Romance
February 2021
Recent Releases
Beauty among ruins
by J'nell Ciesielski

Nursing the wounded at a convalescent home in World War I Scotland, an American socialite unexpectedly partners with a wounded Scottish laird to defeat a common enemy. By the author of The Songbird and the Spy.
The lost manuscript
by Cathy Bonidan

Discovering an abandoned manuscript in her Brittany hotel room, a woman falls in love with the story and begins a life-changing correspondence with its mysterious writer. By the award-winning author of The Perfume of Hellebore Rose.
Ten rules for faking it
by Sophie Sullivan

After a terrible birthday during which she has a tonsillectomy and her parents decide to split up, Everly Dean’s podcast becomes a hit when she is recorded ranting about her ex boyfriend causing suitors to line up. 
The worst duke in the world
by Lisa Berne

Anthony Farr, the Duke of Radcliffe, is determined to remain single until he meets a long-lost relation of the Penhallow family who befriends his son and steals his heart, despite his promise to never fall in love.
Fairy Godmothers, Inc.
by Saranna DeWylde

Welcome to: Ever After, Missouri, a magical small town seeking to promote itself as a wedding destination.

Where you'll meet: Lucky Fujiki, who would do anything to help her three fairy godmothers restore the town's magic -- even agree to a fake wedding with her first love, chocolatier Ransom Payne.

For fans of: the upbeat, gently humorous paranormal romances of Judi Fennell or Judi McCoy.
The Business of Love
Strategic Seduction
by Cheris Hodges

Best laid plans: PR rep Alicia Michaels never mixes business with pleasure. But her newest client, recently divorced hotel magnate Richmond Crawford, tempts her to break her own rules.

But wait, there's more: Both Alicia and Richmond must confront toxic people from their pasts if they want a future together.

For fans of: Elle Wright's Wellspring novels or Synithia Williams' Jackson Falls series, which also feature career-minded leads whose pursuit of success is threatened by family drama.
Dare to Love a Duke
by Eva Leigh

Introducing: Former sex worker Lucia Marini, who, in the seductive guise of "Amina," manages the Orchid Club, where masked strangers satisfy their erotic desires, on behalf of its elusive owner.

What happens: Not long after she takes Thomas Powell, the Duke of Northfield, as her lover, Lucia discovers he's also her employer.

Why you might like it: Like previous London Underground books, this 3rd installment explores the darker side of Regency England. It also features a more diverse cast than many novels set during this period. 
The Right Swipe
by Alisha Rai

Starring: Rhiannon "Rhi" Hunter, creator of the popular Crush dating app, and former pro-football player Samson Lima, spokesman for rival dating site Matchmaker -- and the jerk who once ghosted Rhi.

What sets it apart: Nuanced explorations of sensitive issues (CTE's effects on Samson's football-playing relatives, Rhi's experiences as a woman of color in majority white, predominantly male tech spaces).

Is it for you? Though less angst-filled than the author's Forbidden Hearts series, Rhi does have some upsetting run-ins with her abusive ex.
Duchess by Design
by Maya Rodale

What happens: Seeking an American heiress to keep his ancestral estates solvent, Brandon Fiennes, the Duke of Kingston, hires seamstress Adeline Black to identify suitable candidates for marriage.

Reviewers say: This opening installment of the Gilded Age Girls Club series boasts "perfectly placed wit, endlessly amusing characters, and a vividly evoked 1890s New York City setting" (Booklist).

You might also like: Joanna Shupe's Uptown Girls novels.
The Legal Affair
by Nisha Sharma

What it's about: Her professional reputation damaged by her ex-husband's betrayal, businesswoman Rajneet "Raj" Hothi cannot risk scandal by getting involved with Ajay Singh, future CEO of Bharat, Inc.

Read it for: an intense forbidden romance between South Asian professionals, family drama, and corporate intrigue.

Series alert: The Legal Affair is the 2nd book in the Singh Family trilogy (after The Takeover Effect), about a Punjabi Sikh family and their corporate empire.
Contact your librarian for more great books!