Hegde (Match Me If You Can) takes on the fake relationship trope in her solid, Bangalore-set sophomore novel. Aspiring photographer Harsha Godbole has been trying to make it on her own, without her toxic family or their money, but must return to the fold when her cousin and long-standing rival, Neha, gets married. When Neha mistakenly assumes Harsha’s favorite barista, Veer Kannan, is actually Harsha’s boyfriend and invites him to the wedding, Harsha gets an idea: if her invasive, judgmental family is expecting a boyfriend, why not recruit Veer to play the role? Aspiring actor Veer is at first offended when Harsha lies about his job to Neha, but the Business Institute of India has rescinded his little brother’s scholarship, and Veer has only three days to find half a million rupees. Harsha’s happy to pay for his services and is also the niece of one of Bollywood’s biggest directors. If Veer can keep up the act, he’ll be able to pay for his brother’s MBA­ and might also get his big break. The plot hits all the expected beats as pretending to be in love leads these two to fall in love for real, while the setting adds a bit of fun for armchair travelers. There’s enough here to please romance fans. (Feb.)

Reviewed on 11/29/2024 | Details & Permalink

Ashley (The Roommate Pact) delivers big emotions in this swoony romance between two people who meet at a difficult moment. On the eve of a stem-cell transplant to treat recurring leukemia, Elliott Holland hits Omaha’s bar scene, determined to enjoy her last night out for months. A meet cute with charming arborist Jamie Sullivan during which they debate whether cheesecake could technically be considered a pie leads the pair to take a spontaneous baking class together—and share a single electric kiss. Elliott doesn’t expect to see Jamie again, even after she’s officially in remission and moves to the city to start a new business. When they inevitably cross paths again, their chemistry is still on point—but Jamie has a new girlfriend, Carly, who, it turns out, is Elliott’s stem-cell donor. Determined not to hurt the woman who saved her life, Elliott resolves to keep things strictly platonic with Jamie. But how long can they ignore their lingering attraction? Ashley sensitively deals with the stress and fear associated with cancer diagnosis and treatment, and builds a realistic path for Elliott and Jamie to find a tender happily ever after. Add in some adorable canine antics from Jamie’s scene-stealing dog, Hank, for levity, and this hits all the right notes. (Jan.)

Reviewed on 11/22/2024 | Details & Permalink

Khabra’s cute but somewhat meandering second Off the Ice romance (after Collide) finds dancer Sage Beaumont ready to nail her audition for Canada’s National Ballet—only to learn that lately the troupe prioritizes dancers who already have large followings on social media. Meanwhile, hockey player Elias Westbrook goes from being a college superstar to a rookie underdog on the Toronto Thunder. He chokes under the pressure, leading to some bad press and potentially putting his career in jeopardy. After Sage bids on a date with Eli at the Thunder’s charity auction, she comes up with a scheme to both raise her online profile and help change Elias’s public persona: fake dating. Elias reluctantly agrees, with one fixed rule: do not fall in love. This proves easier said than done, however, when their attraction is so intense. The diverse cast is refreshing in a subgenre that is still overwhelmingly white and the leads are lovable. Unfortunately, the fake dating conceit quickly becomes flimsy and the romance feels less slow-burning and more painfully drawn out. Still, fans of book one will enjoy this steamy return to the rink. (Jan.)

Reviewed on 11/22/2024 | Details & Permalink

A duke’s sister is drawn to one of her brother’s best friends in Chase’s page-turning conclusion to the Difficult Dukes Victorian romance series (after Ten Things I Hate About the Duke). Lady Alice Ancaster worries that the reckless behavior of her brother, Hugh, the Duke of Ripley, and his infamous friends the Dukes of Ashmont and Blackwood—who, together, are known as the Dis-Graces—will end in Hugh’s untimely death, leaving the dukedom and Alice by extension under the control of her vile cousin, Lord Worbury. To save herself from this fate, she’ll need a husband, so she heads to London to enter the marriage market, warning Hugh to stay away lest his reputation hurt her chances. Hugh’s friend Blackwood, who has long been attracted to Alice, is also in the city, however, and he steps in to take Alice’s side during a public argument between her and Lord Worbury. Alice is determined to avoid further interaction—until Hugh goes missing and she and Blackwood must team up to track him down. Passion ignites, but can Alice trust that Blackwood is really ready to settle down? Chase’s leads are captivating; readers will cheer for strong-willed Alice, especially in a subplot about her quest to help London’s orphans, and swoon over reformed rake Blackwood. This is a worthy finale. (Jan.)

Reviewed on 11/29/2024 | Details & Permalink

Hutton’s high-intensity debut pairs a woman with a history of abuse and the billionaire who’s captivated by her. Artist and shopkeeper Honor Stone loses her last surviving relative when her identical twin, Grace, is murdered. She heads to the morgue to identify Grace’s body—and there unexpectedly collides with a handsome stranger in a tux. Strike Madden, a video game entrepreneur who’s there for reasons he keeps vague, is immediately captivated by Honor. As she tries to unravel the mystery of her sister’s murder, Honor discovers that, unbeknownst to her, Grace took out business loans in both their names, putting the future of Honor’s shop in jeopardy. That’s when Strike swoops in with a plum job offer: creating erotic images for his company’s new game. Honor accepts and their chemistry ignites, but it soon becomes evident that Strike has a dark side. When Grace’s killer starts targeting Honor, Strike will do anything to bring the man down. Hutton’s multilayered characters captivate, particularly Strike, whose drive to deliver justice for Honor will please fans of alpha male heroes. The tone is often heavy, but the thrilling plot keeps the pages turning. It’s solid romantic suspense. (Jan.)

Reviewed on 11/29/2024 | Details & Permalink

Lyn (Black Cat Comes Back) pairs a detective and a woman in harm’s way in her fast-paced but somewhat implausible Danger at the Cove series launch. Reeling from a recent breakup, private investigator Blake Bowman returns to his hometown of Clam Cove, Maine, to regroup. Local Hanna Moss is still dealing with the fallout from ditching her abusive ex, Greg, when someone tries to run her down with their car. Thankfully, her golden retriever, Bella, pulls her to safety. When Hanna’s parents hire Blake to investigate the incident, both Hanna and Blake become targets for Greg’s wrath. Along the way, Hanna and Blake fall for each other, though Hanna is nervous about entering a new relationship and doesn’t trust her romantic instincts. When Greg kidnaps Hanna, it’s up to Blake—and Bella—to save her. The story moves at a steady clip and readers will fall for Blake, Hanna, and especially Bella. Where things get rough is the villains: Greg is cartoonishly unhinged and Blake’s ex, Kara, similarly lacks any redeeming qualities. Though it’s easy to root against them, it’s difficult to see them as real people. Still, readers who like their romantic suspense clear-cut will be ready for more. (Dec.)

Reviewed on 11/29/2024 | Details & Permalink

The protagonists of Connor’s delightful debut set out to experience every rom-com trope they can in real life—and the result is swoony, smart, and hilarious. Bisexual romance author Sawyer Greene has grown cynical about love and is unable to write her next book after experiencing one too many broken hearts. Meanwhile, on the heels of a very public breakup, hopeless romantic television star Mason Álvarez-West wonders why he can’t get it right. When these two strangers get stuck together in an elevator—a scenario both recognize as being straight out of a rom-com—Sawyer hopes that a one-night stand will extinguish the fireworks she doesn’t want to be feeling. Mason, however, can’t help but see their meeting as destiny—especially when they keep bumping into each other after their steamy night. Sawyer needs novel inspiration and Mason wants to let go of his hopeless romanticism, so they make a pact to “do it all—all the cheesy shit no one does outside of a rom-com.” The idea is this will work as “exposure therapy” for Mason to make him stop believing in signs from the universe, and provide some fodder for Sawyer as well. It should work—as long as they don’t fall in love. Connor dispatches tropes with expert skill and plenty of fun nods to rom-com classics. It’s a joy. (Jan.)

Reviewed on 11/29/2024 | Details & Permalink

Fantasy author Patel (the Selene trilogy) pivots to romance with this heartwarming rom-com. A childhood spent with loving but flighty parents has left nerdy Rose Marie Jones deeply risk averse and eager to follow the life plan she has plotted out on an Excel spreadsheet. When her best friends get engaged, beating her and her boyfriend to the punch, Rose is ecstatic for them but also feels compelled to reevaluate her goals. She quickly realizes she’s stuck in a loveless relationship, fed up with enduring sexual harassment at her workplace, and hates the MBA she’s working on. The only bright spot in her life is a weekly board game night with friends where she and her best friend’s smart, geeky, and annoyingly sexy half brother, game designer William Ashdern, love to antagonize each other. When Rose is given the opportunity to submit a board game she’s been working on in private to a contest, she knows she’ll need William’s help to whip it into shape. Patel keeps things light and sweet throughout this cozy and banter-filled love story. Nerdy references to TTRPGs, Lord of the Rings, and cosplay add to the charm. Fans of Cathy Yardley and Seressia Glass will be pleased. (Jan.)

Reviewed on 11/15/2024 | Details & Permalink

In Kendrick’s sexy fourth Private Arrangements Victorian (after A Touch Wicked), an estranged aristocratic couple are brought back together to serve their country. Caroline, Duchess of Hastings, has barely seen her husband, Julian, since the early days of their marriage. She sent him away while devastated by grief and has sought escape in painting in the intervening nine years. When the dark, moody, and handsome duke returns to London, the pair must stay in close quarters again. To stave off the gossips, Caroline suggests they show a united front while he is in town. His reason for returning? The Home Office has enlisted his cryptological skills to decode a series of threats. Recognizing that Caroline’s skill with puzzles would make her a valuable asset, Julian pulls her into his secret assignment. Their old attraction quickly reawakens, but a true reconciliation means overcoming their emotional baggage as well. Kendrick makes the reunion a bit too fast-paced, speeding through the relationship’s redevelopment. The central couple has serious chemistry, however, and the espionage plot adds suspense. Readers looking for page-turning second-chance romance should check this out. (Jan.)

Reviewed on 11/15/2024 | Details & Permalink

Mezzacappa (The Maiden of Florence) whisks readers to 18th-century County Down, Ireland, for this lavishly detailed historical romance. In 1767, after Thomas Kearney’s wife and newborn die in childbirth, he sends his grown daughter Mary to join two of her siblings who work in service at Goward Hall. Mary becomes enamored of James, Viscount Kilkeel, who lives at the estate, which he will one day inherit, with his married mistress, Lady Mitchelstown. After Lady Mitchelstown dies in an accident, Mary is the only one willing to help prepare her body for burial, impressing James with her grit. He attempts to seduce her—but fails until he offers marriage. The catch is that Mary wants a Catholic priest to officiate, which would require their marriage to remain secret because James would lose certain rights if he revealed that he was Catholic. Eventually, Mary agrees to marry James in the Anglican Church, but their relatively contented life is threatened with the possibility of James’s exposure as a member of the rebel group the United Irishmen. Mezzacappa brings nuance and a great depth of historical knowledge to the cross-class romance between a servant and a nobleman. Readers who like their romance heavy on the history will be enchanted. (Jan.)

Reviewed on 11/15/2024 | Details & Permalink