The Top 10 Must-Read Romances of 2018

Someone to Trust, by Mary Balogh
A man falls in love with an older woman in this installment of Balogh’s Westcott Family series. Fans know that Balogh isn’t afraid to explore romance between couples of a certain age. While the vast majority of the romance genre tends to skew younger, focusing on couples in their twenties and thirties, Balogh also gives older characters a chance at finding romance. In this lovely tome, widow Elizabeth, Lady Overfield wants to get remarried to a respectable man. She ends up falling for Colin Handrich, Lord Hodges, who is nine years younger than her. It seems unlikely that they’ll end up together, but when they meet again a year later they realize that yep, those feelings aren’t going away. Like, ever.

More to Love, by Alison Bliss
Professional interests collide in this lovely story, the third in Bliss’ A Perfect Fit series. Jessa Gibson is ready to make her mark on the Granite, Texas food scene with her gourmet food truck. Her only problem is the local health inspector, Max Hager. He seems to have it out for her, constantly accusing her of health code violations, which would be infuriating if he wasn’t so gosh darn sexy. It turns out that he and Jessa have off-the-charts chemistry, which is going to make it really hard for him to reveal who he really is: a man who is NOT a health inspector. (Yes, he has some explaining to do.)

Shot on Gold, by Jaci Burton
Two professional athletes get it on in this installment of Burton’s Play-by-Play series. Hockey player Will Madigan and figure skater Amber Sloane are ready to get it on at the Winter Olympics. They are each competing for gold, especially Amber, because it’s her third time there and she plans on retiring after this round. She is mega-focused indeed, but Will really likes the fact that she’s both gorgeous and ambitious and has a life and isn’t a Stage 5 clinger. He’s pursuing her big time, which would normally be a win-win for any woman, but Amber is going to focus no matter what it takes. When the Olympic games are over, they’ll need to figure out whether they want to play games with each other year-round.

Rancher’s Dream, by B.J. Daniels
Old lovers reunite in this cowboy-centric story, which is part of Daniels’ Montana Cahills series. Drey Hunter pretty much just had the worst wedding night ever. Her new husband disappeared on her, and now she’s all alone in a mountain cabin. She soon realizes that her life is also in some serious danger, so she gets help from her old flame Hawk Cahill. They were crazy in love once upon a time, and let’s just say that feeling never really went away. He’s as devoted as ever, and she starts to realize she never wants to be parted from him again. Can they solve the mystery and then live their lives together in peace?

On-Air Passion, by Lindsay Evans
The first book in Evans’ Clarks of Atlanta series features two people who clash over their very different ideas of love. Elle Marshall is pumped to talk about her dating service, a service that promises to create The Perfect Date for couples, on the radio. Basketball player-turned-radio host Ahmed Clark is NOT an optimist when it comes to L.O.V.E., and he and Elle end up clashing big-time. On the air. Where listeners can listen. These two arguers are so adorably curmudgeonly with each other that the radio station decides to capitalize on their popularity with viewers by arranging a media-friendly date. It doesn’t take them long to realize that they might actually like each other.

Her Unexpected Valentine, by Sherelle Green
More professional interests collide in this story, the fifth book in Green’s Bare Sophistication series. Hair and makeup guru Nicole LeBlanc and creative director Kendrick Burrstone only just met, but it soon becomes evident that they have exceptional chemistry together. Kendrick isn’t one for love, though, and he also doesn’t like to get involved with anyone at work. As for Nicole, she wouldn’t mind finding The One, but Kendrick isn’t exactly making things easy. This could have to do with some secrets he has, secrets that involve an extortion plot against him. (Did we mention that he also has a crazy ex-girlfriend?) Indeed, Kendrick and Nicole have a lot to go through together before they’ll be able to find their happily ever after.

Hello Stranger, by Lisa Kleypas
Romance readers who appreciate historical heroines ahead of their time will love the fourth book in Kleypas’ Ravenels series. Dr. Garrett Gibson is a lady doctor, and she’s working really hard to help London’s poor. She gets some help from Ethan Ransom, a former detective with whom she decides to have a one-night affair. They decide to stay away from each other after that one night – that one extremely entertaining night – but they are reunited when he has an assignment. They’ll need to work together and work smartly if they’re going to take down a treacherous government. Medical AND political drama, plus two sexy people right in the thick of it? Yes, please!

Devil in Tartan, by Julia London
And we have another historical heroine story, the fourth one in London’s Highland Grooms series. The livelihood of Lottie Livingstone’s clan rests entirely on her strong, capable shoulders. She has zero time to dilly dally, which is why she leads a scheme that involves taking over Aulay Mackenzie’s ship. This annoys and inconveniences him, to say the least, but he still can’t help admiring Lottie. When authorities start to get involved, and it looks as if they want to lock up Lottie and throw away the key, Aulay will need to evaluate his feelings for her and decide on what he really wants out of life.

What Ales the Earl, by Sally MacKenzie
Craft beer enthusiasts will enjoy this particular historical romance. Childhood friends and former lovers Penelope Barnes and Harry Graham are reunited after 10 long years apart. During that time, Penelope honed her beer-making skills, gave birth to and raised their daughter, and endured all kinds of judgment from her family and society for her life choices. As for Harry, he went off to war and came back and inherited his family’s title due to his brother’s death. (Yep, that’s a lot of activity in a decade!) Harry and Penelope are still in love, because a love like theirs doesn’t die. Ever. He’ll have to prove to her, though, that he’s never going to let them be parted again.

About that Kiss, by Jill Shalvis
Two people who shared one passionate kiss and then went their separate ways are reunited in the fifth book in Shalvis’ Heartbreaker Bay series. It pains Kylie Masters to ask Joe Malone for help, but she really needs someone with great finding skills to help her recover something quite precious. Joe won’t say no to helping her, but he doesn’t expect to end up falling heads over heels for her, even though they quite the makeout session. He always thought he’d be a player bachelor, but spending some real quality time with Kylie has him rethinking his priorities. Will he admit that his love for her is deeper than either of them realize?