This is the month of May flowers, right? Let's go ahead and assume that means we're all going to have an amazing, wonderful, joyful reading month. Here are some of the books we're looking forward to!
Breakthrough, by Kris Bryant - May 1Kennedy Wells is desperate to get back her dream job writing for Mainstream, Waters Publishing’s celebrity magazine. She’s worked too hard over the years to have it snatched away because of one tiny indiscretion that ended with a giant lawsuit. After five months of writing mind-numbing articles about current events, her boss agrees to let her get back to reporting on the rich and famous after one last story.
A born and bred city girl, Kennedy is sent to cover fishing in Alaska, which has her feeling just like a fish out of water. When Brynn Coleman, director of Alaska’s Wildlife Rescue and Sanctuary, comes to her rescue time after time, Kennedy can’t help but lower her guard and open herself up to Brynn’s standoffish charm. Falling for the sexy ranger is one thing, but is the possibility of love worth giving up a career she’s always dreamed of?
Andrea - Breakthrough is a f/f romance that gives me nostalgia for those early-2000s rom-coms where the city-girl is thrust into nature, completely unprepared and desperate to return to her life at home, briefly distracted by the hot local who keeps having to rescue her every time the breathtaking natural surroundings conspire to bring them together. Megan's been sent to cover one last current-events story before she can get back to her dream job reporting celebrity news: A story.. on fishing. In Alaska.
The Henchmen of Zenda, by KJ Charles - May 15
Jasper Detchard is a disgraced British officer, now selling his blade to the highest bidder. Currently that's Michael Elphberg, half-brother to the King of Ruritania. Michael wants the throne for himself, and Jasper is one of the scoundrels he hires to help
him take it. But when Michael makes his move, things don’t go entirely to plan—and the penalty for treason is death.
Rupert of Hentzau is Michael's newest addition to his sinister band of henchmen. Charming, lethal, and intolerably handsome, Rupert is out for his own ends—which seem to include getting Jasper into bed. But Jasper needs to work out what Rupert’s really up to amid a maelstrom of plots, swordfights, scheming, impersonation, desire, betrayal, and murder.
Nobody can be trusted. Everyone has a secret. And love is the worst mistake you can make.
A retelling of the swashbuckling classic The Prisoner of Zenda from a very different point of view.
Suzanne - KJ is an auto-buy for me, but this one has swashbuckling! "A retelling of the swashbuckling classic The Prisoner of Zenda from a very different point of view."
Margrethe - KJ Charles writing swashbuckling scoundrels is all I needed to hear to need this book.
Grumpy Fake Boyfriend, by Jackie Lau - May 22
I'm a pretty simple guy. When I'm not writing a science fiction novel, I'm watching a good movie or reading a book. Alone. I like my reclusive life. That is, until my only friend asks for a favor—pretend to be his baby sister's boyfriend on a couples' getaway. Her ex is going to be there and she needs me as a buffer.
I should have said no, but Naomi is bubbly, energetic, and beautiful. She also means everything to her brother. But now, our fake romance is starting to feel all too real, and I find myself stuck between the promise I made to my friend and risking my heart to the one woman who might actually get me…
Suzanne - This book is most of my catnip tropes in one - the title says it all! Asian-American heroine, grumpy hero who is a sci-fi novelist... I'm so sold.
From Twinkle, With Love, by Sandhya Menon - May 22
Aspiring filmmaker and wallflower Twinkle Mehra has stories she wants to tell and universes she wants to explore, if only the world would listen. So when fellow film geek Sahil Roy approaches her to direct a movie for the upcoming Summer Festival, Twinkle is all over it. The chance to publicly showcase her voice as a director? Dream come true. The fact that it gets her closer to her longtime crush, Neil Roy—a.k.a. Sahil’s twin brother? Dream come true x 2.
When mystery man “N” begins emailing her, Twinkle is sure it’s Neil, finally ready to begin their happily-ever-after. The only slightly inconvenient problem is that, in the course of movie-making, she’s fallen madly in love with the irresistibly adorkable Sahil.
Twinkle soon realizes that resistance is futile: The romance she’s got is not the one she’s scripted. But will it be enough?
Told through the letters Twinkle writes to her favorite female filmmakers, From Twinkle, with Love navigates big truths about friendship, family, and the unexpected places love can find you.
Suzanne - Menon's last book, When Dimple Met Rishi was one of my favorite YA reads ever and I've been looking forward to this for nearly a year. I love that her books give teens credit for being the complicated people they are, with dreams and motivations all their own... and she also gives them parents who are real people. I cannot wait to read this second one and give my soul the warm hug it needs.
Margrethe - I loved Menon's When Dimple Met Rishi and I am totally ready for more of Menon's characters. YA is not my favorite, but Menon is on my short list especially when she offers us a story with pining and ambitious young women.
Amazon, iBooks, Kobo, The Ripped Bodice
One Night Wife, by Ainslie Paton - May 28
Finley Cartwright is the queen of lost causes. That’s why she’s standing on a barstool trying to convince Friday night drinkers to donate money to a failing charity. Hitting on the guy on the next stool wasn’t part of her plan. Still, hot but grumpy venture capitalist Caleb Sherwood might just be her ticket to success.
Professional grifter and modern-day Robin Hood, Cal Sherwood is looking for a partner for a long con. Sexy Fin, doing her best Marilyn Monroe act for her cause, has the necessary qualifications. By the time he cuts her free, her charity would be thriving, and she’d have helped him charm billions out of arrogant, gullible marks to fund his social justice causes.
But just when he thinks he’s about to pull off the best con ever, his feisty new partner gets the upper hand.
Suzanne - I have a thing for con artists when done well. Paton is pairing a woman fundraising for a failing charity with a professional Robin Hood-type grifter and I am basically dancing my dance of tropey joy right now.
... I have no pre-order links for you, sorry! This post will be updated when the book goes up at vendors.
Making Up, by Lucy Parker - May 28
Author of Act Like It and Pretty Face Lucy Parker returns readers to the West End, where it’s fireworks onstage and off in a sexy enemies-to-lovers showdown.
Once upon a time, circus artist Trix Lane was the best around. Her spark vanished with her confidence, though, and reclaiming either has proved…difficult. So when the star of The Festival of Masks is nixed and Trix is unexpectedly thrust into the spotlight, it’s exactly the push she needs. But the joy over her sudden elevation in status is cut short by a new hire on the makeup team.
Leo Magasiva: disgraced wizard of special effects. He of the beautiful voice and impressive beard. Complete dickhead and—in an unexpected twist—an enragingly good kisser.
To Leo, something about Trix is…different. Lovely. Beautiful, even though the pint-size, pink-haired former bane of his existence still spends most of her waking hours working to annoy him. They’ve barely been able to spend two minutes together for years, and now he can’t get enough of her. On stage. At home. In his bed.
When it comes to commitment, Trix has been there, done that, never wants to do it again. Leo’s this close to the job of a lifetime, which would take him away from London—and from Trix. Their past is a constant barrier between them.
It seems hopeless.
Utterly impossible.
And yet…
Suzanne - I adore Lucy Parker's books, and this one pairs a black man working as a makeup artist and a white woman circus artist. She does this thing with grumpy men and sassy women and humor and... I just need to read it.
Margrethe - Lucy Parker is one of my favorites. She writes comfort reads and I'm relieved we have a third book. I don't even really need to know what the book is about when Parker's name is on it. Lovable and decent characters who fall in love in charming ways.
What books are you excited for?
