This week's pick is:
Hearts on Thin Ice
Series: None
Author: Katie Kennedy
Published June 18th 2024 by Alcove Press

Goodreads Synopsis
A pro hockey player falls for an interior designer in this charming debut sports romance. This flirty workplace rom-com explores mental health, belonging, and finding your way in the world.

Nick Sorensen had once been one of the fastest men in hockey—until the devastating plane crash that took the lives of his best friends, leaving him the only survivor. Now he’s physically ready to get back on the ice, but his coach is concerned Nick isn’t doing as well, mentally, as he says he is. Case in Nick’s apartment is completely empty, apart from a single chair and a mattress on the floor.

To prove he’s fine, really, Nick hires Alyssa Compton, an up-and-coming interior designer, to decorate his space. Alyssa’s thrilled at the chance to prove herself to her demanding boss—with job security at last, maybe she can finally put down roots and create a home for herself too. But Nick turns out to be infuriatingly stubborn and impossible to work with, and just when Alyssa decides to throw in the towel on the whole thing, Nick shows up for her in a way she never could have expected.

The icy path ahead of these two lost souls may be slippery and cracking, but when it comes to love, sometimes all you need is someone on your team.
Goodreads

Why I'm waiting:

• This was such an unexpectedly wonderful book!

Are you waiting for this book? Have you already read it? Let me know :)

This week's pick is:
Poison in Their Hearts
Series: Castles in Their Bones #3
Author: Laura Sebastian
Published June 18th 2024 by Hodderscape

Goodreads Synopsis
Follow three princesses and the destiny they were born for: seduction, conquest, and the crown.

Promised for marriage, now destined to die.

Since Sophronia's murder, princesses Daphne and Beatriz have discovered the truth: they are pawns in their mother's bid for the throne of Vesteria.

Separated with enemies on all sides, Beatriz and Daphne's only hope are the few allies who stretch across the borders of Vesteria: Sophronia's husband, the deposed King Leopold; Violie, a former spy for Empress Margaraux; and Beatriz's missing husband, Pasquale, and his lover, Ambrose. But whispers of an ancient prophecy and secrets from their past follow every move they make.

With the magic of the stars, the princesses are ready to make their final stand.
Goodreads

Why I'm waiting:

• This series has simply been fantastic, and I can't wait to see how the story ends!

Are you waiting for this book? Have you already read it? Let me know :)

The Irish Goodbye
Series: None
Author: Amy Ewing
June 4th 2024 by Alcove Press
It’s hate-at-first-sight when a jilted Irish chef returns home to Inishmore and immediately clashes with a mouthy American tourist.
This steamy romance novel by New York Times bestselling author Amy Ewing is perfect for fans of Abby Jimenez and Beth O’Leary.
Cordelia James was once at the top of her game—a renowned street photographer with a massive social media following, gallery showings in Chelsea, and a lucrative book deal. But after the sudden death of her father, Cordelia can barely force herself to leave her apartment. That is, until she sees an ad for a summer gig at a cozy cottage on Ireland’s picturesque Inishmore island. Cordelia is on a plane before she can talk herself out of it.
The moment she steps off the boat, she crashes—literally—into Niall O’Connor, a grumpy local who’s just returned home to Inishmore from Dublin. Niall is nursing a broken heart and trying to patch up a broken life, and he has no time for posh American tourists. The more Cordelia’s and Niall’s paths cross, the more they make each other’s lives hell. But as with all rivalries, their hatred is about to reach a tipping point—and it’s going to heat up their cool coastal nights.
Featuring a lovable band of quirky supporting characters, The Irish Goodbye is a steamy, emotionally gripping tale of love, passion, art, food, and finding where you belong.
Goodreads
Barely Even Friends
Series: None
Author: Mae Bennett
June 4th 2024 by Alcove Press
A grumpy, rich recluse meets his match in this steamy Beauty and the Beast retelling—with a Succession twist.
Bellamy Price has just been offered the job of a lifetime: lead contractor on the restoration of the mysterious and sprawling Killington Estate. If she meets the owner’s ridiculous timeline, she’ll finally make a name for herself in this male-dominated industry. But when she rolls up her sleeves, slips on her suspenders, and shows up at the crumbling mansion, Bellamy finds the estate very much occupied.
After a traumatic car accident that left his parents dead and himself injured, Oliver Killington, heir to the Killington empire, took up residence as the grumpy caretaker of his grandfather’s mansion. None too pleased by the presence of the hammer-wielding woman who’s moved into his house, Oliver tries to block her at every turn.
But when Bellamy discovers Oliver’s facing his own ultimatum from his grandfather, the two form a cautious truce, which leads to flying sparks that are definitely not from faulty wiring. As Bellamy restores the gleam to the Killington Estate, she’ll have to decide if the walls she’s built around herself are worth knocking down to make space for someone else.
This clever, steamy debut novel will have readers rooting for this Beauty and her Beast until the very last page.
Goodreads
The Duke Has Done It Again
Series: The Duke's Estates #6
Author: Jane Ashford
June 4th 2024 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
How can they stay rivals when they're falling in love?
As children of the two most prominent families in town, Gavin Keighley and Rose Denholme have been enemies their whole lives. When the Duke and Duchess of Tereford come to town to get their estate in order, they invite Gavin, Rose, and their families for a visit to settle the feud once and for all. But as jealousy takes root, all the town families begin to compete for the attention of the duke and duchess, forcing Gavin and Rose to choose between fighting for their family interests or fighting for the love that's blossoming between them.
Goodreads
Match Me If You Can
Series: None
Author: Swati Hegde
June 4th 2024 by Dell
A young magazine writer in Mumbai must prove her matchmaking skills—and contend with growing feelings for her close family friend—in this debut desi romance.
Confident fashionista Jia Deshpande spends her days writing cliché-ridden listicles for Mimosa, Mumbai’s top women’s magazine. When she can, Jia dishes about the messy truth of real love on her anonymous blog, attends her family’s weekly game nights, and ignores her true feelings for her childhood friend. If that wasn’t enough, Jia needs to successfully set up a coworker with her perfect match to get the green light for her new matchmaking column. Thankfully, organizing meet-cutes has never been difficult for her.
Local pub owner and cocktail genius Jaiman Patil can’t help but be enamored with Jia and her meddling spirit. He’s always been an honorary part of her family, but even more so since his own moved to America. Life with the Deshpandes is chaotic and loud, but it’s also more loving than anything he experienced growing up, and he wouldn’t risk losing that for the world. It feels manageable—until his pub begins to struggle and his long-hidden feelings for Jia grow deeper.
When Jia’s attempts at office matchmaking go haywire, risking new friendships and her relationship with Jaiman, she must reevaluate her own thoughts on love. For the first time, Jia Deshpande realizes that love may be a lot more complicated than she thought. Luckily, happily-ever-afters are never in short supply in Mumbai.
Goodreads
Nice Work, Nora November
Series: None
Author: Julia London
June 4th 2024 by Harper Muse
After a near death experience, one woman creates her "reverse" bucket the things she wants to do after death.
Nora November was living life on autopilot before she nearly died in a surfing accident. When she recovers, she realizes how close she came to the end of her life and regrets that she let so many wishes and dreams go undone. There are reasons for that--a pressure-filled career working for her impossible-to-please father and chronic depression to name a few. But with a renewed sense of vigor, she sets out to do all the things she never did before she died. Her "reverse bucket list" includes ordinary aspirations like learning how to cook and cleaning out her late grandpa's garden. But it also includes finding the man she was unexpectedly locked for hours with in a backroom while being held hostage in a corner store holdup . . . the one who got away.
From New York Times bestselling author Julia London comes an uplifting and heartwarming story of second chances and the power of finding out what makes life worth truly living.
Goodreads
Cole and Laila Are Just Friends
Series: None
Author: Bethany Turner
June 4th 2024 by Thomas Nelson
Cole and Laila have been inseparable since they could crawl. And they've never thought about each other that way. Except for when they have. Rarely. Once in a while, sure. But seriously . . . hardly ever.
Cole Kimball and Laila Olivet have been best friends their entire lives. Cole is the only person (apart from blood relatives) who's seen Laila in her oversized, pink, plastic, Sophia Loren glasses. Laila is always the first person to taste test any new dish Cole creates in his family's restaurant . . . even though she has the refined palate of a kindergartener. Most importantly, Cole and Laila are always talking. About everything.
When Cole discovers a betrayal from his recently deceased grandfather that shatters his world, staying in Adelaide Springs, Colorado, is suddenly unfathomable. But Laila loves her life in their small mountain town and can't imagine ever living anywhere else. She loves serving customers who tip her with a dozen fresh eggs. She loves living within walking distance of all her favorite people. And she's very much not okay with the idea of not being able to walk to her very favorite person.
Still, when Cole toys with moving across the country to New York City, she decides to support her best friend--even as she secretly hopes she can convince him to stay home. And not just for his killer chocolate chip pancakes. Because she loves him. As a friend. Just as a friend. Right?
They make a deal: Laila won't beg him to stay, and Cole won't try to convince her to come with him. They have one week in New York before their lives change forever, and all they have to do is enjoy their time together and pretend none of this is happening. But it's tough to ignore the very inconvenient feelings blooming out of nowhere. In both of them. And these potentially friendship-destroying feelings, once out in the open, have absolutely no take-backs.
If When Harry Met Sally had a quippy literary love child with Gilmore Girls' Luke and Lorelai, you'd get Cole and Laila. Just . . . don't tell them that.
Goodreads
Pardon My Frenchie
Series: None
Author: Farrah Rochon
June 4th 2024 by Forever
The New York Times bestselling author of Almost There delivers the start of a new rom-com series with an enemies-to-lovers romance, perfect for readers of Abby Jimenez and Jasmine Guillory.
Ashanti Wright is ecstatic over the success of her dog boarding business, Barkingham Palace. In fact, it has become so successful that Ashanti has plans to expand her empire with a doggie bake shop. There’s just one problem, the building she’s had her eye on has just been sold to the surly grandson of one of her favorite customers.
Thaddeus Sims is not a dog person. He’s barely a person’s person. But when his grandmother is transferred to a senior living facility that doesn’t accept pets, the former army officer agrees to care for her annoying Standard Poodle, Puddin’. After all, it was with his grandmother’s help that Thad was able to buy the building that will soon house The PX, a sports bar/all-around hangout space for former servicemen that he plans to open.
Puddin’ and Ashanti’s French Bulldog, Duchess, have become a bit of a sensation on Barkingham Palace’s livestream because of their budding romance. When a video of the dogs sharing a doggy treat Lady and the Tramp-style goes viral, their owners are sucked into a media frenzy that captures the nation by storm...and creates some sparks for their owners too.
Goodreads
Off to the Races
Series: Gold Rush Ranch #1
Author: Elsie Silver
June 4th 2024 by Bloom Books
A small-town enemies to lovers romance and the debut novel from the bestselling author of Flawless and Wild Love.
Keeping things professional with my employees has never been an issue… until Billie waltzes onto my property.
She’s talented, feisty and so damn tempting. We clash from the moment we meet, and I can't stop thinking about all the ways I could take her down a peg. I can't stop thinking about her, period.
And in a small town, on an even smaller farm, it’s hard to keep my distance. Billie is the whole package: whip-smart with a body I fantasise about, and quite possibly the only woman who can save this business – and me. She drives me crazy, but the more time we spend together, the more I crave her: her lips, her trust, her heart… I want it all.
But at what cost? Because suddenly I don’t just want to win races, I want to win the girl.
Goodreads
Heiress Takes All
Series: None
Author: Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka
June 4th 2024 by Little Brown Young Readers
The Inheritance Games meets Ocean's 11 in this thrilling YA adventure about a teenager determined to pull off the perfect heist in the midst of her father’s wedding.
Seventeen-year-old Olivia Owens isn't thrilled that her dad's getting remarried...again. She's especially not thrilled that he cheated on her mom, kicked them out of their Rhode Island home, and cut Olivia out of her rightful inheritance.
But this former heiress has a plan for revenge. While hundreds of guests gather on the grounds of the gorgeous estate where she grew up, everyone will be thinking romance—not robbery. She’ll play the part of dutiful daughter, but in reality she’ll be redistributing millions from her father’s online accounts. She only needs the handwritten pass code he keeps in the estate's safe.
With the help of an eclectic crew of high school students and one former teacher, Olivia has plotted her mid-nuptial heist down to the second. But she didn't plan for an obnoxiously nosy wedding guest, an interfering ex-boyfriend intent on winning her back, greedy European cousins with their own agenda, or a vengeful second wife. When everything seems like it's going wrong, Olivia has to keep her eyes on what really matters: getting rich. And when she’s done, “something borrowed” will be the understatement of the year.
Goodreads
Birding with Benefits
Series: None
Author: Sarah T. Dubb
June 4th 2024 by Gallery Books
A divorcée embarks on her “year of yes” and crosses paths with a shy and sensitive birdwatcher who changes her life.
Newly divorced, almost-empty-nester Celeste is finally seeking adventure and putting herself first, clichés be damned. So when a friend asks her to “partner” with his buddy John for an event, Celeste throws herself into the role of his temporary girlfriend. But quiet cinnamon roll John isn’t looking for love, just birds—he needs a partner for Tucson’s biggest bird-watching contest if he’s ever going to launch his own guiding business. By the time they untangle their crossed signals, they’ve become teammates…and thanks to his meddling friends, a fake couple.
Celeste can’t tell a sparrow from a swallow, but John is a great teacher, and the hours they spend hiking in the Arizona wilderness feed Celeste’s hunger for new adventures while giving John a chance to practice his dream job. As the two spend more time together, they end up watching more than just the birds, and their chemistry becomes undeniable.
Goodreads
Not Here to Make Friends
Series: Marry Me, Juliet #3
Author: Jodi McAlister
June 4th 2024 by Atria Books
In this “full-on villain romance” (The New York Times) a group of women on a reality dating show should be vying for the love of their Romeo, but it turns out one of them only has eyes for the showrunner.
Murray O’Connell is standing on the greatest precipice of his career. As showrunner of the reality dating show Marry Me, Juliet, Murray is determined to make this season a success.
Nothing and nobody will stand in his way.
Except perhaps Lily Fireball, the network’s choice for this season’s villain. Lily has classic reality TV appeal: She’s feisty, dramatic, and never backs down from a fight. She also happens to be Murray’s estranged best friend and former co-showrunner.
What was once a perfectly planned season turns to chaos as the two battle for control. Working in reality television, they’re used to drama, secrets, and romance. But what happens when suddenly they’re at the center of the storyline?
Goodreads
Summer Romance
Series: None
Author: Annabel Monaghan
June 4th 2024 by G.P. Putnam's Sons
Benefits of a summer romance: it’s always fun, always brief, and no one gets their heart broken.
There aren’t enough labeled glass containers to contain the mess that is Ali Morris’s life. Her mom died two years ago, then her husband left, and she hasn’t worn pants with a zipper in longer than she cares to remember. She’s a professional organizer whose pantry is a disgrace.
No one is more surprised than Ali when the first time she takes off her wedding ring and puts on pants with hardware—overalls count, right?—she meets someone. Or rather, her dog claims a man for her in the same way he claimed his favorite of her three children: by peeing on him. Ethan smiles at Ali like her pants are just right—like he likes what he sees. The last thing Ali needs is to make her life messier, but there’s no harm in a little Summer Romance. Is there?
Goodreads
Isabel and the Rogue
Series: The Luna Sisters #2
Author: Liana De la Rosa
June 4th 2024 by Berkley
When a Mexican heiress defies Victorian society to protect her country a British war hero makes it his new mission to protect her…
Isabel Luna Valdés has long since resigned herself to being the “forgotten” Luna sister. But thanks to familial connections to the Mexican ambassador in London, wallflower Isabel is poised to unearth any British intelligence hidden by the ton that might aid Mexico during the French Occupation. Though she slips easily from crowded ballrooms into libraries and private studies, Isabel’s search is hampered by trysting couples and prowling rogues—including the rakish Captain Sirius Dawson.
As a covert agent for the British Home Office, Sirius makes a game of earning the aristocracy’s confidence. He spends his days befriending foolish politicians and seducing well-born ladies in order to learn their secrets. But after he spies a certain sharp-tongued Luna sister lurking in the shadows where no proper debutante should venture, it’s clear Sirius is outmatched, outwitted, and soon to be outmaneuvered by the one woman he can’t resist.
Their mutual attraction is undeniable, but when Isabel discovers private correspondence that could turn the tide of political turmoil in Mexico, she’s willing to do whatever it takes to protect her country—even if this means ignoring her heart and courting danger...
Goodreads
Just Some Stupid Love Story
Series: None
Author: Katelyn Doyle
June 4th 2024 by Piatkus Books
For fans of Emily Henry, a debut about a rom-com screenwriter who doesn't believe in love and a divorce attorney who does, forced together at their high school reunion fifteen years after their breakup
Molly Marks writes Hollywood rom-coms for a living—which is how she knows “romance” is a racket. The one and only time she was naive enough to fall in love was with her high school boyfriend, Seth—who she ghosted on the eve of graduation and hasn’t seen in fifteen years.
Seth Rubinstein believes in love, the grand, fated kind, despite his job as, well…one of Chicago’s most successful divorce attorneys. Over the last decade, he’s sought “the one” in countless bad dates and rushed relationships. He knows his soulmate is out there. But so far, no one can compare to Molly Marks, the first girl who broke his heart.
When Molly’s friends drag her to Florida for their fifteenth high school reunion, it is poetic justice that she’s forced to sit with Seth. Too many martinis and a drunken hookup later, they decide to make a whoever can predict the fate of five couples before the next reunion must declare that the other is right about true love. The catch? The fifth couple is the two of them.
Molly assures Seth they are a tale of timeless heartbreak. Seth promises she’ll end up hopelessly in love with him. She thinks he’s delusional. He has five years to prove her wrong.
Wickedly funny, sexy, and brimming with laughs and heart like the best romantic comedies, Just Some Stupid Love Story is for everyone who believes in soulmates—even if they would never admit it.
Goodreads
Playing the Field
Series: None
Author: Becky Ward
June 5th 2024 by Avon
Fun, sexy and full of heart, Playing the Field is perfect for fans of Icebreaker and The Cheat Sheet as well as shows like Welcome to Wrexham and Ted Lasso.
When business student Lily’s local football club relocates to a city fifty miles away, she’s just as devastated as everyone else in her town. Determined to keep the community’s love of football alive, Lily, along with her dad and football coach sister, set up a brand-new club, Crawford United, with the dream of making it big.
When notorious professional player Ben Pryce shows up out of the blue to help coach their new team, everyone is shocked. Despite being a top Premier League striker, he's been temporarily suspended from his team for an altercation with a fan. Ben’s here to revamp his image, and the attraction between him and Lily is as deep as it is instant.
But rule number one of Crawford strictly no mixing business with pleasure.
Despite his bad-boy reputation, Lily’s convinced there’s more to Ben than meets the eye. Embarking on a secret whirlwind romance, she soon finds out that this player has a heart of gold.
But will everyone else be convinced?
Goodreads
Bookishly Ever After
Series: None
Author: Mia Page
June 6th 2024 by Avon
Two rival bookstore owners. One chance for a happily ever after…Bookshop owner Lexi Austen’s problems are stacking up. Her dating life is a mess and Sam Dickens – devastatingly handsome, arrogant, and fiercely competitive rival bookshop owner – is hellbent on stealing all of her customers.
Frustrated, Lexi turns to her shelves for answers. And what have the classics taught her? That when lovers start as enemies, there’s no distraction quite like love…
Lexi plots to charm she invites him to a ball (well, a party), drags him to a dance class (does it matter if it’s not a quadrille?) and swoons into his arms while taking a turn in the park ( next time, make sure he isn’t holding a hot drink).
As their rivalry reaches scorching levels, it’s not just Lexi’s beloved bookshop at stake, but her heart too…
A charming, bookish enemies-to-lover romance, perfect for fans of Emily Henry’s Book Lovers and Sally Thorne's The Hating Game.
Goodreads
How to Solve Murders Like a Lady
Series: Violet Hamilton #2
Author: Hannah Dolby
June 6th 2024 by Aria
Violet Hamilton is no ordinary lady…
She is a Lady Detective, who spends her time solving mysteries and unveiling scandals in the bustling seaside town of Hastings and St Leonards, a popular spot for the Victorian middle classes.
But when the body of a local woman is found on the beach, Violet's efforts to investigate are blocked at every turn.
Is that because, as a woman, she can't possibly be allowed to think or act for herself? Or is it because someone sinister has Violet in their sights?
Jane Austen meets Sherlock Holmes in this delightful mystery of manners that will steal your heart, and transport you to a world of seaside scandal and moonlit balls; dubious doctors and duplicitous crooked lords; adventurous escapades and stolen kisses.
Goodreads
Twelfth Knight
Series: None
Author: Alexene Farol Follmuth
June 6th 2024 by First Ink
From the New York Times-bestselling author of The Atlas Six (under the penname Olivie Blake) comes Twelfth Knight, a grumpy/sunshine YA romantic comedy and coming of age story about taking up space in the world and learning what it means to let others in.
Viola Reyes is annoyed.
Her painstakingly crafted tabletop game campaign was shot down, her best friend is suggesting she try being more “likable,” and school running back Jack Orsino is the most lackadaisical Student Body President she’s ever seen, which makes her job as VP that much harder. Vi’s favorite escape from the world is the MMORPG Twelfth Knight, but online spaces aren’t exactly kind to girls like her―girls who are extremely competent and have the swagger to prove it. So Vi creates a masculine alter ego, choosing to play as a knight named Cesario to create a safe haven for herself.
But when a football injury leads Jack Orsino to the world of Twelfth Knight, Vi is alarmed to discover their online alter egos―Cesario and Duke Orsino―are surprisingly well-matched.
As the long nights of game-play turn into discussions about life and love, Vi and Jack soon realise they’ve become more than just weapon-wielding characters in an online game. But Vi has been concealing her true identity from Jack, and Jack might just be falling for her offline…
Goodreads
The Girlfriend Act
Series: None
Author: Safa Ahmed
June 6th 2024 by Penguin
To achieve her lifelong dream, Farah needs to pretend she’s in love.
How hard could it be ...?
When aspiring actress Farah Sheikh accidentally goes viral for exposing a prejudiced theatre company, she decides to put on her own production with the Tragedies - a group of theatre kids who are similarly desperate to break into the industry.
They have the crew, all they need now is a stage ... and money.
Enter former superstar Zayan Amin.
The deal? Zayan will star in and fund the Tragedies’ play, in exchange for a publicity boost generated by a new and (fake) romance with Farah.
There’s just one problem: they can’t stand each other...
Goodreads
Six More Months of June
Series: None
Author: Daisy Garrison
June 6th 2024 by Hodder Children's Books
The exhilarating highs and messy lows that encapsulate the end of high school come together in this immersive YA romance debut. With only one month of high school left, will Mina and Caplan risk their friendship for love, or stay just friends..?
Mina has a stern face, long braid, and an attitude that has only got worse since her dad died.
Caplan is the golden boy, complete with a vast social circle and an on-again/off-again girlfriend who hates Mina's guts.
They're neighbours and somehow, despite all their differences, have always understood each other the most. But then in the last few weeks of high school, everything turns on its head. It's a shock when Caplan's best-friend Quinn confesses he wants to take Mina to the prom. It's an even bigger shock when she says yes.
With the social hierarchy out the window and everybody on the brink of a new beginning, Mina finds herself opening up in ways she was too anxious to before. It turns out, everyone thinks she's pretty cool. But just because Mina's relationship with the world is changing, it doesn't mean anything has to change between her and Caplan's relationship. . . right?
Goodreads
The Love Hack
Series: None
Author: Sophie Ranald
June 7th 2024 by Storm Publishing
She’s a rookie advice columnist. He’s her office crush. It’s about to get complicated.
Landing a new job as online agony uncle “Ask Adam” Lucy dishes out relationship tips to men. But when it comes to her own love life, she’d rather spend Friday nights curled up on her sofa with Netflix and her cat, Astro. That is, until she meets Ross, her new co-worker who makes her snort with laughter at his silly jokes and sets off butterflies in her stomach when his hazel eyes meet hers over his laptop. After her last work boyfriend broke her heart, Lucy swore she’d never fall for someone in the office again. And she’s just about to have two more good reasons not to.
An email has just landed in the “Ask Adam” inbox and Lucy is convinced it’s from Ross. He’s most definitely not single. As her advice column goes viral and her inbox overflows with problems, Lucy turns to her AI assistant for help decoding romantic troubles, including her own. Can her state-of-the-art cupid really help her navigate her feelings for Ross? Or will the truth behind “Ask Adam” turn her non-existent love life into a hot mess?
Goodreads
Not in Love
Series: None
Author: Ali Hazelwood
June 11th 2024 by Berkley
A forbidden, secret affair proves that all’s fair in love and science.
Rue Siebert might not have it all, but she has enough: a few friends she can always count on, the financial stability she yearned for as a kid, and a successful career as a biotech engineer at Kline, one of the most promising start-ups in the field of food science. Her world is stable, pleasant, and hard-fought. Until a hostile takeover and its offensively attractive front man threatens to bring it all crumbling down.
Eli Killgore and his business partners want Kline, period. Eli has his own reasons for pushing this deal through - and he's a man who gets what he wants. With one burning exception: Rue. The woman he can't stop thinking about. The woman who's off-limits to him.
Torn between loyalty and an undeniable attraction, Rue and Eli throw caution out the lab and the boardroom windows. Their affair is secret, no-strings-attached, and has a built-in deadline: the day one of their companies will prevail. But the heart is risky business - one that plays for keeps.
Goodreads
One Last Summer
Series: None
Author: Kate Spencer
June 11th 2024 by Forever
From the cohost of the award-winning Forever35 podcast comes a dreamy, laugh-out-loud summer romance that asks: What do you do when the life you've planned isn't what you've dreamed?
Clara Millen’s life is spiraling out of control: her dream job is a nightmare, she’s resoundingly single, and it’s been years since she’s taken some time off. Thankfully, the last problem she can fix—this year she’ll join her friends on their annual summer vacation to their beloved childhood sleepover camp for a much-needed escape.
But when Clara arrives at Pine Lake Camp, she faces yet another unwelcome change: the owners are retiring and selling the property. The news turns her plans for revelry into a night of reminiscing . . . and prompts a surprise heart-to-heart between Clara and Mack, her old camp nemesis and constant competitor, who's still just as annoying (and annoyingly handsome).
Soon the campfires aren't all that's throwing off sparks. And when one wildly passionate night turns into two (then too many to count!), Clara begins to wonder if she and Mack could have a future together. But when Clara's boss finally offers her everything she's worked so hard for, Clara will need to decide if the life she's always wanted is the life that makes her feel truly alive.
Goodreads
Summer Kind Of Love
Series: None
Author: Charlène Boutin
June 11th 2024 by Iris Books Publishing
It’s official: I’m spending a full month on the ocean shores of Cape Breton.
Alone.
Avery is usually hunched over a laptop, writing the kind of words that end up on website homepages and glossy brochures. But ever since “The One” turned out to be the one who smashed her heart to bits, the page has been relentlessly blank. And blank pages mean an empty bank account.
When an up-market retreat center offers Avery a major project, she jumps at the chance to pay next month’s bills. But taking the job means committing to a change of scenery to jumpstart her failing creative spark. A cottage by the sea won’t be lonely...right?
Actually, it’s anything but. Because Logan, once the only person in the world Avery could rely on, is working the front desk. And just like that, Avery’s past catches up to her. It’s too much and too wonderful all at once. Too...everything.
But with Logan beside her, it might not be too late — if Avery can make peace with their past.
Goodreads
The Rom-Commers
Series: None
Author: Katherine Center
June 11th 2024 by St. Martin's Press
She’s rewriting his love story. But can she rewrite her own?
Emma Wheeler desperately longs to be a screenwriter. She’s spent her life studying, obsessing over, and writing romantic comedies―good ones! That win contests! But she’s also been the sole caretaker for her kind-hearted dad, who needs full-time care. Now, when she gets a chance to re-write a script for famous screenwriter Charlie Yates―The Charlie Yates! Her personal writing god!―it’s a break too big to pass up.
Emma’s younger sister steps in for caretaking duties, and Emma moves to L.A. for six weeks for the writing gig of a lifetime. But what is it they say? Don’t meet your heroes? Charlie Yates doesn’t want to write with anyone―much less “a failed, nobody screenwriter.” Worse, the romantic comedy he’s written is so terrible it might actually bring on the apocalypse. Plus! He doesn’t even care about the script―it’s just a means to get a different one green-lit. Oh, and he thinks love is an emotional Ponzi scheme.
But Emma’s not going down without a fight. She will stand up for herself, and for rom-coms, and for love itself. She will convince him that love stories matter―even if she has to kiss him senseless to do it. But . . . what if that kiss is accidentally amazing? What if real life turns out to be so much . . . more real than fiction? What if the love story they’re writing breaks all Emma’s rules―and comes true?
Goodreads
The Secret Life of a Lady
Series: None
Author: Darcy McGuire
June 14th 2024 by Boldwood Books
Never Underestimate a wallflower!
Lady Hannah Simmons is a quintessential wallflower, unassuming, dowdy yet ignored by most. But underneath her plain exterior, Hannah is hiding a thrilling secret! Unbeknownst to the rest of the ton, she is Queen Victoria’s leading femme fatale, slipping unnoticed through the streets of London and listening to scandalous whispers from lords and ladies. But with daggers in her stockings and pistols in her pockets, Hannah's mission is to apprehend a deadly killer.
Private Investigator to the Prime Minister, damaged, yet devastatingly handsome ex-war hero Duke Robert Killian always puts duty first. However, when he finds himself competing with the intriguing Lady Hannah on the same daring task, his blood boils with frustration - and desire! Is it possible to seduce this vexing woman whose not afraid to put herself in danger and achieve the upper hand?
Hannah enjoys Killian's attempts to distract and tempt her, but she has never faced an adversary she couldn’t overthrow. And Killian has never met a challenge he couldn’t conquer...until now. The gauntlet has been thrown, can they finish their jobs and resist the temptation?
Keep your friends close…and your enemies even closer!
Goodreads
Paging Dr. Hart
Series: None
Author: Melissa Dymond
June 17th 2024
Her white coat hides a dark past, but his blazing touch makes her want to trade peril for passion.
Ice Queen. That’s Dr. Tiffany Hart’s nickname in the hospital, but when she meets red-hot new hire Dr. Ethan Clark she loses her cool. He’s arrogant, annoying, and stupidly handsome.
That’s okay. Frozen from a past filled with danger and betrayal, Tiffany is immune to charming men, even if they remember her favorite coffee and let her pick what to watch on TV.
Dr. Ethan Clark comes from a long line of famous doctors. Wanting to escape his legacy and forge his own path, he’s happy to transfer to Tiffany’s hospital. Especially when he lays eyes on the fiery redhead doctor assigned to train him.
Sure, she looks like she wants to punch him most of the time, but he can’t ignore the sparks between them so he vows to thaw her icy heart.
When Ethan and Tiffany are sent back to his home hospital and then to a medical conference at Disney World, they’re forced to share close quarters. And when Tiffany’s past finally catches up to them, they have to fight for their lives.
Can this prescription for disaster turn into happily ever after?
Paging Dr. Hart is a swoon-inducing, page-turning, medical romance novel. Read if you like enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, reverse grumpy-sunshine, slow-burn chemistry, and pulse-pounding suspense.
Goodreads
Poison in Their Hearts
Series: Castles in Their Bones #3
Author: Laura Sebastian
June 18th 2024 by Hodderscape
Follow three princesses and the destiny they were born for: seduction, conquest, and the crown.
Promised for marriage, now destined to die.
Since Sophronia's murder, princesses Daphne and Beatriz have discovered the truth: they are pawns in their mother's bid for the throne of Vesteria.
Separated with enemies on all sides, Beatriz and Daphne's only hope are the few allies who stretch across the borders of Vesteria: Sophronia's husband, the deposed King Leopold; Violie, a former spy for Empress Margaraux; and Beatriz's missing husband, Pasquale, and his lover, Ambrose. But whispers of an ancient prophecy and secrets from their past follow every move they make.
With the magic of the stars, the princesses are ready to make their final stand.
Goodreads
Hearts on Thin Ice
Series: None
Author: Katie Kennedy
June 18th 2024 by Alcove Press
A pro hockey player falls for an interior designer in this charming debut sports romance. For fans of Icebreaker and Set On You, this flirty workplace rom-com explores mental health, belonging, and finding your way in the world.
Nick Sorensen had once been one of the fastest men in hockey—until the devastating plane crash that took the lives of his best friends, leaving him the only survivor. Now he’s physically ready to get back on the ice, but his coach is concerned Nick isn’t doing as well, mentally, as he says he is. Case in Nick’s apartment is completely empty, apart from a single chair and a mattress on the floor.
To prove he’s fine, really, Nick hires Alyssa Compton, an up-and-coming interior designer, to decorate his space. Alyssa’s thrilled at the chance to prove herself to her demanding boss—with job security at last, maybe she can finally put down roots and create a home for herself too. But Nick turns out to be infuriatingly stubborn and impossible to work with, and just when Alyssa decides to throw in the towel on the whole thing, Nick shows up for her in a way she never could have expected.
The icy path ahead of these two lost souls may be slippery and cracking, but when it comes to love, sometimes all you need is someone on your team.
Goodreads
Lady Scandal
Series: Scandal at the Savoy #2
Author: Laura Lee Guhrke
June 18th 2024 by Forever
Grumpy meets sunshine in this charming tale featuring a haughty businessman and the headstrong event planner who steals his heart.
Delia Stratham is a sophisticated, thoroughly modern woman who often flouts convention. Despite being well-born with plenty of money, she loves working at London's luxurious Savoy Hotel, coming up with ideas for the venue's lavish entertainments and then procuring whatever is needed to transform them into reality. Earning her own living planning the lavish banquets, balls, and parties for which the Savoy is famous gives her a satisfaction that none of her three marriages could—and she has no intention of giving it up.
But when fraud is uncovered at the Savoy, ruthless hotel magnate Simon Hayden becomes a major investor and vows to clean up the corruption and fire anyone responsible for the thefts. But is the beautiful, beguiling Delia stealing from the hotel, or is it just Simon’s heart she's running off with?
Goodreads
What Happens in Idaho
Series: None
Author: Bonnie Jo Pierson
June 18th 2024 by Rising Action Publishing Co.
Despite saving people's lives every day as a successful trauma surgeon, nothing can mend Dr. Liliana Chase's heart after the loss of her husband and baby girl. When her mother convinces her to come back to Clear Springs, Idaho, for the first time in seven years, she intends to make the visit as short as possible. What she didn't expect was to wreck her car while avoiding a cow with a death wish.
Blake Richardson, a mechanic and single dad, isn't used to helping fiery physicians, but he can't leave Lili planted in a potato field and facing off with a cow. He swears he'll never let another woman into his world after the way his ex-wife left him, but something about Lili keeps him from seeing her as just another big-city doctor.
While Lili is stuck waiting for her car to be repaired in the tiny rural town, she can't resist the pull Blake has on her. Blake's fun-loving and genuine personality might be enough to make her believe in love again. But there's a secret weighing heavily on Blake, and his connection to the death of Lili's family will force them both to confront their fears of loss and abandonment, or risk being alone forever.
Goodreads
One-Star Romance
Series: None
Author: Laura Hankin
June 18th 2024 by Berkley
A struggling writer is forced to walk down the aisle at her best friend’s wedding with the man who gave her book a very public one-star rating in this fresh romantic comedy from Laura Hankin.
Natalie and Rob couldn’t have less in common. Nat’s a messy artist, and Rob’s a rigid academic. The only thing they share is their devotion to their respective best friends—who just got engaged. Still, unexpected chemistry has Natalie cautiously optimistic about being maid of honor to Rob’s best man.
Until, minutes before the ceremony, Nat learns that Rob wrote a one-star review of her new novel, which has them both reeling: Nat from imposter syndrome, and Rob over the reason he needed to write it.
When the reception ends, these two opposites hope they’ll never meet again. But, as they slip from their twenties into their thirties, they’re forced together whenever their fast-track best friends celebrate another milestone. Through housewarmings and christenings, life-changing triumphs and failures, Natalie and Rob grapple with their own choices—and how your harshest critic can become your perfectly imperfect match.
After all, even the truest love stories sometimes need a bit of rewriting.
Goodreads
The Art of Catching Feelings
Series: None
Author: Alicia Thompson
June 18th 2024 by Berkley
A professional baseball player and his heckler prove that true love is worth going to bat for.
Daphne Brink doesn’t follow baseball, but watching “America’s Snoozefest” certainly beats sitting at home in the days after she signs her divorce papers. After one too many ballpark beers, she heckles Carolina Battery player Chris Kepler, who quickly proves there might actually be a little crying in baseball. Horrified, Daphne reaches out to Chris on social media to apologize . . . but forgets to identify herself as his heckler in her message.
Chris doesn’t usually respond to random fans on social media, but he’s grieving and fragile after an emotionally turbulent few months. When a DM from “Duckie” catches his eye, he impulsively messages back. Duckie is sweet, funny, and seems to understand him in a way no one else does.
Daphne isn’t sure how much longer she can keep lying to Chris, especially as she starts working with the team in real life and their feelings for each other deepen. When he finds out the truth, will it be three strikes, she’s out?
Goodreads
Finding Mr. Write
Series: None
Author: Kelley Armstrong
June 25th 2024 by Forever
A fun romantic comedy about a woman writing under a male pseudonym and the man she hires to play the role in public.
Daphne McFadden is tired of rejection. After submitting her manuscript to dozens of agents, she's gotten rejection after rejection, and now it's time for something drastic. And so, Daphne submits her manuscript again… under a man's name.
Imagine her surprise when it sells for big money at an auction and soon becomes a publicity darling. Only she needs a man to play her super macho alter ego Zane Remington. Enter Chris Stanton, who absolutely looks the part of a survivalist and has a talent for pressing her piss‑me‑off‑I‑dare‑you buttons while somehow being endearing at the same time. But Chris has a few secrets of his own, including the fact that he’s really an accountant who has no idea how to chop wood or paddle a canoe. When Daphne's book becomes a bestselling sensation and they're forced to go on tour together, Daphne finds herself wondering if this city‑boy geek is exactly what she needs to push her to claim her dreams.
Goodreads
A Novel Love Story
Series: None
Author: Ashley Poston
June 25th 2024 by Berkley
A professor of literature finds herself caught up in a work of fiction… literally.
Eileen Merriweather loves to get lost in a good happily-ever-after. The fictional kind, anyway. Because at least imaginary men don’t leave you at the altar. She feels safe in a book. At home. Which might be why she’s so set on going to her annual book club retreat this year—she needs good friends, cheap wine, and grand romantic gestures—no matter what.
But when her car unexpectedly breaks down on the way, she finds herself stranded in a quaint town that feels like it’s right out of a novel…
Because it is.
This place can’t be real, and yet… she’s here, in Eloraton, the town of her favorite romance series, where the candy store’s honey taffy is always sweet, the local bar’s burgers are always a little burnt, and rain always comes in the afternoon. It feels like home. It’s perfect—and perfectly frozen, trapped in the late author’s last unfinished story.
Elsy is sure that’s why she must be here: to help bring the town to its storybook ending.
Except there is a character in Eloraton that she can’t place—a grumpy bookstore owner with mint-green eyes, an irritatingly sexy mouth and impeccable taste in novels. And he does not want her finishing this book.
Which is a problem because Elsy is beginning to think the town’s happily-ever-after might just be intertwined with her own.
Goodreads
You've Got Male
Series: None
Author: Marina Adair
June 25th 2024 by Entangled: Amara
Evie Granger’s life is one crisis away from a complete meltdown. Between single-parenting a sixteen-going-on-forty daughter, managing a mom living her best life way out loud, caring for an ailing father, and keeping the family’s struggling coffee shop afloat, Evie hasn’t looked after herself in far too long. So naturally her best friend chooses this moment to post a video of Evie describing the ideal man—and sends it stratospherically viral.
Now Evie’s an overnight social-media sensation, and every eligible (and otherwise) guy in a five-state radius is turning up with his I’m-the-one credentials. But Evie can’t bring herself to let any Prince Charming into a life that’s barely holding together, a life she doesn’t even recognize as hers. So she strikes a bargain with her sexy (if equally overwhelmed) neighbor to convince America she’s taken.
Goodreads

What has caught your eye for June? Have you read any of these? Let me know :)