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| How to Catch a Queen by Alyssa ColeWhat it's about: Shanti Mohapi fulfills her life's ambition of becoming a queen by marrying King Sanyu of Njaza, only to realize that her new job includes a husband who wishes she'd go away, copious palace intrigue, and a kingdom in trouble.
Why you might like it: Shanti and Sanyu's marriage of convenience progresses from practical partnership to love match, while detailed world-building makes this fictional African nation feel real.
Series alert: How to Catch a Queen kicks off the Runaway Royals series, a spin-off of the author's Reluctant Royals series. |
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| Confessions in B-Flat by Donna HillNew York, 1963: Jason Tanner, a protégé of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., agrees to disagree with poet and activist Anita Hopkins, who admires Malcolm X. But even as they seek common ground, world events threaten to tear them apart.
Why you might like it: This well-researched novel offers a moving love story, vibrant depictions of 1960s Harlem, and cameos by notable figures from the Civil Rights movement.
You might also like: The Brightest Day: A Juneteenth Historical Romance Anthology, a quartet of novellas celebrating Black history. |
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Pretending
by Holly Bourne
Unable to find love past a 5th date, a relatively normal young woman takes on an alter ego and wonders how long she will be able to keep pretending when her feelings get in the way. Original. 100,000 first printing.
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| The Boy Toy by Nicola MarshWhat happens: After a decade in Los Angeles, divorced dialect coach Samira Broderick returns to Melbourne, Australia, where she hooks up with stuntman Rory Radcliffe, who turns out to be her client.
What sets it apart: In addition to the older woman/younger man dynamic, this engaging debut also examines how Samira, the daughter of an Indian mother and a white American father, struggles to balance her personal goals with her family's expectations. |
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My last duchess
by Eloisa James
Hugo Wilde, the Duke of Lindow, must convince Lady Astley, the only woman for him, that their powerful attraction, his castle and his eight mischievous children add up to a match made in heaven. Original. 300,000 first printing.
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| How to Fail at Flirting by Denise WilliamsWhat it's about: Three years after leaving an abusive relationship, math professor Naya Turner has decided it's time to find a life outside of work.
And so... Naya begins a tentative fling with Jake, the cute guy she meets at a local bar, only to discover that he's a consultant hired by her financially strapped university to make cuts.
Is it for you? Like a bad penny, Naya's abusive ex turns up and decides to make things difficult for her, which leads to some disturbing scenes. |
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Barking up the wrong tree
by Jenn McKinlay
Returning home to Bluff Point, Maine, determined to get her life back on track, Carly DeCusati, in an attempt to find homes for the elderly golden retriever and talkative parrot she inherited, meets a handsome physical therapist who opens her heart to the possibilities of love until his secrets are revealed. By a New York Times best-selling author. Original.
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You Lucky Dog
by Julia London
What happens: Due to a mix-up on the part of Brant the dog-walker, spunky publicist Carly Kennedy and shy neuroscience professor Tobias Maxwell "Max" Sheffington now have each other's basset hounds.
And then: Pups Baxter and Hazel fall in love, paving the way for Carly and Max's own unlikely romance.
Read it for: likable leads, a witty opposites-attract romance, and a zany supporting cast.
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The Happy Ever After Playlist
by Abby Jimenez
What brings them together: Tucker the dog, who trades his negligent sitter for artist Sloan Monroe, who sends regular updates to Tucker's dad, musician Jason Larsen, while he's on tour in Australia -- updates that quickly turn into a long-distance flirtation.
What keeps them apart: Aside from 8,000 miles of ocean? Sloan is still mourning her fiancé, while Jason's career is finally taking off.
Spoiler alert: If you haven't yet read Abby Jimenez's debut, The Friend Zone, be aware that The Happy Ever After Playlist refers to several of that novel's major plot points.
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| Moonlight Over Manhattan by Sarah MorganWhat it's about: Just days after making a pledge to take more risks, painfully shy Harriet Knight has become the live-in dog sitter of hot ER doctor Ethan Black. But is she brave enough to act on her feelings?
Why you might like it: This 6th book in the From Manhattan with Love series features likable leads and a sweet holiday romance set in New York City.
Look for: cameos by Harriet's siblings, who found love in previous series installments New York, Actually and Holiday in the Hamptons. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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