BP Note: Welcome to our February Must Haves list. Our list this month is really one of random proportions. You will notice some familiar authors but only one contemporary romance release. I think this says a lot about our state of mine here. Day to day reality is a challenge so we are looking for places where against the odds good triumphs. “Good” can be anything from winning the war, a battle, or building a strong relationship. Good gives us hope and hope is sorely needed night now. Please take care of yourselves, your neighbors, and those fighting the day to day struggle.
On a lighter note, please share what you are planning on reading this month. We got a great recommendation in last month’s comments *grin*.
Happy reading!
~E
- Contemporary Romance
- Fantasy Romance
- Historical Fiction
- Magical Realism
- Paranormal Romance
- Romantic Fantasy
- Romantic Suspense
Contemporary Romance
And Now Back to You (Heartstrings #2) by B.K. Borison – 24 Feb (Berkley)
Jackson Clark and Delilah Stewart have had their fair share of run-ins over the years, often ending in disaster. While Jackson thrives on routine and organization from the comfort of his radio booth, Delilah loves the spontaneity and adventure out in the field. When they’re partnered against their will to cover the snowstorm of the century, they find themselves scrambling to figure out how to work together.
Eager to be taken seriously as a journalist, Delilah offers Jackson a deal. If he can help her ace this assignment, she’ll help him rediscover his long-lost fun side. With an undiscovered chemistry burning beneath their clashes, the unlikely partnership quickly tumbles into an easy and surprising friendship.
But when other feelings start to enter the equation, can Jackson and Delilah withstand the storm? Or does what happens in the mountains, stay in the mountains?
Fantasy Romance
Distilling Sunlight (Mysterious Arts #7) by Celia Lake – 6 Feb (Celia Lake)
Gemma is rarely bored, but she’s often on her own.
Coming up on her fortieth birthday, Gemma has a wonderful life. A father who adores her, projects that challenge her, and a range of people to talk to. When she remembers to get herself out of her alchemy lab at a reasonable time of day for the rest of the world, that is. She’s the first to admit that her focus can be scattered and chaotic. Especially compared to the steady consistency of other people in her life.
Sam keeps wanting things to be better.
Widowed two years ago with two growing sons, his life has many good things in it. But it’s also full of constant how his brewery is doing, what changes in the law will mean for sales, and the trouble his sons get into at school. He had big ideas that might help out other veterans of the Great War, but only if he can actually get the brewing to do what he wants. The problems popping up with contamination at a number of breweries are even more urgent.
When Sam asks for help, he doesn’t expect anyone like Gemma. She certainly doesn’t know much about a commercial brewery and her home and family are nothing like anything Sam understands. When she keeps sticking with the problem, at least Sam doesn’t feel so on his own.
The Regressor King by A.J. Sherwood – 10 Feb (Self)
Death, Paradise, and the gods themselves–all rejected for the sake of love.
When King James Kronenscheld dies at the hands of the Demon King, he thinks his suffering is finally over and he can join his Edwin in Paradise. And, hey, at least he’d taken the Demon King with him, right?
But then the gods try to send James to Paradise WITHOUT his Edwin, and that is simply unfathomable. So he does the unthinkable–he turns it down and negotiates for one more chance to fix his mistakes.
Armed with memories and regrets, James regresses to before he was crowned. He is determined to woo the man he lost, even if it means facing down all his previous failures. For Edwin alone will James face Wraths and plagues, court politics, and demon kings. He will avoid the horrors of the crown and attain Paradise for them both.
Failing this time means losing Edwin forever. And that is not an option.
The Light Under the Shadow Wing (Heirs of the Second Dawn #1) by Amanda Bouchet – 23 Feb (Self)
A woman searching for answers.
Idallia has been serving in the Dragon King’s Elite Wing of dragon shifters for nearly two hundred years. She doesn’t have fire or flight of her own, but she’s a phoenix rider with enough speed and skill to make her enemies think twice about tangling with her or her warbirds.Centuries of life without knowing who or what you are is complicated enough without harboring a growing secret attraction, but the more time Idallia spends with Bale Cinderheart, the harder it is to stay away from the fiercely protective Dragon King. Dominant, intense…and the one man with the power to ruin everything.
A king safeguarding his treasures.
Bale has centuries of ruling under his scales and more responsibilities than he has fangs. His greatest triumph is his Elite Wing and their warbirds, but his biggest fear is losing them. Especially Idallia. She’s his forbidden desire and the one person he can’t seem to let go of—even for his own good.While the man in him guards his heart as relentlessly as the dragon in him guards his kingdom, he’s also the keeper of the answers Idallia has been seeking her whole life. Revealing the truth now could cost him everything—his home, his crown, his heart…
The threat of war looms as magic fades from the world of Ellonrift. Will the Dragon King preserve the fragile peace between the kingdoms? Or burn it all down, for her…
Wrath & Desire (Realm of Zadrya #2) by Susan Illene – 23 Feb (Self)
Darrow is raw power exemplified. He is full of secrets and pain. The dark elf isn’t satisfied with only marrying me. Oh, no. He wants it all—my body, heart, and soul. I must resist despite being his fated mate. Because if I don’t, he could break me, and I’m already at my limit.
Aella is everything I’m not. She is full of compassion and resilience. The half-druid’s grace and odd fondness for plants bring me to my knees. Though I cannot love her, I need to own her in every way. She can resist all she wants, but I’ll do whatever it takes. No price is too high, even if it breaks me.
But now, war and death plague us. My mother’s people have invaded our realm with ruthless precision. Our monarchy is at stake. And a blight is rapidly spreading to kill the land. Powerful forces are at work to divide our people. I may wish I could focus entirely on my new wife. But we must find a way to save our world. Even if it means traveling to a distant one with its own dangers.
That is…if we can find a way there before the enemy stops us. Somehow, they’re ahead of us at every turn.
Defiance (The Triad Series #4) by Cari Z. – 25 Feb (Self)
Two enemies, born into conflict, find love despite the odds. Their fight to stay together will define the future not just for themselves, but for the world.
Petur Alloui is a powerful prince, a gifted shifter, and a fighter at the top of his game. He wants for nothing…except a challenge. He didn’t expect that challenge to come in the form of a trained assassin, immune to magic, who saves his life even though their countries are sworn enemies.
If Deyvid was smarter, he would have let Petur die on the road instead of taking the spell meant for him. By saving the silver-tongued prince, he gives Petur the chance to woo him, and Petur is nothing if not persuasive.
They’re in love…but love might not be enough to hold back the forces fighting to tear them apart.
Obsidian Empire (The Firebird and the Wolf #3) by Elizabeth Hunter – 26 Feb (Recurve Press LLC)
The ruler of an immortal empire.
The rising voice of an ancient clan.
The relationship they’ve hidden from everyone.
Tatyana Vorona was just a bookkeeper until she made a bargain with a powerful vampire that lead to her death and a brand new life of blood and brutality. She tried to run. She tried to hide. But Oleg Sokolov is a man who gets what he wants.
Oleg has the ability to manipulate fire, the power to command an empire, and a will that cannot be broken. But political upheaval and blood loyalties have kept him from publicly claiming the woman who owns his heart.
For five years, they’ve loved in private and played rivals in public. Tatyana has come into her own as a leader of an ancient immortal clan. And Oleg is a breath away from stomping out the brother who betrayed him. If he can play the right pieces in this political game, he might win the ultimate prize— publicly marrying the woman who is already his wife.
Historical Fiction
A Crown of Stars by Shana Abe – 24 Feb (Kensington)
In turn of the century England, the Jolivet family lives a charmed existence. Daughter of a wealthy vineyard owner and a French pianist, vivacious Marguerite, the eldest of three, loves spinning stories and entertaining her family’s well-connected friends. No one is surprised when she announces, at 18, that she intends to become an actress. Her sister, Inez, a virtuosa violinist, moves to London with her. Soon the two beauties are being celebrated in the highest social circles.
Marguerite takes the stage name Rita, and quickly draws the attention of legendary theater producer Charles Frohman. From the West End to Broadway, and then in the new medium of silent film, Rita is known for her “sultry eyes, her mystic smile,” and her star burns brighter with every role. While filming in Italy, she’s courted by a charismatic aristocrat and Rita feels on the verge of a life even better than her dreams. Inez, meanwhile, has already found love, and travels the world with her adored husband.
Yet soon, war is raging across Europe. Rita, in New York for the premiere of Cecil B. DeMille’s The Unafraid, receives word from Inez that their brother is about to enlist. Hoping to see him before he departs, Rita books a ticket on the fastest steamer the RMS Lusitania. But the ship sails under a British flag, and the German government warns that all such vessels are fair game. Few believe Germany would risk attacking a ship carrying Americans, certainly not one as swift and imposing as the Lusy.
Once aboard, Rita is delighted to discover both Charles and her brother-in-law as fellow passengers.The days pass in a haze of parties and pleasurable pursuits, and the comforts of the luxury ocean liner are almost enough to calm Rita’s ripples of unease. But as the ship nears Liverpool, every assumption will be tested, and Rita, her family, and the world, will be changed forever by the voyage’s infamous and catastrophic end . . .
Magical Realism
Hot Chocolate on Thursday by Michiko Aoyama – 17 Feb (Hanover Square Press)
Across a bridge in a quiet neighborhood in Tokyo, a seasonal cherry blossom sits on the river. Nearby is the Marble Cafe, where a woman writes in a notebook and a young waiter prepares her favorite hot drink. Both wonder about each other and about the other lives of the clientele who frequent this charming little cafe behind the trees…
Without even realizing it, we may touch and change someone else’s life.
Taking a walk along the river, cooking the best tamagoyaki, ordering hot chocolate, forgetting to remove our nail polish… The small, everyday acts that we do can lead to unexpected encounters and reverberate far beyond your own circle and ultimately make a difference in the world.
Hot Chocolate on Thursday is a tapestry of slice-of-life moments that each open and close with a woman ordering her regular hot chocolate at the mysterious Marble Cafe. What happens in between will touch and swell your heart, as we connect with a community of untold unfolding lives.
The Calico Cat at the Chibineko Kitchen (Meals to Remember at the Chibineko Kitchen #2) by Yuta Takahashi – 24 Feb (Penguin)
Follow the seashell path along Tokyo Bay until you get to the Chibineko Kitchen, where a traditional Japanese meal can summon anyone you choose from your past, but only for as long as it continues to steam. . .
Menu
Tofu no Misozuke: Miso-marinated tofu
Buta Bara no Kara-age: Fried pork belly
Iwashi no Kabayaki-don: Soy-glazed sardines over rice
Shime no Curry: Curry using leftover hotpotIf you could speak one last time to someone you’ve lost, what would you tell them?
Nagi Hayakawa is facing an impossible choice. With only a few years left to live, should she marry the man she loves? Desperate for advice from her mother, who died years ago, she reserves a table at the Chibineko Kitchen. When she takes her first bite of the miso-marinated tofu and rice, the resident kitten meows, the air grows hazy, and she embarks on a reunion with the departed that has the potential to restore her love of life.
Paranormal Romance
Kiss My Ash (Umbrafore Novel)Kiss My Ash (Umbrafore Novel) by Lara McKenzie – 2 Feb (Self)
Charlotte Marelli owns Pulse coffee shop in the supernatural Umbrafore Complex. She’s a former barrister, vintage glam queen, and the sort of woman who can silence a room with an arched eyebrow.
She’s also survived things that would break most people, though she’d rather wear holey joggers than admit that out loud.
Join Charlotte as she navigates menopause, mild PTSD, an infuriatingly blunt vampire who doesn’t understand the concept of casual, and the unwelcome reappearance of someone from her past who really should have stayed there.
The Demon’s Attendent (Charmed Away Temp Agency #6) by Amy Padilla – 3 Feb (Self)
Wash was getting seriously tired of upper management trying to butt into his personal life. He didn’t have a problem with his work-life balance… that they could prove anyway. So when they send in a new temp to assist the research floor, he’s determined to ignore them. Except, they just happened to send the sweetest temp known to all species, who plies him with sweets and pretty smiles, and for some reason, that temp won’t take the hint that he doesn’t need help. He seems sincere enough. There shouldn’t be a reason not to explore things a little, as long as upper management didn’t find out. Right?
Peri never thought he’d meet his match while on a temp assignment. The grumpy demon from research was handsome, smart, protective, and in serious need of a vacation. When Taron asks for help getting Wash to relax, Peri leaps at the chance to spend more time with the demon. It wouldn’t hurt anyone to have a little back up when claiming his man. Right?
Keeper and Kindred (MEOW: Magical Emporium of Wares #2) by Toni Binns – 3 Feb (Self)
Welcome to the Magical Emporium of Wares, a bookshop that appears only to those who need to find it.
The winter solstice is coming, and with it, a reckoning.
Sable thought being the Shopkeeper meant serving coffee, shelving books, and managing a talking cat’s attitude. She’s made peace with the magic, even embraced her role as guardian to Indigo, the world’s most curious baby bookdragon. But as the solstice draws near, a magical teacher arrives at the shop’s door—someone from the Cat’s past who might hold the key to his freedom.
The Fates begin whispering to Sable through golden auras. Old bargains, made long before her time, surface with dangerous demands. And somewhere in the chaos of rearranging shelves, interrogating a cryptic teacher, and managing interdimensional customers, Sable has to figure out how to tell her mother she won’t be home for the holidays.
The secrets she’s uncovered can’t be ignored. And the Cat—mysterious, maddening, and more vulnerable than he’d ever admit—might be the key to everything, if only Sable can get him to trust her.
Coffee can only solve so many problems. But friendship, courage, and one very determined Shopkeeper might just be enough.
How to Tell if Your K-9 is a Demon by Trista Ricketts – 6 Feb (Self)
She went to adopt a K-9 partner. She did not mean to adopt a demon. Officer Kelly “Chuck” Charles thought choosing her new K-9 would be straightforward.
Obedient. Loyal. Not possessed by ancient evil. She was wrong.Her new K-9 partner growls in dead languages, smirks like he’s plotting world domination, and reacts to holy water like it personally insulted his ancestors. Because Malachi isn’t just a dog. He’s a centuries-old demon trapped in a canine body — morally black, dangerously clever, and very annoyed about it.
The problem? Chuck doesn’t know any of that yet. She’s just a cop trying to survive long shifts, bad coffee, and a partner who may or may not be judging her soul. She definitely doesn’t know she’s part angel. And she absolutely isn’t prepared for the supernatural chaos headed straight for her life.
When a well-meaning witch gives Malachi his body back, everything goes from “weird dog behavior” to full-blown celestial disaster.
Redeem him. Banish him. Or fall for the demon who was never meant to have a heart.
Bitten by Magic (Bitten Chronicles #3) by Brogan Thomas – 26 Feb (Self)
Harper “House” has endured the impossible. Once Hestia, a formidable paper mage, she trusted the wrong man and lost her magic torn away, her soul sealed into brick. For 162 years she has existed as a sentient house, hiding from those who’d destroy her while sheltering society’s outcasts.
Watching. Waiting. Until one reckless choice tears her prison apart.
Human again, Harper must navigate a world determined to cage or kill her. The Ministry of Magic hunts her. The Vampire Court schemes to silence her. Shifter packs prowl, terrified of the secrets she keeps. Then there’s the one sent to capture her—a frustratingly charming enemy who might just become her greatest ally.
Harper isn’t just a survivor; she is magic reborn—and she’s done playing nice.
Romantic Fantasy
Nightshade and Oak by Molly O’Neill – 3 Feb (Orbit)
When Malt, the goddess of death, is accidentally turned into a human by a wayward spell, she finds she’s ill-equipped to deal with the trials of a mortal life.
After all, why would a goddess need to know how to gather food or light a fire?
Trapped in a body that’s frustratingly feeble, she’s forced to team up with Bellis, warrior daughter of Boudicca on a perilous journey across Roman-occupied Britain to the afterlife to try to restore her powers. As animosity turns to attraction, these two very different women must learn to work together if they are to have any hope of surviving their quest.
The Baby Dragon Bookshop (Baby Dragon #3) by A.T. Qureshi – 10 Feb (Avon)
Will romance be the plot twist?
Emmy has an enemy, and his name is Luke. The good news? She rarely sees him. The bad news? When she does, she (and her pet dragons) are reminded just how handsome he is.
Besides, Emmy is too busy focusing on her dragon-fuelled business to have time for love. But when both she and Luke approach the same local investor for funding, she’s suddenly unable to avoid him. The kookie investor insists they must compete for the cash by working at the local failing baby dragon bookshop to prove their magical business knowledge.
Determined to win the funding, Emmy dives into the task. But making a very flammable bookshop fit for baby dragons is no small feat, and it seems these rivals may need to join forces. Could Luke and Emmy’s fiery animosity spark something more between them?
Crown of War and Shadow (Kingdoms of the Compass #1) by J.R. Ward – 17 Feb (Bramble)
In the dead of night, passions rise and empires fall. Welcome to Kingdoms of the Compass. The Fulcrum is failing, and demons are slipping into the mortal world, stalking the night. No one is safe.
Especially not Sorrel. An orphan and an outcast, she’s spent her whole life within the walls of her small village, ostracized for her mystical abilities. She wants to survive…and maybe find somewhere she can call her true home. But Fate has other plans. Sorrel has been chosen. Cursed. She must cross the Badlands to return the Queen’s crown and convince the fearsome female to save their world from destruction. Well aware she’s no brave hero, Sorrel makes a dangerous deal with Merc, a brooding, commanding mercenary known only by his unscrupulous profession.
The deal? A night in his bed that she will never forget, in exchange for her safe passage. But Merc has secrets of his own, and even though passion runs hot between them, enemies are around every corner, and danger and betrayal threaten at every turn.
Romantic Suspense
Stolen in Death (In Death #62) by J.D. Robb – 3 Feb (St. Martin’s Press)
A blow to the head with a block of amethyst has left multibillionaire Nathan Barrister dead―while nearby, a vault, its door ajar, sits filled with priceless paintings, jewelry, and other treasures. Lieutenant Eve Dallas’s husband, Roarke―who misspent his youth in Ireland as a scrappy thief―recognizes at least two stolen pieces among the hoard. The crime scene suggests a burglar caught in the act. But only one item seems to be missing.
Then it’s revealed that the vault had actually belonged to the victim’s late father―and no one in the household knew it was there until a recent remodeling project exposed it. To protect the family name and business, they explain to Eve, they’d been looking for a way to return the ill-gotten gains anonymously and avoid the police. But now the police are all over their elegant house, and have a bigger, bloodier mystery to solve.
By all accounts, Nathan Barrister was a good man, a generous employer, a devoted husband and father. As for his father―he clearly had secrets. Now it’s up to Eve and her team to find out if those secrets got Nathan killed―and if it was a crime of passion or revenge.
The monthly Must Have list is a compilation of the upcoming release titles that we, The Book Pushers, just can’t wait to get our hands on. Don’t see a title you’re excited about listed here? Add it to the comments section below. Let us know what you’re looking forward to!