Twenty new paranormal romance books turn up the heat in August (note that due to space limitations, this list does not include all of the small-press and self-published paranormal romances for the month). Look for series additions from, among others, Linda Thomas-Sundstrom, J.D. Tyler, Sherrilyn Kenyon, A.C. Arthur, Eve Langlais, Carrie Ann Rylan, Sandra Hill, Amanda Ashley, and Dianne Duvall.
Fiction Affliction details releases in science fiction, fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and “genre-benders.” Keep track of them all here. Note: All title summaries are taken and/or summarized from copy provided by the publisher.
WEEK ONE
Seduced by the Moon—Linda Thomas-Sundstrom (August 1, Nocturne)
Skylar Donovan comes to her late father’s Colorado cabin to find answers that explain his death. Instead, she meets a handsome Forest Ranger with a dark side, a stranger who appears in her dreams as something other than a man… Werewolf Gavin was bitten by a monster in the hills he has sworn to protect and has committed his life to searching for the beast. Now Gavin must protect Skylar from the evil he is stalking, but the forbidden lust that burns between them might be the greatest danger of all. (Digital)
Sentinels: Leopard Enchanted—Doranna Durgin (August 1, Nocturne)
Ana Dikau is on a mission to gather information about Sentinel technician Ian Scott, the man she’s been deeply conditioned to fear. But Ana doesn’t know that the amulet she carries will slowly kill not only Ian but also every Sentinel with whom she comes in contact. Or that she shares a common bond with the Sentinel enemy. Ian Scott is a restless, brilliant man who takes the snow leopard when he shifts form. He knows that Ana is a puzzle he can’t resist. But he doesn’t realize she could cost him his heart, or even his life. For he’s soon working on what amounts to an epidemic among Sentinels. The only way to save his people is for the leopard to take control and work with the very woman he should despise, but cannot help desire. (Digital)
Chase the Darkness (Alpha Pack #7)—J.D. Tyler (August 4, Signet)
Believed dead by his Pack mates, Micah Chase, a wolf shifter and Dreamwalker, was held captive for months, subject to tortures that left him physically scarred and emotionally unsettled. Now under the care of the Alpha Pack’s doctors, he’s been prescribed an experimental healing drug, but he still can’t shake the nightmares. Even more damning is that Micah’s problems pose a danger to his team, and if he doesn’t get himself under control, they’ll all suffer a terrible fate. There is a key to his salvation. Jacee is a beautiful coyote shifter, and though her kind is hated, she’s falling in love with a man whose very future is in her hands. Together they’ll face his personal demons as well as a deadly enemy, and for both of them desire has never come with such risk.
Dragonbane (Dark-Hunter #19)—Sherrilyn Kenyon (August 4, St. Martin’s Press)
Out of all the mysterious boarders who call Sanctuary home, no one is more antisocial or withdrawn than Maxis Drago. But then, it’s hard to blend in with the modern world when you have a fifty-foot wingspan. Centuries ago, he was cursed by an enemy who swore to see him fall. An enemy who took everything from him and left him forever secluded. But Fate is a bitch, with a wicked sense of humor. And when she throws old enemies together and threatens the wife he thought had died centuries ago, he comes back with a vengeance. Modern day New Orleans has become a battleground for the oldest of evils. And two dragons will hold the line, or go down in flames.
Edge of Darkness (Dark Saga #27.5)—Christine Feehan, Maggie Shayne and Lori Herter (August 4, Jove)
Dark Crime by Christine Feehan: Blaze knows who killed her father and she has merciless plans for payback. Until a phone call from a seductive stranger pleads with her to wait. Retribution is in his blood, too. He and Blaze will be united in the blood of the guilty. Tonight, vengeance is theirs. Death by Twilight by Maggie Shayne: Bloodsuckers may be an accepted minority but one of them is getting away with murder. Until a female vamp teams with a mortal detective to end the killing spree. The night belongs to them, and so does every pleasure and danger lurking in the shadows. Cimarron Spirit by Lori Herter: While excavating an Anasazi ruin, archeologist Annie Carmichael uncovers the resting place of a centuries-old vampire who finds in Annie the mate he has longed for. But how much is Annie expected to surrender for the man she now desires?
Primal Heat (The Shadow Shifters #6)—A.C. Arthur (August 4, St. Martin’s)
As guard to the most powerful shifter in the human world, Eli Preston is sworn to protect his leader, defend their alliance, and keep his darker instincts in check. But when a beautiful female trainee arouses his jaguar senses, there is no stopping the beast within. He must have her. Even if it jeopardizes the deadliest mission of his life. For six years, Nivea has been waiting for Eli to take her in his arms, unleash his animal urges, and claim her as his mate. But once their passion is unleashed, in a reckless moment of pure unbridled lust, nothing can ever be the same. The battlelines are drawn: man versus animal, shifter versus shifter. And Eli must be prepared to fight for his life, and his love, or he will lose Nivea forever.
Smoke on the Water (Sisters of the Craft #3)—Lori Handeland (August 4, St. Martin’s)
Abandoned beneath a black willow tree on the banks of a northern Wisconsin creek, Willow Black spent her entire childhood in foster care. Her entire life she’s had terrifying visions, and it is these visions that eventually land her in a psychiatric facility. And so Willow takes her meds and believes she is getting better. Until she meets a fellow patient who doesn’t think she is crazy at all. She thinks Willow is a witch. Willow’s psychiatrist, Dr. Sebastian Crane, works hard to resist his feeling that he and Willow are destined to be together while also working to convince her that strange occurrences aren’t the result of witchcraft, until he is thrown into the middle of a storm of supernatural events that can’t be explained any other way.
Starry Knight (The Knights of Avalon #1)—Nina Mason (August 4, Lyrical Press)
British aristocrat Vanessa Bentley has beauty, fame, and fortune, but she gets no respect for her decision to become a paranormal investigator. Determined to prove the naysayers wrong, Vanessa ventures to the misty moors of Caithness, Scotland. There stands the immense Castle Barrogill, where a vampire is rumored to be stalking the dungeons, a vampire Vanessa is determined to find. She’ll just have to get past the resident shape-shifter. Callum Lyon is the gorgeous reclusive astrologer and faery knight who guards the castle. For Vanessa, seducing him proves to be easy. He was once a breeding drone to a Queen. But astrologically, their differences are harder to overcome. Will Vanessa’s mission, and Callum’s secrets, be more than their burgeoning love can take? Or will flesh, and blood, win over the ghosts that haunt them both? (Digital)
Undying Hope (Undying Chronicles #1)—Emma Weylin (August 4, Lyrical Press)
Haven Killian needs help. As the heiress of an ancient organization called the Black Rose, she is charged with keeping alive the line of succession. When she vows to protect a young boy tormented by magic, all she has to go on are rumors of an immortal with the power to save him. As Battle King of the Undying, Quinn Donovan has the most powerful magic on the planet. Yet, he has waited an eternity to find his lifebond: the one woman destined to be his mate. The moment he meets Haven, he senses she is his. His instincts scream to protect the woman and the boy she guards, and to claim her as his own. But Haven is mortal, and for them to be united, she must become one of the Undying. (Digital)
When an Omega Snaps (A Lion’s Pride #3)—Eve Langlais (August 6)
Leo is the calm guy. The nice guy. The one nobody screws with. So could someone explain that to Meena so she stops driving him insane—with desire. When Meena literally throws herself at Leo and declares he’s her mate, his first reaction is to deny—and run far, far away. This lion/tiger mix doesn’t do drama and chaos. Problem is, once he sets eyes on her, he can’t help but want the vivacious blonde with plus-sized curves, perfect for a big man like himself. He wants her even if it breaks all his rules when it comes to women. Wants her even if she destroys his serenity. Wants her more than a perfectly grilled piece of steak with a dash of garlic, pepper, and salt. Thing is, someone else wants her too. This poor omega is about to have his world turned upside down, which means everyone better watch out because when Leo experiences love, jealousy, and frustration for the first time, he doesn’t just snap—he roars. (Digital)
WEEK TWO
No new releases.
WEEK THREE
An Alpha’s Choice (Talon Pack #2)—Carrie Ann Ryan (August 18)
Brynn Brentwood has spent her life protecting the Talon Pack. Regardless of her selfless wishes and the atrocities the former Alpha committed, she has always known that fate would provide for her. Fate is what has carried her through. Finn Jamenson has been broken more than once before he was an adult and Heir of the Redwood Pack. When called upon to work with their allies, the Talons, he finds himself intrigued with a woman who his wolf doesn’t claim as his own. He refuses to tempt himself with a wolf who could never be his when his own mate could waiting for him. The two wolves must fight as one, ignoring the burning temptation between them, when their people are threatened. With one wrong move, their homes could be destroyed and its up to Finn and Brynn to save them all, if only they could save themselves.
WEEK FOUR
Eros Element (Aether Psychics #1)—Cecilia Dominic (August 25, Samhain)
After enduring heartbreak at the hands of a dishonest woman, Edward Bailey lives according to scientific principles of structure and predictability. Just the thought of stepping outside his strict routine raises his anxiety. Adding to his discomfort is Iris McTavish, who appears at his school’s faculty meeting in place of her world-famous archeologist father. The two of them are to pose as Grand Tourists while they search for an element that will help harness the power of aether. Iris jumps at the opportunity to prove her worth as a scholar, and avoid an unwanted marriage proposal, while hiding the truth of her father’s whereabouts. If her secret gets out, the house of McTavish will fall into ruin. Edward and Iris discover a growing attraction as their journey takes them to Paris and Rome, where betrayal, blackmail and outright theft threaten to destroy what could be a revolutionary discovery, and break their hearts. (Digital)
Even Vampires Get the Blues (Deadly Angels #6)—Sandra Hill (August 25, Avon)
The fact that vampire angel Harek Sigurdsson was a Norseman in his mortal life doesn’t make thawing out after exile in Siberia any easier. But things heat up when his search for evil Lucipires connects him with Camille Dumaine, a human who thrums with sensual energy that can mean only one thing: she’s the mate Harek’s been seeking for centuries. The SEALs call her “Camo” for her ability to blend into a crowd, yet Harek’s intense blue gaze singles Camille out like a white-hot spotlight. The security wiz was hired to help bring down a ruthless band of international kidnappers, but Camille senses an unspoken agenda, besides Harek’s bold declaration that she’s his “destiny.” Just Camille’s luck that the sexiest man she’s ever met may also be a vampire.
My Highland Bride (Highland Hearts #2)—Maeve Greyson (August 25, Loveswept)
Kenna Sinclair seems like just another pretty Kentucky girl. She can also read minds, erase memories, and jump through time, a skill set that comes in handy when her matchmaking granny sends her back to thirteenth-century Scotland. When she encounters the clan’s womanizing man-at-arms, Kenna instantly knows the Highlander has only one thing on his mind. After a single electrifying touch, she finds that playing hard to get won’t be quite so easy. Colum Garrison will do anything to prove his devotion, even ask for Kenna’s hand in marriage, and swear off his chosen form of recreation until their wedding night. Colum’s fetching bride-to-be is practically trembling with anticipation for a moment that can’t come soon enough. When she’s willing, Colum will be ready and waiting, with a love that lasts a lifetime. (Digital)
Night’s Surrender (Children of the Night #7)—Amanda Ashley (August 25, Zebra)
Aspiring actress Abbey Marie Cordova knows more than most people do about vampires, she was born among them, the only human child in a centuries-old family of the undead, and determined to stay that way. But a chance encounter with dark, mysterious Niccola Desanto rocks her to the core. Nick is a vampire, and he’s the only man who has ever made her feel so beautiful, so cherished, and so passionately desired. Nick has spent hundreds of years on his own, and the decadent pleasures of the world have lost their appeal. Rumor has it the vampire who made him has regained her humanity, the temptation to find her and demand to know the secret is overwhelming. But one glance at innocently alluring Abbey changes everything. Drawn to her with dangerous, consuming passion, Nick will need more than a lifetime to love her.
Nightwalker (The World of Nightwalkers #5)—Jacquelyn Frank (August 25, Loveswept)
Kamen is a Bodywalker, an ancient soul reborn in one human host after another. He’s also a prisoner of his own kind: for it was Kamen who released Apep, the deadly god who threatens the existence of their world. Kamen accepts a mission: to convince the other nations of the Nightwalkers to set aside their centuries-old conflicts and band together. No tribe presents a greater challenge than the Wraiths, the spectral beings who are feared and despised for their lethal deathtouch. Kamen makes first contact with Geneviève, part Wraith and part human, scorned as a half-breed, Viève shares the hunger for redemption. Her scintillating touch holds the kiss of death, and yet it makes Kamen feel more alive than ever. They must unite all the Nightwalkers, from Vampire and Shadowdweller to Djynns, and fast, for Apep is ready for war. (Digital)
On the Hunt by Alexandra Ivy, Rebecca Zanetti, Dianne Duvall and Hannah Jayne (August 25, Zebra)
On the Hunt by Alexandra Ivy: Mika Tanner has loved Bailey Morrell, a beautiful Healer, since childhood. His duty as a Sentinel clashed with her rebellious spirit. A dangerous new anarchist group not only threatens life as they know it, but any chance of their being together again. Scorpius Rising by Rebecca Zanetti: While searching for a meteorite, Nora Mendina is arrested by her sheriff ex-husband. When the meteorite breaks open, the few survivors gain extraordinary powers, unleashing a crazed super genius killer. Can Nora and her ex stop the murders, while igniting a new love affair? Phantom Embrace by Dianne Duvall: Immortal Yuri Sokolov was born with the ability to see spirits, yet he’s never seen one as lovely as Cat Seddon. Amid their star-crossed love, a new danger may have Yuri facing a different kind of eternity. Stake Out by Hannah Jayne: Vampire fashion designer Nina LaShay has a lot on her plate, just two days until fashion week and the model who was flirting with her photographer boyfriend is now a corpse in her studio. When dead turns into undead and dangerous, Nina must find out who’s responsible before the vamp takes too many bites out of the Big Apple.
Shadows Strike (Immortal Guardians #6)—Dianne Duvall (August 25, Zebra)
U.S. law enforcement agent Heather Lane can read minds. But not the future. The dream of battle and blood that recurs every night must be a fluke, some obscure terror from her own mind. What its significance might be, she can’t guess: an attack from seven psychotic vampires at once, only separated from nightmare by an eighth very different immortal. A handsome, brave man fighting at her side, a man she misses when she wakes. Then the dream comes true. Heather is flung into a war between predators and protectors of humanity, the man from her dreams beside her again. Except now that she’s awake, she isn’t sure she can trust Ethan, or the shadow organization he represents. The U.S. military doesn’t trust either of them. But against an onslaught of evil like the one that’s coming, it will take everything they have just to survive.
The Last Time I Saw Her (Dr. Charlotte Stone #4)—Karen Robards (August 25, Ballantine)
Dr. Charlotte “Charlie” Stone skillfully probes the twisted minds of incarcerated serial killers to better understand what makes them tick/ In the next world, Charlotte’s ghostly lover, convicted killer Michael Garland, is facing death yet again. It seems the only way Charlie can snatch Michael from the jaws of oblivion is by proving his innocence. A mysterious stranger has turned up in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, and Charlie is shocked to realize he could be Michael Garland’s identical twin. She suspects that behind the handsome face may lurk the perverse mind of a killer. Charlie risks her life to discover the shocking secret that will clear Michael’s name. A breakout at Wallens Ridge State Prison forces Charlie to contend with a sudden swarm of psychopaths bent on spilling blood. Michael will move heaven and hell for the chance to save Charlie’s life, and feel her touch once more, if only for the final time.
Grave Expectations (Jess Vandermire, Vampire Hunter #4)—Lina Gardiner (August 31, ImaJinn)
Jess Vandermire, has been fighting the city’s biggest threat, deadly hunters in the night. With John ‘Britt’ Brittain—her side, there’s nothing she can’t handle. Until now. The vampires Jess and Britt are hunting aren’t acting like normal bloodsuckers. They’re braver, smarter, and harder to kill. The Vatican has ordered Jess’s brother, Father Regent Vandermire, to save the soul of a massive, bloodthirsty creature. His prayers aren’t working. If the monster gets much bigger, the whole city will need them. Her beloved Britt is once again in her life. Until he understands his newfound powers, he won’t touch her. Because there’s a good chance his love might kill her. Jess realizes she and Britt aren’t powerful enough to handle the upcoming challenge alone. There’s only one man who can help, evangelist Malcolm Fisk. Too bad they can’t trust him. (Digital)
Suzanne Johnson is the author of the Sentinels of New Orleans urban fantasy series, and, as Susannah Sandlin, the Penton Legacy paranormal romance series and The Collectors thriller series. You can find Suzanne on Facebook and on her website.
