Category Archives: romance

Jackal’s Mistress: A Novel by Chris Bojahlian

20 Saturday Sep 2025

Posted by in action, adventure, Historical Fiction, History, murder, romance, suspense, United States

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“The true story of a wounded Union officer saved by a Confederate woman… adding imaginative twists to the original story line… when Capt. Jonathan Weybridge is severely wounded in battle and left to die… Libby feels honor bound to do for him what she hopes a Union woman would do for her husband. Thus ‘the Jackal…’ becomes a secret member of their household and a perilous friendship blossoms.”—Alida Becker, The New York Times Book Review

“This page-turner from bestselling Bohjalian…will not disappoint fans of American Civil War narratives. The vividly drawn characters and historical details make for a compelling read.”—Library Journal, Starred Review

“Top-notch…. Based on a true story, The Jackal’s Mistress brings all the propulsive plot and sensitive character development one has come to expect from Bohjalian; here, he spins a tale of unlikely romance between a wounded Union soldier from Vermont and a gritty Virginia woman.”—Kate Tuttle, The Boston Globe

“Elegant, poignant, and richly atmospheric….Bohjalian once again demonstrates his profound respect for women, endowing his female protagonists with depth and nuance.”— Booklist, Starred Review

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Last Rose of Shanghai by Weina Dai Randel

22 Friday Aug 2025

Posted by in 20th century, Fiction, Historical Fiction, romance

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Highlighted by 797 Kindle readers:  “There is a kind of love that strikes like a thunderbolt; it blinds you, yet opens your eyes to see the world anew. Within its light, a pathway was illuminated.” This is a must-read for historical fiction lovers.

“Set against a panorama so vivid you can almost hear the jazz in Aiyi Shao’s nightclub, Weina Dai Randel brings to life fascinating WWII history new to me and, I imagine, countless other readers. The story of a well-born entrepreneur and the German-Jewish refugee she loves will stay with you long after The Last Rose of Shanghai ends.” —Sally Koslow, author of Another Side of Paradise

“Set in Japanese-occupied Shanghai, this is an unforgettable, page-turning tale of an impossible affair between lovers from two cultures. Randel casts an unflinching eye at the horrors of wartime Shanghai, where refugees starve while the wealthy and privileged continue to drink and dance, and where daily threats of danger and death only serve to fan forbidden passions to a blazing climax.” —Janie Chang, bestselling author of Dragon Springs Road and The Library of Legends

“In a novel that spans time, space, and culture, The Last Rose of Shanghai is a riveting story of love, heartbreak, and redemption. The smoky night clubs, jazz bars, luxury hotels, family compounds, and refugee settlements of Japanese-occupied Shanghai provide a fascinating background to the lives of those caught in the crossfires of war. Weina Dai Randel is a skilled artist, giving the reader well drawn characters of great depth, complexity, and heart. In the WWII genre, within the genre of historical fiction, The Last Rose of Shanghai stands out for its boldness and originality.” —Erika Robuck, bestselling author of The Invisible Woman

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Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley

27 Friday Jun 2025

Posted by in Fiction, romance, United States

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Percy and Joe meet in college and bond over their love of music. As they fall in and out of love and each other’s lives, songwriting remains their strongest connection. This is a thoughtful novel that’s as much about music and creativity as it is about relationships.

“[D]azzling.”—Booklist, starred review

“I absolutely loved Deep Cuts—clever and heart-wrenching and addictive, the kind of novel that grabs you in an instant and takes you reeling through its pages.”—Miranda Cowley Heller, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller The Paper Palace

“[R]ock novels are historically lame. Or a reboot of truth . . . But something brand new, that encompasses the reality and truth of being a music fan? I’m not sure any book exists that nails it as well as Deep Cuts.”—Bob Lefsetz, The Lefsetz Letter

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Broken Country: a Novel by Clare Leslie Hall

16 Monday Jun 2025

Posted by in Fiction, romance, suspense

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As a young woman, Beth falls in love with a wealthy neighbor but ends up married to someone else. When her first love comes back into her life years later, it triggers conflict for her marriage and their small English town. This book was a page-turning mix of romance, action, and poignancy.

“Broken Country is at its heart a novel about love and loss, about selfishness and selflessness, and about the consequences of decisions made for these reasons. Each decision is driven by the one before it, and Beth, especially, is stretched to her breaking point. Both aching and thrilling, Broken Country is a masterful book by an accomplished author.”—Booklist

“Hall serves up twist after twist in her canny U.S. debut, a story of grief, love, and murder set in the Dorset countryside. This sharp morality tale will stay with readers.”—Publishers Weekly

“A love story like no other. By turns a searing mystery, and a brilliant and beautiful look at the price of a second chance, and the complex notion of fate and forgiveness. Stunning.”—Chris Whitaker, New York Times bestselling author of All the Colors of the Dark

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Annie Bot: a Novel by Sierra Greer

14 Friday Feb 2025

Posted by in Fiction, Future, romance, United States

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Annie is an expensive, lifelike robot purchased by Doug to act as his “girlfriend.” The more she learns and develops, the more conflicted she feels about her identity. As AI expands, this thought-provoking novel asks questions about what the future may hold.

Named a Best Book of the Year by Scientific American, Harper’s Bazaar and NPR. Named a Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Book of the Year by the Washington Post and Elle. Nominated for a Goodreads Choice Award in Science Fiction…..For fans of Never Let Me Go and My Dark Vanessa, a powerful, provocative novel about the relationship between a female robot and her human owner, exploring questions of intimacy, power, autonomy, and control.  (Amazon)

“This nuanced novel provides a fascinating look into a future we may never wish for.” — Booklist (starred review)

“Searing…dazzling…a coming-of-age thriller, a sexbot bildungsroman page-turner, a book that I excitedly described to anyone who would listen while I was reading it.” — Scientific American

“A brilliant and enraging exploration of ownership and love, and the way our creations have of growing far beyond us. Sierra Greer raises questions as current and pressing as our present-day anxieties about AI, and as ageless and enormous as the territory of Mary Shelley, about what constitutes humanity and what we owe to each other. Annie is a glorious creation– and self-creation– and I will never forget her, or this sharp and astonishing book.” — Clare Beams, author of The Illness Lesson

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How to Read a Book: a Novel by Monica Wood

11 Wednesday Dec 2024

Posted by in Fiction, Humor, romance, United States

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“Monica Wood’s engaging novel of fresh starts follows Violet, a 20-something woman fresh out of prison; Harriet, a retiree who leads a book club inside the women’s prison; and Frank, the retired machinist whose wife was killed in the hit-and-run for which Violet served time. Shot through with clever asides and spiky feelings, the story ponders trust, reformation, and forgiveness.” — Christian Science Monitor

“Gorgeously told…A finely wrought story, with deeply memorable characters.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Told with compassion and empathy, Wood’s tender novel explores the ways people can surprise themselves and others. A deeply humane and touching novel; highly recommended for book clubs and fans of Shelby Van Pelt’s Remarkably Bright Creatures.” — Booklist

“A young female ex-con, a widower who was collateral damage, and a woman who runs the prison bookclub—three indelible voices (and let’s not forget one extraordinary parrot’s), remind us that life is full of mysteries, and sometimes the ones we believe are unsolvable as the ones that might save us. About second chances (our lives need not be apologies), the weight of forgiveness, our bond with our books, and the stubborn way love can make us see a world shining with mercy, Wood’s new novel is both incandescent and unforgettable.”   — Caroline Leavitt, New York Times bestselling author of With or Without You and Pictures of You 

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You Are Here: a Novel by David Nicholls

27 Wednesday Nov 2024

Posted by in Fiction, Humor, romance, Travel

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A witty, touching love story. The writing is magnificent: taut and vivid. I was so happy while I was reading it and now I’m bereft. Gorgeous.” — Marian Keyes, internationally bestselling author of Rachel’s Holiday

“Captivating [and] flawless. . . . Sharp-tongued and irresistible.” — New York Times Book Review

“I finished this novel in two breathless sittings, as invested in its outcome as I would be in the happiness of a friend. This is the magic of You Are Here: warm, generous and funny, it invites readers into the world of Marnie and Michael with the promise that everyone is welcome, and that choosing happiness and being courageous in any small way we can is always possible. I loved this book.” — Kaliane Bradley, author of The Ministry of Time

Oh this book! What’s better than rooting for two shy, once-burned characters to recognize that love is within reach? I stopped often to reread and savor its sparkling, wry sentences. You Are Here is both up-to-the-minute and old-fashioned in the best way: sharp, yet so very kind, funny, and bittersweet.” — Elinor Lipman, bestselling author of Ms. Demeanor

“A stunning, funny, frank and beautiful look at loneliness, friendship, and the risks taken to love and be loved. In a career of standout books, You Are Here takes its place at the top. David Nicholls is my favorite writer.” — Chris Whitaker, New York Times bestselling author of We Begin At The End

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The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo   

17 Wednesday Jul 2024

Posted by in fantasy, Fiction, Historical Fiction, romance

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Set during the Spanish Inquisition, The Familiar follows a young servant Luzia, who is hiding her Jewish identity at a dangerous time. When her employer learns she can do magic, Luzia is drawn into a royal competition. This is an engaging mix of fantasy and historical fiction with great characters.

“Bardugo masterfully weaves magical realism with historical fiction and romance, which makes this book impossible to put down.”―Library Journal (starred review)

“The Familiar highlights all of the things that make Bardugo so well loved: a romance with maddening chemistry, an artfully built world, side characters with their own deep backstories, and a plot full of dark twists and spiderweb connections.”―Booklist (starred review)

“Reading Bardugo is an immersive, sensual experience… One can’t help sinking into Luzia and Santángel’s world and wishing never to leave.”―The New York Times

“The Familiar feels distinct from similar tales ― including Bardugo’s own ― because it explores a brutal and shameful real-life history… Bardugo brilliantly explores the wavy line between the supernatural and the divine: Magic is forbidden, but miracles come from God.”―The Washington Post

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The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer

01 Monday Jul 2024

Posted by in Fiction, romance

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Clover has lived a mostly shuttered life in NYC with her grandfather.  She becomes a death doula (yes, a paying job) and spends so much time with the dying that she doesn’t have much to show for her own life until she meets a feisty woman.  This book takes the normally taboo subject of death and turns it into a reason to celebrate life.

“This weird, lovely and sweetly satisfying novel [is] engaging and accessible…Clover’s emergence from a shuttered life is moving enough to elicit tears, and Brammer’s take on death and grieving is profound enough to feel genuinely instructional.” ––The New York Times Book Review

“Brammer writes with grace and heart about the complicated and complex world of grief. The Collected Regrets of Clover explores anticipatory grief, denial, anger, loss, and––as the title suggests––regret. Despite the heavy subject, though, Brammer’s debut is never dark or hopeless…[and] is ultimately a beautiful story of belonging and connection and, cliché though it may sound, what it really means to live life to its fullest.” ––Shelf Awareness

“This is a beautiful tale of a vulnerable, compassionate woman who finds that, in order to care for others, she must also let herself be cared for. Even that cliché feels moving, rather than saccharine, in Brammer’s capable hands.” ––Kirkus (starred review)

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Good Material by Dolly Alderton   

10 Wednesday Apr 2024

Posted by in Fiction, romance

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A funny, poignant romantic comedy about a couple trying to break up in London.

“Like Nora Ephron, with a British twist….Good Material…delivers the most delightful aspects of classic romantic comedy—snappy dialogue, realistic relationship dynamics, humorous meet-cutes and misunderstandings—and leaves behind the clichéd gender roles and traditional marriage plot…..Alderton excels at portraying nonromantic intimate relationships with tenderness and authenticity….Alderton deserves comparisons to rom-com legends like Hornby.”—The New York Times

“Like so many twentysomething women, I have turned to Dolly Alderton’s writing for solace… Written from the perspective of someone recently heartbroken, but this time it’s a man… The detail is luscious… Radical.”—Annie Lord, The Sunday Times (UK)

“Alderton is one of this generation’s preeminent oracles for love, romance, and heartbreak….[She] exposes the inevitable misfortunes of singledom while never neglecting its inherent beauty….To readers, she’s like an older sister, guiding us through breakups, fights, and first-date mishaps with something like grace.”—Swarna Gowtham, Elle 

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