Self-quarantining doesn’t have to be boring, y’all, because romance. And I’m not talking about a romantic baby boom (though, we won’t really know how that pans out until New Year’s) … I’m talking about the best genre in the world, romance. Check out these Must Read Romantic Suspenses for March.
Louise Dawn has done it again with another badass installment of her Mobile Intelligence Unit, Kite on the Rocks, reminding us why the ‘opposites attract’ trope is so addictive. Dylan “Atlas” Jenkins is a sniper who saved Elana Celik once upon a time, and then they became friends. Elana is smart and sexy and the focus of Atlas’ secret attraction but feels that giving in to his magnetism would be a disaster. Dangerous things are afoot, like human trafficking, sex slaves, and an evil villain, and the stakes are high. But the heart wants what the heart wants, and ultimately this exciting race across Europe is led by the heart. Awesome, right?
Three of the biggest names in romantic suspense have a really cool book out this month called Pivot. Rebecca Zanetti, Kat Martin and Alexandra Ivy have woven three stories about childhood friends, Meri, Michelle and Melanie, who are all on the run and on edge because of dangerous men, threats and corruption. These women are smart, empowered and strong, and reliant on no man to save the day. The men who capture their hearts are worthy, and heroic and likable. I enjoyed the way Martin, Zanetti and Ivy connected the storylines and lives of the characters … this is a format I’d like to see again.
Melinda Leigh has kicked off a new series with a thrilling police procedural and iconic heroine with Cross Her Heart. Bree Taggert is at once brave and tragic, relatable and intimidating, and exactly the kind of homicide detective every police department needs. Bree has a lot invested in this case—her father murdered her mother and then turned the gun on himself, and now she’s investigating the murder of her sister Erin—yet she relies on logic and procedure, walking the reader through the important details that get a crime solved and find justice for the victim (and her family). She’s teamed up with Matt Flynn, best friend of Erin’s missing husband, who is a reliable partner for Bree; he’s strong, capable and logical, and is clearly being set up to be a good romantic interest for her. This first installment is busy—lots of characters, lots of details—but it’s balanced. Leigh proves herself a remarkable writer with a book that’s well researched, well written, well plotted. It’s nerve-wracking and fast-paced and makes me happy this is the genre I return to time and again.
So be safe, be patient, and be happy that all of this month’s Must Read’s are available for your e-reader! Support your favorite author, expand your heart and feed your imagination over these next few weeks.
