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It's Been a Pleasure, Noni Black
by Claire Christian
What it is about: After her 10-year relationship ends, Noni Blake sets off for Europe on a quest aimed at prioritizing her own wants and desires in this new novel by the author of Beautiful Mess.
Reviewers say: "YA author Christian (Beautiful Mess, 2018) has spun an adult, female-focused romantic comedy, a LGBTQ diverse variation on Bridget Jones’s Diary." (Booklist, December 4, 2020)
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| The Intimacy Experiment by Rosie DananThe premise: Although she hasn't set foot in a synagogue since her bat mitzvah, sex worker turned sex educator Naomi Grant is intrigued by a job offer from rabbi Ethan Cohen, who wants to hire Naomi to present a seminar on "Modern Intimacy" at the local JCC.
What sets it apart: relatable characters, a slow-burning romance, and a nuanced depiction of contemporary Judaism.
Crossover alert: Naomi first appears as a supporting character in author Rosie Danan's debut, The Roommate. |
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| Life's Too Short by Abby JimenezCarpe diem: After losing several family members to ALS, Vanessa Price, vowing to live life to the fullest, becomes a famous travel vlogger.
Best laid plans: Vanessa's globe-trotting lifestyle comes to an abrupt halt when she becomes the guardian of her infant niece. Fortunately, her attractive neighbor, corporate lawyer Adrian Copeland, is good with kids.
Is it for you? This 3rd novel in the Friend Zone series (after The Happily Ever After Playlist) tackles some serious issues, including terminal illness, addiction, and suicidal ideation. |
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All the Colors of Night
by Jayne Ann Krentz
What it is: A sequel to The Vanishing finds a young man with rare crystal-energy abilities partnering with a disgraced paranormal artifacts finder to track down a mysterious relic that may be tied to a parent’s sudden coma.
About the Author: Jayne Ann Krentz is the author of more than fifty New York Times bestsellers. She has written contemporary romantic suspense novels under that name and futuristic and historical romance novels under the pseudonyms Jayne Castle and Amanda Quick, respectively.
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The Forever Girl : a novel
by Jill Shalvis
What it's about: :Returning to her hometown to attend an estranged friend’s wedding, Maze navigates unexpected secrets with her childhood circle of friends while discovering that she still has feelings for a long-ago crush.
Series alert: This is book 6 in the Wildstone Series but can be read as a standalone contemporary romance.
Reviewers say: " Though the pace is slow, Shalvis capably weaves the complex, intertwining relationships into an appealing story of second chances. This is sure to satisfy. (Publishers Weekly, November 2, 2020)
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Undercover Bromance
by Lyssa Kay Adams
What happens: A sequel to The Bromance Book Club finds restaurant employee Liv Papandreas fired for reporting sexual harassment before teaming up with Bromance Book Club member Braden Mack to turn the tables on an abusive celebrity chef.
Reviewers say: "Adams' unique and pleasing series turns male and romance fiction stereotypes upside down with memorable story lines and engaging characters." (Booklist, January 24, 2020)
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| This Earl of Mine by Kate BatemanThe plan: To secure her inheritance, which is contingent upon marriage, Georgiana Caversteed heads to Newgate Prison and weds inmate Ben Wylde, who's about to be transported to Australia. Problem solved!
Or is it? Georgiana discovers that Ben, an earl's son, was only posing as a felon to gather intelligence for the Crown. Now legally married, they decide to make their relationship real -- starting with a public courtship.
Why you might like it: This 1st book in the Bow Street Bachelors series playfully subverts aspects of both the "marriage of convenience" and "fake relationship" tropes. |
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| A Spy in the Struggle: A Riveting Must-Read Novel of Suspense by Aya de LeónStarring: corporate-lawyer-turned-FBI-recruit Yolanda Vance, sent undercover to monitor a potentially dangerous Black eco-activist group based in Oakland, California.
What happens: The more Yolanda learns about the group, the more she wonders what the FBI isn't telling her. And then there's her budding relationship with college professor and activist Olujimi "Jimmy" Thomson...
Why you might like it: Like the author's Justice Hustlers series, this steamy standalone blends romance, suspense, and social justice themes. |
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| Wind River Undercover by Lindsay McKennaWhat it's about: Sniper Anna Navaro, on loan to the DEA from the Guatemalan government, teams up with Agent Gabe Whitcomb for an undercover surveillance mission in Wind River Valley, Wyoming.
Why you might like it: Posing as ranchers a stone's throw from Gabe's childhood home, the pair's already dangerous mission is further complicated by a growing intimacy.
Reviewers say: "Lovers of action-packed romantic suspense will delight in this intense tale" (Publishers Weekly), the 9th installment of the Wind River Valley series. |
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| Fallen by Rebecca ZanettiThe mission: Hacker Brigid Banaghan and her handler, Raider Tanaka, must pose as an engaged couple during a visit to her father's farm as part of an undercover operation to infiltrate the Irish mob.
The problem(s): Still reeling from the discovery of her dad's criminal ties, Brigid also struggles to resist her attraction to the mysterious Raider.
Series alert: Fallen is the 2nd in the Deep Ops series, which follows a special unit of misfit federal agents. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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