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Khai Diep has a mom with good intentions (read: interfering). She travels to Vietnam and surprises horrifies him when she brings back a bride. Esme is more than a little desperate, so she comes to America and moves in with Khai, who is rude and distant despite all of Esme’s efforts to impress him. The Bride Test is a gateway drug: it’s contemporary and sweet and hilarious and tender and so, so addictive. Give this to your Valentine who thinks they don’t like romance. Helen Hoang will win them over.

Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors is a beautiful, faithful retelling of one of the most beloved romances of all time. I adore this book, especially how food is both DJ’s artistic medium and his love language. Sexytimes are only implied in this novel, but the romantic pull between Trisha and DJ is so strong! You don’t need pants feelings when the heart feelings are this good. I can’t wait to read this year’s follow-up: Recipe for Persuasion. Share this book with your foodie friends and family this Valentine’s Day.

I settled (just kidding, honey!) before I dove headfirst into Internet dating, but I do remember the armpit-prickling excitement of flirting online. It didn’t work out between me and that night elf druid, but I promise there’s a happy-every-after for Rhiannon and Samson in The Right Swipe. They met by chance when Rhiannon swiped right on Samson, but their connection was broken after only one night. Fast forward a few months and they’re back in each other’s orbit, unable to ignore their really excellent chemistry. Alisha Rai delivers just the right amount of humor and snark in this very modern romance.

My favorite kind of heroine is the one who takes control of her own story. Florence has a dream: to open a casino just for women. Who better to teach her the trade than broad-shouldered, revenge-driven Clayton Madden? He’s at the top of the New York underworld and runs an exclusive casino, when he isn’t trying to ruin Florence’s father… This sounds like an impossible set-up for a romance, but both characters have their own idea of happily-ever-after and the push-pull between them is really compelling, as is New York in the Gilded Age. If your Valentine loves a grand gesture, then The Prince of Broadway will be just what they’re looking for.

Nora is one of the most recognizable names in romance. She has written hundreds of books under several names in many genres. Her favorite type of story is romantic suspense, and you can see why: tension, intensity, sex, danger… Under Currents has all of that, as well as a romance you can root for. Zane’s parents were terribly abusive, but he’s made his own life in the Blue Ridge Mountains, where Darby has come to hide from her own ghosts. Zane and Darby don’t fall in love at first sight — their romance is slow-growing — but family, community, and a mutual love of baseball are the foundation of their relationship. If your Valentine likes a longer, more developed story, then give Nora a try.

Miranda Harris despises any gambler, but particularly the ones with roguish grins and precariously draped kilts. Aden may be less civilized, but he’s the only one who can help Miranda when her errant brother gambles away her future. I absolutely adored Aden. He’s clever — like, 10 steps ahead of everyone — and loyal to a fault. He supports Miranda without trying to control her and is very aware of the power imbalance in their relationship. For as long as she needs his help, Aden can’t ask for more than friendship and has no right to any kind of intimacy. Scot Under the Covers is wonderfully written, with a compelling plot and memorable characters, but it was Suzanne Enoch’s graceful handling of this complicated relationship that earned my applause. Share this with any Valentine who appreciates a sexy Scotsman.

Polaris Rising delivers all the adrenaline, humor, and smooches that I want in a romantic thriller, plus a hunky space outlaw and the resourceful, rebellious daughter of a noble family! This story starts with both of our main characters in a tricky situation — there are handcuffs, and not the fun kind — but bad guys and big guns can’t stop these two from escaping, adventuring, and falling in love. Your sci-fi loving Valentines will thank you for this one.

Goodness gracious, this book is fun. G. A. Aiken's newest novel is a hysterical, rollicking adventure. Keeley has her hands full protecting her family from power-hungry princes, but the Amichai arrive just in time. Off they all go on a fantasy road trip with demon wolves, centaurs with fangs, and zombie mules, oh my! If your Valentine likes role-playing games and medieval fantasy, then gift them The Blacksmith Queen.

It breaks my heart when a heroine doesn’t believe in herself or believe herself worthy of being loved. We all deserve to be loved, especially if we’re kind and brilliant and loyal like Lucy and Catherine. Both heroines are a little bit older than your typical Regency debutante and their life experience makes the story more nuanced, more believable, dare I say more interesting? The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics is beautifully written and has a tender happy-ever-after that will melt the heart of any Valentine.

Regan Carmichael packs up her life and heads for Wyoming Territory, where she has agreed to marry Dr. Colton Lee sight unseen. Regan is high-spirited — she kind of accidentally shoots Colton at their first meeting — but also wise and brave. Colton is aloof — a widower and father with no room in his life for risk, especially of the heart — but secretly smoldering if you get him alone on the porch. The mail-order-bride trope is a favorite of mine and it’s expertly handled in Beverly Jenkins’s Tempest. Give this to the Valentine who appreciates an independent woman and a stagecoach chase scene.

First Son Alex Claremont-Diaz and Prince Henry, second-born son of the Queen of England, have never gotten along. They are rivals who pretend to be friends, then become friends, then become more than friends, and finally they kiss, and oh my gosh love is real. Red, White, and Royal Blue is super romantic and hopeful, the perfect antidote to real life. I’ve recommended this book to everyone I know, so now I’m recommending it to everyone you know, especially your lucky Valentine.

Emily agrees to help her niece by driving her to RenFaire auditions, but she finds out quickly that her teenage niece requires a participating guardian. Here comes the corset! Well Met is perfect for the youthful Valentines in your life. This is a book with kissing — and more — but older teenage readers will recognize the YA beats and hopefully identify with the adult heroine’s story of self-discovery and cosplay, not to mention Emily’s reluctant attraction to grumpy, swashbuckling Simon.

I didn’t think that New York City held particular appeal for me, but after reading Love Lettering I’m all set to hop on a plane and mosey through Brooklyn! Reid hates crowds, noise, and pretty much everything about New York, but he agrees to help Meg with her artist’s block by taking walks through the city in search of vintage lettering. Their romance is a slow burn and lovely to witness. Reid falls in love with Meg and starts to see the appeal in New York, but a plot twist almost tears them apart before they can live happily ever after! I think everyone will like this book, but if your Valentine has an affinity for typography or New York City, then this is a must-buy.

I was absolutely delighted by The Soldier’s Scoundrel. The mystery, the humor, the romance... Cat Sebastian is a gifted writer and her characters are beautifully real. I found myself sighing at the more romantic moments — which I'm sure would have horrified grinchy Jack — and blushing along with Oliver whenever Jack managed to surprise him. Share this with your Valentines who enjoy historical romance or Sherlockian mysteries.

Okay, so there are dinosaurs in this one. I just had to get that out there before I could talk about A Heart of Blood and Ashes. The title is appropriate, because this story is all about vengeance and rage and betrayal and passion… and also there are dinosaurs. In Milla Vane’s fictional world, there are gods and goddesses who interfere in daily life, several human realms with a shaky alliance, and an ancient evil known as the Destroyer. Yvenne is physically damaged by her abusive family, but her mind is sharp and dangerous. Maddek is a barbarian king (he absolutely wears a loincloth), but he realizes that a partnership with Yvenne could be advantageous in his quest for revenge. Our characters do fall in love, but this is unlike any other romance I’ve read. Save this for the Valentines who prefer epic fantasy HBO-style over anything Hallmark has to offer.