Sarah MacLean

"There is perhaps no more rewarding romance heroine than she who is not expected to find love. The archetype comes in many disguises - the wallflower, the spinster, the governess, the single mom - but always with one sad claim: Love is not in her cards."

"Teenagers are asking, 'Who am I' and 'How do I fit in' in every aspect of their lives, and the best YA romances appreciate that there is more to a teen's life than finding love."

"The best partnerships aren't dependent on a mere common goal but on a shared path of equality, desire, and no small amount of passion."

"I think there’s a ton of fear in the perception of romance in part because there’s something very realistic in great romance — namely, that women have the right to demand relationships that are based on equality and honesty and trust and, yes, a great sex life."

"No matter how troubled a character's history, romance novels tell us, love can be built upon it, and happily-ever-after can result. What's more, the darker the past, the brighter the future - and the better the read."

"She had wanted more than she could have. She had wanted him, and more... she had wanted him to want her. In the name of something bigger than tradition, bolder than reputation, more important than a silly title."

"..he wanted her. And at another time, as another man, he would have her. Without hesitation. As lover. . . as more."