It's been five years since I read Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas, and I was excited to finally revisit the characters in its long-awaited sequel, Cemetery Boys: Espíritu. Following the events of the first book, this one picks up shortly after, with Christmas fast approaching. But Julian is being haunted, and neither Yadriel nor Maritza... Continue Reading →
Last year, I loved Kate Golden's contemporary romance, If Not for My Baby, and I've been excited to read more from her. This year introduces her Harker Academy series; the first installment, Half City, came out in February. With the sequel to that due in just a few weeks, it was time for me to... Continue Reading →
Megan Frampton just released her new novel, Demons and Diplomacy, the first in her Ministry of Supernatural Affairs series. Set in 1851, it's an alternate Victorian era England following the "Great Revelation." Supernatural beings live among us, and in fact, Queen Victoria is a vampire. With so many species now openly living together, a new... Continue Reading →
My favorite surprise of the week: Once Swindled by Laura Sebastian! The first in her new Lack and Luster series, this novel introduces a Gilded Age world in which the aristocrats (Lusters) don't just have more money and power; they also have magical abilities that the others (the Lacks) don't. Once such Lack is Mavis,... Continue Reading →
Alexandra Vasti has quickly become a go-to author for historical romances, and I was excited for her latest, Scandal of the Summer, the first in her Flirty Rotten Scoundrels series. After four seasons, heiress Ruby is tired of trying to find a husband who can appreciate her depth of knowledge on "masculine" subjects like art... Continue Reading →
I adored A.K. Caggiano's Villains & Virtues series opener, Throne in the Dark, so I couldn't wait to continue the trilogy. The second book is Summoned to the Wilds, re-released earlier this year. Picking up right where the first installment left off, Summoned to the Wilds follows a newly "kidnapped" Amma and Damien down a winding road... Continue Reading →
These past few years, I've been enjoying Felicia Grossman's Once Upon the East End series. Each story centers Jewish characters finding love in 1830s London, and each is a gender-flipped fairytale retelling. The latest release is Dearest Beast, inspired by Beauty and the Beast. When Rebecca Adler's home and business gets blown up by an... Continue Reading →
I can't believe it's already been five years since I read David Heska Wanbli Weiden's debut novel, Winter Counts. Time has flown by, and at long last, the author is back with a sequel: Wisdom Corner. We return to South Dakota's Rosebud Indian Reservation and our favorite vigilante, Virgil Wounded Horse. It's been a year... Continue Reading →
In the past few years I've been getting into demon romances. So when I heard about Once Upon a Demon's Heart by K.M. Moronova, the first in her Cruel Fates duology, I was intrigued. It was originally published last year and is now being republished by Bloom Books. Alira is a demigod knight stuck in... Continue Reading →
I've been enjoying Isabel Ibañez's books since Woven in Moonlight in 2020. This year she released her first adult novel: Graceless Heart, part of her new series, the Spellbound History Quartet. Set mainly in 1478 in Florence, Italy, this romantasy blends together a wide palette of themes. Magic vs. Catholicism, art and beauty vs. machinery... Continue Reading →
I've been looking forward to Keshe Chow's adult debut, Strange Familiars, which just came out a couple weeks ago. The first in the Seamere College Duology, it's set in a magical version of our world at a London university, where two veterinary science majors are competing for the top spot upon graduation. Gwendolynne Chan and... Continue Reading →
Happy book birthday to Harper St. George's The Dove and the Rogue! This is the final novel in her Doves of New York trilogy, set up so brilliantly in the previous book, Eliza and the Duke. I was sad when Berkley didn’t pick up the third story in the trilogy. (Traditional publishing's general move away... Continue Reading →
I really enjoyed Julian Winters's adult debut, I Think They Love You, early last year, and I've been excited for more from him. The 24 Carter Gold series continues with Last First Kiss, in which Jordan and Jamie find their way to each other. Both were introduced in the previous book, and here we get... Continue Reading →
I often like my books to come with a side of darkness. This led me to Death's Daughter by S.A. Barnes, the first in her Children of the Old Ones series. This dark academia romantasy is set in a college town in Massachusetts, where Jocasta is trying to live a normal life, despite secretly being... Continue Reading →
I adored the first two books in Harper St. George's Doves of New York series, but despite some truly excellent setup for middle sister, Jenny, I was disappointed when Berkley didn't pick up the final story in the trilogy. Thankfully, the author chose to self-publish this last installment, making fans like me oh so happy.... Continue Reading →
My latest obsession within paranormal romance and romantasy is anything related to demons. This led me to A.K. Caggiano's Villains & Virtues series, which opens with Throne in the Dark. First published in 2022, it was rereleased in November 2025, with the rest of the series rereleasing this year. Throne in the Dark follows an... Continue Reading →
I loved Diana Quincy's historical romance The Duke Gets Desperate, and I've been excited to continue the series. The second Sirens in Silk book is The Earl That Got Away, a retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion. It turns out that Raya's sister and Strick's close friend knew each other years ago, and they've both been... Continue Reading →
Considering how much I loved TJ Alexander's 2025 novel, A Gentleman's Gentleman, it's no wonder that their followup has been high on my list of this year's releases. A Lady for All Seasons came out last week, and it's just as absorbing as the previous book. It starts with Verbena, a calculating woman intent on... Continue Reading →
Emma Denny's Barden Series has been a delight from the beginning, and the trilogy now ends with A Vow Made Twice. The eldest Barden sibling, Ash, has spent years haunted by the death of the love of his life, Oliver. But now Ash's father is gone, leaving him the earl and in need of a... Continue Reading →
I really enjoyed Emma R. Alban's debut novel a couple years ago, and I was excited to read her new romance, Like in Love with You. In 1817, both Rosalie and Catherine are spending the season in Bath trying to get a husband. Well, their respective mothers want them to find husbands, and both have... Continue Reading →
I've been enjoying Jo Segura's Raiders of the Lost Heart series, and the trilogy comes to a close with her latest release, The Lust Crusade. This time the archeological adventures takes us to Greece. Daniela has been in love with Theo for 20 years, but never said anything, and now it's too late. He's lost,... Continue Reading →
I loved Jessica James's first Glitter Bats romance, For One Night Only, and I've been so excited to continue the series. Now the second installment is here: For Our Next Song, starring drummer Keeley Cunningham and keyboardist Jane Mercer. Now that the band is back together and they've released a new album, they're finally free... Continue Reading →
There has been such an increase in cat fiction being published lately! I'm on a mission to read it all, and I'm ending this year with Yuta Takahashi's The Curious Kitten at the Chibineko Kitchen, the first in his Meals to Remember at the Chibineko Kitchen series. This short book was translated from Japanese by... Continue Reading →
When I saw the cover for Falon Ballard's Something Wicked—first in her Idle Reputations series—I was instantly intrigued. And that it's inspired by Macbeth and Moulin Rouge? An interesting combination; sold! Something Wicked is set in a country called Avon, divided into four territories, plus a capital city. There's been political unrest for years, and... Continue Reading →
Amanda's Book Corner 