Coming Soon – The Romances We’re Most Looking Forward to Reading in September 2021
September is usually the time of year you’ll find more new releases than you can shake a stick at, and it seems that this September is continuing that tradition! As usual, for this column, we’ve chosen a selection of new books we think are going to make for the best reads over the coming weeks, based on the information from authors and publishers that is available at time of writing.
Please do drop by to tell us which books YOU’RE most eager to get stuck into this month!
Releasing week of 30th Aug
Releasing week of 6th Sept
Releasing week of 13th Sept
Releasing week of 20th Sept
Releasing week of 27th Sept
I just found out a few days ago (too late to add to this post!) that Noelle Adams is releasing another book as Claire Kent called Haven (Sep 10). It’s a post-apocalyptic erotic romance novella and the start of a new series (though she did publish Last Light in Nov 2019 that is also post-apocalyptic set and a standalone). She had said previously that she wasn’t going to publish anything anymore under her Claire Kent name but I’m happy to see she’s changed her mind!
Serena Bell has her second Wilder Adventure series book coming out on Sep 23rd called Walk on the Wilder Side. The series is about a family who make their living with wilderness adventures having to deal with their town becoming a popular wedding destination and how to survive in this new market. It’s a self published romantic comedy series with each book featuring a different sibling.
One book of note is also the Berkley published The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood, coming out on Sep 14th. The blurb says ” When a fake relationship between scientists meets the irresistible force of attraction, it throws one woman’s carefully calculated theories on love into chaos”.
I’ve been incommunicado because we’ve been riding out Hurricane Ida and aftermath. We came through with no structural damage to our home (sadly, so many people here in Louisiana were not as fortunate), but we have no power and our cell phone/internet service has been spotty—today seems a bit better, so thought I’d check in. We’re broiling here with no a/c, but I have a house that did not flood and has a functioning roof. I’ll take it. As for September books—
A couple of disappointments for September: Katee Robert cancelled the release of COHEN, the third of her Sabine Valley series, which had been scheduled for September 13. Also, Taylor Fitzpatrick’s AND THEN, the long-awaited second book of her Between the Teeth m/m hockey trilogy, is another September no-show. I do have hopes that Kati Wilde’s shifter romance, SHERIFF’S BAD BEAR, which was cancelled for August release, will show up in September. Only time will tell. As for books that are scheduled for September:
September 1 brings its usual Harlequin Presents ebook bounty: Caitlin Crews’s THE SICILIAN’S FORGOTTEN WIFE includes a revenge-marriage and amnesia. Meanwhile, Jackie Ashenden’s THE WEDDING NIGHT THEY NEVER HAD features a king demanding a divorce from a long-ago, never-consummated marriage. His wife refuses. Sparks fly.
Sierra Simone’s SAINT arrives September 7. The hero is the brother of the heroes from PRIEST and SINNER. This is an m/m romance and, as always with this series, I’m expecting lots of spiritual angst and smoking-hot sexy-times.
J. Kenner’s RAVAGED WITH YOU, the seventh book in her Stark Security series of romantic-suspense stories, also drops September 7. This book features one of my favorite tropes: a man falling for his late best friend’s widow. H&h discover dead friend/husband was not such a good guy and had some very unsavory associates.
Skye Warren’s BEST KEPT SECRET, the third and final book in her Rochester Trilogy, a modern retelling of Jane Eyre, arrives September 14. Jane came face-to-face with the “Bertha Mason” character at the end of the second book. How will the story be resolved?
Also dropping September 14 is Amelia Wilde’s NET WORTH. This appears to be a standalone featuring a “revenge relationship,” but I won’t be surprised if it ends on a cliffhanger.
The publication date for Ella James’s dark m/m stepbrother romance, WRATH, has been changed yet again—now it’s scheduled for September 17. I’m not holding my breath.
Zoe York’s WILD AT HEART, the third in her new Kinkaids of Pine Harbour series, arrives September 28. This features antagonists-to-lovers with a road trip thrown in. Cue the trope-gasm!
Natasha Knight’s dark mafia romance, STOLEN, arrives September 30. The hero was a secondary character in Knight’s WITH THIS RING/I THEE TAKE duet
I’m glad you’re safe with no damage to your home. I hope the power can be returned soon.
Echoing Carrie here! Glad to hear you are safe . . . and hoping any other TN, LA and CA readers are as well.
I’m glad to hear you made it through the hurricane relatively unscathed and I hope your services get restored soon. It looks like a monumental job and Ida is still wreaking havoc across so many parts of the US.
I’ve got three books preordered for September:
I’m very much looking forward to Jay Hogan’s On Board as Off Balance, the first book in the series, was one of my favourites from 2020. I’m very excited to read Fox and Leroy’s story!
I think both my other preorders are novellas.
In Peter Cabot Gets Lost by Cat Sebastian, I think Peter is Tommy’s nephew from Tommy Cabot Was Here, which I enjoyed. They are members of a US political dynasty during the 1960s.
Jonty’s Halloween is the third follow-up novella to The Making of Jonty Bloom by Barbara Elsborg. (The others are Jonty’s Christmas and Jonty in Russia). This one looks like it is set on the Northumberland coast like the first book. I found it very refreshing to read a m/m contemporary set somewhere in the UK other than London or the West Country! Jonty is a very special character and I just love him.
Hi Wendy, I’m going to buy Jonty’s Halloween as well. I don’t think Barbara Elsborg has been reviewed at AAR although she has an extensive backlist so must have been writing for a long time. I’ve only read a few of her books so far. The Making of Jonty Bloom was the first one and I liked it a lot. Jonty is a lot to take but he is so sweet. I feel he has a pure heart. I have Jonty’s Christmas and Jonty in Russia so I have to get the Halloween novella too!
I have the Tommy Cabot and Peter Cabot books on my Amazon wish list. I was interested in Tommy and was hoping that the price would drop close to when Peter gets released. Then I could buy Peter if I liked the first book. However, it is very close to release date and no discount. Tommy is only $3.99 so I am being super cheap. Should I just get it?
I got the Tommy Cabot book in an anthology called He’s Come Undone. I think that CS published it separately as the anthology became unavailable. I’m sure the anthology was reviewed here but I can’t find it on PowerSearch………. Tommy’s story is a second chance at love between two older men after a gap of about 15 years. I think, of her other books, it’s most similar in tone to Hither, Page but without the mystery. I’d spend $3.99 on it!
The Making of Jonty Bloom was the first Barbara Elsborg book that I read too. I’ve read all the Jonty follow-ups and Cato’s book but most of her other plot lines look too dark for me at the moment. I think The Making of Jonty Bloom is a terrific book but it’s not perfect – I think the suspense plot lets it down. IMO its strengths are the writing of Jonty’s character and the sense of place, both of its location in the North East and of the social systems in England.
Thanks, Wendy! I think I will get Tommy Cabot.
I read Cato’s book and liked it OK but honestly don’t remember much about it now. I liked The Making of Jonty Bloom and the 2nd in the series (A Long Way Back) better. I agree that many of Barbara Elsborg’s recent M/M books seem to deal with heavier subject matter. Jonty’s character lightens things up!
Anyone know if we can look forward to a new Loretta Chase, maybe around Christmas, as usual?
I haven’t seen or heard anything so far. There were 3 years between her last two books – Duke in Shining Armour and Ten Things I Hate About the Duke – so I haven’t let myself get my hopes up for anything new this year.
Just checked her website – a blog post from earlier this year says Blackwood’s story will be published in 2022 (and that she was still writing it) so fingers crossed!)
I have become a big fan of Annabeth Albert and am excited about Sailor Proof. I also love Jay Hogan but it’s been so long since I read Off Balance (Painted Bay #1) that I may have to go back and re-read it again!
I’m looking forward to With You Forever by Chloe Liese (Bergman Brothers book 4) on Sept 14th. I highly recommend the entire series.
For fans of Elle Kennedy, she is releasing The Legacy, the 5th book in her NA series Off Campus on Sept 21st. The Legacy is a set of 4 novellas that shows each of the 4 couples of the series several years later.
Lastly, Christmas stories already? Oh my!
I somehow missed the Jay Hogan book. I have Off Balance on my TBR pile, so I might try to get that read before then. I also noticed the C.S. Poe book, and that it’s the first in a series. Has anyone read her Snow & Winter books? If so,what did you think? The only books I’ve read of hers are the Magic and Steam books, and I really enjoyed those.
I read the first couple of Snow and Winter books a few years back and they were… okay? I read them when they were in KU, but then they moved out and I didn’t get around to books 3 and 4 (I obviously wasn’t sufficiently invested to buy them!) I would say CSP’s writing has come on enormously since then if the Magic & Steam books are anything to go by, so I’m planning on giving the new series a try.
I reread Off Balance a couple of weeks ago, Manjari, after I saw the new one’s release date! I enjoyed it as much as the first time.
As usual, I am picking up older romance titles that I can obtain through my library or interlibrary loan. Here are some of the picks for September so far, subject to change without warning ;-):
1) Currently reading: Spice ‘n’ Solace by KC Burn, a Carina Press science fiction romance. If it’s any good, I’m on to the sequel, Alien ‘n’ Outlaw.
2) Currently on hold at library: The Roman Lady’s Illicit Affair by Greta Gilbert, a Harlequin Historical
I really enjoyed her Ancient Egypt romance, Enslaved by the Desert Trader, so I think I’ll be reading through her catalog. Gilbert, who used to work for National Geographic, I believe, has a good grounding in history as far as I can tell. Plus, she explores cool time periods that are often ignored in romance, has a good writing style, and creates characters who feel like people of their time and place while still managing to be romantic for the modern reader.
3) Up next: pretty much anything in the Love Inspired Suspense line that looks halfway decent. I’m on a bit of an LIS kick right now because the premises are interesting and the lack of sex means none of this “Let’s bang under the floorboards while the bad guys are trying to kill us” nonsense.
New releases on my TBR list:
1) Dead in the Water by Janice K. Johnson, Harlequin Intrigue
2) Out of the Ashes by Anne Galbraith, a Love Inspired Suspense Cold Case by a debut author
Ruby Dixon has a new release in her IPB/Icehome series “Sam’s Secret” on September 10th that I can’t wait to read.
Carla Kelly has a new book releasing on September 14th called “Her Smile” that I will be reading.
I’m still willing to give Minerva Spencer another try so if I can get “Infamous” from the library I will likely check it out as well.
I’m looking forward to The One and Only Crystal Druid (Guild Codex: Unveiled 1) by Annette Marie. I love her Guild Codex world of interlocking stories. We first meet the Crystal Druid in Dark Arts and a Daiquiri (Guild Codex: Spellbound book 2), and we’re seeing him again in the recently released Rogue Ghosts and other Miscreants (Guild Codex: Warped).
I’m bummed to see that Josh Lanyon’s next “Secrets and Scrabble” book has been bumped back to Oct.
I’m looking forward to Annabeth Albert’s Sailor Proof.
Love Christmas anthologies so A Victorian Family Christmas will be on my list. A Christmas in the Alps also sounds worth a look in.
The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart looks interesting but it’s not available as an ebook.
I think that publisher puts their ebook editions up at the last minute, so I’m sure it’ll turn up soon!
The new Eve Dallas (J.D.Robb) is out late in September.
Before that there is a new Wrexford&Sloane by Andrea Penrose and
The Heart Principle (Kiss Quotient No.3) by Helen Hoang.
I have all these on pre-order and am hoping for a great reading month.
I’ve been dithering over the next Wrexford and Sloane (don’t know how I missed that off the list), because I thought the last instalment was pretty weak compared with the rest.