Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 02/05/2013
ISBN-13: 9780425259252
ISBN-10: 0425259250

Regency Historical. "Have you come to kill me?" asks Lady Beatrice Davenham when governess Abigail Chantry enters a seemingly abandoned mansion through a bedroom window. Abigail, on the run after rescuing her sister and two friends, discovers that the elderly, ailing baroness is a virtual prisoner in her own home, only kept alive by her negligent servants so that they can live off her money. After Abigail drives them away, the grateful Lady Beatrice adopts Abigail and the other women as her "nieces." Renaming themselves the Chance sisters, they all live happily with their benefactor -- until her nephew, Max, returns from abroad. Max doesn't trust Abigail one bit, but neither can he deny his attraction to her.

Publisher: Avon
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 01/29/2013
ISBN-13: 9780062032652
ISBN-10: 0062032658

Historical Romance. Desperate to escape a life of poverty and hardship in Philadelphia, Mariah Cooper answers a newspaper advertisement and heads west to become the housekeeper at Destino, the Northern California cattle ranch owned by Logan Yates. The son of a prosperous black rancher, Logan has had every advantage in life, thanks to his father's money and his Spanish stepmother's position in society. As such, he's accustomed to getting his way -- until beautiful, headstrong Mariah shows up. Set in 1880s California, Destiny's Embrace boasts appealing characters, sharp dialogue, and a glimpse at lesser-known aspects of African-American history.

Publisher: Grand Central
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 02/26/2013
ISBN-13: 9781455508303
ISBN-10: 1455508306

Historical Romance. Lady Margaret "Megs" St. John has only two reasons for coming to London: one is to consummate her marriage of convenience with her estranged husband, Godric; the other is to enact revenge on the legendary Ghost of St. Giles, the masked man who protects the city's poorest and most vulnerable -- and whom she holds responsible for the death of her lover. The problem? The two men are, in fact, one and the same. Godric idles away his days as a gentleman of leisure and dedicates his evenings to fighting crime, a lifestyle threatened by the unexpected return of Megs, who's determined to conceive his heir and shoot him dead. This passionate 5th installment of the Maiden Lane Romances also "delivers plenty of swashbuckling thrills and wry wit" (Booklist).

Publisher: Avon
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 01/29/2013
ISBN-13: 9780062068538
ISBN-10: 0062068539

Regency Historical. Pippa -- more formally known as Lady Philippa Marbury -- is a brainy bluestocking who'd rather devote her energies to scientific inquiry than to maintaining her position in society. Betrothed to a kind but dim-witted earl, Pippa realizes that she has no idea what to expect on her wedding night. After receiving numerous evasive answers from her female relations, Pippa takes matters into her own hands and approaches her brother-in-law's business partner, Cross, the notorious owner of an exclusive gaming hell. Shocked but intrigued by Pippa's boldness, Cross (ever the gambler) makes an unusual wager with her, certain that he'll prevail and simultaneously prevent her ruin. But even if Cross wins the bet, will he lose his heart to Pippa in the process? Find out in this witty, steamy 2nd book in the Rules of Scoundrels series.

Publisher: Kensington
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 02/26/2013
ISBN-13: 9780758277220
ISBN-10: 0758277229

Contemporary Romance. Worried that the new reality television show Hunk or Punk will cast a negative light on African-American women, former WNBA star Sonya Richardson reluctantly agrees to play bachelorette -- or, in the parlance of the show, "Nubian Princess" -- to a dozen men who will engage in a full-court press to woo and win her. Accustomed to the single life, Sonya doesn't expect to fall for any of them, especially not former pastor John Bond, a soft-spoken widower from Alabama and the show's "token white guy." As Sonya claims the spotlight to show America what a "real" black woman is like, she must also reevaluate her ideas of what a good man can and should be.

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Publisher: HQN
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 08/31/2010
ISBN-13: 9780373774982
ISBN-10: 0373774982

Contemporary Romance. Ten years ago, wild-child Macy O'James left her hometown of Sugarville, Washington without a backward glance, determined to find success in the entertainment industry. Now she's back to help care for her injured cousin, holding her head high while gossip swirls around her. When Macy meets Sugarville's new fire chief Gabriel Donovan, she's intrigued but convinces herself that he's way too straight-laced for her. Meanwhile, Gabriel tries to deny his attraction to the blonde bombshell, thinking (perhaps correctly) that she's too hot to handle. Smoldering sexual tension and Hollywood-worthy drama heat up this fast-paced, steamy book.

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Publisher: Forever
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 02/01/2012
ISBN-13: 9781455508594
ISBN-10: 1455508594

Paranormal Historical. Bartered as a bride to Lord Benjamin Archer following her father's financial ruin, Miranda "Miri" Ellis is at once intrigued and unnerved by her enigmatic husband, who wears a black mask at all times and is rumored to suffer from a terrible curse. What lies beneath the mask, and could it be worse than the secret Miri has concealed for years? When Archer is accused of murder, Miri risks everything to prove his innocence -- if indeed he is innocent. Library Journal, in a starred review, describes this debut as "Beauty and the Beast meets Phantom of the Opera." Sound exciting? Well, you're in luck, for Firelight is the 1st book in a series, which continues with Moonglow and Winterblaze.

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Publisher: Harlequin
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 08/21/2012
ISBN-13: 9780373777037
ISBN-10: 0373777035

Contemporary Romance. Standing nearly six feet tall and blessed with an outsized personality to match, 31-year-old journalist Chastity "Chas" O'Neill has always been considered "one of the guys," thanks in part to her four firefighter brothers. Even her longtime crush, fireman Trevor Meade, thinks of her as his platonic gal pal. But Chas wants to be somebody's girl, and so she embarks on a mission to find a man of her own. Handsome surgeon Ryan seems like a promising match, but will her feelings for Trevor get in the way? And, now that Ryan's in pursuit of Chas, will Trevor finally notice the girl next door? There are no easy answers in this humorous, yet poignant story of a woman's search for true love.

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Publisher: MIRA
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 05/01/2009
ISBN-13: 9780778326564
ISBN-10: 077832656X

Contemporary Romance. Cartoonist Sarah Moon has made huge sacrifices for her husband Jack: putting his career before hers, caring for him throughout his battle with cancer, and undergoing grueling fertility treatments so that they can start a family together. So why has she just caught Jack in bed with another woman? Shocked and heartbroken when he denies any wrongdoing and demands a divorce, Sarah returns to her California hometown, where a supportive community helps her find her feet -- especially once she discovers she's pregnant. To her surprise, her most loyal ally is former high school rival Will Bonner, now a firefighter who thinks Sarah is perfect just the way she is. Complete with examples of Sarah's cartoon strips, Just Breathe is a heartwarming story about love, grief, and starting over.

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