It seemed for a day or two that spring had finally sprung, dear readers, but it seems our hopes for our gardens may have been somewhat premature. Thankfully, here in our Romance Garden, it’s always perfect weather, and the time is always right for a little romance.
And here are our genre aficionados’ selections for the month to help you find just the right romance to keep you going until the weather sees fit to cooperate once again!
Bridget:
Under the Wire by Helenkay Dimon
I’ve made my love of Helenkay Dimon’s stories quite clear in the past, and that adoration has only been confirmed by her Bad Boys Undercover series. As usual, Dimon creates fascinating, complex plots, and deeply meaningful, complicated relationships among her protagonists. Best of all, she clearly delights in subverting genre stereotypes in her books, ensuring that readers are always going to be kept on their toes.
In this fourth novel (more or less a standalone), Reid Armstrong, one of the elite operatives working for the security agency known as Alliance, is eagerly looking forward to a well-earned vacation. That is, until he hears that his former fiancée has disappeared while on a top-secret scientific expedition. He knows he blew his chances with Cara’s heart, but he isn’t about to turn his back on her. When Cara wakes up alone in a destroyed camp, she knows that she is still a target. And when Reid appears on the scene, it seems the danger has only increased. Even if they manage to get home alive, being so close to the man she still loves could break Cara’s heart for good.
I loved the way that Reid–as stoic and apparently unflappable as they come–has his world turned upside down by Cara, and that, despite all his alpha-male tendencies, he isn’t afraid to let her shine all by herself. Their adventures full of action and high-stakes tension, but Dimon certainly doesn’t skimp on the emotions here, making for a book–and a series–that readers will love.
Kelley:
The Danger of Desire by Sabrina Jeffries
A quick look at her website tells me that author Sabrina Jeffries is pretty prolific, but somehow I never managed to find my way to one of her wonderful romances until a trip to the library led me to the third book in her Sinful Suitors series, The Danger of Desire. Thankfully, reading the third book first was no problem, and being as I enjoyed the book so much I fully expect that I’ll be headed back for the first and second installments.
Our hero is Warren Corry, the Marquess of Knightford, a notorious rakehell who spends his evenings at cards and in brothels. Despite appearances, prone to horrifying nightmares, Knightford’s night life is less glamorous than it seems. Our heroine is Miss Delia Trevor, a woman determined to avenge her brother’s death and ruin by disguising herself as a man and playing cards at a men’s club in order to uncover the identity of the man who cheated him. Delia’s dangerous game is uncovered by Knightford and the two quickly discover that they enjoy each other’s company even when they are at odds.
Being as my non-romance reading is often pretty dense, I tend to look for romances that are light and fun with plots that keep the pages compulsively turning. I like my heroes flirtatious and quick witted and my heroines independent and up for adventure. If there are some quirky and charming family members, or in this case aloof and selective cats, all the better. The Danger of Desire delivered on all of those things making for a lovely afternoon of escape reading. The resolutions of the book’s two primary conflicts are a bit oversimplified, but overall I would highly recommend it. I, for one, will definitely be checking out more of Sabrina Jeffries’ books in the future. Lucky for me, there are a lot of them!
Until next month, beloved patrons–happy reading!
