Romance Is in the Air During B&N’s Book Haul

The Conspiracy, by Kat Martin
Harper Winston is on a mission to find her missing brother. He recently disappeared while sailing the Caribbean and the Coast Guard has been unable to locate him. She ends up going to Chase Garrett, her brother’s former best friend and now the owner of Maximum Security. Chase has feelings for Harper, but he’s very reluctant to get involved again with her family. (Sadly, much of the Winston clan is involved in some very shady dealings that would make the proverbial mafia blush.) Chase ends up helping Harper anyway, because The Feelings, and he’s going to work very hard to keep her safe. Good for you, Chase! When the drama is all over—and, we hope, her brother is found safe and sound and not involved in anything bad—you and your special woman should consider living in a peaceful land that’s far, far away from the in-laws! This is the first book in Martin’s Maximum Security series. 

The Best of Us, by Robyn Carr
Any reader who was and/or is super duper close to their aunt will love this yarn! Dr. Leigh Culver is a Colorado-based doctor, and she’s about to get a much-needed visit from her aunt, Helen Culver, who raised her and with whom she is exceptionally close. Together, they venture to Sullivan’s Crossing, where they both end up having a delightful time. (Sullivan’s Crossing, with its nice people and beautiful scenery, has that effect on just about everybody who visits!) Oh, and Helen ends up meeting a very special someone who makes her rethink her plan to never do winter again. (Like, ever.) Helen, we agree that snow and ice can be not-so-nice, but it sounds like this new person in your life will cause you nothing but pleasure! Here’s hoping that both Leigh and Helen get the rest and peace they both deserve, and that Helen decides to live close to her niece again. This is the fourth book in Carr’s Sullivan’s Crossing series. 

Of Blood and Bone, by Nora Roberts
Thirteen-year-old girl Fallon Swift is about to embark on a pretty serious training mission. While a major sickness known as The Doom has wiped out a good chunk of humanity, it’s also left many survivors with magical powers. Fallon has those magical powers and needs to learn to harness them, so she leaves the farm she’s lived on with her mom and stepfather in order to train. Her trainer is a centuries-old dude named Mallick, and he’s going to train her to survive just about everything, including the evil Raiders and Purity Warriors who are on a mission to wipe out Fallon and her kind. Will Fallon survive this dystopian drama? Will she learn to use her powers to help conquer evil? And will she also have a chance to have some fun and make some friends and kiss at least one cute boy while she’s at it? This is the second book in Roberts’ Chronicles of the One series. 

How to Keep a Secret, by Sarah Morgan
It’s going to be quite the summer for Lauren, Jenna and Nancy! Lauren and Jenna are sisters, and their lives aren’t going so smoothly right now. Lauren’s teenage daughter isn’t being the most cooperative person right now, and poor Lauren is at her wit’s end. Jenna and her husband are trying to get pregnant, and lets’ just say it’s Not Working. Nancy is Lauren and Jenna’s mom, and she’s been going through some stuff of her own. Sounds like these lovely ladies will have a lot of soul-searching to do this summer, so here’s hoping they have plenty of ice cream and wine and that they take advantage of the beauty of Martha’s Vineyard for some much-needed healing! 

Before We Were Strangers, by Brenda Novak
Sloane McBride left her Texas town at the age of 18 and never looked back. She doesn’t exactly have the warmest, fuzziest memories of her childhood. For one, her mom abandoned the family when Sloane was just five years old. Plus, there was a lot of family drama in general and it made life less-than-pleasant for our gal. That was years ago, though, and Sloane is ready to find out the truth about her family. She goes back to Texas and finds herself face-to-face with quite a bit of drama, including an old boyfriend. (Oh, and chances are she and said boyfriend never quite got over each other. #truelove) Will Sloane find the answers she’s looking for? Will she finally get some inner and outer peace? And book at least one much-deserved massage to help ease her tension? 

Honeysuckle Summer, by Sherryl Woods
Raylene Hammond has finally ditched her good-for-nothing husband and is spending some time with her good friends, whom she refers to as the Sweet Magnolias. Because our gal has been through an exceptionally tough time lately, they even protect her from the outside world. The only man who can infiltrate this bubble is sheriff’s deputy Carter Rollins. He’s a nice and patient guy—he’s raising two younger sisters, for one—but Raylene isn’t totally ready to let him into her heart just yet. (We feel you, Raylene, but please note that Carter is an exceptionally sweet guy who would only use his sinewy body to keep you safe and sound and, ahem, rock your world at least once a night!) Will Raylene let him in for good? And will the Sweet Magnolias receive some kind of karmic prize for being such amazing friends? This is the seventh book in Woods’ Sweet Magnolias series. 

Devil’s Cub, by Georgette Heyer
This reprint features Dominic Alastair, the Marquis of Vidal, who is not exactly the most worthy of gentlemen. (Yes, he possesses a face and body carved by angels, but he’s also an exceptionally naughty man who could be a tad nicer to the ladies.) Case in point: When he has to flee to France from England, he takes with him the girl he was courting for marriage purposes, totally intending to just make her his mistress. Instead, he accidentally kidnaps her sister, Mary Challoner, who was totally onto his dishonorable schemes. (Mary, show us your ways and teach us how to read the signs of when a man is being deceitful!) Mary refuses to give into any of Dominic’s shenanigans, which kind of makes him want her even more. Dominic, buddy, you KNOW you have to get married to carry on your family’s title, and Mary is by far the best woman you’ll ever meet. Abandon your errant ways without losing your sexy and prove to her what a great husband you’d make if given the chance!

Year One, by Nora Roberts
Chef Lana Bingham and her hunky boyfriend, author Max, are hightailing it out of New York City. A deadly illness has wiped out much of the world’s population, and survivors are acquiring a variety of magickal skills, both the good and the bad types of magick. Indeed, things are looking quite dark all around, so Lana and Max will need to stick together and utilize the help of trusted friends to survive this horrible new world. There are other characters, too, who are fleeing New York City, including Arlys, a journalist, Chuck, a techie and hacker, Rachel, a doctor, and Jonah, a paramedic. This is a twisted, dystopian story, so grab your winter reading gear – plus a nice glass of wine or cup of tea—and enjoy! This is the first book in Roberts’ Chronicles of the One series.