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 August of 2022.
Never Look Back (Redemption Hills #3) by A.L. Jackson
Logan Lawson left it all behind in L.A. The ghosts. The scars. Also, the love of his life. When she shows in his small-town, can he move beyond his ghosts and claim what should have always been his in this second-chance romance?
Casee: This is the book I’ve been waiting for! I can’t wait to read this one.
The Hookup Plan (The Boyfriend Project #3) by Farrah Rochon
Strong female friendships and a snappy enemies-to-lovers theme take center stage in this highly anticipated romantic comedy from the USA Today bestselling author of The Dating Playbook.
Successful pediatric surgeon London Kelley just needs to find some balance and de-stress. According to her friends Samiah and Taylor, what London really needs is a casual hookup. A night of fun with no strings. But no one—least of all London—expected it to go down at her high school reunion with Drew Sullivan, millionaire, owner of delicious abs, and oh yes, her archnemesis.
Now London is certain the road to hell is paved with good sex. Because she’s found out the real reason Drew’s back in Austin: to decide whether her beloved hospital remains open. Worse, Drew is doing everything he can to show her that he’s a decent guy who actually cares. But London’s not falling for it. Because while sleeping with the enemy is one thing, falling for him is definitely not part of the plan.
Casee: I haven’t read a Rochon book for years, but this one has caught my interest.
Husband Material (London Calling #2) by Alexis Hall
Wanted:
One (very real) husband
Nowhere near perfect but desperately trying his bestIn BOYFRIEND MATERIAL, Luc and Oliver met, pretended to fall in love, fell in love for real, dealt with heartbreak and disappointment and family and friends…and somehow figured out a way to make it work. Now it seems like everyone around them is getting married, and Luc’s feeling the social pressure to propose. But it’ll take more than four weddings, a funeral, and a bowl full of special curry to get these two from I don’t know what I’m doing to I do.
Good thing Oliver is such perfect HUSBAND MATERIAL.
Casee: I’m excited about this one.
Quarter to Midnight (New Orleans #1) by Karen Rose
There are good cops. And there are bad cops. The question is…who wins?
After completing her tours with the Marines in Iraq, Molly Sutton knew she could take down any bad guy she met. But when her law enforcement agency in North Carolina turned against her, she joined up with her former CO Burke Broussard, who left New Orleans PD to set up a private investigative service for people who couldn’t find justice elsewhere.
Gabe Hebert saw the toll that working for the NOPD took on his dad and decided instead to make a name for himself as one of the best young chefs in the French Quarter. But when his father’s death is ruled a suicide after a deliberately botched investigation by his former captain, Gabe knows his dad stumbled onto a truth that someone wants silenced.
Gabe goes to his father’s best friend, Burke, for help. Burke assigns the toughest member of his team, Molly, to the case. Molly can’t believe she’s being asked to work with the smoking hot chef whose chocolate cake is not the only thing that makes her mouth water. Sparks fly as they follow the leads Gabe’s dad left them, unraveling a web of crimes, corruption, and murder that runs all the way to the top.
Casee: I haven’t been reading much romantic suspense over the last few years, but I always love a good Karen Rose book.
Soul Taken (Mercy Thompson #13) by Patricia Briggs
The vampire Wulfe is missing. Since he’s deadly, possibly insane, and his current idea of “fun” is stalking me, some may see it as no great loss. But, warned that his disappearance might bring down the carefully constructed alliances that keep our pack safe, my mate and I must find Wulfe—and hope he’s still alive. As alive as a vampire can be, anyway.
But Wulfe isn’t the only one who has disappeared. And now there are bodies, too. Has the Harvester returned to the Tri-Cities, reaping souls with his cursed sickle? Or is he just a character from a B horror movie and our enemy is someone else?
The farther I follow Wulfe’s trail, the more twisted—and darker—the path becomes. I need to figure out what’s going on before the next body on the ground is mine.
Holly: Another Mercy Thompson book and we learn more about WULFE!!! Ahhh.
Ruby Fever (Hidden Legacy #6) by Ilona Andrews
#1 New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrews is back with the newest book in the exciting Hidden Legacy series—the thrilling conclusion to her trilogy featuring fierce and beautiful Prime magic user Catalina Baylor.
An escaped spider, the unexpected arrival of an Imperial Russian Prince, the senseless assassination of a powerful figure, a shocking attack on the supposedly invincible Warden of Texas, Catalina’s boss… And it’s only Monday.
Within hours, the fate of Houston—not to mention the House of Baylor—now rests on Catalina, who will have to harness her powers as never before. But even with her fellow Prime and fiancé Alessandro Sagredo by her side, she may not be able to expose who’s responsible before all hell really breaks loose.
Casee: The conclusion to Catalina and Alessandro’s trilogy! It did not disappoint one bit.
Holly: I loved this book. I really hope we get more from the Baylor Family someday.
To Catch a Raven (Women Who Dare #3) by Beverly Jenkins
The newest novel in USA Today bestselling author Beverly Jenkins’s compelling Women Who Dare series features a fearless grifter who goes undercover to reclaim the stolen Declaration of Independence.
Lying and cheating may be sins to some people, but for Raven Moreaux, it is a way of life. She comes from a long line of grifters and couldn’t be prouder…Until she’s forced to help the government.
A former Confederate official is suspected of stealing the Declaration of Independence, and Raven, posing as his housekeeper, is tasked with getting it back. Her partner is the too handsome Braxton Steel. Masquerading as a valet/driver, Brax is also supposed to be her “husband.” He has his own reasons for doing this job, but when their pretend marriage ignites into fiery passion, they’ll have to put everything—including their hearts—on the line.
Holly: I really like Ms. Bev’s novels. I have the other books in this series in my TBR. Soon. Probably.
Dance with the Devil (Mercenary Librarians #3) by Kit Rocha
SA Today and New York Times bestselling author Kit Rocha return to their explosive post-apocalyptic action/romance series, The Mercenary Librarians, with the next thrilling installment, Dance with the Devil.
POWER IS NEVER GIVEN, ONLY TAKEN
Tobias Richter, the fearsome VP of Security of the TechCorps is dead. The puppetmaster is gone and the organization is scrambling to maintain control by ruthlessly limiting Atlanta’s access to resources, hoping to quell rebellion. Our band of mercenary librarians have decided that the time for revolution has come.
Maya uses her wealth of secrets to weaken the TechCorps from within. Dani strikes from the shadows, picking off the chain of command one ambush at a time. And Nina is organizing their community—not just to survive, but to fight back. When Maya needs to make contact with a sympathetic insider, Dani and Rafe are the only ones with the skill-set and experience to infiltrate the highest levels of the TechCorps. They’ll go deep undercover in the decadent, luxury-soaked penthouses on the Hill.
Bringing Dani face-to-face with the man who turned her into a killer. And forcing Rafe to decide how far he’ll go to protect both of his families—the one he was born to, and the one he made for himself.
Victory will break the back of Power. Failure will destroy Atlanta.
Holly: Dani! Rafe! I can’t wait.
The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Carlota Moreau: a young woman, growing up in a distant and luxuriant estate, safe from the conflict and strife of the Yucatán peninsula. The only daughter of either a genius, or a madman.
Montgomery Laughton: a melancholic overseer with a tragic past and a propensity for alcohol. An outcast who assists Dr. Moreau with his scientific experiments, which are financed by the Lizaldes, owners of magnificent haciendas and plentiful coffers.
The hybrids: the fruits of the Doctor’s labor, destined to blindly obey their creator and remain in the shadows. A motley group of part human, part animal monstrosities.
All of them living in a perfectly balanced and static world, which is jolted by the abrupt arrival of Eduardo Lizalde, the charming and careless son of Doctor Moreau’s patron, who will unwittingly begin a dangerous chain reaction.
For Moreau keeps secrets, Carlota has questions, and in the sweltering heat of the jungle, passions may ignite.
From the New York Times bestselling author of Mexican Gothic and Velvet Was the Night comes a dreamy reimagining of The Island of Doctor Moreau set against the backdrop of nineteenth-century Mexico.
Holly: I enjoyed Mexican Gothic on audio, and I’m very intrigued by this new novel. I’m really looking forward to it.
Can these opposites turn up the heat… without burning down the house?
House-flipping sensation and YouTube star Maggie Nichols can’t wait to dig into her next challenge. Arriving in tiny Kinship, Idaho, with only a cot and a coffeemaker, Maggie is prepared to restore a crumbling Victorian mansion in four months or less. She has her to-do lists, her blueprints, and her team. What she doesn’t have is time for sexy, laid-back landscaper Silas Wright.
The man takes flirtation to a whole new level. And he does it shirtless…sometimes pants-less. He and his service school-dropout dog are impressively persistent. But she’s not interested in putting down roots. Not when fans tune in to watch her travel the country turning dilapidated houses into dream homes. A short-term fling on the other hand could fit nicely into her calendar. After all, Maggie remembers what fun is like. Vaguely.
As their summer gets downright steamy, Silas manages to demolish the emotional walls she’s spent years building, sending Maggie into a panic. He’s the wrench in her carefully constructed plans. With the end of the project looming, she has a decision to make. But how can she stay when her entire career is built on moving on?
Holly: Lucy Score is a new-to-me author this year. I’ve enjoyed several of her books. This one sounds really cute. I’m looking forward to it.
I am definitely looking forward to that new Patricia Briggs book!
The release dates on a number of books I’ve been waiting for have been postponed several times over the last few months. I understand that things happen on both personal and professional levels that cause due dates to be moved, so these are the dates that Amazon is showing as of right now:
Amelia Wilde’s BLACKMAIL was released August 2. I’m reading it now and it’s really good. As the title indicates, there’s blackmail afoot as the temp heroine is caught embezzling money (this is a romance, so you know it’s for a good reason: she’s supporting her younger siblings) from her wealthy boss. He won’t alert the authorities and break up her family, but he will demand, um, other things. Amelia Wilde writes really hot dark romance, and BLACKMAIL appears to be exactly what it says on the tin.
Also released August 2 was Katie Golding’s RELENTLESS. This is the second in her Bad Reputation series. The hero here is the brother of the hero of Golding’s Motocross romance, FEARLESS. It appears to involve a no-strings-attached affair that develops into something deeper. (This is pricey—close to $10 for the ebook—I’m waiting for a price drop before I get it.)
J. Kenner’s CHARMED BY YOU (August 9) is another in her Stark Security series. This one features one of my favorite tropes: bodyguard & client (in this case, a celebrity who is being threatened about a secret from her past).
FORCE OF NATURE by Skye Warren & Amelia Wilde (August 9) has been postponed several times, and it has undergone a title change since last month. It was originally titled THE CRASH. THE CRASH is now the title of a prequel novella (available for free in the Kindle store). FORCE OF NATURE is a couple-against-the-elements story about a plane piloted by the hero crashes on the way to taking the photographer heroine to a remote site. The book’s blurb indicates that there is another person on the island where the couple crash and there might be an MMF-menage involved.
Sybil Bartel’s ZULU (August 13) has also seen a number of publication dates come and go. It’s the latest in Bartel’s romantic-suspense Alpha Elite series. Bartel writes to a template (beyond-gonzo alpha heroes; resilient heroines in trouble through no fault of their own; lots of fire power & high body counts; and plenty of sexy-times with a D/s dynamic). If you don’t like the template, her books will not be for you. But if, like me, you do like Bartel’s style, ZULU will be a good read.
Skye Warren’s TWO FOR THE SHOW (August 16) is the sequel to her ONE FOR THE MONEY and is part of the multi-author Midnight Dynasty series. ONE FOR THE MONEY ended on a cliffhanger and I’m assuming TWO FOR THE SHOW picks up right where the first book left off. It’s no spoiler (it’s revealed in the blurb) to say that the heroine is pregnant, and the hero has a family history that makes him less than enthusiastic about becoming a father. (As an aside, who decided that a cover showing a female hand holding what appears to be an alcoholic drink was a good idea for a book with a pregnant heroine?)
August 23 is a banner day! Romances written by my four “Queens of Angsty Harlequin Presents Heartache” arrive: Jackie Ashenden’s STOLEN FOR MY SPANISH SCANDAL (step-siblings, unplanned pregnancy); Clare Connelly’s EMERGENCY MARRIAGE TO THE GREEK (marriage of convenience); Caitlin Crews’s WILLED TO WED HIM (forced marriage due to the terms of a relative’s will); and Maisey Yates’s THE SECRET THAT SHOCKED CINDERELLA (amnesia). When it comes to Harlequin Presents, you know if you like the operatic over-the-top that is HP’s stock in trade. I love it and can’t wait to read all four books.
C.M. Nascosta’s MOON BLOODED BREEDING CLINIC (August 27) is another oft-postponed book. I have my fingers crossed that this story of a human female who visits a werewolf-run fertility clinic and falls for her sperm donor will arrive as scheduled.
A.E. Via’s RAYNE (now scheduled for August 28) is the third & final book in her True Lover’s Stories series of m/m romances. Via could never be described as a great prose stylist, but her books have a lot of heart, sincerity, and passion. Another thing I like about Via is that her stories are set solidly in the working class (no secret billionaires here). In RAYNE, one hero is pushing 50 and owns a landscaping business; the other hero is a recovering sex addict (there’s a vague indication in the blurb that he’s been a sex worker at some point). I liked the little peek we got of this couple’s dynamic in the previous book (WOOD), so I’m looking forward to seeing how it plays out in RAYNE.
Can’t wait for Soul Taken and Ruby Fever.