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 May of 2022.
You Were Made to Be Mine (The Palace of Rogues #5) by Julie Anne Long
In the fifth installment of USA Today bestselling author Julie Anne Long’s charming Palace of Rogues series, a rakish spy finds more than he bargained for in his pursuit of an earl’s enchanting runaway fiancee.
The mission: Find the Earl of Brundage’s runaway fiancee in exchange for a fortune. Child’s play for legendary British former spymaster, Christian Hawkes. The catch? Hawkes knows in his bones that Brundage is the traitor to England who landed him in a brutal French prison. Hawkes is destitute, the earl is desperate, and a bargain is struck.
Fleeing a savagely shattered dream, the sheltered Lady Aurelie Capet finds refuge in an alias and the warmth and kindness of the Grand Palace on the Thames—until a gorgeous, mysterious disturbance to her peace literally topples through the door.
An unexpected, fierce desire that feels destined, dangerous—and devastatingly sweet—ignites between the sheltered beauty and the jaded spy, and as they slowly unravel each other’s shocking secrets Hawkes closes in on the truth about the earl. Soon it’s clear they can have no future without vanquishing the past: Hawkes knows that loving her means avenging her. Aurelie knows that loving Hawkes means freeing him to do that, no matter the cost.
Holly: I’m behind in this series because I haven’t really been reading historicals lately, but I’m excited to catch up.
Always Practice Safe Hex (Stay a Spell #4) by Juliette Cross
Livvy Savoie is a people person. Not only does she have the magical gift of persuasion, but her natural charisma charms everyone she meets. She hasn’t met a person she didn’t like. Until her annoyingly brilliant competitor walks through the door. No matter how hard she denies it, loathing isn’t the only emotion she feels for him.
Grim reaper Gareth Blackwater is rarely, if ever, moved beyond his broody, stoic state. But the witch he’s partnered with in the public relations contest is destroying his peace of mind. He’s convinced that the flesh-melting attraction he feels for her is merely her witchy magic at work.
But forced proximity proves there is more than magic sparking between them. Livvy learns this enigmatic grim’s abilities are beyond any supernatural she has ever known. And when Livvy becomes the obsessive target of a dangerous warlock, Gareth proves just how powerful he truly is. Because no one is going to hurt his Lavinia.
Holly: I’ve really been enjoying this series. Cross was a new find for me last year and I’m so glad.
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 Mercy, some may see it as no great loss. But when he disappears, the Tri-Cities pack is blamed. The mistress of the vampire seethe informs Mercy that the pack must produce Wulfe to prove their innocence, or the loose alliance between the local vampires and werewolves is over.
So Mercy goes out to find her stalker—and discovers more than just Wulfe have disappeared. Someone is taking people from locked rooms, from the aisles of stores, and even from crowded parties. And these are not just ordinary people but supernatural beings. Until Wulfe vanished, all of them were powerless loners, many of whom quietly moved to the Tri-Cities in the hope that the safety promised by Mercy and Adam’s pack would extend to them as well.
Who is taking them? As Mercy investigates, she learns of the legend of the Harvester, who travels by less-trodden paths and reaps the souls that are ripe with a great black scythe. . . .
Holly: Another Mercy book! BRING IT.
A Dance of Smoke and Steel (A Gathering of Dragons #3) by Milla Vane
As Anumith the Destroyer’s army draws nearer to the western realms, an alliance is forming to stand against him. The heir to the throne of Krimathe embarks upon a quest for the goddess Vela–a quest that the goddess has promised will give her strength enough to defeat the Destroyer.
All that Laina must do is to stay silent…and serve a man she has sworn to kill. A man who helped destroy her family.
The son of a demon warlord and only recently freed from years of torture, Saxen seeks to make amends to his people before facing the justice of the Krimathean queen’s blade. When a mysterious, silent woman who wears a questing cloak joins his small band of warriors, he only wishes to rid himself of her.
But she isn’t so easy to get rid of–and fulfilling her quest might come at a far higher cost than Laina could imagine. For she might gain the strength to defeat the Destroyer…but what she needs from Saxen will destroy him first.
Holly: This is a pretty dark series, so I have to be in the mood for it. I’m looking forward to it, though.
Goodreads says that the Patricia Briggs book won’t be released until August… waiting….
I am definitely looking forward to the new book from Katherine Addison (author of The Goblin Emperor).
I just saw that. Bummer. I was looking forward to it this month.
So far on my TBR for June, I have:
Amelia Wilde’s POWER PLAY (June 7) features a hero and heroine who were both secondary characters in her recent Wealth trilogy. The hero holds the heroine’s family accountable for his own family’s downfall; the heroine (a baker) is estranged from her family for other reasons. The hero initially pursues her for revenge. Wilde writes very dark in a style similar to Skye Warren (another favorite of mine). I like dark, but YMMV.
Julie Kriss’s RIFF (June 9) is the second in her Road Kings series of rock band romances. I really liked the first book, DUET, in part because the Road Kings band was never enormously successful—they were a mid-range band famous for their live shows, but the members of the band can plausibly be unrecognizable. RIFF features a second-chance romance between the band’s bass player and the mother of his teenage daughter. I think Kriss is one of the most underrated writers in Romancelandia and I’m really looking forward to this next book.
Zoe York’s FEARLESS AT HEART (June 14) is the fourth in her Kinkaids of Pine Harbour series featuring a family of five brothers all of whom are employed in first-responder jobs. FEARLESS AT HEART features somewhat older MCs (late-thirties) who have known each other since high school but have never acted on their feelings. I’m hoping York will right the ship with FEARLESS AT HEART because the previous book in the series, WILD AT HEART, was rather dull and kept the MCs apart for long stretches of time.
Garrett Leigh’s SAINT’S SONG (June 14) is the second of her Rebel Kings MC series and continues the story started in the first book, DEVIL’S DANCE. This is an M/M/M-menage romance featuring members of a motorcycle club. The first book was dark & gritty, so I’m not expecting the second to be any different in tone.
Sybil Bartel’s ZULU (June 14) is the latest in her 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.
June 14 is shaping up to be a banner day! In addition to the aforementioned books, THE CRASH by Skye Warren & Amelia Wilde is also scheduled for release. THE CRASH is a couple-against-the-elements story when the plane piloted by the hero (who is part of the Midnight Dynasty Morelli family) crashes on the way to taking the geologist heroine to a remote jungle site. Warren has a history of books not releasing on their due dates, so I won’t be surprised if this doesn’t show on June 14—but will be very happy if it does.
Ana Huang’s TWISTED LIES (June 30) is the fourth and final book in her Twisted series about four college roommates and their lives & loves after graduation. I’m generally not a big fan of N/A, but I’ve liked the previous books in the series (especially the bodyguard romance, TWISTED GAMES). TWISTED LIES is about a couple who agree to a fake relationship. Let the faking begin!