Coming Soon – The Romances We’re Looking Forward to Reading in August 2020

August is on the horizon, and with a new month comes a new batch of books to keep us entertained and provide a little bit of distraction from, well pretty much every thing going on in the real world!  With apologies in advance to your book budget – here are the books coming out next month that the AAR team is most excited to get their hands on.  Drop by and tell us in the comments about the August titles you’re most looking forward to reading.

Marriage By Arrangement by Sophia Singh Sasson (1 Aug)

I’m already hearing great things about this India-set Harlequin Desire, featuring architect Rani Gupta, hotelier Arjun Singh, and their fake engagement. – Caroline

This seems to have everything I require in a Desire – a glossy setting, and a fake engagement, to boot – Lisa

I love the pairing in this one – a hotelier and an architect and I’m excited to read this new to me author! -Maria Rose

Buy it at: Amazon/Indiebound

You Had Me At Hola by Alexis Daria (4 Aug)

I’ve been waiting for more from Daria since her fantastic Dance Off series, which earned DIKs here. Now I’ve learned that this one has a telenovela setting and I’m pretty much twitching to read this. – Caroline

I love Alexis Daria’s work – the Dance Off series was wonderful – and I’m excited for her latest. – Lisa

I loved the Dance Off series (Dance All Night was on my best of 2018 list) and I think the premise of this series is equally unique and interesting! – Maria Rose

Buy it at: Amazon/Indiebound

The Ember Boys by Gregory Ashe (15 Aug)

This is the first book in a spin-off series from the author’s earlier Hollow Folk series – quite honestly, I don’t even need to read the synopsis – if Gregory Ashe writes it, I’ll read it. – Caz.

A new series from Gregory Ashe? Don’t need to know anything else about it. I’m in (and you should be, too!). – Em

Buy it at: Amazon

Trade Deadline by Avon Gale and Piper Vaughn (17 Aug)

I enjoyed the audiobook versions of the first two books in this series – I remember Daniel from those, and am looking forward to his story. – Caz

The series, so far, has been a mixed bag of great and good and…well, it’s been a mixed bag. Doesn’t mean I’m not a fan or that I didn’t snap this one up the moment ARCS went out. Reading about hockey will have to substitute for watching the sport for now…Let’s hope these two fellow uber-fans find nothing but net! – Em

I’ve had mixed feelings about this hockey-centered series (they’ve all been B’s to B-‘s for me), but I’m interested in seeing how this one plays out! – Lisa

I really liked Off the Ice, the first in the Hat Trick series, and while I somehow missed book two, I am looking forward to diving back into a hockey romance by this author duo. – Maria Rose

Buy it at: Amazon/Indiebound

Breathe the Sky by Michelle Hazen (18 Aug)

A contemporary/western/romantic suspense, with a construction worker hero who falls for the woman who retrieves all the wildlife wandering his building sites. It’s been awhile since I read a Western, and suspense plots aren’t usually my thing, but I’m curious. – Charlotte

Hazen’s last book was solidly fascinating if imperfect. I’m looking to see if her winning streak stays intact here. – Lisa

Buy it at: Amazon/Indiebound

The Switch by Beth O’Leary (18 Aug)

From the author of The Flatshare, one of my favorite reads of 2019: a city girl and her grandmother, both processing loss and life change, swap apartments (granddaughter in London, grandmother in a small Yorkshire village) to get a new perspective on their lives. I had this for review and it’s wonderful. – Caroline

I really liked The Flatshare, so I’m curious to see what the next book from O’Leary has in store! – Lisa

Buy it at: Amazon/Indiebound

The Legal Affair by Nisha Sharma (18 Aug)

I loved The Takeover Effect, so I’ll definitely be back for more of the boardroom/bedroom mix of the Singh Brothers series. – Caroline

This series has been wonderful! Excited for the next volume. – Lisa

Buy it at: Amazon/Indiebound

Someone to Romance by Mary Balogh (25 Aug)

Balogh’s a comfort read for me, and it’s been a stressful summer. I’m looking forward to going back to the Regency with her. – Caroline

Balogh has charmed and beguiled with this wonderful series – delighted to see the next part set sail! – Lisa

Buy it at: Amazon/Indiebound

Here to Stay by Adriana Herrera (25 Aug)

Enemies-to-lovers from the author of the American Dreamers series. – Caroline

I’ve read this one and can confirm it’s a cute and sweet story about work rivals who find real love together! – Lisa

Buy it at: Amazon

Better Than People by Roan Parrish (25 Aug)

I haven’t read a large number of books by Roan Parrish (yet) but I’ve really enjoyed those I have read and listened to, and this story of a dog lover and a grumpy illustrator sounds lovely. – Caz

Dog lover Simon needs a dog in his life ASAP, so he uses a petshare app (I read the author invented this idea) and ends up with a dog. . . and the dog’s hot owner. – Charlotte.

Parrish books go to the top of my TBR the moment they’re released, although I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a bit worried about this one. Parrish writes wonderful partnerships and she’s a master at the opposites-attract trope, but I’m definitely not an ‘animals are better than people’ person, and I worry about the heavy emphasis on animals in this one. – Em

The plot of this one caught my eye (anytime a character is ‘grumpy’ I feel the need to investigate more) and it just looks like a really nice summer beach read – Maria Rose

Buy it at: Amazon/Indiebound

The Sugared Game by K.J. Charles (26 Aug)

Note: This release was previously scheduled for July.

I LOVED the first book in the author’s Will Darling Adventures and am on tenterhooks waiting for more!  Dastardly deeds, feats of derring-do, a tough ex-soldier-turned-bookshop-owner and a dapper aristocrat who is not at all what he seems… I was on the edge of my seat reading Slippery Creatures, and if the author’s track-record with “the second book” holds true, The Sugared Game is going to be even better! – Caz

I’m one of the few KJ fans that didn’t love Slippery Creatures. I’m planning to give it a second try before digging into The Sugared Game, and keeping my fingers crossed second time’s a charm. Even a Charles I don’t love is better than most everything else, so this will move to the top of the queue the moment I have it. – Em

I’m excited to see what this one brings! – Lisa

Buy it at: Amazon 

Best Laid Plaids by Ella Stainton (31 Aug)

A paranormal romance set in 1920s Scotland which pairs a would-be psychology professor and an eccentric who can see ghosts? Sign me up! – Caz

The title hooked me in. It’s a m/m, historical, paranormal, Scottish (surprise) romance between a doctor and a WWI vet/future psychologist. First in a series with an even better name than the book: Kilty Pleasures. And did I mention the cover looks like something from Downton Abbey? – Charlotte.

Debuts have been hit or miss with me lately. This one sounds better than a few others I read this year and I hope to love it. The title is clever and awesome. Good signs! – Em

A paranormal historical with an m/m lean set in Scotland? Sign me up! – Lisa

My fellow reviewers have aptly given all the reasons why I want to read this book too! – Maria Rose

Buy it at: Amazon

Caroline

Secret Crush Seduction by Jayci Lee (1 Aug)

I had the first Heirs of Hansol book, Temporary Wife Temptation, which was a solid debut from this author. I also like books about fashion designers and the “brother’s best friend” trope.

Buy it at: Amazon/Indiebound

Lisa

Loathe at First Sight by Suzanne Park (4 Aug)

Melody and Nolan fall in love against the backdrop of the video game industry, which has gotten a lot of romancelandia attention lately. I’m 100 percent here for lady coders, and I’m here for Park’s take on workplace romance.

Buy it at: Amazon/Indiebound

No Offence by Meg Cabot (11 Aug)

Cabot’s latest novel for adults – a part of her Little Bridge Island series – features librarian Molly and divorcee John, whose daughter hates their new home on the tiny island and wants to leave. These have been cozy but imperfect reads so far, but will be enough to entertain Cabot’s legion of fans

Buy it at: Amazon/Indiebound

Kiss My Cupcake by Helena Hunting (11 Aug)

Blaire and her cupcake and cocktail shop run afoul of Ronan and his sports bar next door. Sounds like Hunting’s usual formula of competitive enemies-to-lovers falling in lust, and will probably appeal to folks who loved The Hating Game.

Buy it at: Amazon/Indiebound

Maggie

Lies Lies Lies by Adele Parks (4 Aug)

Thriller authors may abound but good thrillers are still in short supply and this story – the tale of a party which changes the course of several lives in one night, sounds like it will be very, very good.

Buy it at: Amazon/Indiebound

We Are All the Same in the Dark by Julia Heaberlin (11 Aug)

This author’s last book – Paper Ghosts – completely blew me away and I’m very excited to see what she does with this new novel about the discovery of a girl abandoned by the side of the road, a find which brings to light information about a sinister cold case.

Buy it at: Amazon/Indiebound

Emerald Blaze by Ilona Andrews (25 Aug)

I’ve loved every one of the Hidden Legacy books and am eager to continue with this fantastic series and find out just how Catalina and Alesandro resolve all the hurdles in their relationship

Buy it at: Amazon/Indiebound

Maria Rose

Season of the Wolf by Maria Vale (25 Aug)

I love the Legend of All Wolves series so I had no hesitation in putting this on my to-read list. Maria Vale writes gritty, authentic feeling and unique wolf shifter stories that are a cut above the rest.

Buy it at: Amazon/Indiebound

The Blood King by Abigail Owen (25 Aug)

Dragon shifters! Abigail Owen’s The Rogue King introduced a new and exciting world of dragon clans and after reading that story I’ve been anxiously awaiting the next in the series. The Blood King sounds like another high energy, sexy, fated mates story that I’m ready to dig into.

Buy it at: Amazon/Indiebound

Shannon

The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis (4 Aug)

Fiona Davis’ dual-timeline novels set in New York City are highlights of my summer reading. Her stories have never let me down, so my hopes are extremely high for this novel centered around the New York Public Library. I mean, what could be better than a book about such an iconic location?

Buy it at: Amazon/Indiebound

Say No More by Karen Rose (11 Aug)

I can’t get enough of Karen Rose’s blend of swoony romance and chilling suspense, and I’m especially excited about this second installment in her Sacramento series. I love books about cults, so this series is super fascinating to me.

Buy it at: Amazon/Indiebound

The Jackal by J.R. Ward (18 Aug)

I love pretty much everything J.R. Ward writes, but this latest spin-off of her Black Dagger Brotherhood series sounds even more fabulous than usual! I love the way this world keeps expanding while still allowing readers to know and care about all the characters.

Buy it at: Amazon/Indiebound

Hidden by Laura Griffin (25 Aug)

I’ve never read a Laura Griffin novel, but I’ve heard all manner of great things about her work. I admit to being a little put off by the length of her Tracers series, so Hidden, the first book in a new series, looks like the perfect place for me to dive in.

Buy it at: Amazon/Indiebound

PLEASE NOTE: This is not a comprehensive list of available 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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