★ Serial Killer Games
Temp worker Jake Ripper finds himself fascinated with one particular colleague in Kate Posey’s stylish and clever debut, Serial Killer Games. Jake and Dolores dela Cruz trade pointed barbs in the elevator and hot glances in the hallway as they both attempt to avoid the attention of a nosy HR consultant. But this is not your average workplace romance: There’s secrets and bodies and other dark things below the surface that are unveiled in wittily titled chapters. Jake and Dolores share an interest in all things death-related and needle each other with unrelenting and entertaining banter as they deal with roommates, family and a pet or two. Readers will be kept guessing until the surprising and very satisfying ending is reached. With its unforgettable setup, wonderful characters and great writing, Serial Killer Games is a fabulous thriller-romance hybrid.
Hardly a Gentleman
An intrepid heroine sets off to Scotland to avoid a scandal and ends up at the castle of a handsome widower in Eloisa James’ latest Regency romance, Hardly a Gentleman. The Honorable Miss Clara Vetry’s vivid, novel-influenced imagination pushes her to step in as “Mrs. Potts,” new housekeeper of Castle CaerLaven, but she very soon finds herself faced with real feelings for the laird himself, Caelan MacCrae. After events reveal Clara’s true identity, Caelan offers marriage. While Clara’s afraid she’ll never be his one true love, she cannot resist him and their powerful attraction. Though their love scenes are bawdy and passionate, it takes time for the pair to realize they share feelings as strong as those found in Clara’s favorite books. James always brings something special to her stories, and her references to real popular novels and poetry of the time add depth and meta fun on every page of this charming romance.
Seeing Red
In Seeing Red by Bailey Hannah, bad boy Chase “Red” Thompson has had a crush on Cassidy Bowman ever since they were kids, but he’s always considered her too good for him. When she reels him in for a hookup to get revenge on her ex, Red is more than willing to go along. But then the one-time thing becomes a once-in-a-lifetime chance to step up and be a dad, causing Red to reconsider where he’s been and where he’s going with his life. Hannah deftly blends the accidental pregnancy and rough-cowboy-with-a-tender-heart tropes with a healthy dose of explicit sex scenes with raw language that are sure to raise the temperature in any room. As Cassidy and Red find their way past obstacles and old judgments, readers will enjoy a wild ride that provides an up-close view of pregnancy—and an even more up-close view of a relationship morphing from casual to carnal to loving.
