Did you know that romance novels generate over $1.4 billion in revenue--making romance the highest earning genre of fiction?  Romance novels sold more than 39 million print copies in 2023, which represents a 52% increase over the previous year.  Sales of romance novels MORE THAN DOUBLED over 2021 sales, and last year was the third consecutive year of increasing romance sales.  Meaning: romance readers, we know you're out there, and we've got the book club for you!

Join Julie Iatron, Reference and Readers Services' Librarian AND romance devotee, for "Between the Sheets: A Romance Book Group."  We'll gather on Tuesday, November 12th at 6:30 PM in the conference room to discuss "The Duke Gets Even" by Joanna Shupe.  Joanna "has always loved history, ever since she saw her first Schoolhouse Rock cartoon. Her books have appeared on numerous yearly “best of” lists, including Publishers Weekly, Washington Post, Kirkus, Kobo, and BookPage.  She lives in New Jersey with her two spirited daughters and opinionated husband."

"To escape the shackles of marriage, Nellie Young purposely ruined her reputation a long time ago. Now she dedicates herself to hedonistic pleasures only, like kissing a handsome stranger in the ocean under the moonlight... To save his estate, the proper Duke of Lockwood must marry the perfect bride--wealthy, with an unblemished reputation. While in New York he's the perfect gentleman, and no one knows he's suppressing his darkest desires. The last thing he needs is another scandal. Except Nellie sees through Lockwood's charade, straight to the real man underneath. This uptight duke is far more than he lets on, and she can't resist him. Their secret affair turns scorching, far more than either expected. And when his beautiful rebel finds an unconventional cause, Lockwood has to decide if he's willing to sacrifice everything to keep her."

Join Julie to unpack this swoonworthy historical and talk characters, happily ever afters (or happily for now), and alllllll the romance tropes!  Copies of "The Duke Gets Even" are available at the Borrower Services desk.  For more information or questions, email jiatron@chelmsfordlibrary.org.  See you on November 12th at 6:30 PM!