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General Recommendations
Staff reviews: Romance
Hennepin County Library
Staff-created list
Staff recommend great books.
Hennepin County Library
18 items
18 items
Book - 2020
Local author Abby Jimenez has followed up her incredibly popular The Friend Zone with a story following Kristen's best friend Sloan in her own quest to fi...Show more
Local author Abby Jimenez has followed up her incredibly popular The Friend Zone with a story following Kristen's best friend Sloan in her own quest to find herself again after tragedy. (Please note: This story does come after The Friend Zone in the characters' timeline, so while it isn't absolutely necessary to read them in order to catch up, some events from the first book are revealed.) Now, I read The Friend Zone, and I enjoyed it and thought Kristen was a unique character, but I think Jimenez stepped up her game for The Happy Ever After Playlist. In particular, I think she created a strong male lead with Jason. He comes from our very own Ely, Minnesota, and Jimenez does a wonderful job not only bringing Jason's close family upbringing and wilderness experience into his character, but she actually uses the setting of northern Minnesota as a sort of wingman when he brings Sloan to visit his family. The blend of the rugged and awe-inspiring nature with the heat between Sloan and Jason just comes together so well to create some of the most romantic scenes in the book. This does lead to some open door action, so when those thermals come off? UFF. DA. At the end, I did think the strings tied up a little too quickly, but that won't put me off rushing to the shelves for her next title, Life's Too Short, currently slated for publication in April 2021. - Nina S., Maple Grove Library
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Local author Abby Jimenez has followed up her incredibly popular The Friend Zone with a story following Kristen's best friend Sloan in her own quest to fi...Show more
Local author Abby Jimenez has followed up her incredibly popular The Friend Zone with a story following Kristen's best friend Sloan in her own quest to find herself again after tragedy. (Please note: This story does come after The Friend Zone in the characters' timeline, so while it isn't absolutely necessary to read them in order to catch up, some events from the first book are revealed.) Now, I read The Friend Zone, and I enjoyed it and thought Kristen was a unique character, but I think Jimenez stepped up her game for The Happy Ever After Playlist. In particular, I think she created a strong male lead with Jason. He comes from our very own Ely, Minnesota, and Jimenez does a wonderful job not only bringing Jason's close family upbringing and wilderness experience into his character, but she actually uses the setting of northern Minnesota as a sort of wingman when he brings Sloan to visit his family. The blend of the rugged and awe-inspiring nature with the heat between Sloan and Jason just comes together so well to create some of the most romantic scenes in the book. This does lead to some open door action, so when those thermals come off? UFF. DA. At the end, I did think the strings tied up a little too quickly, but that won't put me off rushing to the shelves for her next title, Life's Too Short, currently slated for publication in April 2021. - Nina S., Maple Grove Library
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A Novel
Book - 2020
What I like about McFarlane's British romances is how they feature characters who are just trying to figure life out. She doesn't really have villains in ...Show more
What I like about McFarlane's British romances is how they feature characters who are just trying to figure life out. She doesn't really have villains in her stories, even though heartbreak launches a new beginning for her heroine in many of her books. In this novel, Laurie has to rebuild her life after her life partner of a decade, who also happens to be her co-worker, breaks up with her. It turns out there was another woman, a pregnant other woman, and Laurie, desperate to appear resilient and happy, finds herself agreeing to a charade with the office playboy. Jamie needs to counteract his bad reputation by dating a good woman, and Laurie is perfect for the role of his fake girlfriend. Laurie's internal journey as she explores heartbreak, self-knowledge and healing is relatable to anyone who has nursed a broken heart. It was very satisfying when she and Jamie were both forced to deal with the price of both their self-deception and the ruse they played on their co-workers, and came out the other side stronger, happier people. - Jody W., Web and Online Services
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What I like about McFarlane's British romances is how they feature characters who are just trying to figure life out. She doesn't really have villains in ...Show more
What I like about McFarlane's British romances is how they feature characters who are just trying to figure life out. She doesn't really have villains in her stories, even though heartbreak launches a new beginning for her heroine in many of her books. In this novel, Laurie has to rebuild her life after her life partner of a decade, who also happens to be her co-worker, breaks up with her. It turns out there was another woman, a pregnant other woman, and Laurie, desperate to appear resilient and happy, finds herself agreeing to a charade with the office playboy. Jamie needs to counteract his bad reputation by dating a good woman, and Laurie is perfect for the role of his fake girlfriend. Laurie's internal journey as she explores heartbreak, self-knowledge and healing is relatable to anyone who has nursed a broken heart. It was very satisfying when she and Jamie were both forced to deal with the price of both their self-deception and the ruse they played on their co-workers, and came out the other side stronger, happier people. - Jody W., Web and Online Services
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by Score, Lucy
Book - 2019
Marley, 38 years old, jobless, dumped and broke, finds herself back home in a small town that holds a lot of painful high school memories. She ends up fac...Show more
Marley, 38 years old, jobless, dumped and broke, finds herself back home in a small town that holds a lot of painful high school memories. She ends up facing the ghosts of her past when she becomes a teacher at her old high school and the coach of the girls' soccer team. One person she didn't expect to have to face is Jake Weston, the bad boy of her graduating class and a dedicated teacher and coach she works with every day. I enjoyed how Score explores the way our pasts shape us and captures the high school experience from both the adult and teen perspectives. Funny and charming, relatable, and quite swoony, I give this love story two enthusiastic thumbs up. - Jody W., Web and Online Services
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Marley, 38 years old, jobless, dumped and broke, finds herself back home in a small town that holds a lot of painful high school memories. She ends up fac...Show more
Marley, 38 years old, jobless, dumped and broke, finds herself back home in a small town that holds a lot of painful high school memories. She ends up facing the ghosts of her past when she becomes a teacher at her old high school and the coach of the girls' soccer team. One person she didn't expect to have to face is Jake Weston, the bad boy of her graduating class and a dedicated teacher and coach she works with every day. I enjoyed how Score explores the way our pasts shape us and captures the high school experience from both the adult and teen perspectives. Funny and charming, relatable, and quite swoony, I give this love story two enthusiastic thumbs up. - Jody W., Web and Online Services
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A Novel
by Sosa, Mia
Book - 2020
Author Jasmine Guillory became a sort of tour de force when her hit The Wedding Date came out in 2018. The series has really blossomed since then, turning...Show more
Author Jasmine Guillory became a sort of tour de force when her hit The Wedding Date came out in 2018. The series has really blossomed since then, turning into a romance go-to for readers looking for stories featuring Black women who have successful careers, a bit of Open Door action, and of course, a focus on delicious food. But Guillory (at this point), only publishes two books a year. So what do we read in the meantime? How about some Mia Sosa? I found The Worst Best Man to be a little steamier than the scenes you'll find in Guillory's works, maybe even as hot as the malagueta pepper that leaves our male lead Max a bit tongue-tied in the beginning. Lina is a wedding planner who is stuck working with her ex-fiancé's brother (Max) in order to land a major job that would save her business. After seeing all that her mother and aunts accomplished in moving to the United States from Brazil, she wants to make them proud and show them she does not take their struggles for granted. Lina prefers to keep her emotions in check; she has learned that expressing them too deeply can have disastorous consequences. Sosa uses this bit of Lina's character to build the romance with Max, but I think it makes it difficult for us to get to know some of the other characters she keeps at a distance. For instance, she doesn't show emotion with Andrew, her ex-fiancé, and so I found it hard to see him as more than a stock character. However, the relationship between Lina and Max really shines, and so does the Brazilian food and culture! I have learned to always have food on hand when I read Guillory's works, and I would recommend doing the same for when you read The Worst Best Man. This is not Mia Sosa's first novel, and her Love on Cue series could be another place to start. - Nina S., Maple Grove Library
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Author Jasmine Guillory became a sort of tour de force when her hit The Wedding Date came out in 2018. The series has really blossomed since then, turning...Show more
Author Jasmine Guillory became a sort of tour de force when her hit The Wedding Date came out in 2018. The series has really blossomed since then, turning into a romance go-to for readers looking for stories featuring Black women who have successful careers, a bit of Open Door action, and of course, a focus on delicious food. But Guillory (at this point), only publishes two books a year. So what do we read in the meantime? How about some Mia Sosa? I found The Worst Best Man to be a little steamier than the scenes you'll find in Guillory's works, maybe even as hot as the malagueta pepper that leaves our male lead Max a bit tongue-tied in the beginning. Lina is a wedding planner who is stuck working with her ex-fiancé's brother (Max) in order to land a major job that would save her business. After seeing all that her mother and aunts accomplished in moving to the United States from Brazil, she wants to make them proud and show them she does not take their struggles for granted. Lina prefers to keep her emotions in check; she has learned that expressing them too deeply can have disastorous consequences. Sosa uses this bit of Lina's character to build the romance with Max, but I think it makes it difficult for us to get to know some of the other characters she keeps at a distance. For instance, she doesn't show emotion with Andrew, her ex-fiancé, and so I found it hard to see him as more than a stock character. However, the relationship between Lina and Max really shines, and so does the Brazilian food and culture! I have learned to always have food on hand when I read Guillory's works, and I would recommend doing the same for when you read The Worst Best Man. This is not Mia Sosa's first novel, and her Love on Cue series could be another place to start. - Nina S., Maple Grove Library
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A Novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood
Book - 2005
This is the first in a very long series of books about the Black Dagger Brotherhood, vampire warriors tasked with protecting their race from an enemy ben...Show more
This is the first in a very long series of books about the Black Dagger Brotherhood, vampire warriors tasked with protecting their race from an enemy bent on utterly destroying them. In this alternate reality based in New York state, vampires only get true sustenance from feeding off of their own race and this feeding can be very erotic. In fact, this whole series can get quite explicit. In this novel, the very macho vampire king Wrath falls for Beth, a woman who is dangerously ignorant of her half-vampire nature. I almost did not move on to the second book because the Brotherhood seemed to edge into toxic masculinity, but over the course of the series these tough guys grow and change while they grapple with love. What I especially like is that many of the relationships get re-explored in future books as the couples evolve, proving that there is no such thing as happily ever after unless you work for it. - Jody W., Web and Online Services
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This is the first in a very long series of books about the Black Dagger Brotherhood, vampire warriors tasked with protecting their race from an enemy ben...Show more
This is the first in a very long series of books about the Black Dagger Brotherhood, vampire warriors tasked with protecting their race from an enemy bent on utterly destroying them. In this alternate reality based in New York state, vampires only get true sustenance from feeding off of their own race and this feeding can be very erotic. In fact, this whole series can get quite explicit. In this novel, the very macho vampire king Wrath falls for Beth, a woman who is dangerously ignorant of her half-vampire nature. I almost did not move on to the second book because the Brotherhood seemed to edge into toxic masculinity, but over the course of the series these tough guys grow and change while they grapple with love. What I especially like is that many of the relationships get re-explored in future books as the couples evolve, proving that there is no such thing as happily ever after unless you work for it. - Jody W., Web and Online Services
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Book - 2020
I loved the plot of a hidden message in a wedding program bringing two people together. Meg's job doing hand lettering and running her own business in New...Show more
I loved the plot of a hidden message in a wedding program bringing two people together. Meg's job doing hand lettering and running her own business in New York was both fascinating and made the setting so beautiful to imagine. Rein's romantic gestures, grand but realistic, were perfect for a true contemporary hero. Meg and Rein's springtime strolls through New York will have you swooning, although whether it's for their slow burning romance or for one of Meg's custom designed planners is unclear! - Baileigh F., Washburn Library
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I loved the plot of a hidden message in a wedding program bringing two people together. Meg's job doing hand lettering and running her own business in New...Show more
I loved the plot of a hidden message in a wedding program bringing two people together. Meg's job doing hand lettering and running her own business in New York was both fascinating and made the setting so beautiful to imagine. Rein's romantic gestures, grand but realistic, were perfect for a true contemporary hero. Meg and Rein's springtime strolls through New York will have you swooning, although whether it's for their slow burning romance or for one of Meg's custom designed planners is unclear! - Baileigh F., Washburn Library
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Book - 2018
Ava is on her way back home to Boston after a painful trip to her hometown of Phoenix. All she wants is a first class seat where she can relax and forget ...Show more
Ava is on her way back home to Boston after a painful trip to her hometown of Phoenix. All she wants is a first class seat where she can relax and forget that she just buried her childhood friend. Instead, she gets Caleb Scott, a most obnoxious Scotsman who manages to thwart her plans the entire way. However, despite their mutual dislike, Ava and Caleb can't deny that they are physically attracted to each other. A layover in Chicago leads to a steamy night back at the hotel, which both agree is a one-night thing. Neither want a relationship, but when a mutual acquaintance sets them up while Caleb is in Boston for business, they agree to keep their off-the-charts physical relationship going. The premise may a bit familiar to romance readers, but that doesn't make this reading experience any less enjoyable. The chemistry between Ava and Caleb is explosive, and Open Door (descriptive and steamy). They both think that this casual relationship will protect them from betrayals from the past, but they both end up way deeper into this than they ever planned. I listened to the audiobook version of this, and so be sure to check that out if you're one for a Scottish accent. - Nina S., Maple Grove Library
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Ava is on her way back home to Boston after a painful trip to her hometown of Phoenix. All she wants is a first class seat where she can relax and forget ...Show more
Ava is on her way back home to Boston after a painful trip to her hometown of Phoenix. All she wants is a first class seat where she can relax and forget that she just buried her childhood friend. Instead, she gets Caleb Scott, a most obnoxious Scotsman who manages to thwart her plans the entire way. However, despite their mutual dislike, Ava and Caleb can't deny that they are physically attracted to each other. A layover in Chicago leads to a steamy night back at the hotel, which both agree is a one-night thing. Neither want a relationship, but when a mutual acquaintance sets them up while Caleb is in Boston for business, they agree to keep their off-the-charts physical relationship going. The premise may a bit familiar to romance readers, but that doesn't make this reading experience any less enjoyable. The chemistry between Ava and Caleb is explosive, and Open Door (descriptive and steamy). They both think that this casual relationship will protect them from betrayals from the past, but they both end up way deeper into this than they ever planned. I listened to the audiobook version of this, and so be sure to check that out if you're one for a Scottish accent. - Nina S., Maple Grove Library
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by Vale, Maria
Book - 2018
The first book in a trilogy (so far) featuring the Great North Pack will introduce you to a fascinating fantasy world where wolves turn into people, human...Show more
The first book in a trilogy (so far) featuring the Great North Pack will introduce you to a fascinating fantasy world where wolves turn into people, human shifters are in conflict with the wolves, and human civilization encroaches on the wild lands the wolves desperately try to protect in the Adirondacks of New York. Quicksilver may be the least dominant wolf in the pack, but she has a will and nerves of steel. When the half-shifter Tiberius shows up injured and alone on pack lands, she sees a chance to make a life for herself with a partner and mate. It's fascinating to see a love story unfold from the perspective of a wolf with only a thin veneer of humanity. Maria Vale maintains this unique point of view in her other novels as well, which feature different romantic leads. - Jody W., Web and Online Services
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The first book in a trilogy (so far) featuring the Great North Pack will introduce you to a fascinating fantasy world where wolves turn into people, human...Show more
The first book in a trilogy (so far) featuring the Great North Pack will introduce you to a fascinating fantasy world where wolves turn into people, human shifters are in conflict with the wolves, and human civilization encroaches on the wild lands the wolves desperately try to protect in the Adirondacks of New York. Quicksilver may be the least dominant wolf in the pack, but she has a will and nerves of steel. When the half-shifter Tiberius shows up injured and alone on pack lands, she sees a chance to make a life for herself with a partner and mate. It's fascinating to see a love story unfold from the perspective of a wolf with only a thin veneer of humanity. Maria Vale maintains this unique point of view in her other novels as well, which feature different romantic leads. - Jody W., Web and Online Services
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A Smart Romance
by Reid, Penny
eBook - 2013
This first book in the Knitting in the City series features Janie, who is brilliant, bad at reading people, and having the worst day of her life when she ...Show more
This first book in the Knitting in the City series features Janie, who is brilliant, bad at reading people, and having the worst day of her life when she runs into the mysterious Quinn and her life veers into what turns out to be a surprising romance with lots of sexy fun times. Penny Reid comes from a science background so sly geek and academic references abound. Her characters are smart, funny and well developed, and her stories celebrate neurodiversity and that delightful feeling when two halves meet each other and discover they can make a whole. After binging on the Knitting in the City books, move on to the Winston Brothers series so you can keep catching glimpses of the happily ever afters of the group of women who share their drunken knit nights and romantic adventures in these stories. - Jody W., Web and Online Services
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This first book in the Knitting in the City series features Janie, who is brilliant, bad at reading people, and having the worst day of her life when she ...Show more
This first book in the Knitting in the City series features Janie, who is brilliant, bad at reading people, and having the worst day of her life when she runs into the mysterious Quinn and her life veers into what turns out to be a surprising romance with lots of sexy fun times. Penny Reid comes from a science background so sly geek and academic references abound. Her characters are smart, funny and well developed, and her stories celebrate neurodiversity and that delightful feeling when two halves meet each other and discover they can make a whole. After binging on the Knitting in the City books, move on to the Winston Brothers series so you can keep catching glimpses of the happily ever afters of the group of women who share their drunken knit nights and romantic adventures in these stories. - Jody W., Web and Online Services
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by Cole, Alyssa
Book - 2019
Likotsi travels all around the world for her job as the advisor to an African prince, and in a brief visit to New York City, she meets Fabiola, a Haitian-...Show more
Likotsi travels all around the world for her job as the advisor to an African prince, and in a brief visit to New York City, she meets Fabiola, a Haitian-American jewelry designer. It seems like their chemistry is undeniable, but Likotsi is heartbroken when Fabiola breaks it off abruptly via text without an explanation. When the two run into each other in the subway seven months later and Fabiola invites Liktosi for tea, Likotsi guardedly agrees, hoping to find out why Fabiola ended things so suddenly. At 120 pages, this second-chance romance is short, but with just enough detail that the two women feel real enough to walk off the page, and I loved their razor sharp banter. - Chip G., Web and Online Services
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Likotsi travels all around the world for her job as the advisor to an African prince, and in a brief visit to New York City, she meets Fabiola, a Haitian-...Show more
Likotsi travels all around the world for her job as the advisor to an African prince, and in a brief visit to New York City, she meets Fabiola, a Haitian-American jewelry designer. It seems like their chemistry is undeniable, but Likotsi is heartbroken when Fabiola breaks it off abruptly via text without an explanation. When the two run into each other in the subway seven months later and Fabiola invites Liktosi for tea, Likotsi guardedly agrees, hoping to find out why Fabiola ended things so suddenly. At 120 pages, this second-chance romance is short, but with just enough detail that the two women feel real enough to walk off the page, and I loved their razor sharp banter. - Chip G., Web and Online Services
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Book - 2011
Beth, a plucky young widow recently made an heiress, and Ian Mackenzie, a Scottish lord once locked up in an asylum, are immediately attracted to each oth...Show more
Beth, a plucky young widow recently made an heiress, and Ian Mackenzie, a Scottish lord once locked up in an asylum, are immediately attracted to each other. Their scandalous affair quickly turns to romance, and the only thing keeping the two from their happily ever after is a murder mystery that has haunted the Mackenzie family for years. Beth and Ian's story is pure entertainment! There's humor and suspense, passion and intrigue, all wrapped up into one delightful love story. - Baileigh F., Ridgedale Library
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Beth, a plucky young widow recently made an heiress, and Ian Mackenzie, a Scottish lord once locked up in an asylum, are immediately attracted to each oth...Show more
Beth, a plucky young widow recently made an heiress, and Ian Mackenzie, a Scottish lord once locked up in an asylum, are immediately attracted to each other. Their scandalous affair quickly turns to romance, and the only thing keeping the two from their happily ever after is a murder mystery that has haunted the Mackenzie family for years. Beth and Ian's story is pure entertainment! There's humor and suspense, passion and intrigue, all wrapped up into one delightful love story. - Baileigh F., Ridgedale Library
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Book - 2010
Filled with suspense and sweeping romance, Bourne's Spymaster series can be read in any order, but I recommend starting with this one. Set during the Fren...Show more
Filled with suspense and sweeping romance, Bourne's Spymaster series can be read in any order, but I recommend starting with this one. Set during the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars, you meet spies from all sides of the conflict, and these characters turn up in many of the books in the series. The Forbidden Rose is chronologically the earliest book in the series (so far), and focuses on the aristo Marguerite, smuggling people facing a death sentence at the guillotine out of the country, and William Doyle, master spy of the British Secret Service. Wit and courage abound in both of them, as well as their allies, when they race against time to save Marguerite's network of heroes. - Jody W., Web and Online Services
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Filled with suspense and sweeping romance, Bourne's Spymaster series can be read in any order, but I recommend starting with this one. Set during the Fren...Show more
Filled with suspense and sweeping romance, Bourne's Spymaster series can be read in any order, but I recommend starting with this one. Set during the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars, you meet spies from all sides of the conflict, and these characters turn up in many of the books in the series. The Forbidden Rose is chronologically the earliest book in the series (so far), and focuses on the aristo Marguerite, smuggling people facing a death sentence at the guillotine out of the country, and William Doyle, master spy of the British Secret Service. Wit and courage abound in both of them, as well as their allies, when they race against time to save Marguerite's network of heroes. - Jody W., Web and Online Services
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Book - 2017
When Julian Medlock reluctantly promises to use his own outstanding reputation to help restore that of notorious rake Lord Courtenay, he plans to let the ...Show more
When Julian Medlock reluctantly promises to use his own outstanding reputation to help restore that of notorious rake Lord Courtenay, he plans to let the other man accompany him on a few evenings out and leave it at that. He doesn't intend to start an actual friendship, and he certainly doesn't expect their banter to turn into something more. This charming, fast-paced historical hits all the classic romance notes: prickly yet engaging characters slowing gaining one another's respect and affection, plenty of Regency clothing descriptions, and a third act misunderstanding that ultimately leads to a happily ever after. Ruin of a Rake is the third book in Sebastian's Turner series, but can be read as a standalone -- or a starting point! - Kate C., Resource Services
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When Julian Medlock reluctantly promises to use his own outstanding reputation to help restore that of notorious rake Lord Courtenay, he plans to let the ...Show more
When Julian Medlock reluctantly promises to use his own outstanding reputation to help restore that of notorious rake Lord Courtenay, he plans to let the other man accompany him on a few evenings out and leave it at that. He doesn't intend to start an actual friendship, and he certainly doesn't expect their banter to turn into something more. This charming, fast-paced historical hits all the classic romance notes: prickly yet engaging characters slowing gaining one another's respect and affection, plenty of Regency clothing descriptions, and a third act misunderstanding that ultimately leads to a happily ever after. Ruin of a Rake is the third book in Sebastian's Turner series, but can be read as a standalone -- or a starting point! - Kate C., Resource Services
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Book - 2017
Professional dancer Yazmine Fernandez is taking a break from Broadway, caring for her critically ill father and teaching at her old dance school when she ...Show more
Professional dancer Yazmine Fernandez is taking a break from Broadway, caring for her critically ill father and teaching at her old dance school when she meets workaholic single father Tomás Garcia and sparks fly. Oliveras gives you glimpses into their thoughts, their self-doubts and their genuine liking for each other on top of the attraction they feel. There are no plot devices keeping these two apart (which is refreshing), just very relatable human nature as they find the courage to be vulnerable with one another. As much as you root for Yaz and Tomás, you also cheer for the supporting cast of characters. Even those with just a walk-on scene are never cardboard cutouts. Luckily for us, Oliveras has already written another book to tell the story of Yaz’s sister Rosa (Her Perfect Affair) so you get to spend more time with a family and community filled with heart and good humor, with hopefully more stories to come. On a scale of sweet to sizzling when it comes to content, this one is a gentle simmer. – Jody W., Web and Online Services
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Professional dancer Yazmine Fernandez is taking a break from Broadway, caring for her critically ill father and teaching at her old dance school when she ...Show more
Professional dancer Yazmine Fernandez is taking a break from Broadway, caring for her critically ill father and teaching at her old dance school when she meets workaholic single father Tomás Garcia and sparks fly. Oliveras gives you glimpses into their thoughts, their self-doubts and their genuine liking for each other on top of the attraction they feel. There are no plot devices keeping these two apart (which is refreshing), just very relatable human nature as they find the courage to be vulnerable with one another. As much as you root for Yaz and Tomás, you also cheer for the supporting cast of characters. Even those with just a walk-on scene are never cardboard cutouts. Luckily for us, Oliveras has already written another book to tell the story of Yaz’s sister Rosa (Her Perfect Affair) so you get to spend more time with a family and community filled with heart and good humor, with hopefully more stories to come. On a scale of sweet to sizzling when it comes to content, this one is a gentle simmer. – Jody W., Web and Online Services
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by Hoang, Helen
Book - 2018
THIS is how contemporary romance should be done! The story is utterly engrossing, the writing is perfection (to the point I forgot I was even reading), an...Show more
THIS is how contemporary romance should be done! The story is utterly engrossing, the writing is perfection (to the point I forgot I was even reading), and the characters, a smart and capable heroine matched with a sensitive hero, are going to stay with me for a long time. A mix of steamy and sweet, this is likely to be my favorite read of 2018 and my favorite romance ever. - Baileigh F., Walker Library
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THIS is how contemporary romance should be done! The story is utterly engrossing, the writing is perfection (to the point I forgot I was even reading), an...Show more
THIS is how contemporary romance should be done! The story is utterly engrossing, the writing is perfection (to the point I forgot I was even reading), and the characters, a smart and capable heroine matched with a sensitive hero, are going to stay with me for a long time. A mix of steamy and sweet, this is likely to be my favorite read of 2018 and my favorite romance ever. - Baileigh F., Walker Library
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Book - 2017
I really enjoy The Ravenals series by this author. She has a light touch when talking about disability in her characters, and they all portray the comple...Show more
I really enjoy The Ravenals series by this author. She has a light touch when talking about disability in her characters, and they all portray the complexity of being human. This story focuses on the adorkable Lady Pandora, obsessed with starting her own board game business in Victorian England. Found in a compromising situation with the charming Lord St. Vincent, they end up negotiating a marriage that gives them both room to be their best selves. The suspense subplot looks like it is leading directly into the main plot of the next Ravenal book, "Hello Stranger." Bonus: St. Vincent is the son of Evie and Sebastian St. Vincent, featured in the "Devil in Winter" of her Wallflowers series. It was fun catching a glimpse of their family all grown up. Sensuality rating: Hot -- Jody W, Web and Online Services
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I really enjoy The Ravenals series by this author. She has a light touch when talking about disability in her characters, and they all portray the comple...Show more
I really enjoy The Ravenals series by this author. She has a light touch when talking about disability in her characters, and they all portray the complexity of being human. This story focuses on the adorkable Lady Pandora, obsessed with starting her own board game business in Victorian England. Found in a compromising situation with the charming Lord St. Vincent, they end up negotiating a marriage that gives them both room to be their best selves. The suspense subplot looks like it is leading directly into the main plot of the next Ravenal book, "Hello Stranger." Bonus: St. Vincent is the son of Evie and Sebastian St. Vincent, featured in the "Devil in Winter" of her Wallflowers series. It was fun catching a glimpse of their family all grown up. Sensuality rating: Hot -- Jody W, Web and Online Services
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Book - 2006
One of Quinn's strengths is her delightful screwball comedy sensibilities, and this is a fun example. The 8th and final book in her Bridgerton series focu...Show more
One of Quinn's strengths is her delightful screwball comedy sensibilities, and this is a fun example. The 8th and final book in her Bridgerton series focuses on the final Bridgerton sibling, Gregory. As his very wise mother notes, he's never had to work hard to get anything he wants, but when he meets Lady Lucy Abernathy, engaged to be married, that changes quickly. Part of the fun here is exploring what it means to fall in love, and how mad crushes play into the equation. Sensuality rating: Sweetly simmering -- Jody W, Web and Online Services
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One of Quinn's strengths is her delightful screwball comedy sensibilities, and this is a fun example. The 8th and final book in her Bridgerton series focu...Show more
One of Quinn's strengths is her delightful screwball comedy sensibilities, and this is a fun example. The 8th and final book in her Bridgerton series focuses on the final Bridgerton sibling, Gregory. As his very wise mother notes, he's never had to work hard to get anything he wants, but when he meets Lady Lucy Abernathy, engaged to be married, that changes quickly. Part of the fun here is exploring what it means to fall in love, and how mad crushes play into the equation. Sensuality rating: Sweetly simmering -- Jody W, Web and Online Services
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Book - 2014
Detective and barely-a-magician Nevada Baylor has been hired to hunt down a Prime magic user who is a master of fire. She finds an unlikely ally and a lo...Show more
Detective and barely-a-magician Nevada Baylor has been hired to hunt down a Prime magic user who is a master of fire. She finds an unlikely ally and a lot of temptation in the dangerous and wealthy Mad Rogan who is after the same target. The first in the Hidden Legacy paranormal romance series, it sets up a great relationship dynamic explored in future books, and a fascinating world where a serum discovered in 1863 unlocks the magical abilities in humans, with the most powerful lineages becoming powerful Houses who dominate society. Sensuality rating: Hot -- Jody W, Web and Online Services
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Detective and barely-a-magician Nevada Baylor has been hired to hunt down a Prime magic user who is a master of fire. She finds an unlikely ally and a lo...Show more
Detective and barely-a-magician Nevada Baylor has been hired to hunt down a Prime magic user who is a master of fire. She finds an unlikely ally and a lot of temptation in the dangerous and wealthy Mad Rogan who is after the same target. The first in the Hidden Legacy paranormal romance series, it sets up a great relationship dynamic explored in future books, and a fascinating world where a serum discovered in 1863 unlocks the magical abilities in humans, with the most powerful lineages becoming powerful Houses who dominate society. Sensuality rating: Hot -- Jody W, Web and Online Services
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