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Romance

The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell

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The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell
Format: Book
Who’s It For: Teens and Adults

Amelia van den Broek stood out like a sore thumb compared to her beautiful and polished cousin Zora. Broken Tooth, Maine was worlds different from Baltimore, Maryland in 1889. Yet at a gathering, Amelia felt an instant connection to her dinner partner, Nathaniel Witherspoon. An impoverished artist, Nathaniel was paid to even out their party. Was he drawn to Amelia too or was this just how he was earning his wage? Although Nathaniel was below her social circle, Amelia admired his dark looks and witty repartee. “May I call on you?” he queried, “Or will you call on me?” Amelia reluctantly declined, yet opened the door after he departed. How did he disappear so quickly?  Amelia continued to run into Nathaniel  with her cousin and her circle of friends: at the park, near the theater. Was this just a coincidence?

One day, Amelia saw a golden vision at sunset. Her cousin was dancing in a particular dress with her beau at a ball. To her cousin’s delight, this did happen.  Zora’s friends wanted their futures foretold too. Eventually Amelia’s predictions had tragic results. Was the “Mystic from Maine” the cause of these events or just the messenger? And since Amelia didn’t have visions of Nathaniel or her own future, would he be in it?

This book grew on me. I enjoyed the historical setting. The fantasy aspects gave the story a provocative twist. The characters were creatively and clearly delineated. The domino effect of events built suspense. And “vesper” means both prayer and evening, such as Amelia’s sunset visions.  I found myself re-reading the book and liking it more each time. Romance and fantasy fans, unite!

And it’s the first book in a series!

The Duke and I

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The Duke and I by Julia Quinn
Format: Book and eBook
Who it’s for: Adults

Simon is never getting married. He has simply decided it’s not an option. However, this doesn’t stop all the marriage-minded mamas from trying to snag a duke for their daughters. Daphne would love to get married, but everyone seems to think of her more of a friend and not a potential bride. Daphne and Simon concoct a brilliant plan to help both of them through the marriage season in London. They will pretend to be court. This will help Daphne attract the eye of other eligible men, and Simon can escape the efforts of those marriage-minded mamas. However, neither planned on actually falling in love. Julia Quinn’s first novel in the lovely Bridgertons series, The Duke and I, is a sweet and funny story of two very stubborn people learning just what it means to make a relationship work. Be on the lookout for the Shonda Rhimes’ Netflix series featuring all the Bridgerton siblings, which will be out next year. Find it in the catalog

The Beholder by Anna Bright

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The Beholder by Anna Bright
Format: Book
Who’s It For: Teens and Adults

Selah was devastated when Peter publicly rejected her proposal to make him her prince, her husband.  Didn’t he know how much she cared for him?  Before her private tears were dried, Selah’s stepmother Alessandra, whom she silently dubbed her “smother,” had a plan laid out for the Council.   Selah would leave her home and her ailing father.  With a company of protectors and advisors, Selah would set sail across the Atlantic to meet four potential suitors from very different lands.  She had to choose wisely to make a good political alliance.  Would love even be a possibility?  Would Selah ever return home?  Was her dear father dying?  Selah realized the gravity of her pending decision. It would impact her, her family, her country.  And what secrets was her crew hiding about her ship, The Beholder?  Was there more at stake than met the eye?

I enjoyed this historical fantasy.  It often paralleled fairy tales and mythology, such as Cinderella, Snow White, and The Odyssey.  I’m looking forward to its sequel, The Boundless, in 2020!

Read all about it!

A Week to Be Wicked

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A Week to Be Wicked by Tessa Dare
Format: Book, eBook, Digital Audiobook
Who it’s for: Adults

Minerva “Min” Highwood has a problem—she needs to be in Scotland posthaste to present her newest fossil discovery at a geological conference, but as an unmarried woman, she can’t make the trip alone. Lord Colin Payne wants to leave the secluded town where they both live, but has no means to do so until he comes into his inheritance on his next birthday. So, what are a scholarly spinster and debonair playboy to do? Why pretend to elope, of course! At the onset of the trip, they both claim no romantic interest in one another whatsoever, but seven long days in extremely close quarters just might change their minds. A Week to Be Wicked is the second installment in Tessa Dare’s “Spindle Cove” series and the rest of the books come just as highly recommended.

Find it in the catalog

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

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Stella Lane doesn’t have much experience with men. A brilliant econometrist, she has devoted all of her time and energy to her career. She is a genius with numbers but love is a mystery. Now, at thirty years old she is under increasing pressure from her mother to marry. Stella knows she needs to get some more experience in the romance department but she also has Asperger’s and often finds herself saying the wrong thing at the wrong time and driving people away. 

How else could she possibly learn the secrets of romance? The most logical conclusion is clearly to hire a professional escort.

Michael Phan is a gorgeous Swedish Vietnamese escort by night, tailor by day who helps Stella work through her itemized list of girlfriend lessons. Checking off one steamy box at a time, he also helps her realize that she never needed professional help to become a great partner. With encouragement from the right guy, she learns to enjoy romance and navigate such terrifying situations as family dinners and casual conversation. This endearing story is a great read to curl up with this fall! Find it in the Catalog.

A Winter’s Promise

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Series Title: The Mirror Visitor by Christelle Dabos
First Book: A Winter’s Promise
Who it’s for: Teens, Adults

Meet Ophelia. She’s petite with voluminous, brown curly hair and a mouse of a voice. When she fumbles and drops her rectangular glasses, which she is apt to do, the world becomes one big blur.  She wears gloves. If not, she would be able to read the history of every item and person that she touches. She can also pass through mirrors from one room to another. She wears a tri-colored scarf that is more a pet than an accessory. It wraps itself around her leg or her neck and flaps like a cat’s tail. She’s from the land of Anima.

Ophelia is engaged to Thorn who is exceedingly tall, skinny, and blonde with two facial scars and a severe mien. Thorn is from the land of Pole. Like Ophelia, he’s not thrilled about their arranged marriage, but what else can they do? Ophelia would be banished if she rejects this marriage contract. And Thorn would never overcome the infamy of his illegitimate birth. When Thorn and Ophelia marry, they will each gain some of each other’s abilities. From the Dragon clan, Thorn is able to claw and squeeze the air out of people telepathically. He is a Chronicler too, able to remember everything from birth. He needs Ophelia’s ability to read objects to interpret the ancient book of Farouk, the spirit god of Pole. Unfortunately, Pole is rife with cut-throat clans such as the Mirages, Nihilists, and the Web who will stop at nothing to court the favor of Farouk. Thorn wants to protect Ophelia. And Ophelia wants to help Thorn. What will happen next??

If  you are drawn to fantasy tales with unique characters and a fast-paced plot, then the Mirror Visitor series is for you!