Happy Tuesday, everyone! It’s a week of brand new book releases. I must say that February is looking positively bursting with romance releases, so gird your wallets and get those library hold lists ready.
This week, fantasy novels and contemporary romances reign supreme for us.
What books are on your list? Any you plan on picking up right on release today?
All Rhodes Lead Here
Author: Mariana Zapata
Released: January 30, 2024 by Avon
Genre: Contemporary Romance, RomanceNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author and indie superstar Mariana Zapata’s fan favorite All Rhodes Lead Here is a story about finding love when you least expect it—now with new exclusive content!
The people we lose take a part of us with them…but they leave a part of themselves with us too.
Aurora De La Torre, or Ora to her friends, knows moving back to Pagosa Springs, Colorado, a place that was once home and is now full of bittersweet memories of her late mother, isn’t going to be easy. Starting your whole life over probably isn’t supposed to be.
But after breaking up with her longtime, famous musician boyfriend, hiding out in a small town in the mountains might be the perfect remedy for a broken heart. And checking out her landlord who lives across the driveway just might cure it, too.
Only Tobias Rhodes didn’t rent out the apartment to her, rather it was his teenage son, Amos. Fiercely protective of his family and distrusting of strangers, gruff and grumpy Rhodes initially keeps little miss sunshine Ora at a distance. But over days and weeks, long hikes and fireside chats, Aurora breaks down his walls and soon an unbreakable friendship blossoms into a once-in-a-lifetime love.
Elyse: I’m down for a Zapata slow-burn romance anytime.
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Author: Georgia Summers
Released: January 30, 2024 by Redhook
Genre: Science Fiction/FantasySlip into a lush world of magic, stardust, and monsters in this spellbinding contemporary fantasy from debut author Georgia Summers.
For centuries, the Everlys have seen their best and brightest disappear, taken as punishment for a crime no one remembers, for a purpose no one understands. Their tormentor, a woman named Penelope, never ages, never grows sick – and never forgives a debt.
Violet Everly was a child when her mother left on a stormy night, determined to break the curse. When Marianne never returns, Penelope issues an ultimatum: Violet has ten years to find her mother, or she will take her place. Violet is the last of the Everly line, the last to suffer. Unless she can break the curse first.
Her hunt leads her into a seductive magical underworld of power-hungry scholars, fickle gods and monsters bent on revenge. And into the path of Penelope’s quiet assistant, Aleksander, who she knows cannot be trusted – and yet to whom she finds herself undeniably drawn.
With her time running out, Violet will travel the edges of the world to find Marianne and the key to the city of stardust, where the Everly story began.
Amanda: “A seductive magical underworld of power-hungry scholars.” Hello!
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Author: Emily Nagoski
Released: January 30, 2024 by Ballantine Books
Genre: NonfictionFrom the New York Times bestselling author of Come as You Are and co-author of Burnout comes an illuminating exploration of how to maintain a happy sex life in a long-term relationship.
“Emily Nagoski is a national treasure—helping us all understand how to finally build true, joyful, confident sex lives.”—Glennon Doyle, author of Untamed
In Come as You Are, Emily Nagoski, PhD, revolutionized the way we think about women’s sexuality. Now, in Come Together, Nagoski takes on a fundamentally misunderstood subject: sex in long-term relationships.
Most of us struggle at some point to maintain a sexual connection with our partner/s or spouse. And many of us are given not-very-good advice on what to do about it. In this book, Nagoski dispels the myths we’ve been taught about sex—for instance, the belief that sexual satisfaction and desire are highest at the beginning of a relationship and that they inevitably decline the longer that relationship lasts. Nagoski assures us that’s not true.
So, what is true? Come Together isn’t about how much we want sex, or how often we’re having it; it’s about whether we like the sex we’re having. Nagoski breaks down the obstacles that impede us from enjoying sex—from stress and body image to relationship difficulties and gendered beliefs about how sex “should” be—and presents the best ways to overcome them. You’ll learn:
• that “spontaneous desire” is not the kind of desire to strive for if you want to have great sex for decades
• vocabulary for talking with partners about ways to get in “the mood” and how to not take it personally when “the mood” is nowhere to be found
• how to understand your own and your partner’s “emotional floorplan,” so that you have a blueprint for how to get to a sexy state of mindWritten with scientific rigor, humor, and compassion, Nagoski shows us what great sex can look like, how to create it in our own lives, and what to do when struggles arise.
Shana: I’m excited for this one! Let’s talk about sex, baybeeeee.
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Author: TJ Klune
Released: September 22, 2022 by Tor Books
Genre: LGBTQIA, Paranormal, Romance
Series: Green Creek #3The Bennett family has a secret: They’re not just a family, they’re a pack. Heartsong is Robbie Fontaine’s story.
All Robbie Fontaine ever wanted was a place to belong. After the death of his mother, he bounces around from pack to pack, forming temporary bonds to keep from turning feral. It’s enough—until he receives a summons from the wolf stronghold in Caswell, Maine. Life as the trusted second to Michelle Hughes—the Alpha of all—and the cherished friend of a gentle old witch teaches Robbie what it means to be pack, to have a home. But when a mission from Michelle sends Robbie into the field, he finds himself questioning where he belongs and everything he’s been told.
Whispers of traitorous wolves and wild magic abound—but who are the traitors and who the betrayed? More than anything, Robbie hungers for answers, because one of those alleged traitors is Kelly Bennett—the wolf who may be his mate.
The truth has a way of coming out. And when it does, everything will shatter.
The Green Creek Series is for adult readers.
New hardcover edition in the Green Creek series.
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Author: Sarah Maas
Released: January 30, 2024 by Bloomsbury
Genre: Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Urban Fantasy
Series: Crescent City #3The stunning third book in the sexy, action-packed Crescent City series, following the global bestsellers House of Earth and Blood and House of Sky and Breath.
Bryce Quinlan never expected to see a world other than Midgard, but now that she has, all she wants is to get back. Everything she loves is in Midgard: her family, her friends, her mate. Stranded in a strange new world, she’s going to need all her wits about her to get home again. And that’s no easy feat when she has no idea who to trust.
Hunt Athalar has found himself in some deep holes in his life, but this one might be the deepest of all. After a few brief months with everything he ever wanted, he’s in the Asteri’s dungeons again, stripped of his freedom and without a clue as to Bryce’s fate. He’s desperate to help her, but until he can escape the Asteri’s leash, his hands are quite literally tied.
In this sexy, breathtaking sequel to the #1 bestsellers House of Earth and Blood and House of Sky and Breath, Sarah J. Maas’s Crescent City series reaches new heights as Bryce and Hunt’s world is brought to the brink of collapse-with its future resting on their shoulders.
Aarya: No spoilers, but I am very curious to see what unravels after the last bombshell cliffhanger.
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Author: Anastasia Ryan
Released: January 30, 2024 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary Romance, RomanceFrom hilariously awkward lunch breaks to cringe-worthy Zoom calls, this workplace comedy of errors is sure to put a smile on your face.
Indiana “Ana” Aaron is a talented coder and IT specialist, but she doesn’t always fit in at work. When she speaks up one too many times for her boss’s ego, she’s transferred to a remote team—and it’s clear this is her last chance to blend in.
Ana sees working from home as a chance at redemption; she can keep her head down and her camera off. But when her new boss praises her assertiveness and thanks Mr. Aaron, she sees no reason to correct him.
The longer Ana waits to set things straight, the more complicated things get. Soon the legend of “Indiana” begins to take on a life of its own, and Ana is in over her head. Fortunately, she has friends at work, including Shane, a handsome tech guy who’s smart enough to put the puzzle together and to help her triumph over workplace preconceptions and other nonsense.
Dahlia: I’ve never read a workplace rom-com modern enough to be centered on remote work and Zoom calls, and this one was delightfully funny and charming.
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Author: Cara Tanamachi
Released: January 30, 2024 by St. Martin's Griffin
Genre: Contemporary Romance, RomanceSometimes, when you ask the universe for your soulmate, you wind up with your hate mate instead.
On Nami’s 30th birthday, she’s reminded at every turn that her life isn’t what she planned. She’s always excelled at everything – until now. Her fiancé blew up their engagement. Her pride and joy, the tech company she helped to found, is about to lose funding. And her sister, Sora, is getting married to the man of her dreams, Jack, and instead of being happy for her, as she knows she ought to be, she’s fighting off jealousy.
Frustrated with her life, she makes a wish on a birthday candle to find her soulmate. Instead, the universe delivers her hate mate, Nami’s old high school nemesis, Jae Lee, the most popular kid from high school, who also narrowly beat her out for valedictorian. More than a decade later, Jae is still as effortlessly cool, charming, and stylish as ever, and, to make matters worse, is planning a hostile take-over of her start-up. sharp elbows and even sharper banter as the two go head-to-head to see who’ll win this time. But when their rivalry ignites a different kind of passion, Nami starts to realize that it’s not just her company that’s in danger of being taken over, but her heart as well.
Shana: I really like this author but I tend to shy away from hate-to-lovers stories. Will this change my mind?
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Not much on the tbr this week except for the two new Heart2Heart charity anthologies (with proceeds benefiting LGBTQI charities) being released February 2, with one of the volumes featuring all paranormal love stories. Authors include Annabeth Albert, Fearne Hill, Leslie McAdam, Eliot Grayson, and a number of other SBTB favorites.
The Mariana Zapata book is a reissue. It was enjoyable, though, if you haven’t already read it.
I’m surprised you didn’t link the review that ran yesterday for The City of Stardust! Or are you hoping the gorgeous cover and intriguing description will entice people to buy it more than the so-so review?
The Zapata is definitely a re-release. I read that one at least a year or two ago, maybe it’s a new cover? Not as strong as Kulti or the Wall of Winnipeg and not as sweet as From Lukov, imo.
All on my TBR!
I’ve seen a couple of very positive reviews of Jenny Holiday’s new CANADIAN BOYFRIEND, and I quite liked the earlier books of hers I’ve read (though I still have some in my TBR mountain) and really, really enjoyed DUKE, ACTUALLY. I found it just delightful. So CANADIAN BOYFRIEND is one I’m looking forward to nabbing from my library.
Also, I’m Canadian, though I don’t live there anymore. I always say I’m Canadian by birth and inclination. And citizenship, though I don’t always mention that here in the Altered States.
I really enjoyed ALL RHODES LEAD HERE when it was first released, so I’ll borrow this one for the new epilogue and a new listen. I love getting lost in Mariana Zapata’s characters and their slow burn romances.
At first glance I thought there was a new Mariana Zapata I hadn’t read…this must just be the new Avon paperback publish date for Zapata’s “All Rhodes Lead Here”, as I read a kindle version published in April of 2021.
🙁
@Nicole: Things are definitely not that nefarious, lol. I format and schedule things in advance, so sometimes I forget to add additional things. Like I formatted the review the day before it went up and HYW is usually scheduled several days or at least week in advance because there can be a lot of books to cover.
Book 6 in the Kinda Fairytale series, HAPPILY EVER WITCH by Cassandra Gannon is out on February 1st and it’s ESMERALDA AND TREVALYAN AND OMG MY LITTLE HEART. 2 MORE SLEEPS.
Ms Gannon has openly stated that Ez has chewed up and spat out so many heroes so here’s hoping that a reformed (?) anti-hero might be worthy of her. I was trying not to get my hopes up too high, but clearly that hasn’t worked.
@Ely OMG I am in the middle of a full series re-read just to keep the excitement at bay!! Cannot wait for Esmeralda’s book!!
Here’s Skye Kilaen’s list of recent queer releases for January – https://skyewritesromance.com/new-queer-romances-jan-24/
She focuses on indie and small press books and stories by marginalized authors that can get lost. Definitely read the samples before you buy, but I’ve discovered some absolute gems that I hadn’t heard of anywhere else.
Interwoven, Book 8 of Ripley Hayes’ Daniel Owen Welsh Mysteries is scheduled to be released tomorrow (Kindle Unlimited). At the start of the series, both MCs (Daniel Owen and Mal Kent) are detectives in a small Welsh town who become romantic partners (light to moderate m/m steam). Things evolve for the characters (still together) but every book involves a crime (or crimes) that have to be solved.
Just released today–Samantha Chase’s IRRESISTIBLE LOVE, which kicks off a new Wylder brothers’ series while tying into her Montgomerys (small town/big family vibes) and Amy Aislin’s GAME ON, which wraps up her Vancouver Orcas m/m hockey series.