If there’s one thing the world needs now, dear readers, it is more love.  Thankfully, the Library Gods are kind and generous, and we have a treasure trove of sweet, sultry, heart-rending, and pulse-pounding romances for your delectation!

Every month, our genre aficionados  bring you our favorite romances that we’ve read in the past month, and this month we have two sensational picks for you, both historical and contemporary.  We’re all looking forward to the summer’s new romance releases, so keep watching this spot for more updates–or drop into the Library, and check out our Free For All display, where we keep our top picks from the Romance Garden: because every mind needs a little dirt in which to grow….

Bridget:

The Wedding Pact by Katee Robert

I’ve been a big fan of Katee Robert for some time now, and now that her series are now coming out in print, as well as e-book, I have the chance to share her with all of you!

The premise of Robert’s books always sound quite racy–and many of them are–but they are also, at their heart, really touching stories about two people finding their way to each other, giving each other strength to overcome their fears, and the courage to be themselves.  And this book, featuring two warring crime families in a very fictionalized Boston, is no different.

Carrigan O’Malley’s family has been at war with the Hallorans for as long as she can remember, and she has always known that her duty is to continue (and win) that battle.  That’s why she’s been engaged to a family ally for years: in order to make her family strong, not because there is any real emotion between her and her fiance.  James Halloran is still reeling from his own family drama, and worried about his wild younger brother.  But when Carrigan meets James Halloran in a bar, both of them know that there is something between them–something that could very easily destroy both of their families.  Yet, try as they might, neither Carrigan or James can seem to ignore the other.

I had some problems with the first book in this series (The Marriage Contract, in case you want to read that first), primarily because the two protagonists couldn’t communicate like grown-ups.  Thankfully, this was not a problem with Carrigan and James. Instead, they each served as a haven for the other, offering trust and security, as well as escape and release, and, as a result, they can be totally honest with each other.  That honesty, and the bond that results, makes for a truly passionate forbidden romance that is achingly sweet and spicy at the same time.  And, much like Kelley’s pick below, I loved that the characters didn’t hem and haw, or lie to themselves and each other about what they wanted.  They took matters into their own hands, and made the ending of this book one that had me cheering out loud.

Though this is the second book in the O’Malley Series, you really don’t have to have read the first book to enjoy this one; the plot details that you need to know are covered, and Carrigan’s romance with James is definitely one that stands on its own beautifully.  I do have to take a bit of umbrage at the use of Boston as a setting though, as I am a stickler for details.  However, if that is the worst I have to say about this book, then it really is quite a winner.

Seriously, there really was no reason to drive all the way up to Maine for That One Scene…..

Kelley:

Marrying Winterborne by Lisa Kleypas

Since beginning my romance reading journey last year, I find that I keep a running mental list of my favorite historical romance heroes, and a new one is vying for a top spot: Rhys Winterborne.

So, you may ask, what makes Mr. Winterborne so special? Unlike most historical romance heroes who carry family titles of duke or earl or marquess, Rhys Winterborne is the Welsh son of a shop owner who earned his fortune and position in society through determination and hard work. The owner of the largest department store in London, despite his financial success, just his being Welsh at the time of this story makes him an underdog and who can resist rooting for the charming guy with an unfair disadvantage? But perhaps the most refreshing thing of all about this unique historical romance hero is that he is a man with the freedom that money and power allow, but without the restrictions that a title would force upon him, a combination that reveals him to be forthright and honest about his feelings and desires even when they are overwhelming to him or potentially unpopular with his peers. That kind of directness is often absent in historical romances, where the characters dance around society’s dictates, and it’s exactly what makes this book something special.

When Mr. Rhys Winterborne and Lady Helen Ravenel first come together in Kleypas’ Cold Hearted Rake, readers had no doubt where the next book in the series would lead. Marrying Winterborne opens with the renewal of the couple’s engagement, but of course things can’t be that simple. First, Helen has to convince her disapproving family that she truly desires a marriage with an untitled man. Along the way, secrets of the past come to light that complicate things, but throughout, Helen manages to be the softening and caring presence Rhys has needed all his life, and Rhys is the supporting force that allows Helen to finally find the courage to step out of her role as the quiet and protected oldest Ravenel daughter. And when she does, get ready, because the choices she makes will entirely change her life as she has always known it.

In addition to a great male protagonist, this romance thoroughly succeeds where many others come up short. All too often, I feel that historical romance authors draw out deceptions between couples and the fall-out of their reveal ad nauseum. In Marrying Winterborne, Kleypas creates enough conflict to keep the pages turning, but leads the characters to their happy ending before readers find themselves completely fed up with the evasions of truth that inevitably come between couples in this genre. The supporting characters are also top notch, well drawn drawn individuals that I look forward to reading about in forthcoming books in this series. And most importantly, Kleypas also transcends the norm in her characterization of the Helen. Quiet and gentle by nature, Lady Helen’s fiery Ravenel family is protective of her, but when they make a major decision about her future without consulting her first, she knows it is time to take control of her own life. Step one in the process: Marrying Winterborne….

Happy reading, romance lovers! You can thank me later.

A little later than usual, dear readers, but our monthly review of our favorite romances is here, bringing some new suggestions for you, and offering you plenty of dirt in which your mind can grow!

Bridget:

Just One Night by Lauren Layne

I fully realize that I am developing into a total Lauren Layne groupie, but her romances are so charming, her characters so real, and their relationships so engrossing that I just can’t get enough.  Fortunately, the Library has a wide selection of her works, and her e-book only series, Sex, Love, and Stiletto is available on Overdrive.

Riley McKenna has made her career on sex.  As the official sex columnist for the sizzlingly hot magazine, Stiletto, Riley is known far as wide for her prowess.  The only problem?  It’s all a lie.  For as long as she can remember, Riley has been in love with Sam Compton, her brother’s best friend.  And no matter how hard she tries, no other man measures up to Sam.  So when her editor at Stiletto demands a tell-all article for the magazine’s big anniversary issue, Riley is stuck…does she admit her true lack of skill…or convince Sam to teach her all she needs to know?   Sam has had it bad for Riley for ages, but the McKenna’s were the family he always wanted and never had.  He’d never risk their trust, or risk breaking Riley’s heart….Right?

I really liked the way this book dealt with issues of male and female promiscuity, and didn’t shy away from the painful details in both Riley’s and Sam’s past, making it evident why they were the way they were, and what it cost both of them to make the leap from friends to lovers.  And, as someone who appreciates the written word, the ending was just pitch-perfect.

Kelley

 Luck is No Lady by Amy Sandas

In this first book in a new series from Amy Sandas, when a charming gambling hell owner and a responsible family-focused spinster play cards, everybody wins!

When Emma Chadwick, a gentleman’s daughter, finds her family facing ruin due to her deceased father’s unpaid gambling debts, she is forced to take a job. Thanks to her exceptional mathematical skills, she quickly finds work as a bookkeeper. The catch? The bookkeeping job is at Bentley’s, one of London’s most notorious gambling hells and certainly no place for a lady. The other catch? Her boss is Roderick Bentley, a man she’s met once before, and their attraction to each other is difficult to ignore.

Sandas develops the characters in this book beautifully. Emma is strong and independent, and takes her responsibility to her sisters very seriously, but we see her sacrifice her own needs and desires for love of her family. And yes, Roderick is a classic rogue in many ways, but he is also a caring man who is most proud of the fact that he’s created a business where his employees treat each other like family, which is something he has never had. The two come together as they try to surmount the danger of Emma’s financial troubles, and their interactions run the gamut from guarded to playful to sexy, but are always sincere.

Luck is No Lady was a perfect weekend-read romance that I didn’t want to put down. I look forward to seeing what the next two books in the series have in store.

Until next time, dear readers, we hope your July makes your heart skip a beat!

So it’s been an admittedly dismal spring around here, beloved patrons, and it’s been wreaking havoc on plants and emerging flowers.  So it’s a good thing that we have our Romance Garden, where there is no frost and no weeds…and plenty of dirt in our minds can grow!

So without further ado, here are our recommendations for you genre fans out there to savor, from the romance readers at the Peabody Library:

Bridget:
Cuff Me by Lauren Layne

I’ve sung Lauren Layne’s praises before in these romance posts, but I’m happy to do it again, because her stories are so unexpected, and her characters are so genuine and interesting that these relationships end up staying with you for a long time after reading the book.

Cuff Me is the third book in Layne’s New York’s Finest series, which focuses on the Morettis, a family of NYPD officers (Dad is a retired commissioner, and the three boys are all moving up the ranks).  Each book works perfectly as a stand-alone novel, but throughout the series, we’ve come to see Vincent, a top homicide detective, as little more than a gruff, cranky, and generally unapproachable guy.  This book, however, changes everything.

Vincent’s partner on the force, Jill Henley, has been in Florida for several months, helping her aging mother recover, and generally trying to convince herself that Vincent will never–and possibly can never feel the same way about her that she does about him.  Hoping to move on, she even finds herself a boyfriend who is everything that Vincent is not…Even though he would never admit it, being without Jill has been hell for Vincent, but when she comes home with an engagement ring on her finger, Vincent realizes that what he feels for Jill is far, far more than professional…but how can he convince her?  And even if he can, are they both willing to risk their careers for a chance together?

While love triangles are generally the bane of my existence, this book handled things surprisingly well, and didn’t drag the story into the realm of melodrama at all.  What I loved most, however, was that Vincent’s primary concern was for Jill’s happiness above all else, and not about “winning”.  Their relationship was wonderfully sympathetic, and, as they try and navigate their growing attraction to each other, also desperately, gut-wrenchingly awkward, which isn’t something you often see in a romance novel.  Add to that an engaging murder mystery on the side, and you have the makings of one stellar romance!

Kelley:
The Art of Taming a Rake by Nicole Jordan

In the first of Nicole Jordan’s Legendary Lovers series, we’re introduced to Venetia Stratham, a victim of scandal who is shunned by her family and society; and Quinn Wilde, a charming earl with a rakish reputation who finds himself the target of an assassin. When Quinn demonstrates an interest in Venetia’s beloved sister, Venetia sneaks into a gentlemen’s club to confront him about the matter. Having been burned by a handsome and titled “gentleman” herself, Venetia wants better for her sister, and is determined to discourage Quinn’s attentions.

The confrontation results in an explosive kiss that sets the tone for the rest of the book. Despite Venetia’s attempts to escape Quinn’s interest, the two are forced to marry when a situation arises that could potentially ruin what is left of Venetia’s good reputation. Venetia does her best to deny her attraction to Quinn even after their marriage, but Quinn’s genuine efforts to earn her regard make him difficult to ignore. When Wildes marry, they marry for love and love for life, and Quinn is determined to make their marriage work.

The Art of Taming a Rake is a romance about trust, family, and seeing people as they are. As Quinn and Venetia come to know each other, Venetia learns that not all gentlemen with wicked reputations are truly wicked, and sometimes opening your heart despite your fears can change your life for the better.