Lara Adrian’s third entry in her Breed series made me a convert. Midnight Awakening presents a compelling story between a mother whose vengeance is the only thing that drives her and a man who has deadened himself to feeling to survive his previous losses. The two learn that losing isn’t the worst part about living; rather it’s not taking the chance to love again.

Diana Gabaldon presents a collection of mysteries for her hero, Lord John, in Lord John and the Hand of Devils. Each story presents mystery to be solved, none of which Lord John can ignore. Who killed a young man John met once in the Lavender House and how does this tie into the infamous group known for their black masses, drugged whores and depravity? What was the cause of death for a soldier in wartime Germany and how can their commanders keep their other troops from being too scared to fight? And what caused the explosion of the cannon manned by John during one German battle and how does this tie into a missing young woman and his half brother's powder factory? By the end of all three stories, the disparate elements all come together with Occam's Razor-like quality. Everything fits together no matter how unrelated it all appears at the story's beginning and makes perfect sense.

Michelle Styles’ "A Christmas Wedding Wager” helped to inspire Jayne to tackle all her Christmas decorations. Styles showcases the Victorian period and the emerging freedom it brought to young women. Emma, the heroine, escapes her strifling Victorian well-to-do lifestyle to become a civil engineer and while she enjoys her position, it is not without a price. Jack Stanton was rejected by Emma years ago and must suppress his hurt pride and resentment in order to work with Emma on a bridge project. Set against the backdrop of northern England Christmas revelries, this is the perfect book to get a romance reader in the holiday mood.