In Balogh's latest Westcott Regency, irascible Justin Wiley, Earl of Brandon, has the decency to take responsibility for half-sister Maria when her mother dies, inviting her friend Lady Estelle Lamarr to accompany Maria to Everleigh Park, where family secrets crack open and the earl finds himself attracted to Someone Perfect: Lady Estelle. In Guild Boss, New York Times best-selling author Castle again escorts us to the earth colony Harmony for another futuristic paranormal romance fling. In Cousens's Just Haven't Met You Yet, Laura picks up the wrong suitcase at the Channel Islands airport while on a business trip, then hunts for the owner with romantic notions—the suitcase included piano music, her favorite book, and a cool fisherman's sweater—with the help of a cranky cabbie who has charms of his own. Evans returns with another Christmas Promise, featuring a love and faith thought lost restored by the true spirit of Christmas (200,000-copy first printing). In the New York Times best-selling Graves's Heard It in a Love Song, newly divorced music teacher Layla recalls her golden days as lead singer of a bar band and falls into happy conversations with the newly separated dad of one of her students, though both are wary of new love (75,000-copy first printing). Next in Ward's "Prison Camp" series, a Black Dagger Brotherhood spin-off set in an underground prison housing murderers and thieves, The Wolf opens with second-in-command Rio saved from death by a lupine creature with golden eyes (150,000-copy first printing). In canine celebrator Wilson A Dog's Chance, Madison helps both her troubled 14-year-old daughter, Abbie, and 75-year-old Arthur by having Abbie help train Arthur's energetic new golden retriever puppy (35,000-copy first printing).

Bestseller Balogh keeps her Wescott Family Regency series going strong with a 10th installment (after Someone to Cherish) that is perhaps the best yet. Justin Wiley and his younger half-sister, Maria, were close as children, but haven't seen each other in the 12 years since Maria and her ailing mother moved from the family estate of Everleigh Park to Prospect Hall, where Maria cared for her mother until her death. Justin, now the Earl of Brandon, becomes 20-year-old Maria's guardian and invites her to return to Everleigh—but he's shocked to find her cold, disdainful, and full of resentment toward him. In an effort to ease her transition, Justin hosts a weeks-long house party, inviting relatives from both sides of the family, as well as Maria's former neighbors, the fiercely independent Lady Estelle Lamarr and her brother, Bertrand. Estelle initially dislikes Justin, having heard Maria's negative views on the man, but as they become better acquainted, she begins to question the things she's been told. As the attraction builds between them, Justin works to convince Estelle to consider his suit. Balogh is a master of Regency romance, expertly exploring her characters' hidden depths and teasing out their carefully guarded secrets while keeping the pace flying. This is a delight. Agent: Maria Carvainis, Maria Carvainis Agency. (Nov.)