What can readers expect from Baker Publishing's new Haven imprint? PW talked to the imprint's lead editor, Jessica Sharpe, about the types of wholesome romance she and her team will be publishing, and how Haven will be offering warmth, connection, and a welcoming escape.

Tell us about your publishing background. What led you to Haven and, more specifically, to work with no-spice romance titles?

I’ve worked in publishing for over 20 years (though it feels wild to be able to say that!), always for religious publishing houses. Fiction is my first love and has been the focus of my editorial career, so I’ve edited dozens upon dozens of no-spice romance novels. As our fiction team here at Baker Publishing Group looked at the market, we saw the opportunity to create a no-spice romance line that was adjacent to the books we were already publishing but had the ability to reach a wider, mainstream audience. And so Haven was born!

A lot of readers have an appetite for "clean" romance. From your perspective, what accounts for the strong appeal?

Romance has and always will be one of the most predominant genres in fiction. From ancient tales to Jane Austen to Meg Ryan movies to the romantasy boom, romance rules in entertainment. Readers seek out no-spice romance for varied reasons: some prioritize emotional depth and character development, some are guided by personal values or comfort levels, and some choose books based on other criteria. In the current publishing landscape, however, it can be harder to tell what kind of romance you’re getting when you pick up a book. Covers featuring sultry men without a shirt used to be a key signal as to the spice level of a book, but these days most romances have charming illustrated covers. Figuring out whether a book is going to be spicy or mild takes more research and effort than it used to, and whatever a reader’s reason for seeking out a no-spice romance, they need a reliable way to find it.

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Four years after tragedy, Meredith Harper is tired of hiding in her corner of Texas and living life like a game of dodgeball. She packs up her grief, awkward social graces, and sizable life insurance in search of a vacation and investment property in Colorado Springs. A botched dinner reservation throws her into the path of a bona fide movie star, and Meredith pushes through her comical celebrity neurosis to discover he is charming but a terrible dancer.

A viral video of a daring rescue makes Harlan Holcombe's celebrity star stronger, with millions of his fans deeming him a real-life Hercules. But a minute of heroism doesn't absolve his past mistakes.

As Harlan and Meredith spend more time together, he helps her believe there might be more for her not just in life but in love. And she might be part of the solution to restore the legacy he fears is tarnished. But what happens when the path to redeem his mistakes collides with the path to redeem her loss?

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American heiress Calliope Hart is thrust into London's high society against her will, all because her mother is determined to marry her off to an aristocrat. Despite being named "the debutante of the season" back in New York, Calliope wants nothing more than to avoid becoming another pawn in the social game.

Edward Chase, the Earl of Hayward, is on the brink of financial ruin. To save his estate, he must marry, and Calliope Hart is his last hope. When he boldly declares his intentions, she swiftly rejects him, making it clear she has no interest in marrying for convenience. Undeterred, Edward offers a deal: He will escort Calliope to all the best sights of London that she's been dying to see if she agrees to visit his estate and consider what they could accomplish together.

What begins as a business arrangement soon sparks something much more complicated--an undeniable chemistry neither can ignore. But as their hearts begin to soften, both must confront their fears: Can Calliope trust Edward with her heart, and can Edward truly win her love when she's convinced he only wants her fortune?

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Amy Bridwell reluctantly accompanies her family on a Grand Tour of the Continent--the very trip her former sweetheart proposed they take as newlyweds. Receiving no suitable marriage offer in the six years since, and with her heart still guarded by regret, Amy has no choice but to go along with her widower father and younger sisters to ensure their travels go smoothly.

James Fletcher is building his practice as a physician in the fashionable resort town of Spa. Though he came with a wounded heart, seeking distance from Amy's rejection, he's managed to build a respectable life and is now engaged to a woman who will ensure his professional future. If only he could be sure that his betrothed's heart is truly his.

When the Bridwells arrive at their first destination, Amy is stunned to encounter James again and to find him promised to another. As old feelings resurface, Amy must confront the choice she made six years ago and face the possibility that her heart has never truly moved on.

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Lexi Walker has finally committed to the Italian adventure that she and her late mother dreamed of for years—complete with a meticulously crafted itinerary, four sealed letters to open at Rome's most iconic sites, and her mother's final painting to present at the art festival Lexi is helping organize. She's ready for the perfect Roman getaway. What she doesn't expect is for her mother's artwork to start manifesting in real life, turning her carefully planned trip into something unpredictable.

Italian-American architect Mark Russo has sworn off American tourists after having his heart broken, and he's certainly not about to let another one distract him from winning the restoration bid that could reunite his estranged father with his grandfather. But when the captivating woman next to him on the flight to Rome proposes a photography challenge—whoever captures the heart of Italy in five days wins—Mark can't resist the bet or her charm.

As Lexi follows the letters from her mother around the city, she encounters Mark everywhere she goes. Their competitive banter turns to undeniable chemistry, but they both know the cardinal rule of holiday romances: You can't fall in love with someone who lives somewhere else and expect a happily-ever-after. Will a little magic—and a lot of mishaps—break the Roman Holiday Rule?

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Self-sufficient Penelope Reid has her life completely mapped out—a necessity after surviving foster care. Now she’s on a mission to prove that she’s capable of managing a halfway house at Twelve Bluebells Ranch. The last thing she needs is hindrance from the charming Luke Granger, who asked her to dance three years ago, then disappeared before the music began.

Luke lives a nomadic lifestyle as a security specialist. He’s never found a reason to put down roots until he’s reunited with the bossy brunette and her generous heart. When vandalism strikes the ranch neighboring Twelve Bluebells, securing the area is just another gig for him before he hits the road. But as Luke and Penelope work alongside each other and care for the ranch’s halfway house residents, his restless heart finds reasons to stay, and her careful walls begin to crack.

When crisis threatens everything Penelope has built and tragedy pulls at Luke’s wandering heart, they must decide if it’s worth the risk to lower their guards for a love that could give them the home they’ve always longed for.

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When CEO Victoria Preston’s business partner ends up in a coma after a tragic accident, the board of directors decides to step in with “reinforcements” she never requested and proactively hires Nathaniel Hamilton, a financial consultant. But Victoria finds his presence at her video game development agency a nuisance and is determined to send him packing.

Nathaniel’s job is simple: assess the company, keep his real purpose under wraps, and definitely don’t get distracted by the infuriatingly brilliant CEO who challenges him at every turn. While reviewing the financials, he discovers a trail of messages from Gamer404, Victoria’s so-called biggest fan. She thinks they’re harmless, but Nathaniel knows better. And whoever’s behind that username is getting bolder.

As Victoria and Nathaniel are forced to work side by side, professional boundaries begin to blur. The tension between them shifts into something neither of them expected, complicating everything Victoria thought she knew about who she can trust. Between the secrets she knows Nathaniel is keeping about his presence at her company and her stalker’s unwanted attention, her world is unraveling. Can she trust the Nathaniel’s presence in her life, or is the connection between them just another game she’s destined to lose?

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Make 2026 extra romantic with a bundle of books from Haven, and discover why the imprint is where happily ever after lives.

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Want to go steady with all the latest romance from Haven? Follow the imprint on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Threads for highlights from Haven’s first list and upcoming titles for readers seeking serious secular romance without the steam and spice. Discover why readers are finding this imprint their best safe Haven.

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