As always, I recommend sampling before you buy! I have not read most of the new releases listed (although I always end up one-clicking a bunch as I prepare these posts LOL).
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A TREASON OF TRUTHS by Ada Harper
She turned her back on her people and shifted her allegiance to the very Empire she was sent to betray
Now head spymaster, Lyre’s loyalty lies with Sabine, the Empress she has loved since childhood. But when Sabine visits the secretive Cloud Vault, the floating citadel home that Lyre betrayed, Lyre’s elaborate web of lies starts to untangle. Her very presence threatens Sabine’s future, and Lyre will do whatever it takes to protect her lover…even if that means sacrificing herself.
Empress Sabine Corvus has lived a life of service, pushing aside her own desires for the greater good. With the Empire teetering on the brink of war with the traitorous Syndicate, she cannot afford to show weakness. Although Lyre’s spymaster skills are her greatest weapon, their bond is Sabine’s Achilles’ heel. Regardless of the price, she will not give Lyre up.
PLANET TALZOR NEEDS BRIDES (SHALHINARI SPACE CHRONICLES) by Eva Gordon
Mitzi leads a quiet life as a professional matchmaker. Her cozy life is turned upside down when she is chosen as the matchmaker for an alien species searching for wives. Naturally, she refuses. Unfortunately, she’s having a hard time saying no to the dashingly handsome but domineering alien warrior. Although, he makes her heart flutter, it’s a good thing he’s not her type.
Jax, captain of the Talzor starship, is ordered to hire a shalhinari, a spiritual matchmaker, to find soul mates for six of his men. He locates the best shalhinari on Earth; yet, Mitzi Selig the earthbound woman tries his patience. To his distress, he is drawn to her beauty, questioning his judgment. Worse, his long suppressed empathy gene awakens, a trait not seemly for a warrior.
The magnetic pull between Captain Jax and Mitzi is astronomical. Yet, can a tormented warrior and a woman who refuses to leave Earth find love? A long light-year distance relationship is one thing, but looming danger could curtail any chance for their star-crossed passion.
ALIEN PRINCE CHARMING (TRILYN ALIEN FAIRY TALES BOOK 1) by Zara Zenia
Once upon a time, the Trilyn made contact with the people of Earth. In return for taking seven fertile females as brides for their seven princes, they would share their alien technology and enable Earth to create intergalactic space ships.
Prince Gardax, the eldest of the seven princes has endured years of searching for the human female who can bear his children. Two years of parties, genetic compatibility scanners, and failed attempts at finding the one woman who was meant for him.
In despair that he will never find his mate among the glittering party guests, Prince Gardax begins the search in earnest, and finds his mate in the most unlikely of places – the palace kitchens.
Amy Allan was just looking for a job, anything to ensure the survival of herself and her baby sister. Working in the great palace of the eldest Trilyn prince seemed like a good idea at the time, and the only option available for a war-refugee with a toddler in tow. But with a backbreaking workload and a nightmare boss, hoping for something better seems futile.
When the devastatingly handsome alien prince bursts into the kitchens demanding his mate, Amy’s last shred of hope disappears as her domineering boss, Darla, steps in to claim the prince for herself. Darla will stop at nothing to become a princess, even if it means threatening Amy and her sister. Can Amy defeat her nemesis and win the prince’s heart? Or will she lose everything she’s fought so hard to keep?
EXIT STRATEGY: THE MURDERBOT DIARIES by Martha Wells
VS Note: NOT a romance but oh, I LOVE this series! Have had this on pre-order forever.
Murderbot wasn’t programmed to care. So, its decision to help the only human who ever showed it respect must be a system glitch, right?
Having traveled the width of the galaxy to unearth details of its own murderous transgressions, as well as those of the GrayCris Corporation, Murderbot is heading home to help Dr. Mensah—its former owner (protector? friend?)—submit evidence that could prevent GrayCris from destroying more colonists in its never-ending quest for profit.
But who’s going to believe a SecUnit gone rogue?
And what will become of it when it’s caught?
UNBEARABLE FEAR: BEARS OF ARIA by ML Guida
Walfea hides on Earth to forget the horrors of his past. He was a security bear for the Intrepid, but now doubts his abilities. The last thing he thought would happen is meeting his mate–a spirited girl with a terrible secret.
Skye Carr is on the run from a stalker. A friend lets her stay in a cabin the mountains that has a mysterious caretaker. Skye soon discovers he’s not a man, but a shifter. She thinks she’s safe, but she isn’t.
With betrayal and doubt on all sides, Walfea and Skye have to work together to escape their enemy. Can Skye trust a space bear with her life and her heart? And with the Intrepid out of range, will Walfea believe in himself to protect the woman he loves or is he doomed to make the same haunting mistakes?
ANNA AND THE ALIEN (ALIEN ABDUCTION BOOK 1) by Honey Phillips
All Anna needed was a calm, relaxing vacation. Instead, she finds herself enslaved aboard an alien spacecraft and forced to help an injured prisoner—a huge, golden-skinned warrior. Even wounded, he arouses her in ways she’s never known. But if he dies, so does she.
When the spaceship crashes on a strange planet, she must put her trust in him to survive. But the passion he stirs in her may cause her to lose her heart as well.
Jakkar is a Sardoran mercenary searching desperately for a new planet to replace his dying home world. He never expected to be injured, captured, and then shipwrecked. Forbidden to mate outside his species, he can’t help but be tempted by Anna’s curvy body and her caring heart.
Now he’s responsible for the small group of survivors—and the luscious little human he’s determined to claim as his own.
Can a girl and her alien find happiness on a deserted planet at the far end of the galaxy?
BLADE (DARK MONSTER FANTASY BOOK 3) by Cari Silverwood
Ledderik is a slightly homicidal cyborg and is ready to lose himself in a virtual world for the rest of his tomorrows, until he saves Thorn from death and gets sucked into the wake of her cataclysmic siren attraction.
Maybe life can be fun?
Besides, she has such a cute … tail.
One small problem, Led no longer owns his body.
Thorn has also lost everything in one day. Cross out being a starship captain or her own species, or having friends. Instead she’s been cursed with being a hurricane force sexual magnet.
She has questions.
Why is she a biohazard on most reputable planets and how can she avoid triggering an extinction event and killing every male nearby? The two of them cross the galaxy, with Led swapping from loaner body to loaner body.
He’s the one male who can resist her, and he’s upskilling.
Up against the wall? Upside down? With tentacles and DD drilling power? Led is good at what he does. Always.
Meet the hot ex-cyborg who no longer looks in the mirror, in case his latest loaner body is ugly. He has one priority – make sure the downstairs department is BIG.
ALIEN ASCENSION (ALIEN SERIES BOOK 3) by Tracy Lauren
Vivian: I’m the last person who should have ever been abducted by aliens. For me, this new life is a death sentence. I’m no hero like the other women I was abducted with. No, I’m a coward. They’ll do whatever it takes to help each other and I’ll simply do whatever it takes to survive, no matter what the cost. But there’s one alien who refuses to accept my outlook on life. As a matter of fact, he’s determined to change my mind.
Dax: I know I am the only male who will be able to pull Vivian from the darkness consuming her. Finding an opportunity, I decide to steal her away from the others, if only for a short while. What she needs is adventure, a little fun and excitement to remind her of all the beauty there is in life. I try to tell myself this is all just a game to lift the human’s spirits, but deep in my core I know my feelings for Vivian will change me forever.
Dax and Vivian begin their journey with an innocent enough adventure, but just as they start to find love in one another, an evil crime lord rips the pair apart. Without Dax to light her way, Vivian plunges back into darkness. Her alien mate’s life hangs in the balance and she is forced to fight for both his survival and her own.
STAR-CROSSED by Pintip Dunn
Princess Vela’s people are starving.
Stranded on a planet that lacks food, Vela makes the ultimate sacrifice and becomes an Aegis for her people. Accepting a genetic modification that takes sixty years off her life, she can feed her colony via nutrition pills. But her best friend is still getting worse. And she’s not the only one.
Now the king is dying, too.
When the boy she’s had a crush on since childhood volunteers to give his life for her father’s, Vela realizes her people need more than pills to survive. As tensions rise between Aegis and colonists, secrets and sabotage begin to threaten the future of the colony itself.
Unless Vela is brave enough to save them all.
PYTHEN (GALACTIC ORDER BOOK 1) by Erin Raegan
Peyton: I was having a cold coffee with my best friend Vivian when the whole world went upside down.
Now there are gazelle-glowing-like-a-light-bulb aliens running around eating everybody, and enormous dark purply colored aliens that have a strong resemblance to bats, dive bombing from the sky.
One of the bats says I’m his and i need to ease his mating rage. Yeah, not happening.
Except, they tell me the fate of my world comes down to me sacrificing myself to him. Maybe this won’t go like I planned. But I figure, if I have to bend to the big guy’s will, I’m damn well getting something out of it.
Tahk: My Pythe is a human.
Weak as they are, I cannot fathom how she was chosen for me. The Commander of all Dahk.
But then she rises up for her species and I cannot help but notice her fierce heart.
I will slaughter all who dare harm her and her species, and she will be mine.
JOLT SOMBER (CYBORG AWAKENINGS BOOK 2) by Christine Myers
Jolt Somber was the name the cyborg picked for himself. He was created to be a killer and his creators reinforced his killer instinct by flooding him with feel-good endorphins. For eighty years he fought the Mesaarkans at Vyken Dark’s side. He and four genetic cyborg brothers returned to Earth to help restore civilization after the war had ended.
Jolt is supervising demolition in the ruins of Farringay to build a new starport. The war left Earth in ruins with cities ruled by overlords with gangs of thugs as enforcers. Violence against women is rampant.
When Jolt finds his one genetic female mate used and left for dead by gangers, the pleasure he takes in avenging her could have unexpected repercussions.
After what males had done to her, would she ever accept Jolt as her mate?
WHEN TO NOW by Various
VS Note: The stories aren’t romance but time travel is so much fun!
From the first popularization of H.G. Wells’ THE TIME MACHINE, time travel has long fascinated readers of science fiction and fantasy. WHEN TO NOW: A TIME TRAVEL ANTHOLOGY carries on this tradition with short stories in a wide array of genres to interest every reader.
3013: KISMET by Laurie Roma
As one of the main protectors of the sanctuary in Zion, Helios warrior Trip is used to cracking heads and kicking ass. He is a male bred for action, but his need for a good fight is nothing compared to the hunger he feels for the woman who is able to calm the wild beast inside of him.
Emma Rage is a rebel, one of the few remaining humans surviving outside the edicts of Alliance law. As an outcast, she lives in fear of those who prey on the weak, but she’s never regretted the cost of her freedom…until it puts the male who owns her heart at risk.
Fate brought them together, but sacrifice could tear them apart. Is their love strong enough to withstand the secrets between them, or will their bond shatter before it truly forms?
3013: REMEDY by Kali Argent
Half D’Aire, half Reema, Kylir T’Kari is no stranger to cruel words and mocking stares. Some fear him for his uniqueness, others despise him, but mostly, people just don’t understand him. The way he sees it, that’s their problem, not his. He’s comfortable with who he is. His parents swear he hung the stars, and the ragtag crew of the Storm Rider is like a second family. The only thing missing from his life is someone to call his own.
Tasked with traveling to Xenthian to find an antidote for the infertility plaguing Earth’s women, Lieutenant Astrid Strong first has to find a way to get there. Recruiting a capable pilot with a reliable ship is easy. Realizing the hybrid brings desires to the surface she would rather keep buried, not so much.
But fate is a funny thing, and no matter how hard she tries, she can’t outrun it, can’t hide from it. Caught between a painful past and an uncertain future, she’s plagued with doubts and insecurities, and only time will tell if Kylir will be her curse…or her remedy.
MOONRISE by Hannah L Corrie
Fed up with this world? Thought about moving to Mars? Not enough distance? Well, then!What if you had the chance to become something completely different? To change what you are and leave the world you know, the solar system you know, behind? Would you take the plunge?
Yago Solas never got to ponder and much less answer those questions, but he faces the consequences when an escaped alien creature infects him with a mutating virus that takes everything from him, even his humanity.
The experiments intended to heal him soon turn to cold interest in his new physiology, and the very people supposed to save him become his enemies, his hunters, his looming demise. And why not? Who could feel sympathy for a twisted creature like him, much less love him now, looking like this?
Still, the Maker smiles down on all his childen. The space ship on which he is being held as a prisoner crashes and sends Yago stumbling into an alien culture and into the lap of Azekial Yyn-Thyr, a snarly, grim A’shian guard captain. The wary alien doesn’t care how Yago looks, but he may yet prove to be his demise; A’shian legends tell of a species that caused a cataclysm responsible for stranding the A’shians where they are, and the Terrans might just fit the bill.
TRIBE PROTECTOR (CHOSEN BOOK 3) by Stacy Jones
Lily thought she had her hands full with her conflicted feelings over her quickly progressing relationship with Arruk’s wild twin, Drrak, the uneasy truce with the tribe leader, and trying to prove she’s trustworthy to a people who want nothing to do with her. But all that pales in comparison to what’s coming.
When Lily and her mates are sent into the forest to investigate the intruders closing in on tribe territory, they find something so horrifying it shocks Lily to her very core. But more than that, it pisses her off.
Driven now by the need to protect a people not her own and to stop the monsters that hunt them, Lily gathers the tribe to her cause, enlisting them to help her. But will they be ready in time or will Lily lose everything in the fight for survival?
INSTAURATION (THE CITY SERIES BOOK 3) by Sarah Lyons Fleming
Sunset Park is gone. People are missing.
Sylvie, Eric, and the other survivors have crossed the water to the security of a new Safe Zone, where they hope to heal their battered hearts, amass an armory, and get back at the ones who took it all away. But with zombies on the move and few resources to speak of, it’s harder than expected to plot their revenge. For some, it’s harder still to garner their resolve, since vengeance means more of them will die.
But safety is ephemeral in a city where food is short and tensions are high. It seems fate may leave them no choice but to fight—and perhaps die—to restore their city to a place they can call home.
OLEANDER (ONE OF US SERIES BOOK 2) by Kim Faulks
They call me Oleander. Toxic and deadly. I killed my first human at nine years old…and I’ll kill many more. Because humans just won’t leave me alone. I’m scared.
Scared of their hate…scared of their ignorance. But most of all I’m scared when they come with their guns and their armies…and they will come. I never wanted this dark power inside me. Never wanted to be anything more than good.
I’m hiding now. Hiding with three just like me. Shadow, Tex and Sixth. We’re on the run because of what I’ve done—and what I am. . .(more blurb on ebook seller page…)
EROTAN (BARBARIAN WARRIORS OF MARS BOOK 1) by Kim Fox and Zoe Green
Landing on Mars was not at all what I expected.
Barren, bleak, boring — that’s what I was expecting.
But I discovered I couldn’t have been more wrong as soon as I ventured into the underground tunnels.
They were teaming with life.
Deadly life.
Huge terrifying centipede-thingies ate both of my co-workers, and I was next.
Until a big gray Tarzan-like alien with a huge chest (and an even bigger vine) came to my rescue.
These sexy aliens are still in the caveman phase.
They like to grunt, fight, and throw helpless women over their shoulders.
It’s barbaric.
It’s savage.
It’s obscene.
…and I kinda like it.
GUARDIAN ANGEL OF FARFLUNG STATION (REPELLING THE INVASION BOOK 1) by Ed Hoornaert
VS note: A re-release
The space pirates think they’ve conquered Farflung Space Station–but they didn’t count on Duke. The station’s Head of Security wants to prove to his army-officer parents he’s outgrown his youthful rebelliousness. Defeating a pirate army seems like the perfect opportunity.
And they didn’t count on Lockey. This kick-ass princess knows every weapon and martial arts system in the galaxy–and she fell in love with Duke at first sight. It’s not only her job to destroy the pirates, it’s her bloodthirstiest wish.
And most importantly, they didn’t count on Sandrina. After loving Duke from afar, she now yearns to fight with—and for—him. The attractive waif has discovered so many of Farflung’s secrets that she’s the most powerful person on the station—though nobody knows it yet.
They’re about to find out.
KILL THE QUEEN (A CROWN OF SHARDS NOVEL) by Jennifer Estep
VS Note: I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of this book and really enjoyed it. Can’t wait for the next book in the series!
In a realm where one’s magical power determines one’s worth, Lady Everleigh’s lack of obvious ability relegates her to the shadows of the royal court of Bellona, a kingdom steeped in gladiator tradition. Seventeenth in line for the throne, Evie is nothing more than a ceremonial fixture, overlooked and mostly forgotten.
But dark forces are at work inside the palace. When her cousin Vasilia, the crown princess, assassinates her mother the queen and takes the throne by force, Evie is also attacked, along with the rest of the royal family. Luckily for Evie, her secret immunity to magic helps her escape the massacre.
Forced into hiding to survive, she falls in with a gladiator troupe. Though they use their talents to entertain and amuse the masses, the gladiators are actually highly trained warriors skilled in the art of war, especially Lucas Sullivan, a powerful magier with secrets of his own. Uncertain of her future—or if she even has one—Evie begins training with the troupe until she can decide her next move.
But as the bloodthirsty Vasilia exerts her power, pushing Bellona to the brink of war, Evie’s fate becomes clear: she must become a fearsome gladiator herself . . . and kill the queen.
AN EASY DEATH (GUNNIE ROSE BOOK 1) by Charlaine Harris
Set in a fractured United States, in the southwestern country now known as Texoma. A world where magic is acknowledged but mistrusted, especially by a young gunslinger named Lizbeth Rose. Battered by a run across the border to Mexico Lizbeth Rose takes a job offer from a pair of Russian wizards to be their local guide and gunnie. For the wizards, Gunnie Rose has already acquired a fearsome reputation and they’re at a desperate crossroad, even if they won’t admit it. They’re searching through the small border towns near Mexico, trying to locate a low-level magic practitioner, Oleg Karkarov. The wizards believe Oleg is a direct descendant of Grigori Rasputin, and that Oleg’s blood can save the young tsar’s life.
As the trio journey through an altered America, shattered into several countries by the assassination of Franklin Roosevelt and the Great Depression, they’re set on by enemies. It’s clear that a powerful force does not want them to succeed in their mission. Lizbeth Rose is a gunnie who has never failed a client, but her oath will test all of her skills and resolve to get them all out alive.
RUNES OF BLACK MAGIC (A DEMON’S FALL SERIES BOOK 3) by G Bailey
Entering the royal court of the protectors was never going to easy for someone like Evie, but at least she isn’t alone. Trex, Connor and Nix are determined to show everyone who Evie really is.
Not just the heartless assassin they all believe and fear.
With whispers of war, the angels going missing, and tests that are far more deadly than anyone could have predicted…who will win the throne?
The protectors aren’t the only ones that are whispering because demons don’t forget.
Death is not the end…and demons will survive.
WITCH HUNTER by Shannon Curtis
When a name appears on Dave Carter’s skin, he goes hunting. It’s his job to find and kill witches who transgress natural law. He can’t believe that sweet, naive empath Sully Timmerman is the murderer he’s seeking. Is she dangerous, in danger, or both? Dave wants to protect her, but he can’t protect his own heart. And he might not even want to.
BLOOD COMMUNION: A TALE OF PRINCE LESTAT (VAMPIRE CHRONICLES) by Anne Rice
VS Note: Not a romance obviously but notable this week.
In this spellbinding novel, Lestat, rebel outlaw, addresses the tribe of vampires, directly, intimately, passionately, and tells the mesmerizing story of the formation of the Blood Communion and how he became Prince of the vampire world, the true ruler of this vast realm, and how his vision for all the Children of the Universe to thrive as one, came to be.
The tale spills from Lestat’s heart, as he speaks first of his new existence as reigning monarch–and then of his fierce battle of wits and words with the mysterious Rhoshamandes, proud Child of the Millennia, reviled outcast for his senseless slaughter of the legendary ancient vampire Maharet, avowed enemy of Queen Akasha; Rhoshamandes, a demon spirit who refuses to live in harmony at the Court of Prince Lestat and threatens all that Lestat has dreamt of.
As the tale unfolds, Lestat takes us from the towers and battlements of his ancestral castle in the snow-covered mountains of France to the verdant wilds of lush Louisiana with its lingering fragrances of magnolias and night jasmine; from the far reaches of the Pacific’s untouched islands to the 18th-century city of St. Petersburg and the court of the Empress Catherine.
STORM PRINCESS 2: THE PRINCESS MUST STRIKE by Everly Frost and Jaymin Eve
In a gargoyle city beneath the streets of Chicago, Storm Princess Marbella Mercy walks a dangerous path to find the only source of magic that will save Baelen Rath’s life.
Now in control of her storm power, she must infiltrate gargoyle territory, heal Baelen, and escape. It’s a simple get in, get out plan … until she crosses paths with the brutal gargoyle king.
Already in possession of savage power, the king is hell bent on adding the storm to his list. Wanting the Princess for his own, he is prepared to do anything to bend her to his will.
When the king’s ruthless actions push Marbella to the edge, she is left with only one choice – the princess must strike.
MUSE OF NIGHTMARES (STRANGE THE DREAMER BOOK 2) by Laini Taylor
THE WITCH OF WILLOW HALL by Hester FoxIn the wake of a scandal, the Montrose family and their three daughters—Catherine, Lydia and Emeline—flee Boston for their new country home, Willow Hall.
The estate seems sleepy and idyllic. But a subtle menace creeps into the atmosphere, remnants of a dark history that call to Lydia, and to the youngest, Emeline.
All three daughters will be irrevocably changed by what follows, but none more than Lydia, who must draw on a power she never knew she possessed if she wants to protect those she loves. For Willow Hall’s secrets will rise, in the end.
UNDER HIS WING (KING OF PREY BOOK 7) by Mandy M Roth
TEACHER AN APACHE COUNTY SHIFTER SHORT STORY by TL Reeve and Michele RyanDanielle and Keeley are in desperate need of a teacher. Someone who can not only teach all of the children, but specifically one, Utah Blake. As a deaf tiger shifter, neither Keeley or Danielle have the skills needed to help the teen. And, since his father left to help Rapier find his mate, Utah has grown more introverted by the day.
Mark Hill, teacher by day, author Orion Davis by night, knows he’s the man for the job. After inviting both Danielle and Keeley to a local book convention, he realizes maybe he should have told them the truth up front. He too is deaf. But, a blast from the past might just change everything for Mark.
Can Mark convince Danielle and Keeley he’s the solution to their problem or will his lie of omission force them to reconsider?
UNLEASHED WITH THE MOON (WOLF RIVER BOOK 5) by Rebekah GaniereUrsa shifter Stix is mortified when his mother marches him to Mary Reed’s home in an effort to secure him a bride. And though Stix appreciates his mother’s concern he turns down his godmother’s offer to help him find a nice wolf to settle down with, and determines to find love on his own terms. Saber shifter
Satia was almost broken by the torment she endured as a captive back in Siberia. But now in the US, and with new found freedom she finds herself with her entire life ahead of her. So she heads to Wolf River to get her new life started- all she needs is the help of Jeremiah and Mary Reed, the Alphas of Wolf River. Under the guise of securing Satia a job, Jeremiah sends the girl off to work for Stix as his personal assistant. But with nowhere to live, Stix does the gentlemanly thing and offers for Satia to stay with him.
As it becomes quickly apparent to both Satia and Stix that they are meant for each other, a bombshell from Stix’s past threatens to tear them apart before they even get started. And it will take more than a little help from the Wolf River pack to keep them together.
A WINTER’S PROMISE (BOOK ONE OF THE MIRROR VISITOR QUARTET) by Christelle Dabos
THE CAGED QUEEN (ISKARI) by Kristen CiccarelliOnce there were two sisters born with a bond so strong that it forged them together forever. Roa and Essie called it the hum. It was a magic they cherished—until the day a terrible accident took Essie’s life and trapped her soul in this world.
Dax—the heir to Firgaard’s throne—was responsible for the accident. Roa swore to hate him forever. But eight years later he returned, begging for her help. He was determined to dethrone his cruel father, under whose oppressive reign Roa’s people had suffered.
Roa made him a deal: she’d give him the army he needed if he made her queen. Only as queen could she save her people from Firgaard’s rule.
Then a chance arises to right every wrong—an opportunity for Roa to rid herself of this enemy king and rescue her beloved sister. During the Relinquishing, when the spirits of the dead are said to return, Roa discovers she can reclaim her sister for good.
All she has to do is kill the king.
A CHANGE OF WORLDS (A KILLIAN KENDALL MYSTERY BOOK 5) by Josh Aterovis
A routine archaeological excavation of an ancient Native American site goes horribly wrong when a tribal elder is assaulted. The attack uncovers tampering and thefts from the dig, escalating the growing mistrust between the tribe and the archaeologists.
When the tribe hires private investigator Killian Kendall to look into the thefts, they’re hoping to settle the matter quickly and peacefully. All hopes for a simple resolution are dashed when the lead archaeologist is found murdered…and a tribe member is the chief suspect. Suddenly, Killian’s investigation is a matter of life and death.
To complicate matters, the spirits of those who once dwelled on the land are furious at being disturbed, and they have very real ways of manifesting their anger. Killian isn’t just facing danger from the living, but also the dead.
STRAYS by A J Thomas
Orphaned at a young age and raised in the foster system, Jory Smith has no idea he’s half incubus. He only knows he has the power to heal people, making himself sick in the process. Exploited by a crooked faith healer who sells his abilities and his life to the highest bidder and then left for dead, Jory flees, falling into a job at a small-town café where he can put his lifelong obsession with baking to good use.
But the minister who exploited him wants him back.
Exiled hellhound-turned–bounty hunter Malpheus Pelle has no idea why his human client wants him to track down an incubus. Jory is traumatized and afraid to touch anyone, an emotional handicap that could prove fatal for a demon who requires physical contact. Needing answers, Mal concocts a disastrous plan: pretend to date Jory to uncover the truth. Unfortunately, his plan never included dealing with an ancient demon assassin, Jory’s orgasmic pumpkin cookies, or losing his heart to the incubus he’s supposed to be hunting.
MERCY’S BATTLE (MERCY ASHBY BOOK 3) by A M Hardin
You know the saying “Come to the dark side. We have cookies?”
Well, they don’t have cookies. Just a bunch of death and blood. Backstabbing and thievery.
Mercy Ashby has been on that side for the past six months. Her protectors have been searching for her, and when they finally have her back home with them, the never want to let her go.
Unfortunately, Mercy’s men haven’t been the only ones searching for her. The Order has a hit on Mercy – Kill on sight.
Can Mercy fight the darkness lingering inside of her? And can her men keep her safe from those who threaten to take her from them?
NEUTRAL (CURSE OF THE GODS NOVELLA BOOK 4.5) by Jane Washington and Jaymin Eve
Emmy was born a dweller and she expected to die as a dweller … until Willa changed everything. Now she has no idea of her path, and she certainly wasn’t prepared for what would happen after her death. Caught in the middle of a war that threatened to prove much more significant than anyone had ever expected, there is only one person who can help her … but his terms are steep.
Cyrus was born out of necessity: a being of light, brought to life with a singular purpose. Time has changed him and the recent events have unsettled him … but a certain transformed dweller is about to do much worse than that. She is about to turn his existence upside down.
Topia is giving them no choice: they survive together, or the war is lost.
TAMING (TO TAME A SHIFTER BOOK 1) by A K Koonce
I can only run from my past for so long. Eventually my Demons always find me.
Unfortunately, that Demon has hired three insufferable dragon shifters to bring me back to him.
I just have to hide my secrets a little longer. I just have to pretend to help these assholes find the person they’re looking for without letting them know the truth.
They’re on the hunt for a dangerous Mage.
Just wait until they find out the Mage they’re hunting is actually me.
NOVAK GRIZZLY ( DAUGHTERS OF BEASTS BOOK 1) by T S Joyce
The Daughter of Beaston is hurting. Remington Novak is stuck in a city, her whole life altered for a man who didn’t keep her. A life change comes in many forms, but for Remi, it comes as a newspaper clipping, sent by her best friend. A Last Chance Crew up in the mountains is looking for help, and her skillset matches the requirements. Must like animals? She was a grizzly shifter. Must be okay with crass jokes? She was raised a Grey Back in one of the roughest Crews in existence. She could surely handle a few rowdy boys. When she shows up for the interview though, it’s clear she’s made a grave mistake. Kamp demands her inner bear’s attention immediately, but he’s dangerous to her body and soul. Something’s wrong with that lion shifter, and the more she tries to figure him out, the deeper she falls into a dangerous admiration for him and these mountains he’s claiming as home.
Kamp is out of options. His days are numbered in his Crew, his lion needs to be put down, and every day looks just the same. Wake up, fight the Alpha, fail at his job, sleep, repeat. He’s lost too much to recover, but one look at the fiery-eyed beauty, and this lion shifter lumberjack aching to change his destiny. It might already be too late, but now every day is worth fighting for just to see the growing smile on Remi’s face.
Two damaged shifters, one fate, one helluva mountain to climb to get this Crew to C-Team status. No one could’ve got him living again, but maybe…just maybe…the Novak Grizzly can save him.
QUEEN OF THE GRYPHONS: ISHTAR’S LEGACY BOOKS 1 & 2 by Lisa Blackwood
VS Note: Seems to contain one 2016 novel and one new 2018 novel. Blurb is for the 2016 book.
It takes a queen to defeat a queen.
The court of the gryphon king has ever been a dangerous and seductive place where Ishtar’s blessing is both the hot breath of passion and the cold kiss of steel.
Yet as the childhood companion of King Ditanu, Iltani never doubted her place in either his kingdom or his heart.
Then duty called her away to complete her training.
Now, a woman grown and a sword-maiden to the goddess Ishtar, Iltani returns and takes up her sacred destiny to protect the royal line.
But so much has changed… (more blurb on ebook seller page…)
THE BLACKSTONE SHE-DRAGON (BLACKSTONE MOUNTAIN BOOK 8) by Alicia Montgomery
Sybil Lennox longed for a mate of her own, but she wasn’t expecting the dragon Prince Aleksei to swoop into town and proclaim her as his. Even though her own dragon wants him, he’s too arrogant, brash, and dominant for her tastes and she fights her attraction to him. Why couldn’t fate have given her a normal guy?
His Royal Highness, Prince Aleksei of the Northern Isles came to Blackstone to forge an alliance with Henry Lennox to fight a common enemy. But, he never imagined that he would meet his one fated mate. Sybil Lennox was exquisite and one of the few eligible female dragons in the world. While her reluctance confounds and frustrates him, he knows she’s worth the chase and he would do anything to prove to her that they were meant to be together.
As danger looms over Blackstone and Sybil, Aleksei risks his own life to protect his mate and those she holds dear. And, despite her own reservations, Sybil begins to fall for the dragon prince, as he shows there’s more to him than meets the eye.
Can they defeat the enemy and save everyone? Or is this the end of Blackstone?
CITY OF THE SLEEPING GODS (NIGHTHELM ACADEMY BOOK 1) by Olivia Ash and Lila Jean
Nighthelm is a city of lies, and Sophia is the greatest lie of them all. Though she has saved the city hundreds of times, the people of Nighthelm don’t even know she exists.
Found wandering the Witch Woods as a child, everything about Sophia is a mystery. With no memories and no family, she’s raised in secret by the professors of Nighthelm Academy… all of whom know far more about her than they’re letting on.
But Sophia does know one thing: she’s a contritum, a magical being with a broken soul. Her very existence is illegal, and until she finds the other piece of her soul, her uncontrollable magic will only grow more deadly and untamed.
As Sophia races the clock to find her other half, her magic growing more wild by the minute, she discovers three men who hold a mysterious sway over not just her soul, but also her heart.
The problem? She must lie. No matter what happens, she can’t tell them who… or what… she is…(more blurb on ebook seller page…)
THE DRAGON NEXT DOOR by Serena Rose
Jessica – I live in Mountain Ridge, a place where nothing much interesting ever happens.
But you know what is interesting right now? The sexy man who has moved in next door.
His body looks so firm it really does make me wonder what is underneath it.
Who knows? Maybe I will find out soon…
Blake – So I just moved to Mountain Ridge, a place so quiet that nobody will suspect a thing.
My neighbor, Jessica, sure is cute and I wouldn’t mind getting in the sack with her.
But I know I need to keep a low profile.
If her or anyone else finds out that I am a WereDragon then I could be in big trouble.
But who knows? Maybe she likes that type of thing.
MARCH IN ATLANTIS (A POSEIDON’S WARRIORS Novel) by Alyssa Day
When Poseidon’s Warrior Jake finds the woman of his dreams, can he save her from becoming a shapeshifter?
When an enchanting woman betrays Poseidon’s Warrior Lucas to save her child, will he help her or seek revenge?
THREE KINDS OF DAMNED (THE TRUE AND THE CROWN BOOK 2) by May Dawson
Tera Donovan may not have magic of her own, but she has three powerful–and hot–wizards on her side. Mycroft, Airren and Cax enchant her to make her look like the most powerful wizard of her generation. Tera must infiltrate the True, a band of magicians who want to overthrow Avalon, and save her home…or she’ll find herself banished again.
Tera longs for people to see who she really is: an innocent woman who was a victim of her father’s evil plans while he led the True and who serves her country now. But first, she must convince Avalon that she is exactly what they feared: the second coming of the evil Donovan family.
Three men see her as she truly is. Mycroft, Cax and Airren are falling in love with her.
Unfortunately, they have secrets of their own.
Tera’s caught up in a grand double-cross. But the biggest double-cross of all may be love.
IN THE MOOD FUR LOVE by Eve Langlais, Milly Taiden and Kate Baxter
Three hot stories about sexy shifters from a trio of today’s hottest paranormal romance authors, headlined by bestselling authors Eve Langlais and Milly Taiden!
Bearing His Touch by Eve Langlais
When Becka manages to escape her kidnapper, she finds herself asking help of the man with the nice brown eyes. Stavros can’t say no, not when he knows Becka is his mate, but he does have one dilemma when it comes to claiming her. He’ll have to find a way for her to bear his touch.
Fake Mated to the Wolf by Milly Taiden
Looking for a mate to bring to a party? Wedding? Holiday gathering? Mates Fur Hire is right for you? But what happens when your fake mate ends up being your real one, from New York Times bestselling author Milly Taiden!
The Witch, The Werewolf and The Waitress by Kate Baxter
For centuries, Lowman, Idaho has been Ellie Curtis’s prison. A vengeful witch cursed her with immortality and locked her within the confines of Lowman’s borders, sealing Ellie off from most of civilization for eternity. She’s learned to make the most of it. But when she meets a cocky werewolf who’s part of the elite supernatural law enforcement group, all bets are off…
Colin instantly knew that Ellie was his mate, but when he discovers her secret, he’s determined to help set her free. But in doing so, he might just lose the one thing he knows he can’t live without.
SIN’S GIFT (VEILED ALLIANCE BOOK 1) by Delilah Devlin
When police officer Sinead O’Rourke returns to duty months after being shot in an incident that claimed her partner, she knows it’s not going to be easy. Despite being cleared of any negligence, her fellow officers still wonder whether she’s responsible for his death. One more problem is that everyone knows she claims to have seen his ghost. After months of rehabilitation and lying like hell about the fact she’s not seeing spooks anymore, Sin’s determined to get back into the saddle.
Jake doesn’t want to partner with Sin. Been there, done that—couldn’t keep his hands off her the first time around. She’s too much of a distraction, and her penchant for rushing into trouble scares the heck out of him. Despite wishing she’d quit her job, he’s still deeply attracted. When an armed robbery goes down and something happens that rattles Sin to the core, he’s right there—ready to cover her back and her sweet body.
A DANCE OF WATER AND AIR (ELEMENTAL MAGICAE BOOK 1) by Antonia Aquliante
Edmund is heir to the throne of Thalassa and a wielder of Water magic. Devoted to his kingdom and his duty to it, Edmund can do nothing but acquiesce to an arranged marriage with the queen of a neighboring kingdom. The marriage and the child it is required to produce will seal an alliance between Thalassa and Aither that is vital to Thalassa’s safety, and far more important than Edmund’s personal misgivings.
Arden is the younger brother of Aither’s queen and a wielder of Air magic. Raised in the politics of the court to support his sister’s rule, he understands the alliance is important to Aither, even as he worries about his sister marrying someone she’s never met. When Edmund arrives in Aither to prepare for the wedding, Arden is tasked with helping him settle in at court. As they spend more time together, Edmund and Arden develop a close friendship, then stronger feelings, but with Edmund’s wedding approaching, they must hide their feelings, even from themselves.
When someone tries to assassinate the queen, Edmund is blamed, and Arden rescues him before he can be executed for a crime he didn’t commit. To prevent a war between their kingdoms and protect them from a dangerous enemy, Edmund and Arden will have to discover who wants to pit Aither and Thalassa against each other and mend relations between the two kingdoms as they evade those searching for them—all while finding a way to be together.
THE SPELLBOOK OF KATRINA VAN TASSEL: A STORY OF SLEEPY HOLLOW by Alyssa Palombo
When Ichabod Crane arrives in the spooky little village of Sleepy Hollow as the new schoolmaster, Katrina Van Tassel is instantly drawn to him. Through their shared love of books and music, they form a friendship that quickly develops into romance. Ichabod knows that as an itinerant schoolteacher of little social standing, he has nothing to offer the wealthy Katrina – unlike her childhood friend-turned-enemy, Brom Van Brunt, who is the suitor Katrina’s father favors.
But when romance gives way to passion, Ichabod and Katrina embark on a secret love affair, sneaking away into the woods after dark to be together – all while praying they do not catch sight of Sleepy Hollow’s legendary Headless Horseman. That is, until All Hallows’s Eve, when Ichabod suddenly disappears, leaving Katrina alone and in a perilous position.
Enlisting the help of her friend – and rumored witch – Charlotte Jansen, Katrina seeks the truth of Ichabod Crane’s disappearance, investigating the forest around Sleepy Hollow using unconventional – often magical – means. What they find forces Katrina to question everything she once knew, and to wonder if the Headless Horseman is perhaps more than just a story after all.
THE LIBRARIAN’S GHOST (DREAMSPUN BEYOND BOOK 29) by Sean Michael
The Supernatural Explorers are back and looking for their next big paranormal case. They might’ve found it in a plea from Payne, a mild-mannered librarian who has inherited the family mansion—MacGregor House. Since moving in a few months ago, Payne’s exhausted the list of ghost hunters and experts in his quest for help. The Supers are his last chance.
So why does normally good-natured cameraman Will take an instant dislike to Payne? For that matter, why has he felt irritable and angry since they arrived at the site? It soon becomes clear that the answers they seek will be found in the basement—where nobody has gone since Payne was a little boy. As the haunting grows deadlier, things get sweeter between Will and Payne, but all hell’s about to break loose when they breach the basement door.
Will they be ready?
LEGENDARY BEAST (LEGENDARY WARRIORS) by Barbara J Hancock
Once upon a time, Madeline was trapped in an enchanted sleep, her baby wrapped tight in her arms. Then the white wolf woke her, and her son disappeared. For centuries, Lev Romanov searched for his wife and their child, and the search drove him half-mad. Can Madeline trust the wolf to be the man who can help her save their son?
SHADOW OF THE FOX by Julie Kagawa
Raised by monks in the isolated Silent Winds temple, Yumeko has trained all her life to hide her yokai nature. Half kitsune, half human, her skill with illusion is matched only by her penchant for mischief. Until the day her home is burned to the ground, her adoptive family is brutally slain and she is forced to flee for her life with the temple’s greatest treasure—one part of the ancient scroll.
There are many who would claim the dragon’s wish for their own. Kage Tatsumi, a mysterious samurai of the Shadow Clan, is one such hunter, under orders to retrieve the scroll…at any cost. Fate brings Kage and Yumeko together. With a promise to lead him to the scroll, an uneasy alliance is formed, offering Yumeko her best hope for survival. But he seeks what she has hidden away, and her deception could ultimately tear them both apart.
With an army of demons at her heels and the unlikeliest of allies at her side, Yumeko’s secrets are more than a matter of life or death. They are the key to the fate of the world itself.
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VS NOTE: Only one week until Embrace the Romance: Pets In Space 3 releases, including my all new 41K word Sectors scifi romance novel, STAR CRUISE: MYSTERY DANCER!
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LINKS TO RECENT NEW RELEASES POSTS from Veronica:
Caveats:
The term “new” is generally plus or minus a week or two. I try to catch up on ones I missed in recent months.
I do NOT cover every single new release in SFR/FantasyR/PNR. I never have. That would be an impossible task for any human! I assemble my list every week based on various informal inputs, and I do curate the list to some extent…
I check and verify all the buy links at the time I create the post but after that I’m not responsible.
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