Happy Tuesday! Are you all ready for new releases?
We have quite a full release week today. There are historical mysteries, long-awaited series continuations, and sci-fi romances. Lots of variety in this edition of Hide Your Wallet!
What books are you looking forward to today or later this week? Let us know in the comments!
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Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord
Author: Celeste Connally
Released: November 14, 2023 by Minotaur Books
Genre: Historical: European, Mystery/Thriller
Series: Lady Petra Inquiries #1Bridgerton meets Agatha Christie in Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord,a dazzling first entry in a captivating new Regency-era mystery series with a feminist spin from Celeste Connally.
London, 1815. Lady Petra Forsyth, daughter of the Earl of Holbrook, has made a shocking proclamation. After losing her beloved fiancé in an accident three years earlier, she announces in front of London’s loosest lips that she will never marry. A woman of independent means—and rather independent ways—Petra sees no reason to cede her wealth and freedom to any man now that the love of her life is gone. Instead, she plans to continue enjoying the best of society without any expectations.But when ballroom gossip suggests that a longtime friend has died of a fit due to her “melancholia” while in the care of a questionable physician, Petra vows to use her status to dig deeper—uncovering a private asylum where men pay to have their wives and daughters locked away, or worse. Just as Petra has reason to believe her friend is alive, a shocking murder proves more danger is afoot than she thought. And the more determined Lady Petra becomes in uncovering the truth, the more her own headstrong actions and desire for independence are used against her, putting her own freedom—and possibly her life—in jeopardy.
Sarah: A new mystery series with a heroine who refuses to marry and endangers herself by investigating an asylum. I also love the title, like, a LOT.
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Calamity
Author: Constance Faye
Released: November 14, 2023 by Bramble
Genre: Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
Series: Uncharted Hearts #1Bramble’s inaugural debut is equal parts steamy interstellar romance and sci-fi adventure, perfect for fans of Firefly and Ilona Andrews.
She’s got a ramshackle spaceship, a misfit crew, and a big problem with its sexy newest member…
Temperance Reed, banished from the wealthy and dangerous Fifteen Families, just wants to keep her crew together after their feckless captain ran off with the intern. But she’s drowning in debt and revolutionary new engine technology is about to make her beloved ship obsolete.
Enter Arcadio Escajeda. Second child of the terrifying Escajeda Family, he’s the thorn in Temper’s side as they’re sent off on a scouting mission on the backwater desert planet of Herschel 2. They throw sparks every time they meet but Temper’s suspicions of his ulterior motives only serve to fuel the flames between them.
Despite volcanic eruptions, secret cultists, and deadly galactic fighters, the greatest threat on this mission may be to Temper’s heart.
Amanda: Firefly meets Ilona Andrews?! I am hyperventilating!
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Delay of Game
Author: Ari Baran
Released: November 14, 2023 by Carina Press
Genre: Contemporary Romance, LGBTQIA, Romance
Series: Penalty Box #2Two polar opposite teammates battle their rivals—and their own issues—in this friends-to-lovers hockey romance.
Nate Singer is one of the good guys.
As team captain, Nate’s whole deal is sticking to the playbook, supporting his team and keeping his own issues buried. Especially since the team is finally winning, in no small part to his chemistry with one particular hotshot teammate.
Zach Reed has a bad boy reputation.
And it’s cost him. Zach’s past exploits landed him on the worst team in the league. But that also gave him the best friend he’s ever had. For three years, his friendship with Nate has grown, making them an intimidating duo on the ice—and forming an intense bond off of it as well.
When the team hits a skid, Zach and Nate go out with one thing in finding someone for a quick roll in the sheets to get back to their winning ways. Only they end up in each other’s arms—and each other’s heart.
And realize that could be exactly what they’ve always needed to win it all.
Dahlia: Hockey player friends-to-lovers with a bad boy? Sign me UP.
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Do Your Worst
Author: Rosie Danan
Released: November 14, 2023 by Berkley
Genre: Paranormal, RomanceRiley Rhodes finally has the chance to turn her family’s knack for the supernatural into a legitimate business when she’s hired to break the curse on an infamous Scottish castle. Used to working alone in her alienating occupation, she’s pleasantly surprised to meet a handsome stranger upon arrival—until he tries to get her fired.
Fresh off a professional scandal, Clark Edgeware can’t allow a self-proclaimed “curse breaker” to threaten his last chance for redemption. After he fails to get Riley kicked off his survey site, he vows to avoid her. Unfortunately for him, she vows to get even.
Riley expects the curse to do her dirty work by driving Clark away, but instead, they keep finding themselves in close proximity. Too close. Turns out, the only thing they do better than fight is fool around. If they’re not careful, by the end of all this, more than the castle will end up in ruins.
Amanda: I loved Danan’s sexy contemporary romances, so I’m excited to see what she does with a flair of the paranormal.
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Next-Door Nemesis
Author: Alexa Martin
Released: November 14, 2023 by Berkley
Genre: Contemporary Romance, RomanceTwo rival candidates for a homeowner’s association presidency are about to find out how dirty suburbanites fight in this steamy new romantic comedy from Alexa Martin.
After years of hustling, Collins Carter has finally made it…back to her parents’ house. Between tending to the compost with her newly retired dad and running into her high school nemesis at the only decent coffee shop in town, Collins realizes this subdivision from hell she swore she’d never return to is her rock bottom.
Then the homeowner’s association complaint arrived.
Nathaniel Adams always dreamed of a nice, quiet life in his suburban hometown. Or at least that’s what he thought until Collins moved back and sent his quaint, organized life into a tailspin. He thought Collins was infuriating ten years ago, but when she announces she’s running against him for HOA president, all bets are off.
From secret board meetings to vicious smear campaigns whispered over backyard fences, Collins and Nate sink to levels their sleepy suburb has never seen before. But as hate turns into lust, these two enemies are forced to reckon with the feelings they’ve ignored for years. If only there were bylaws for real life.
The latest from Alexa Martin, featuring rival neighbors.
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Plot Twist
Author: Erin La Rosa
Released: November 14, 2023 by Berkley
Genre: Contemporary Romance, RomanceShe’s written off more than she can chew…
Romance author Sophie Lyon’s ironic secret just went viral: she’s never been in love. Though her debut novel made readers swoon, Sophie’s having trouble getting her new characters to happily-ever-after, and she blames it on her own uninspired love life. With a manuscript deadline looming, Sophie makes an ambitious plan to overcome her writer’s block: reunite with her exes to learn why she’s never fallen in love—and document it all for her millions of new online followers. Which also means facing her ex-girlfriend Carla, the one person Sophie could have loved.
Luckily, Sophie’s reclusive landlord, Dash Montrose—a former teen heartthrob—has social media all figured out and offers to help. But he doesn’t mention that he’s an anonymous online crafter, a hobby that helps him maintain his sobriety. No one knows about his complicated relationship with alcohol and he intends to keep it that way. His family is Hollywood royalty, so Dash has to steer clear of scandal.
As Sophie and Dash grow closer, they discover a heat between them that rivals Dash’s pottery kiln. But Sophie needs to figure out who she is outside her relationships, and Dash isn’t sure he’s stable enough for the commitment she deserves. So Sophie suggests what any good romance author would: a friends-with-benefits arrangement. Surely a casual relationship won’t cause any trouble…
Amanda: I was immediately attracted by the sunny cover, but “reclusive former teen heartthrob” tipped the scales.
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System Collapse
Author: Martha Wells
Released: November 14, 2023 by Tor.com
Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy
Series: The Murderbot Diaries #7The million-copy, New York Times bestselling Murderbot series is back in another full-length novel adventure!
Am I making it worse? I think I’m making it worse.
Everyone’s favorite lethal SecUnit is back.
Following the events in Network Effect, the Barish-Estranza corporation has sent rescue ships to a newly-colonized planet in peril, as well as additional SecUnits. But if there’s an ethical corporation out there, Murderbot has yet to find it, and if Barish-Estranza can’t have the planet, they’re sure as hell not leaving without something. If that something just happens to be an entire colony of humans, well, a free workforce is a decent runner-up prize.
But there’s something wrong with Murderbot; it isn’t running within normal operational parameters. ART’s crew and the humans from Preservation are doing everything they can to protect the colonists, but with Barish-Estranza’s SecUnit-heavy persuasion teams, they’re going to have to hope Murderbot figures out what’s wrong with itself, and fast!
Yeah, this plan is… not going to work.
Sarah: MURDER. BOT. NEW MURDERBOT.
Lara: MURDERBOT!
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Whispering Wood
Author: Sharon Shinn
Released: November 14, 2023 by Fairwood Press
Genre: Fantasy/Fairy Tale Romance, New Adult, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
Series: Elemental Blessings #5The long-awaited new book in the Elemental Blessings series!
Valentina Serlast has reluctantly traveled to the royal city to witness her brother Darien be crowned the king of Welce. A hunti woman with an affinity for the forest, Val is much more comfortable living in isolation on her country estates, almost forgotten by everyone. When Darien convinces her to extend her stay, she is drawn into an unfamiliar whirl of activity, meeting with ambassadors from other countries, becoming friends with the unpredictable Princess Corene, and trying to learn the secrets of a glamorous foreign visitor named Melissande.
But nothing makes Val more breathless than the reappearance of Sebastian Ardelay, a red-headed rogue who has been her best friend since childhood. She quickly learns that Sebastian has been risking his life in a dangerous venture that could get him banned from the kingdom—or even lead Welce to the brink of war.
Aarya: It’s been seven years since the previous installment, so I really hope WHISPERING WOOD lives up to the rest of the series.
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The Grumpy Billionaire
Author: Annika Martin
Released: November 16, 2023
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romance
Series: Billionaires of Manhattan #8I’m the most feared man on Wall Street…unfortunately, my best friend’s little sister hasn’t gotten the memo.
I brandish equations like lightning bolts and shatter fortunes with mere scribbles on a whiteboard. People up and down Wall Street steer clear of me—or come to regret it.
My walls are impenetrable as Alcatraz, and my self-control? Rock solid, my friend.
Except when it comes to her.
The woman I’ve secretly longed for. The only woman I can never have.
My best friend’s little sister, Stella.
Growing up, she saw me as a heartless robot. It couldn’t be further from the truth, but a promise I made to her brother binds me, and my code of honor is as rigid as my isosceles triangle.
I hadn’t laid eyes on her for years, but now she’s in the heart of Manhattan, and I’ve unintentionally sent her career into a nosedive. My solution? Offer her a job at my hedge fund.
Suddenly I’m the boss of her, faced daily with her sparkling eyes and gummy worm obsession–and her infuriating refusal to stay away from me.
Well, I buried my feelings for her once before. I’ll do it again—to the nth degree.
Aarya: This series is such a hit or a miss, but the hits are exceptional. Martin is the rare author who makes me cackle in laughter.
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In addition to the aforementioned DELAY OF GAME and THE GRUMPY BILLIONAIRE (how did I not know Annika Martin was releasing a new book? This is what I get for not following authors on social media), the only other book I have on my tbr for the upcoming week is Melanie Harlow’s MAKE-BELIEVE MATCH (November 20), the third book in Harlow’s Cherry Tree Harbor series of romances set in a small Michigan town. I liked the previous book, HIDEAWAY HEART, and am looking forward to this one which features a marriage-of-convenience to save the heroine’s family’s ski resort.
Calamity sounds more like Jessie Mihalik than Ilona Andrews, who doesn’t really write space opera. But I’m a big fan of both, and you can’t get enough SFR, so wishlisted it.
Whispering Wood is already sold out of the paper edition on Amazon. Finally, the 5th Elemental Blessings book!
Do Your Worst was a lot of fun! The rest are on my TBR.
MURDERBOT! MURDERBOT! MURDERBOT!
(halfway through it already, all hail Murderbot!)
MURDERBOT!!!1!! <3 *incoherent shrieking*!!!
MURDERBOT MUPPET FLAIL!
I’ve been very excited about Delay of Game (home for a snow day, and loving the book so far), Do Your Worst and Next Door Nemesis. A very good release day!
Halfway through the new Shinn and so far it’s great!
I’m struggling to remember the name of that cognitive bias where once you notice something, you see it everywhere … if anyone can think of the name of that, I’m having it with PLOT TWIST. I just read WRECK THE HALLS by Tessa Bailey, am currently skimming A MERRY LITTLE MEET CUTE by Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone, and now I notice books that are “parasocial relationships becoming real” or former-heartthrobs-turns-normal EVERYWHERE. Since I am an old, the thought of having social media “figured out” gives me heart palpitations, so I can’t really relate to that.
Luckily, there are a lot of other books this week! MURDERBOOOOOT HOORAY! And 2 new books I didn’t know about, DO YOUR WORST and CALAMITY! Both of these look very fun. I agree, Annika Martin’s Billionaires series is extremely hit or miss, so I’m not sure about this one. I might wait until we get @DDD’s verdict. I was not expecting to add to my TBR pile this week, but oh well, that’s what vacation is for, right?
@Ely, it’s the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon.
@Kareni, THANK YOU! I think that’s twice this week that you’ve made my day!
@Sandra: Dear Author has a review up of Calamity.https://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/overall-c-reviews/c-minus-reviews/review-calamity-by-constance-fay/
I bailed after reading the sample… First person present tense is not my thing. And I had high hopes for this one.
I jumped on the wait list for the new Murderbot at the library last week.
lso exciting “new” book is the Barnes & Noble exclusive edition of “Circe”, which came out last Tuesday. Did I really need another copy of “Circe” when I already have four? No. Did I get it anyway? Yes.