as steward than give her heart to a Redcoat—or so she once believed. Gabriel’s charm and respect for her captures her attention, but it’s his growing love for the land and his newly acquired castle that keeps her captivated.

Sensuous, witty and replete with Scottish dialect that adds to the ambiance, beauty and lure of the Highlands, Enoch’s latest is an accomplished love story. Even more, it’s one that will stay with you long after you’ve read the last page—and that’s a romance not to be missed.

Jody Hedlund imagines the early life of 18th-century preacher John Newton, as well as the inspiration behind his hymn “Amazing Grace” in Newton and Polly.

Fifteen-year-old Polly Catlett is out wassailing in her small English town with her aunt, but Polly is unaware that her aunt uses their caroling as a cover for rescuing children who were smuggled into slavery. Certain that their actions have been discovered and that they are being followed, Polly and her aunt quickly find a place to hide.

Luckily, the young sailor John Newton has noticed their plight and throws off their shadow. Polly soon learns that their savior is also her cousin when he pays a visit to the Catlett home. As Polly slowly warms up to her rebellious 17-year-old cousin, she also learns that he fell in love with her the moment he heard her voice while caroling.

Polly and John's relationship grows, despite the disparity in temperament between the pious Polly and the rather debauched John. However, a passionate kiss between them creates chaos in the Catlett household. John is pressured to leave and look for employment, and, while drinking away his sorrows, he is pressed into service by the Royal Navy. John is constantly dodging his responsibilities and creating trouble, and his time in the Navy takes him through France's war efforts and the horrors of slave trading. Prompted by these trials, John strives to become the godly man that Polly seeks and deserves, hoping that they will one day be reunited.

Hedlund deftly highlights both the romance and the strained aspects of Polly and John's budding relationship. While Polly is a devout believer, John struggles with his faith. But upon finding love, both with Polly and God, he is inspired to write one of the most beloved hymns in the world.