• Best Historical Romance Books

    A Beauty for the Scarred Duke by Bridget Barton

    She once spoke of tales of a terrifying monster–the scarred Duke of Coldwell. Now she’s been sold off to marry to him…

    As young girls, Lady Isabella Tate, daughter of the Earl of Upperton, and her friend, Esme, told each other terrifying tales of the monster. But not just any monster. This monster was alive and living in his old mansion behind a tangle of overgrown hawthorn trees in the very same county. This monster was none other than Elliot Covington, the Duke of Coldwell.

    The Duke of Coldwell, scarred for life in a fire which claimed the lives of those dearest to him has been hiding in his mansion for almost eighteen years. He knows he is a figure of fear and speculation in the county and chose many years before to live a life of self-imposed isolation. But he is the loneliest Duke in all of England. When the Earl of Upperton sells his daughter off as a bride for the disfigured Duke, Isabella has never been more terrified. Due to marry a man she has never met and always believed to be a monster, she truly believes her life is over.

    But is life with the Duke really something to be afraid of? Will Isabella be able to get past her own prejudice and see the man beneath the scars? And will the Duke be able to let go of the pain and guilt that has swallowed him whole for almost two decades and find a new life with a new love?

  • Best Historical Romance Books

    Deception in Emeralds by Laura Landon

    She will accept his proposal of marriage. And take her revenge.

    Barnaby Linscott, under orders from the Crown, must apprehend or kill one of England’s most elusive villains. The means to accomplish his mission are anything but clear, but his mind is resolved. The man has already murdered three government agents, and Barnaby vows he will not be the fourth, though he has little to lose. That is, until he meets the partner assigned to carry out his deadly mission.

    Lady Millicent Chandler has lost everything. Her beautiful Cliffside Manor has been burned, her parents, her brother Thomas, and her sister Polly all murdered. When her trusted servants bring her their suspicions that her handsome neighbor is directly involved, she knows exactly what she’ll do. She will accept his proposal of marriage. And take her revenge.

    The author on overcoming writer’s block:

    “I know that many would disagree with this, but I don’t think there’s such a thing as writer’s block. I think when we sit down to write and we struggle, we’ve taken a wrong turn in our story, or we’ve forgotten an element that our inner voice is telling us must be added.
    When I have trouble, I rely on my writer friends to help me out. When I can’t see the forest for the trees, I have to rely on them to see my forest and point it out to me.”

    Laura Landon

  • Best Historical Romance Books

    A Grand Season to Remember by Abigail Agar

    Will Annis be able to heal the wounds of her past and give love a second chance, or will she never be able to trust a man again?

    After a disastrous London Season that left her with a broken heart, Annis decided to retreat to the countryside, leaving all her painful memories behind. When two years later, though, she is forced to accompany her younger sister to her first Season, hurtful memories and fears that she has been trying to repress, will begin to resurface. As if her life was not already a tragedy in the making, the very man who broke her heart appears out of nowhere, once again turning her life upside down.

    All these years Oliver could not take his mind off of Annis, even though she ran away from him without any explanation. The fateful moment he meets her again, he knows deep inside that she is the woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with, and decides to do whatever it takes to win her back. Will he ever find the reason why Annis abandoned him and threw the opportunity of a happy life by his side? How far will he go to convince her that his life has no meaning if she is not in it?

    When a third person tries to put obstacles in their path, Annis and Oliver must prove that nothing can keep them apart. Even though their love is still alive, rife misunderstandings still prevent them from leaving the bad memories behind and start a new chapter in their life. Will their love be strong enough to survive it all, or the events of the past will never stop haunting them?

  • Paranormal Romance

    Celtic Moon by Jan DeLima

    Like father, like son…

    Sophie Thibodeau has been on the run from the father of her son for more than fifteen years. Now her son, Joshua, is changing, and her greatest fears are about to be realized. He’s going to end up being just like his father—a man who can change into a wolf.

    Dylan Black has been hunting for Sophie since the night she ran from him—an obsession he cannot afford in the midst of an impending war. Dylan controls Rhuddin Village, an isolated town in Maine where he lives with an ancient Celtic tribe. One of the few of his clan who can still shift into a wolf, he must protect his people from the Guardians, vicious warriors who seek to destroy them.

    When Sophie and Dylan come together for the sake of their son, their reunion reignites the fierce passion they once shared. For the first time in years, Dylan’s lost family is within his grasp. But will he lose them all over again? Are Joshua and Sophie strong enough to fight alongside Dylan in battle? Nothing less than the fate of his tribe depends on it…

    The author on the main character Sophie:

    “Her strength comes from her instinct to protect her child at all costs. She’s tough when she needs be, soft when she’s loved, and always practical. She’s real.”

    Jan DeLima

  • Best Historical Romance Books

    The Renegade’s Heart by Claire Delacroix

    They never imagining that their single shared kiss has launched a battle for Murdoch’s very soul.

    Released from the captivity of the Fae, Murdoch Seton wants nothing more than to forget his lost years. Undertaking a quest to recover treasure stolen from his family seems the perfect solution – but Murdoch is not counting upon a curious maiden who holds both the secret to the theft and his sole redemption.

    Isabella is outraged to find her brother’s keep besieged by a renegade knight – especially one who is too handsome for his own good or hers. After a single encounter, she becomes convinced that his cause is just and decides to unveil the true thief.

    As the treacherous Fae move to claim Murdoch forever, Isabella seeks to heal the knight who has stolen her heart. But will Murdoch allow her to take a risk and endanger herself? Or will he sacrifice himself to ensure Isabella’s future?

    The author on writing historical and medieval fiction:

    “Throughout the medieval era, all over Europe, there’s a persistent notion that more is going on in the world than what we mortals notice. Many cultures tell stories of otherworldly beings, of gods walking amongst us or even of the intervention of the divine in our world. I love that sense that so much is possible, and also that much of what’s happening is hidden. The idea of worlds parallel to our own is fascinating. “

    Claire Delacroix

  • Best Historical Romance Books

    Her Counterfeit Husband by Ruth Ann Nordin

    A conspiring duchess. An amnesiac doppelgänger. Can hearts be true in the midst of double deception?

    Anna feels little anguish when she sees the dead body of her husband. The young widow has no plans to mourn over the cruel Duke of Watkins, but she knows that his untimely death will put her at the mercy of his malicious younger brother. With help from her loyal butler, Anna smuggles away the body in the dead of night…

    Anna hopes to keep her husband’s death a secret until she’s settled far from the reach of her spiteful brother-in-law. When she stumbles upon an unconscious, wounded man who bears an uncanny resemblance to the Duke, she wonders if she’s found the solution to all their problems. The stranger wakes up with no memories of his life, and Anna wastes no time convincing him of the lie…

    As her husband’s doppelgänger begins to treat her like true royalty, Anna succumbs to his affections. Just when she thinks the charade is in the clear, the truth bubbles to the surface. Can Anna convince the amnesiac of her love before losing her husband a second time?

    The inspiration for writers:

    “We can’t compare ourselves to others because our personalities are different. What works for one person doesn’t always work for another. And as writers, we all write different things, and our writing process works in different ways. So really, I think the biggest thing is to focus on what you’re doing… Figure out what your strengths are, learn to appreciate them, and use them to your advantage.”

    Ruth Ann Nordin

  • Best Historical Romance Books

    Oppressed & Empowered: The Viscount’s Capable Wife by Bree Wolf

    A woman with the desire to heal. A lord with a shameful secret. And a contract that binds them together.

    Wishing to follow in her father’s footsteps, Evelyn Procten has always tended to those in need. The only future Evelyn can see for herself is that of a doctor…until she is called to Farnworth Manor to tend to the young viscount’s sister, who finds herself unmarried and with child.
    Unfortunately, her stay at Farnworth Manor once again throws Evelyn into the path of Lord Ashwood, a man she has loved from a distance for many years. A man who has never looked at her twice. A man who disapproves of her professional ambition.

    As far as society is concerned, Richard Davenport, Viscount Ashwood, is a cold-hearted and uncaring man. Nevertheless, Richard knows his duty and would never act against propriety. However, the whispers retreat into the background when his unmarried sister reveals to him that she is with child. Determined to maintain her secret, Richard keeps her locked away at Farnworth Manor. Still, in order to ensure his sister’s well-being, he is forced to call upon the one woman who has always been able to melt the ice from his heart.

    Will he be able to resist her? Or will he succumb to her tender heart and share with her the one secret that has always determined his life?

    The author on self-publishing:

    “I chose to self-publish because it allowed me to stay in control and get to it right away, without waiting for someone else’s approval. I write the book and I decide when it is ready to be published and put before readers.”

    Bree Wolf

  • Best Contemporary Romance Novels

    Second Chance on the Corner of Main Street by Meg Easton

    He shattered her heart when he raced out of town 12 years ago. Can she forgive him now that he’s back?

    Fun-loving Whitney Brennan has been running the presses at the Nestled Hollow Gazette while running from love. She’s part of every town gathering, but is terrified of making any real or deep connection with anyone because she knows that if she does, they’ll end up leaving like her mother did. Like the man who taught her everything about the paper did. Like her high school best-friend-turned-boyfriend did on graduation night.

    Eli Treanor skipped out of Nestled Hollow twelve years ago and created a new life and a thriving team-building business he thoroughly enjoys in Sacramento. When his parents beg him to come back and run the family outdoor rentals business while his dad has surgery, Eli isn’t happy about returning to the town that didn’t love him, the dad he could never please, and the girl he left behind all those years ago.

    When Whitney and Eli are paired together to create the decorations for the Main Street Fall Market, many of their old feelings resurface. But it also opens past wounds. Can Whitney and Eli overcome the fears that are stopping them from giving their love the second chance it deserves?

    Review by Award-Winning author of the Safe Harbor series:

    “Second Chance on the Corner of Main is a delightful tale of missed opportunity made right. In spite of their hurtful parting years ago, Eli and Whitney’s love sparkles on the page and makes this sweet romance totally sigh-worthy.”

    Donna K. Weaver

  • Best Contemporary Romance Novels

    Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott

    Can you love someone you can never touch?

    Stella Grant likes to be in control—even though her totally out of control lungs have sent her in and out of the hospital most of her life. At this point, what Stella needs to control most is keeping herself away from anyone or anything that might pass along an infection and jeopardize the possibility of a lung transplant. Six feet apart. No exceptions.

    The only thing Will Newman wants to be in control of is getting out of this hospital. He couldn’t care less about his treatments, or a fancy new clinical drug trial. Soon, he’ll turn eighteen and then he’ll be able to unplug all these machines and actually go see the world, not just its hospitals.

    Will’s exactly what Stella needs to stay away from. If he so much as breathes on Stella she could lose her spot on the transplant list. Either one of them could die. The only way to stay alive is to stay apart. But suddenly six feet doesn’t feel like safety. It feels like punishment. What if they could steal back just a little bit of the space their broken lungs have stolen from them? Would five feet apart really be so dangerous if it stops their hearts from breaking too?

    The author’s inspiration for the book:

    Five Feet Apart is truly the product of so many people’s hard work, motivated by the desire to raise awareness about Cystic Fibrosis.  From the screenplay by Mikki Daughtry and Tobias Iaconis, to Justin Baldoni’s work as a director, to Claire Wineland’s incredible contributions and spirit, to my writing of the book adaptation, all of it was done with that intention.”

    Rachael Lippincott

  • Best Contemporary Romance Novels

    Stealing Home by Sherryl Woods

    For the Sweet Magnolias, friendship lasts a lifetime…

    Maddie Townsend might live in a town called Serenity and have the best friends a woman could ask for, but her life is overturned when her husband leaves her for a younger woman. With her three children heartbroken from the change, Maddie has a lot to contend with. On top of it all, after years outside the workforce, she must dust off her business skills to take charge of her best friends’ newest project—planning the town’s only fitness spa for women.

    When her son’s developing anger issues begin to affect his passion for baseball, Maddie knows she must step in to help. She didn’t expect to develop feelings for her son’s coach, the handsome Cal Maddox, and to learn he has feelings for her, too. But gossip travels quickly in a small town, and Maddie and Cal’s relationship may threaten both their reputations and careers. Then again, he could be the one man in all of South Carolina who can help her find serenity after all.

    The author on writing dialogue:

    “dialogue has always been the easiest part of writing for me. I think that’s because of my background in journalism in general, and as a television critic specifically. As a journalist — in an era before we recorded every interview — I had to train myself to listen closely to the way people phrased things so I could quote their comments accurately. And over the years I heard a LOT of television dialogue.”

    Sherryl Woods