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Must-read romances: 'The Obsession,' 'Secret Relations, 'The Best Kind of Love'

Michelle Monkou
Special for USA TODAY
The Obsession by Liliana Lee.

Join me every week as I share a few shout-outs on romance author goings-on, related events and recommended reads.

The Obsession: The Erotic Tale of Princess Shanyin by Liliana Lee

Liliana Lee brings us her "erotic stories set in exotic worlds" in her debut, The Obsession. I'm thrilled about these gifts of Princess Shanyin and her concubines. But I'm even more thrilled that Liliana Lee is, none other than historical romance author Jeannie Lin.

Under the political intrigue of a Chinese dynasty, Princess Shanyin is a woman who maneuvers through the limitations of her time. There is strength and intelligence to be admired. But to add a splash of spice to the mix, Princess Shanyin's sexual appetite and fantasies are legendary and highly erotic … hot!

Lee has serialized the epic sexual adventure with The Obsession, The Enslavement and The Fulfillment. Enjoy this magical ride back in time.

What it's about (courtesy of author):

She thinks she's in control...but he's about to prove to the haughty princess that she is the plaything.

Princess Shanyin has a harem of male concubines to serve her every sexual fantasy, but from the moment she sees the handsome Chu Yuan, she has to have him. At her request, the Emperor gives the aristocrat over to Shanyin for her pleasure, setting off a power play of sensual torment and dominance between them. Trapped in Shanyin's harem for ten days, will the proud Yuan surrender to his own dark desires, or will he turn the tables on the seductive princess?

Secret Relations by Shelia M. Goss.

Secret Relations by Shelia Goss

Secret Relations by Shelia Goss is the first book of the Women in Hollywood series. The momentum is off to a good start with this sexy romantic suspense. Here's more than a story where the celebrities collide with those who crave the lifestyle and maybe even the celebrities themselves. In addition, Goss effectively spotlights character flaws and vulnerabilities and winds a story with high-stakes drama. And as for the romance? Sexy, hot and instant.

What it's about (courtesy of Samhain):

Business and pleasure don't mix…until emotion enters the scene.

Women in Hollywood, Book 1

Charlotte Richards didn't get to be one of Hollywood's top talent managers by dating her clients. When it comes to her career, her heart is not part of the contract—no matter how enticing the star.

From the moment she steps into Sean Maxwell's fabulous home, though, the cool, professional persona she's worked so hard to build threatens to melt in desire hotter than Sean's sexy R&B lyrics.

Sean's attraction to Charlotte is nothing new, at least not to him. He fell for her the moment he spotted her at a celebrity gala years ago. Now, with his old manager kicked to the curb, it's the perfect time to bring her into his life.

The sparks between them blow Sean's plan to take things slow right off the charts. And his determination to win her runs into overtime when the ghosts of his past threaten to destroy their one chance at love.

The Best Kind of Love by Kerri Carpenter.

The Best Kind of Love by Kerri Carpenter

"Sweet, Sexy, Sparkly" is Kerri Carpenter's brand. How on point because The Best Kind of Love is a romantic treasure. In the first of the series, the Walker sisters are a force to be reckoned with as they work on the family unit after the untimely deaths of their parents. The sad occasion brings them all to Blue Lake, the hometown that has lost some of its bloom. And … it is where sexy Ethan 'The Heartbreaker' Callahan has returned to live.

Carpenter is great with setting up the feud and sparks between Ethan and Penelope. There is a good balance of humor and poignant scenes for this rich story of forgiveness and renewal of love and spirit.

What it's about (courtesy of Soul Mate Publishing):

Penelope Walker never stepped a toe out of line until Ethan Callahan came along. They had a love that transcended a typical high school romance. But when Ethan didn't show up for their secret elopement, Penelope was brokenhearted and left to wonder why.

After twelve years apart, Penelope doesn't expect to return to Blue Lake, Virginia until her parents' untimely deaths. Reunited with her three sisters, she learns that Ethan's back too, and his mere presence is enough to have all those feelings of passion return full force.

It doesn't take long for Ethan to realize he wants Penelope back, but he knows she won't let go of the past that easily. When she finds out what her parents asked him to do all those years ago, she'll never let him back into her life. Even though he did all of it for her.

Penelope's determined to unravel the mystery of their shared pasts, while Ethan wants nothing more than to move on to their future. Can these two former lovers learn to forgive, forget, and most importantly, allow themselves to return to love?

The Kill List by Nichole Christoff.

The Kill List by Nichole Christoff

There's a thriller in our midst — The Kill List by Nichole Christoff is a fantastic read. Jamie Sinclair, the private investigator in this ongoing series, jumps off the page. The story is meaty and robust with a suspenseful case that's not easy to solve with twists and turns in a hearty thriller. Christoff expertly interweaves the critical details of character, plot and setting to make this a highly visual and sensory reading experience.

What it's about (courtesy of Alibi):

In this taut debut thriller, Nichole Christoff introduces a savvy private investigator with nerves of steel—and a shattered heart.

As a top private eye turned security specialist, Jamie Sinclair has worked hard to put her broken marriage behind her. But when her lying, cheating ex-husband, army colonel Tim Thorp, calls with the news that his three-year-old daughter has been kidnapped, he begs Jamie to come find her. For the sake of the child, Jamie knows she can't refuse. Now, despite the past, she'll do everything in her power to bring little Brooke Thorp home alive.

Soon Jamie is back at Fort Leeds—the army base in New Jersey's Pine Barrens where she grew up, the only child of a two-star general—chasing down leads and forging an uneasy alliance with the stern military police commander and the exacting FBI agent working Brooke's case. But because Jamie's father is now a U.S. senator, her recent run-in with a disturbed stalker is all over the news, and when she starts receiving gruesome threats echoing the stalker's last words, she can't shake the feeling that her investigation may be about more than a missing girl—and that someone very powerful is hiding something very significant . . . and very sinister.

Body Movers: Body of Work by Julie Leto.

Body Movers: Body of Work by Julie Leto

Julie Leto's Body Movers (a novella) has an interesting history. The story is based on author Stephanie Bond's Body Movers world for Amazon's sanctioned fan fiction project, Kindle Worlds.

I've read Bond's books, and Leto has done a fantastic job capturing the heart of these characters. But if you haven't read the books, maybe this novella will entice you to try Bond's books. Credit to this highly satisfactory read is all due to Leto's snappy style that knows how to deliver the sexy romp with intriguing suspense and drama.

What it's about (courtesy of Kindle Worlds):

After being accused of a murder he didn't commit, former Medical Examiner Cooper Craft has become used to suspicion and mistrust. So when the woman Coop is visiting in Key West goes missing, he knows he's in trouble.

Unfortunately, the only person willing to help him is the woman people believed he'd killed.

Maria Marquez is very much alive...and very much in hiding. Feeling responsible for what happened to Coop, she wants his forgiveness. But she never imagined that trying to put her past to rest would launch a future she never dreamed possible...

Michelle Monkou writes for Harlequin Kimani, Evernight Publishing and Boroughs Publishing. Her website is michellemonkou.com. You can also connect with her on Facebook.

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