Nalini Singh pens another thrilling love story in her Psy-Changeling series with Ocean Light. Bowen Knight is saved from certain death by water changelings at a hospital that's hidden deep in the ocean. A living experiment, Bowen is given an artificial heart and a chip in his brain that may shield him from telepathic interference—but also may kill him at any moment. Even under this shadow, he can't escape his fascination with the underwater settlement's cook, Kaia Luna. Kaia is fascinated in return, even though she's sworn to never fall for a man who lives on dry land. More obstacles face the pair and threaten the fragile cooperation between their people. Readers can step confidently into this complex realm, trusting the details to wash over them until they are deeply immersed in Singh's exciting world of fascinating characters and self-sacrificing romance.

SECOND CHANCES
Too Wilde to Wed, the latest Georgian historical romance by Eloisa James, features a reader-favorite trope—the governess heroine. Miss Diana Belgrave used to travel in lofty circles and was once engaged to a duke's heir, Lord Roland Northbridge "North" Wilde. But she ran away from their engagement, and a heartbroken North left to join the army. When he returns, he finds Diana living in his family's castle, along with a child whom society suspects he fathered. Battle-weary and far wiser, North must manage this simmering scandal as well as his resurging feelings for Diana. Isolated from society, they get to know each other without the camouflage of the embroidered garments and powdered wigs of their earlier courtship, and find themselves more suited than their younger selves could have guessed. Members of the irresistible Wilde family visit throughout the book, and their insouciant response to gossip make them the relatives anyone would want in their corner. North and Diana are a delightful couple to root for in this delicious and witty love story.

TOP PICK IN ROMANCE
Contemporary romance fans will find all the emotional drama they could ever want in The One You Can't Forget by Roni Loren. Divorce lawyer Rebecca Lindt is scarred inside and out from the shooting she survived in high school, but she doesn't let that stop her from striving for success. Then she's rescued from a mugger by a sexy, charming man—whose ex-wife Rebecca represented in their divorce. But Wes Garrett doesn't hold that fact against her. He messed up his marriage as well as his life. But now he's on a better path and heading up an after-school cooking program. He hadn't been looking for a relationship, but he's not willing to walk away from the gorgeous attorney. Wes and Rebecca feel like real people with very real problems—overcoming their pasts, figuring out what they want to do with their lives and managing family expectations. Cheering them on to well-deserved happiness is a treat.

 

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

Returning from fighting in the Colonies, Lord Roland Northbridge Wilde is shocked to find Diana Belgrave, the woman who jilted him several years ago, at his family estate serving as governess for his half-sister and a boy society thinks is his child. However, deeply affected by war and circumstance, North and Diana are not quite the same people they once were. Passion simmers between them as a hero who doesn't want to be a duke and a heroine who doesn't want to be a duchess struggle to mesh their feelings with their situations and finally discover the true meaning of love. VERDICT Exquisite character development, breathtaking sensuality, perfectly placed humor, and vivid descriptions of fashion, food, and assorted political detail and current events result in a rewarding romance that is emotionally complex and provides an exceptional sense of time and place. A heartwarming delight. James (Wilde in Love) lives in New York City. [A Spring Editor's Pick, LJ 2/1/18, p. 31.]

James's third Wildes of Lindow Castle Regency (after Wilde in Love) is a charming, if uneven, tale of second chances. Diana Belgrave fled her own engagement party, jilting Lord Roland Northbridge "North" Wilde. Two years later, North returns home, tortured by his memories of service in the American Revolution, to find Diana working as a governess to his sister and a boy whom everyone believes to be North and Diana's son. Without their fine clothing and courting rituals, North and Diana confront each other honestly and realize the spark between them is very real. But Diana is determined to live on her own terms, and she refuses to break North's heart twice. The open dialogue between these protagonists is refreshing and frequently leads to touching revelations, but that doesn't make up for the lack of insight into their individual emotional development. The sprightly humor and quirky supporting cast are entertaining, but the romance itself remains superficial to the end. Agent: Kimberly Witherspoon, InkWell Management. (May)