Angela- Once again I read ahead because I couldn’t help myself. What can I say? I have no willpower. There are still a bunch of new releases I’m looking forward to and a couple of books on my massive TBR stack I’m determined to work in.
Neon Gods by Katee Robert- 6/1 Contemporary Fantasy– I absolutely read this as soon as it hit my Kindle and don’t regret it at all. This book is HOT. Be prepared. It’s also such a wonderful new twist on the Hades and Persephone myth that I can’t wait to get to the rest of the series. Review to come this week.
Hellbound Guilds & Other Misdirections (The Guild Codex: Warped Book 2) by Annette Marie and Rob Jacobsen– 6/4 Urban Fantasy- I discovered there was FINALLY a release date for this book while searching Amazon for the new release post. I am so excited. I have been jonesing to get back to this world for some time. More Kit Morris!
The Queer Principles of Kit Webb by Cat Sebastian– 6/8 LGBT Historical Romance– How do you resist a Cat Sebastian book? This one features a retired highwayman and the son of an aristocrat who wants to hire him to do a job for reasons.
The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton 6/15 Historical Romance– Lady Scoundrels! Proper ladies by day, blackmailing thieves by night! Yay! The entire blurb hit all my historical romance wants, but let me give you just a taste:
A prim and proper lady thief must save her aunt from a crazed pirate and his dangerously charming henchman in this fantastical historical romance.
Love Scenes by Bridget Morrissey – 6/22 Contemporary Romance– This looks to be a enemies to lovers romance with two actors working on a film with A LOT of shenanigans and hi-jinks. Sounds like fun to me.
Subtle Blood (Will Darling Adventures by K.J. Charles– 6/23 LGBT Historical Romance– I am so excited for this release. I loved the first two books and can’t wait for more Will Darling and Kim Secretan.
The Devil and the Heiress (The Gilded Age Heiresses Book 2) by Harper St. George -6/29 Historical Romance– Yes, I read this early too. I LOVED the first book in the series and couldn’t wait for Violet and Leigh’s story. I didn’t love it quite as much, but I still really enjoyed this romance. Harper St. George is a bright new voice in the genre and one of the authors I keep harping at people to try out.
Melanie – Several of my picks were already mentioned by Angela and some of them, I was lucky enough to score ARCs for and one of them, I’ve actually already read and it is GOOD.
One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston – 6/1 – Contemporary Romance – having adored her debut, the brilliant and charming Red, White & Royal Blue, I am excited to see if her 2nd book lives up to expectations.
Neon Gods by Katee Robert – 6/1 – Contemporary Fantasy – this was a can’t put it down, read it in one sitting kind of book; no one does modern twists on Greek mythology quite the way Katee Robert does and this ultra modern take on Hades and Persephone will have you on the edge of your seat. Not to mention, it’s incredibly hot.
Rhythm by Marie Lipscomb – 6/2 – Contemporary Romance – this is a brand new to me author and I’m excited to try her out. I love a good rock star romance and the blurb promises a forced proximity trope which is one of my absolute favorites.
Reel by Kennedy Ryan – 6/8 – Contemporary Romance – if you’ve ever read a Kennedy Ryan book, you know no one plays with your emotions better. Gripping, heart breaking, and romantic, with the most beautiful prose, her books always captivate. I can’t wait to delve into this new series.
The Devil and the Heiress by Harper St. George – 6/29 – Historical Romance – I loved the first book in this series and the end of the book laid hints for what was to come in this book. Having met both of the main characters in the previous book, I can’t wait to see how the journey to their HEA unfolds.
Jen– Put me on the list for Neon Gods by Katee Robert and Reel By Kennedy Ryan. Adding a few more and wishing I had a fun beach vacation coming up to really be in full reading mode. Sadly, that’s not in the cards this summer for me.
Freed by EL James– 6/1- Ok…ok…ok…I read 50 Shades so long ago and I’m still invested in this series. I’m curious. The original books were such a turning point for me and a catalyst to so many other series. I feel like I should duck and cover for admitting that, though.
A Gorgeous Villain by Saffron A. Kent– 6/3- I read the first one in this series and liked it quite a bit. This next one is Callie and Reed’s story. Callie is Salem’s friend from the first book, My Darling Arrow. I always feel some delicious discomfort when I read Kent’s books. Angsty, broken characters who are about to engage in taboo relationships.
Red Thorns by Rina Kent – 6/10- Rina Kent + dark sports romance = happiness. Sebastian Weaver is the star quarterback and the college’s heartthrob.Rich. Handsome. Bastard. Everyone’s attention flocked toward him and all the girls dreamed to be with him. Not me. At least, not until he made a move on me.
Sancte Diaboli by Amo Jones – 6/14- I read the prior 6 (?) books quickly. This complex, action packed, over the top ridiculously addictive series is my crack. This features Brantley and Saint. Nothing could break through their bond. Nothing. Until now.
Sawyer by Siobhan Davis – 6/30- This is the 6th book in the Rydeville Elite series. The series is bully romance, and this one is MMF. I may need to do a quick reread to catch up. I’ve been waiting for Sawyer’s story…but need to refresh myself on the details! The first book is Cruel Intentions.
What books are you looking forward to this month?
The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton was so much fun to read. Looking forward to reading more from her.
Sold on the new Katee Robert!
I’m so invested in Katee Robert’s Sabine Valley series (she’s two books in on a seven-book series), I’m not sure I can start another series from her right now. Maybe I’ll read the whole Dark Olympus series when Robert finishes publishing it.
As for what what I do plan to read in June:
The first of the month is when Harlequin releases ebooks, so while the following two books are technically available now, I won’t get them until June 1:
Caitlin Crews’s (presumably) last release for Dare: JUST ONE MORE NIGHT, the second of her Summer Seductions duet. The free-spirited heroine is the sister of the heroine of Crews’s earlier THE PLEASURE CONTRACT. I’m sorry to see the Dare line come to an end, even though it never really did live up to its potential.
Also available June 1, Kelly Hunter’s long-awaited HP, PREGNANT IN THE KING’S PALACE, this is the fourth and final book in her Claimed By A King series of royal romances—and, since the previous book was published in 2019, this one truly is long-awaited. Imho, Kelly Hunter is one of the best writers of category romances (THE MAN SHE LOVES TO HATE is a keeper shelf favorite) and I can’t wait to see how she finishes up this series.
One of my favorite dark romance writers, Skye Warren, releases FINALE on June 1. This is part of her North Security series and involves two secondary characters from earlier books who are in an arranged marriage: an exiled Spanish Duke hero and a strong-willed classical pianist heroine. Let the clash of the titans begin!
J. Kenner’s MEMORIES OF YOU drops on June 8. This is part of Kenner’s Stark Security series and features the bodyguard-client trope—one of my many catnips.
Skye Warren has another book due in June: STRICT CONFIDENCE was scheduled for May release but has been moved to June 15. It’s the second book in Warren’s Rochester trilogy, a modern retelling of JANE EYRE. The first book, PRIVATE PROPERTY, ended on a cliffhanger, so I’m expecting STRICT CONFIDENCE to pick up the action right where the earlier one left off.
June 15 also brings MAFIA KING by CD Reiss, the second of her DiLustro Arrangement trilogy. The first book, MAFIA BRIDE, ended on quite the cliffhanger so I’m eager to see what happens next.
You know you’ve been reading a series for a looong time when the children of earlier MCs now show up as MCs in new books. So it is with Lexi Blake’s TREASURED (releasing June 22), where the hero is the step-son of the hero from one of Blake’s earliest Masters & Mercenaries series of BDSM-crossed-with-espionage (yes, that’s a thing!) books. This one features the bodyguard-client trope—but this time, it’s the bodyguard who’s female. Yes please!
Also arriving on June 22 is Pam Godwin’s LESSON IN SIN, which features one of my transgressive catnips: a Catholic priest who is driven by passion to break his vow of celibacy. (He’s also the headmaster of a Catholic boarding school and the heroine is a pupil at the school—so even more transgressive, although I’m hoping/assuming that the heroine is at least 18 before anything of a sexual nature takes place.) Based on the heroine’s name—Tinsley Constantine—I think the book may be part of the Midnight Dynasty series which is being written by different authors and features the rival Morelli and Constantine crime families. Tinsley Constantine was the name of the character whose 16th birthday party/ball was the central conceit of last year’s DARK FAIRY TALES anthology—so this is either a continuation of her story or an odd coincidence in Godwin’s choice of the heroine’s name.
One of my favorite (and, in my opinion, most underrated) romance writers, Julie Kriss, releases COLD DARK HEART on June 23. This is the fifth book in Kriss’s Filthy Rich series—all of which feature heroes who grew up rough on the wrong side of the tracks and earned unexpected wealth later in life. The heroine is a divorced mom who owns a bar; the hero shows up to protect her from some bad guys. Can’t wait!
And, as of right now, my favorite, Kati Wilde, has EVIL TWIN scheduled for June 30. On her website, Kati says she hopes to release it earlier (Kati freely admits her release dates are often more like suggestions than actualities), but Amazon is still showing June 30. This is a fantasy novel with a hero who impersonates his identical twin brother (the king) to claim the king’s bride. But the innocent bride has some ideas of her own! A new book from Kati is always cause for the happy dance in my house—I’m really looking forward to this one.
The new Katee Robert is really good. I think you’ll like it.
Also, I forgot the Katie Wilde was coming this month! (allegedly)
Lots of enticing books on the horizon! I’m looking forward to The Witness for the Dead by Katherine Addison which comes out later this month.
*goes to look up The Witness for the Dead*
Should I have this series on my TBR? It looks like something I would really enjoy.