One of the best slice-of-life winter sports romances I’ve ever read! Icebreaker follows figure skater Anastasia who is currently training for the Olympics. But when the hockey team starts training in the same ice rink as her, she instantly blames their captain. Nate knows it’s their fault they’re in this situation, but he’s ready to roll with it. Especially if it means constantly interacting with the grumpy, very pretty, figure skater.

This college romance is everything you need in a book, I can assure you of this. Steamy, entertaining, and full of life, Icebreaker is going to become your favorite read this year.

This book has one of the best golden retriever–type heroes. You’ll ask me “Silvana, what is a golden retriever–type hero?” I got you. A golden retriever–type hero is a character who has the personality of a golden retriever. You know: he gets easily happy with the attention, always wants cuddles, and takes care of his own. You’ll no doubt fall for Carter Beckett in Consider Me.

But not only because of him, though. This book will constantly make you smile with its endearing characters and love story. Olivia knows Carter is a playboy, but that doesn’t change how quickly they both feel the attraction between them. When Olivia starts to let her guard down around him, she soon realizes she has no chance when it comes to Carter Beckett.

I know next to nothing about curling, but I’m not going to lie and say I do not watch it when the Winter Olympics are on. It’s very intriguing and even though I do not know the rules, I enjoy the game and the excitement behind every point.

Throwing Stones is about Oliver, Canada’s top curler, who accepts a job to coach Scotland’s next big team. But in order to achieve stardom and leave his scandalous life behind, he needs to defeat Luca Riley’s team.

Tamsen Parker actually wrote a whole winter sports romance series with Snow & Ice Games. Fire on the Ice is the fourth book in the series, but you can still read it as a standalone. Still, I highly recommend every single book in the series if you wish to read more romance books set in this winter competition!

This book follows two skaters from different teams. Blaze is the bad girl of the short-track speed skating world who will do anything to be on the front page of the papers. Maisy is one of Canada’s best figure skaters who gets easily exasperated with Blaze’s attitude. But she cannot deny the attraction she feels whenever she is with her. After one epic night, will they come back for more? Fire on the Ice is steamy, romantic, and all about winter sports.

Crew Madigan is a snowboarding legend. Once upon a time, he left his hometown and never looked back. Now, he has to return for his brother’s wedding. Good thing he bumps into his childhood crush, Raven, making this trip worth it. But there’s one tiny detail that stops him from pursuing her: she is his best friend’s sister. Plus she has sworn off dating athletes of any kind. Especially someone like Crew Madigan.

The Central State series has humor, friendships, and romances that will make you swoon from the very first page. In this fourth book, you’ll get to finally meet Elle Van Helsing, who has always lived under her brother’s shadow. Tired of constantly having to step aside, she decides to be away from home for a while. Getting a job at a bar should be easy and fun, but that soon changes when the owner has a family emergency and asks his nephew to help out in his absence. His nephew…the guy she used to have a crush on until he undeniably ruined everything!

If you love big, terrifying hockey players who are secretly softies, you will adore Marty Devonshire in Mr. November. In this novel, Marty gets invited to pose for a team charity calendar. There, he meets the wonderful Elaine Salang who is determined to not have her heart broken again. So, she has decided to focus all her attention on her job, her school, and the volunteer work she does at a cat shelter. But when sparks fly between them, will Elaine have a second chance at love? You’ll have to read Mr. November to find out!

Sunny Disposition is a college sports romance featuring a hockey player and a gamer. Naomi is currently sharing a house with four hockey players! Isn’t that wild? But there’s one of them that can’t seem to smile much…or any at all. The thing is that they’ve been anonymously talking online but, because Finn recently had a fight during a game resulting in amnesia, he doesn’t remember talking to her at all. But why does he feel like he knows her voice from somewhere?

I’m sure you know about Check, Please! but if you are one of the only people in the world who has not yet read this iconic, swoony graphic novel, this is the perfect moment to do so. Especially if you’re a fan of winter sports romances.

Check, Please! is a story that lives inside your heart even after you finish reading it. It’s going to live there for so many years after. It’s a story about Bitty who has only known figure skating. But he’s at Samwell University as a hockey player now! He’s a part-time vlogger and amateur patissier as well, so Bitty is surely going to enchant you instantly.

One of the best winter sports romances is definitely Off the Ice, a romance featuring a hockey player and a professor. I usually do not read student/professor romance books, but Gale and Vaughn do this trope in such a healthy, non-toxic way. I love that Tristan and Sebastian’s romance really starts after grades are given, so no power imbalance.

This book follows hockey player Tristan, who is a bit afraid of what the future has for him. He knows he cannot be a hockey player for life, so he decides to finish his business degree. He definitely didn’t expect to be attracted to his standoffish professor, Sebastian.

Maren Moore creates wonderful stories filled with humor and love, and Sincerely, the Puck Bunny is just what the doctor ordered. Every page will make you laugh, cry, and feel so many things you won’t be able to stop reading.

Briggs decides to take a small weekend off from his scandalous life of playing professional hockey. During his stay at this little inn, he meets Maddison, a woman with a big secret. After an epic one-night stand, Maddison disappears the next day. But when they reunite nine months later, Briggs finds out that Maddison is pregnant with his baby!

When it comes to winter sports romances, we instantly think of 1992’s The Cutting Edge, right? Figure skater meets hockey player and they eventually fall in love. Whenever a book has this dynamic, I always want to read it.

They met each other when she was the rising star in women’s skating and he was the superstar forward of the hockey team. But then, her parents and her coach didn’t approve of her relationship with them. Instead, they wanted her to focus on her sports career. Ten years have passed since that fated moment between them and they happen to reunite. After a few gold medals and lots of accolades, they still are single and ready to take a chance on that relationship that once upon a time made them feel butterflies. They have only three weeks to do all the things they wish they did back then. And maybe…maybe after that, they’ll have a future together.

In this loose retelling of Beauty and the Beast, Isabelle is 25 and still an assistant, desperate to be an editor. Beau is supposed to be writing his memoir, but he’s been holed up in Santa Barbara for a year and won’t talk to anyone. So Izzy shows up at his door and offers her help — and he says she can stay. Their working relationship is charming and feels so real, as she coaxes his story out of him and they both fall totally in love. If you like the sex to stay behind closed doors, this is the one for you.

Kareena wants a love match, but the only way she can keep her late mother’s house is if she gets engaged ASAP. Prem is a heart doctor who doesn’t believe in love, but needs investors for his new clinic. They have a fight during his show that puts his funding in danger, so he agrees to play the part of her fiancé to get them both the cash they need. Fake dating is so common that it often feels silly or forced, but this book never felt anything but real — and it handles grief nicely, too. Who can resist a Taming of the Shrew retelling?

Florence is a ghostwriter who can talk to ghosts. She writes romance novels for a famous (and retired) author, but she is late delivering the last book on the contract because she no longer believes in love. Then her editor leaves, and her replacement, Ben, gives Florence 24 hours to turn in the manuscript. But Florence’s father dies suddenly and she goes home, where she runs into the last ghost she expected: Ben, who has been hit by a car. I never expected to love a ghost romance this much. (And I promise, they do end up together, as impossible as that seems.)

I was surprised to fall this hard for a reality show romance, especially a wedding reality show! D’Vaughn and Kris are paired up on the show Instant I Do, where they have six weeks to complete a series of wedding planning tasks with their families, who they have to convince that their engagement is real. Of course, they fall in love for real, forcing them to decide whether to take the prize money or say “I do.”

I love a dual timeline book, and this one takes us back and forth between Chani’s legendary interview with actor Gabe, which launched both of their careers and prompted a lot of rumors about whether they hooked up, and ten years later, when Chani is asked to interview him again and all of their feelings from the first time bubble up to the surface. It includes the article she wrote the first time and an assortment of the internet speculation surrounding it.

Two reality show romances? Yes, really! In this one, it’s cooking show rivals. Dahlia needs the prize money, and London wants to get out of their father’s control and start their own company. Their friendship blossoms after Dahlia gets off to a bad start on the show, falling flat on her face. Their mutual attraction proves unstoppable, but they have the teensy problem of being competitors, not to mention leading very separate lives off the show.

Con woman Raven Moreau comes from a long line of con artists with a family plan. Braxton and his father are thrown together with the Moreaux when a Pinkerton convinces (read: blackmails) them to pull off a heist, stealing a rare copy of the Declaration of Independence back from a crooked congressman, with Raven and Braxton posing as husband-wife servants. Their attraction is instant, but they both swear there’s no love match. As always, Ms. Bev’s historicals are a history lesson and a lesson in love.

Meteorologist Ari and sports reporter Russell team up to get their bosses, weather legend Torrance and her ex-husband, news director Seth, to stop fighting and get back together. Of course, Ari and Russell fall in love. I love that both hero and heroine are Jewish, and Russell is fat and was a teen parent. The personal complications in this book just feel real, plus there’s a million weather puns.

Artist Feyi wants to start living again, after five years of grieving her dead fiancé. She begins dating and agrees to take a trip to the Caribbean with a guy who seems perfect — but once they’re there, she finds herself drawn to his father, a chef who is also grieving a lost love. This novel doesn’t shy away from its exploration of grief and queerness, while not skimping on the romance.

Romance editor Lanie has the career opportunity of a lifetime: to work with legendary author Noa Callaway. Noa has writer’s block and Lanie has to help her through it…but there’s more about Noa that Lanie doesn’t know, and it’s not just that he’s actually Noah. They both have some pressing life issues to get past if they want to be together.

Kian, who is totally over his ex, Hudson, agrees to meet with him for what he hopes will be an apology. Instead, he finds himself pretending to still be Hudson’s boyfriend, at first for a family dinner and then for a week in Georgia for a family wedding.

Franny is laid off and, as if that isn’t bad enough, her dress rips open on the subway, baring her entire backside. A handsome stranger gives her his jacket and she makes it home, only to find out that someone posted a video of their meeting and the entire internet ships them. Hayes, a.k.a. the handsome stranger, is starting his own business and hires Franny to design his offices.

When ER doctor Alexis drives off the road to avoid hitting an animal, she is rescued by local Daniel. After a steamy night together, she goes back to the city where she is going through an ugly divorce and dealing with her parents’ stressful expectations for her life and career — but she keeps finding herself back in Daniel’s small town, where she gets to be who she wants to be.

Highwayman Rob blackmailed Marian, the Duchess of Clare, and their letters back and forth got rather flirtatious…right up until she kidnapped him and left him tied up and unable to help his dearest friend hold up her husband. In the robbery, Marian is forced to shoot her husband, and finds herself with only one person to turn to: Rob.

Amy is a lesbian working at a conservative bakery in 2012 Oklahoma, and she is fired after being accidentally outed. She finds work as a bridesmaid for hire, helping other (straight) couples have their perfect day while dating engineer Charley. But Amy still can’t be herself out loud, and it’s putting a strain on her personal life — with Charley, with her closest friends, and with her family.

Joy has been in love with her best friend Malcolm for years, and he has always put her first — to the detriment of his romantic relationships. But now he wants her to come on a trip with him and his new girlfriend, Summer, and distract Summer’s friend Fox. Joy and Fox agree that they will spend time together, but with the express purpose of making Malcolm and Summer see what they’re missing. Except…there might be something there for Joy and Fox.

In a world with magic, demigods, and zombies, Mercy is an undertaker and Hart is a marshal who brings in bodies. Mercy is stretched thin with obligations, and Hart is lonely. So he pens a letter, addressed simply to “a friend,” and expects nothing in return. To his surprise, he gets a letter back. And so he and Mercy fall in love on paper while despising each other in person.

Mika Moon is a real witch pretending to be a fake witch. It’s not safe for real witches to make themselves known, but witchcore is all the rage on social media, so Mika pretends to do magic on her popular account. Then she gets a message from someone who needs a magical tutor for three young witches, and she agrees. But the attractive librarian who lives there doesn’t approve of this plan.

Anastasia is one of the most beloved animated films out there. But the real-life story of Anastasia was more gruesome and tragic than what was shown. What Sophie Lark does is turn the real story into a happily-ever-after.

In 1919, in a world similar to ours, Anastasia lives without magic. Being the princess no one needs, she is the fourth daughter of the emperor who has no sons. Her magic slowly starts to develop in secret and it might cost her everything she loves. This is an enemies-to-lovers fantasy novel like no other.

Queen of Myth and Monsters is the much-anticipated sequel to King of Battle and Blood. This book follows Isolde, the newly coronated queen, and her vampire king Adrian. In this novel, Isolde doesn’t really know who her allies and her enemies are. Her love for Adrian has cost her father and her homeland. So, Isolde needs allies now more than ever. When a sinister blood mist threatens her new home, she’ll have to trust her bond with Adrian to save her newfound family.

Kosoko Jackson returns with another fun romcom you won’t be able to stop reading. In A Dash of Salt and Pepper, you’ll meet two cooks who can’t help but fall in love.

After getting passed over for a prestigious fellowship, Xavier returns home. The last thing he wishes to do is work as a prep chef at the new hip restaurant in town. Who would have thought he would fall for the hot single father chef who owns the restaurant though? It might seem like a recipe for disaster, but Xavier and Logan realize that they work better together than against each other.

Everyone and their mother loves the rivals-to-lovers trope. In Cooper’s book, two entrepreneurs compete for the property they desperately want. But before they can acquire the property, they must compete in an Iron Man competition of sorts in order to win it. He refuses to play along, but when he hears his ex, Morgan — beautiful and spoiled Morgan — wants the property as well, he is petty enough to enter to play against her.

Stephanie London made me fall in love with New York…and cute dogs in her Paws in the City series. Pets of Park Avenue returns to Park Avenue, where it introduces a self-confessed hot mess who has decided to prove that she’s finally got her act together. But in order to do that, she needs the help of her estranged husband!

Look, One Night Only is an accidental pregnancy romance. I know many don’t enjoy the trope, so if you don’t, skip it. But if you’re like me, and love this trope, keep reading.

Jayci Lee’s novel follows chamber violinist Megan Han, who has a one-night stand that pretty much changes her whole life. Everything further complicates when the sexy stranger happens to be Daniel Park, CFO of her father’s company. They agree to keep the pregnancy a secret, but when their passion reignites and burns everything in their paths, the only choice is to find out if this fling is what they’ve been searching for.

It’s not December if we don’t talk about holiday romance books. Booked for the Holidays is a small-town romance featuring two business owners who get paired up for a holiday decorating contest. It screams Hallmark vibes perfect for the holiday season, right? Expect a slow-burn romance that will give you a heartwarming love where a grump falls for the sunshine.

Spring Tide is a New Adult college romance set in a small town and you will fall madly in love with it instantly. It follows Harper, a sports med student, who gets blackmailed into helping Luca, a shy, injured football player, recover. If she does, he’ll help her as well, of course. Because Harper has told her sports med professor she is currently dating a football player, when she’s really not! So Luca is going to pretend to be in a relationship with her in exchange for keeping his injury a secret while also helping him recover.

Going back to her hometown brings too many memories for Nicole Steele. Too many unwanted memories. But after 20 years away, the only thing she wants is to move back home. Fortunately for her, she is hired to take photographs for Glenwood’s new tourism campaign. She just never expected to reunite with her childhood rival, Quinn Zelinski. The magic of the Christmas season might reignite the spark they used to have!

A rodeo queen knows how to be perfect. A rodeo queen knows the rules. Sierra Quintanilla has too many crowns to her name, so when Closed Circuit, the reality-TV-meets-rodeo-tour competition, comes back for a second season, she knows the part she must perform. But sometimes desire can bring a rodeo queen down from her throne. And attorney Diablo Sosa tempts her like no one.

This is the first Santa erotica book I heard of and the first one I tried. Kate is a divorced mom, spending Christmas without her kids for the first time. But somehow Santa, AKA Nikolai, didn’t get the memo about the last minute switcheroo and delivers presents to her house. They are instantly attracted to each other. And through the magic of Christmas Eve Santa time warp abilities, they stop to have a lot of fun with each other (including a very sexy sleigh scene!) with a sweet happily ever after at the end of the story.

Marie Lipscomb, writing under the name M.L. Eliza here, writes some of the best fat characters in romance novels today. So it made me smile when I saw she had a Santa romance. In this one, a name mix-up brings Claus to the wrong apartment building, where Holly is instantly turned on when she sees him. He can read people’s minds when it comes to their desires. So he tells her that he will revisit her to enact her sexual fantasies once he’s delivered all his presents. Much sex ensues, including Claus creating a very special sex toy for Holly in his workshop. There’s also a scene where he renovates her apartment to add a bathtub. Seriously, so much swoony wish-fulfillment. This book gets an A+ for featuring a sexy fat Santa, including so many puns, and having so much chemistry between the characters.

This short F/F romance features the niece of one of the three Kings of the Magi and the first female Santa Claus, Kristina Kringle. When Farnaz has airline trouble, she ends up spending the night at her family friend Santa’s secluded beach house for the night. Little does she know Santa is a woman who’s also going to the beach house for some much needed rest after delivering her presents. Kristina doesn’t know Farnaz is going to be there and walks in on her masturbating with a sex toy she designed herself. The two agree to make the most of their night together with a sex marathon, but in the morning neither will want to say goodbye. Also if you love this one, you can read the next in the series, The Toy King.

Relatedly, if you’re interested in an F/F romance between a reindeer shifter on the sleigh team and one of Santa’s elves, check out Comet’s First Christmas by Delilah Night.

Think Santa Claus erotic romance novellas couldn’t get any weirder? Try this paranormal Christmas story about a generous alien who likes to do good deeds on Earth and a woman whose cancer was cured by Santa as a child. Jessica has believed in Santa ever since she woke up mid-healing ritual and devoted her adult life to studying Santa folklore. When a ship malfunction leads alien Kris to be stuck in a chimney, Blitzen brings Jessica to help save him. This story is a little longer than the rest and was published in 2018, so before the current Santa romance trend started taking off. It’s definitely the most out there of the bunch. Some readers seem to love it, others love to hate read it. If you are looking for something truly bonkers, this might be the story for you.

Including this book on this list is kind of cheating, because it’s actually about a single mom and a mall Santa. But it’s so cute, I’m doing it anyway. Felina goes to a far away mall to get pictures of her kids with the only Black Santa around. But the older Santa she’s expecting has passed away. His 40 year old, hot, fireman son has taken his place — and Julian just happens to be Felina’s ex-boyfriend from high school. This second chance romance novella is Santa-adjacent and very sweet.

I simply cannot recommend a list of books to read if you like Partner Track without a couple of law firm romances! To read about another lawyer in love, dive right into Partner Pursuit by Kathy Strobos. Aubrey is gunning for a partner position at the law firm she works at in New York City, and her neighbor Jake is just the sort of distraction she doesn’t need (or perhaps just the one she desperately needs). Will she have to choose between love and the career position she’s dreamed of? Or can she have it all?

Liya has no interest in dating, especially if her parents have anything to do with it. She’s stressed out enough about work without having to worry about her love life. But then the very man with whom her parents are trying to set her up ends up at her workplace. And he’s a lawyer. As sparks fly and conversation flows, Liya isn’t sure what to think. Perhaps her parents were right and there’s something more to Jay than she initially thought. But are both Liya and Jay ready to open up to each other?

Rhiannon is a badass business woman. She created a unique, safe-to-use dating app and has since kept a relatively low profile when it comes to her own dating life. Then former professional football player Samson reappears in her life. She hates to admit it, but Samson’s rejection stung when he disappeared after their steamy night together. When they’re thrown together at a conference, Samson is convinced that Rhiannon should give him another chance. What could possibly go wrong?

Lizzy has been laser focused on her culinary career in New York City for years. But something feels off. When her older sister Jane — with whom she has a tenuous relationship, similarly to Ingrid and Lina – is diagnosed with cancer, Lizzy drops everything and joins her sister. Things are no easier in Seattle, though: Lizzy and Jane are at odds often, Lizzy cannot seem to find inspiration for cooking, and she has no idea what to do with her growing attraction to sweet, single dad Nick. Can she find her own path forward? And does that path lead back to New York City?

If you cannot get enough of the complicated New York City romances, strong female characters, and familial pressure in Partner Track, then Honey Girl is for you. Grace has a PhD in astronomy. Her life is ruled by, well, rules. So she is more shocked than anyone when she wakes up one morning in Las Vegas with fuzzy memories and a ring on her finger. Soon enough, she finds herself chasing the mysterious woman she’s married and New York City’s glittering lights beckon.

An epic love story that spans a decade, The Kingmaker not only pulls on heartstrings, but tangles them up in knots. Lennix Hunter has been an activist her whole life, and when she meets a man named Maxim at a rally protesting a pipeline through her native lands, sparks fly immediately. Fast forward four years: the two meet again in Amsterdam and have a whirlwind week together, but Maxim hasn’t been completely honest with her, and she cannot be with a man from a family whose company violates all her values. What she doesn’t know is that while she’s been fighting for her family and Native people her whole life, Maxim has been fighting against his family and their company for all of his. Y’all. These two pine after each other for years. Years! And the cliffhanger? Be grateful Kennedy Ryan has already published The Rebel King because it will be the fastest click you’ve ever clicked after finishing this one. 

Modern day Seoul has no idea what Gu Miyoung really is and what she must do to survive. Miyoung is a gumiho,  a nine-tailed fox who must devour the energy of men in order to survive. With so many evil men in the big city that no one will miss and so few people believing in the old stories, Miyoung has no problem hunting and hiding. After feeding one full moon, she comes across Jihoon being attacked in the forest by a goblin. Even though she knows better, she violates the rules of survival to rescue the boy, losing her fox bead, her gumiho soul, in the process. Jihoon knows Miyoung’s secret. He saw her nine tails the night she rescued him and remembers the tales his grandmother told him growing up. The two develop a fragile friendship. But when a young shaman tries to reunite Miyoung and her bead, it goes completely sideways. Now Miyoung has to choose between her own immortal life and the life of Jihoon, a decision made even harder by their developing feelings for each other.

Tropes on tropes on tropes: royals, bodyguard, baby, undercover nanny, workplace. So swoony! Jax, a former royal guard, is hired by Neela as a nanny for a baby she just got custody of recently. Neela doesn’t know how to be a mom, much less a single mom of an heiress who needs to be protected at all costs. Enter Jax, the perfect nanny bodyguard combination. Jax has always wanted a family, but this was absolutely not the way he thought it would happen, and it probably shouldn’t happen this way, because having feelings for his boss, Neela, isn’t professional. But dang if these two don’t steal his heart from the very beginning despite the circumstances and Neela’s obstinance. Huge cliffhanger here, so be ready to get Tempting the Heiress immediately upon finishing.

Wyatt Croft, a trans witch in a world ruled by faeries, lost control of his magic and had to leave everything he loves, including fae prince fiancé Emyr North, to escape to the human world. Emyr refuses to accept Wyatt’s betrayal because their union was going to unite the witches and fae. So he hunts Wyatt down in the human world. Now the prince is cold and distant and has a mission to marry or risk losing the throne. At the end of his rope, Wyatt makes a deal with his now enemy, hoping to eventually escape Asalin, the faerie world, forever. As he gets to know Emyr again, he starts to realize that the boy he fell in love with is still there under a gruff exterior. Back in Asalin, witches are being treated worse than ever, and now he’s torn between saving his people or saving his own freedom.

Luc O’Donnell is in a potentially sticky situation. Tangentially famous thanks to his artist parents, Luc has finally settled into a mostly fame-free life, until his famous father starts to make a comeback and all cameras focus on Luc again. That means that the compromising photo could potentially ruin everything for him. He needs some insurance before things go viral. Oliver Blackwood is a stodgy ethical vegetarian barrister. In other words, the perfect fake boyfriend material. They are absolute opposites with nothing in common. Oliver happens to be in need of a date to a wedding, so the two strike a deal: fake date to save Luc’s reputation and Oliver’s wedding date problem. When fake dating turns into real feelings, things get more complicated.

Every 10 years, the Sun’s power must be replenished so that Sol can keep traveling along the sky and keep the evil gods at bay. Ten semidióses between the ages of 13 and 18 are chosen to compete in the Sunbearer Trials, where the winner carries light and life to the temples of Reino del Sol and the loser will be sacrificed to Sol, their body used to power the Sun Stones that protect the people for the next decade. Teo, a 17 year old Jade semidiós and the trans son of Quetzal, goddess of birds, isn’t worried about the trials because he knows he won’t be chosen. There are too many other good candidates, like his best friend Niya, daughter of Tierra, the god of Earth, who is one of the strongest heroes of their generation — or Aurelio, a powerful Gold semidiós and Teo’s friend-turned-rival. But then, for the first time in over a century, Sol chooses a semidiós who isn’t a Gold. Sol chooses Teo and Xio, the 13 year old child of Mala Suerte, god of bad luck. Now they have to compete against opponents who are stronger and better trained in five trials. If they don’t succeed, they will lose more than just honor: they will lose their lives.

Hazel Sinnett wants to be a surgeon more than anything. Being a lady in Edinburg in 1817 makes her dream next to impossible. She still goes to renowned surgeon Dr. Beecham’s lectures, even though she gets kicked out for being the wrong gender. A chance meeting with Jack Currer, a resurrection man, has Hazel thinking she can change her future. Dr. Beecham has made a deal with her: if she can pass the medical exam on her own, she — and all women after her — can enroll in studies at the university. Since she has to study on her own, textbooks alone won’t do it. She needs corpses to dissect and study as well. It’s lucky that she knows someone who digs them up for a living, then. But Jack is preoccupied with trying to stay alive in a city where grave robbers keep coming up missing and poor people keep ending up mysteriously dead. Together, they work to uncover more than just dead bodies, but secrets the city is hiding in the graveyard.

Voya Thomas has been waiting and training for years for her Calling, a trial every witch must pass in order to come into their powers. But the unthinkable happens: she fails. When Voya’s ancestor gives her an unprecedented second chance to complete her Calling, she quickly agrees without realizing the task will be to kill her first love. Even more horrifying, if she fails again this time, the entire Thomas family will be stripped of their magic. She’s determined to do whatever it takes to pass and save her family’s magic, but there’s an additional complication: Voya has never been in love. Luckily, there’s a new genetic matchmaking service available. She decides to join the service, fall in love, and secure her family’s magic. Simple. But she doesn’t predict being matched with infuriating Luc, who wants nothing to do with her. With mounting pressure from her family, Voya is caught between her sense of right and wrong, and her duty to her bloodline. She has to find something that her ancestors want more than blood, but in witchcraft, blood is everything.

Verity Durant is a cook with a special talent. She can make people relive memory feelings with such vividness that it makes most of Victorian England deeply uncomfortable. When the master of the house dies, his half brother inherits the property and moves in. Stuart Somerset is pragmatic. Food is fuel, a necessity, to keep his eyes on his political pursuits. But with every meal, he cannot stop remembering a passionate night with Madam Durant from a decade before. Where was this memory coming from and why couldn’t he shake it? Verity has loved Stuart for every one of the 10 years they’ve been apart, but she can’t bring herself to reveal her identity to her new employer. Not to worry: the food does the work for her.

Spin the Dawn is Mulan meets magical Project Runway. Maia is a girl in a world where women don’t get recognition for their work. After a war has claimed all her brothers in one way or another, she’s the only one left to represent her family’s tailor business when the emperor calls on them to compete to make the new empress’s wedding gown. The future empress has the highest standards and demands three dresses made from the sun, the moon, and the blood of the stars. Maia and the emperor’s enchanter, or royal magician, go on a quest to gather the materials. While traveling so closely, their feelings for each other start to grow, but they can’t possibly be together, can they? Societal norms and magical creatures alike are working to keep them apart.