Always and Forever by Beverly Jenkins (2000)
Historical romance. Standalone novel. Events overlap with Topaz. Prologue starts with Grace being jilted at the altar, but that’s a pretty minor detail aside from her not trusting men. She’s being asked by her cousin to round up some mail order brides for him and his men in Kansas. So she’s leading a wagon train to their destination. (Not the regular train, because, you know, Jim Crow). She hires Jackson to help get the women ready for the trip and to guide them along the way. Sparks are definitely flying between these two, and as much as Grace tries to resist, she gives in pretty quickly. Jackson has his own hangups, with being a wanted man in Texas after an altercation with the family who killed his father. His plan is to get justice and clear his name after the wagon train business is done, but Grace thinks that’s a bad idea. Lots of danger and drama here. Classic Ms. Bev.
Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.
Fossil Feud by Maggie North (2026)
Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Loved this book, highly recommend! Ripley is a somewhat disgraced paleontologist, after her ex-boyfriend stole her work and then accused her of the stealing. She’s on a privately funded dig to search for a not-yet-discovered dino. And then the stuffy professor James crashes her site because he needs her help uncovering a potential fraud. That is being perpetrated by her terrible ex. Of course Ripley and James together is a bad idea, mostly for her heart and her professional reputation, but these two definitely have sparks and can only stay away for so long. I love the idea of them teaming up together and working together throughout this book. And you know, also getting to know each other and opening up. Agh, it was so good.
Advance ebook provided by Dell via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.
Married with Benefits by Ellie Palmer (2026)
Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Omg, this book made me laugh so much while I was listening/reading it. So Lainey is perpetually scraping by for cash, drives a run-down car as a not-Uber, part of the gig economy of her small tourist town in Wisconsin, and also suffers from bad health insurance on top of her chronic migraines. She meets Elliot when he’s a passenger in her rideshare, is instantly attracted, and then things take a sour turn when he tries to evict her from her house. But it’s ok, because she technically owns the house due to decades-long squatters’ rights. And then somehow she and Elliot enter into a marriage of convenience so she can have his fancy health insurance and so he can maybe convince her to sell him the house. Their flirting is delightful on top of all the calamities that befall them throughout this book. There’s so much going on, you have got to read it.
Advance ebook provided by Putnam Press via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.
Return to Sender by Stephanie Parente (2026)
Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Ooh, this book was so messy and emotional. Violet is guardian to her 14-year-old sister Phoebe after the sudden death of their father, and she’s dealing with a sullen closed-off teenager. Until they receive a letter returned to the previous occupant of their apartment. Of course Phoebe opens the letter and gets all emotionally invested in the story there. Violet is excited to see a spark of life in Phoebe after all this time. So now, they track down the letter writer, a Benji Dexter, and try to get the letter to its intended recipient. Dex is the grumpiest of grumps, but somehow friendly and caring of Phoebe. The three of them end up on a cross-country road trip to deliver the letter, and Violet and Dex grow closer along the way. It’s definitely a slow build of friendship, trust, and more here, with the road trip forcing everyone out of their comfort zones. I loved this book.
Advance ebook provided by Dial Press via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.
Extracurricular by Rachel Lynn Solomon (2026)
Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Pop star Ramona retires and goes to college. Psych professor Will is skeptical, but also attracted. Tons of flirting, banter, and steam here. And how is it that he can make her feel so normal? Loved their interactions and how he treated her like a person, not a celebrity. Aside from the very clear conflict of interest and the not that big of an age gap, I think these two were a really good match for each other. Delightful read.
Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.
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