Today, dear patrons, we return to the Romance Garden, where our genre experts and aficionados bring you some highlights of the romance genre…because, as we love to say around here, every mind needs a little dirt in which to grow…..

Bridget: Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren

I have this weird issue where if I hear from too many sources that something is really good, I instinctively avoid it.  Which is kind of dumb, I admit, and usually means that I catch on to a reading trend later than most, simply out of sheer mule-headed stubbornness.  This is one of the reasons it took me such a ridiculously long time to discover that everyone was right, and that the two-woman writing team that makes up the pen name Christina Lauren are, indeed, fantastic romance writers.

In this debut we meet Chloe Mills, a incredibly driven and thoroughly ambitious MBA student, who is determined to make a name for herself, even though she is only an intern.  There is only one thing standing in her way–Bennett Ryan, her new, supremely arrogant, utterly inconsiderate (and, naturally, insanely handsome) boss.  Things were fine when Bennett was working from Paris, but now that they are in the same room together, things are taking a turn for the very heated, and very quickly.  But when their animosity turns into something much more…intimate, both Bennett and Chloe find themselves in wholly new territory.  Both are terrified of what their feelings for each other might mean, and what the implications might be for their careers, but the only other option is walking away….

This book succeeds on a number of levels–first, and foremost for me, is the level of honesty that Bennett and Chloe achieve fairly early.  There are few things in this world that annoy me more than characters who can’t (or won’t communicate) in an adult manner, but these two kept it very, very real throughout the story, which put the emotional aspects of their relationship front and center throughout.  Secondly, I love that we get to see them at their worst.  That may sound a little mercenary, but you know there’s something real going on when two lovers can deal with food poisoning and still want to hang out with each other.  And no one, but no one, does reunion scenes better than Christina Laurens, so by the time that we all get to the end of this tale, there is no doubt that Chloe and Bennett are the real deal.  For those who like their romance quite spicy and very salty, this is a sure bet.

Kelley: The Legend of Lyon Redmond by Julie Anne Long

When Lyon Redmond and Oliva Eversea set eyes on each other for the first time, the force of their attraction generates a star-crossed romance that will impact their rival families for years to come. Knowing their parents will oppose a courtship, Oliva and Lyon meet secretly for months and their friendship quickly develops into something much more. You can probably guess what happens next: Lyon asks his father to support his marriage to Olivia, Dad says no, and then Olivia is faced with a “run away with me tonight or this is goodbye” ultimatum that separates the young lovers for years to come….

Which brings us to the beginning of the book. Olivia Eversea, an expert at eluding suitors, has finally decided to tie the knot. When word of her impending marriage reaches long-departed now-pirate Lyon Redmond, he is inspired to make a return visit to England for an opportunity at some closure with the woman he never stopped loving. What follows is a fantastic tale of kidnapping, tropical islands, passion and, of course, second chances.

Unknowingly, I started at the end of this story, and what I mean by that is that The Legend of Lyon Redmond is the 11th and last book of Long’s Pennyroyal Green series. The book worked well as a stand-alone, but it’s easy to see where Lyon and Olivia’s siblings’ stories would make wonderful novels of their own. Overall, I thought this was a fun page-turner romance, but I was disappointed in the epilogue which involves a 200 year jump that feels like it comes out of nowhere. Despite the epilogue, I would still recommend the book, and do plan to check out some of Long’s other Pennyroyal Green titles.