For those who love fur, fangs and fire-breathing critters with wings and scales, nineteen new paranormal romance titles hit the market in June. Look for new series titles from Jennifer Estep (Bigtime), Nalini Singh (Psy-Changeling), Cynthia Eden (Purgatory), Lora Leigh (Breeds), Donna Grant (Dark Kings), and Heather Graham (Krewe of Hunters).
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
Siren’s Call (Dark Seas #3)—Debbie Herbert (June 1, Nocturne)
Lily Borsage is the ultimate siren: gorgeous, aloof and irresistible to all the men in Bayou La Siryna. All of them, that is, until Nashoba Bowman comes back to town. The Native American kid whose innocent first kiss Lily remembers fondly is now all grown-up, hot as an Alabama summer—and immune to Lily’s charms. What self-respecting mermaid could resist finding out more? But Nash has a dark history that puts any woman he loves in grave danger, and a heritage of power he isn’t ready to accept. And Lily has a secret that no mortal man can ever know. When a mysterious enemy starts menacing Lily, they will both have to risk everything—and embrace their deepest destinies—if they want to survive. (Digital)
Fandemic (Bigtime #5)—Jennifer Estep (June 2, Self)
Piper Perez has always wanted to be a superhero. There’s just one problem: Piper doesn’t have any superpowers. So she focuses on other things. Facts, figures, memorabilia. Piper knows and collects it all, about both the superheroes and the ubervillains who roam the streets of Bigtime, N.Y. Piper’s friends jokingly call her a fandemic, someone who is a superfan of all things superhero. Piper can’t stop thinking about Swifte, the speedy hero who broke her heart months ago. Someone has been killing off Bigtime’s heroes and villains. When one of Piper’s friends is murdered, she vows to do whatever she can to help bring the killer to justice. All the clues and information she gathers lead her to believe that Swifte is the killer’s next target. Piper will have to use all of her fandemic knowledge to save the man she loves, or die trying. (Digital)
In the Air Tonight (Sisters of the Craft #1)—Lori Handeland (June 2, St. Martin’s)
With her blue-black hair and dark eyes, Raye Larsen has never fit in with the Scandinavian community of New Bergin, Wisconsin. Being adopted is part of the reason she feels like an outsider, but what really sets Raye apart is her ability to see dead people. She’s learned to keep her visions to herself, until she stumbles onto the ghost of a murder victim who needs Raye’s help. Enter Bobby Doucet, a distractingly handsome homicide detective who has been tracking a killer all the way from New Orleans. Could this be the break in his case he’s been looking for all along? Meanwhile, the deeper Raye gets involved with the case, and with Bobby, the closer she comes to unlocking the mystery of her own origins. What she discovers about herself could destroy everything she knows, and everyone she loves. Is finding the truth worth the risk?
Night of the Highland Dragon (Highland Dragons #3)—Isabel Cooper (June 2, Sourcebooks Casablanca)
In the Scottish Highlands, legend is as powerful as the sword-and nowhere is that more true than in the remote village of Loch Aranoch. Its mysterious ruler, Judith MacAlasdair, is fiercely protective of her land-and her secrets. If anyone were to find out what she really was, she and her entire clan would be hunted down as monsters. William Arundell is on the trail of a killer. Special agent for an arcane branch of the English government, his latest assignment has led him to a remote Highland castle and the undeniably magnetic lady who rules there. Yet as lies begin to unravel and a dark threat gathers, William finds himself drawn deeper and deeper into the mystery of the Highlands…and the woman he can neither trust nor deny. He prays she isn’t the murderer; he never dreamed she was a dragon.
Shards of Hope (Psy-Changeling #14)—Nalini Singh (June 2, Berkley)
Awakening wounded in a darkened cell, their psychic abilities blocked, Aden and Zaira know they must escape. When the lethal soldiers break free from their mysterious prison, they find themselves in a harsh, inhospitable landscape. Their only hope for survival is to make it to the hidden home of a predatory changeling pack that doesn’t welcome outsiders. A shadowy enemy has put a target on the back of the Arrow squad. Aden will cross any line to keep his people safe for this new future. Zaira has no such hope. She knows she’s too damaged to return from the abyss. Her driving goal is to protect Aden. Aden’s passionate determination may not be enough, because the emotionless chill of Silence existed for a reason. For the violent, and the insane, and the irreparably broken, like Zaira.
The Last True Vampire (True Vampire #1)—Kate Baxter (June 2, St. Martin’s)
He is the last of his race. The one true king of the vampires. Michael Aristov roams the nightclubs of L.A. after dark, haunted by his past and driven by his hunger. The last of the Ancient Ones, he alone has survived the destruction of his race at the hands of the slayers. He is forced to hunt and feed like a common vampire, a creature of lust. Nothing in this world can fulfill his needs, until he meets a woman who’s everything he’s ever wanted. Her name is Claire Thompson. Her blood is so sweet, so intoxicating, the smell alone draws Michael to her like a moth to the flame. Claire seems to be the only mortal who can satisfy his craving and seal his fate, forever. Can she be trusted? From their very first kiss, the last true vampire sweeps Claire into a world in which darkness rules desire, and where falling in love is the greatest danger of all.
When an Alpha Purrs (A Lion’s Pride #1)—Eve Langlais (June 4, Self)
A lion’s pride isn’t defined only by those he commands but also resides with his hair, so when a human dares to butcher Arik’s mane, he gets his revenge—and claims her as his mate. A billionaire CEO and leader of the largest East Coast pride, Arik is a ladies man and a lion. Used to commanding others, and obedience, he can’t believe it when a hairdresser with tempting curves chops off a hunk of his precious mane. But her biggest mistake is in running from him. Oh, and he also likes to nibble on tender bits. What he doesn’t expect is to fall for a human woman, a woman who can make the impossible happen because everyone knows lions can’t purr…until now.
Brand of the Pack (Silver Wolf Clan #3)—Tera Shanley (June 9, Lyrical)
As the last of the Silver Wolves, and the only female with the ability to produce werewolf offspring, Morgan Carter is a wanted woman. Male suitors from all packs vie for her, and threaten the safety of her young niece, Lana. But there is only one man Morgan wants. Greyson Crawford has been through hell and back for Morgan. And he’d do it again. But until she learns to trust him, and lets him claim her as his own, he can’t fully protect her. When a force more powerful than either have known threatens to tear them apart, can Greyson convince Morgan to accept him as her mate once and for all, before it’s too late? (Digital)
WEEK TWO
Amber Smoke (The Escaped #1)—Kristin Cast (June 9, Diversion)
There is a world that runs parallel to our own, a world in which the souls of the damned are caged, where they are looked over by the Furies, and where they spend eternity in torment, mirroring the devastation and mayhem they created when alive. Someone has opened the cage. The worst of terrors has crossed the barrier that separates our world from theirs, and the Furies send a great, albeit untested warrior―their only son, Alek―to try to bring those souls back. He is young and handsome, headstrong and impulsive, and he won’t be able to do it alone. Eva has grown up, beautiful and beloved, but surrounded by secrets. First, she will be hunted in an ancient feud that will threaten her life. Then, she will become the hunter. With the police closing in and two worlds on the verge of crumbling around them, Alek and Eva must find each other, discover the limits of their powers, and work together to save everything they hold dear, including one another.
Deal with the Devil (Purgatory #4)—Cynthia Eden (June 9, Self)
Eric Pate is used to making his own rules—as the director of the PARA Unit, he is the boss. Everyone rushes to obey his commands, and no one knows his secrets. No one ever gets too close to him. But then he meets her. Ella Lancaster is tired of being a prisoner. She escaped one hell just to find herself in another, but Eric doesn’t consider her containment with his agents as punishment. He actually thinks it is a form of protection. But Eric is so very wrong. Ella doesn’t need protecting, not for anyone or anything. But when the PARA Unit comes under attack, Ella and Eric both find themselves battling a supernatural beast that they never expected. Forced to join forces, to make a deal, Ella and Eric are soon fighting side-by-side, and their attraction for each other can’t be contained or controlled. Hot. Wild. Consuming. Ella’s deal with her devil is soon taking over her life. And as Eric falls deeper and deeper under the mysterious Ella’s spell, his legendary control begins to crack. The beast that he has kept chained so carefully inside rises to the surface. Unfortunately, when the devil loses his control…there is real hell to pay.
Waking the Dragon (Vale of Stars #1)—Juliette Cross (June 9, Lyrical)
The Gladium Province is on the verge of civil unrest as humans and Morgons, the dragon-hybrid race, clash once more. When the bodies of three human women are discovered in Morgon territory, with the DNA of several Morgon men on the victims, it’s just a matter of time before civil unrest hits the Province. For ambitious reporter Moira Cade, it’s more than just a story, and it may mean risking her own life. Moira is paired with Kol Moonring, Captain of the Morgon Guard, for her protection. Moira bristles at his dominance, and defies his will at every turn. Yet resistance proves futile when passion flares between them, awakening powerful emotions within both, body and soul. As the killings continue, can their fiery newfound bond survive an even greater evil, one that threatens all of humanity, Morgonkind, and Moira’s very soul? (ebook only)
WEEK THREE
No new releases
WEEK FOUR
Song of Midnight Embers (Maggies Grove #4)—Dana Marie Bell (June 22, Carina)
Fire elemental Mollie Ferguson is on the wrong side of a group of enraged shifter wolves. She’s been secretly investigating a plot that could destroy the small-town supernatural haven of Maggie’s Grove. But when a beloved pack member is killed, everyone thinks she’s the murderer. In desperation, she turns to the one person who will help her—the true mate she rejected. His presence rekindles an old, irresistible desire, and makes her wish she’d chosen differently. Without Mollie as his lover, the dryad Greer Berkley is dying, the leaves of his birch turning to autumn shades. But he will not allow himself to fade until he has ensured Mollie’s safety. All know Greer as a healer, but few know the true depth of his power as a defender. Greer and Mollie must complete her investigation and clear her name before the pack demands vengeance. And if they are to know each other’s touch at last, the only chance is now, before it’s too late for Greer. (Digital)
Bengal’s Quest (Breeds #30)—Lora Leigh (June 23, Berkley)
He was a shadow, ever shifting and insinuating, able to blend in everywhere and anywhere. The elusive ideal conceived and created by the Genetics Council, he went by just as many names as he had identities, the last one being Gideon. Now calling himself Graeme, he hides in plain sight, terrifyingly close to his goal. A rogue Bengal Breed, he has loyalties to no one but himself. And he has a need for vengeance that surges hot and swift through his veins. Graeme plans to exact an extreme and ruthless vendetta against those who wronged him, Breed and human alike. All will suffer his wrath: those who created him, those who pretended to love him, and those who betrayed him. That includes the one at the center of it all: a seductive, enigmatic woman helpless against the man whose desire is just as desperate as his need to destroy. And he’s on her scent.
The Leveller (The Leveller #1)—Julia Durango (June 23, HarperTeen)
Young Adult. Nixy Bauer is used to her classmates being very, very unhappy to see her. She’s a bounty hunter in a virtual-reality gaming world, and she’s frequently hired by irritated parents to pull kids out of the mazelike MEEP universe. When the game’s billionaire developer loses track of his own son in the MEEP, Nixy is in for the biggest challenge of her bounty-hunting career. Wyn Salvador isn’t some lazy kid looking to escape his homework: Wyn does not want to be found. He’s left behind a suicide note. Nixy takes the job but quickly discovers that Wyn’s not hiding, he’s being held inside the game against his will. Nixy and Wyn attempt to fight their way out of a mind game unlike any they’ve encountered, and the battle brings them closer than either could have imagined. When the whole world is virtual, how can Nixy possibly know if her feelings are real?
Burned by Darkness (Dragons of Eternity #1)—Alexandra Ivy (June 30, Self)
The Dragons of Eternity were once creatures of mist and legend. Now they’ve returned to the world, prepared to claim what’s rightfully theirs… Tayla is desperate for a place to call home. After years on the run, the young imp impulsively buys a teahouse and is determined to build a new life. Unfortunately, she’s barely opened the doors when she’s tracked down by the dragon who purchased her from troll slave-traders. He demands she pay off her debts…in his harem. Baine has devoted a quarter of a century to tracking down his beautiful concubine. And now that he has her in his grasp, he’s not about to let her go. But it’s soon apparent that he isn’t the only demon hunting her. He must uncover her secrets or risk losing her forever.
Heat of the Moment (Sisters of the Craft #2)—Lori Handeland (June 30, St. Martin’s)
Flame-haired Becca Carstairs was born to be a veterinarian. Since childhood, her affinity for animals has been special, and her healing touch nothing short of magic. But only Becca knows the truth, that she alone can hear the creatures’ voices. She’s always trusted her sixth sense, until a string of missing pets, an attempted murder, and a face from her past converge into one explosive mystery, with her at its center. Is haunted Owen McAllister, the boy who broke her heart ten years ago, related to the sinister crimes that have peaceful Three Harbors, Wisconsin, on its guard? Or is his reappearance part of the answer to questions that have troubled her all her life? As Becca delves into her strange heritage, she’ll have to fight for her life, and the man she will always love.
Luck of the Irish (Leprechaun’s Gold #1)—Sarah Humphreys (June 30, Self)
A leprechaun is powerless without his gold…. Banished to the mirrored realm for hundreds of years, Declan Aherne had nothing but time to plot his revenge and mourn the loss of his beloved wife. But when a beautiful human woman, with a familiar amulet, stares into the mirror….Declan’s luck was about to change.
Soul Scorched (Dark Kings #6)—Donna Grant (June 30, St. Martin’s)
Born on the Isle of Skye, Darcy is a beautiful woman of many gifts. Fortune-telling is her forte, and she remains the only Druid who could unlock the secrets, and desires, of a Dragon King. His name is Warrick. And now that Darcy’s seen into his dragon heart, nothing will ever be the same. Warrick never intended to put Darcy in harm’s way. But ever since she revealed a shocking truth, Darcy has been hunted by the Dark Fae, who want to use her powers for their own evil purposes. Now it’s up to Warrick to do whatever it takes to keep the woman who sets his soul on fire safe. But protecting Darcy means putting himself, and his entire race, in jeopardy. Is his desperate longing for one woman worth the risk of losing everything, for eternity?
The Silenced (Krewe of Hunters #15)—Heather Graham (June 30, Mira)
Lara, a congressman’s media assistant, suddenly quits her job—and disappears on the way to her Washington, DC, apartment. Novice FBI agent Meg Murray, a childhood friend of Lara’s, gets a message from her that same night, a message that says she’s disillusioned and “going home.” To Richmond, Virginia. Meg discovers that she never got there. And bodies fitting Lara’s description are showing up in nearby rivers. Could she be the victim of a serial killer? Meg is assigned to work with special agent Matt Bosworth, a hard-nosed pro in the FBI’s unit of paranormal investigators—the Krewe of Hunters. They trace the route Meg and Lara took more than once in the past, visiting battlefields and graveyards from Harpers Ferry to Gettysburg. Places where the dead share their secrets with those who can hear. As Meg and Matt pursue the possibility of a serial killer, they find themselves in the middle of a political conspiracy. Is there a connection? If so, has Lara been silenced for good? And whom—besides each other—can they trust?
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.
