• Best Gothic Romance,  Best Historical Romance Books

    Dark Prince by Eve Silver

    Isolated and alone, Jane’s only companion is the man she dare not trust, the man who looks at her with heated desire that she both fears and craves.  

    Innkeeper’s daughter Jane Heatherington is sold into indentured servitude to cover her father’s debts, sold to Aidan Warrick, a man whose handsome face and form mock the rumors that skulk in his shadow, rumors that paint him a smuggler, a pirate…and worse.

    On the rainswept Cornish coast, Aidan’s business is carried out in the darkest hours of moonless nights, his secrets are many, and death follows in his wake. Isolated and alone, Jane’s only companion is the man she dare not trust, the man who looks at her with heated desire that she both fears and craves. As she finds herself ensnared in the twisted schemes carried out within the walls of Aidan’s looming estate, Jane must decide if Aidan Warrick is the dark prince of her dreams or a monster preying on the innocent…

    The author’s favorite poetry:

    ” love the poetry of Edgar Allen Poe. Yes, I know, very dark and tormented, but I see it too as full of beauty. The Raven, Annabel Lee, A Dream Within A Dream, all such beautiful works.”

    Eve Silver (Kenin)

  • Best Inspirational Romance Books

    The Billionaire’s Temporary Marriage by Tamie Dearen

    When a stranger with a lime-green mechanical hand drenches her in coffee, the last thing Brooke expects is a marriage proposal from a famous hot billionaire.

    A marriage of convenience… so tempting. Brooke Ponzio can’t argue against Cole’s flawless logic. The divorce settlement will solve all the money-troubles for Brooke and her unborn child. If only Cole wasn’t so mouth-wateringly delicious. Should she risk having her heart broken again?

    Cole Miller refuses to fall in love. Not ever! That’s why he chose Brooke to get him out of his ill-advised contract. All she wants is sole custody of her baby, so when the time comes, she’ll give him a stress-free divorce. Sure, they’ll have to make the marriage look real to their parents and the rest of the world. And they’ll need to forget all about that sizzling kiss they shared. Should be simple. What could possibly go wrong?

    Soon, their magnetic draw has them both battling to maintain their willpower. But Brooke slowly falls in love with the man who treats her better than any man ever has, while Cole’s attraction is purely physical. Or at least that’s what he tells himself. How will Brooke handle her sleazy ex-husband when he tries to cash in on her fame? What happens when Cole can’t protect Brooke from his crazed fans? Will he admit his feelings before it’s too late?

    The author’s thoughts on the perfect romantic hero:

    “He needs to care in a deep, self-sacrificing way. It’s always nice if your hero has a six-pack, but it’s more important for him to have a tender heart. It’s especially sweet when the guy doesn’t even realize how soft-hearted he is.”

    Tamie Dearen

  • Paranormal Romance

    Hope(less) by Melissa Haag

    Freedom is so close Gabby can taste it.

    After years of meeting single werewolves and successfully dodging the mating bullet, she’s on her way to her last Introduction to say “No, thanks” one final time. As a human, she has no plans to attach herself to a werewolf. But, she didn’t count on meeting Clay. With a single look, Gabby knows Clay is the one. And, unfortunately, he knows it too. The silent, ruggedly-handsome werewolf is determined to win his mate by any means necessary. Gabby does what any sane girl would do and runs. Not only does Clay follow, but something truly dangerous does as well. 

    Now, hunted for the secrets she’s spent her whole life protecting, Gabby must turn to the one man she didn’t want for the help she needs. Time is running out to discover who or what wants her, and Gabby’s just starting to realize there’s more at stake than the heart and freedom of one human girl. 

    The author on her favorite characters in this book:

    “In all seriousness, each character holds a special place in my heart. Clay’s quiet perseverance has won many readers over. Emmitt’s patience and charm has instigated a few book boyfriend wars. Luke’s roguish ways and yummy accent tempt even the best good-girls. The list goes on…”

    Melissa Haag

  • Best Christian Romance Books,  Best Clean and Wholesome Romance,  Best Contemporary Romance Novels

    Heart of Clay by Shanna Hatfield

    It’s never too late to give love a second chance. . . even for a hard-working cowboy.

    Callan Matthews awakens one day to the realization her husband has taken a nose dive off the pedestal where he’s resided since the moment they met. As Clay unwittingly tugs at the last few threads keeping her from completely unraveling, she has to choose between walking away or running back into his arms.

    Easygoing cowboy Clay Matthews works hard and plays even harder. He’s the last person to wade into emotional turmoil, but he’s up to his neck in it trying to decipher his wife’s suddenly frosty feelings toward him.  When tragedy strikes and a life-altering secret is revealed, this tender, sometimes humorous sweet romance embraces the beauty of letting go of the past and daring to fall in love all over again.

    The author on writing Heart of Clay:

    “I began writing my first book, Heart of Clay, in February 2010. I’d been toying with the idea of the story for a while and I finally decided to sit down and see if I could write it!  The idea was one of a realistic couple struggling to hang on to their marriage instead of letting it go.”

    Shanna Hatfield

  • Best Christian Romance Books,  Best Clean and Wholesome Romance,  Best Historical Romance Books

    A Lady of Esteem by Kristi Ann Hunter

    Who to trust when her reputation is at stake…

    Miss Amelia Stalwood may live in London at her absent guardian’s townhouse, but she’s never actually met any nobility; instead of aristocrats, her closest friends are servants.

    Quite by happenstance, she’s introduced to the Hawthorne family and their close family friend, Anthony, the reformed Marquis of Raebourne. They welcome her into their world, but just as she’s beginning to gain some confidence and even suspect that she may have caught Anthony’s eye, she’s blindsided by an unexpected twist in her situation accompanied by nasty rumors. Will she lose her reputation when the world that has only just accepted her turns its back on her, or will she rest in the support of the friends who’ve become like family and the man who’s shared his faith and captured her heart?

    The author on faith during Regency England:

    “Despite the general debauchery across much of the culture, there were people who were devoutly Christian. This was the generation laying the groundwork for greats such as Charles Spurgeon and D.L. Moody to rise up and change the world. While the faith was certainly present, evangelism as we know it today was not a priority yet.”

    Kristi Ann Hunter

  • Best Christian Romance Books,  Best Clean and Wholesome Romance,  Best Historical Romance Books

    The Lacemaker by Laura Frantz

    Love, betrayal, and new beginnings…

    When colonial Williamsburg explodes like a powder keg on the eve of the American Revolution, Lady Elisabeth “Liberty” Lawson is abandoned by her fiancé and suspected of being a spy for the hated British.

    No one comes to her aid save the Patriot Noble Rynallt, a man with formidable enemies of his own. Liberty is left with a terrible choice. Will the Virginia belle turned lacemaker side with the radical revolutionaries, or stay true to her English roots? And at what cost?

    What the author wants readers to learn through The Lacemaker:

    “That history is truly God’s story, and during that tumultuous period when America fought for its independence, He was at work creating one of the greatest, God-honoring nations in the world through the flawed yet selfless heroism of our founding fathers, the American people, and courageous women like our heroine who supported the cause for liberty.”

    Laura Frantz

  • Best Historical Romance Books

    Highland Promise by Alyson McLayne

    When forced to choose between duty and honor, this Highland Laird will find a way to have both.

    Darach MacKenzie vowed never again to let a woman near his heart after his betrothed betrayed him. It sparked an intense feud between his clan and the Frasers. With all-out war on the wind, Darach can’t be distracted—not even by a sweet and charming lass who desperately needs his help.

    When Darach rescued Caitlin MacInnes from the clutches of vile Laird Fraser, she vowed to never let men or misery rule her life again. With Darach and the MacKenzie clan, Caitlin finally feels safe. But when Laird Fraser shows up to claim what’s rightfully his, or go to war, Darach will have to use all his brawn and brains to protect Caitlin—even if it means losing his heart.

    The author’s inspiration for this novel:

    “I first started writing HIGHLAND PROMISE about 10 years ago after reading ALL of Julie Garwood’s Highlander romances. I LOVED them—the resolute Highland laird and the kind, somewhat quirky, heroine who worms her way into his heart. IMHO, they are the funniest, sweetest, and best warm-fuzzy- inducing books ever written. I think HIGHLAND PROMISE captures that same tone and spirit”

    Alyson McKlayne

  • Best Historical Romance Books

    MacFarland’s Lass by Glynnis Campbell

    A woman on the run…a man on the hunt. 

    He has forty days to earn her trust. She has forty days to win his heart. They have forty days to outwit their enemies.

    When Florie Gilder, the once-respected jeweler to Queen Mary, claims sanctuary in an abandoned church for a crime she didn’t commit, huntsman Rane MacFarland, a local hero of the common folk, vows to protect her. But when his overlord charges him with preventing the fugitive lass’s escape, Rane finds himself torn between duty and desire when he begins to fall for his spirited captive. And when powerful foes conspire to turn Rane and Florie against each other, they need courage, wits, and, most of all, love, to survive.

    The author on why she bases her books in Scotland:

    “I’ve always been excited by medieval tales of noble knights and sweeping adventure. When I met my husband, we were both in high school, and once I found out he had Scottish roots, I became fascinated with that location. When I first visited Scotland, I fell in love with the rugged but beautiful landscape, the fierce but kindly people, and I was fascinated by the idea that women could wield power over clans.”

    Glynnis Campbell

  • Best Romantic Suspense Books

    To Die For by Linda Howard

    She was a dead ringer. Now she’s just dead. . . .

    Blair Mallory lives the good life. She’s pretty, confident, and the owner of a thriving up-scale fitness center. But in the shadow of success, a troubled member of the club develops a strange fixation on Blair, imitating her style and dress. Matters take a darker turn when the look-alike is shot dead—and Blair witnesses the horror.

    As the media speculates on the tawdry details of the homicide and pushes Blair into the harsh spotlight, she locks horns with police lieutenant Wyatt Bloodsworth. He wants to lead an investigation without interference, while Blair is determined to probe the dead woman’s life on her own. But when someone begins to menace Blair with mounting threats, Wyatt takes notice: Was this murder indeed a lethal case of mistaken identity–and was Blair the intended victim?

    Writing the main character, Blair:

    “Blair was fun, period. I was never a cheerleader, and my friends call me “the queen of logic.” That’s when they aren’t saying that I think like a man. So Blair is nothing like me, and if I didn’t channel a cheerleader I’d like to know what the heck that voice is chattering away inside my head??? Her family never underestimated her, but men did. And she had fun with it. She was so cheerfully ruthless, and so intelligent and sharp, that she used her personna as a means of getting her way. If someone underestimated her, she blithely rolled over them. When I was writing To Die For I spent a lot of my time sitting in front of the computer laughing like an idiot.”

    Linda Howard

  • Best Historical Romance Books

    The Duke of Seduction by Darcy Burke

    Lady Lavinia Gillingham prefers rocks and dirt to marriage…

    Her passion is science, and she’s determined to marry if—and only if—she finds a man who supports her interests and intellect. So far, she’s managed to avoid attention on the Marriage Mart, but when the Duke of Seduction pens anonymous letters singing her praises, she suddenly becomes the toast of the ton and matrimony seems imminent.

    William Beckett, Marquess of Northam possesses the reputation of a rake but is secretly a romantic. Spurned at sixteen and knowing his sister was victimized by Society, he uses music and poetry to fill the void in his soul. As the Duke of Seduction, he uses his skill to help Lavinia, never anticipating she has no desire for assistance or that she could be the balm he needs. But when she’s on the verge of becoming engaged, can Beck beat back the shadows of the past and open his heart again?

    The author’s background in writing:

    “I’ve considered myself a writer most of my adult life. I’ve done technical writing for banks and software companies, written marketing creative, and written and edited for a variety of non-profit publications. I started writing romance with a goal of publication about six years ago.”

    Darcy Burke