Kathy Altman: Who doesn't love a second chance at love?

You know us here at HEA — we're all about the happy ending. And the harder a hero and heroine have to work for it, the happier I am. Which is why the reunion romance is one of my favorite hooks. Whether the main characters are former lovers, or childhood friends, or one miserable soul madly in love while the other remains infuriatingly clueless, I can always look forward to an emotionally charged read with instant intensity — because the relationship is already complicated, the damage already done, the hero and heroine already seething with resentment or regret or hurt or the determination to get things right this time. I get to watch the characters rediscover each other while they battle a heightened sexual tension and a natural wariness that makes their story that much more poignant. And who can resist rooting for a couple so obviously and desperately in need of a second chance?

Below I've listed 10 of my favorites and what makes them worth a second or third or 20th read. Here's to second chances!

Where He Belongs by Gail Barrett

Sad circumstances bring bad-boy Wade Winslow back to Millstown. He won't be staying long though, even if the only girl who saw the real Wade — saw him, and cared about him — is in desperate need of his help. But she refuses to admit it, because Erin McCuen loves Wade enough to accept that he'll never settle down. Ah, the heartache. Gail Barrett knows how to wring emotion from her reader and spin a spellbinding story at the same time. Where He Belongs deals with issues like abandonment, prejudice, abuse and faith while offering life-and-death adventure, sweet family dynamics and steamy romance. Wade and Erin's happy ever after is hard-won, and so very gratifying.

Maybe This Time by Jennifer Crusie

When Andie's ex-husband North offers her big money to play nanny to two children orphaned by the death of a distant cousin, Andie can't say no — the children need her, and she needs the cash. But all is not well with the kids or the spooky house they inherited. After an eclectic herd of houseguests arrives and things go from creepy to critical, North and Andie join forces to save the children — and the future they suddenly want back. Can I just say that Jennifer Crusie rules? Every one of her books contains characters that are lifelike and inviting and zany and flawed. Maybe This Time is utterly entertaining, a clever commingling of gothic mystery, reunion romance and typical Crusie snark. The setting is a shiver-inducing delight and the dialogue is snappy and smart.

The Stranger I Married by Sylvia Day

Despite his mother's relentless matchmaking attempts, the Marquess of Grayson enjoys women too much to saddle himself with a wife who expects fidelity. The solution lies with his friend Lady Pelham, who swore never to wed again but tires of breaking the hearts of her unmarried lovers. Gray proposes a marriage of convenience, which works famously, until tragedy sends him on a four-year search for his soul. When he returns he's a changed man, determined to make his wife fall in love with him. This was my first Sylvia Day, and I can't tell you how many times I've re-read it. It's erotic, emotional, fresh and mesmerizing. A tormented, untamable hero; an older, untrusting heroine; and a marriage bargain that collapses under a ferocity of feelings — pure reading pleasure.

The Sweet Spot by Laura Drake

In the wake of an unimaginable tragedy, Charla Rae and JB eventually find solace, but not with each other, and their marriage ends. But their livelihoods — and their hearts — remain entwined. This is such an unexpected and wrenching story. The characters are irresistibly flawed, the business Charla and JB share is fascinating and the plot, with its profound and universal conflicts, will absolutely pull you under. Oh, and the prose? Gorgeous. The world of professional bull riding and fascinating secondary characters add an absorbing depth. Laura makes her Harlequin Superromance debut with me this month and I pre-ordered her book (Her Road Home) weeks ago.

The Best Man by Kristan Higgins

If you caught my review back in March, you already know I have a big, huge, colossal crush on this book. Faith returns to the family vineyard and wastes no time running afoul of local police chief Levi, who not only wrecked her wedding, but her dreams of happy ever after. The Best Man is not your typical reunion romance — no childhood infatuations or dreams of what if or long-smoldering lust here — Faith and Levi actively disliked each other in high school, and I fell head over heels for this fresh twist on a popular premise. Higgins' latest is sexy, screwy, funny and fulfilling — a simply radiant read.

Sugar Rush by Donna Kauffman

Pastry chef Lani Trusdale traded NYC for the remote island of Sugarberry because her father needed her — and because she fell in love with her sexy celebrity chef mentor, who never saw her as anything more than another piece of restaurant equipment. But Baxter Dunne (aka Chef Hot Cakes) does miss Lani, and cooks up an elaborate scheme to woo her back. When his gesture falls flat he realizes he never really knew her at all — and she realizes the same. Still the rising heat in the kitchen has little to do with the oven, and they find themselves wishing their reunion could be more than temporary. Who can resist a story of unrequited love? Especially Donna Kauffman style? A playful, sensual, laugh-inducing read — with cupcakes.

Cold Midnight by Joyce Lamb (Note from Joyce: Your check is in the mail, Kathy. : ) )

A brutal attack a decade ago ended not only Kylie McKay's promising tennis career, but her hot and heavy relationship with tennis partner Chase Manning. When Kylie returns to town, someone makes it viciously clear she's not wanted and she's assigned police protection — in the muscled form of Chase Manning. Talk about intense. This reunion story is one of my absolute favorites because Chase and Kylie loved each other so much, but the attack changed Kylie and Chase was helpless to prevent it. Now that she's back he's determined to shake her out of the emotionless existence she's created for herself. If he can keep her alive. Super-suspenseful, with lots of delicious angst and steamy encounters.

The Marriage Bargain by Diane Perkins

After Spenser Keenan, Earl of Kellworth, rescues young Emma Chambers from an undesirable marriage by wedding her himself, he returns to the battlefield, abandoning both his estate and his untouched bride. Three years later, Emma and Spence are reunited in what has to be the most unique, gripping and emotional set of circumstances ever. If you've read Diane's work (she's written scads of books for Harlequin Historical as Diane Gaston), this won't surprise you at all — Diane is well-known for her stories' dramatic openings. The secrets, the suspense and the couple's gradual build to love and healing are exquisite in this story.

When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn

Michael Stirling loved Francesca Bridgerton from the moment he first saw her — less than two days before she married his cousin. For two years Michael lives the life of a rake in order to hide his true feelings, but when his cousin dies, Michael knows he can't be the friend the widowed Francesca needs him to be. He finds refuge in India. Four years later, he returns to England to finally assume the earldom — and to watch the only woman he'll ever love shop for a new husband. Oh, the agony. Francesca is oblivious, and Michael is too honorable — and too terrified he'll lose her forever — to reveal his feelings. I adore the entire Bridgerton Family series and this book in particular. It's wrenching and intense, sensual and suspenseful, and liberally laced with Julia Quinn's trademark wit.

Maybe, Baby by Lani Diane Rich

Dana Wiley's plan was simple — travel to NYC and convince her estranged mother to cosign a loan and save the family winery. Only … Dana runs into ex-fiancé Nick Maybe and realizes she's still madly in love. Then she finds out Nick has been performing not-so-aboveboard favors for her mother, and the latest has gone awry. The result? Dana's mother is kidnapped. The ransom? A foul-smelling, flightless bird worth a cool quarter mil. Nick and Dana gather a crazy crew to launch a rescue and all the while they can't keep their hands off each other. Too bad they're over. Or are they? Maybe, Baby is clever, chaotic, outlandish fun, written in Rich's usual fast-paced, engaging style. Nick and Dana were high school sweethearts, and the rekindling of their romance in the midst of life-and-death hilarity is sexy, sweet and eminently satisfying.

And while we're on the subject of reunion romances … my recent release, Staying at Joe's, features two former lovers who each want payback — but revenge would be so much easier if love didn't keep getting in the way.

Here's the blurb:

Allison Kincaid can make a great sales pitch. But showing up at Joe Gallahan's motel asking for a favor is her toughest challenge yet. A year ago they were more than just colleagues at a big PR firm. When work came between them, Joe put the blame on Allison...and his opinion hasn't changed.

She's shocked, however, when Joe agrees to help. Even though she doesn't love his terms, she accepts them because she'll get what she needs. If striking a deal with him means donning a pair of coveralls and swinging a hammer, so be it. Working side by side with Joe again, they might be able to repair the past. They just might get a second chance, too!

Kathy Altman's latest contemporary romance novel, Staying at Joe's, is out this week. Kathy prefers her chocolate with nuts, her Friday afternoons with wine and her love stories with happy ever afters. Her website is KathyAltman.com.