July 2023 MBR The Romantic Fiction Shelf

The Romantic Fiction Shelf

An Unsuitable Heiress
Jane Dunn
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781804835357, $41.00, PB, Large Print, 318pp

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/an-unsuitable-heiress-jane-dunn/1143106018

Synopsis: Do you realise, Corinna, just how hard it is for a young woman of irregular birth, without family, fortune or friends in the world? Marriage is the only way to get any chance of a life.'

Following the death of her mother, Corinna Ormesby has lived a quiet life in the countryside with her cantankerous Cousin Agnes. Her father's identity has been a tantalising mystery, but now at nineteen Corinna knows that finding him may be her only way to avoid marriage to the odious Mr Beech.

Deciding to head to London, Corinna dons a male disguise. Traveling alone as a young woman risks scandal and danger, but when, masquerading as a youth, she is befriended by three dashing blades, handsome and capable Alick Wolfe, dandy Ferdinand Shilton and the incorrigible Lord Purfoy, Corinna now has access to the male-only world of Regency England. And when she meets Alick's turbulent brother Darius, a betrayal of trust leads to deadly combat which only one of the brothers may survive.

From gambling in gentleman's clubs to meeting the courtesans of Covent Garden, Corinna's country naivety soon falls away. But when she finds her father at last, learns the truth about her parentage and discovers her fortunes transformed, she must quickly decide how to reveal her true identity, while hoping that one young man in particular can see her for the beauty and Lady she really is.

Critique: Especially recommended for Regency Romance fans, "An Unsuitable Heiress" by novelist Jane Dunn is an extraordinarily, impressive, and entertaining story from beginning to end. Elegant, eloquent, and just plain fun, this large print paperback edition of "An Unsuitable Heiress" from Boldwood Books is a welcome pick for community library Historical Romance Fiction collections.

Editorial Note: Jane Dunn (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/7608/jane-dunn) is also the author of Elizabeth and Mary: Cousins, Rivals, Queens; Moon in Eclipse: A Life of Mary Shelley; Virginia Woolf and Vanessa Bell: A Very Close Conspiracy; and Antonia White: A Life. She is a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, is married to the linguist and writer Nicholas Ostler. She currently resides in Bath, England.

The Cowboy's Treasure
Jill Barry
Linford Romance Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444851151, $24.50, PB, Large Print, 258pp

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-cowboys-treasure-jill-barry/1143106025

Synopsis: "The Cowboy's Treasure" by Jill Barry is the story of Katie, a young governess who leaves Yorkshire to take over her aunt's teaching post at a small country town school in America. Not long after she arrives, she meets Ben, a young cattleman who is also new in town. On riding in, Ben had happened upon an old man who had been attacked. Although unable to keep the stranger alive, he learned a secret from him: one linked to Katie's aunt!

Critique: A clearly gifted writer, with the publication of "The Cowboy's Treasure" author Jill Barry's skills as a novelist are on full display. An inherently interesting, impressively original, fully entertaining, and emotionally satisfying blend of romance and mystery, this large print paperback edition of "The Cowboy's Treasure" from the Linford Romance Library collection is highly recommended pick for both personal reading lists and community library Romance Fiction shelves.

Editorial Note: Jill Barry (https://www.jillbarry.com) has been writing for publication since the year 2000 and became a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association a few years later. Since then, she has attended numerous workshops, meeting with other writers, as wellas reading and writing as much as possible.

The Dolphin's Kiss
Dawn Knox
Linford Romance Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444851137, $24.50, PB, Large Print, 308pp

https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/uk/search/Dolphin's%20Kiss

Synopsis: Born 1790; in Sydney, New South Wales, to wealthy parents, Abigail Moran is attractive and intelligent, and other than a birthmark on her hand that her mother loathes, she has everything she could desire. Soon, she'll marry handsome, witty, Hugh Hanville. Abigail's life is perfect. Or is it?

A chance meeting with a shopgirl, Lottie Jackson, sets in motion a chain of events that finds Abigail in the remote reaches of the Hawkesbury River with sea captain, Christopher Randall. He has inadvertently stumbled across the secret that binds Abigail and Lottie. Will he be able to help Abigail come to terms with the secret, or will Fate keep them apart?

Critique: Romance and intrigue combine to provide the reader with a compelling novel, "Dolphin's Kiss" by talented novelist Dawn Knox who writes with a genuine flair for originality and the kind of narrative driven storytelling that fully engages her readers. This large print paperback edition form the Linford Romance Library series is and unreservedly recommended pick for the personal reading lists of Historical Romance fans and community library Romance Fiction collections.

Editorial Note: Dawn Knox (https://www.facebook.com/DawnKnoxWriter) has been a finalist in the Wishing Shelf Book Awards for 2017 and 2020, Readers' Favorite Book Awards 2018 and Independent Author Network Book of the Year Award 2018. Dawn has also written two plays about the First World War, which have been performed in England, Germany and France.

The Cafe at Beach End
RaeAnne Tahyne
Canary Street Press
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
9781335652836, $30.00 HC, 320pp

https://www.amazon.com/Cafe-Beach-End-Summer-Sanctuary/dp/1335652833

Synopsis: When Meredith Collins was a child, the little beach town of Cape Sanctuary lived up to its name. Spending summers there with her grandmother, Meredith finally felt safe and loved.

Now she's returning in disgrace. Her late ex-husband swindled investors out of millions of dollars and made Meredith a figure of scorn -- even though she knew nothing about his scheme.

But she still has the beach cottage she inherited from her grandmother and half ownership of the local cafe. It's a place to work and earn a little money. That's if her cousin, Tori, will let her through the door. Once, Tori and Meredith were as close as sisters -- until Meredith chose her neglectful parents' expectations over their bond. Now widowed with a teenage daughter, Tori isn't setting out a welcome mat for the woman who let her down so badly.

While Meredith tries to make a fresh start, she is drawn to a mysterious writer renting the cottage next door. Liam Byrne's kindness is a balm, though she worries he might not be so friendly if he knew who she was. But Liam has his own secret and a mission that will help Meredith confront her past -- and maybe, claim a surprising future...

Critique: The newest addition to novelist RaeAnne Tahyne's 'Cape Sanctuary' series (Summer at the Cape; The Path to Sunshine Cove; The Sea Glass Cottage; The Cliff House), "The Cafe at Beach End" is another original, deftly crafted, fun and heartwarming story that will have a very special appeal to readers with an interest in Contemporary Romance fiction. Especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Romance collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Cafe at Beach End" is also readily available in a paperback edition (9781335458162, $17.99), in a digital book format ($11.99), and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9798212658980, $41.99, CD).

Editorial Note, As a novelist and storyteller, RaeAnne Thayne (www.raeannethayne.com) finds inspiration in the beautiful northern Utah mountains where she lives with her family. Her books have won numerous honors, including seven RITA Award nominations from Romance Writers of America and a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews magazine.

Double-Decker Dreams
Lindsay MacMillian
Alcove Press
34 West 27th Street, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10001
www.alcovepress.com
9781639102822, $18.99, PB, 336pp

https://www.amazon.com/Double-Decker-Dreams-Novel-Lindsay-MacMillan/dp/1639102825

Synopsis: American consultant Kat is staffed on a six-month project in London and has two very small, very reasonable ambitions before returning home: get promoted to partner and fall in love with a handsome English aristocrat. No problem, right?

But work is a grind, and the British men she meets are a far cry from her royal ideal. Then one morning, she sees a man on a double-decker bus and just knows that he's the person she's been looking for. But when Kat finally musters the courage to board the bus and introduce herself, he turns out to be very different from the Prince Charming she expected.

Can Kat open herself up to a love that's not like the movies, or is she too imprisoned by her rom-com expectations? And just as importantly, will she be able to see that success isn't about landing a C-suite job, but rather living a life that's aligned with her soul?

Critique: Unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and community library Romance Fiction collections, "Double Decker Dreams" by gifted novelist Lindsay MacMillan is a deftly crafted and modern love story offering readers with an interest in fun, memorable, contemporary romantic comedies.

Editorial Note: Lindsay MacMillan (https://www.lindsaykatmacmillan.com) is a bestselling author, TEDx speaker, and business leader. She graduated magna cum laude from Dartmouth College and was formerly a vice president at Goldman Sachs. Double-Decker Dreams is her second published novel. She wrote this book in London tea shoppes while watching double-decker busses pass by.

Unorthodox Love
Heidi Shertok
Alcove Press
www.alcovepress.com
Dreamscape Media
https://www.dreamscapepublishing.com
9781639103768, $18.99, PB, 336pp

https://www.amazon.com/Unorthodox-Love-Novel-Heidi-Shertok/dp/1639103767

Synopsis: Twenty-nine-year-old Penina longs for true love and marriage, but being infertile in the Orthodox Jewish community means she's rarely matched with the cream of the crop -- or even skim milk two weeks past its expiration date. Matchmakers either set her up with men twice her age or those with serious mommy issues. At this point, she might as well wear a sign around her neck that says "professional virgin."

As if things weren't bad enough, her sister Libby then shares a terrible secret: her husband's failed businesses have already put strain on their marriage, and now they might also lose their family home. Penina is desperate to help, so when a secretly gay Orthodox Jew offers a payout in exchange for a fake marriage, it feels like kismet. Who needs true love anyway?

Enter Sam Kleinfeld. Rude, secular, undeniably sexy, and also... Penina's new boss. The last thing he wants is a relationship, especially not with a beautiful, smart-mouthed employee. But soon an attraction builds that they both can't ignore. Will Penina follow her heart and find true love, or will she stick to the traditions she knows best?

Critique: Original, funny, and of particular appeal to readers with an interest in a Jewish take on romantic comedy, "Unorthodox Love" by Heidi Shertock will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library Contemporary Romance collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated rom-com fans that "Unorthodox Love" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Dreamscape Media, 9781666641462, $22.99, CD).

Editorial Note: Heidi Shertok (https://www.heidishertok.com) is an Orthodox Jewish wife and mother of three. When she isn't writing, she can be found walking her eight pound attack dog, admiring other people's gardens, or hiking in high heels.

One Tough Cookie
Delise Torres
Alcove Press
www.alcovepress.com
9781639103782, $19.99, PB, 336pp

https://www.amazon.com/One-Tough-Cookie-Delise-Torres/dp/1639103783

Synopsis: All cookies are made with love -- even if twenty-seven-year-old Karina Cortes doesn't believe in the concept. For her, a simple life with no attachments is a good life. And her life is indeed good -- even though her biggest accomplishment is passing the GED exam.

Karina is able to secure an incredible and well-paying job at Singular Cookies, Inc., a small family-owned cookie manufacturing plant in Fort Pierce, Florida. And although the founders of the company treat her like family, Karina insists she doesn't need or want one. Not after her mother chose a man over her own daughter, pushing the young Karina to move out and make it on her own.

And she couldn't be happier with her single life, unlike her friends, whose lives revolve around men.

But work and play collide when she meets the company's hot new mechanic, Ian Feliciano, who stirs up feelings she tends to avoid. Karina knows she shouldn't date him, but she's strong; she'll never turn pathetic like her friends or, especially, her mom. And with a looming plant inspection and trying to break up the CEO's new romance, Karina has enough to distract herself.

As the inspection draws near and Karina battles her heart, she'll have to decide whether to continue holding on to deeply ingrained beliefs that keep everyone at bay, or learn that love is not as dangerous as she fears and in the end, it is our history (our singular recipe) that shapes how we live.

Critique: A simply riveting, fun and funny read from first page to last, "One Tough Cookie" is all the more impressive when considering that it is author Delise Torres' debut as a novelist. With a special appeal to readers of rom-com novels, "One Tough Cookie" is an unreservedly recommended pick for personal and community library Romance Fiction collections. It should be noted that "One Tough Cookie" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99) as well.

Editorial Note: Delise Torres grew up in Puerto Rico, watching telenovelas and re-enacting scenes with her Barbies. Once she outgrew her dolls, she turned to daydreaming, and it wasn't until her late thirties when she finally put her own stories to paper, and her passion for writing was born.

She has a PhD in Food Science and former work experience as a quality assurance manager in the food industry. When not writing, you can find her trying to time-manage her life, singing, reading, and streaming shows and movies. She lives in Germany with her daughter and German husband. One Tough Cookie is her first novel.

In the Shadow of the River
Ann H. Gabhart
Fleming H. Revell Company
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton, Ada, MI 49301
www.revellbooks.com
9780800741723, $16.99, PB, 352pp

https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-River-Ann-H-Gabhart/dp/0800741722

Synopsis: In 1881, Jacci Reed is only five years old when a man attempts to kidnap her from the steamboat her mother, Irena, works on. Badly wounded during the confrontation, Irena takes Jacci aboard the Kingston Floating Palace, a showboat tied up beside them. There, Jacci's actor grandfather tends to her mother and Jacci gets a first taste of the life she will come to lead.

Fifteen years later, Jacci is an actress aboard the Kingston Floating Palace, and largely contented with her adopted family of actors, singers, and dancers. Especially Gabe, who has always supported her, and the gruff grandfather she has come to know and love. Jacci's mother has been gone for years, but the memory of the altercation that ultimately took her life (and the cryptic things Jacci has overheard about her past) is always there, lurking in the back of her mind.

When someone on the showboat tries to kill Jacci, it's clear her questions demand answers. But secrets have a way of staying in the shadows, and the answers she craves will not come easily. Gabe only hopes they come in time for him and Jacci to have a future together.

Critique: A deft blend of historical romance and mystery, "In the Shadow of the River" by gifted novelist Ann H. Gabhart is a riveting and entertaining read from cover to cover. While also available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99), "In the Shadow of the River" is an especially recommended pick for community library Historical Romance collections. It should be noted by librarians that there is also a large print hard cover edition of "In the Shadow of the River" available (Center Point Pub., 9781638087878, $38.95, 500pp).

Editorial Note: Ann H. Gabhart (www.annhgabhart.com) is the author of many novels, including Where the Meadow Blooms, Along a Storied Trail, An Appalachian Summer, River to Redemption, These Healing Hills, and Angel Sister.

Planes, Trains, and All the Feels
Livy Hart
Entangled Trade
c/o Macmillan
www.macmillan.com
9781649373922, $16.99, PB, 352pp

https://www.amazon.com/Planes-Trains-Feels-Livy-Hart/dp/1649373929

Synopsis: As the black sheep of the family, choreographer Cassidy Bliss vowed she'd do anything to get home in time to help with her sister's wedding and avoid family disappointment -- again. She just never expected "anything" would involve sharing the last rental car with the jerk who cut her off in line at the airport this morning. But horrible times apparently call for here-goes-nothing measures.

Driving across the country with Luke "life can be solved with a spreadsheet" Carlisle must be a penance for some crime she committed. Because the second he opens his mouth, it's all she can do to not maim him with her carry-on. But somewhere between his surprisingly thoughtful snack sharing and his uncanny ability to see straight to the core of her, her feelings go unchecked.

Suddenly, their crackling chemistry is just one more thing they have to navigate - and it couldn't come at a worse time. But after a lifetime of letting the expectations and needs of others drive her life, Cassidy must decide if she's ready to take the wheel once and for all.

Critique: A riveting, rollicking, and fun read from cover to cover, with the publication of "Planes, Trains, and All the Feel", author Livy Hart demonstrates her genuine flair for, and mastery of, the Contemporary Rom-Com genre. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Contemporary Romance Fiction collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of all dedicated rom-com fans that "Planes, Trains, and All the Feel" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).

Editorial Note: Livy Hart (https://www.livyhart.com) has two children, too many Funko Pops, and a husband who's workin' on the railroad -- literally. She currently resides in Dallas, Texas where she enjoys long walks on the concrete and people-watching at malls so big they have their own zip codes. When she's not writing romance novels, she's bickering with her KitchenAid stand mixer, road-tripping to her sleepy Florida hometown, or sipping espresso on her Nonna's porch.

The Comeback Summer
Ali Brady
Berkley Books
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
www.penguin.com
9780593440179, $17.00, PB, 480pp

https://www.amazon.com/Comeback-Summer-Ali-Brady/dp/059344017X

Synopsis: Hannah and Libby need a miracle. The PR agency they inherited from their grandmother is losing clients left and right, and the sisters are devastated at the thought of closing. The situation seems hopeless -- until in walks Lou, an eccentric self-help guru who is looking for a new PR agency. Her business could solve all their problems -- but there's a catch. Whoever works with Lou must complete a twelve-week challenge as part of her "Crush Your Comfort Zone" program.

Hannah, whose worst nightmare is making small talk with strangers, is challenged to go on twelve first dates. Libby, who once claimed to have period cramps for four weeks straight to get out of gym class, is challenged to compete in an obstacle course race. The challenges begin with Hannah helping Libby train and Libby managing the dating app on her sister's behalf. They're both making good progress -- until Hannah's first love rolls into town, and Libby accidentally falls for a guy she's supposed to be setting up with her sister.

Things get even more complicated when secrets come to light, making the sisters question the one relationship they've always counted on: each other. With their company's future on the line, they can't afford to fail. But in trying to make a comeback to honor their grandmother, are they pushing themselves down the wrong path?

Critique: A deliciously fun rom-com by a master of the genre, "The Comeback Summer" by novelist Ali Brady will also be of genuine appeal to readers with an interest in stories about family life in genral, and women domestic life in particular. "The Comeback Summer" is ideal for summer vacation reading lists -- and for any other time of the year! Highly recommended, especially for community library Contemporary Romance collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Comeback Summer" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.99).

Editorial Note: Ali Brady (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2262236/ali-brady) is the pen name of writing BFFs Alison Hammer and Bradeigh Godfrey. The Beach Trap is their first book together. Alison lives in Chicago and works as a VP creative director at an advertising agency. She's the author of You and Me and Us and Little Pieces of Me. Bradeigh lives with her family in Utah, where she works as a physician. She's the author of the psychological thriller Imposter.

And Then There Was You
Nancy Naigle
Griffin
c/o St. Martin's Press
https://us.macmillan.com/smp
9781250794178, $18.00, PB, 352pp

https://www.amazon.com/Then-There-Was-You-Chestnut/dp/125079417X

Synopsis: Reeling after falling prey to a Romeo con-artist who just waltzed away with the better part of her belongings, Natalie Maynard works closely with the detective assigned to her case, only the few leads have led nowhere.

Detective Randy Fellowes can't promise Natalie restitution, but he's determined to find the culprit and serve up justice. Married to his work, he's caught off guard when Natalie has his thoughts wandering to more than the case.

Natalie soon seeks refuge in the one thing she still owns -- an old fishing cabin in the mountains of Chestnut Ridge. She quickly falls in love with the town and the eccentric people who are teaching her so much about the area and its heritage.

Through these people, and the determination of Detective Fellowes, she rediscovers her courage, self, and a reason to risk love again.

Critique: Of special appeal to readers with an interest in deftly crafted, clean and wholesome contemporary romance novels, "And Then There Was You" by Nancy Naigle is a fun and heartwarming read from cover to cover. The stuff of which Hallmark Channel movies are made (and several of her earlier novels have been), "And Then There Was You" is unreservedly recommended for community library Contemporary Romance collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "And Then There Was You" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).

Editorial Note: Nancy Naigle (https://nancynaigle.allauthor.com) whips up small-town love stories with a whole lot of heart. Several of Nancy's novels have been made into Hallmark movies, and most recently The Shell Collector was adapted as the first Fox original movie to stream on Fox Nation.

Heart's Choice
Tracie Peterson, author
Kimberly Woodhouse, author
Bethany House Publishers
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton Road, Ada, MI 49301
www.bethanyhouse.com
9780764238987, $29.99, HC, 336pp

https://www.amazon.com/Hearts-Choice-Jewels-Kalispell/dp/0764238973

Synopsis: After witnessing a wrongful conviction as a young girl, Rebecca Whitman (the first female court reporter in Montana) is now determined to defend the innocent. During a murder trial, something doesn't sit well with her about the case, but no one except the handsome new Carnegie librarian will listen to her.

Librarian Mark Andrews's father sent him to college hoping he would take over the business side of the family ranch, but Mark would rather wrangle books than cows. When a patron seeks help with research in hopes of proving a man's innocence, Mark is immediately drawn to her and her cause.

In a race against time, will Rebecca and Mark find the evidence they need (and open their hearts to love) before it's too late?

Critique: Christian historical romance fiction at it's very best, "The Heart's Choice" by romance novel and veteran co-authors Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse is clean, wholesome, fun, and unreservedly recommended for community library Historical Romance Fiction collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of the legions of co-author Peterson and Woodhouse fans that "The Heart's Choice" is also readily available in a paperback edition (9780764238970, $17.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Editorial Note #1: Tracie Peterson (www.traciepeterson.com) is the bestselling author of more than 100 novels, both historical and contemporary, with more than 6 million copies sold. She has won the ACFW Lifetime Achievement Award and the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award. Her avid research resonates in her many best selling series.

Editorial Note #2: Kimberley Woodhouse (www.kimberleywoodhouse.com) is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than 30 fiction and nonfiction books.

With Every Memory
Janine Rosche
Fleming H. Revell Company
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton, Ada, MI 49301
www.revellbooks.com
9780800744663, $29.99, HC, 304pp

https://www.amazon.com/Every-Memory-Janine-Rosche/dp/0800744667

Synopsis: After a tragic accident robs her of the last nine years of memories, Lori Mendenhall comes home to a family completely different than she remembers. As her memory returns and past secrets resurface, it will take all of them to repair what's been broken and find a new future together.

Critique: Eloquent, original, memorable, compelling, "With Every Memory" by Janine Rosche will hold a special interest to fans of contemporary Christian romance novels. entertaining, thoughtful and thought-provoking, this paperback edition of "With Every Memory" from Revell is an especially recommended addition to community library Contemporary Romance collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "With Every Memory" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.99).

Editorial Note: Prone to wander, Janine Rosche (http://janinerosche.com) finds as much comfort on the open road as she does at home. This longing to chase adventure, behold splendor, and experience redemption is woven into each of her rustic romance novels in the Whisper Canyon Romance series and the Madison River Romance series. When she isn't writing or traveling, she teaches family life education courses to college students.

Her Only Wish
Shelley Shepard Gray
Fleming H. Revell Company
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton, Ada, MI 49301
www.revellbooks.com
9780800741686, $16.99, PB, 288pp

https://www.amazon.com/Her-Only-Wish-Season-Pinecraft/dp/0800741684

Synopsis: Sheltered yet adventurous, Betsy Detweiler is on a mission to get out of Kentucky and experience new things in life. She's got a list -- a life list. What better place to start than with her friends in beautiful Pinecraft, Florida?

From the moment Betsy walks into the Snow Bird Golf Course to sign up for lessons, August Troyer is mesmerized. Betsy is a mass of contradictions -- beautiful yet awkward, outgoing yet unsure, joyful yet hesitant. She's like no one he's ever met before, and as the only child of missionary parents, he's met a lot of people.

As Betsy and August embark on a month of enjoying life to the fullest, they'll encounter several reasons to back off and play it safe. But playing it safe has its own consequences. This tender romance reminds us that life (and love) requires a fair amount of risk.

Critique: Of special and particular interest to fans of Amish romance novels (of which author Shelley Shepard Gray" is a complete master), "Her Only Wish" is the second volume in novelist Shelley Shepard Gray's 'A Season in Pinecraft' series and a welcome, unreservedly recommended addition to community library Contemporary Romance collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of the legions of Shelly's fans that "Her Only Wish" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99). For libraries there is also a Library Binding/Large Print edition (Thorndike Large Print, 9798885788700, $35.99).

Editorial Note: Shelley Shepard Gray (www.shelleyshepardgray.com) is the author of more than 100 books. She is a two-time winner of the HOLT Medallion and a Carol Award finalist.

A Knowing One
Judith Hale Everett
Evershire Publishing
https://evershirepublishing.com
9781958720981, $15.99, PB, 340pp

https://www.amazon.com/Knowing-One-Branwell-Chronicles/dp/1958720984

Synopsis: Just when Tom Breckinridge has decided to propose marriage to Diana Marshall, a rival has come out of the woodwork: Reginald Popplewell, a childhood neighbor of Diana's, and now heir to a viscountcy. Diana's father much prefers Reginald, but Tom believes Reginald has something to hide.

When Mrs. Marshall invites Tom to a house party at their home near Brighton, Tom finds even more to dislike about "dear Reggie," but Diana won't hear a word against him and goes so far as to wring a pledge from Tom that he will make a friend of Reginald. Knowing just how risky it can be to befriend a con man, Tom will discover to what lengths he is willing to go to win Diana.

Critique: A classic Regency Romance by an author with a complete mastery of the genre, Judith Hale Everett's latest novel, "A Knowing One", is a deftly crafted, fully entertaining, and truly memorable work of historical fiction and one that is unreservedly recommended for community library Historical Romance Fiction collections. It should be noted for the persona reading lists of dedicated Regency Romance fans that "A Knowing One" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $2.99).

Editorial Note: Judith Hale Everett (www.judithhaleeverett.com) is an award-winning author who writes tongue-in-cheek traditional Regency romance in an immersive style and with emphasis on delightful language and historical accuracy. As one of seven sisters, Judith grew up surrounded by romance novels. Georgette Heyer and Jane Austen were staples, and formed the groundwork for her lifelong love affair with the Regency. Add to that her obsession with the English language and you've got one hopelessly literate romantic. She was a finalist in the 2022 Wishing Shelf Book Awards for her third book, Forlorn Hope. She can be found on Facebook, and Twitter.

Tranquility
Maggie Durst
https://maggiedurst.com
Atmosphere Press
www.atmospherepress.com
9781639887859, $16.99

https://www.amazon.com/Tranquility-Maggie-Durst/dp/1639887857

Tranquility is the story of an ordinary woman, Taylor, whose predictable and peaceful life trajectory is altered by co-worker Greg, who is charismatic, successful, and on the fast track to success in his career. Tasked with joining forces to create a luxury resort, Taylor and Greg find their personal attraction nearly impossible to set aside in favor of their jobs as proximity and adversity throws them together to test their dreams.

Author Maggie Durst creates a romantic story that contrasts the different lives and perceptions of characters that are as driven by their work as they are drawn to one another. Taylor's "impending feeling of doom" lends an anticipatory tension to the evolution of these coworkers as each tests the boundaries of propriety in an impossible relationship that should never have come to pass. The chemistry between the two is "exquisite" - but is it enough to change everything in their lives?

Durst's story walks a fine line between a crushing romance and a tale of co-workers who both utilize their attraction to strengthen their business objectives and realize that their fantasies may be creating a new reality that risks their current relationships on many different levels. The psychology of these choices and their impact on existing life trajectories is well done, drawing readers into the scenario of an evolving couple that enters into dangerous territory fully cognizant of both their emotions and what they should and should not be doing with one another.

Libraries and readers seeking romantic interludes in stories that evolve on complex levels of entanglements and business relationships will find Tranquility an absorbing study in revised possibilities and behaviors and choices that evolve from dreams to interrupt reality: "Taylor is wondering why this is happening now, and how this happened in the first place."

Summer People
Corinne Labalme
Wild Rose Press
https://wildrosepress.com
9781509243273, $11.28 Paper, $3.99 Kindle

https://www.amazon.com/Summer-People-Corinne-Labalme/dp/1509243275

The Cape Cod-based romance and atmosphere of Summer People will appeal to a wide range of readers, whether or not they are familiar with Cape Cod's iconic atmosphere.

As the story opens, Rick has his eyes set on married woman Jessica, who has opened an art gallery on Cape Cod and has suddenly set her wedding ring aside, creating an unexpected question in his mind. Jessica has just set aside the negative force that husband Max represents in her life. His rigidity comes from a privileged Boston childhood that no longer works well for Jessica's ambitions and vision of a life on Cape Cod, and she's honing her own powers in the course of forging a new life for herself. However, old habits are hard to break, and as she falls into relationships that test her determination and ability to maintain her independence and focus on her heart's desires, Jessica discovers that Cape Cod may just be the perfect place for either a fulfilling romance or a disaster that repeats patterns of the past.

Rick is adept at casting spells on even the most powerful of women - so, does Jessica have a chance at the kind of romance that can support rather than overwhelm her ambitions? Intrigue enters the picture when an art piece in her collection invites dangerous attention that also portends disaster. Can Jessica navigate matters of love and larceny at the same time?

Not entirely a romance, more than a story of an adult woman's growth, and flavored with the suspense of mystery, Summer People will please readers who come to it from many genres. It may thwart those who seek steamy sex scenes, step-by-step detective whodunits, and readers who anticipate the story will be entirely about love in the art world; but that's the attraction of its multifaceted presence, which defies pat categorization. A warm, rich story replete in growth opportunities and romantic realizations, spiced by the atmosphere, estate sales, and motivations of competing art sellers, Summer People makes for an engrossing story especially recommended as a beach read or for a dark night with a glass of hot chocolate by the fire.

Libraries seeking contemporary romance stories that excel in historical and art world explorations will find Summer People an excellent attraction.

My Goodbye Girl
Anna Gomez
Rosewind Books
c/o Vesuvian Media Group, Inc.
https://vesuvianmedia.com
9781645482086, $16.95 Paper, $4.99 ebook

https://vesuvianmedia.com/my-goodbye-girl

Practical scientist meets romantic. What could possibly go wrong, and what connects them? My Goodbye Girl probes a love that evolves against all odds, despite the fact that Tessa Talman and Simon Fremont are worlds apart, both physically and mentally. Long-distance love doesn't tend to work. It is said that proximity lends to deeper relationships, but in Tessa and Simon's case, perseverance and strange attraction play a part in keeping them linked even though they reside distantly and think very differently.

Perhaps appropriately, these disparate individuals first meet in an airport. Coming and going becomes the routine of their lives, with goodbyes just as common as hellos. Anna Gomez explores a romantic encounter in which the characters are each successful, in pursuit of their own ideals of life, and have cause to resist the attraction that keeps pulling them away from their previously-set goals. Just as Tessa begins to think seriously about setting aside her freedom in favor of the kind of commitment that would eliminate the constant farewells, changes again test the couple's resolve, ideals, and individual strengths. Many "cease to be strangers and turn into friends." Rare are those connections which become deeper when distance is involved.

As readers follow Tessa and Simon's odd journey, they will enjoy the changing perspectives that reinforce each individual's viewpoints and passions. Simon follows Tessa around the world, but comes to resent her globe-trotting ways: "Simon had so much going through his head. He was happy to see her. He wanted her. He couldn't go on like this. She kept her distance. He was an idiot for showing up on impulse.

Another one for the books. The Year That Simon Lost Himself." Gomez's special brand of inspection draws important and compelling connections between independence and love. The jealousies and misunderstandings which arise from the clash between a jet-setting lifestyle and one which values settling down are particularly well depicted through dialogues that pinpoint the chasms between them: "Can you blame me? Can you blame me for always feeling left out? I'm the one who keeps on having to find you!"

She really didn't understand what she had done wrong. She traveled around the world for a living. He should know that. And be okay with it.

"You knew this was my life. You knew this is who I am. I like to disappear. I like to be free to come and go. It has nothing to do with the way I feel about you!" Key questions about disparate lifestyles, commitment, and love drive a plot that eventually embraces a tragedy that further tests Simon and Tessa's values and what they truly want for themselves and in a relationship.

Libraries and readers interested in stories that hold lessons about growth within and outside of passionate relationships will find My Goodbye Girl thought-provoking, while book clubs looking for fiction about creating and anchoring past, present, and future possibilities will find plenty to discuss as Tessa and Simon confront seemingly impossible differences and a love that grows against all odds.

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