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A Heartless Design by Elizabeth Cole

June 25, 2024

An enigmatic woman, a determined spy, and a design that could shake the foundations of England…

“Heartless” Cordelia Bering refuses every marriage offer she receives. Yet men still try to win her, drawn by her sharp wit and intoxicating green eyes. But Cordelia knows a marriage could reveal her deepest secret and truly endanger her life. Besides, she hasn’t met a man worth considering, until… Sebastien Thorne, a spy in the service of Crown. One of the elite agents in the group known as the Zodiac, he comes to London determined to solve a mystery with roots on the Continent. He won’t let anything distract him. But is Cordelia a distraction, or the key to the mystery? As he learns more about the “heartless” woman, he becomes embroiled in secrets, plots, and a design that could change the future…and Cordelia is at the center of it all. The author’s on her inspiration for the novel and the series:

“I came up with the name of the Zodiac and the concept of twelve agents who use the signs as their code names. I also have some secret pasts for characters that I’m taking my time to tell… I just love reading romances set in the Regency period, and I love mysteries, so I guess putting them together made sense. That’s why there’s a mystery element to each story. The spies are all working to uncover plots or conspiracies, which is how they keep running into my fabulously intelligent and stunning heroines!”

Elizabeth Cole

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A Stormy Season by Melanie Dickerson

May 24, 2024

Nothing but the deepest love will induce Jane Gilchrist to marry, even when asked by the young and handsome widower with whom every other girl is in love.

Luke Watley lost his wife to a tragic accident. But when he discovers it was no accident at all, he must solve the mystery behind her murder, or he—and anyone close to him—is in danger of becoming their next victim. Jane Gilchrist is maddeningly opinionated, annoyingly high-spirited, and . . . more appealing than any woman has a right to be. He seems to lose all rationality when she is near. But if he lets her get too close, she might be the next person to be killed because of his faithless first wife. But when her reputation is at stake, in an effort to do the right thing as a gentleman, he asks her to marry him. But when she agrees only to a pretend engagement, sparks of every kind begin to fly. Jane is disgusted by the way women fawn all over the newly widowed Mr. Watley. She can’t decide if she should hate him for being so sought after, feel sorry for him for losing his wife, or kiss him when no one is looking. Whatever she decides, it’s sure to be a stormy season! The author’s message to her readers through her novels:

“That God is good and He has a good plan for all of us. Each novel has at least one special lesson that I hope the reader can take away with them.”

Melanie Dickerson

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Best Historical Romance Books, Best Romantic Suspense Books

Dark Desires by Eve Silver

March 22, 2024

Is her handsome employer innocent … or is he a remorseless killer who prowls the East End streets?
Betrayed by those she trusted, penniless and alone, Darcie Finch is forced to accept a position that no one else dares, as the assistant to dangerously attractive Dr. Damien Cole. Ignoring the whispered warnings and rumors that he’s a man to fear, she takes her position at his eerie estate, where she quickly discovers that nothing is at it seems, least of all her handsome and brooding employer. As Darcie struggles with her fierce attraction to Damien, she must also deal with the blood, the disappearances … and the murders. With her options dwindling and time running out, Darcie must rely on her instincts as she confronts the man she is falling in love with. A raving review for the novel:
“…a gripping gothic that combines the tension of the Jack the Ripper stories with the dark aura of Jekyll and Hyde and the chill of a classic horror film. There’s icy fear and smoldering passion, twists and turns and red herrings thrown in here and there to keep you up all night.”

RT BookReviews

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Best Historical Romance Books

Where Love Begins by Julianne MacLean

February 9, 2024

He may be a disreputable rake, but he is determined to win the most coveted prize of all: the love of a virtuous lady.

Lord Martin Langdon has been deeply wounded by love in the past, so he takes pride in his scandalous reputation where the art of seduction is a most rewarding—and emotionally painless—pastime. When he sets sail for the Isle of Wight to race his champion yacht during Cowes Week, he learns of a particularly beautiful woman who is “impossible to flirt with,” and grows determined to prove that not even the prim and proper Evelyn Wheaton can resist his charms. Evelyn knows all about the reckless rogue’s shocking reputation and she wants nothing to do with him. She may be looking for a husband, but Lord Martin is certainly not a candidate. The smoldering looks he sends her way, however, are a different matter entirely. She suspects there is great passion to be had if she could throw caution to the wind and surrender to his charms . . . but dare she risk her heart? And will Martin, who hides a most tormented past, be able to surrender to true love at last? The author on what makes a great book:

“[F]or me, it’s something in the author’s voice that pulls me in and connects me to the main character and the events of the story. I want to feel like I’m inside the character’s skin, experiencing what they are experiencing. Unfortunately, there’s no explanation for that kind of magic… I also love to be surprised by plot twists or characters who don’t do what I expect them to do. I love it when an author steers away from the obvious. ”

Julianne MacLean

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The Lost Castle by Kristy Cambron

November 17, 2023

The French Revolution, World War II, and present day—three resilient women’s stories are interwoven by an enchanting storybook castle that stands witness to their lives.
1789: Aveline Saint-Moreau is a wealthy and beautiful young aristocrat preparing for her betrothal to the Duc et Vivay’s heir Philippe, but the French Revolution looms as the Bastille is stormed in Paris. 1944: Viola Hart is a Resistance fighter in France during World War II, desperately trying to root out the evil taking hold in her country as the Nazis occupy France. Present day: Ellie Carver is in a race against time to deliver a decades-overdue message as her grandmother fades into the shadows of Alzheimer’s. Embarking on a journey to France’s Loire Valley, Ellie can only hope to unearth the secrets of the mysterious castle before time silences them forever. As Ellie’s journey unfolds, so too do the journeys of the two other women, each of their stories woven together through their connection with the forgotten French castle—a castle that plays a part in saving each one of them. The author on her favorite part of the writing process:
“I’m an art and history addict. I love the research part of each writing experience, and falling into the characters’ worlds. Sometimes the experience is so real, it takes me a few days to remember I’m not living in France, 1944… Examining a place in history and then breathing life into it through the characters’ eyes really is an incredible journey that I long to relive with each book.”

Kristy Cambron

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Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore

November 3, 2023

Locked in a battle with rising passion and a will matching her own, Annabelle will learn just what it takes to topple a duke…

England, 1879. Annabelle Archer, the brilliant but destitute daughter of a country vicar, has earned herself a place among the first cohort of female students at the renowned University of Oxford. In return for her scholarship, she must support the rising women’s suffrage movement. Her charge: recruit men of influence to champion their cause. Her target: Sebastian Devereux, the cold and calculating Duke of Montgomery who steers Britain’s politics at the Queen’s command. Her challenge: not to give in to the powerful attraction she can’t deny for the man who opposes everything she stands for. Sebastian is appalled to find a suffragist squad has infiltrated his ducal home, but the real threat is his impossible feelings for green-eyed beauty Annabelle. He is looking for a wife of equal standing to secure the legacy he has worked so hard to rebuild, not an outspoken commoner who could never be his duchess. But he wouldn’t be the greatest strategist of the Kingdom if he couldn’t claim this alluring bluestocking without the promise of a ring…or could he?

“Like Annabelle, I went to Oxford on a scholarship, and while I was writing, I felt the feeling that this education was my key to a better, independent life all over again. It made me very sympathetic toward Annabelle as she struggled to keep juggling all her responsibilities only to be ambushed by a most inappropriate, irresistible love interest..”

Evie Dunmore

Evie also shared with us a quote that inspires her:

“”Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

~ Mary Oliver

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Kari by Miriam Minger

October 6, 2023

A sweet Western historical romance series that reminds us angels are near and love is where you least expect to find it…

Still grieving the loss of her mother, Kari Hagen leaves her younger siblings behind and travels to Walker Creek, Texas. She promised to deliver a letter to her mother’s first love, so now she just has to find him. Should she accept an offer of assistance from that tall cowboy who’s as handsome as any man she’s ever seen? The sooner she gives the letter to Mr. Caleb Walker, the sooner Kari can start earning money as a seamstress for train fare back to her family in Minnesota. Seth Davis isn’t expecting any surprises when he meets the train. He plans to pick up his uncle’s new racehorse and head back to Walker Creek Ranch. Yet what about that pretty little miss standing alone on the platform…all honey-gold curls, blue calico, and no taller than his chin? Is she lost? He’s never seen her before, though she looks oddly familiar, something telling Seth that his day just got a whole lot more interesting.

A 5-star review:

“Kari really touched my heart. It was about the overcoming of prejudices, forgiveness, acceptance, and pure love that happened. You have to believe in the possibility off angels and just plain Christian romance. Its suspense is great and keeps you on the edge but also with so many other emotional aspects too this book; it’s too much to describe. Reading it will give you a warm homey feeling of love and courage with strength that you never thought possible. I loved it.”

Shamika L. Bland – Goodreads

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One Wylde Night by Chasity Bowlin

August 4, 2023

A wallflower, a man trying to ferret out a blackmailer, and a fake betrothal…

Branded a wallflower along with her twin sister and her cousins, Miss Felicity Wylde has set out for London under the less than watchful eye of her eccentric aunt for one final season and one last chance to catch a husband. But her sister has convinced her it’s also a last chance for adventure. Goaded into attending a scandalous party, Felicity soon realizes her mistake. The women present are not ladies and men, though titled, are far from gentlemen. Closeting herself in the study, she hides there only to find herself trapped when a quarreling couple invade that space. Lord Phinneas Merrick attended Lord Hadley’s bacchanal as a means to an end. His entire relationship with the notoriously hot tempered cyprian, La Belle Rose, had been a carefully crafted ruse to gain entree to a particular set and ferret out a blackmailer in their debauched midst. But when he discovers a shockingly innocent young woman hiding in the study where his entanglement with the infamous demirep has come to a crashing end, he knows that the first order of business must be to remove her from that house before the unthinkable happens. But he can’t wash his hands of her so quickly. Not when the blackmailer has them in his sights. With her reputation and his honor hanging in the balance, Phin must convince her to a very public and very fake betrothal. There’s only one problem… the longer their fake betrothal lasts, the more he desperately wants to make her his.

A 5-star review:

“Another great book by Chasity Bowlin, One Wilde Night, kept me thoroughly entertained. I love Chasity Bowlin’s books and her feminine characters. Felicity is a woman hoping for some more adventure in her life but that desire leads her into trouble. Phinn is a character with an intriguing sense of honour and I really appreciated the relationship that developed between the two. Book 1 in a new series is an intriguing mixture of romance and suspense and I am really looking forward to book two.”

Anne–Goodreads

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The Commander’s Desire by Jennette Green

August 2, 2023

She must decide: betray allegiance to her kingdom–or her enemy who is quickly claiming her heart.

Princess Elwytha wants revenge on the monster who murdered her brother. In a false exchange for peace, she offers herself in marriage to the enemy Prince. The plan? Kill the Prince’s battle-scarred Commander–the man who ended King Thor’s life with one filthy sword thrust through the back. To her horror, the Commander agrees to take Elwytha as his bride. Worse, the wedding date will be sooner than expected. Not all is lost, however. Now she has more opportunity to be alone with him–and exact justice. But the deed is not so easy now. Fighting her innate sense of honor, she begins to see the ironclad integrity of the man behind the scars. And with this knowledge comes doubt. Did he slay her brother? What exactly is the new king’s plan? Whom can she trust? Elwytha must decide well, for more than her life is at stake. Soon she must betray either allegiance to her kingdom–or the man who is quickly claiming her heart.

5 Star Reviews

“A very nice play on my favorite Beauty And The Beast theme, THE COMMANDER’S DESIRE pairs a beautiful warrior-princess with an ugly giant… It is a touching and wonderful tale.” – Stephie, Cupid’s Library Reviews

“The Commander’s Desire is a historical novel that reaches you deep down to your soul….Simply stated, I loved this book.” – Cindy K. Green, WRDF Reviews

Historical background for the novel, from the author:

“This sweet (rated PG-13) historical romance takes place in 715 A.D. in Galwyddel, which is modern day southern Scotland. The 6th to 8th centuries were a time when many small Briton kingdoms warred for preeminence in this area, although Northumbria, a giant power to the east, ruled them from afar. In this book, Elwytha’s kingdom and the Commander’s land have been at war for almost a century, and distrust of the enemy has been bred deep into her soul.” – Jennette Green

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Not Like a Lady by Judith Lynne

May 19, 2023

She could lose everything if she can’t behave. She can’t behave.

Letty’s lost everything but one friend, and her horse. She desperately needs to convince the fierce baronet to buy any horse but hers. Now she’s causing her own problems, because she cannot stop touching a man she’d been prepared to hate.

The only way Sir Michael Grantley knows how to be the baronet of Roseford is to do what his father did. But he’s not his father, he’s a salty ex-sailor who lost half a leg in the war and has a far worse temper than his father ever did. Struggling to fill his father’s role, he’s desperate to get outdoors again – but for that he needs a biddable horse he can ride. He’s not prepared for the horse to come with a woman who wants her own life… and who decides that the key to her future is helping him ride again.

Letty has never been anything even close to a lady. Sir Michael imagines that the lady of Roseford Manor will be like his mother: calm and elegant. Neither of them can resist the one person they ought to refuse.

The author on the character Sir Michael:

“Some people’s fantasies may include men who are mean, or transforming men who are mean, but mine don’t. Michael is never mean. When he’s thoughtless or dumb, he corrects himself. And he shows with his actions every day that his gruffness hides a big goofy heart.”

Judith Lynne

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