Must-read romances: 'Suspicion,' 'Dirigibles Are Forever,' 'Inspire'

Suspicion by Alexandra Monir

What it's about (courtesy of Delacorte Press):

Seventeen-year-old Imogen Rockford has never forgotten the last words her father said to her, before the blazing fire that consumed him, her mother, and the gardens of her family's English country manor.

For seven years, images of her parents' death have haunted Imogen's dreams. In an effort to escape the past, she leaves Rockford Manor and moves to New York City with her new guardians. But some attachments prove impossible to shake—including her love for her handsome neighbor Sebastian Stanhope.

Then a life-altering letter arrives that forces Imogen to return to the manor in England, where she quickly learns that dark secrets lurk behind Rockford's aristocratic exterior. At their center is Imogen herself—and Sebastian, the boy she never stopped loving.

Why you should read it: This is a slow burn that is perfect for readers who want to think, want the mystery to unfold and want the suspense to build and build. I think that if you're in the mood for a fast-paced action-driven plot, you'll be disappointed, but on rainy days where the light is eerie and you want a little more, Suspicion will suck you in. Let's talk about Imogen and Sebastian: I love that he was the childhood crush; it gave them a sense of history and allowed the insta-love to be more realistic. I went into this book with no expectations and found myself enjoying the scenery, the air of magic and some of the twists. I felt that the last part of the book was a bit rushed, and there were moments where I wanted to scream out clues the characters missed. Other than that, it's an enjoyable read with a really gorgeous cover.

What Alexandra Monir has to say …

How do you write an air of mystery?

Alexandra: For me, it's about being really careful with how I drop hints and parcel out my clues. I like to give the reader just enough so they know something big is bubbling under the surface — but I hold back the bigger answers as long as I can, to draw out the mystery and make it more suspenseful.

What are you currently working on?

Alexandra: I'm actually writing another YA mystery, and the romance in this one is quite a twist! The book is called The Girl in the Picture, and it publishes in spring 2016. It'll be my fourth novel with Random House. :)

Epic one-liner from Suspicion?

Alexandra: One of my favorite (non-spoiler) lines is from the Prologue. It's pretty dark, actually!

"I should have remembered what I learned firsthand years ago—that it only takes one night to transform a place; that a single event can crumble a stalwart structure and strip a home of a decade's worth of happy memories."

Dirigibles Are Forever by Tina Christopher

What it's about (courtesy of Loose Id):

Working as an Aether Traffic Controller saved Holly Acklin after the death of her husband, but now she wants more—including a night of uninhibited passion with Jack Smith, whose very presence has kept her body tingling for months.

Special Agent Jack Smith kept his identity a secret when he came to the London Royal Port Authority with one assignment, one he cannot fail. It holds him back from following his attraction to Holly. But on the eve he must complete the mission, Holly asks for one night with no rules or boundaries, and his control snaps.

When London experiences an unexpectedly white Christmas, all dirigible traffic is grounded, leaving Holly and Jack free to act upon their stormy passions. Holly finds her determination to stay emotion-free crumbling unaware Jack is experiencing the same need. Each lover wishes for more, but fears it can't be. Instead they focus their desires in mind-blowing passion.

But when Holly discovers that Jack isn't who he claimed to be, everything is thrown into turmoil. Can she trust the man she thought she knew?

Why you should read it: Steampunk is one of my favorite genres, especially when done well. I love the mechanics, the cogs and the alternate history. I haven't read Tina before, but I love the way she combines steam and mechanics and really hope there's a sequel (look below for proof!). The cover is also what immediately drew my eye. Holly is a spitfire and so independent, it was fun watching her and Jack banter, and though he isn't honest, I loved that he's a special agent. I also loved the taste of Christmas, and let me tell you, Tina can write some very, vey steamy bedroom scenes. My only complaint is that I want more. I love this world and want to know more about Jack's agency, the backstory and, of course, I want to see many more dirigibles.

What Tina Christopher has to say …

Why do you like writing steampunk?

Tina: I've always enjoyed history and I love sci-fi, so for me it was a natural evolution to combine the two and imagine what happens when past and future meet. The idea of putting characters with certain values and experiences into unexpected situations has always fascinated me. And it's fun coming up with gadgets and machines that could exist in the world I've created.

What are you currently working on?

Tina: Writing Dirigibles Are Forever was a blast, and after creating that world, I wasn't ready to leave it. So I'm currently working on a three-book series set in the same world. Each book will feature an agent from Special Branch working to protect the Empire, but things never work out according to plan. The two things my heroes and heroines will be able to count on is getting into trouble and meeting someone special at the worst possible moment.

Epic one-liner from Dirigibles Are Forever?

Tina:

"You miss the adventure, the relying on your wits to get you through situations, and engaging with people less conservative than your circle here in London."

Inspire by Cora Carmack

What it's about:

Kalliope lives with one purpose.

To inspire.

As an immortal muse, she doesn't have any other choice. It's part of how she was made. Musicians, artists, actors—they use her to advance their art, and she uses them to survive. She moves from one artist to the next, never staying long enough to get attached. But all she wants is a different life— a normal one. She's spent thousands of years living lie after lie, and now she's ready for something real.

Sweet, sexy, and steady, Wilder Bell feels more real than anything else in her long existence. And most importantly… he's not an artist. He doesn't want her for her ability. But she can't turn off the way she influences people, not even to save a man she might love. Because in small doses, she can help make something beautiful, but her ability has just as much capacity to destroy as it does to create. The longer she stays, the more obsessed Wilder will become. It's happened before, and it never turns out well for the mortal.

Her presence may inspire genius.

But it breeds madness, too.

Why you should read it: That entire blurb completely had me hooked. I love mythology of all kinds, and the muses are a particular favorite. This one was more of a New Adult than a Young Adult, and I really liked Kalliope. It's the best part of the book, the fact that the characters are so compelling and they just draw you in. I felt for Kalliope with Wilder. I was at the edge of my seat waiting for the obsession the madness, the love. It's my first Cora Carmack book, but I liked it so much not only am I highly awaiting the sequel, but I've downloaded All Lined Up. If you like mythology, if you like forbidden romances and strong heroines, pick up Inspire.

What Cora Carmack has to say …

Where did you get the idea about muses and inspiring creativity?

Cora: I was home for the holidays, sitting at my mother's kitchen table as we waited for the family to get together to play a game (we're adorable like that. Actually… we're crazy competitive. You don't want to play games with my family. We're pretty cutthroat). Anyway, we were waiting for everyone to finish whatever they were doing, and I was talking with my mother and my sister about a celebrity that had recently committed suicide. It sprouted a larger discussion of recent deaths and that old "comes in threes" maxim. I started thinking about how volatile life can be for an artist. It's hard to put a piece of yourself out there for others to judge, to live a life where to some degree you're forced to find your worth in others. And the truly horrifying thing about art is that when our work fails or is judged harshly by others, we dive right back in. Rather than protecting ourselves from that kind of harm, we make ourselves dig deeper. We offer up more of ourselves, expose our vulnerable pieces to people for entertainment.

What are you currently working on?

Cora: I'm planning and outlining for the sequel to Inspire. I'm working on edits for a YA magical realism that I started ages ago that keeps getting put aside for contracted books. I'm planning the fourth book in the Rusk University series (which readers will be happy to know is about Stella and Ryan). And I've just picked back up a project that I started a while back as YA high fantasy that I'm thinking of rewriting as an NA high fantasy romance. For ages, I've been wishing for more high fantasy novels with the same amount of romance and heat that you see in paranormal romance or historical romance, but they're so hard to find. But I think with the success of a franchise like Game of Thrones and hugely popular YA high fantasy series like the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas — there's room for a story with both fantastical world building and an epic (and steamy) romance.

Epic one-liner from Inspire?

Cora:

"I don't give a f*** about genius. But I'll take madness if it gives me you first."

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Jessie Potts, also known as Book Taster, adores books in all forms. She also does reviews for RT Book Reviews magazine and works in the submissions department at Dreamspinner Press. You can follow her on Twitter (@BookTaster).