Welcome and settle in to our now-weekly new release post!
It’s a hefty release week, though next week is much quieter as we wrap up August’s books. This one has a lot of series continuations and spin-offs in paranormal romance, historical romance, and contemporary romance!
What’s on your TBR pile? Which books are worthy of full-price, release-day pickup?
Curves for Days
Author: Laura Moher
Released: August 22, 2023 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romance
Series: Big Love from Galway #1How is Rose Barnes supposed to build the home (and life) of her dreams when her big, burly contractor keeps scowling at her?
Rose Barnes has got curves for days—and to Angus Drummond, the big, bearded contractor working on her new house, she’s the perfect thorn in his side. Little does she know Angus is perturbed on a daily basis by his attraction to this cheery, smart-ass woman with her sunshiny enthusiasm, her kindness, and her beautiful body.
Angus feels he has a debt to pay to the world and doesn’t deserve love until he pays it. Best to keep his mind on his work and his hands to himself. But the more Rose sees of Angus’s gruff, honorable thoughtfulness, and the more rusty laughter she surprises from him, the more she wants him too.
As their unlikely friendship becomes love, antagonism turns to partnership, and Rose’s house becomes a home. But Rose is keeping a secret that could blow up everything with Angus, and sure enough, it comes to light at the worst possible time…
Shana: Cute cover, and while I’m not a fan of the title, the plot has sucked me in.
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We also may use affiliate links in our posts, as well. Thanks!Home for the Challah Days
Author: Jennifer Wilck
Released: August 22, 2023 by Harlequin Special Edition
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romance
Series: Holidays, Heart and Chutzpah #1Turning the bitterness of the past…
Into a sweet future!
When big-city advocate Sarah Abrams returns home for the High Holy Days, she’s got a lot on her mind—especially whether to marry her perfect-on-paper boyfriend. The last person she wants to encounter is Aaron Isaacson, her first love and the one who broke her heart. But after Aaron and Sarah join forces to fight an act of hate, it’s clear that their deep connection never abated. If only they could forgive one another for the past…in time for a sweet new start!
Shana: My top Harlequin pick for August !
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Author: Lana Harper
Released: August 22, 2023 by Berkley
Genre: LGBTQIA, Paranormal, Romance
Series: The Witches of Thistle Grove #4A witch struggling to regain what she has lost casts a forbidden spell—only to discover much more than she expected, in this enchanting new rom-com by New York Times bestselling author Lana Harper.
Six months after having been hit by a power surge that nearly obliterated her memory, Delilah Harlow is still picking up the pieces. Her once diamond-sharp mind has become shaky and unreliable, and bristly, self-sufficient Delilah is forced to rely on friends, family, and her raven familiar for help. In an effort to reclaim her wits and former independence, she casts a dangerous blood spell meant to harness power with healing capacities.
While the spell does restore clarity, it also unexpectedly turns Delilah into an irresistible beacon for the kind of malevolent supernatural creatures that have never before ventured into Thistle Grove. One night—just as things are about to go terribly sideways with a rogue succubus—a mysterious stranger appears in the nick of time to save Delilah’s soul.
Gorgeous, sultry, and as dangerous as the knives she carries, Catriona Quinn is a hunter of monsters—and half-human, half-fae herself, she is the kind of sly and morally gray creature Delilah would normally find horrifying. Though Delilah balks at the idea of a partnership, she has no choice but to roll the dice on their collaboration. As the two delve deeper into the power that underlies Thistle Grove, they uncover not only the town’s hidden history but also a risky attraction that could upend Delilah’s entire life.
Amanda: I’m such a big fan of this series!
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Author: Sarah MacLean
Released: August 22, 2023 by Avon
Genre: Historical: European, Romance
Series: Hell's Belles #3Elyse: This book features a female explosives expert.
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Author: Allie Therin
Released: August 22, 2023 by Carina Press
Genre: Historical: American, LGBTQIA, Mystery/Thriller, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
Series: Roaring Twenties Magic #2Two reformed scoundrels have renounced the battlefields and scandals for one another, but their troubled pasts could destroy everything they hold dear…
New York, 1925
Cranky and jaded Lord Fine—Wesley, now, to the kindhearted lover he cynically doubts life will let him keep—arrives in Manhattan with one goal: find the American paranormals and get their help with the relic burdening Sebastian. His plans are upended when the other paranormals seem to have vanished, and a mysterious letter warns Wesley that he’s in danger.
Sebastian has no doubts when it comes to his feelings for Wesley, but he’s still haunted by the time he spent enthralled by blood magic right here in New York. And now, his magic is unstable, bolstered by a relic that seems to drain energy from his very blood. But there is a threat to Wesley, and Sebastian needs control of his magic to protect him—even if former Great War captain Wesley wants Sebastian to rely on him for a change.
Chasing a trail that leads from Fifth Avenue’s bootleggers to a Halloween masquerade at a Tarrytown mansion, they must race to find their friends before devastation is unleashed on New York—and on magic everywhere.
The continuation of Roaring Twenties Magic series!
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Author: Kate Canterbary
Released: August 22, 2023 by Vesper Press
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romance
Series: The Loew Brothers #1His best friend’s little sister is not an option.
No one ever accused Beckett Loew of being the nice Loew brother, especially not Sunny duJardin. Stuck back home in the quirky town of Friendship, Rhode Island, Beckett is scrambling to save his family’s oyster bar and take care of his teenage brother. He doesn’t have time to deal with the beautiful, sunshine-y owner of the new vegan cafe next door too. His best friend’s little sister may be all grown up, but Sunny’s still a distracting pain in his side.
No one expects much from Sunny duJardin, especially not Beckett Loew. She’s not worried about her older brother’s tall, dark, and broody best friend or battles he insists on waging with her everyday. She’s not the same kid he teased years ago. Now, she composts his type for breakfast.
They’re all wrong for each other.
Bitter rivals.
Complete opposites.
Off limits.Except they can’t keep their hands off each other.
They tell themselves it’s nothing more than a steamy summer fling until secrets spill and real trouble comes their way.CW: chronic illness (epilepsy), mention of childhood bullying, putting the fun in dysfunctional families, parents who turn into accidental criminals, incarceration, open door spice, suspense and moments of peril, happily ever after, no cliffhanger.
Aarya: Excited for the Loew brothers after In A Jam!
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Author: S.L. Huang
Released: August 22, 2023 by Tor.com
Genre: Historical: Other, LGBTQIA, Science Fiction/FantasyAmanda: I’ve heard nothing but good things about this queer, epic fantasy.
Elyse: This fantasy book sounds like an epic adventure.
Susan: Everything about this sounds amazing, and look at that cover! Female warriors and righteous bandits, oh I’m ready.
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On my tbr for this week:
SHUCKED (August 22) by Kate Canterbary features the “best friend’s little sister” trope. That’s not my favorite, but if anyone can make it work, it’s Kate.
MAFIA KINGDOM (August 22) by CD Reiss is an arranged marriage/mafia romance—and, if it’s anything like Reiss’s previous mafia romances, it’s going to be super-duper dark…and hot!
THE DESERT KING’S KIDNAPPED VIRGIN (August 22) is the latest HP from Caitlin Crews, and is the first book in her Innocent Stolen Brides duet. The title pretty much tells us what to expect.
Postponed from July, ENTWINED WITH YOU (August 24) is the 11th in J. Kenner’s Stark Security romantic-suspense series. In this outing, the hero is an FBI agent; the heroine is the sister of the hero’s late girlfriend. The heroine is also planning a heist that the hero is charged with stopping. Oh, and there’s a big secret too.
The second in the new Jenny Crusie / Bob Mayer series is out today.
On witchy books, I’ve been thinking a lot about the recent Tor article – How to Uphold the Status Quo: The Problem With Small Town Witch Romances.
Ooo! Getting in the holds line at the library for THE WATER OUTLAWS! That looks like fun 🙂
I love that Tor article, @catscatscats, and have now given myself permission to stop trying to like small town witch romances. Huge relief.
That bandit fantasy, on the other hand, will surely pleasepleaseplease be the subversive fun I have not been getting from the witches!
I don’t buy books, and definitely not on release day. But it’s not that they aren’t worth it! I just can’t afford it, especially at the pace I read (plus I share a one room studio apt that is already packed with books so there’s nowhere to put whichever 8 I request for Hanukkah each year). But somehow saying some are worth full price – thus others aren’t – has me feeling like the books are going to grow up without self esteem, lol!
Lily Morton’s FRENCH FANCY (The Model Agency Book 2) dropped this morning (in KU). Morton is an incredible writer despite writing about rich and beautiful people (m/m). She somehow manages to demote the rich and beautiful elements while teasing out the hearts and souls of often hurting people.
I don’t know how I feel about a winter holiday book showing up in August, but I feel like I have to buy Home for Challah Days out of respect for that awesome pun. It genuinely made me laugh out loud the first time I saw it.
@Jill Q. The High Holy Days are in mid-September, so really it’s right on time!
Yeah, and all the Christmas books show up on my porch or in my inbox in September/October, so this doesn’t make me head tilt at all.
Hot to the Touch by Kate Meader and Knockout by Sarah MacLean are two books I had pre-ordered, and I was so happy when they dropped into my e-reader last night! Also very excited for Shucked, I’m a big Kate Canterbary fan.
@omphale, ah got it! Thanks. That’s what I get for quickly skimming.
@SB Sarah, yeah, I noticed a lot of Christmas books came out in July this year! Wild. I guess it’s to take advantage of the Christmas in July thing? (resigned face). I actually like an occasional Christmasy romance, but I’m happy to wait till December.
I’m so excited to be included in your list. I’ve been a fan of yours for YEARS. Thank you!
I want to read The Water Outlaws but the print is SO SMALL
Knockout is my favorite from the Hell’s Belles so far 🙂
Not a romance but I am very excited for He Who Drowned the World by Shelley Parker Chan, the sequel to She Who Became the Sun.