Our Books to Binge On feature is pretty simple in its purpose. Every month, we put together a monthly new releases list of books that we’re all looking forward to. These are the books that we can’t wait to read and want everyone to add to their monthly binge-reading lists. Here are the books that we plan to binge on in January of 2021.
Blood Heir (Aurelia Ryder #1) by Ilona Andrews
From Ilona Andrews, an all-new novel set in the Kate Daniels World and featuring Julie Lennart-Olsen, Kate and Curran’s ward.
Atlanta was always a dangerous city. Now, as waves of magic and technology compete for supremacy, it’s a place caught in a slow apocalypse, where monsters spawn among the crumbling skyscrapers and supernatural factions struggle for power and survival.
Eight years ago, Julie Lennart left Atlanta to find out who she was. Now she’s back with a new face, a new magic, and a new name—Aurelia Ryder—drawn by the urgent need to protect the family she left behind. An ancient power is stalking her adopted mother, Kate Daniels, an enemy unlike any other, and a string of horrifying murders is its opening gambit.
If Aurelia’s true identity is discovered, those closest to her will die. So her plan is simple: get in, solve the murders, prevent the prophecy from being fulfilled, and get out without being recognized. She expected danger, but she never anticipated that the only man she’d ever loved could threaten everything.
One small misstep could lead to disaster. But for Aurelia, facing disaster is easy; it’s relationships that are hard.
Rowena: 2020 was the year of Kate Daniels for me. I read the entire series and was sad when it finally ended. I loved the series so much and am super stoked that we get to continue our reading adventures in the Kate Daniels world with Julie at the center of all of the action. Plus…DEREK! Yes, please!!
Casee: I am so excited for this book. Like Rowena, 2020 was the year of Kate Daniels for me and also read the entire series. It’s going to be so good to get back to this world.
Holly: I waited years for this book. I’m so freaking excited we’re finally getting more of Julie.
Roommate (True North #8) by Sarina Bowen
Wanted: One roommate to share a 3-bedroom house, split the rent, and ideally not be the guy I can’t stop thinking about.
I’m a man with too many secrets, so the last thing I need is a new roommate with a sexy smile and blue eyes that see right through me. Eight years ago, Roderick left town after high school. We’re not friends. I owe him nothing. But back then, I let one of my secrets slip, and he’s the only one who noticed.
Part of me knows I should run far, far away. But the other part wants him to come upstairs and spend the night. But if I let him in, I could lose everything.
Seeking: A room to rent in town. I’m tidy, have no pets, and I will feed you homemade bread.
I should probably add: Gay AF, and has no filter. It’s no wonder my new landlord is so wary of me.
A smarter man would ignore those hot glances from Kieran Shipley. The broody lumberjack wants more from me than another homemade pretzel, but if I push my luck, I’ll end up back on the street.
Too bad I’ve never been smart with my heart …
Rowena: I’m really interested in Kieran’s story, so I’m looking forward to reading this one as soon as I get my grubby hands on it. I didn’t even know that Kieran was gay but I’m here for it!
Casee: Bowen writes such good M/M. I am really looking forward to this one.
Happily Ever Afters by Elise Bryant
Jane the Virgin meets To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before in this charming debut romantic comedy filled with Black Girl Magic. Perfect for fans of Mary H. K. Choi and Nicola Yoon, with crossover appeal for readers of Jasmine Guillory and Talia Hibbert romances.
Sixteen-year-old Tessa Johnson has never felt like the protagonist in her own life. She’s rarely seen herself reflected in the pages of the romance novels she loves. The only place she’s a true leading lady is in her own writing—in the swoony love stories she shares only with Caroline, her best friend and #1 devoted reader.
When Tessa is accepted into the creative writing program of a prestigious art school, she’s excited to finally let her stories shine. But when she goes to her first workshop, the words are just…gone. Fortunately, Caroline has a solution: Tessa just needs to find some inspiration in a real-life love story of her own. And she’s ready with a list of romance novel-inspired steps to a happily ever after. Nico, the brooding artist who looks like he walked out of one of Tessa’s stories, is cast as the perfect Prince Charming.
But as Tessa checks off each item off Caroline’s list, she gets further and further away from herself. She risks losing everything she cares about—including the surprising bond she develops with sweet Sam, who lives across the street. She’s well on her way to having her own real-life love story, but is it the one she wants, after all?
Rowena: I’m a big fan of Jane the Virgin, of To All the Boys so after reading this blurb, I’m in. I definitely want to check this one out.
Moment of Truth (The Potentate of Atlanta #5) by Hailey Edwards
Witches are marching down the streets, shifters are prowling the night, and portals to Faerie are popping up all over downtown.
Hadley has one chance to save Atlanta, but it means trusting her dark side to get it done.
The city will survive. She’ll see to that. But will her soul?
Holly: I’m currently reading book 3 of this series, but I know I’m going to need the next installment by the time I get here.
The Conjurer (The Vine Witch #3) by Luanne G. Smith
Sidra didn’t murder her husband. Yet even a jinni can’t wish away a wrongful imprisonment. Determined to prove her innocence, she returns to her adopted home—a French village renowned for its perfume witches—with her friends Elena and Yvette by her side. Here is where Sidra’s true destiny awaits, but danger also lurks in the village’s narrow lanes.
On her trail is Jamra, another jinni, who’s after more than revenge for the murder of his brother. He also seeks vengeance for the indignities inflicted on jinn by mortals over the centuries. When he learns of an ancient relic capable of unleashing chaos on the world, and that the weapon is in the hands of his murderous sister-in-law, he vows to destroy Sidra to get it.
Relying on a sisterhood of magic, a mysteriously faithful dog, and a second-rate sorcerer, Sidra defends herself using the village’s greatest asset: its perfume. It’s as beguiling a lure as it is a formidable shield. But is it enough for Sidra to protect herself and those she loves from powers yet to be released?
Holly: I read and really enjoyed the first book in this series. I still have book 2 in my TBR pile, but I’m looking forward to catching up.
What books are you looking forward to reading this month? Share in the comments!
I would certainly be happy to read Sarina Bowen’s Roommate! I’m also looking forward to Aftershock (Tradepoint Saga Book 2)
by JJ Blacklocke.
ROOMMATE looks interesting—and Kieran has been a background character is so many of the True North books—but I must admit I couldn’t make it through Bowen’s last m/m, TOP SECRET (which I referred to as “frat boys in love”). I have higher hopes for ROOMMATE, where it seems the MCs are older.
Fingers crossed that Roommate is better than Top Secret. I’m looking forward to reading Kieran’s book!
As for what else I’m looking forward to in January:
The pickings are relatively slim for me this January. In part because one of the books I was eagerly anticipating—CD Reiss’s TAKE ME, which had been scheduled for January 12 (and, based on the sample that was included at the end of Reiss’s CROWNE RULES, is going to be incredibly dark)—has been moved…all the way to December 25, 2021!
January 1 brings the latest from Caitlin Crews, my favorite HP author. This one is a sheikh romance, CHOSEN FOR HIS DESERT THRONE.
Katee Robert begins a new series, Sabine Valley, with ABEL, which drops on January 5. Like Robert’s Wicked Villains series, Sabine Valley seems to be a mashup of contemporary romance tropes along with historical, mythic, and pop-culture elements—not to mention lots of hot-hot-hot sexytimes. In the Sabine Valley series, seven brothers return to the place where they were once betrayed (I’m assuming they’ll be a book for each brother). ABEL features the oldest brother and includes an MMF romance. I’m really looking forward to this one because Robert did MMF exceptionally well in her Twisted Hearts series and, especially, in THE BEAST.
Maisey Yates, despite a backlist of well over 100 books, was one of my “discoveries” of 2020. Her characters have common sense and maturity, even when they find themselves tangled in angsty emotional situations. Yates’s latest book for Harlequin Desire, THE RANCHER’S WAGER, arrives on January 12. It’s an antagonists-to-lovers story about rival ranch owners and what happens when one wins the services of the other as a “ranch hand” in a poker game. Oh, does that sound like pure DiscoDollyDeb catnip!
Molly O’Keefe’s STOLEN HEARTS also arrives January 12. This appears to be either a standalone or the first of a new series. O’Keefe—one of my angsty favorites—is using the name “M. O’Keefe” for this book, which tells me it’s probably on the darker side.
The next book in Zoe York’s Kinkaids of Pine Harbour series, FIERCE AT HEART, drops on January 26. This features a marriage of convenience between two military veterans—the twist being the heroine (who is older than the hero) was once the hero’s commanding officer. That should be all kinds of sexy fun!
I’ve been curious about Maisey Yates for a while now but haven’t ever picked anything up by her yet. I’ll have to fix that. I’m all for maturity and common sense.
Man, it’s been ages since I read a Molly O’Keefe too. Hmm, I’ll have to look into her stuff too.