If you are anxiously waiting to find out who will sit on the Iron Throne, I’ve got the perfect distraction to get you through the next few days – fifteen newly released contemporary romances. But even if you could care less about the Seven Kingdoms, you’ll want to check these books out.
❤ Indicates the books that I have read and recommend.
❤ Wrong Bed, Right Girl by Rebecca Brooks (May 13)
Rebecca Brooks’ Wrong Bed, Right Girl is fun, sexy and sweet. Reed is a cop and Talia is a ballet dancer, and they meet accidentally when he literally falls into her bed while trying to check on one of his informants in a homicide/narcotics case. Reed realizes the sassy unfiltered dancer is now in danger and reluctantly offers for her to stay with him, but he never expects to be so attracted to his new temporary roommate. He’s broody, quiet and absolutely adorable as he tries to resist her, but they soon fall into bed together – this time on purpose. This forced-proximity, feel-good romance checks every box on my must-read list, and I wholeheartedly recommend it.
❤ Corrupt Savior (The Wages of Sin duet #2) by Tara Leigh (May 13). Not a standalone.
Corrupt Savior is the thrilling conclusion to the Wages of Sin duet, and you do not want to miss this uber-sexy, twisty, suspenseful and downright captivating tale of dangerous secrets, jaw-dropping lies and emotional, swoon-worthy romance.
The Key to Happily Ever After by Tif Marcelo (May 14)
(Blurb)
All’s fair in love and business.
The de la Rosa family and their wedding planning business have been creating happily ever afters in the Washington, DC area for years, making even the most difficult bride’s day a fairytale. But when their parents announce their retirement, the sisters—Marisol, Janelyn, and Pearl—are determined to take over the business themselves.
But the sisters quickly discover that the wedding business isn’t all rings and roses. There are brides whose moods can change at the drop of a hat; grooms who want to control every part of the process; and couples who argue until their big day. As emotions run high, the de la Rosa sisters quickly realize one thing: even when disaster strikes—whether it’s a wardrobe malfunction or a snowmageddon in the middle of a spring wedding—they’ll always have each other.
❤ Concerto (North Security #2) by Skye Warren (May 14) Not a standalone.
Skye Warren continues her suspenseful and scorching-hot age-gap romance with Concerto, the second book in the North Security series. As the dangerous and enigmatic Liam fights his attraction to the much younger Samantha, he also has to fight to keep her safe, and he’s willing to do absolutely anything to do so. Swoon.
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston (May 14)
(Blurb)
What happens when America’s First Son falls in love with the Prince of Wales?
When his mother became President, Alex Claremont-Diaz was promptly cast as the American equivalent of a young royal. Handsome, charismatic, genius—his image is pure millennial-marketing gold for the White House. There’s only one problem: Alex has a beef with the actual prince, Henry, across the pond. And when the tabloids get hold of a photo involving an Alex-Henry altercation, U.S./British relations take a turn for the worse.
Heads of family, state, and other handlers devise a plan for damage control: staging a truce between the two rivals. What at first begins as a fake, Instragramable friendship grows deeper, and more dangerous, than either Alex or Henry could have imagined. Soon Alex finds himself hurtling into a secret romance with a surprisingly unstuffy Henry that could derail the campaign and upend two nations and begs the question: Can love save the world after all? Where do we find the courage, and the power, to be the people we are meant to be? And how can we learn to let our true colors shine through?
❤ A Really Bad Idea by Jeannine Colette (May 14)
Jeannine Colette has absolutely nailed the friends-to-lovers trope with A Really Bad Idea and delivered a deeply romantic story that will thoroughly entertain you and make your heart soar. Christian and Meadow have been best friends since they were ten-years old, and they’ve supported each other through life’s ups and down. When Meadow wants to have a baby, she opts for a sperm donor, and Christian is going to be there for her every step of the way. But he soon realizes that he wants to be the father and wants them to do it the old-fashioned way. It’s a nerve-wracking decision – knowing it will irrevocably change their friendship – and I was so caught up in their poignant journey that I didn’t want to put the book down. A Really Bad Idea is the perfect blend of perfectly-timed humor, sizzling chemistry, heartfelt romance and genuine emotion, and it’s an absolute pleasure to read.
❤ Choosing You (Pierced Hearts duet #2) by M. Robinson (May 14). Not a standalone.
Choosing You is the riveting conclusion to the Pierced Hearts duet, and it’s a love story that you won’t forget – intensely emotional, utterly swoon-worthy and downright mind-blowing. These characters will make a lasting impression on your heart. All. The. Feels.
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren (May 14)
(Blurb)
Olive is always unlucky: in her career, in love, in…well, everything. Her identical twin sister Amy, on the other hand, is probably the luckiest person in the world. Her meet-cute with her fiancé is something out of a romantic comedy (gag) and she’s managed to finance her entire wedding by winning a series of Internet contests (double gag). Worst of all, she’s forcing Olive to spend the day with her sworn enemy, Ethan, who just happens to be the best man.
Olive braces herself to get through 24 hours of wedding hell before she can return to her comfortable, unlucky life. But when the entire wedding party gets food poisoning from eating bad shellfish, the only people who aren’t affected are Olive and Ethan. And now there’s an all-expenses-paid honeymoon in Hawaii up for grabs.
Putting their mutual hatred aside for the sake of a free vacation, Olive and Ethan head for paradise, determined to avoid each other at all costs. But when Olive runs into her future boss, the little white lie she tells him is suddenly at risk to become a whole lot bigger. She and Ethan now have to pretend to be loving newlyweds, and her luck seems worse than ever. But the weird thing is that she doesn’t mind playing pretend. In fact, she feels kind of… lucky.
Crazy in Love (This Love #3) by Emily Snow (May 15). Not a standalone.
(Blurb)
He’s the king of the Upper East Side. A playboy who’s held my heart captive for as long as I can remember. And he’s just brought my world crashing down with less than ten words.
He says he’ll fight to keep me.
To be the man I’ve always deserved.
To right all the wrongs that have ripped us apart for years because he loves me. He always has. Always will.
But when it comes to Bennett Delaney, love and lies blur.
They always have.
A Five-Minute Life by Emma Scott (May 16)
(Blurb)
Remember us…when I can’t.
Thea Hughes has five minutes to live.
A car accident stole her parents and left her with the second-worst documented case of amnesia in the world. She now has only minutes of experiences, of consciousness, of life…before her memory is wiped clean. The once effervescent artist with a promising future is reduced to scribbling with pens and paper, living an empty, quiet life, three hundred seconds at a time.
Jim Whelan is on autopilot.
A foster kid shuffled around the system since birth, he’s lived his entire life without knowing love…and it’s taken its toll—until he learned to fight back, carry his armor, and keep his head down.
Working as an orderly in the Blue Ridge Sanitarium, deep in Virginia countryside, Jim looked up…and found Thea.
When Thea has the chance to break free of her five-minute prison with a risky, experimental surgery, it could lead them both to an epic love they never thought possible… or one that could require the ultimate sacrifice.
❤ The Trouble with Love by Claire Contreras (May 15)
The Trouble with Love is just as sexy and swoony as you’d expect from the phenomenally-talented Claire Contreras. A year ago, Bennett and Morgan had an unforgettable one-night stand, and both are shocked when they are reunited and realize that he is her brother’s best friend and her boss. Oops. These are undeniable reasons to avoid a relationship, but their attraction for one another makes it difficult to resist. As they work side-by-side, Bennett realizes that Morgan might be worth breaking the rules and risking his heart for, but he has to convince her to take a chance on him. They have an engaging dynamic with witty exchanges and sizzling chemistry, and I love how they focus on deepening friendship as they sort through their feelings. I could wax poetic about Bennett all day – he is charming, sexy and easygoing with the perfect amount of rakishness – and although he had reasons to be leery of love, he didn’t run from his feelings. The Trouble with Love is a thoroughly entertaining romance that’s bursting at the seams with emotion, humor, passion and warmth.
Payback by Amy Daws (May 16)
(Blurb)
ALLIE HARRIS WANTS PAYBACK.
Her cheating ex deserves to see her living her best life; a one-night-stand with a hot South African soccer player would be the perfect revenge. Right?
Wrong. Allie is so, so wrong.
ROAN DEWALT HAS ALL THE MOVES.
On and off the field he’s at the top of his game. Roan respects hard-work, dedication—and follow through. He’s not a one and done kind of man, and he’s far from being done with Allie Harris.
One sexy night and two years later, Allie’s job brings her back to town. Opportunity for the perfect replay Roan has been fantasizing about since they slept together.
THE PROBLEM?
Allie Harris has a secret; one she’s been keeping from Roan all this time. Digital proof of their one night together—taken without his consent.
Will Allie’s payback plan come back to bite them both? Or can she erase her past mistake and embrace a new future with Roan?
❤ Fixing Us by Miranda Elaine (May 16)
Fixing Us is a second-chance romance with an intriguing and unique twist in that the couple has had an on-and-off-again relationship since they broke up in high school. Gabriel and Leigh just can’t quit one another and often find themselves back in each other’s beds, but their last steamy tryst leaves them pregnant and forced to decide whether or not their relationship is fixable or if they are destined to just be just friends and co-parents. Gabriel has struggled for years to feel like he’s good enough for Leigh, and it’s an emotional journey as he faces his most deep-rooted fears and demons. Miranda Elaine handles his complex, real-world issues with sensitivity and grace, making this story deeply moving. You’ll love everything about Fixing Us – the relatable, endearing characters and their poignant, tender and steamy love story.
Cheap Trick by Emily Goodwin (May 16)
(Blurb)
Danielle Cross has spent her whole life running from breakups and troubles. She’s never stayed in the same place for long…until now.
The moment she walks through the doors of Logan Dawson’s bar, there’s an attraction between them neither can deny.
And when Danielle needs a date to her sister’s wedding, Logan is the man for the job. A cheap trick to fool her family is a small price to pay for a weekend in paradise.
Playing pretend is easy. The hard part? Trying to convince yourself the feelings are only fake.
❤ The Billionaire Boss Next Door by Max Monroe (May 16)
The Billionaire Boss Next Door showcases Max Monroe at their funniest, and this romantic comedy kept me laughing – and swooning! – from the first page to the last. Greer unknowingly meets her new boss, Trent, when they have a verbal skirmish at the gym, so she’s panicked and he’s exasperated when they discover they’ll be working together on his new hotel in New Orleans. They begin their working relationship trading barbs to see who can annoy each other the most, but their bickering soon takes a flirtatious turn and oozes sexual tension. Greer and Trent’s enemies-to-lovers dynamic is ineffably charming, and their banter is laugh-out-loud hilarious, and The Billionaire Boss Next Door is one of the most entertaining, endearing and sexiest romances that I’ve read this year.
