Coming Not So Soon #2 – The Romances We’re Looking Forward to Reading Later This Year!

Earlier this year, AAR staffers took a look ahead to the books being published throughout the year and selected those they were most looking forward to reading in 2019. For obvious reasons, there were more books on our list that were due out in the first half of the year, so now it’s time to look at the titles we’re eager to read that are coming out in the back half of 2019. Release dates are correct at time of writing, and purchase links are given where available. And as is the case with our monthly Coming Soon posts, this is by no means meant to be an exhaustive list, but is rather a selection made according to the tastes and preferences of our reviewers – so please do drop by to tell us what books you’re most looking forward to reading through the rest of 2019.

August

Mainly by Moonlight by Josh Lanyon (1 Aug)

A new romantic mystery series with a paranormal twist from Josh Lanyon?  Gotta be worth a look! – Caz

Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo

Keeping Lucy by T. Greenwood (6 Aug)

T. Greenwood’s writing is simply gorgeous. It pulls at my heartstrings every time I encounter it, so it should surprise absolutely no one that her upcoming novel entitled Keeping Lucy is one of my most anticipated books of the year. It’s the story of one woman’s fight to keep her young, disabled daughter by her side, despite some major opposition from the girl’s father. I’m guessing this will be a total tear-jerker, so I’ll be sure to have plenty of tissues on hand when I read this one. – Shannon

Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo

Playing House by Ruby Lang (12 Aug)

Ruby Lang starts her new Uptown series with a delightful sounding fake relationship romance! The protagonists are city planners – not your usual romance character careers – which makes this a unique entry in the contemporary romance field and I’m excited to read it. – Maria Rose

Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo

The Wallflower Wager by Tessa Dare (13 Aug)

I am animal-obsessed Lady Penelope and she is me! I have been wanting this book since we met Penelope in The Duchess Deal and I can’t wait to see what our animal lover has in store for her actual lover. – Haley

Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo

Cowboy Up by Michelle Beattie (20 Aug)

I’m a sucker for blue collar heroes so a construction worker and a single mom meeting in a small Texas town pulls at my heartstrings and makes me want to read their story! – Maria Rose

Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo

Riding to Sunset by Jaci Burton (20 Aug)

A bodyguard biker pushes all my good buttons and this new romance in Jaci Burton’s Wild Riders series sounds too good to pass up! -Maria Rose

Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo

Dalliances and Devotions by Felicia Grossman (26 Aug)

This is the follow-up to Grossman’s Appetites and Vices. I love that Carina is taking a chance on American historicals and Jewish representation with Grossman’s books, so I’m looking forward to David and Amalia’s story. – Haley

Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo

Sapphire Flames by Ilona Andrews (27 Aug)

This is the first full-length book about Catalina in the Hidden Legacy series and I CANNOT WAIT. Ilona Andrews has become one of my favorite authors as I devoured her/their backlist this past year, and all signs point to this being another great entry for my DIK shelf. – Alex

Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo

September

Permanent Record by Mary H.K. Choi (3 Sep)

Choi’s Emergency Contact was one of my top ten reads of 2018. This one is about a pop star and a bodega clerk, and as far as I can tell is a standalone. I am very excited to see what Choi has in store for me this time! – Caroline

Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo

Well Met by Jen DeLuca (3 Sep)

Love at the Renaissance Faire. What more do I need to know? – Caroline

Renaissance Faires and romance = catnip for me. – Lisa

This sounds like a delightful enemies to lovers romance with a unique set up! – Maria Rose

Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo

American Royals by Katherine McGee (3 Sep)

This is a YA romance with a royal twist. “What if America had a royal family?” Unless the author has a grasp of history, I see bad world building in my future — after the Revolution, was this really likely? But I also see myself having fun with this premise! – Anne

Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo

How to Belong with a Billionaire by Alexis Hall (5 Sep)

I’m really hoping this long awaited third book in the Arden St Ives Trilogy lives up to the promise of the first, and I look forward to Alexis Hall getting back to the standard of For Real or Waiting for the Flood and showing us how books in this genre should be written… no pressure! – BJ

It’s been a bit of a wait, but it’s almost over!  After ripping my heart to shreds and stomping on it in the last book, I’m on tenterhooks as I await more of Ardy and Caspian – and hopefully, their hard-won HEA! – Caz

Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo

Under Currents by Nora Roberts (7 Sep)

What could be better than a new stand alone from Nora Roberts? Under Currents looks to be the perfect blend of dark family secrets and heart-melting romance, exactly what I’ve come to expect from this author. She’s one of those writers who rarely writes a book I don’t like, so I’m pretty sure this one will be another winner. – Shannon

Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo

The Magnolia Sword: A Ballad of Mulan by Sherry Thomas (10 Sep)

I have followed Sherry Thomas into every genre she’s tried, and she has yet to lead me astray. – Caroline

I’ll read whatever Sherry Thomas writes; her YA Elemental Trilogy was fabulous and I’m sure her latest foray into the genre will be equally so. – Caz

I’m ridiculously excited to see Ms. Thomas give us a retelling of Mulan! – Lisa

Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo

Beard with Me / Beard Necessities by Penny Reid (15 Sep and 7 Oct)

The final two books in the Winston Brothers series. Beard with Me gives us the background/childhood info for Claire and Beard Necessities is Claire and Billy’s book – FINALLY!! We’ve had all sorts of hints about these two for six books and I still have no idea why two people who obviously love each other can’t be together. – Evelyn

Can’t wait!  Claire and Billy finally get their book!  I’m thrilled to read it! – Lisa

As a longtime fan of Penny Reid, she can always be counted on to make me laugh, sometimes cry, and simply delight me with her way of telling stories. The last romance in the Winston Brothers series will be bittersweet but I’m sure she’ll have new story ideas to come. – Maria Rose

Buy Beard With Me at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo

Buy Beard Necessities at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo

Arctic Heat by Annabeth Albert (23 Sep)

Annabeth Albert has become a ‘must-read’ author for me lately, and I’ve enjoyed the previous books in her Frozen Hearts series.  This final one pairs a cancer survivor who is powering through his bucket list with a gruff Park Ranger who, really, are all wrong for each other.  Until they’re not. – Caz

Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo

When the Marquess Was Mine by Caroline Linden (24 Sep)

I’ve enjoyed the previous books in this series (the last one, An Earl Like You, made my Best of 2018 list) and Caroline Linden is one of the best authors of historical romance around.  This third book in her Wagers of Sin series is based around an amnesia plotline, which isn’t my favourite trope, but which can work really well in the right hands.  Fingers crossed! – Caz

Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo

Murder at Kensington Palace by Andrea Penrose (24 Sep)

The books in this series featuring a female satirist and an enigmatic, scientifically-minded earl has proved entertaining, with well-developed mysteries and a nice dash of romantic tension between the leads.  In this third instalment, Wexford and Sloane come together again to investigate a murder that’s rather too close to home for comfort…- Caz

Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo

Archangel’s War by Nalini Singh (24 Sep)

I can’t get enough of this series, and have been waiting anxiously for this latest installment, as the last book ended on a real cliffhanger. It looks like there are a lot of changes in store for Elena and Raphael.  – Alexandra

Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo

October

Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory (1 Oct)

The combination of a visiting American falling into a whirlwind courtship with a British private secretary sounds like fun! Also, it’s refreshing to come across a story where the royals are only part of the attraction. – Anne

Jasmine Guillory is blessing us twice this year with two delightful-looking romances!  I’m so excited.  – Lisa The mother of a makeup artist travels to England with her daughter and falls in love with a senior member of palace staff. Hooray for older love! – Caroline  It’s great to see older couple romances get more mainstream attention as there are plenty of readers for them! – Maria Rose

Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo

Getting Played by Emma Chase (8 Oct)
Chase writes hot contemporaries, and I enjoyed her first book in this series, Getting Schooled. This one is about a single mom whose fling with a drummer comes back to haunt her in the fall when it turns out the drummer is her son’s math teacher. – Caroline

Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo

Faker by Sarah Smith (8 Oct)

I love a good opposites attract romance and debut author Sarah Smith looks to hit the nail on the head with this construction themed tale! Coworkers at a power tool company forced to work together on a charity housing project, Emmie and Tate have to put aside their differences for the greater good and in doing so, discover a deeper connection. – Maria Rose

Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo

The Never Tilting World by Rin Chupeco (15 Oct)

A fantasy about twin sisters/goddesses separated into out-of-balance worlds, one always night and one forever day, and an aesthetic marketing calls “Frozen meets Mad Max” but the author says to her feels more like “Mad Max meets Avatar the Last Airbender,” with diverse representation of sexualities. Everything there sounds absolutely fascinating! – Caroline

Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo

The Art of Theft by Sherry Thomas (15 Oct)

I will always read Sherry Thomas. Her third Charlotte Holmes novel was terrific, and I’ve already heard great buzz about this fourth. – Caroline.

The books in this series just seem to get better and better, and after the stunning revelations at the end of the last book, I can’t wait to get stuck in to this one! The mysteries are clever and wonderfully complex, but for me, the big draw is the characters and the relationships between them. – Caz

Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo

White Elephant by Trish Harnetiaux (28 Oct)

Somebody wrote a psychological twist about an office holiday party with a White Elephant gift exchange — also known as Pirate Christmas! It has been called Big Little Lies meets Clue, but it might have a dash of The Office. What happens when one of the gifts is a vase that Henry and Claudine recognize as a murder weapon? – Anne

Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo

Sergeant’s Christmas Siege by Megan Crane (29 Oct)

I’ve been enjoying Megan Crane’s Alaska Force romantic suspense series and this Christmas themed novel starring a by-the-book female State Trooper and one of the reclusive ex-military Alaska Force members promises to melt even the toughest of hearts. – Maria Rose

Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo

Angel in a Devil’s Arms by Julie Anne Long (29 Oct)

With really good historical romance so thin on the ground these days, I’m eagerly anticipating this continuation of Julie Anne Long’s Palace of Rogues series. – Caz

This book is about Angelique – mistress to the late Earl of Derring  – who goes into business with Lady Derring. She’s worldly-wise and has sworn off men. We’ll see ;) – Evelyn

Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo

November

Graveyard Shift by Jenn Burke (4 Nov)

The first two books in Jenn Burke’s Not Dead Yet series were DIKs for me, so I have high hopes for this third outing for not-ghost Wes, his ex-cop vampire lover and their small band of friends and allies.  The series has a refreshingly original premise, the plots are compelling and well-constructed, the worldbuilding is completely solid and the characters and their relationships are brilliantly drawn.  This is easily one of the most enjoyable series I’ve read all year. – Caz

I’m a big fan of Jenn Burke’s writing style and intriguing plots so any book from her is on my radar. – Maria Rose

Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo

Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert (5 Nov)

A heroine from a wealthy background meets a tattooed hero with a motorcycle? In the wrong hands, this could be another motorcycle club novel. But this looks like a breakout romantic comedy with a chronically ill heroine trying to get a life… And a handyman hero with a secret artistic side. – Anne

A heroine with chronic illness wants to expand the scope of her experience after nearly dying. Talia Hibbert gets raves, and I also have a particular interest in realistic depictions of chronic illness, so I’m hoping for something fun but powerful here. – Caroline

I love Talia Hibbert’s work, and the description of this one sounds fascinating! – Lisa

Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo

The Toll by Neal Shusterman (5 Nov)

Neal Shusterman’s Arc of the Scythe series is one of the most original bodies of work I’ve come across in recent years. It takes place in a world where death no longer occurs as a natural part of life. Instead, people known as Scythes are responsible for choosing who will die and how their death will come. Our protagonists are two apprentice Scythes who are struggling to prevent the imminent end of civilization as they know it. The Toll is the third volume of the series, and I feel like I’ve been waiting a lifetime for its release. – Shannon

Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo

Not the Girl you Marry by Andie J. Christopher (12 Nov)

I’m looking forward to this fake relationship romantic comedy by Andie J. Christopher! It stars a journalist and an event planner who have opposite goals for their ‘relationship’ making their path to a happy ending sure to be an interesting one! – Maria Rose

Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo

Dragon Unleashed by Grace Draven (12 Nov)

The first book in this series, Phoenix Unbound, was a very strong read for me and, I felt, even better than Draven’s earlier (and maybe more famous) Radiance. That tells me that this is an author on her way up, so I’m eagerly anticipating her next work. This book stars an earth magic wielder and a shapeshifting dragon. I look forward to seeing what they get up to. – Caroline

Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo

December

Blitzed by Alexa Martin (3 Dec)

Alexa Martin’s insider view of the NFL scene gives her romantic comedies an edge over other football romances. They’re fun, authentic and guaranteed to delight so I can’t wait to read the next in her Playbook series! – Maria Rose

Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo

A Madness of Sunshine by Nalini Singh (3 Dec)

Best known for her paranormals, Singh is branching out with what looks to be a romantic suspense book set in her home of New Zealand. I’m game! – Caroline

I love Nalini Singh, and I’m excited to see where she goes as she tries out the romantic suspense genre for size! – Lisa

Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo

The Wives by Taryn Fisher (30 Dec)

This premise is one part “Did I read that right?” and one part “No spoilers please!” The heroine (known only as “Thursday”) shares her husband with his two other wives, and gets to see him only one day a week — Thursday. When a chance clue leads her to seek out one of the other wives, Hannah, she seeks her out under false pretenses. Why is Hannah bruised when their husband has never shown a violent side? Why does Thursday put up with this arrangement? What is she missing? What is she not telling us? – Anne

Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo

A Heart of Blood and Ashes by Milla Vane (31 Dec)

Milla Vane is another author identity for the amazing Meljean Brook. I read the Milla Vane novella The Beast of Blackmoor in the anthology Night Shift and not only DIK’d it, but explicitly mourned the fact that it was a stand-alone because I loved the world (full of magic, goddesses, barbarians, and warrior women) so much. I couldn’t be more excited to learn that Vane is starting a new series in that setting with this book. – Caroline

Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo

PLEASE NOTE: This is not a comprehensive list of upcoming titles, just a selection made by AAR reviewers according to their personal tastes.  Purchase links are given where available at time of writing.

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