July seems to be a busy month for interesting new releases. I have ten on my To Be Bought – or Check Reviews – list. I’ll split this into two posts. Today’s features three contemporary romances and two historicals.
First up is Victoria Dahl’s Start Me Up. I enjoyed Dahl’s first Tumble Creek book much more than I’d expected. “Lori the Lesbian” was my favourite character, so I’m looking forward to reading her story.
Blurb: Lori Love is yearning for something more...She’d always planned to get out of tiny Tumble Creek, Colorado, but when her late dad left her his beloved auto repair shop, Lori stayed. Now she needs some excitement in her life and, according to her best friend, some hot, no-strings-attached sex would be just the thing to get Lori’s engine purring.
Quinn Jennings has buildings on the brain-not love and romance. A serious architect, he’s delighted to discover that Lori is willing to skip dating protocol and head straight for the sheets. Using the Lori’s collection of steamy books as a guide, Quinn gets busy making all her wildest fantasies come true. Mind-blowing, meaningless sex is one thing, but then life in Tumble Creek takes a dangerous turn for Lori, and Quinn’s protective instincts kick in. Suddenly he cares. More than either of them ever expected…
Jill Shalvis has two books out in July! Instant Gratification is the second in the Wilder brothers trilogy. Double Play is a stand alone novel featuring a baseball star and a journalist. I know next to nothing about baseball but I’ve read other contemporary romances featuring football and hockey heroes and enjoyed them.
The blurb for Instant Gratification: In Instant Attraction, Jill Shalvis introduced Cameron, Stone, and T.J., the sexy, daredevil brothers who run Wilder Adventures. And for Stone Wilder, the thrill of a lifetime is about to arrive in a surprising package…
Wishful, California, is 3000 miles from Dr. Emma Sinclair’s last job in a New York City ER. It may as well be another galaxy. Here, running her father’s clinic for a summer, Emma treats bee stings, stomach flu, and the occasional pet cat. Plus, she has to contend with patients like Stone Wilder: gorgeous, laid-back, and irritating beyond belief. The man laughs at her. A lot. And Emma loathes him. All except that tiny part of her that wants to throw him on her examining table and break every doctor-patient rule in the book…
When Stone tries to help Emma learn to loosen up a bit, he pictures white-water rafting or scenic, mountain hikes. Not a mind-blowing affair that shakes them both to the core. Emma’s sure she has no place in a town like Wishful, but Stone knows different. Emma belongs here, in this town, in his life. And convincing this strong-minded, stubborn, sexy woman of that fact will be a challenge no Wilder man could resist…
The blurb for Double Play: Pace Martin is the ace pitcher for the Pacific Heat. He’s got the arm, the experience and the wins. He’s also got the pain, the pressure, and the possible end of his career looming over him. The last thing he needs now is a distraction, even if it comes in the form of a tough, beautiful, tell-it-like-it-is writer who sees past his defenses.
Holly Hutchins knows a good story when she sees one, and the tall, dark and slightly attitude-ridden Pace Martin fits the bill. But when she realizes there’s more at stake than just the win, she starts to notice the handsome broad-shouldered jock in a different light. Pace and Holly begin a seductive game in which neither wants to drop the ball, but in the face of an unexpected betrayal and challenge, they’ll have to find the courage to swing for the fences…
Loretta Chase is one of my favourite romance writers. Her latest historical is Don’t Tempt Me.
Blurb: Spunky English girl overcomes impossible odds and outsmarts heathen villains.
That’s the headline when Zoe Lexham returns to England. After twelve years in the exotic east, she’s shockingly adept in the sensual arts. She knows everything a young lady shouldn’t and nothing she ought to know. She’s a walking scandal, with no hope of a future…unless someone can civilize her.
Lucien de Grey, the Duke of Marchmont, is no knight in shining armor. He’s sarcastic, cynical, easily bored, and dangerous to women. He charms, seduces, and leaves them–with parting gifts of expensive jewelry to dry their tears. But good looks and charm, combined with money and rank, make him welcome everywhere. The most popular bachelor in the Beau Monde can easily save Zoe’s risqué reputation . . . if the wayward beauty doesn’t lead him into temptation, and a passion that could ruin them both.
Bound by Your Touch is Meredith Duran’s follow up to her excellent debut novel, Duke of Shadows.
Blurb: Silver-tongued Viscount Sanburne is London’s favorite scapegrace. Alas, Lydia Boyce has no interest in being charmed. When his latest escapade exposes a plot to ruin her family, she vows to handle it herself. Certainly she requires no help from a too-handsome dilettante whose main achievement is being scandalous.
But Sanburne’s golden charisma masks a sharper mind and darker history than she realizes. He shocks Lydia by breaking past her prim facade to the woman beneath . . . and the hidden fire no man has ever recognized. But as she follows him into a world of intrigue, she will learn that the greatest danger lies within-in the shadowy, secret motives of his heart.
I’ll be back tomorrow with more books to look forward to in July.
{ 10 comments }
Start Me Up is one sexy book. Bound By Your Touch is another winner by Duran.
Double Play is okay but other than that, I found it to be more “meh” than “yay!”
@katiebabs I’m delighted to hear the Meredith Duran book is good. The real test of a newbie author is generally their second offering.
Meredith Duran and Loretta Chase are auto-buys for me, so I’m excited about their new books! I have Talk Me Down in my TBR pile, but I haven’t gotten to it yet.
@heidenkind ‘Talk Me Down’ is a fun read. Just saw the Meredith Duran book got a perfect ‘A’ at All About Romance.
I have Dahl and Duran on order list. Duran at the recommendation of my friend who was over the moon by her first book, Duke of Shadows, which is currently on my TBR pile.
@Pearl ‘Duke of Shadows’ was one of my favourite romances of 2008. Duran’s style is reminiscent of Judith Ivory, if you’ve read any of her books.
I’ve got the Dahl book up on deck for review at RRT. And one I’m looking forward to in July is Branded by Fire, by Nalini Singh.
@Amy Which blog/site is RRT? I’ll definitely look that up.
I’m not a Nalini Singh fan, I have to say. I’ve read a couple of her Psy books and thought they were OK. ‘Angels’ Blood’ was a DNF. But then I’m not usually a fan of paranormal/fantasy, which is why my liking ‘Moon Called’ was such a pleasant surprise.
Well usually, July is a heavy month for releases, because it’s summer
Many of the books you’re looking forward to, I am too
I just can’t wait to get my hands on them 
@nath That could be it. May also had quite a few interesting new releases.