Happy Tuesday!
We’re closing out the month rather strongly with ten releases we’re looking forward to! There are series continuations, retellings, and mysteries. The beginning of July looks packed with great books too!
Which releases are you ready for? Let us know in the comments!
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A Daughter of Fair Verona
Author: Christina Dodd
Released: June 25, 2024 by A John Scognamiglio Book
Genre: Historical: European, Mystery/Thriller, Romance
Series: Daughter of Montague #1I’m the eldest daughter of Romeo and Juliet. Yes, that Romeo and Juliet. No, they didn’t die in the tomb. They’re alive and well and living in fair Verona with their six wildly impetuous children and me, their nineteen-year-old daughter Rosaline…
Knives Out meets Bridgerton in Fair Verona, as New York Times bestselling author Christina Dodd kicks off a frothy, irreverent, witty new series with an irresistible premise—Romeo and Juliet’s daughter as a clever, rebellious, fiercely independent young woman in fair Verona—told from the delightfully engaging point of view of the captivating Rosie Montague herself…
“A sharp, determined heroine, a clever historical mystery, sparkling wit, a unique setting, family drama and a dash of romance.”– AMANDA QUICK, New York Times bestselling author of The Lady Has a Past
Once upon a time a young couple met and fell in love. You probably know that story, and how it ended (hint: badly). Only here’s the thing: That’s not how it ended at all.
Romeo and Juliet are alive and well and the parents of seven kids. I’m the oldest, with the emphasis on ‘old’—a certified spinster at twenty, and happy to stay that way. It’s not easy to keep your taste for romance with parents like mine. Picture it—constant monologues, passionate declarations, fighting, making up, making out . . . it’s exhausting.
Each time they’ve presented me with a betrothal, I’ve set out to find the groom-to-be a more suitable bride. After all, someone sensible needs to stay home and manage this household. But their latest match, Duke Stephano, isn’t so easy to palm off on anyone else. The debaucher has had three previous wives—all of whom met unfortunate ends. Conscience forbids me from consigning another woman to that fate. As it turns out, I don’t have to . . .
At our betrothal ball—where, quite by accident, I meet a beautiful young man who makes me wonder if perhaps there is something to love at first sight—I stumble upon Duke Stephano with a dagger in his chest. But who killed him? His late wives’ families, his relatives, his mistress, his servants—half of Verona had motive. And when everyone around the Duke begins dying, disappearing, or descending into madness, I know I must uncover the killer . . . before death lies on me like an untimely frost.
Elyse: Knives Out meets Bridgerton? I’m definitely willing to give that a try .
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A Novel Love Story
Author: Ashley Poston
Released: June 25, 2024 by Berkley
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romance, Science Fiction/FantasyA professor of literature finds herself caught up in a work of fiction… literally.
Eileen Merriweather loves to get lost in a good happily-ever-after. The fictional kind, anyway. Because at least imaginary men don’t leave you at the altar. She feels safe in a book. At home. Which might be why she’s so set on going to her annual book club retreat this year—she needs good friends, cheap wine, and grand romantic gestures—no matter what.
But when her car unexpectedly breaks down on the way, she finds herself stranded in a quaint town that feels like it’s right out of a novel…
Because it is.
This place can’t be real, and yet… she’s here, in Eloraton, the town of her favorite romance series, where the candy store’s honey taffy is always sweet, the local bar’s burgers are always a little burnt, and rain always comes in the afternoon. It feels like home. It’s perfect—and perfectly frozen, trapped in the late author’s last unfinished story.
Elsy is sure that’s why she must be here: to help bring the town to its storybook ending.
Except there is a character in Eloraton that she can’t place—a grumpy bookstore owner with mint-green eyes, an irritatingly sexy mouth and impeccable taste in novels. And he does not want her finishing this book.
Which is a problem because Elsy is beginning to think the town’s happily-ever-after might just be intertwined with her own.
Ashley Poston’s latest magical realism romance!
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A Ruse of Shadows
Author: Sherry Thomas
Released: June 25, 2024 by Berkley
Genre: Historical: European, Mystery/Thriller
Series: Lady Sherlock #8Charlotte Holmes is accustomed to solving crimes, not being accused of them, but she finds herself in a dreadfully precarious position as the bestselling Lady Sherlock series continues.
Charlotte’s success on the RMS Provence has afforded her a certain measure of time and assurance. Taking advantage of that, she has been busy, plotting to prise the man her sister loves from Moriarty’s iron grip.
Disruption, however, comes from an unexpected quarter. Lord Bancroft Ashburton, disgraced and imprisoned as a result of Charlotte’s prior investigations, nevertheless manages to press Charlotte into service: Underwood, his most loyal henchman, is missing and Lord Bancroft wants Charlotte to find Underwood, dead or alive.
But then Lord Bancroft himself turns up dead and Charlotte, more than anyone else, meets the trifecta criteria of motive, means, and opportunity. Never mind rescuing anyone else, with the law breathing down her neck, can Charlotte save herself from prosecution for murder?
Aarya: I confess I’m a few books behind but I look forward to catching up soon.
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Change of Heart
Author: Kate Canterbary
Released: June 25, 2024 by Vesper Press
Genre: Contemporary Romance, RomanceGrey’s Anatomy meets a gender-swapped Wedding Crashers in this spicy rom-com about a one-night stand with The One, walking the tightrope of love and workplace ethics, and knowing which rules are worth breaking.
Every summer, superstar surgeon Whitney Aldritch crashes weddings with her best friend. The first one was an accident though after a decade of dropping in uninvited, they’re masters of their craft. They keep the rules simple and they never go to bed alone.
Then there’s Henry Hazlette, best man and the best one-night stand of Whit’s summer. She never imagined she’d see him again but now he’s one of her new surgical residents—and completely off-limits.
Whitney has staked her reputation on leading the hospital’s new ethics initiative. While Henry is under her supervision, they have to keep it professional. But it doesn’t help that she can’t turn around without running face-first into his offensively broad chest or rubbing up against him in crammed elevators. Also not the way he smiles at her like he can hear her every not-safe-for-work thought.
All they have to do is survive this residency—and the accidental tarot card readings that hit too close to home, a few uninvited houseguests, and the hospital’s hyperactive rumor mill—but only if they’re prepared to bend some rules as the feelings go from just for tonight to get it out of our systems to mine.
Aarya: One of my favorite indie authors.
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Foul Days
Author: Genoveva Dimova
Released: June 25, 2024 by Tor Books
Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy
Series: The Witch's Compendium of Monsters #1As a witch in the walled city of Chernograd, Kosara has plenty of practice taming rusalkas, fighting kikimoras, and brewing lycanthrope repellent. There’s only one monster Kosara can’t defeat: her ex the Zmey, known as the Tsar of Monsters. She’s defied him one too many times, and now he’s hunting her. Betrayed to him by someone close to her, Kosara’s only hope is to trade her shadow―the source of her powers―for illegal passage across the Wall to Belograd, where monsters can’t follow.
Life in Belograd should be sweet, but Kosara soon develops a fast-acting version of the deadly wasting sickness that stalks shadowless witches―and only reclaiming her magic can cure her. To trace her shadow, she’ll have to team up with the suspiciously honorable detective investigating the death of the smuggler who brought her across the Wall.
Even worse than working with the cops is that all the clues point in a single direction: one of the Zmey’s monsters has found a crack in the Wall, and Kosara’s magic is now in the Zmey’s hands.
The clock is ticking, the hunt is on, and Kosara’s priorities should be clear―but is she the hunter or the hunted? And in a city where everyone is out for themselves, who can Kosara trust to assist her in outwitting the man―the Monster―she’s never been able to escape alone?
Sarah: This was pitched as “Witcher meets Naomi Novik” which made me sit up and listen: A witch gives up her magic to escape a stalking powerful ex, but now has to reclaim it to heal a wasting sickness.
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Hot Summer
Author: Elle Everhart
Released: June 25, 2024 by G.P. Putnam's Sons
Genre: Contemporary Romance, LGBTQIA, RomanceSparks fly when a young woman finds herself cast on a Love Island-inspired reality show and has to choose between her heart and her strategy in this sizzling new queer romantic comedy from the beloved author of Wanderlust.
This summer, things are about to heat up.
Cas Morgan has spent years of her life watching Hot Summer, the hit reality dating show that pairs together a bunch of sexy singles in an exotic island location. Like the rest of the TV-watching UK public, she’s captivated by the hot contestants, outrageous fights, and hilarious banter. But she never quite thought she’d be a part of it, until her company secures a partnership with the production team behind the show, and Cas is handpicked as a contestant. She won’t get any extra help making it through the eight weeks in the hot Cypriot sun, but if she does well and makes it to the finals, her long-awaited promotion will be secured.
Cas is ready to spend the summer trying to make herself more likeable to win over the voting public—and, if not likeable, then at least iconic. But just as she steps into the villa, her entire plan goes off course. She’s instantly smitten with fellow contestant, Ada, who shockingly appears to be on the show to find a genuine relationship, one Cas can’t give. Ada is gorgeous and charming, and seems to like Cas exactly as she is, sharp-edges and all. Cas isn’t used to the side of herself Ada brings out, and when their connection becomes undeniable—and Cas’s own standing in the villa precarious—she’s torn between listening to her heart or sticking to her strategy.
Dahlia: I absolutely devoured all the reality show deliciousness and blazing chemistry between Cas and Ada, as well as the delightful secondary cast. This just sailed into being my favorite Sapphic adult romance of the year so far.
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Love Letters to a Serial Killer
Author: Tasha Coryell
Released: June 25, 2024 by Berkley
Genre: Mystery/ThrillerAn aimless young woman starts writing to an accused serial killer while he awaits trial and then, once he’s acquitted, decides to move in with him and take the investigation into her own hands in this dark and irresistibly compelling debut thriller.
Recently ghosted and sick of watching her friends fade into the suburbs, thirty-something Hannah finds community in a true-crime forum that’s on a mission to solve the murders of four women in Atlanta. After William, a handsome lawyer, is arrested for the killings, Hannah begins writing him letters. It’s the perfect outlet for her pent-up frustration and rage. The exercise empowers her, and even feels healthy at first.
Until William writes back.
Hannah’s interest in the case goes from curiosity to obsession, leaving space for nothing else as her life implodes around her. After she loses her job, she heads to Georgia to attend the trial and befriends other true-crime junkies like herself. When a fifth woman is discovered, the jury has no choice but to find William not guilty, and Hannah is the first person he calls upon his release. The two of them quickly fall into a routine of domestic bliss.
Well, as blissful as one can feel while secretly investigating their partner for serial murder…
Elyse: This one sounds dark and intriguing.
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The Mistress Experience
Author: Scarlett Peckham
Released: June 25, 2024 by Avon
Genre: Historical: European, Romance
Series: The Society of Sirens #3The scandalous women of the USA Today bestselling author Scarlett Peckham’s Society of Sirens are back with the final stage in their fight for female rights—and this time the battle is to be waged in bed…
She’s the most infamous harlot in London…and she’s up for auction.
Thaïs Magadalene is a legend. The nation’s most notorious courtesan, she sells herself once a week, for one night only, and never to the same patron twice. Until now. To raise money for the cause of women’s rights, she has auctioned herself off for one month as mistress to the highest bidder.
But the winner is not who he seems.
Lord Alastair Eden is an earl, a radical politician, and a perfectionist in all things—except one. His confidence belies an unexpected he doesn’t know how to please a woman in bed. He’s determined to change that before he marries. And who could be better than the most skilled lover in the country to teach him?
And love is never for sale.
Thaïs dreams of finding a man who will love her unconditionally, never mind her past and reputation. Eden dreams of finding a perfectly bred young lady to be his wife and helpmeet. But when a steamy month in the countryside breeds a connection both in and out of the bedchamber, the two of them must decide how much can be sacrificed for love—one’s dreams, or one’s reputation.
Amanda: I love this cover!
Shana: This series has been a mixed bag for me, but Thaïs was one of my favorite characters…and I’m a sucker for love vs. duty stories
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One Cursed Rose
Author: Rebecca Zanetti
Released: June 25, 2024 by Kensington
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Erotica/Erotic Romance, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
Series: Grimm Bargains #1For fans of Scarlett St Clair and Sarah J Maas, New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Zanetti explores the forbidden and the taboo in this modern twist on Beauty and the Beast – the first in a seductive new dark romance series set in a world where information is power, and those who control the flow of information live like gods…
“Sexy and utterly engrossing!” —bestselling author J.T. Geissinger
They christened me Alana—and while the name means beauty, beneath that surface is a depth I allow very few to see. I’m sole heir to Aquarius Social, a media giant about to succumb to an unseen enemy. My father’s solution is to marry me off to the son of a competing family. My reaction? Not a chance. Now I have just a week before the wedding to change my fate.
Who knew the unforeseen twist would be an assassination attempt on me and an unwanted rescue by Thorn Beathach, the head of the rival social media empire driving Aquarius under? The richest, most ruthless of them all, the Beast protects his realm with an iron rule: no one sees his face. When he shows himself to me, I know he’ll never let me go.
Thorn may think he can lock me in his enchanted castle forever, but I’m not the docile Beauty he expects. If the Beast wants to tie me up, I’m going to take pleasure from every minute of it . . .and we’ll just see who ends up shackled.
Amanda: I’ve heard this one is dark, but I want to see how this Beauty and the Beast retelling plays out.
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Tangled Up in You
Author: Christina Lauren
Released: June 25, 2024 by Hyperion Avenue
Genre: Contemporary Romance, New Adult, Romance
Series: Meant to Be #4She has a dream. He has a plan. Together they’ll take a leap of faith.
Ren has never held an iPhone, googled the answer to a question, or followed a crush on social media. What she has done: read a book or two, or three (okay, hundreds). Taught herself to paint. Built a working wind power system from scratch. But for all the books she’s read, Ren has never found one that’s taught a woman raised on a homestead and off the grid for most of her twenty-two years how to live in the real world. So when she finally achieves her lifelong dream of attending Corona College, it feels like her life is finally beginning.
Fitz has the rest of his life mapped out: graduate from Corona at the top of his class, get his criminal record wiped clean, and pass himself off as the rich, handsome player everyone thinks he is. He’s a few months short from checking off step one of his plans when Ren Gylden, with her cascading blonde hair and encyclopedic brain, crashes into his life, and for the first time Fitz’s plan is in jeopardy.
But a simple assignment in their immunology seminar changes the course of both their lives, and suddenly they’re thrown out of the frying pan and into the fire on a road trip that will lead them in the most unexpected directions. Out on the open road, the world somehow shifts, and the unlikely pair realize that, maybe, the key to the dreams they’ve both been chasing have been sitting next to them the whole time.
Amanda: These Disney romance retellings are fascinating to me and I’m particularly curious about this one.
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The first two of these made me go “ooh!” (And how have I missed Ashley Poston before? Love a book set at a con).
On my list is A.J. Demas’s The House of the Red Balconies. It feels like forever since we’ve had one of her AU Mediterranean stories, and I’m really looking forward to this one.
In addition to the aforementioned Kate Canterbary, there is one other book on my tbr this week: INVITATIONS (June 30) is the long-awaited third book of C.M. Nascosta’s Girls’ Weekend series of monster romances. I’ve been waiting for a while to check back in with elves Lurielle, Ris, and Silva as they plan Lurielle’s wedding to orc Khash.
Looks like a great week for new releases! Also out today: a Vivian Shaw novella, BITTER WATERS, in the Dr. Greta Helsing series. *heart eyes*
Loved A Novel Love Story. I was so disappointed by Daughter of Fair Verona; it doesn’t even bother with Shakesperian language.
Thaïs was my favorite part of this series too and I was so disappointed by her story :/. Maybe I went in with such high expectations but it didn’t work for me at all.
Everything else is on the TBR.
A DAUGHTER OF FAIR VERONA really lost me with R+J naming their firstborn Rosaline. Really? That would be like naming their son Paris. Weird move!
The Disney retellings have been cute but it feels like such a waste having Christina Lauren so closed-door family friendly romance.
Excited for the next in Jennifer Bernard’s Firelight Ridge series, FIRE PEAK. Also Janna MacGregor’s A SIMPLE MARRIAGE.
@Theresa Romain: I may have stayed up until 4am today reading Bitter Waters for the first time — extremely heartwarming!
I love that the Scarlett Peckham cover design is harkening back to the Old Skool romances of yore, right down to the title font. Delightful.
Late to the party for this one, but I just discovered that yesterday (June 27) Julie Kriss released SONGS TO BREAK UP TO, the sixth book in her Road Kings series of rock band romances. In this one, the heroine is a rock bassist, the hero is a former teen idol. They are the maid-of-honor and the best man, respectively, when their siblings marry. I downloaded it right away…but this is what I get for not following any writers on social media.