Heroines in Romance Novels

SINGLE TITLE: Contemporary romance
SETTING: Contemporary US
SERIES: Book One in the Domestic Gods series
HEROINE: 27 year old corporate turnaround expert

Rosalie Ronaldi doesn't have a domestic bone in her body ...
All she cares about is her career, so she survives on take-out and dirty martinis, keeps her shoes under the dining room table, her bras on the shower curtain rod, and her clothes on the couch ...

Nick Romeo is every woman's fantasy - tall, dark, handsome, rich, really good in bed, AND he loves to cook and clean ...
He says he wants an independent woman, but when he meets Rosalie, all he wants to do is take care of her. Before too long, he's cleaned up her apartment, stocked her refrigerator, and adopted her dog

So what's the problem? Just a little matter of mistaken identity, corporate theft, a hidden past in juvenile detention and one big nosy Italian family too close for comfort ...

CATEGORY : Harlequin Presents
SETTING: Contemporary US
HEROINE: 28+ year old software designer

Time is money to drop-dead-gorgeous tycoon Matt Jacobs. But when he meets beautiful Ella Mackenzie at his best friend's wedding, he decides to break his rule and make the most of his week off work - by spending it in bed with her!

Strong-willed Ella doesn't do sleepovers - but Matt's incredible lovemaking has got her hooked! So when their secret week between the sheets comes to an end, Ella finds herself accepting the sort of indecent proposal she never thought she'd consider..

CATEGORY: Harlequin Romance
SETTING: Contemporary US
HEROINE: 29 year old personal shopper

With the dreaded holidays nearing, the last thing widowed businessman Dawson Burke needed was a personal shopper who wanted to get personal. What part of 'I want to be left alone' didn't Eve Hawley understand? She just seemed intent on getting him into the Christmas spirit....

Eve could see Dawson had stopped wishing on the future, and he didn't know how lucky he was to be surrounded by loving family. But once she'd helped him find the joy he'd been missing, Eve couldn't help wishing Dawson would give her the best Christmas present of all--by proposing to her.

CATEGORY: Harlequin Blaze
SETTING: Contemporary US
SERIES: Book One in the Where You Least Expect It series
HEROINE: 32 year old divorced boutiques owner

Boutique owner Ashley Taylor hates flying. Especially when there's a sugar-fueled little hellion on board. But then David McLean (sexy!) sits next to her, and suddenly Ashley finds herself hoping the delay will last forever - and that David won't notice her comfy pink bunny slippers (sadly, the opposite of sexy).

David does notice Ashley, and when the flight is delayed overnight, they can't get to the airport hotel fast enough. Off with the slippers and in with the zing! Fortunately, America is filled with cities - L.A., New York, Miami - and nothing says "smoking-hot passion" like an intercontinental affair!

CATEGORY : Harlequin Presents
SETTING: Contemporary Ireland
HEROINE: 29 year old working at a music distribution business

Circumstance has left Finn McNeill without a place to stay. Which means her only option is the spare room of rugged firefighter Shane Dwyer. Soon Finn's burning question is--should she act on the attraction smoldering between them?

The tension's simmering, the chemistry's sizzling and the flames of passion are licking at their heels! Perhaps one secret white-hot night will be enough to put out the fire?

CATEGORY: Harlequin Blaze
SETTING: Contemporary US
SERIES: Book One in the Red Choo Diaries series
HEROINE: 32 year business woman in the financial industry

Nicknamed "The Porcupine," Jamie McNamara has a tough-as-nails attitude that makes her a force to be reckoned with on Wall Street. So it's a shock even to her when she seduces a sexy investment broker in a Hummer limo on the way to a business meeting. But when her erotic escapade becomes the topic of the "Red Choo Diaries" sex blog and threatens to destroy her steely persona, Jamie realizes a fling isn't always frivolous.

Used to getting what he wants, gorgeous man-about-town Andrew Brooks knows a good thing when he sees it--and he sees and wants Jamie. Her drive and passion have him consumed. He's determined to transform their passionate limo encounter into a long-term merger--and he's prepared to negotiate!

SINGLE TITLE: Contemporary romance
SETTING: Contemporary US
HEROINE: 32 year old lawyer

When it comes to the laws of attraction, there are no rules The battle between the sexes is about to make these two lawyers hot under the collar. Opposites collide when two lawyers try to make partner at the same firm. Payton Kendall is a feminist to the bone. Cocky J.D. Jameson was born privileged. But when they're asked to join forces on a major case, they gain a newfound awareness of each other's personal assets. The partnership spot will be offered to only one of them, though. The competition heats up. Sparks fly. Let the games begin.

SINGLE TITLE: Contemporary romance
SETTING: Contemporary US
SERIES: Book One in the New York Blades series
HEROINE: thirty year old publicist

Janna MacNeil is a publicist on a mission—to change the image of the bad boys of hockey: the Stanley Cup Champion New York Blades. Ty Gallagher is a captain on a mission—to get his team to win the Cup again…at any cost. His determination is legendary, as well as his unwillingness to toe the corporate line. When the persistent publicist and the stubborn captain butt heads, it’s hard enough to crack the ice. But they may end up melting it instead.

CATEGORY: Harlequin Romance
SETTING: Contemporary Italy
HEROINE: 38 year old divorced television producer with a son

Intelligent, sensible Della Hadley should have known better than to embark on an affair with a playboy Italian six years her junior, but vibrant and sexy Carlo Rinucci was just too hard to resist.... Della knows that a fiery passion so quick to ignite should be fast to die out, despite Carlo's vow that their love is forever. But Carlo is Italian through and through, and determined to win his woman--and make Della his bride before the sun sets on their affair.

SINGLE TITLE: Romantic Suspense
TIME TRAVEL: Modern day to past
SETTING: Contemporary US and Brazil 1972
HEROINE: 21 year old cat burglar who travels back in time

Fleeing her dark past, Tasya Flynn desperately breaks into a mansion -- and is caught red-handed by its owner, legendary millionaire and cat burglar Ian MacPherson. Fiercely intelligent and strangely attractive, he has been a recluse ever since his partner-in-crime betrayed him, but he is still a man to be reckoned with. Tasya expects him to call the police; instead he offers to mold her into a world-class jewel thief. After all, she needs a refuge and he needs someone to help him retrieve the priceless stone his former partner double-crossed him to obtain. But when the heist goes awry, Tasya discovers the mystery of the stone and embarks upon a perilous and passionate journey. For Ian is on a deadly quest for revenge, and it's up to Tasya to save him from a tragic fate...if she can.

SINGLE TITLE: Contemporary romance
SETTING: Contemporary US
HEROINE: early thirties and works as a lawyer

Nothing fazes Taylor Donovan. In the courtroom she never lets the opposition see her sweat. In her personal life, she never lets any man rattle her–not even her cheating ex-fiancé. So when she’s assigned to coach People’s “Sexiest Man Alive” for his role in his next big legal thriller, she refuses to fall for the Hollywood heartthrob’s charms. Even if he is the Jason Andrews.

Jason Andrews is used to having women fall at his feet. When Taylor Donovan gives him the cold shoulder, he’s thrown for a loop. She’s unlike any other woman he’s ever met: uninterested in the limelight, seemingly immune to his advances, and shockingly capable of saying no to him. She’s the perfect challenge. And the more she rejects him, the more he begins to realize that she may just be his perfect match. . .

SINGLE TITLE: Contemporary romance
SETTING: Contemporary US
SERIES: Book One in the Tumble Creek series
HEROINE: 27 year old erotic fiction author

Molly Jenkins has one naughty little secret: her job as a bestselling erotic fiction author. Until her inspiration runs dry - thanks to a creepy ex - and it's time to skip town and move back to tiny Tumble Creek, Colorado.

One look at former high school hunk chief of police Ben Lawson and Molly is back in business. The town gossip is buzzing at her door and, worse still, a stalker seems to be watching her every move. Thankfully, her very own lawman has taken to coming over, often. The only problem now is that Molly may have to let the cat out of the bag about her chosen profession, and straitlaced Ben will definitely not approve..

SINGLE TITLE: Contemporary romance
SETTING: Contemporary US
SERIES: Book One in the Bride Quartet series
HEROINE: 28 year old photographer and co-owner of a wedding planning business

Childhood friends Mackensie, Parker, Laurel and Emmeline have formed a very successful wedding planning business together but, despite helping thousands of happy couples to organise the biggest day of their lives, all four women are unlucky in love. Photographer Mackensie Elliott has suffered a tough childhood and has a bad relationship with her mother, which makes her wary of commitment. But when she meets Carter Macguire, she can't stop herself falling for him, although his ex girlfriend is prepared to play dirty to keep him. Mackensie soon realises she has to put her past demons to rest in order to find lasting love.

SINGLE TITLE: Contemporary romance
SETTING: Contemporary US
SERIES: Book Four in the Bethlehem series
HEROINE: 37 year old inn owner

An Improbable Dream - At forty, Tom Flynn has reached all the lofty goals of money and success he'd dreamed of as a boy struggling to survive. The only thing left on his list: Get married! But he hasn't a clue where to find the perfect wife--or even if he can change his love-'em-and-leave-'em ways. Until he shows up at his birthday party in the small town of Bethlehem and sits across the table from beautiful, desirable Holly McBride.
An Impossible Conquest - Wish for me, Holly thinks silently just as Tom blows out the candles on his cake. But Bethlehem's most eligible single woman wants only a sizzling fling, not a wedding ring. She's seen up close what a disaster marriage can be, and that's one mistake she plans to avoid. But Holly hasn't counted on Tom's single-minded campaign to win her heart--or some mysterious intervention in a special town where miracles are an everyday occurrence.

CATEGORY: Harlequin Presents
SETTING: Contemporary Greece and Australia
HEROINE: In her twenties and wants to work as a photographer

Pete Bennett: this maverick playboy revels in the thrill of the chase. He never falls for a girl; she falls for him, and he's the one to walk away.. In Greece for the summer, Serena can't resist the glint of sin in Pete's eyes. Soon the baddest of boys has made her his Greek island mistress.. Their supposedly temporary affair is hot and heavy. But one month in, Pete should be ready to roam. So what's keeping Serena in his arms?

CATEGORY: Harlequin Presents
SETTING: Contemporary Australia
HEROINE: 24 year old Junior Account Executive at an advertising agency

Working in Sydney's most dynamic advertising agency, Serena Stevens has just landed the agency's biggest account - this will make or break her career. Serena's sexy boss, tycoon David Miles, may be all business in the boardroom, but soon he wants a little business in the bedroom! One wild night later, Serena has to choose: career versus love, her dream job versus her hot boss! What's a girl to do?

CATEGORY: Harlequin Presents
SETTING: Contemporary UK
HEROINE: 27 year old and works in a bookshop

Millionaire art dealer Guy Masters: unknown mistress has moved into his luxurious London apartment... Sabrina is an unlikely mistress. Guy is a multimillionaire playboy--while Sabrina is, well...ordinary. For one passionate night in Venice she forgets her humdrum life, the pain of losing her fiance. Not wanting to return to real life, she accepts Guy's invitation to stay with him in his luxurious London apartment. On a purely platonic basis, of course...

CATEGORY: Harlequin Presents
SETTING: Contemporary UK
HEROINE: 26 year old teacher

After a reckless, hot encounter with Dominic van Straaten, Sophie tried to slip back to her quiet life as a schoolteacher. But Dominic insisted that she should become part of his glamorous, glittering existence. It didn't take her long to realize that she was out of her depth... Now Dominic was proposing that she be available whenever and wherever he wanted her. But could Sophie let herself become Dominic's mistress on demand when she knew that he didn't love her?

CATEGORY: Harlequin Romance
SETTING: Contemporary US
HEROINE: 29 year old vintner/manager

Romance is on the agenda--but will there be an appointment at the altar?
Buying the Monroe family winery gave Zack Holland the fresh start he needed. But the business came with one determined woman, and he could see she wasn't going to hand over the reins easily.
Jaye Monroe knew they had to work together to make the winery a success. But she couldn't bear to give up everything her family had worked for--to an outsider. Yet the attraction sizzled and, what's more, the mood was set with the heady mix of moonlight and the scent of roses! Soon Jaye started to wonder whether they could develop the perfect relationship--business and personal….

CATEGORY: Harlequin Presents
SETTING: Contemporary Australia
HEROINE: 30 year old interior design company owner

The instant Australian billionaire Hugo Fullbright sees Angie Blessing, he knows he has to have her. There's no doubt about the instant, sizzling sexual attraction between them! So why, at first, does Angie refuse his offer? Angie cannot tell Hugo the real story. But finally she succumbs to his powers of seduction and agrees to join him on a weekend trip to Tokyo..not realizing that he's a man used to paying for what he wants, and that she's been bought--and brought--for his pleasure!