Coming Soon… in April and May

The question “What books are you looking forward to reading over the next couple of months?” is the sort of thing we love here at AAR.  We’re always on the lookout for our next great read, so here are a few of the upcoming releases we’re keen to read in April and May.

Anne

The Girl With The Make-Believe Husband: A Bridgertons Prequel by Julia Quinn (30 May)

First, it’s Julia Quinn, and it’s a Bridgertons prequel. Second, the plot sounds really fun — an amnesia twist and a heroine traveling to the Colonies.  A/BN/iB/K

Caz

A Warriner to Protect Her by Virginia Heath (18 Apr)

I was pleased to discover a really good new author of historical romance last year when I read Virginia Heath’s Her Enemy at the Altar. That was her second book and I’ve since read all her others, and have rated them highly – all B and above. She’s a great storyteller and really has the knack of creating the most delicious romantic chemistry between her heroes and their ladies, so I’m really looking forward to this, the the first in a four book series. A/BN/iB/K

A Counterfeit Heart by K.C. Bateman (23 May). K.C Bateman was one of my big discoveries of 2016. I adored her début (To Steal a Heart), a sexy, Napoleonic Era spy story, that was chock-full of sexual tension and sparkling, witty dialogue, and gave it an A-. I have high hopes of more of the same from this, her third novel, which sees a French forger engaged in a battle of wills – and seduction! – with an English spy.  A/BN/iB/K

From Duke Till Dawn by Eva Leigh (30 May) Ms. Leigh’s new London Underground series promises stories that sizzle with the dark secrets of London’s underworld… I’ve enjoyed this author’s work as both Eva Leigh and Zoe Archer; she has the knack of creating the most wonderful chemistry between her protagonists and strong heroines who know what they want and are prepared to reach out and grab it. A/BN/iB/K

The Most Dangerous Duke in London by Madeline Hunter (30 May) The blurb for this book mentions a “dark and brooding duke with a thirst for revenge”. Enough said – I’m in!  A/BN/iB/K

Em

The Hot Shot by Kristen Callihan
The Game On series kicked off my love affair with the sports romance genre and it remains my favorite to date. The last book, The Game Plan, was my favorite in the series but I’m hopeful The Hot Shot will be even better. I’m a big Kristen Callihan fangirl and she hasn’t let me down yet.  A/BN/iB/K

A Gathering Storm by Joanna Chambers
I love both historical and queer romantic fiction and Ms. Chambers excels at both. I loved her Enlightenment series and frequently recommend it to friends looking for wonderful storytelling that checks both of those boxes. I’m excited about the Porthkennack series, but this title most of all.

How to Bang a Billionaire by Alexis Hall
The title is awesome, the author terrific and the blurb intriguing. I’ll read anything by the talented Mr. Hall so this moves straight to the top of my TBR pile. Even better? It’s the first in his planned Arden St. Ives trilogy! I love knowing I can look forward to future books in the not too distant future.  A/BN/iB/K

Keira

The Forbidden Garden by Ellen Herrick (4 Apr)

Sorrel Sparrow is a gifted gardener from a small town on the New England coast. She’s been lured away from her nursery business to travel to Wiltshire, England to bring a Shakespearean garden back to life. Is it a malevolent garden or merely a neglected, desolate one? As she works hard to resurrect it, she’s distracted by Sir Graham Kirkwood’s enigmatic, good-looking, rector, brother-in-law who’s currently out of a job. Animosity and sparks of a different kind fly between them, but will the garden’s enchantment allow their love to grow?  A/BN/iB/K

Kristen

Walk of Shame by Lauren Layne (18 Apr)

Ms. Layne is essentially channeling my romance wish lists at this point. Sparkling dialogue, grounded characters, and guaranteed romance – win, win, win. This one appears to feature a frienemies-to-lovers trope, which sounds just perfect for a spring read. A/BN/iB/K

Pipe Dreams by Sarina Bowen (2 May)

Ms. Bowen is one of the shining stars of a very full hockey romance world. This is the latest in her Brooklyn Bruises series, which I have found utterly charming and super sexy. With a second-chance romance trope featuring in this installment, I simply cannot wait. A/BN/iB/K

Lee

The Jane Austen Project by Kathleen A. Flynn

A story about two time travelers from the future who travel back in time to befriend Jane Austen for – maybe – nefarious reasons. A/BN/iB/K

Maria Rose

Trust Me by Laura Florand (4 Apr)

The third story in Laura Florand’s Paris Nights series features a female pastry chef who falls for a sexy SEAL. It’s no secret I’m a fan of this author, and while her other series are more romantic and sensual in nature, the Paris Nights series, like its name, implies a more glamorous and harder edged story. The previous book in the series, Chase Me, was influenced by the Paris terror attacks of 2015 and the storyline reflected that. This story deals with some of that fallout as well and I’m interested in reading how the heroine is coping with the aftermath.  A/BN/iB/K

Star Crossed by Emma Barry and Genevieve Turner (4 Apr)

Romances in the Fly Me to the Moon series by this author duo ended up on my ‘best of’ list two years running so I’ve been excited about this one for a while. A modern historical series that looks at the advent of space exploration in the United States, this is their first female/female romance with two women in the space program, one on the front lines as an astronaut and the other behind the scenes. The obvious social issues of a lesbian romance combined with the general challenges for women in science at that time are sure to make this one an interesting read.  A/BN/iB/K

Midnight Target by Elle Kennedy (25 Apr)

The last of the romantic suspense Killer Instincts novels looks to go out in style with a romance for two couples (one male/female, one male/male). Steamy, action packed, and a satisfying end to the series is what I’ve been hearing from other reviewers so I’m looking forward to reading it! A/BN/iB/K

New York, Actually by Sarah Morgan (30 May)

Given that the third book in Ms. Morgan’s Manhattan with Love series just received a nomination from the Romance Writers of America for its annual RITA awards in the contemporary romance: long category, it’s fair to say that there will be high expectations for this one to be just as good! Certainly, I’m hoping that’s the case. A/BN/iB/K

Shannon

The Chosen by J.R. Ward (4 Apr)

I love heroes who start out as bad boys, and Xcor definitely falls into that category. He’s responsible for so many of the Brotherhood’s ills, and I’m eager to see how Ward turns that around to make him a romantic hero. A/BN/iB/K

Moon Shimmers by Yasmine Galenorn
I’ve been a fan of Ms. Galenorn’s writing for the past seven or eight years. She’s one of my auto-buy authors, and that hasn’t changed since she’s gone Indie over the past year. I adore her Otherworld series, and I’m counting down the days until the next installment.

Goodnight from London by Jennifer Robson
Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres, and I especially love novels that take place during the Second World War. This looks like it will be right up my alley. A/BN/iB/K

So many books. So little time!

What are YOU looking forward to reading over the next couple of months? Jump in and let us know your thoughts in the comments.