October… the nights are drawing in, the days are getting cooler (in the Northern Hemisphere at least) and as we all know, there’s nothing better on those chilly, dark evenings than curling up with a good book. This time of year is traditionally one for lots and LOTS of new releases, and AAR staffers are here to point you all in the direction of the books we think are going to be the best bets for some great reads over the coming weeks. As usual, we’d love to hear from YOU as to what you’re most looking forward to reading in October.
Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory (1 Oct)
The mother of a makeup artist travels to England with her daughter and falls in love with a senior member of palace staff. Hooray for older love! – Caroline
I look forward to reading stories featuring older couples. And combine that with British Royalty! – Keira
Jasmine Guillory has blessed us twice this year; while The Wedding Party was a lot of fun, I’m so excited for Royal Holiday, which features an older heroine (mother of the heroine from TWP) who falls for the queen’s private secretary when her daughter’s brought to London to style one of the members of the royal family. – Lisa
Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo
The Awakening of Miss Henley by Julia Justiss (1 Oct)
Julia Justiss has provided me with a number of good reads over the past few years (and some DIKs), so I’ll definitely be picking up her latest novel. – Caz
Julia Justiss has delivered a steady stream of good HRs lately and I’m looking forward to this one about a lady on her sixth season hoping to finally be allowed to leave the marriage mart and pursue her own interests. And maybe learn about love outside of marriage. – Evelyn
I enjoy Julia Justiss’s writing and look forward to her books. – Keira
Julia Justiss has indeed become a reliable author for me, and the premise feels unique enough to excite me! – Lisa
Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo
American Love Story by Adrianna Herrera (7 Oct)
I confess I’ve read an advance copy of this (for review) and it’s superb. Two characters who, in some ways, couldn’t be more unalike, are strongly drawn together, and have to work out how to be together given one of them is part of the system the other despises. It’s thoughtful and sexy, the characters are engaging and the relationships extremely well-written. It’s another winner for Adriana Herrera. – Caz
I really liked Herrera’s first two books in this series: American Dreamer and American Fairytale; the first is going to go on my Best Books of 2019 list. So I am really looking forward to this third story. – Keira
Herrera writes consistently good, diverse, romance and I’m looking forward to her new one – Lisa
Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo
The Play by Elle Kennedy (7 Oct)
I enjoyed the first two books in this series, and this one seems just as much fun. A reformed playboy and a friend-to-lovers romance set against the backdrop of college hockey. – Alex A.
I love Elle Kennedy’s college set series so there was no question that I’d be ready to put the latest Briar U novel on my to-read shelf! – Maria Rose
Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo
Getting Played by Emma Chase (8 Oct) – Caroline, Lisa
Chase writes hot contemporaries, and I enjoyed her first book in this series, Getting Schooled. This one is about a single mom whose fling with a drummer comes back in the fall when it turns out the drummer is her son’s math teacher. – Caroline
Emma Chase knows how to balance sensuality with realism, and this book sounds like no exception – Lisa
Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo
Faker by Sarah Smith (8 October)
An office (power tool company) romance by a debut author. The cheeky cover hooked me first. – Charlotte
I’m a sucker for enemies-to-lovers stories! And, I’m very much drawn to multicultural characters, especially women who infiltrate a “man’s world. Faker by début author Sarah Smith checks all boxes. Emmie is surrounded by male co-workers at Nuts & Bolts power tool company. One in particular, Tate, is particularly hostile toward Emmie. When they are forced to work together on a charity construction project, the wall between them begins to crumble. Can’t wait to read! 💋 – Liz
A construction company full of rough, burly men? Enemies to lovers rom-com? Sold! – Maria Rose
Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo
A Match Made for Thanksgiving by Jackie Lau (8 Oct)
I like holiday stories about holidays other than Christmas, so Thanksgiving (Canadian, no less!) with the Wongs sounds like a lot of fun. Especially when Nick finds out his mother has invited his latest one-night stand – but as a date for Nick’s brother! – Caroline
I love Jackie Lau’s work, and I am so glad she is a fast writer. Looking forward to this story. – Keira
Jackie Lau’s fresh, funny contemps have been a delight. I’m so here for a Canadian Thanksgiving book! – Lisa
Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo
The Art of Theft by Sherry Thomas (15 October)
I will always read Sherry Thomas. Her third Charlotte Holmes was terrific, and I’ve already heard great buzz about this fourth. – Caroline
It’s Sherry Thomas. I don’t need to know anything else to be chomping at the bit! – Caz
More Charlotte Holmes all but guarantees that I’ll be front row center for her fourth mystery! – Lisa
Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo
Regency Royal Navy Christmas by Carla Kelly (15 Oct) –
CARLA KELLY CHRISTMAS, CARLA KELLY CHRISTMAS!!!! – Caroline
This sounds like a great little Christmas romance anthology – Lisa
Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo
Gilded Cage by KJ Charles (23 Oct)
A must have. KJ Charles’ stylish, accurate writing means any novel of hers will be enjoyable, the narrative intriguing and the characters colourful and easy to empathise with – BJ.
I loved Any Old Diamonds and may have squealed with delight when I learned that the fabulous Susan Lazarus was to get a book of her own in this sequel. – Caz
This is on my must-read list. – Keira
It’s KJ Charles, y’know it’s gonna be good! – Lisa
Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo
Angel in a Devil’s Arms by Julie Anne Long (29 Oct)
Nothing gets me more excited about a new book than finding out it’s about an awesome secondary character from a previous novel. Lady Derring Takes a Lover showed Long at her best, so I have high hopes for this one! – Alexandra
This book follows Lady Derring Takes a Lover, which I enjoyed – but in which I liked Angelique more than Lady Derring. So I’m excited for her book! – Caroline
With historical romance really languishing in the doldrums at the moment, Julie Anne Long’s return to the genre with the excellent Lady Derring Takes a Lover was very welcome, and I have high hopes of Angelique in this second book in the Palace of Rogues series. – Caz
Lucien Durand, Lord Bolt rises from the ashes to claim revenge upon those who left him for dead by tossing him into the Thames – and along the way, falls in love with independent miss Angelique Breedlove while staying at the same boarding house she’s also occupying. People are calling this one just as funny and bright as Long’s other work, so I’m excited to try it! – Lisa
Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo
We’re also looking forward to…
Caroline:
The Never Tilting World by Rin Chupeco (15 Oct)
A fantasy about twin sisters/goddesses separated into out-of-balance worlds, one always night and one forever day, and an aesthetic marketing calls ‘Frozen meets Mad Max’ but the author says to her feels more like ‘Mad Max meets Avatar the Last Airbender’, with diverse representation of sexualities. Everything there sounds absolutely fascinating!
Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo
Caz:
Declination by Gregory Ashe (12 October)
Gregory Ashe has quickly become one of my favourite authors of romantic suspense/mysteries, and fortunately for me, not only is he fairly prolific, he’s also really good! Complex, well-conceived plotlines, engaging characters, plenty of snark and wonderfully-written central relationships are among his hallmarks and I can’t wait to find out how the series plotline is going to play out. – Caz
Buy it at: Amazon
This Earl of Mine by Kate Bateman (23 Oct)
I’ve really enjoyed Ms. Bateman’s books in the past – a change of publisher seems to have caused a change of name, from K.C. to Kate – and am keen to jump into this first in a new series, in which an heiress marries a condemmed convict, never expecting to see him again. Er. Oops? – Caz
Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo
Charlotte:
The Matchmaker’s Mistletoe Mission by Jaci Burton (15 Oct)
One city girl + one Oklahoma rancher + one snowstorm + Christmas = what sounds like a Hallmark movie as a book, and I’m here for it.
Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo
Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren (22 Oct)
I’ve heard too many good things about Christina Lauren from readers I respect not to be excited about this one, in which a rising movie star reunites with her first love.
Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo
Lisa:
Summer Heat by Jill Sanders (22 Oct) – Lisa
Three brothers come to a summer hotel to seek jobs but have secret motives. The Wildflowers – a group of female friends who run the hotel – keep an eye on the three strangers. A little bit of late summer heat!
Buy it at: Amazon
The Devil in the Saddle by Julia London (29 Oct)
A socialite and wannabe ballerina seeks revenge on her fiance – only to run afoul of the handsome ranch hand she grew up with. This sounds really charming!
Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo
Liz:
The Widow of Rose House by Diana Biller (8 Oct)
As a gothic romance fangirl, I am super excited to read The Widow of Rose House by début author Diana Biller. The year is 1875. Alva Webster returns to New York to start anew after her husband’s death. While restoring the reportedly haunted Liefdehuis mansion, Alva teams up with a handsome, eccentric professor to solve the mysteries of the house. And, of course, love blooms between the two. *sigh*
Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo
Maria Rose:
Hard Chrome by Vanessa North (21 Oct)
This upcoming romance by Vanessa North, set in a classic car shop with an enemies to lovers theme hits all the right buttons for me. It’s the start of what looks to be a promising series.
Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo
Sergeant’s Christmas Siege by Megan Crane (29 Oct)
I’ve been enjoying this Alaskan set romantic suspense series by Megan Crane. I’ll be curious to see how she blends danger and drama into a Christmas themed story.
Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo
Shannon:
Ribbons of Scarlett by Kate Quinn et al (1 Oct)
Can six well-known historical fiction authors sit down and write a book together? I don’t know the answer right now, but when Ribbons of Scarlet is released on October 1, I fully intend to find out. It’s set during the French Revolution, and it tells the stories of six different women whose lives are impacted by the struggle for equality. The premise excites me, and I’m familiar with the work of some of the authors involved, so I’m hoping for great things.
Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo
The Shape of Night by Tess Gerritsen (1 Oct)
It feels like forever since Tess Gerritsen wrote her last standalone novel, so I was elated to learn The Shape of Night would be out this fall. I’m a big fan of the author’s previous work, and I’m confident this will be another outstanding piece of fiction.
Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo
The Last True Poets of the Sea by Julia Drake (1 Oct)
This is a YA romance between two teenaged girls, and I couldn’t be more excited for it to come out. It looks like exactly the kind of sweet, dreamy read I would have devoured as a teenager, and I can’t wait to see if my first impressions are correct.
Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo
The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes (8 Oct)
To be honest, I strongly disliked the wildly popular Me Before You and I haven’t picked up another of Moyes’ books since I read that one, but the synopsis of her latest novel, Giver of Stars, thoroughly intrigued me. It tells the story of a group of packhorse librarians who delivered books to the poorest residents of the Appalachians, and I’m super excited to get my hands on a copy.
Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo
Shattered Bonds by Faith Hunter (29 Oct)
I’m not at all current with this series, only having read the first eight books so far, but I’m so glad the author is continuing to spend time with this fascinating and enigmatic heroine. This is a world unlike any other in today’s urban fantasy, making this series one of my favorites. Plus, the heroine shares her body with an extraordinary mountain lion named Beast, and for a cat enthusiast like me, that’s pretty great.
I just realized the 2nd book in Judith Starkston’s Tesha series (Hittite historical fantasy) comes out this month. The first book, Priestess of Ishana, is free right now. It’s so rare to find historical fiction set in this period!
Love and Other Periods: A Regency Duet by Grace Burrowes and Emily Larkin is one I’m looking forward to, Oct. 8th.
The Gilded Cage is going to be fabulous. I just know it. KJC just released a novelette in the same world, The Ratcatcher’s Daughter, and I love it!
KJ Charles is one of the best there is – in the sea of historical romance sludge to which we’re currently being subjected, thank goodness she’s still turning out such wonderful books :)
I will say I have had a hard time getting through The Art of Theft. The plot in the last book was so tricky that, in this one, I have a hard time remembering all the characters and all that’s happened to them.
Am I the only one who wants the gifted Sherry Thomas to go back to historical romance? I hate Sherlock Holmes with a passion, but even so I read her first book in the series. And yep…I hated it!! She creates prose like no other romance writer, and her stories are so inventive and sensual. If she would just switch off now and then and slide a historical romance into the mix, I’d make do with that. Somehow.
You are certainly not the only one who misses Thomas’ brilliant historical romances!
You’re not the only one – but she’s such a fantastic writer I’ll take what she’s prepared to give! She hasn’t ruled out writing more HR; I think it’s a case of her finding something she wants to write that inspires her sufficiently.,
I was able to ask a question of Sherry on a Q&A on Facebook,. The question was:, will Charlotte have a HEA? (I kind of felt like an idiot asking but couldn’t help it.) Sherry answered gracefully something to the effect of: I’m a romance writer. Does that answer your question? With a smiley face.
I do love the Lady Sherlock series!
I don’t totally dislike the Holmes books, but HR is what I wish she would go back to. Her stories were always compelling –
even painful at times- but what a way with words.
My first Sherry Thomas novel was Delicious, and what a revelation it was! I re-read it immediately, then binged on everything else I could find. HR is in a slump right now, imo, and we need great writers like her to give it life once again. The best writers don’t crank out 4 books a year, some only publish every several years. Perfection is worth the wait, but we need more excellent books like the ones Thomas is capable of. I’m glad she’s got a following for her Holmes books, but I will never be one of them, I’m afraid.
Delicious was also my first Sherry Thomas romance! I have the print copy with the woman in the aquamarine dress on the cover.
I’ll chime in to say that I’m a huge fan of all of Sherry Thomas’s writings, including her historical romances as well as the Lady Sherlock series. I was not completely enamored with the first book in the Sherlock series, but since, I’ve been utterly captivated and in awe of the intricate mysteries. I slow way down as a reader and take my time working through the complexities of each case every time I pick up a new one. But, perhaps just as wonderful is the actual character of Charlotte herself. Maybe more than any other character Thomas has created, the character of Charlotte gives Thomas an opportunity to explore gender, gender fluidity, and a world where neurodivergent behaviors all interconnect. Is Charlotte a feminist? Queer/hetero/bisexual? Autistic,? A sociopath? All of the above? What kind of woman (19th cent. or otherwise) would reject monogamy, marriage, children, a fixed sexual identity, financial security, etc., over an unpredictable, indefinable, and.independent life? Or, are these just categories that patriarchy uses to reduce women, especially if they cannot be understood or easily labeled. Thomas takes no shortcuts in her examination of what this means for a female protagonist. Ingram’s exasperation for the confounding Charlotte is just about the most perfect response to an iconoclastic woman I’ve read in ages.
I’m also currently rereading His at Night, one of my all-time favorite HR, and discovering so many things I missed when I first read it. I’d love for more books from Thomas. I hope though the Lady Sherlock series endures for a while. I have the sense Thomas is really enjoying herself with this series, and I love the intellectual rigor she is bringing to the Sherlock canon.
Excellent points, Blackjack! I do love the books, but I *think* – and I can’t remember where I read it or even if I did read it and haven’t made it up! – it’s a five book series. (Of course, things change and if she has more ideas for more books, then I imagine she’ll keep writing them! Although I’m not sure I can take much more of the Charlotte and Ash will-they-won’t-they?!)
I think I remember seeing an announcement that she’d signed a two-book deal after Hollow of Fear, so I’ve also thought of it as a five-book series, but it’s been so successful that I would not be surprised if that changes. And after all, the original Holmes series “ended” and then came back. :)
I love all Thomas’ stuff, so I’d be thrilled to see a new HR from her but I am also a huge fan of the Lady Sherlock series and I appreciate it even more because it was my bridge into HR. I stumbled upon the series right after Hollow of Fear was released, sped through all three books, and only then noticed that she was a well-known HR writer. I had never tried a romance novel and I believed a lot of the silly stereotypes about them, but I decided to try the Thomas book my library had in stock, which was The Luckiest Lady in London. And the rest is history.
As for my most anticipated October book, I will just say that I put in a request to take Oct. 15 off back in August so that I could spend the whole day with The Art of Theft. I’m going to bake plum cake and channel my fourth-grade self, who basically did just read all day every day and would be pleased to know that current-edition me does too.
I think I had read too that there would be five in the series. I have to say though that I’m kind of not expecting Charlotte and Ingram to be together at the end, or at least in any conventional sense of an HEA. I wouldn’t be surprised if they don’t get together, or if they do, in a very unconventional way.
I think they will get together – as someone here has commented, ST IS a romance writer and will be aware she’s created expectations – but I also think it likely that whatever they do will be unconventional. Mind you, I haven’t forgotten what Ash said back in book two: “No one who asks you to marry him will ever be successful. When you’re ready to marry, you’ll tap the fellow on the shoulder and make the request yourself.”
Sherry Thomas’s The Art of Theft is my most anticipated book of October. I adore this series and every book in it has been just wonderful. I’m also though really looking forward to Julie Anne Long’s Angel in a Devil’s Arms. I’m excited for this new historical romance series from Long, as she is still one of the best out there writing in this genre.
Loreth Anne White’s In the Dark (10/8) is out this month and is high on my list of books to read.
Finally, I’m looking forward to Sarah Smith’s Faker just based on the blurb and early reviews.
Oops, correction. I just looked on GR and see that Loreth Anne White has delayed In the Dark until Dec. 1!
Phew! I’d always had that one down as a December release, so I was panicking there for a minute!
I’m very excited about the new Carla Kelly Christmas anthology and have it pre-ordered.
The rest rather depend on both reviews and excerpts as they become available.
Looking at my October wish list, I see quite a bit of dark romance. I’m looking forward to the Megan Crane, but I really prefer the books she writes under her alternate name, Caitlin Crews. Crews has an October release for the Dare line, THE RISK. It’s part of a four-book series called The Billionaire’s Club, with each book written by a different author. I enjoyed the first book, Jackie Ashenden’s THE DEBT, very much.
Clare Connelly, Queen of the HP (and HP-manque) angsty melodrama, has two books due in October: THE GREEK ‘S BILLION-DOLLAR BABY and JUST THIS ONE SUMMER. You either love her style or you don’t…and I’m in the “love it” camp.
Willow Winters’s DESPERATE TO TOUCH is the follow-up to HARD TO LOVE. These are dark mob/crime-boss romances. Same for Natasha Knight and her COLLATERAL & DAMAGE duet. COLLATERAL was released this week—but I’m waiting to read this dark forced-marriage/mafia romance until DAMAGED is released in October. I don’t care for cliffhangers and will wait until all the books in a particular storyline are published before I read them.
Finally, Skye Warren’s AUDITION arrives at the end of the month. It has a beautiful “ballet shoes” cover and features secondary characters from Warren’s North Security series. The heroine is a dancer from New Orleans who apparently experienced childhood trauma related to Hurricane Katrina. The hero is equally damaged from an abusive/dysfunctional childhood. It sounds grim, but Warren always makes this stuff work for me.
I loved The Risk! Just finished it today and it’s a great addition to the series, after Ashenden’s the Debt.