Coming Soon – The Romances We’re Looking Forward to Reading in June 2020
There are lots of great books due to be released in June, and as usual the AAR team has selected the ones we’re most looking forward to reading. As usual, we’ve got a fairly eclectic list, so hopefully there’s something here for everyone! And don’t forget to drop by to tell is what YOU’RE most looking forward to reading over the next few weeks.
Conventionally Yours by Annabeth Albert (2 June)
Quite honestly, I’m at the stage where I’ll pick up anything Annabeth Albert writes without reading the blurb! I know two things about it: 1) It’s set at a gaming convention. 2) I’ll be reading it asap! – Caz
Nerd romances are my catnip and this sounds like fun! – Lisa
I’m in the same boat as Caz, I see the author’s name and I want the story LOL – Maria Rose
Buy it at: Amazon / Indiebound
The Last Train to Key West by Chanel Cleeton (16 June)
Cleeton has 100% DIKs at AAR – four of them! – for both romances and historical fiction, which typically explores the Cuban diaspora. This is set in 1935 Florida and follows two women as they ride out a devastating hurricane. – Caroline
I love Cleeton’s work, so I’m looking forward to her next novel! – Lisa
Cleeton’s latest novel takes place between the two world wars, and it looks absolutely amazing! I love her focus on Cuban-American history, a slice of the past we don’t hear nearly enough about these days. – Shannon
Buy it at: Amazon / Indiebound
Dragon Unleashed by Grace Draven (9 June)
Draven’s Phoenix Unbound is one of my favorite books, and was immediately recognized as a DIK when it came out. Ever since, I’ve been eagerly waiting for the next book in the fantasy world Draven has built, full of dragons and witches and adventure. This is likely to be the highlight of my month! – Alexandra
Draven has a great track record in fantasy romance, and I loved the first in this series a lot. – Caroline
I don’t hear too many readers gushing about the greatness of Grace Draven’s writing, even though she’s one of my favorite authors of fantasy romance. Dragon Unleashed is the second installment in her Fallen Empire series, and I can’t wait to set foot in that world again. – Shannon
Buy it at: Amazon / Indiebound
Always the Last to Know by Kristan Higgins (9 June)
Kristan Higgins does such a good job writing family dynamics. I’ve really loved her last few books for exactly that reason, and this looks to be another good one, with plenty of heartache and sweet moments. – Alexandra
In Always the Last To Know, powerhouse author Kristan Higgins digs deep into the secrets of a marriage. It’s a book that hits home in all the best ways, one I was lucky enough to review for AAr, and a book I want you all to fall in love with. – Shannon
Buy it at: Amazon / Indiebound
About a Rogue by Caroline Linden (30 June)
I’m a big fan of Caroline Linden’s and am looking forward to her new series. – Caz
Linden never disapoints, and this one sounds like a delight – Lisa
I’ve read a few of Caroline Linden’s historical romances and they’ve always been really enjoyable so I’m looking forward to reading this one. – Maria Rose
Buy it at: Amazon / Indiebound
Dance Away With Me by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (9 June)
Like Lisa says, SEP doesn’t always work, but when she works, she’s gold. – Caroline
My relationship with SEP’s books is all over the map, but I’ll always give her next one another chance – Lisa
Buy it at: Amazon / Indiebound
Engagement and Espionage by Penny Reid (16 June)
It was a struggle for me to say goodbye to the Winston family when Reid wrapped up their series last fall. Cletus has always been one of my favorite characters in the series, with all of his hijinks as he tries to manage everyone in his life. So I’m thrilled to see more of him! – Alexandra
Cletus and Jenn, of Reid’s Winston Brothers series (book 3, Beard Science) get their own sequel series of cozy mysteries! – Charlotte
Cozy mysteries plus Penny Reid?! Sign me up! – Lisa
Buy it at: Amazon / Indiebound
Two Rogues Make a Right by Cat Sebastian (23 June)
The previous books in the Seducing the Sedwick series have hinted at a connection between middle brother Will and Martin Easterbrook, who appeared to be something of a villain in the earlier books – and that sort of thing is like catnip, so I was instantly on alert! I’ve read (and reviewed – watch this space!) this, and loved it; it’s a charmingly sweet story that made me laugh, made me cry and gave me just the right sort of feels. Plus – THAT LOVELY COVER! – Caz
Sebastian never, ever fails and I’m excited to see what she does with her latest Sedgwick book! – Lisa
Buy it at: Amazon / Indiebound
The Devil of Downtown by Joanna Shupe (30 June)
Shupe’s Uptown Girls series has been delightful so far. In this one, a social welfare activist meets a gangster! – Lisa
The Prince of Broadway was one of my top ten reads of 2019 so I’m really looking forward to continuing the series! – Maria Rose
Buy it at: Amazon / Indiebound
Alpha Night by Nalini Singh (9 June)
I loved Silver Silence, the last book she had set against the backdrop of Russian Changeling packs, so I’m excited for follow up in this book. Really, you can never go wrong with Nalini Singh. – Alexandra
I mean, either you’re going to auto-buy every Nalini Singh Psy-Changeling book, or you’re not. If you’re not, you’re missing out. – Caroline
I’m so glad that Nalini Singh started this spin-off series of the Psy-Changeling books as it’s given me a great entry into the new series without having to go through such a daunting backlist (though I am picking up the earlier books one by one). Still, Silver Silence got me hooked on her worldbuilding and Alpha Night looks equally exciting! – Maria Rose
Nalini Singh’s Psy/Changeling books are some of the best paranormal romances out there. Whenever I start one, I know I’m in for a real treat, so it should come as no surprise to hear I’m looking forward to Alpha Night. I’m not familiar with either of the lead characters, but that’s okay. I’m sure I’ll love them just as much as her previous couples, and that, to me, is the mark of a great author.- Shannon
Buy it at: Amazon / Indiebound
Jo & Laurie by Margaret Stohl and Melissa de la Cruz (2 June)
A YA revisitation of Jo March and Laurie from Little Women. Will the authors switch up the ending of this classic? – Caroline
I’ve read just about every single revision of Little Women that’s been put out there in recent years, from a werewolf AU to an erotic reinamgining. Will be reading this one for sure! – Lisa
Buy it at: Amazon / Indiebound
We’re also looking forward to…
Caroline:
Marrying his Runaway Heiress by Therese Beharrie (1 June)
A journalist travels to Italy to interview a tycoon, who surprises her with a marriage proposal. Beharrie has had several strong reviews in a row here and I haven’t tried her yet, so this seems like a good time to start.
Buy it at: Amazon / Indiebound
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (30 June)
Gothic/suspense novel set in Mexican high society in the 1950s. I love something that sounds like nothing I’ve read before!
Buy it at: Amazon / Indiebound
Charlotte:
Head Over Heels by Hannah Orenstein (23 June)
A book that appears to take at least a hint of its inspiration from the real-life abuse revelations in US gymnastics and calls itself a rom-com is going to have to be written incredibly deftly to work – I hope it’s done well and comes off as a joyous romance and a thoughtful, considerate addressing of the real-life events. We’ll see.
Buy it at: Amazon / Indiebound
LaVerne:
The Crushing Depths by Dani Pettrey (30 June)
North Carolina and the US Coast Guard. I don’t need much more. Add in a suspected murder on an oil rig, the investigators growing attraction and a whisper of ancient curses. Just the way I like it!
Buy it at: Amazon / Indiebound
Line by Line by Jennifer Delamere (30 June)
Can’t wait for this new Inspy historical from Delamere, one of my favorite authors. Alice is a seasoned telegrapher in a coveted position. Douglas plans to marry up in society. Their paths are set – just not together. But this is a romance. Happily-ever-after awaits… I hope!
Buy it at: Amazon / Indiebound
Lisa:
Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert (23 June)
Talia Hibbert has rapidly become one of my favorite authors. After a PhD student is rescued from a fire drill gone wrong by a university security guard, their “romance” goes viral. He begs her to follow along with the ruse to help out his children’s soccer charity. One problem with that – Dani Brown has given up on love.
Buy it at: Amazon / Indiebound
Party of Two by Jasmine Guillory (23 June)
Guillory’s Wedding Date series continues, and this one is Max and Olivia’s story!
Buy it at: Amazon / Indiebound
Daring and the Duke by Sarah Maclean (30 June)
Maclean’s Bareknuckle Bastards series continues apace, with a hero searching for his lost love – who has become someone quite different with time.
Buy it at: Amazon / Indiebound
Liz:
Blaze by Chelle Bliss (2 June)
A respectable, straight-laced bookworm and a disreputable, tattooed ‘bad boy’ enter into a platonic arrangement that tests their desire for each other. The book description doesn’t give much away, but this line sold me: “…will he peel back her pages, exposing the wildcat hidden underneath?” Sounds intriguing and super hot!
Buy it at: Amazon / Indiebound
A Duke, the Lady, and a Baby by Vanessa Riley (30 June)
A widowed West Indian heiress is hired to be her own son’s nanny after she is falsely imprisoned. She and her son’s guardian, a wounded military hero, develop a romantic relationship. An interracial historical romance, A Duke, the Lady, and a Baby, which is book one in Vanessa Riley’s Rogues and Remarkable Women series. Stay tuned for my review!
Buy it at: Amazon / Indiebound
Maria Rose:
The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon (9 June)
The plot of this new romantic comedy by Farrah Rochon, about three women who discover they’ve been catfished by the same man and vow to put themselves first for a while (only to meet their perfect partners, of course) sounds really fun!
Buy it at: Amazon / Indiebound
40-Love by Olivia Dade (18 Jun)
A tennis romance! That’s all I needed to know, but throw in Olivia Dade and her deligthful witty romantic comedy voice and it’s game, set, match for me!
Buy it at: Amazon / Indiebound
One Wicked Lick from the Drummer by Ainslie Paton (18 Jun)
This looks like a fun, sexy, rock star romance with a second chance theme by Ainslie Paton. She has a writing style that really works for me.
Buy it at: Amazon
Shannon:
Rage and Ruin by Jennifer L. Armentrout (9 Jun)
I loved 2019’s Storm and Fury, so I’m super excited for the sequel to come out. Jennifer L. Armentrout has a gift for creating immersive worlds I have a hard time stepping out of once I reach the end of the book, and I especially enjoy her take on gargoyles.
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.
40 Love looks good! An older, maybe plus size heroine and younger dishy man are my catnip.
I seem to have been waiting for Cat Sebastian’s for ages – she’s released about 4 other books since the previous one in this series! Both the leads have interesting back stories so I’m really looking forward to it – I’m also hopeful for appearances from characters in the previous books.
I’ve also got the Sarah MacLean on preorder. In truth, I’m not heavily invested in this series but the male lead seems to be the most interesting of the three brothers and I’m interested in seeing how she can tie up the romance. I’ve really enjoyed some of her books (Callie, Bourne and Cross’ stories) but don’t really like some of the others.
In the past I would have been excited about the Joanna Shupe but I’ve got to the same place in Prince of Broadway twice now, and can’t push myself on to finish it. I’m not sure why, I’ve enjoyed all her New York set books but I just don’t care enough about either of them to continue at the moment – maybe it’s a lockdown thing!
I think I read the last Caroline Linden, as I usually enjoy her books, but can’t remember anything about it so will wait for the review.
I look forward to the reviews of all the others……
What I’m really excited about, though, is the new Hazard and Somerset tomorrow! (Plus the new Valentine freebie, the North and Shaw Out of Office shorts and the preorder for the next H and S in July)
I’ve enjoyed a lot of Joanna Shupe’s books and I read the first in her current series, but I didn’t like the heroine or her sisters, who are, I believe, the heroines in the other books. I hope that perhaps whatever she comes up with next will work better for me.
Wayward is awesome – Em has reviewed it for us and it’ll run over the weekend (my review is up at GR). The Valentine freebie was brilliant :) That boy has a real future as a romance writer! :P
In addition to my customary Dare & HP choices (Jackie Ashenden’s BAD BOSS, Caitlin Crews’s CLAIMED IN THE ITALIAN’S CASTLE), I’m looking forward to the following books in June: Sybil Bartel’s SHAMELESS, the latest in her Miami-based Alpha Bodyguards series; Kate Canterbary’s THE ASH CHRONICLES, the second in her Adventures in Dating series; and Clare Connelly’s NOTHING LASTS FOREVER, the latest in her Montebellos series (but, unlike many of Connelly’s books, neither an HP nor a Dare). Not a huge hoard for June…which might help both my book budget and the size of my tbr list. Ha! Yeah, right.
Talia Hibbert definitely. Mexican Gothic and About a Rogue are also on my list, review depending. I agree with Blackjack about Kate Bateman, I shouldn’t have accepted the arc, as it sits unread. I am looking forward to a few mysteries coming out later this summer and then very patiently awaiting Loretta Chase’s Ashmont’s book, hopefully, to be released in December. Otherwise, I have a sad case of romance genera slump. I hope It’s not permanent.
“Otherwise, I have a sad case of romance general slump. I hope it’s not permanent”
If it makes you feel any better, you’re not the only one. I’ve been having a bit of a slump myself, not with romance per se but with reading and writing in general.
Me too.
Talia Hibbert’s _Take a Hint, Dani Brown_ is the only new release for June that I’m committed to reading. I have an arc of it to review and am hoping that it’s as good as I’m hearing it is.
For the first time maybe ever, I’m on the fence about a new Penny Reid. I just haven’t enjoyed her most recent ones, and though I will at least read the first book in her new Ideal Man series out later this year, her cozy mystery series has me on the fence. I’m honestly hoping reviews change my mind though.
I have my eye on Susan Elizabeth Phillips’s _Dance away with Me_ but will wait for reviews. It’s been ages since SEP’s put out a new book and her last release did not work for me at all.
I’m waiting for one of my favorite and most trusted Goodreads reviewers to post her review of _The Boyfriend Project_ to see if I want to read it.
Not on the above list but a new release by an author regularly reviewed here is Kate Bateman’s second book in her new Bow Street Bachelors series, _To Catch an Earl_. I have had an arc sitting around for months and cannot bring myself to read and review it, which is highly unusual for me. If I commit to an arc, I follow through. Now, I just have this sinking feeling that the reading experience is not going to make me happy.
So, June is not looking to be my most stellar reading month, but who knows. Maybe I’ll end up being pleasantly surprised.
I didn’t realize Ainslie Paton had a new one this month! I’ve had to shelve her for a bit because while the con men in her recent series are Robin Hood types, the whole concept of con heroes/heroines practically gives me panic attacks. Rock star is a much better fit for me!
Two Rogues Make a Right has been on my TBR list for a while. I enjoyed It Takes Two to Tumble and parts of A Gentleman Never Keeps Score (although the end of that story sort of fell apart for me). But this is definitely a case though where I have to suspend my disbelief. Of the five brothers, three of them are confirmed homosexuals? Certainly possible but strains the credulity a bit. Can’t help thinking Cat Sebastian will aim for five of five. Having said that, it won’t keep me from reading. :)
I also greatly enjoyed The Prince of Broadway. The Devil of Downtown has been on my waitlist as well.
Test comment
“I can’t recall a character appearing in this one who seems like they’d be a future lead character.” Neither can I. This is probably planned as a trilogy, which is fine.
I think Will had an interesting backstory and I am eager to see how Sebastian handles his
Also hope to see some cameo appearances from the previous two couples (Ben/Philip and Hartley/Sam).
I am notoriously bad at remembering character names and plots, particularly for category romances. But for some reason, Sebastian’s characters stick with me a lot longer.
I agree about the suspension of disbelief as regards the Sebastian (I’ve read and reviewed this one, and I think Will is bi, but still…) I don’t know if there are any more books planned in this series though – I can’t recall a character appearing in this one who seems like they’d be a future lead character.
I also look forward to the review of A Duke, the Lady and a Baby. I want to see if a hero named, of all things, Busick can overcome this sad misfortune. Sounds very odd to me for a name but I await Liz’s thoughts on this one as the plot and setting sound interesting.