Heroines in Romance Novels

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.

CATEGORY: Silhouette Intimate Moments
SETTING: Contemporary US
HEROINE: 30 year old attorney with a son

Injured, weary, Duncan McClain had come home to forget . . . to forget his last mission, and the friend who died. This should have been a time of healing for the haunted soldier, a time of peace. But then she walked in.

She was Gwen Van Allen, a fragile, sophisticated beauty--who also happened to be the mother of his brother's secret son. She'd come to Highpoint to introduce little Zach to his father. Duncan had to do what was right; he had to stay away. But as his brother got to know the boy, Duncan spent time with Gwen. And soon forbidden passion began to rise. Dare he risk the love of his brother for the love of a woman?

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 One in the Fast Track series
HEROINE: 32 year old widow with children who works as a sociology teacher

Independent single mother Tamara Briggs wanted to find a new, sexy, no-strings-attached man - just not one as young as NASCAR driver Elec Monroe. But he sure does get her heart racing. And after she's tricked into a blind date with him, Tamara gives in to her passion. Things screech to a halt, though, when he asks to meet her children. Whatever happened to wham-bam-thank-youma'am? Suddenly Tamara has to decide how much risk she's willing to take to experience the power of true love.

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 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 New Zealand
HEROINE: 24 year old temp worker who change jobs frequently

When high-flying Daniel Graydon hires Lucy Delaney as a temporary bar manager, he doesn't expect much from her. Lucy is his complete opposite: carefree and fun-loving. He can't figure out why on earth he's so attracted to her! The only thing Lucy and Daniel have in common is their reluctance to have a committed relationship. When one steamy night together is not enough, Lucy is offered a short-term contract in Daniel's bed…only to find she's falling for him, the one man she can't have….

CATEGORY: Harlequin Romance
SETTING: Contemporary UK
HEROINE: 40 year old woman who works as a Operations Manager for Bell Browning Engineering

Perdita James is thrilled with her new job, until a personality quiz reveals she's an attention-seeking peacock! Her boss, Edward Merrick, is a panther--forceful, decisive and more than a little ruthless. Perdita's head tells her to ignore her attraction and work hard for a promotion. But somehow, whenever she's with widowed dad Ed, she feels anything but professional. She's becoming crazy about her boss!

CATEGORY: Silhouette Special
SETTING: Contemporary USA
HEROINE: 37 year old divorced personal shopper

You can take the girl out of the trailer park...
Which Karleen Almquist had surely tried to do. But the thrice-married-and thrice-divorced!- personal shopper had sworn off men, and their inherent complications...aka babies. Until the most gorgeous widower moved in next door- complete with the two most adorable little boys she'd ever seen. True, Troy Lindquist had been alone a long time, but the ice cream mogul was looking for a real relationship, and his next-door neighbor was clearly not his type. Still, that didn't stop him from turning to her one night-which resulted in Karleen being pregnant with Troy's child.First came the baby carriage. Then came love. And then...marriage?

SINGLE TITLE: Contemporary romance
SETTING: Contemporary US
HEROINE: 33 year old actuary

Minerva Dobbs knows that happily-ever-after is a fairly tale, especially with a man who asked her to dinner to win a bet. Cal Morrisey knows commitment is impossible, especially with a woman as cranky as Min Dobbs. When they say good-bye at the end of their evening, they cut their losses and agree never to see each other again. But Fate has other plans, and it's not long before Min and Cal are dealing with a jealous ex-boyfriend, Krispy Kreme donuts, a determined psychologist, chaos theory, a freakishly intelligent cat, Chicken Marsala, and more risky propositions that either one of them ever dreamed of. Including the biggest gamble of all--true love.