What to Read

May Must-Read Romantic Suspense

Now that Memorial Day is among us, we’re finally getting to the temperature portion of the year that I like to call “heaven.” The hotter the better for this southern charmer, and even though I might be getting to the point in life when hot flashes are on the horizon, I still love the hot summer temperatures in North Carolina. It’s nearly as hot as this month’s Must-Read romantic suspenses.

There’s no escaping the simple fact that Cynthia Eden writes a well-balanced romantic suspense with humor, heart, and compelling characters. This summer she’s kicking off a new Trouble for Hire series with No Escape From War, a sexy, fast-paced thriller that’ll leave you breathless and cheering for a happy ever after for this private investigator and reporter. Nothing makes Warren “War” Channing happier than the thought of exacting revenge on his ex, Rose Shadow, and sending her to jail for murder. Only, when he discovers that she’s on the run from a serial killer she’s been investigating, War stops at nothing to keep the only woman he ever loved safe. Richly developed characters, an engaging plot, and a sexy romance are my takeaways with this story.

Anna Hackett kicked off a new series with Stealing from Mr. Rich, and it’s just a sexy, fun read. I love this trend of hot billionaire bachelors done in by quirky, unpredictable, and smart women. Monroe O’Connor is the daughter of a thief, and even though she’s built a solid and lawful locksmith business, she can’t escape the family business. Her brother’s in deep with the Russian mob, and to save him Monroe’s got to steal something from Zane Roth, superstar billionaire. Woven into this sexy caper are issues of trust and opportunity, humor and hope, and figuring out how to choose your own destiny rather than letting it choose you. There’s a robust cast of interesting characters that will make for fun follow up books in the series.

On the horizon is Katee Robert’s Neon Gods, which releases on June 1. I didn’t want the whole month of June to pass before I sang its praises. Not only is Roberts a great spinner of sexy, angsty, enthralling stories, she’s taken the hot topic of romance mythology to new levels by modernizing the setting of perennial favorites Persephone and Hades. I love the political parameters that define the ruling Thirteen, as well as the regenerative mythology perpetuated by the reigning leaders. No matter how advanced or antiquated a civilization is, there’s always a ruler and someone who is ruled, and the space in between is where truth and progress and loyalty and worthiness lie. Roberts has built a wholly fascinating world that works on every level. It doesn’t hurt that the ending is oh, so satisfying, and sets the stage for what promises to be a winning series.

Finally, I didn’t have time to get all the way through Juno Rushdan’s Unsuspecting Target, but it’s on the top of my TBR pile. I have every expectation this fifth installment of her Hard Core Justice Thriller series will be just as great as the rest.

How are you kicking off the summer? What’s on your romantic suspense TBR?

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Dolly Sickles

Dolly R. Sickles is a lifelong Southerner with a penchant for storytelling. She writes romances as Becky Moore and children’s books as Dolly Dozier. While she loves to read just about anything, romantic suspense is her kryptonite. When she’s not adventuring around the world with her husband and son, she teaches writing classes at two local community colleges and works on her own books. Follow her on Twitter (@drsickles) and Goodreads (dolly_sickles). Read more from Dolly: https://happyeverafter.usatoday.com/author/dolly-r-sickles/