Romance

The numerous rumors about the demise of the historical romance no longer seem relevant, considering the quality and number of the current offerings in this subgenre. In fact, historical romance is doing better than ever and are in no danger of slipping off the edge of the romance map. Second in popularity only to contemporaries—romances set during the time of their writing—historicals are currently considered any work set prior to 1945, although this has and will continue to change as time passes. Technically, historicals can be set during any era; however, there are certain periods that are more popular, with today's favorites being the Georgian (1714–1830), Regency (1811–20), and Victorian (1837–1901) periods, generally in British environs. Here's a small sampling of what today's latest historicals have to offer.

Freed from an abusive forced marriage when her husband is murdered, Lady Olivia Rathbourne is surprised when Sterling Harrington, Earl of Wyldewood—the man she once loved but was commanded by her father to jilt—informs her that her father is afraid she might be the killer's next victim. But Livy abhors her father and will have none of it—until her husband's will sends her in search of three rare artifacts, and she goes to Sterling for help. As their adventures heat up, so do their feelings. Can she and Sterling recapture the love they'd thought was lost forever? VERDICT Sparkling wit and simmering sexual tension add zing to Alexander's cleverly conceived and exquisitely crafted Victorian tale. Items from Livy's Secret List of Desires introduce several chapters and are a delightful bonus to this exceptional read. Alexander (The Virgin's Secret) lives in Omaha.

Wealthy, beautiful, and newly widowed, Hannah Reid, Duchess of Dunbarton, does exactly what the ton expects her to do—she decides to take a lover. Her choice? The sinfully handsome and perennially single yet untitled Constantine Huxtable, a man as dangerously appealing as he is unmarriageable—and perfect for her needs. Naturally, nothing goes as either had planned in this neatly choreographed romance that will fascinate readers as Balogh (Seducing an Angel) gradually peels away the layers of this complex, secrets-laden story with tantalizing skill and sympathetic care. VERDICT Poignant, thought-provoking, deliciously sensual, and completely enthralling, this polished gem is the last in the Huxtable quintet and one that Balogh's fans have been anxiously awaiting. Balogh lives in Canada. [See also our Q&A with the author, LJ 2/15/09, p. 90.]

Abducted under bizarre circumstances but ultimately rescued by the fierce renegade Captain Rose, Bella Barstowe returns home, reviled by her family as a fallen woman. Four years later, financially independent (courtesy of her great-grandmother's will), living in London disguised as homely Bellona Flint, and working as a copyist and occasional "researcher" for a social reformer's scandal sheet, Bella is still puzzled by the events of her kidnapping—until she comes across the appalling truth. Vowing revenge, Bella seeks out the man who rescued her years before, never realizing that Captain Rose is actually the powerful Duke of Ithorne or that they had met again at a masquerade she had recently crashed in search of scandal. VERDICT Lies, deception, and hidden identities ramp up the intrigue as a fascinating pair of protagonists join a familiar cast and provide another enchanting trip into Beverley's beautifully rendered, delightfully licentious Malloren world (after The Secret Wedding). Beverley is a best-selling author and member of the Romance Writers of America® Hall of Fame. She lives in Canada.

When sweet, proper, genial, and monumentally rich Gwen Maudsley is jilted for the second time, instead of being heartbroken, she is startled to realize that she is not only relieved to be rid of her ex-fiancé but also tired of being nice. Flouting convention and wickedly doing exactly as she pleases would be a lot more fun! But she needs a few lessons, and who better to teach her than her late brother's partner and best friend, Alex Ramsey, a well-born rogue with a perfectly scandalous reputation? VERDICT Witty, often hilarious, sensuous, and breathlessly paced, Duran's (Written on Your Skin) engaging, mystery-enhanced escapade sweeps its charmingly matched protagonists across the continent, in and out of danger, and eventually into each other's arms.

In the aftermath of World War I, and with the tragic deaths of both her sister in childbirth and her brother-in-law in the war, it's all Rachel Watkins can do to raise her eight-year-old niece, Charlotte, care for the rest of her relatives, and run the family boardinghouse. But when Charlotte discovers a delirious drifter hiding in a shack, Rachel agrees to take him in, suspecting that he just might be Mason Tucker, her supposedly dead brother-in-law. A greedy banker and a lecherous boarder add to the mix in this poignant, engrossing story of life, death, and second chances that pits strong characters against tremendous odds and lets them win. VERDICT Well written and swiftly paced, this story brings to life a time period that is seldom-used in romance. A touching read for most popular fiction collections. Iowa-based Garlock (The Moon Looked Down) is noted for her realistic yet romantic family-centered stories set during the first half of the 20th century.

Agreeing to raise her sister's illegitimate son as her own so Linnie won't be ruined, Evelyn Cross pretends to be a widow, moves in with her great-aunt, and settles into life in rural Yorkshire. Four years later, her peace is shattered when Spencer Lockhart, Viscount Winters and cousin of the soldier who compromised her sister, arrives to fulfill his cousin's deathbed wish and care for Linnie and the boy. But Spencer assumes Evie is Linnie, creating a situation that becomes even more complicated when he proposes. VERDICT A strong, determined heroine and an honorable hero find unexpected happiness as their marriage of convenience becomes the real thing in this charming, sweetly sensual romance that fans will find hard to put down. Jordan (Sins of a Wicked Duke) lives in Houston, TX.

With William Wallace dead and Scotland's fate now in his hands, Robert the Bruce quietly makes plans for a secret army: 12 of the best warriors in the land—notably West Highlanders and Islanders—united under a fierce Western Isle chief, the legendary Tormod MacLeod. Unfortunately for the Bruce, staunchly independent Tor wants no part of the plan—until treachery lands the tempting Christina Fraser in his bed, and he is forced to reconsider. Passion and politics abound in this exceptionally well-researched romance that skillfully interweaves fiction with history and sheds new light on a particularly fascinating and violent time. VERDICT Clear, accessible historical detail, strong, intricate plotting, and believable characters (both historical and invented) keep the pages turning in this adventure, the first in a new series, which hooks readers from the start. McCarty (Highland Scoundrel) lives in Piedmont, CA.

Arriving in rural Hartley just in time to rescue midwife Julia Bancroft from a band of kidnap-minded thugs, Maj. Alex Randall quickly realizes that the only way he can keep Julia safe is by marrying her. Fortunately, that's exactly what he's wanted to do since he met her, and Julia, although wary after a brutal first marriage, reluctantly agrees. Alex's gentle patience soon wins Julia's trust, but as Julia's heritage comes to light, Alex is the one who wonders if their marriage will last. VERDICT Delightful, well-conceived secondary characters, including a particularly difficult earl and a take-charge, no-nonsense duchess, add humor and depth to a fascinating story that is more complex than most. Cleverly plotted, stirring, and flawlessly written. Putney (Loving a Lost Lord) lives in Baltimore.

A match between a powerful crime boss and an activist social reformer out to save the city's working girls hardly seems the thing. Yet, when shadow energy talent Griffin Winters and dreamlight reader Adelaide Pyne connect in Quick's latest Victorian paranormal sizzler (second in the "Dreamlight Trilogy," eighth in the larger "Arcane Society" series), the psychic sparks light up the sky and the dangerous dreamlight flares into action. London's clandestine criminal culture provides the chilling, vividly rendered setting as Griffin and Adelaide struggle to outwit a prostitution kingpin, a power-mad killer, and other assorted villains in a complex, highly suspenseful tale that answers a few more "Arcane" questions and keeps this trilogy on target. VERDICT With quirky humor and typical flair, Quick has penned another riveting, fast-paced adventure that drops more "Dreamlight" puzzle pieces into place and will leave readers anxious for the final installment, Jayne Castle's Midnight Crystal, coming in September. Quick (Perfect Poison) lives in the Seattle area. Note: This series is written by Jayne Ann Krentz in all three of her writing personae; her Fired Up is the first in the series.

Willa Mae Tyler and Surry Lion have been secret friends since they were seven—secret because it was pre-Civil War Virginia, and Willa is white and Surry is a black slave. But as the war begins and Surry is brutalized by a vicious overseer, the girls go their separate ways—Surry to freedom in the North and Willa into the Confederate Army disguised as a boy. Then Willa meets Quaker Levi Clement, pacifist and mill owner, and all their lives will never be the same. VERDICT Compelling characters and descriptive historical detail draw readers into this soul-wrenching drama, leaving them looking forward to the next installment in "The Quaker and the Confederate" duet, with Hearts Persuaded coming in September. Sundell (Meggie's Remains) divides her time between Colorado and California.

Angry at the world when a near-fatal car crash takes him off the ice permanently, hockey superstar Mark Bressler is bent on making life miserable for everyone—especially his latest team-provided personal assistant: outspoken, flamboyant, and unemployed actress Chelsea Ross. Chelsea is out to revamp her acting career and badly needs the $10,000 bonus she'll get if she lasts three months with Mark; failure is simply not an option. But neither is the unwanted, totally surprising attraction that springs up between them. Colorful characters from Gibson's earlier Seattle Chinooks titles round out the cast and add context to this effervescent delight. VERDICT Lively, hot, and full of sassy wit, Idaho-based Gibson's (True Love and Other Disasters) latest hilarious hockey turn combines nonstop fun with a touching dash of authenticity.

Thrilled with the quaint small town of Fool's Gold and her new job as the city planner, Charity Jones is caught off guard when she learns that the town has a dwindling supply of men and attracting "manly" businesses is an unwritten part of her job. She's also startled by her intense reaction to the town's charming hero, former cyclist Josh Golden, who is exactly the kind of good-on-paper man she tends to avoid—with good reason. But Josh is not quite what he seems, and as he and Charity get to know each other better, they realize that they might actually be perfectly imperfect. VERDICT Warm, funny, and sexy, this lighthearted yet touching page-turner is a satisfying, rewarding read and the "perfect" beginning for Mallery's (Hot on Her Heels) "Fool's Gold" series. Award-winning, multipublished author Mallery lives in the Pacific Northwest.

Being Greek, Casey (Acacia) Simopolous knows her mythology, yet it has totally eluded her that her father was the King of the Argoleans and she has been marked by destiny to save their race. Then she rescues Theron, leader of the Argonauts, from a group of daemons and is drawn into an ancient conflict that could lead to her death. VERDICT Steamy, intricately plotted, and creatively conceived, this title gets Naughton's "Eternal Guardians" series, featuring warriors who protect their world from the daemons of the Underworld, off to a sizzling start and will leave paranormal fans breathless and wanting more. Naughton (Stolen Seduction) lives in Oregon.

For as long as she can remember, Laurel McBane has adored Delaney Brown, her best friend Parker's older brother. But to Del, she's always been just one of his kid sister's friends, or so she thinks. Her fiery temper results in a kiss that just might change their relationship for good. There's plenty of practical wedding planning and culinary detail to enjoy in this third in Roberts's series on the four owners of the wedding service Vows (Laurel is the pastry chef). The interactions among the characters are priceless. VERDICT Funny, sweetly sexy, as bubbly as champagne, and as addictive as chocolate, this thoroughly readable follow-up to Vision in White and Bed of Roses is one to savor. Roberts lives in Keedysville, MD. Note: "Quartet" is scheduled to conclude with Happily Ever After later this year.

Back in Gold Fever to search with his two cousins for the legendary stolen gold that their late grandfather was sure was hidden on their land, world traveler Wyatt McCord, flirtatious and confident in his charm, meets his match in free-spirited, independent Marilee Trainor, an EMT and pilot who thinks the treasure legend is just talk. When she finds some papers that change her mind, deadly accidents occur. Wyatt springs into action as a killer stalks Marilee, but as secrets bubble up from the past, the danger ratchets up as well. VERDICT Appealing protagonists and a town full of memorable continuing characters propel the puzzling plot of this engaging, lustful, and slightly boisterous family-centered romance that is second in the McCord cousins series. Ryan (Montana Legacy), who also writes as Ruth Ryan Langan, lives in the Detroit area. Note: Although this is a satisfying romance on its own, it contains a few spoilers for the first series title, so reading them in order is advised.

Resigned to being on her own after her husband is killed in Iraq, Katie Charmaine is shocked when Zack Ferguson, a man who dated and deserted her when she was 17, shows up in tiny Chartreuse, LA, with their rebellious (and pregnant) 16-year-old daughter, whom she'd given up at birth. But Gracie needs a family, whether she wants one or not, and it's up to Katie and Zack to provide it. VERDICT With sympathetic, memorable characters, a touching story, gentle humor, and evocative writing, Wells's latest will please fans who like their contemporaries with a Southern flair. Wells (How To Score) lives near New Orleans.

When a raging Maine blizzard strands a divorced single mom and her infant daughter in an isolated cabin with a woman-wary Montana rancher, they both end up rethinking their views about marriage and the opposite sex in this steamy romance that was originally published as a Harlequin Temptation in 1989. Delinsky is known for her best-selling women's fiction.

There's nothing like rescuing a wounded man to bring a little excitement into your life, but when Rachel Jones pulls agent Kell Sabin from the Florida surf, she gets a lot more danger—and romance—than she'd bargained for in this riveting romance that was first released as a Silhouette Intimate Moments title in 1987. This follows Midnight Rainbow (reissued by Severn House in 2009).

Grab your boots, cowboy hats, and laptops and get set for some fun and romance at Librarians' Day at the annual Romance Writers of America® (RWA®) conference at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville, on Wednesday, July 28, 2010. This daylong event is open to all librarians and features a combination of speakers, panel discussions, lunch, and an afternoon networking opportunity. This year, the luncheon speaker is Sherrilyn Kenyon (No Mercy: A Dark-Hunter® Novel, St. Martin's, Aug.); other speakers—both authors and librarians—include Amy Alessio, John Charles, Wendy Crutcher, Tessa Dare, Simone Elkeles, Susan Gibberman, Eloisa James, Alyson Noel, Kristin Ramsdell, and Christie Ridgway. Registration is $25; more information and the downloadable registration form available at bit.ly/axEnXG.

Each year, RWA® confers its Librarian of the Year Award on a librarian who has shown outstanding support of the romance genre. The 2010 RWA® Librarian of the Year is JENNIFER LOHMANN, Reference Services, Durham County Library, NC.