Angela– Thank goodness it’s May. I’ve been mentally done with April for like the last 2 weeks. I know y’all know what I’m talking about. LOL. There are a bunch of books releasing this month that look fabulous, I’m pretty excited to dive in to my ARC list.
Tourist Attraction (Moose Springs, Alaska #1) by Sarah Morgenthaler 05/05 Contemporary Romance– Grumpy local falls in love with a spunky, kind tourist and it takes place in Alaska? Sign me up.
The Trouble with Hating You by Sajni Patel 05/12 Contemporary Romance-This looks like a fun enemies to lovers story with a dash of marriage pressure. The cover is GORGEOUS and once I read the blurb I knew I had to get my hands on a copy.
Slippery Creatures (The Will Darling Adventures Book 1) by K.J. Charles 05/13 LGBT Historical Romance– I will read pretty much anything this author writes, no lie. ESPECIALLY when the blurb ends with ” 1920s m/m romance trilogy in the spirit of Golden Age pulp fiction.”
Real Men Knit by Kwana Jackson 05/19 Contemporary Romance– You guys, read this blurb:
When their foster-turned-adoptive mother suddenly dies, four brothers struggle to keep open the doors of her beloved Harlem knitting shop.
Jesse Strong is known for two things: his devotion to his adoptive mom, Mama Joy, and his reputation for breaking hearts. When Mama Joy unexpectedly passes away, he and his brothers have different plans for what to do with Strong Knits, their neighborhood knitting store. Jesse wants to keep the store open. His brothers want to tie off loose ends and close shop….
Part-time shop employee Kerry Fuller has kept her crush on Jesse a secret. When she overhears his impassioned plea to his brothers to keep the knitting shop open, she volunteers to help. Unlike Jesse, Kerry knows the “knitty-gritty” of the business, and together they make plans to reinvent Strong Knits for a new generation.
But the more time they spend together, the stronger the chemistry builds between them. Kerry, knowing Jesse’s history, doesn’t believe their relationship can last longer than she can knit one, purl two. But Jesse is determined to prove to her that he can be the man for her forever and always. After all, real men knit.
Chaos Reigning (The Consortium Rebellion Book 3) by Jessie Mihalik 05/19 Science Fiction Romance– This is the third book in a truly superb sci/fi romance series. It’s finally Catarina’s story and she is paired with her bodyguard, Alex. I mean who can turn down a bodyguard romance? Not this girl.
Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsner 05/26 LGBT Contemporary Romance– I’ve heard such good things about his book. A Hollywood heavyweight and her assistant are suddenly proclaimed a couple in the tabloids and suddenly they realize there may be something there after all.
Recipe for Persuasion by Sonali Dev 05/26 Contemporary Romance– A twist on Jane Austen’s Persuasion featuring a chef so desperate to save her restaurant that she joins a reality TV cooking show and it paired with… her ex. I’m super excited for this one.
Kini: Somehow April kind of flew by. Of the 6 unread books I had on my April TBR, I read three of them. I was doing well early in the month and then just lost momentum. Things are weird right now. One I absolutely LOVED- You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle. I hope to get to my unread April books soon. But let’s talk May! There are so many books coming out this month that I have on my TBR I am not going to mention all (15+) of them, but I do want to highlight the ones I am extra excited about.
The Tourist Attraction by Sarah Morganthaler (contemporary 5/5) I am low key obsessed with books with Alaska as the main setting. I think this is because my childhood BFF lives there and I like to imagine that by reading books with an Alaska setting, I am visiting her. But back to the book. I am actually reading this now and it is cutesy. Kind of like Gilmore Girls went to Alaska.
Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner (women’s fiction 5/5) This is not a romance but I absolutely adore Weiner’s voice so I am really looking forward to this one. The blurb mentions”friendship and forgiveness during a disastrous wedding”.
He’s Come Undone: Romance Anthology (contemporary 5/12) This anthology features stories by Adriana Herrera, Emma Barry, Olivia Dade, Ruby Lang, and Cat Sebastian. This quote is used in the promo-
“For him, control is everything…until it shatters, and now he’s come undone.”
I am really looking forward to 5 stories of men coming undone.
Secrets from a Happy Marriage by Maisey Yates (wf/romance 5/12) I **think** this is Yates’ first time in tradepaper, but I could be wrong. A widowed heroine sounds very tragic and I am here for it.
The Trouble with Hating You by Sajni Patel (contemporary 5/12) This cover is beautiful. The blurb mentions that the heroine’s family tries to set her up with the hero and she is not having it. And then they are forced together for work.This sounds like the type of enemies to lovers that I usually enjoy.
Beach Read by Emily Henry (wf/contemporary romance 5/19) Almost everyone in my book club group has read this and loved it. The heroine is a romance writer and she and the hero are staying in neighboring houses. I am looking forward to delving in to this.
Real Men Knit by Kwana Jackson (contemporary 5/19) The hero knits. That’s it, that is why I want to read this book. LOL. Well that was what drew me in. I feel certain it will contain a lovely story and romance as well.
A Taste of Sage by Yaffa S. Santos (contemporary 5/19) Another enemies to lovers trope where they are chefs that don’t get along. The heroine has “synesthesia” and can perceive a person’s emotions through their cooking. I am very intrigued.
Ghosting: A Love Story by Tash Skilton (contemporary 5/26) I really enjoyed Fame Adjacent by Sarah Skilton last year, she’s one half of Tash Skilton. You may know by now that I am drawn to almost any romance novel that has something to do with online dating. I expect at least a small epistolary element to this book.
The Girl Next Door by Chelsea M. Cameron (contemporary 5/26) This is one of the first books from Carina’s new line Carina Adores that is dedicated to LGBTQIA Romance. I have been trying to read more f/f romance and this features a heroine that returns to her hometown. I don’t know what that trope is called, but I usually love it.
Dream Maker by Kristen Ashley (contemporary 5/26) There was no way I wasn’t going to read this the minute I got it. This is a spin off of Rock Chicks and the Chaos Series. It worked for me. KA super fans will absolutely love this. If you are a KA fan (but maybe haven’t read her recent work for reasons) and have been waiting for her to return to these worlds with KA brand of magic, I think this one is for you.
Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsner– (contemporary 5/26) A cheat because I already read this. Berkely was kind enough to send me a paper galley back in January and I read it in one day. The cover is beautiful as is the story. It is a boss/assistant relationship and I thought it was so well done. If you love SUPER slow burns (ie Mariana Zapata) you should put this one on your list.
What books are you excited about this month?
For April, I still have Annika Martin’s THE BILLIONAIRE’S FAKE FIANCÉE and Skye Warren’s WHO WILL SAVE YOUR SOUL? to read—they were both released earlier this week. I just finished Kati Wilde’s LOSING IT ALL, the long-awaited next book in her Hellfire Riders MC series, which was also released a few days ago. It is epically good—and, I might have mentioned a time or two (or two thousand—lol) is dedicated to me!—but I would love it even if that were not the case.
The beginning of the month always brings some new Harlequin Presents and Dare books from some of my favorite authors: TAKE ME from Caitlin Crews (which, if you’re planning to read, you might want to read TEACH ME, the first book in the series, first), Jackie Ashenden’s THE SPANIARD’S WEDDING REVENGE, and Clare Connelly’s THE SECRET KEPT FROM THE KING. Then on May 11, Molly O’Keefe concludes her Notorious series with THE SAINT. On May 19, Ainsley Booth releases at long last the next (and, I believe, final) book in her Forbidden Bodyguards series, FILTHY LIAR. I have Sarina Bowen’s SURE SHOT (May 12) on my “possible” list. Bowen used to be an auto-buy for me, but I’ve felt some of her recent stuff has had a “paint-by-the-numbers” feel—and I was very let down by BROOKLYNAIRE which I felt didn’t capitalize on all the tension and anticipation that had been built up for the couple in the previous Brooklyn Bruisers books. But I enjoy sports agent/athlete stories, so I’ll probably try a sample of SURE SHOT and decide if I want to read the whole thing.
DiscoDollyDeb, I am so happy that Kati’s new book (finally) came out and that you loved it. How exciting to have your name listed in the dedication! I am going to have to check it out.
I too am waiting for the next in the Notorious series. I am sad I forgot to include it in my list.
I am currently taking a break from Bowen. I was super disappointed in the last few books, particularly how Bowen handled the depiction of people of color. That’s okay there are plenty of other books for me to read and love.