Known for their sparkling dialogue, humorous plots, and happily-ever-after conclusions, Regency romances are frothy period pieces set in England during the early 19th century. Suggestion: start with the Queen of the Regency Romance, Georgette Heyer!
For a wide range of Regency romance novels, click here.
One day, years after the death of her perfect husband, Natalie is surprised to find that Markus, her clumsy coworker, may be her second chance at love. Delicacy by David Foenkinos is a charming, short novel that explores “…the idea that what is most important in a love story is good timing.”
If you read Delicacy (or saw the movie) and want to talk about it, check back with the Library in the fall for a featured Sister Cities book discussion.
What if you could know the fate of a prospective relationship before it even began? The Heart Gem, an enchanted stone which reveals the essence of a couple’s future match, may hold great promise or aching despair, and it is Bremen Tyler’s task to restore it to its rightful place. A dramatic encounter with the unconventional Hallie Pinefoy divides his attention, but now he has even more of a personal investment in retrieving his ancestral treasure. Author Isabella Macotte, who makes her home in Mount Prospect, introduces her debut series with The Heart Gem, a romance both sweet and sensual. The course of true love never did run smooth, but this is one pair who will take their chances.
Does the constant noise of modern life rumple your spirits? Let Emma: Music from the Miramax Motion Picture transport you to a quieter time. This 1996 Academy Award winner for Best Musical or Comedy Score lightly trips along with soft, delicate melodies and the occasional touch of drama. Whimsical string arrangements and romantic woodwind solos dance airily, providing the perfect background for moments of relaxation and daydreams. With this recording, composer Rachel Portman became one of only three women to win a Scoring Oscar, triumphing over frequent nominees Alan Menken, Randy Newman, and Hans Zimmer. Jane Austen would certainly approve.
Who doesn’t love a man in a uniform? You’ll have to check out one of these titles to see if these tall, dark, and deadly military men are tigers or kittens in the hands of the right woman.
Click here for the best of the Library’s military romances.
The other woman, a shack-up honey, a kept woman, one’s inamorata…there are plenty of names for mistresses throughout history. Who do you side with? The mistress or the wife? Does it all depend on the story?
For a roll in the fictional hay with mistresses aplenty, click here.
We understand that not everyone is interested in books that win important literary prizes. Sometimes you just want to find a thrilling new story in your favorite category. If you can relate, be sure to check out the recent winners and nominees of the The Reading List, which honors the best in genre fiction. These must-reads are selected by librarians who know which titles not only have the best buzz but also live up to the hype. See below for the winners and click here for readalikes and the runners-up.
Adrenaline: Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson
Fantasy: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Historical Fiction: Doc by Mary Doria Russell
Horror: The Ridge by Michael Koryta
Mystery: The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino
Romance: Silk is for Seduction by Loretta Chase
Science Fiction: Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey
Women’s Fiction: The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
When precocious teenager Susan (Shirley Temple) falls hard for a playboy artist (Cary Grant) who lectures at her school, it will take more than common sense to break the spell. Hoping to be his model, she sneaks into his apartment and is discovered there by her sister Margaret (Myrna Loy), the judge who recognizes the wisecracking gent as someone who appeared before her in court. Only in the movies would Susan’s family pressure Richard to “date” her until the phase passes, but the result is comic gold, especially when the judge herself isn’t completely immune to his charms. The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer is a sparkler of a screwball comedy that will put a shine in your eyes.
It is a legend that a pirate, about to be hanged, was asked if he repented. The pirate said, “Yes, I do heartily repent. I repent I had not done more mischief.”
If you’re looking for mischief and romance with swashbuckling, open-shirted, adventuresome pirates, click here.
In 1988, translator Sophia Velikonja took the courageous step of leaving her home in Czechoslovakia for the United States. That same week, a young mother in Wisconsin was tragically killed in an accident, leaving behind a devastated husband and three struggling children. The Rileys needed someone to help run the house, and Sophie’s lonely life in Chicago was not the opportunity she’d anticipated. When God brings these hurting souls together, they discover ways they can help one another. Written by Lori Wick, one of Christian fiction’s most beloved authors, Sophie’s Heart is a touching and surprisingly complex story of healing, family, faith, and love.
