Harlequin Publishing's Valentine's Read recommendations

 

Today I'm showcasing Harlequin Publishing's Valentine's recommendations. There are some well known authors some relatively new and a couple of debuts for readers to try and two of these I'll be reviewing so be sure to check in often.
Enjoy!

Principles of (E)motion
By Sara Read
01/09/2024; Graydon House
Fiction / Feminist | FICTION/Romance/Contemporary 
  

Lessons in Chemistry meets advanced mathematics in a heartwarming, STEMinist novel about a female genius who solves a famously elusive problem known as “the Impossible Theorem” only to struggle with anxiety and the prejudices of her field when challenged to prove that the proof is her own. For fans of Linda Holmes and Katherine Center.

A brilliant mind needs a strong heart.

 

Mathematical genius Dr. Meg Brightwood has just completed her life’s work—a proof of a problem so impenetrable it’s nicknamed the Impossible Theorem.

Reclusive and burdened by anxiety, no one took Meg seriously before. Now everyone wants to get their hands on what she alone possesses—especially her own mathematician father. Having grown up a prodigy in a field plagued by sexism and plagiarism, Meg opts for a public presentation so there is no doubt of her authorship. But a panic attack derails her plans. Defeated, Meg returns to the decaying house where she lives alone and locks away the one and only manuscript of her proof.

 

Then chance sends her the unlikeliest of allies. Isaac Wells—carpenter, high-school dropout, in trouble with the law. And the one love of Meg’s life. Fifteen years ago, they never did more than hold hands. Now adults, they reach toward each other through the minefield of the past and find a tenuous space where they can love and be loved for who they are.

 

But when Meg goes to retrieve the Impossible Theorem, she finds it missing. Will she fight for the achievement of the century and the love of a lifetime?

Sara Read is cofounder of #momswritersclub. Originally from Washington, DC, she tried the nine-to-five life for about a nanosecond before moving to rural Virginia to become a flute-maker’s apprentice and traditional fiddle player. A cancer survivor herself, Sara now has the distinct privilege of caring for cancer patients as a nurse. She lives in Charlottesville, Virginia, with her husband, two teens, a terrier and three snarky cats. Sararead.net

THE FRIENDSHIP CLUB

By Robyn Carr
01/23/2024; MIRA
FICTION/Friendship | FICTION/Women
Publicist: Sophie James; Sophie.james@harpercollins.com

Four women who work on a popular cooking show band together when they discover the youngest member of their group has an abusive boyfriend. The Barefoot Contessa meets Big Little Lies in this drama-filled novel about the power of female friendships.

 

Marni McGuire is the host of a popular television cooking show and leads a very happy life. Twice married, she has been widowed and divorced and now, in her mid-fifties, she enjoys being a successful single woman. But Marni's daughter Bella, who is pregnant with her first child, is convinced that Marni is lonely and she is determined to find a new man for her mother. To humor her daughter, Marni goes on a series of terrible dates. Marni's best-friend and colleague from the cooking show, Ellen, is a widow who has no interest in meeting anyone new and the two women have discussed the challenges of marriage and the joys of being single. But, while Ellen is adamant she wants nothing to do with men, Marni has to admit to herself that she would like to be with someone but only if he is the right fit.

As Bella's pregnancy progresses she admits to her mother that she has some concerns about the state of her own marriage, and all three women are concerned that the young intern on the cooking show is caught in a toxic relationship.

Marni and Ellen are determined to guide the two younger women to have the strength, confidence and support to improve their situations and the women gather regularly to talk about the important issues in their lives.

When Marni and Ellen each unexpectedly find themselves falling for new men in their lives the younger women help them navigate the dating world.

Together these four women form a strong bond of family and friendship that will anchor all of them as they navigate the challenges and celebrate the joys of life.

Robyn Carr is an award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than sixty novels, including highly praised women's fiction such as Four Friends and The View From Alameda Island and the critically acclaimed Virgin River, Thunder Point and Sullivan's Crossing series. Virgin River is now a Netflix Original series. Robyn lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. Visit her website at www.RobynCarr.com.

THE LAST DAYS OF LILAH GOODLUCK
By Kylie Scott
02/06/2024; Graydon House
Fiction / Romance / Romantic Comedy

Red White and Royal Blue meets The Last Holiday in this delight of a novel, about a woman who unexpectedly finds "fall in love with a prince" on her bucket list after a fortune teller tells her she only has a week to live. Ideal for fans of Sophie Cousens and Rebecca Serle.

Your boyfriend is cheating on you

You will be passed over for the promotion

5-8-12-24-39-43

Your soulmate is a royal prince

And your time is up a week from Monday

 

When Lilah Goodluck saves the life of Good Witch Willow as they’re crossing a busy LA street, the last thing she expects is five unwanted predictions as a reward. Who gives someone the lotto numbers then tells them they’ve only got a week to live? And who believes in that nonsense anyway?

But when the first three predictions come true within twenty-four hours, Lilah’s disbelief turns to mild panic. She’s further horrified when she nearly runs a car off the road that belongs to Alistair Lennox, the illegitimate son of the English king.

Alistair is intrigued by her preposterous story, but Lilah is adamant about resisting the heat between her and the playboy prince. If he’s not her soulmate, then the last prediction can’t come true. But as the days count down, they become maybe friends…and then maybe more. Between the relentless paparazzi and his disapproving family, dating a sort-of prince isn’t easy, especially when you have death on your doorstep.

Kylie Scott is the New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal and international bestselling author of End of Story, along with the Stage Dive series, the Dive Bar series, the Larsen Brothers series, and West Hollywood series. Her most recent release, End of Story, hit the Audible Top 50 after two days on sale. Her books have been translated into fourteen languages, and she has sold over 2 million copies worldwide.

THE WRATH
By Gena Showalter
02/06/2024; Canary Street Press
Fiction / Romance / Paranormal / Shifters

The fourth book in New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter's dark and tantalizingly sexy Rise of the Warlords series featuring a brutal war god determined to bring his slain wife back to life and the fierce and beautiful warrior who’ll do anything to stop him.

For centuries, Rathbone the Only, King of Agonies, has existed for one purpose: recovering the enchanted bones of his slain wife to bring her back to life. He’s never been closer to success. But a new enemy has risen. A band of deadly war gods who have thirty days to destroy her or suffer the consequences. With time running out, Rathbone hires a maddening harpy-oracle, unaware she has an agenda of her own.

Neeka the Unwanted is a fierce warrior on a mission: stop Rathbone and the gods. She’s seen the future if either are victorious, and it’s horrifying. She’ll do whatever proves necessary to forge a new path, even seduce the ruthless royal from his purpose. What she can’t predict? How the intense male will shatter her hard-won defenses along the way.

As Rathbone battles unexpected betrayals, cunning foes and the wild temptress he craves with every fiber of his being, he knows he must choose: hold on to a cold dream or embrace a new flame.

Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of multiple series. White hot paranormal romance: Rise of the Warlords, Immortal Enemies, Lords of the Underworld, Angels of the Dark and Gods of War. Breathtaking young adult: Everlife and White Rabbit Chronicles. Sexy, fun contemporary: Original Heartbreakers. She’s currently penning her next novel. Whatever the subgenre, there’s a high likelihood of an alpha male with a dark side and a strong woman who brings him to his knees. You can learn more about Gena, her menagerie of rescue dogs and cats and all her upcoming books at genashowalter.com or Facebook.com/genashowalterauthor.

THE SUMMER BOOK CLUB

By Susan Mallery
02/13/2024; Canary Street Press
FICTION/Family Life/Marriage & Divorce

For fans of Elin Hilderbrand and Robyn Carr, three women join the town’s summer book club—devoted entirely to romance novels—and become close friends as they navigate the messiness of motherhood, love, and growing into the person you've always wanted to be.

This summer, a local indie bookstore in the small town of Los Lobos, California is hosting a romance book club, run by two best friends.  When a newcomer joins them, conversations about books over a glass of wine turns into something even more precious--lifelong friendship--in THE SUMMER BOOK CLUB.R

When Laurel Richards is called into her daughter, Jagger's, school for a parent/teacher conference. Laurel knows it can't be good. And when the teacher reveals that Jagger has been quite vocal about her dislike and distrust of men in class, Laurel realizes that her daughter has heard a few too many of her “I’m never getting married again” rants.  Jagger needs a good, strong male role model and clearly her dad—and Laurel’s ex—who’s basically disappeared isn’t cutting it.  So she does what any loving mother would do—she finds herself a male friend.  Colton is new to town, great with Jagger, and in need of a fake girlfriend while his parents are in town.  But when Colton and Laurel’s friendship gets a little closer than Laurel ever envisioned, she worries she’s screwed everything up…until her ex reappears, determined to be part of their lives again.  Suddenly men are everywhere, but this time Laurel is determined to show her daughter that love can make you stronger.

Paris Zublena never thought she’d lay eyes on her ex-husband, Jonah, again.  They were madly in love when she screwed everything up and she’s beaten herself up about it every single day since.  But when Jonah appears in town, single again and with his stepson in tow, Paris can see that this is her last chance to create the future she’s always dreamed about with the man she never could forget….if she can first face her past.

When Cassie Hayden’s siblings fire her from the family business and kick her out of the family home for six months because they want her to have some new experiences, she’s hurt…and then angry.  She’s devoted her life to them.  So what if her life has been a little same old same old for the last fifteen years?  When Cassie moves to cute little California town and joins a book club, everything starts to change.  She finds love, close friends, and a passion she never thought possible for an orchard.  But when her family freaks out because they need her, Cassie is sure it’s time to run home to her family.  But can she go back to the person she used to be—and does she want to?

Susan Mallery is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of novels about the relationships that define women's lives—family, friendship and romance. Library Journal says, “Mallery is the master of blending emotionally believable characters in realistic situations," and readers seem to agree—forty million copies of her books have been sold worldwide. Her warm, humorous stories make the world a happier place to live. Susan grew up in California and now lives in Seattle with her husband. She's passionate about animal welfare, especially that of the Ragdoll cat and adorable poodle who think of her as Mom.

KILT TRIP (*debut)
By Alexandra Kiley
03/05/2024; Canary Street Press
Fiction / Romance / Romantic Comedy

Travel consultant, Addie travels the world turning businesses into world class tour groups, but when she is assigned the Sutherland family tour group, she must leave the family baggage behind as she heads to Scottland, somewhere she swore she’d never go to help Logan save his family business. There, she’s forced to deal with Logan Sutherland, who doesn’t like this American “expert” pushing tourist traps. However, he can’t deny their sizzling chemistry. When he discovers Addie’s personal connection to Scotland, the two work together help Addie reconnect with the memories of her parents. It turns out they make a good team – a really good team. Addie’s consulting contract is almost up, and they can’t afford more distractions. But how can Addie do her job if she hasn’t explored all that Scotland—and Logan—have to offer?

Alexandra Kiley writes big-hearted romances full of banter, found-family, and deep love. When she’s not writing, you can find her drinking tea, hiking, or gazing adoringly at the mountains of Colorado where she lives with her husband and two kids. Her novels are inspired by her semester in Scotland where she fell in love with not only the lush and magical land, but also the people who invited her into their homes and made her feel like family.

THE EMPEROR AND THE ENDLESS PALACE (*debut)
By Justinian Huang

03/26/2024; MIRA
FICTION/Fantasy/Epic | FICTION/Cultural Heritage | FICTION/Romance/LGBTQ+/Gay 

 

The Song of Achilles meets The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue in this queer, Asian reimagining of an epic love story blending historical figures with Chinese folklore. The novel gives us blood, sex, and adventure across three lifetimes and deals with themes of acceptance, belonging, and free will.  

 

In 4 BCE, playboy administrator Dong Xian catches the eye of Emperor Ai; in 1740, innkeeper He Shican is seduced by strange visitor Huang Jiulang; and at a circuit party in modern day LA, pre-med student River ends up in the arms of aspiring artist Joey. Though seemingly disconnected, the couples are actually living one epic romance constantly repeated across two millennia. Soulmates in a sense, their romances are nevertheless doomed. Rooted in one of the greatest, historically true love stories never told, their curse began with Emperor Ai and his male lover Dong Xian’s obsessive and destructive relationship that led to their deaths and the fall of the Han Dynasty. As their romance reincarnates, the couple begins to remember—and has the opportunity to recover one powerful artifact that might be able to break their tragic cycle.

 

Justinian Huang is the VP of Creative at Sony Pictures Animation. Prior to Sony, Huang was the head of development at Dreamworks Pearl in Shanghai where he worked on “Kung Fu Panda 3,” “Abominable,” and Academy Award nominated “Over the Moon.” Born in LA to Taiwanese immigrants, Huang studied English at Pomona College and screenwriting at Oxford. He now lives in LA with Swagger, a Shanghainese rescue dog he adopted during his five years living in China. THE EMPEROR AND THE ENDLESS

MAYA’S LAWS OF LOVE (*debut)
By Alina Khawaja
03/26/2024; MIRA
Fiction / Romance / Romantic Comedy

Maya Mirza has always been unlucky in love—so unlucky, in fact, that she’s sure she’s cursed. However, it seems like Maya’s luck may finally be turning up when she secures a marriage proposal from Imtiaz Porter. Imtiaz has everything—good family, great job, charming personality; everything, except Maya’s heart. But love can grow after marriage, right? But on the journey to her wedding in Pakistan, a storm strands her flight in Switzerland, and she encounters disaster after disaster. By her side through all her travel tragedies is her seatmate from the plane, a cynical divorce lawyer who somehow makes all the disasters more tolerable...and after spending days traveling across continents with him, Maya realizes she’s finally met the man of her dreams--on the way to her own wedding. What could be unluckier than that?

Alina Khawaja is an author from Ontario, Canada, with a never-ending love-hate relationship with the snow. She is a graduate from the University of Toronto, where she majored in English and double minored in History and Creative Writing, and is now pursuing a Master’s degree in the Literacy of Modernity at Ryerson University. Alina can be found studying, writing, or bingeing k-dramas when she is not sleeping.

THE HAPPINESS BLUEPRINT (*debut)

By Ally Zetterberg
04/02/2024; MIRA
Fiction/Women | FICTION/Family Life/General

A heartfelt debut that follows Klara, a diabetic in an unfulfilling job in the city, who begrudgingly agrees to run her dad’s construction company while he undergoes cancer treatment, even though it means moving back home and pushing the boundaries of her comfort zone. And Alex, whose life has been upended by his brother’s untimely death, and at his therapist suggestion, jumps at the chance to take a carpenter position with a small construction company to take a small step forward. Klara and Alex’s stories unfold in parallel as they navigate their shared calendar, uncertain futures, and grief, and finding acceptance and even love.

Ally Zetterberg is a British-Swedish writer. She spent ten years working internationally as a fashion model before becoming a full-time mum. Being neurodivergent herself and the mother of a child with Type 1 Diabetes, she is passionate about writing relatable characters and representing those living with medical conditions in commercial fiction. She speaks four languages and spends her days doing her best not to muddle them up.

TOURIST SEASON

By Brenda Novak
04/02/2024; MIRA
FICTION/Women | FICTION/Family Life/Marriage & Divorce
 

Ismay Chalmers is looking forward to a relaxing summer at fiancé Remy Windsor’s beach house, until a hurricane strands her alone at the Windsor mansion and she discovers disturbing items hidden in a closet. The discovery forces Ismay to question everything she thought she knew about Remy, but she has nobody to share her concerns with except the reclusive caretaker, Bo. As Bo and Ismay spend more time together and the Windsor family secrets unravel, Ismay begins to consider a different path…but how can she trust any man again?

Brenda Novak, a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author, has penned over sixty novels. She is a five-time nominee for the RITA Award and has won the National Reader's Choice, the Bookseller's Best, the Bookbuyer's Best, and many other awards. She also runs Brenda Novak for the Cure, a charity to raise money for diabetes research (her youngest son has this disease). To date, she’s raised $2.5 million. For more about Brenda, please visit www.brendanovak.com.

The Good Ones are Taken
By Taj McCoy
04/23/2024; MIRA
Fiction / Romance / Romantic Comedy
Publicist: Laura Gianino; laura.gianino@harpercollins.com

Maggie is a lawyer looking for love. Garrett is a sports writer waiting for his college best friend to notice him, but she’s written him off because of a pact they made as teenagers. When Maggie starts online dating to find a date for two weddings, Garrett throws salt in everyone’s game. At every turn, he points out the red flags and encourages Maggie to keep looking until she believes she’s found the one. Things come to a head when Maggie demands that Garrett be happy for her, because he can’t. When he blurts out his feelings, Maggie’s world is turned upside down. She never knew he held onto feelings from their “almost hookup” more than fifteen years ago. Now she must choose between the perfect guy and a friendship that is the foundation for everything she’s ever wanted.

Law grad Taj McCoy is committed to championing plus-sized Black love stories and characters with a strong sense of sisterhood and familial bonds. Born in Oakland, Taj started writing as a child and celebrated her first publications in grade school. When she’s not writing, Taj boosts other marginalized writers, practices yoga, co-hosts the Fat Like Me and Better Than Brunch podcasts, shares recipes, and cooks supper club meals for friends.

ONE SWEET SOUTHERN SUMMER
By Janice Maynard
04/23/2024; Canary Street Press
Fiction / Romance / Contemporary

Leah Marks grew up in Blossom Branch, Georgia, in the shadow of successful siblings. Unable to find her niche amidst her over-achieving family, she doubts herself and her appearance. Leah feels unlucky in love and life until she learns she’s inherited a house and acreage in Blossom Branch, that includes a summer camp in disrepair. A psychology major, she fixes it up for underserved youth, and things are going smoothly until a fire breaks out in the new dining hall. Enter hunky firefighter, Lucas Carter. The fire isn’t the only thing causing sparks, and the attraction between them is undeniable. Lucas isn’t looking to make personal connections and goes from city to city, but Leah might be reason to call Blossom Branch home.

In 2002, Janice Maynard left a career as an elementary teacher to pursue writing full-time. Her first love is creating sexy, character-driven, contemporary romances. She has written for Kensington and NAL, and is very happy to be part of the Harlequin family--a lifelong dream. Janice and her husband live in the shadow of the Great Smoky Mountains. They love to hike and travel. Visit her at www.JaniceMaynard.com