Romance

Romances have always been plentiful during the holiday season, and this year is no exception. From sizzling historical romps and sexy vampire tales to heart-melting stories of family and small-town "home for the holidays" yarns, the current crop sparkles with all the joy of the season and should provide something for everyone's reading pleasure. Below is a mere taste of this season's literary goodies.

Taking full advantage of the growing popularity of NASCAR, this quartet of sweet novellas pairs assorted racing team heroes with a rich variety of heroines, adds just enough race detail to keep fans on board, and tops it off with a heartwarming dose of holiday cheer. Allison and Wendy Etherington's "Have a Beachy Little Christmas," a modern Bahamas-set story of a wealthy team owner's daughter and a biker bad boy-turned-engineer, gets things off to a lively start, and "Winning the Race," Brenda Jackson's touching reunion tale, keeps up the pace. Children add their magical touch to the season as two single parents find love, with their kids' encouragement, in Marisa Carroll's "All They Want for Christmas." Jean Brashear's memorable "A Family for Christmas" finds a celebrity crew chief returning home for a little downtime, reclaiming the woman he has always loved, and getting a ready-made family as well. A winning collection, even for readers who aren't racing fans.

On a mission to find the elusive marine who saved her gravely wounded husband in Iraq, Marcie Sullivan, now widowed, finally locates Ian Buchanan in an isolated cabin near Virgin River in the Northern California mountains. Guilt-ridden and emotionally scarred, Ian doesn't need a reminder that he rescued his best friend only to see him waste away in a coma. But Marcie needs closure as much as Ian needs healing. When a bout of the flu keeps Marcie at the rustic cabin longer than she intended, the barriers begin to fall, bringing new hope—and unexpected love. A cameo to Carr's "Virgin River" series (set just before Christmas in the third book, Whispering Rock), this touching holiday tale is laced with laughter and tears and delivered with an emotional intensity that will charm both new readers and series fans. Carr lives in Las Vegas, NV.

When country singing star Greg Clayton goes home to the family ranch for Christmas, the last thing he expects is to end up delivering a baby. But with a storm raging, his elderly mother stranded in Houston, and most of the hired help away for Thanksgiving, it's all up to Greg when the family's young cook, Connie, goes into labor. Charmed by baby Amanda, Greg is also surprised to be attracted to the understated Connie, a woman nothing like the flashy gals he sees on tour. Love blooms slowly, but with Connie harboring a dangerous secret and Greg's itinerant lifestyle, their relationship seems doomed. Featuring a heroine running from the past, a hero truly worthy of the name, and characters reprised from earlier stories, this cheerful, soul-warming, family-centered story spans Thanksgiving through New Year's and neatly ties up the author's Clayton Brothers series. Duarte (Mulberry Park) lives in Southern California.

This trio of novellas makes good use of wintry snow and ice to set the stage for delightful romantic encounters that are touched with passion and adventure and are perfect fireside fare. A young lord is accosted by thugs on his way to Northumberland and takes shelter in the manor house where a young woman is held captive by her duplicitous cousin in Feather's compelling "A Holiday Gamble." An icy road sends a coach careening and strands a wealthy young heiress and her relatives at the home of a grouchy, Christmas-averse nobleman in Sabrina Jeffries scintillating "When Sparks Fly." A young lady searching for her brother in Scotland is accompanied by a scarred, bitter Highlander who is much more than he seems in Julia London's touching "Snowy Night with a Highlander." A thoroughly enjoyable anthology with a few unexpected twists.

Loosely linked by the Christmas season, these racy novellas from three of Brava's more popular authors get the holidays off to a steamy start. A billionaire's pet-sitter finds romance with her employer's great-nephew when they are trapped by a storm over the holidays in Kauffman's "Unleashed." A research chemist searching unsuccessfully for Mr. Right finds love with a contractor who seems to be everything she isn't looking for in Jill Shalvis's "Finding Mr. Right." In HelenKay Dimon's "Can You Hand Me the Tape?" our heroine makes a suggestive video for her ex-boyfriend for Christmas but now wants it back before he finds it. She reluctantly seeks help from the last person she wants to ask—her ex's attractive law partner.

Bowing to unreasonable parental pressure, successful American businessman Rafe Bowman hesitantly agrees to consider an arranged marriage to a beautiful British aristocrat. Yet when he arrives in London, it is not the lovely Lady Natalie but her forthright, down-to-earth companion, Hannah Appleton, who sends his libido into overdrive and his well-laid plans out the window. Rafe's brash American manners clash amusingly with the more rigid expectations of English society. Adding warmth and insight to the overall lighthearted feel of this merry tale is the well-intentioned meddling of Rafe's sisters (from Kleypas's "Wallflower" series) as they try to polish his rough edges and help him navigate the social scene. A charming, deliciously sensual holiday treat that updates Kleypas's popular series (e.g., Seduce Me at Sunrise) and adds another memorable pair to the Wallflower garden.

A young expectant mother trying to warn the father of her child that her three brothers will soon be on his trail comes to Cedar Cove on Christmas Eve only to find the cad gone, the town inn full, and her only refuge, thanks to the kindness of the town librarian, an apartment above a stable filled with animals for the upcoming Christmas pageant. A fainting spell introduces Mary Jo Wyse to firefighter/paramedic Mack McAfee. When she goes into early labor, he rescues her once more—by delivering her baby. Familiar townspeople, three impulsive brothers on the hunt, and a pair of appealing protagonists bring to life this sweet, humorous romance that, with its many obvious parallels, is a satisfying, almost tongue-in-cheek retelling of the Christmas story. The Cedar Cove books are set in a town much like Macomber's own Port Orchard, WA.

When a broken faucet and a ruined Halloween costume send children's librarian Momi Kanahele flying to the door of apartment manager Rick Mahoney to demand the situation be fixed, their relationship gets off to a soggy start. But Momi is attracted to the handsome Rick, and when he helps her choose another costume, she begins to see him in a new light. Amidst a waterlogged carpet, new floor tile, and cooking lessons (he teaches her), they gradually become friends. Still, unless Rick can resolve his past—and his aversion to the holidays—they may never be more. A wary hero who needs to take a chance, a heroine who is just the one to help him, and a magical family quilt combine in this gentle romance that adds a unique tropical touch to the festivities. This is the second installment in Mahon's "Matchmaker Quilt" trilogy. Mahon (The Secret Correspondence) has a number of multicultural Hawaiian romances to her credit; she lives in Paradise Valley, AZ.

Agreeing to meet Lord Belkins and secretly drug his wine seemed like an easy way to earn £20 and also do a friend a favor. Fiona Lachlan arrives at the inn only to be accosted by Dominic, the Duke of Holburn, who is expecting someone else. They end up being shot at, and she begins to wonder what she has gotten herself into. Then Belkins is murdered. Danger lurks in unexpected places in this innovative, fast-paced romance that takes a brave, independent Scottish lass and a proud, persistent duke, gives them a mystery to solve, and lets them discover love in the process. Complete with witty dialog, sparkling humor, and delicious sensuality and touched by the holiday spirit and a dash of mythological magic, this romance successfully launches Maxwell's new "Scandals and Seductions" series. Maxwell (In the Highlander's Bed) lives in Virginia.

This quartet of novellas features cozy, small-town ambience, a sadistic threat from the grave, and a touch of holiday magic. A jaded Hollywood star finds love with her high school flame in Michaels's "Silver Bells," while a mystery writer spends Christmas in Santa's Village when her car breaks down in "Dear Santa" by JoAnn Ross. A young widow is terrified when a letter from her abusive husband's attorney sets her on a deadly path in Mary Burton's "Christmas Past," and a young mother of two and her high-school sweetheart rekindle their relationship with the help of a mysterious "angel" in Judy Duarte's "A Mulberry Park Christmas," a story that fans of her series will enjoy. Although several of these stories could have easily been developed into full-length works, this is a satisfying anthology.

Lizzie McKettrick, full of news and surprises for her boisterous family, can hardly wait to get home to Indian Rock, in the Arizona Territory, for Christmas. Then an avalanche strands the train during a blizzard, and Lizzie knows it will be a miracle if she gets home at all. As Lizzie struggles to help a creative mix of passengers—including several wide-eyed children, a mysterious peddler, and a mouthy parrot—keep their spirits up, she can't help but be attracted to fellow passenger Dr. Morgan Shane, who is so different from the man she has brought with her from San Francisco to meet her family. Sweet, homespun, and touched with angelic Christmas magic, this holiday romance reprises characters from Miller's popular McKettrick series and is a perfect stocking stuffer for her fans. Miller lives near Spokane.

When Rachel Porter, the hottest celebrity stylist in Hollywood, catches her current boyfriend sleeping with her best client, she retaliates with a rash, flamboyant move that sabotages her own career and sends her home to tiny Kismet, MI, to lick her wounds and wait until things blow over in Beverly Hills. However, she doesn't count on reconnecting with former NFL star Reno Wright, and she definitely doesn't plan on falling for him, something of a problem since Reno is on a reluctant mission to match her up with his best friend. A delightful secondary romance adds to the fun in this upbeat romp that is touching, hilarious, and lightly dusted with seasonal charm. Plumley lives in Chandler, AZ.

Newly aged vampire Ian MacPhie is looking for love, but it has to be with a female Vamp. Toni, a mortal who works as a vampire bodyguard and whose roommate was attacked by renegade vampires, is out to prove that vampires exist and that her roommate isn't crazy. Ian and Toni clash from the start, but the attraction is there—it's figuring out what to do about it that's the problem. Deception and intrigue are all part of this funny, sexy contemporary vampire tale, the fifth in Sparks's popular "Love at Stake" series. Sparks (The Undead Next Door) lives in the Houston, TX, area.

There is no way beauty expert Jeanette Brioche is going to let her happily married friends meddle in her nonexistent love life; she's single and content to stay that way—even when they try to set her up with gorgeous, newly arrived city manager Tom McDonald. Attracted to the spunky Jeanette and intrigued by her obvious resistance, Tom is determined to win her over, and, ironically, the town's Christmas festival committee gives him just the opportunity he needs. A pair of protagonists who want nothing to do with Christmas, a delightful assortment of townsfolk who do, and a bevy of helpful friends and difficult relatives result in a lively, upbeat story that sparkles with holiday fun and tugs at the heartstrings. Enjoyable and well written, this is a worthy addition to Woods's "Sweet Magnolias" series. Woods (Seaview Inn) is noted for appealing character-driven stories that are often infused with the flavor and fragrance of the South. She lives in Colonial Beach, VA, and Key Biscayne, FL.

Summoned back to Syria from Scotland, presumably by Sinan, the ruler of the assassins who had saved the lives of his Scottish friends several years earlier, former assassin Kadar Ben Arnaud is furious when the messenger kidnaps Lady Selene Ware (a former child harem slave and Kadar's love) in order to assure his compliance. But Sinan is dead, and it is the evil demon Nasim who has called him back to retrieve a priceless treasure, sending Kadar and Selene on a perilous quest that could tear them apart forever. Paranormal threads wind through this sensual, exotic medieval adventure that continues the colorful story begun in Lion's Bride (1996; rereleased in September). Though each novel stands on its own, they are best read in chronological order. Johansen (Silent Thunder, with Roy Johansen) is most recently noted for her gripping, suspenseful thrillers. Her return to historicals will please her patient fans. She lives near Atlanta.

With the simple stipulation that each story involve a hero and heroine who have been separated for more than a decade and then reconnect at the same roadside inn, this unique collection of sensual novellas, each set during a different season of the year, is the elegant result. A winter rainstorm strands a rake and the childhood friend he grew up protecting and lets their latent passions flare in Laurens's sultry "The Fall of Rogue Gerrard." A carriage accident and a May Day celebration untangle years of misunderstandings for a pair torn apart by family interference in Mary Balogh's poignant "Spellbound." A cruelly used widow defies society's conventions and finds happiness with her childhood love in Jacquie D'Alessandro's emotionally satisfying "Only You." A young couple brutally separated live vastly different lives only to learn some important truths and find love 25 years later in Candice Hern's refreshingly unconventional "From This Moment On." This cleverly conceived, beautifully executed collection highlights the critical importance of the individual writer's voice, tone, style, and creativity and goes a long way toward refuting the notion that romances are all alike.

Hoping to make a suitable match before word of a London scandal reaches the house party she is attending, the lovely but orphaned and penniless Cynthia Brightly is offered a surprising bargain by her aristocratic host. Entomologist Miles Redmond will protect her secrets and supply her with the information to help her find a suitable husband if she will give him one kiss. That simple gesture, however, is more than either had expected. What is expected is that Miles will court a rich, well-connected heiress while Cynthia considers a wealthy widower, but love has a way of changing things. References to insects and arachnids of all types add an intriguing touch to this beautifully written, exquisitely sensual story that features a host of exceptionally well-developed secondary characters and a pair of unforgettable protagonists. This latest in Long's tales featuring the Eversea and Redmond families is a delightful, urbane, and witty story that readers will savor. Long (The Perils of Pleasure) is a rising star among historical romance writers; she lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Beautiful, smart, and a wildly successful romance writer, Marina Wyatt, the widowed Countess of Gorham, enjoys a delightfully scandalous reputation and makes good use of it to promote her books. However, when the scholarly uncle of her supposed latest flirt approaches her with his concerns, the attraction between them flares into page-singeing passion and launches a clandestine affair that could prove unexpectedly deadly for them both. A cast of remarkably memorable secondary characters, including an obsessed blackmailer and a precocious preadolescent, join a beautifully matched, eminently appealing hero and heroine in a well-researched, secret-laden story that delves beneath the "proper" surface of early 19th-century English high society. This novel is supremely sensual, wickedly witty, and one of the author's best to date. Noted for exquisitely written, intelligent romances that often hover near the erotic edges of the genre, Rosenthal (The Slightest Provocation) lives in San Francisco.

Aimed at fans of Ward's popular "Black Dagger Brotherhood" series, this eclectic companion is a font of information about the brotherhood heroes and includes everything from personal data, interviews, and deleted scenes to a new novella, "Father Mine," featuring Zsadist and Bella, and a preview of Lover Avenged, the next title in the series.

A duke and a crusading female journalist duke it out in the muddy streets of London in this rerelease of the prequel to Chase's Lord of Scoundrels. One punch is all it takes for love to bloom. "A compelling story that addresses some of the more relevant social issues of the Regency era" (LJ 2/15/98).

Dailey reprises this classic battle-of-the-sexes Christmas story (first published in 1980 as Boss Man from Ogallala) of a rancher's daughter who clashes with the man her injured father hires to run the place, with unexpectedly romantic results.