Romance
January 2018
Recent Releases
To Marry a Texas Outlaw
by Linda Broday

Starring: a gunslinger on the lam, a beautiful sharpshooter with amnesia, plus an orphan and his dog.

Why you might like it: This 3rd book in the Men of Legend series boasts sympathetic characters, an evocative Old West setting, and a rip-roaring plot.

For fans of: Linda Lael Miller's emphasis on family ties and honor; Jo Goodman's action-packed historical Westerns.
A Duke in Shining Armor
by Loretta Chase

What it's about: Runaway bride Olympia Hightower flees across London, accompanied by her groom's best friend, the disreputable Duke of Ripley, who has vowed to protect her until she can be safely returned to her fiancé. But can he convince her to go through with the wedding? And does he really want to?

Series alert: A Duke in Shining Armor kicks off the Difficult Dukes series. Fans of the author's Dressmakers series will appreciate this fast-paced novel's upbeat storyline and balance of witty banter and emotional intensity.
Roomies
by Christina Lauren

What it's about: Aspiring novelist Holland Bakker and Irish subway busker Calvin McLoughlin embark on a modern-day marriage of convenience. Then Calvin becomes a Broadway star. Can their unconventional relationship survive the pressures of fame, secrets, and immigration services?

Author alert: Christina Lauren follows her bestselling Dating You / Hating You with another engaging contemporary romance set in the entertainment world.
The Bride Who Got Lucky
by Janna MacGregor

What it's about: Lady Emma Cavensham's best friend was murdered by her husband, who's now about to wed Wife No. 2. To bring the killer to justice, Emma will need the help of Nicholas St. Mauer, Earl of Somerton. But for fiercely independent Emma, the thought of relying on any man is unbearable -- especially after she falls for him.

Reviewers say: Booklist raves about the "effortlessly elegant writing, richly nuanced characterization, and lushly sensual love scenes" in this 2nd Cavensham Heiresses novel, which follows The Bad Luck Bride.
Wrong to Need You
by Alisha Rai

What it's about: After a decade of self-imposed exile, Jackson Kane is back in town. While he can't do much about his bad reputation, he knows he can help Sadia Ahmed, his brother’s widow and the only woman he has ever loved.

Read it for: Drama with a capital D, along with a diverse cast of complex characters, make this 2nd book in the Forbidden Hearts series a must-read for fans of second-chance romances that focus on love and redemption.
Bad Boys
The Hunter
by Kerrigan Byrne

What it's about: London's most feared assassin, Christopher Argent has, never allowed emotion to interfere with business -- until he's hired to kill actress Millicent "Millie" LeCour. He offers her a deal: he'll provide protection for her and her young son in exchange for one night in his bed.

Series alert:The Hunter is the 2nd book in the Victorian Rebels series, after The Highwayman.

Try this next: Moody, steamy, and suspenseful, The Hunter may appeal to fans of Jennifer Ashley's Highland Pleasure series.
Shadow Rider
by Christine Feehan

Introducing: Francesca Cappello, who moves to Chicago to start a new life and "Shadow Rider" Stefano Ferraro, head of the city's most notorious crime family, who claims Francesca as his own.

Read it for: a vulnerable but resilient heroine and an alpha male hero who will stop at nothing to protect the woman he loves.

Author alert: Mega-popular author Christine Feehan starts a new paranormal romance series sure to please fans of her bestselling Dark and Ghostwalkers series.
Test Drive
by Marie Harte

What it's about: Nursing student Lara Valley risks her future -- and her heart -- when she begins a flirtation with hot mechanic Johnny Devlin.

Is it for you? This opening installment of the Body Shop Bad Boys series features spicier sex scenes and saltier language than most contemporary romances.

You might also like: Fans of hot guys and fast cars may want to check out Jackie Ashenden's Motor City Royals books. For more good-girl/bad-boy pairings that cross class lines, try Jay Crownover's Saints of Denver series.
Duke of Sin
by Elizabeth Hoyt

Starring: Valentine Napier, the depraved Duke of Montgomery, and Bridget Crumb, the prim and proper housekeeper who's been sent to spy on him.

Is it for you? The Maiden Lane books are known for their troubled heroes whose motives are pure but whose activities may or may not be, strictly speaking, legal. This 10th series installment ups the ante with flamboyant Val, a blackmailer who puts a price on everything, even love.
Foreplay
by Sophie Jordan

What it's about: College student Pepper has never been kissed. Since guys prefer girls with experience (right?), she enlists heartthrob and notorious player Reece as her tutor, planning to use her newfound knowledge to woo her longtime crush. 

For fans of: Like Cora Carmack's All Played Out, this 1st book in the Ivy Chronicles pairs a straight-A student with a brooding hottie who dares her to walk on the wild side.
Contact your librarian for more great books!
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