The action is relentless and the stakes dire in Heart on Fire, Amanda Bouchet's rousing conclusion to her acclaimed fantasy romance series, the Kingmaker Chronicles. Griffin and Catalia Thalyria are nearing the end of the quest to unify their land, bring peace to their people and defeat their most dangerous enemy—Cat's mother. But the scope and nature of Cat's magical powers might be the couple's greatest concern. If she cannot control them, she puts all at risk, including her beloved husband and the life they have created together. And as Griffin learns more about himself and his union with Cat, the truth threatens everything they have built and still hope to achieve. Bouchet has built a fascinating world replete with gods and other creatures of Greek myth. There is never a dull moment, and readers will root for the main characters until the final page.

DEADLY PURSUIT
In Oath of Honor, police officer Isabelle St. John works to solve a murder that hits painfully close to home. By her side is Detective Ryan Marshall, a family friend who has never been more than that—until now. As they begin unraveling the case, they find themselves dealing with a criminal organization that seems oddly interested in an upcoming mayoral race. This might have implications for Izzy's family—a new administration could mean her chief of police mother would be ousted from her job—but continued investigation proves there's a much more serious threat at hand. Explosions, gun battles and a terrifying, cop-killing criminal pepper the rocket-powered plot. Author Lynette Eason's formidable female characters stand out, as do the male leads who trust the women's judgment without question. This is a kisses-only story that moves fast and furiously.

TOP PICK IN ROMANCE
A Regency romance gets complicated in If Ever I Should Love You, the first novel in Cathy Maxwell's new Spinster Heiresses series. Roman Gilchrist, the new Earl of Rochdale, needs a rich wife. The holdings he's inherited require significant wealth to put back to rights, but the idea of marrying for money doesn't sit well with him. That is, until he discovers that one of the richest heiresses in London is none other than Leonie Charnock. He'd courted her years ago in India, and the repercussions of his rivalry with another of her suitors caused her to flee to England and ruined Roman's promising military career. Now a powerful nobleman, Roman realizes she has everything he wants—beauty, brains and a substantial dowry. Leonie has tried forgetting her past, but seeing Roman brings back painful memories and the attraction she'd once felt for him. Would a union with him—her parents are pressuring her to wed—be so bad? Their subsequent marriage forces them to confront the past, their secrets and the frightening thought that they just might be falling in love. This is a touching, emotional romance between characters whose struggles will resonate with many readers.

 

ALSO IN BOOKPAGE: Read our Q&A with Cathy Maxwell about If Ever I Should Love You.

This article was originally published in the January 2018 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.