I thought January would never end! But February is officially here and we have a lot of books to tell you about, mainly because Elyse might go broke with all the preorders she has waiting to come in. While the books below are the ones on our TBR pile, here are a couple more that might pique your interest:
- Kresley Cole continues her YA series with The Dark Calling ( A | BN | K | G | AB ).
- Surprise Me by Sophie Kinsella ( A | BN | K | G | AB ) is about a married couple trying to keep their romance going.
- Hello Stranger by Lisa Kleypas ( A | BN | K | G | AB ) is out at the end of this month!
- We did a cover reveal of Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton ( A | BN | K | G | AB ) way back when and it’s finally out.
- Tiffany Reisz has a new release – The Lucky Ones ( A | BN | K | G | AB ).
- The Brooklyn Bruisers series continues with Brooklynaire by Sarina Bowen ( A | BN | K | AB ).
- Just in time for the Winter Games is Jaci Burton’s Shot on Gold ( A | BN | K | G ).
Which releases are you excited for?
The Burial Society
Author: Nina Sadowsky
Released: January 30, 2018 by Ballantine Books
Genre: Mystery/ThrillerA woman running from a dark past stumbles upon a tangled nest of seductions and secrets in this psychological thriller of obsession and betrayal.
Catherine, no last name, doesn’t bury the dead. She rescues the living—from intolerable, abusive, dangerous lives. Her darknet-based witness protection program, the Burial Society, is the last hope for people who desperately need to disappear. Catherine takes care of them and provides new identities. She is effective and efficient—until she discovers that her slipup may have compromised a client, maybe even killed her. Powerless to help without exposing her shadowy profession, Catherine makes a drastic move.
With her covert service relocated to Paris, Catherine’s done her best to move on. But when a dark part of her past suddenly appears in the City of Light, she refuses to run—and her life takes a harrowing turn.
Using all the tricks of her unusual trade, Catherine weaves her way through a dangerous landscape of treachery, infidelity, paranoia, and secrets that bind as deeply as blood. But the evil of the enemy she’s pursuing runs deeper still—to the bone. And even Catherine’s most cunning skills may not be enough to save herself.
Elyse says: A woman running from her dark past set in Paris? That’s Elyse-bait right there.
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Author: Manda Collins
Released: January 30, 2018 by St. Martin's Paperbacks
Genre: Historical: European, Romance
Series: Studies in Scandal #3THE PICTURE OF ROMANCE
A dedicated painter, Miss Sophia Hastings is far more concerned with finding the right slant of light than in finding Mr. Right. But when an overhead conversation hints at danger for another local artist, Sophia is determined to get involved. Even it means accepting help from an impossibly good-looking vicar who insists on joining her investigation—and threatens to capture her heart…
Reverend Lord Benedick Lisle knows that Sophia is no damsel in distress. But he won’t allow her to venture into peril alone, either. . .especially since he finds Sophia’s curious, free-spirited nature so alluring. But protecting her from harm is becoming more difficult than the vicar could have expected as he and Sophia confront their fiery mutual passion. Who could have known that the art of love would prove so irresistible?
Elyse says: The heroine is an artist and the hero is a vicar! GIVE TO ME NOW!
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Author: Nicole Flockton
Released: February 5, 2018 by Crimson Romance
Genre: Contemporary Romance, RomanceTwo couples tread on thin ice at the Pyeongchang Winter Games in this captivating duology—but love has Olympic-sized impact on their dreams.
Fighting Their Attraction: Snowboarder Brady Thompson landed in Seoul favored to win elusive gold. But instead of fresh powder, he finds that a past he can’t escape is twisting his half-pipe into knots. Figure skater Arielle Baldwin is determined to win a medal so she can walk away from her coach mom’s stranglehold on her life. Can a good girl and a bad boy reaching for their dreams make for a dynamic duo?
Man of Ice: How can the Games go so wrong for friendly, upbeat Maybelle Li? Her ex-skating partner is raining on her parade with memories of the past, and her current partner, Bohdan Dovzhenko, is the hottest thing to hit the ice this decade—and the coldest companion. He’s all work and no conversation beyond grunts and commands. But as their medal hopes rise, so does Bohdan’s word count. He’s not made of stone, and being locked outside of Belle’s sunshine is simply no fun. Now their growing closeness may be too hot to dismiss—but will it burn down their chance to forge a new future as well?
Sarah says: A romance between a snowboarder and a figure skater, and another between a pair of skaters? I’m in!
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Author: Dhonielle Clayton
Released: February 6, 2018 by Disney-Hyperion
Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult
Series: The Belles #1Camellia Beauregard is a Belle. In the opulent world of Orléans, Belles are revered, for they control Beauty, and Beauty is a commodity coveted above all else. In Orléans, the people are born gray, they are born damned, and only with the help of a Belle and her talents can they transform and be made beautiful.
But it’s not enough for Camellia to be just a Belle. She wants to be the favorite—the Belle chosen by the Queen of Orléans to live in the royal palace, to tend to the royal family and their court, to be recognized as the most talented Belle in the land. But once Camellia and her Belle sisters arrive at court, it becomes clear that being the favorite is not everything she always dreamed it would be. Behind the gilded palace walls live dark secrets, and Camellia soon learns that the very essence of her existence is a lie—that her powers are far greater, and could be more dangerous, than she ever imagined. And when the queen asks Camellia to risk her own life and help the ailing princess by using Belle powers in unintended ways, Camellia now faces an impossible decision.
With the future of Orléans and its people at stake, Camellia must decide—save herself and her sisters and the way of the Belles—or resuscitate the princess, risk her own life, and change the ways of her world forever.
Amanda says: I’ve been coveting this book for months. MONTHS!
Elyse says: First, look at that cover. LOOK AT IT. A YA fantasy that explores the concept of beauty.
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Author: Julia Sonneborn
Released: February 6, 2018 by Gallery Books
Genre: Contemporary Romance, RomanceAn English professor struggling for tenure discovers that her ex-fiancé has just become the president of her college—and her new boss—in this whip-smart modern retelling of Jane Austen’s classic Persuasion.
Anne Corey is about to get schooled.
An English professor in California, she’s determined to score a position on the coveted tenure track at her college. All she’s got to do is get a book deal, snag a promotion, and boom! She’s in. But then Adam Martinez—her first love and ex-fiancé—shows up as the college’s new president.
Anne should be able to keep herself distracted. After all, she’s got a book to write, an aging father to take care of, and a new romance developing with the college’s insanely hot writer-in-residence. But no matter where she turns, there’s Adam, as smart and sexy as ever. As the school year advances and her long-buried feelings begin to resurface, Anne begins to wonder whether she just might get a second chance at love.
Funny, smart, and full of heart, this modern ode to Jane Austen’s classic explores what happens when we run into the demons of our past…and when they turn out not to be so bad, after all.
Elyse says: A retelling of Persuasion!
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Author: Anna Bradley
Released: February 6, 2018 by Lyrical Press
Genre: Historical: European, Regency, Romance
Series: The Somerset Sisters #1The Somerset sisters, three beautiful, headstrong debutantes in Regency London, are discovering that a bit of scandal is a delightful thing…
For the sake of propriety, and her younger sisters’ reputations, Iris Somerset has kept her rebellious streak locked away. But though she receives a proposal from Phineas Knight, Lord of Huntington, Iris can’t marry a man she knows isn’t truly enamored with her. In fact, Iris no longer wants to be chosen—she wants to choose. Under the clandestine tutelage of “wicked widow” Lady Annabel Tallant, she’ll learn how to steer her own marriage prospects—and discover her secret appetites.
What kind of debutante refuses a marquess? Finn is surprised, a little chastened—and thoroughly intrigued. This new, independent version of Iris is far more alluring than the polished socialite she used to be. Finn believed he needed a safe, quiet wife to curb his wilder impulses. But the more Iris surprises him, the more impossible it becomes to resist their deepest desires.
Elyse: The heroine declines the hero’s offer of marriage even though he’s a marquess. I like the idea of her being totally unimpressed with him.
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Author: Rebecca Ross
Released: February 6, 2018 by HarperTeen
Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult
Series: Untitled Trilogy #1When her seventeenth summer solstice arrives, Brienna desires only two things: to master her passion and to be chosen by a patron.
Growing up in the southern Kingdom of Valenia at the renowned Magnalia House should have prepared her for such a life. While some are born with an innate talent for one of the five passions—art, music, dramatics, wit, and knowledge—Brienna struggled to find hers until she belatedly chose to study knowledge. However, despite all her preparations, Brienna’s greatest fear comes true—the solstice does not go according to plan and she is left without a patron.
Months later, her life takes an unexpected turn when a disgraced lord offers her patronage. Suspicious of his intent, and with no other choices, she accepts. But there is much more to his story, and Brienna soon discovers that he has sought her out for his own vengeful gain. For there is a dangerous plot being planned to overthrow the king of Maevana—the archrival kingdom of Valenia—and restore the rightful queen, and her magic, to the northern throne. And others are involved—some closer to Brienna than she realizes.
With war brewing between the two lands, Brienna must choose whose side she will remain loyal to—passion or blood. Because a queen is destined to rise and lead the battle to reclaim the crown. The ultimate decision Brienna must determine is: Who will be that queen?
Amanda says: This sounds so mysterious!
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Author: Sue Burke
Released: February 6, 2018 by Tor Books
Genre: Science Fiction/FantasyIn this character driven novel of first contact by debut author Sue Burke, human survival hinges on an bizarre alliance.
Only mutual communication can forge an alliance with the planet’s sentient species and prove that mammals are more than tools.
Forced to land on a planet they aren’t prepared for, human colonists rely on their limited resources to survive. The planet provides a lush but inexplicable landscape—trees offer edible, addictive fruit one day and poison the next, while the ruins of an alien race are found entwined in the roots of a strange plant. Conflicts between generations arise as they struggle to understand one another and grapple with an unknowable alien intellect.
Elyse says: Described as a “character driven first contact novel,” which is also Elyse-bait.
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Author: S. Jae-Jones
Released: February 6, 2018 by Wednesday Books
Genre: Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult
Series: Wintersong #2The conclusion to the gorgeous and lush Wintersong duology.
Six months after the end of Wintersong, Liesl is working toward furthering both her brother’s and her own musical careers. Although she is determined to look forward and not behind, life in the world above is not as easy as Liesl had hoped. Her younger brother Josef is cold, distant, and withdrawn, while Liesl can’t forget the austere young man she left beneath the earth, and the music he inspired in her.
When troubling signs arise that the barrier between worlds is crumbling, Liesl must return to the Underground to unravel the mystery of life, death, and the Goblin King—who he was, who he is, and who he will be. What will it take to break the old laws once and for all? What is the true meaning of sacrifice when the fate of the world—or the ones Liesl loves—is in her hands?
Amanda says: Wintersong was a favorite book of mine last year and Jae’s writing is so beautiful!
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Author: Kayleen Schaefer
Released: February 6, 2018 by Dutton
Genre: NonfictionFrom Girls to Parks and Recreation to Bridesmaids, the female friendship has taken an undeniable front seat in pop culture. Text Me When You Get Home is a personal and sociological perspective – and ultimately a celebration – of the evolution of the modern female friendship.
Kayleen Schaefer has experienced (and occasionally, narrowly survived) most every iteration of the modern female friendship. First there was the mean girl cliques of the ’90s; then the teenage friendships that revolved around constant discussion of romantic interests and which slowly morphed into Sex and the City spin-offs; the disheartening loneliness of “I’m not like other girls” friendships with only men; the discovery of a platonic soul mate; and finally, the overwhelming love of a supportive female squad (#squad).
And over the course of these friendships, Schaefer made a startling discovery: girls make the best friends. And she isn’t the only one to realize this. Through interviews with friends, mothers, authors, celebrities, businesswomen, doctors, screenwriters, and historians (a list that includes Judy Blume, Megan Abbott, The Fug Girls, and Kay Cannon), Schaefer shows a remarkable portrait of what female friendships can help modern women accomplish in their social, personal, and work lives.
A validation of female friendship unlike any that’s ever existed before, this book is a mix of historical research, the author’s own personal experience, and conversations about friendships across the country. Everything Schaefer uncovers leads to – and makes the case for – the eventual conclusion that these ties among women are making us (both as individuals and as society as a whole) stronger than ever before.
Elyse says: A nonfiction exploration of female friendships, which very much of interest to me.
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Author: Laura Powell
Released: February 6, 2018 by Gallery Books
Genre: Mystery/ThrillerLove, suspicion, and heartbreak collide in an evocative debut novel which will draw you in with clever twists and turns, and enticing secrets
Fifteen-year-old Betty Broadbent helps her erratic and beautiful mother run the Hotel Eden, a boarding house now besieged by reporters, keen for juicy gossip and eye-catching headlines. They are there because the Cornish seaside town has recently witnessed a string of murders, young girls stabbed to death. Among the newspaper jackals, Mr. Gallagher stands out. Quiet, serious Mr. Gallagher—Betty is fascinated by his mysterious nature and desperate to be noticed by him and not be treated as a child. As he and Betty get to know each other, through snatched conversation and illicit meetings, their feelings for each other grow. But she soon starts to realize how little she knows about the older, enigmatic journalist. With a dangerous cloud looming over the town, Betty starts to take risks to see him and hide secrets from her mother, her friends, and even herself—secrets that will echo through the years and affect the lives of many. Beautifully written with skilllfully drawn characters, evocative language, and set partially in 1956 with perfect period depiction, this is an astonishing tour de force from debut author Laura Powell.
Elyse says: I better make sure I have money in checking come 2/6…holy preorders. Anyway this thriller has been compared to Broadchurch.
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Author: Rachel Caine
Released: February 13, 2018 by Katherine Tegen Books
Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult
Series: The Honors #1Petty criminal Zara Cole has a painful past that’s made her stronger than most, which is why she chose life in New Detroit instead moving with her family to Mars. In her eyes, living inside a dome isn’t much better than a prison cell.
Still, when Zara commits a crime that has her running scared, jail might be exactly where she’s headed. Instead Zara is recruited into the Honors, an elite team of humans selected by the Leviathan—a race of sentient alien ships—to explore the outer reaches of the universe as their passengers.
Zara seizes the chance to flee Earth’s dangers, but when she meets Nadim, the alien ship she’s assigned, Zara starts to feel at home for the first time. But nothing could have prepared her for the dark, ominous truths that lurk behind the alluring glitter of starlight.
Amanda says: I’ve enjoyed Aguirre’s Grimspace series and Caine’s Weather Warden series, so I’m looking forward to see what they do together.
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Author: Martina André
Released: February 13, 2018 by Bastei Entertainment
Genre: Historical: European, Time TravelOne man stands between slaughter and salvation.
France, 1307. The French king calls for the arrest and assassination of all Knights Templar. Young Templar Gero embarks on a secret mission. Not only his life, but the fate of the Templars depends upon his success. In his rucksack he carries an ancient artefact that protects his brethren from extinction. What Gero doesn’t know – the artefact enables time travel.
After a clash with bandits, Gero and his squire land in modern Europe. When the Medieval knight awakes from his injuries, historian Hannah is the first person he sees. Gero is distraught. Electricity. Airplanes. Culture clash. And isolated by language. What has happened to the Templars? Can Hannah help him?
Gero and Hannah team up with rogue scientists to unravel the truth behind Gero’s impossible journey. But the truth could be deadly. As they dig deeper, they find a trail of lies, conspiracy, and deceit. The government has been performing illegal experiments.
Slowly Gero adjusts to this new world, and for the first time he struggles to keep his vow of abstinence. Despite the dangers, one thing is clear: Hannah is the first woman who has challenged Gero’s celibacy. How will he choose between his sweetheart and the Templars? Can he even make it back to the Middle Ages to rescue his fellow knights?
Mystery of the Templars is for fans of the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon and A Hangman’s Daughter Tale series by Oliver Pötzsch.
Author Martina André has woven an enchanting adventure of valor and intrigue. Referencing actual towns, historical landmarks, and authentic family names, André has tirelessly researched the Knights Templar and the legends they inspire.
Redheadedgirl says: History has a show about the Knights Templar called Knightfall. It’s terrible. I’m completely addicted. I want more Templars.
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Author: Kelly Bowen
Released: February 20, 2018 by Forever
Genre: Historical: European, Romance
Series: The Devils of Dover #1Duke. Scoundrel. Titan of business. August Faulkner is a man of many talents, not the least of which is enticing women into his bedchamber. He’s known—and reviled—for buying and selling companies, accumulating scads of money, and breaking hearts. It’s a reputation he wears like a badge of honor, and one he intends to keep.
Clara Hayward, the headmistress of the Haverhall School for Young Ladies, on the other hand, is above reproach. Yet when she’s reunited with August, all she can think of is the way she felt in his arms as they danced a scandalous waltz ten long years ago. Even though her head knows that he is only back in her life to take over her family’s business, her heart can’t help but open to the very duke who could destroy it for good.
Elyse says: I’ll be honest, I was super excited about a darker historical cover.
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Author: Rhoda Belleza
Released: February 20, 2018 by Razorbill
Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult
Series: Empress of a Thousand Stars #2War tears the galaxy apart, power tests the limits of family, and violence gives way to freedom in this exhilarating sequel to Empress of a Thousand Skies.
Empress
With a revolution brewing, Rhee is faced with a choice: make a deal with her enemy, Nero, or denounce him and risk losing her crown.Fugitive
Framed assassin Alyosha has one goal in mind: kill Nero. But to get his revenge, Aly may have to travel back to the very place he thought he’d left forever—home.Princess
Kara knows that a single piece of technology located on the uninhabitable planet Wraeta may be the key to remembering—and erasing—the princess she once was.Madman
Villainous media star Nero is out for blood, and he’ll go to any means necessary to control the galaxy.Vicious politics and high-stakes action culminate in an epic showdown that will determine the fate of the universe.
Elyse says: I liked the first book in this series, although the world building was a little clunky. Looking forward to the sequel/
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Author: Deborah Schaumberg
Released: February 20, 2018 by HarperTeen
Genre: Historical: American, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young AdultGangs of New York meets Cassandra Clare in this debut YA fantasy set in 1882 Brooklyn
New York, 1882. A dark, forbidding city, and no place for a girl with unexplainable powers.
Sixteen-year-old Avery Kohl pines for the life she had before her mother was taken. She fears the mysterious men in crow masks who locked her mother in the Tombs asylum for being able to see what others couldn’t. Avery denies the signs in herself, focusing instead on her shifts at the ironworks factory and keeping her inventor father out of trouble. Other than secondhand tales of adventure from her best friend, Khan, an ex-slave, and caring for her falcon, Seraphine, Avery spends her days struggling to survive.
Like her mother’s, Avery’s powers refuse to be contained. When she causes a bizarre explosion at the factory, she has no choice but to run from her lies, straight into the darkest corners of the city. Avery must embrace her abilities and learn to wield their power—or join her mother in the cavernous horrors of the Tombs. And the Tombs has secrets of its own: strange experiments are being performed on “patients”…and no one knows why.
Elyse says: YA fantasy with a heroine with strange powers, set around an asylum in 1882 New York. YISSSS.
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Author: Elizabeth Bright
Released: February 26, 2018 by Entangled: Scandalous
Genre: Historical: European, Romance
Series: Wicked SecretsNicholas Eastwood is finally about to get everything he ever wanted. As a reward for his service to the Crown, he has been offered the title of marquess. All he has to do is stay scandal-free until the papers are signed. There’s just one problem: His ex-lover, presumed dead, is remarkably alive.
Adelaide Bursnell is determined to right her wrongs. She will be a dutiful daughter and loving sister. Most importantly, she must marry before her scandal catches up to her. Nicholas was once her ruin, but now he is determined to be her salvation. If he can find her a suitable husband, their shared past can stay buried.
But old temptations prove impossible to resist and scandal can never stay secret for long…
Redheadedgirl says: A dude who just has to stay scandal free until the papers are signed for his shiny new title…only his ex-lover turns out to be less dead than expected. Catnip much?
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Author: Alyssa Cole
Released: February 27, 2018 by Avon
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romance
Series: Reluctant Royals #1From acclaimed author Alyssa Cole comes the tale of a city Cinderella and her Prince Charming in disguise . . .
Between grad school and multiple jobs, Naledi Smith doesn’t have time for fairy tales…or patience for the constant e-mails claiming she’s betrothed to an African prince. Sure. Right. Delete! As a former foster kid, she’s learned that the only things she can depend on are herself and the scientific method, and a silly e-mail won’t convince her otherwise.
Prince Thabiso is the sole heir to the throne of Thesolo, shouldering the hopes of his parents and his people. At the top of their list? His marriage. Ever dutiful, he tracks down his missing betrothed. When Naledi mistakes the prince for a pauper, Thabiso can’t resist the chance to experience life—and love—without the burden of his crown.
The chemistry between them is instant and irresistible, and flirty friendship quickly evolves into passionate nights. But when the truth is revealed, can a princess in theory become a princess ever after?
Sarah says: Obviously.
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Author: Tricia Levenseller
Released: February 27, 2018 by Feiwel & Friends
Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult
Series: Daughter of the Pirate King #2The capable, confident, and occasionally ruthless heroine of Daughter of the Pirate King is back in this action-packed sequel that promises rousing high seas adventures and the perfect dash of magic.
Alosa’s mission is finally complete. Not only has she recovered all three pieces of the map to a legendary hidden treasure, but the pirates who originally took her captive are now prisoners on her ship. Still unfairly attractive and unexpectedly loyal, first mate Riden is a constant distraction, but now he’s under her orders. And she takes great comfort in knowing that the villainous Vordan will soon be facing her father’s justice.
When Vordan exposes a secret her father has kept for years, Alosa and her crew find themselves in a deadly race with the feared Pirate King. Despite the danger, Alosa knows they will recover the treasure first . . . after all, she is the daughter of the Siren Queen.
In Daughter of the Siren Queen, Tricia Levenseller brings together the perfect mix of thrilling action, tense battle scenes, and a heart-pounding romance.
Elyse says: Sequel to the Daughter of the Pirate King!
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Author: Ashley Poston
Released: February 27, 2018 by Balzer + Bray
Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young AdultAn action-packed tale full of romance, royalty, and adventure, inspired by the story of Anastasia. Perfect for fans of Six of Crows,Cinder, and the cult classic television show Firefly.
Seventeen-year-old Ana is a scoundrel by nurture and an outlaw by nature. Found as a child drifting through space with a sentient android called D09, Ana was saved by a fearsome space captain and the grizzled crew she now calls family. But D09—one of the last remaining illegal Metals—has been glitching, and Ana will stop at nothing to find a way to fix him.
Ana’s desperate effort to save D09 leads her on a quest to steal the coordinates to a lost ship that could offer all the answers. But at the last moment, a spoiled Ironblood boy beats Ana to her prize. He has his own reasons for taking the coordinates, and he doesn’t care what he’ll sacrifice to keep them.
When everything goes wrong, she and the Ironblood end up as fugitives on the run. Now their entire kingdom is after them—and the coordinates—and not everyone wants them captured alive.
What they find in a lost corner of the universe will change all their lives—and unearth dangerous secrets. But when a darkness from Ana’s past returns, she must face an impossible choice: does she protect a kingdom that wants her dead or save the Metal boy she loves?
Amanda says: My roommate already read this and said it was amazing.
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Author: Michelle McNamara
Released: February 27, 2018 by Harper
Genre: NonfictionIntroduction by Gillian Flynn
Afterword by Patton Oswalt“I’ll Be Gone in the Dark will undoubtedly be stocked in the True Crime section, which is fine, but in so many ways it’s a brilliant genre-buster. It’s propulsive, can’t-stop-now reading, which makes it all too easy to ignore the clean and focused writing.
What readers need to know—what makes this book so special—is that it deals with two obsessions, one light and one dark. The Golden State Killer is the dark half; Michelle McNamara’s is the light half. It’s a journey into two minds, one sick and disordered, the other intelligent and determined. I loved this book.” —Stephen King
A masterful true crime account of the Golden State Killer—the elusive serial rapist turned murderer who terrorized California for over a decade—from Michelle McNamara, the gifted journalist who died tragically while investigating the case.
“You’ll be silent forever, and I’ll be gone in the dark.”
For more than ten years, a mysterious and violent predator committed fifty sexual assaults in Northern California before moving south, where he perpetrated ten sadistic murders. Then he disappeared, eluding capture by multiple police forces and some of the best detectives in the area.
Three decades later, Michelle McNamara, a true crime journalist who created the popular website TrueCrimeDiary.com, was determined to find the violent psychopath she called “the Golden State Killer.” Michelle pored over police reports, interviewed victims, and embedded herself in the online communities that were as obsessed with the case as she was.
At the time of the crimes, the Golden State Killer was between the ages of eighteen and thirty, Caucasian, and athletic—capable of vaulting tall fences. He always wore a mask. After choosing a victim—he favored suburban couples—he often entered their home when no one was there, studying family pictures, mastering the layout. He attacked while they slept, using a flashlight to awaken and blind them. Though they could not recognize him, his victims recalled his voice: a guttural whisper through clenched teeth, abrupt and threatening.
I’ll Be Gone in the Dark—the masterpiece McNamara was writing at the time of her sudden death—offers an atmospheric snapshot of a moment in American history and a chilling account of a criminal mastermind and the wreckage he left behind. It is also a portrait of a woman’s obsession and her unflagging pursuit of the truth. Framed by an introduction by Gillian Flynn and an afterword by her husband, Patton Oswalt, the book was completed by Michelle’s lead researcher and a close colleague. Utterly original and compelling, it is destined to become a true crime classic—and may at last unmask the Golden State Killer.
Elyse says: This is the book McNamara wrote shortly before her untimely death. As a true crime fan, I’ve been looking forward to this.
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Author: Michele Lent Hirsch
Released: February 27, 2018 by Beacon Press
Genre: NonfictionWhat happens when you’re expected to be healthy, building relationships, and starting your career but are faced with a life-altering medical condition?
When we meet a young woman with a serious illness, we tend to label her an outlier. But while we might think of young female patients as anomalies, they are, statistically, the primary demographic for many major illnesses. And they are also one of the most overlooked populations in our health-care system—a system that not only ignores young women to begin with, but women of color and trans women even more severely.
Research shows that doctors are more familiar with the way symptoms manifest in men and often fail to recognize equally dangerous ones in their female patients. Women are told they “look fine” and are overreacting to symptoms. They may also have doctors who talk down to them or even sexually harass them. In their personal lives, many women scramble to hide their symptoms and scars to avoid making their friends, partners, and coworkers uncomfortable. Health issues and disabilities further amplify what women already face regularly: warped beauty standards, workplace sexism, and mistrust of their own bodies.
Weaving together interviews with young women who have experienced severe illnesses, insights from scientists on the study of gender and illness, and her own harrowing story of coming of age with serious medical issues, Michele Lent Hirsch exposes just how much our gender norms hurt women who are already hurting, and how sexism prevails both in relationships and at the doctor’s office.
Elyse says: This is very relevant to me as I have fibromyalgia, and also know many women who navigate chronic illness and daily life.
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Author: Rachel Hartman
Released: February 27, 2018 by Random House Books for Young Readers
Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young AdultMeet Tess, a brave new heroine from beloved epic fantasy author Rachel Hartman.
In the medieval kingdom of Goredd, women are expected to be ladies, men are their protectors, and dragons get to be whomever they want. Tess, stubbornly, is a troublemaker. You can’t make a scene at your sister’s wedding and break a relative’s nose with one punch (no matter how pompous he is) and not suffer the consequences. As her family plans to send her to a nunnery, Tess yanks on her boots and sets out on a journey across the Southlands, alone and pretending to be a boy.
Where Tess is headed is a mystery, even to her. So when she runs into an old friend, it’s a stroke of luck. This friend is a quigutl–a subspecies of dragon–who gives her both a purpose and protection on the road. But Tess is guarding a troubling secret. Her tumultuous past is a heavy burden to carry, and the memories she’s tried to forget threaten to expose her to the world in more ways than one.
Returning to the fascinating world she created in the award-winning and New York Times bestselling Seraphina, Rachel Hartman introduces readers to a new character and a new quest, pushing the boundaries of genre once again in this wholly original fantasy.
Amanda says: Dragons!
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Hm. Much in the fashion of Sarah MacLean’s Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover, Bright’s new release is a spoiler for her first book, Twice as Wicked. (This isn’t a tsk-tsk comment about the post, since the Amazon listing accomplishes the same thing. I’m just wondering how series authors can protect significant reveals for new readers. Also? I KNEW IT! I left the end of Twice as Wicked feeling deflated that Adelaide hadn’t popped up in the resolution when I expected her to. At this point, I kind of want Bright to totally mind-twist me and have this woman not really be Adelaide but a…a…secret triplet or something.)
In other news, I need an advent calendar to count down to Hello Stranger. There are too many days between me and that release.
I’m also looking forward to Meredith Duran’s THE SINS OF LORD LOCKWOOD, releasing 2/27 (apologies for the double post)
I’m looking forward to Pride and Prometheus by John Kessel: Mary Bennett meets Frankenstein! I LOVED the novella and can’t wait for the full-blown novel.
Mystery of the Templars sounds absolutely fab!!! I can’t wait to read it.
If, like me, you were unaware of the existence of a Pirate Princess before this revelation about her siren mama, THE PIRATE KING’S DAUGHTER is $2.99 currently.
That’s DAUGHTER OF THE PIRATE KING, sorry. I can’t retain information between tabs. :p
Really looking forward to BROOKLYNAIRE—the couple’s story has threaded through the background of the previous Brooklyn Bruiser books, so I’m interested in seeing them take center stage.
Also, one of my go-to favorites, Jackie Ashenden has two books coming out at the end of the month: RAW POWER on February 27 and RUINED on March 1 (ok—technically, that’s next month). These are the first books in two new series: 11th Hour and Knights of Ruin, respectively. I’m glad Ashenden so prolific, but I wish she’d get back to her Texas Bounty series—I’m waiting to see how the relationship between Quinn and the Duchess plays out.
I’m also counting down the days to Brooklynaire and Hello Stranger. Thank you @Deborah for reminding me The Sins of Lord Lockwood is releasing this month! I’ve been looking forward to Lockwood’s storyline since I read Duke of Shadows years ago.
AFTER THE WEDDING by Courtney Milan comes out on Feb 20.
I am super excited to check out “Text Me When You Get Home.” That is a common refrain between my friends and me. And I’m so happy to see a book celebrating female friendships. It’s so frustrating to still see the pervasive view that minimizes and/or demonizes girl friends.
I would like to see the physical book Wallflower Most Wanted because on the cover photo I see online she appears to have extra fingers.
Wouldn’t it be a refreshing change if a “dedicated painter” was depicted on a book cover doing something painterly?
I can’t wait for “By The Book”. “Persuasion” is my favorite Jane Austen novel. I love when I find modern retellings of the story, too.
@LML: I had to look. There’s a DUDE on the wallflower cover (!!!!) and some of those fingers are his. Also, some of what I took to be a dropcloth is his shirt, and what I took to be a rather unstylish beige tufted chaise is his rippling torso.
I’m waiting for Lauren Dane’s latest, Unraveled. The main character’s name is off-putting, but I’m sure there’s a story there. Also works in a barbershop/bar which, admit it, sounds like fun.
YESSSSS I am so excited for Brooklynaire! Even though I am having a little trouble with the cover because in my head the hero is much nerdier (nerdy works for me, what can I tell you?) and not making that “o face” ever. At all. But I’m going to ignore the cover and enjoy the heck out of the book because I love that series and have been waiting for this couple’s story. And I am stoked to read ALL of the Olympic-themed romances! Yay Olympics! I really do need to hide my wallet this month because I also am intrigued about By The Book, and Text Me When You Get Home sounds super interesting too. My best friend and I both had office jobs during the early days of email and we would end emails so often with “call me when you get home” that we just started abbreviating it cmwygh. That was before texting was really a thing. And now I feel old. Anyway I loved it because we were both young and single living in apartments by ourselves, and it was so lovely to know that someone cared when I got home and wanted to hear about my day. Love the idea of a book that explores the many layers of female friendship.
I don’t think there’s anything aside from what I’ve pre-ordered:
* The Belle’s (THAT COVER!)
* A Princess in Theory (THAT COVER! Also, Alyssa Cole is one of my few autobuys)
* Fire on the Ice by Tamsen Parker (F/F in which a speed skater and a figure skater fall in love. Drops February 6th.)
I really enjoyed Manda’s book.
@Ren Benton ( ! ) I thought the beige tufted chaise was an anachronistic tufted headboard.
[…] releases: Smart Bitches (romance) and AAR […]
I’ve added Wallflower Most Wanted to my Wish List. I may cave and buy it sooner rather than later. Vicar heroes are on my catnip list since reading Grace Burrows’ Daniel’s True Desire.
By the Book looks interesting, especially as a retelling of Persuasion. Hope my library has it on order.
I think Sally Thorne’s new book Comfort Zone is due out February 20. Can anyone confirm?
@Persephone: She has another book with an October release date, and the summary of that on Goodreads says simply, “This is not The Comfort Zone, which was shelved indefinitely.”
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31681941-99-percent-mine
There’s a new Marianna Zapata novel as of Feb 1: “From Lukov With Love.”