The early 1800s seems to be a popular time in which to set romance novels. The second of Cheryl Holt's latest trilogy is "Taste of Temptation" (Berkley). Helen Hamilton, 25 years old and "on the shelf," has no income and must take care of her two younger siblings. She applies for a position as a governess and is turned down.

Feeling she is left with no other options, Helen agrees to sell herself as a mistress. To her utter disbelief, the man who purchases her is none other than the man who denied her a job taking care of his brothers and sisters, Capt. Tristan Odell. Mutual desire leads to true passion and an unexpected situation that puts them both in danger.

One of Claudia Dain's "Courtesan Chronicles," "Daring a Duke" (Berkley) finds Jane Elliot, of New York, in London, where she hopes to find some adventure, in spite of her two brothers.

When Jane meets the Duke of Edenham, she attracts his attention, which doesn't set too well with her brothers. With some help from Sophia Dalby, a matchmaker extraordinaire, Jane's adventure gets under way, and Jane is loving every minute of it.

Get two novels for the price of one in Amanda McCabe's "Improper Ladies" (Signet Eclipse) - "The Golden Feather" and "The Rules of Love." Caroline Aldritch discovers that her late husband has left her a gaming house and little else. She dons a mask and takes over the management of The Golden Feather.

Lord Lyndon, however, is determined to find out this lovely woman's identity. And in "The Rules of Love," Rosalind Chase is running a school for girls while trying to keep her brother on the straight and narrow, which isn't easy with his friend Lord Morley. Rosalind is the secret author of a book on etiquette and manners that is the talk of society. Morley doesn't care about the rules, but he is falling for Rosalind.

McCabe is one of the most popular romance novelists around for a reason.

Jo Beverly's "Forbidden Magic" is now available in trade paperback, published by Signet Eclipse. Meg Gillingham's parents die, leaving her without funds to take care of her -siblings. The landlord threatens to evict them unless she gives over her younger sister.

No way is she going to do that, so in spite of herself, she uses a magic statue given her by her mother. It always makes wishes come true, but there is usually a price to pay. The answer? A marriage proposal from an earl certainly handles the immediate problem, but the secrets he hides could put them all at risk.

Contact Faye Dasen at fdasen@thepilot.com.