Mercenary Guy Hancock makes a difficult decision in Darkest Before Dawn, the latest in Maya Banks’ KGI series. Honor Cambridge is working in the war-torn Middle East when a terrorist group called A New Era bombs her aid station. She escapes, but the extremists are determined to find and kill the lone survivor of their attack. Enter Hancock and his team, who have agreed to capture Honor for a man who will use her as a pawn in a power game. This deal will take down an evil mastermind and save thousands—but will ultimately return Honor to the bad guys. Hancock is convinced it’s his duty to sacrifice one for the greater good—until he meets the brave Honor. He then must struggle with his conscience and his rigid sense of right and wrong, not to mention his heart. Honor falls for the tortured man who may, literally, be the death of her. Gritty, sexy and peopled with compelling characters, this is a riveting story of romantic suspense.

RURAL ROMANCE
An Amish quilter reaches for love in the kisses-only When Secrets Strike by Marta Perry. Thirty-year-old Sarah Bitler thinks of her quilting shop as a substitute for a husband and family. The only man she’s ever loved, firefighter Aaron King, now a widower with two small girls, has barely looked at her since childhood. But as suspicious fires ignite around the town and countryside, Sarah keeps running into her handsome neighbor—and experiencing feelings for him that she can’t deny. Aaron appreciates his old friend, yet he worries about how appealing he finds her. He has already failed to protect one woman, and with danger seeming to follow Sarah, does he dare risk loving again? As menace draws near, Sarah must stand up for what she wants—and against an unseen enemy. This novel is a winning mix of Amish culture, small-town ambience and nerve-jangling mystery.

TOP PICK IN ROMANCE
Lisa Kleypas returns to the historical genre with the Victorian-era romance Cold-Hearted Rake. Kathleen, the newly wed and widowed wife of an earl, must face down her late husband’s heir when he arrives at her estate. Devon Ravenel, a carefree bachelor, wants to rid himself of the responsibilities of the earldom, while Kathleen believes he should work to restore the nearly bankrupt holdings for the sake of his relatives, servants and tenant families. Conscience pricked and libido stirred, Devon takes a second look at what he’s inherited—and at the woman who challenges him at every opportunity. Attracted to the beauty and charmed by her three young sisters-in-law, he begins to think creatively and enlists the help of his scamp of a brother and his more practical and moneyed friends. Meanwhile, Kathleen begins to see the danger of his continued presence yet cannot suppress her fascination with the seductive and devilish Devon. Can two reluctant hearts find each other and build a family? A delicious charmer of a romance, Cold-Hearted Rake has witty banter, engaging characters and a sultry sensuality.

This article was originally published in the November 2015 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

Devon Ravenel is comfortable with his superficial London life, until his cousin is killed in a riding accident, and Devon inherits an earldom and a failing estate. Now his life is turned upside down with responsibilities—including providing for his cousin's sisters, as well as his lovely, self-possessed young widow, Kathleen. A cadre of three-dimensional characters who captivate from the moment you meet them and a multilayered plot that allows the characters to grow will keep fans intrigued by this addictive, rewarding story. VERDICT A reluctant, rebellious hero faces a steep learning curve but gradually comes into his own as he meets his match at the hands of a smart, determined woman who won't let him off the hook. This delightful, compelling story is the first in Kleypas's new Victorian series about the Ravenel family. Kleypas (Brown-Eyed Girl) lives in Texas.

This Victorian romance from Kleypas (the Wallflowers series) is dripping with period flavor and beautifully written depictions of the peculiarities of running a foundering estate, but its hero is less than heroic. Devon Ravenel inherits an earldom, a rotting estate, a houseful of female relations, and a mess of debt when his cousin is thrown from a horse and killed. Devon initially wishes to sell the property and get back to his bachelor ways, but his passion for his cousin's widow and his dedication to rescuing the estate both sneak up on him. That passion, however, takes an ugly turn, with many of the more physical scenes pushing the boundaries of consent. At times the story feels more like a case of Stockholm syndrome than a blossoming romance, souring the enjoyability of an otherwise well-crafted story. Agent: Mel Berger, William Morris Endeavor. (Nov.)