Twenty new paranormal romance books steam up the shelves in October (note that due to space limitations, this list does not include all of the small-press and self-pubbed paranormal romances for the month). Look for series additions from, among others, Delilah S. Dawson (Blud), Terry Spear (Heart of the Wolf), Terri Brisbin (Stone Circles), Alyssa Cole (Off the Grid), Debra Mullins (Truth Seers), Eve Langlais (Welcome to Hell), and Molly Harper (Half-Moon Hollow).
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
Enchanted by the Wolf—Michele Hauf (October 1, Harlequin Nocturne)
Kirnan Savauterre’s loyalty to his werewolf pack is absolute, which is the only reason he agrees to an arranged marriage. But a marriage borne out of duty soon takes on a whole new spin. For Kir discovers his bride is an utterly enticing mystery. Beatrice is half-faery, maybe a little bit vampire, and altogether delightful. As for Bea, she has this much in common with her new husband: she can’t resist the passion they share. But a relationship that began as a political alliance is soon threatened by discord between the Unseelie court and the werewolves of Paris. And Kir’s investigation into Bea’s lineage reveals disturbing truths about what she is. Their love is strong, but so are the forces arrayed against them. (Digital)
The Immortal’s Redemption—Kelli Ireland (October 1, Harlequin Nocturne)
When a brooding Irishman shows up at the hospital where she works, Kennedy Jefferson realizes her fugues are more than simply lost time. She knows this stranger is a threat, even as her body craves his masterful touch. Dylan O’Shea is the druid’s assassin charged with finding the single woman who can stop an evil goddess from destruction. He’s searched to find Kennedy for centuries. But Dylan finds himself inexplicably drawn to Kennedy, the woman he’s ordained to kill. With Samhain fast approaching, duty and desire are on an unstoppable collision course. (Digital)
Wicked Ever After (Blud #4)—Delilah S. Dawson (October 5, Pocket Star)
Ever since landing in the magical world of Sang and falling in love with dashing ringmaster Criminy Stain, Tish has been waiting for the axe to fall. Until her dying grandmother’s last breath on Earth, Tish can’t bring herself to give up her all-too human frailty and commit to life on Sang as a youthful, long-lived Bludman like her handsome husband. But when a peculiar twist of fate delivers Tish’s grandmother to Sang, an unexpected chain of events forces Tish and Criminy to embark on one last wild adventure. From old friends to new and into the lair of terrifying enemies, the couple’s love and longevity will be pushed to the brink by each harrowing encounter. Is blud thicker than blood, and can Tish and Crim find their wicked ever after? (Digital)
A Silver Wolf Christmas (Heart of the Wolf #17)—Terry Spear (October 6, Sourcebooks Casablanca)
C.J. Silver is eager to help the new she-wolves in town renovate the old hotel in time for the holidays, especially if it means spending time under the mistletoe with the alluring Laurel MacTire. The bustle in the long abandoned hotel attracts the attention of human ghosthunters out to prove the place haunted, but the bigger problem is keeping them from discovering the werewolves in Silver Town. CJ and Laurel have to pull the wool over everyone’s eyes. Working together is a surprisingly hot holiday treat for two attractive and clever wolf shifters.
Claimed (Outlaws #1)—Elle Kennedy (October 6, Signet)
After a devastating war decimated most of the world, Hudson Lane has only known the oppressive life under her own father’s tyranny. She finally escapes, branding herself an outlaw and hunted by the Enforcers. Her best chance at survival is Connor Mackenzie, an aggressively sensual fugitive who opens her eyes to the wicked possibilities of a world without rules. As the leader of a band of outlaw fighters, Connor can’t resist the beautiful stranger who asks for his protection. Despite his reservations, he agrees to introduce her to a whole new way of life. But when Connor discovers Hudson’s connection to the enemies of liberty, he wonders how far he can trust the woman who has abandoned all inhibitions to challenge every forbidden desire.
First Time with a Highlander (Sirens of the Scottish Borderlands #2)—Gwyn Cready (October 6, Sourcebooks Casablanca)
What do you get when you imbibe centuries-old whiskey, besides a hangover the size of the Highlands? If you’re twenty-first century ad exec Gerard Innes, you get swept back to 18th-century Edinburgh and into the bed of a gorgeous, fiery redhead. Gerard has only a foggy idea what he and the lady have been up to, but what he does remember draws him into the most dangerous and exhilarating campaign of his life. Serafina Seonag Fallon’s scoundrel of a fiancé has left her with nothing, and she’s determined to turn the tables. If she can come up with a ringer, she can claim the cargo he stole from her. But the dashing man she summons from the future demands more than a night, and Serafina finds it easier to command the seas under her feet than the crashing waves he unleashes in her heart.
Illuminate (The Light Key Trilogy #3)—Tracy Clark (October 6, Entangled Teen)
Young Adult. Haunted by the loss of her loved ones, Cora Sandoval, one of the remaining few of an extraordinary race known as Scintilla, holds the key to disentangling the biggest conspiracy in human history, and its link to the fate of the human race. As Cora follows a trail of centuries-old clues and secrets, she collides with a truth not only shocking, but dangerous. With enemies both known and unknown hot on her trail, Cora must locate each of the ancient clues hidden in the art, religions, and mythologies of humankind. And through it all, she must keep her heart from being torn apart by the two boys she loves most. One is Scintilla, one is Arazzi. Save herself. Save the Scintilla. Save the world. Or die trying.
Raging Sea (Stone Circles #2)—Terri Brisbin (October 6, Signet)
Eons ago, seven ancient deities trapped the goddess of chaos under a ring of stones. But now, in the darkest days of the 13th century, Chaela threatens to escape, leaving the fate of all humanity in the hands of two young lovers. Ran believed herself to be a normal fisherman’s daughter, until a turbulant storm unleashed within her powers she never knew she had. Those powers have drawn her into the battle of two warring factions: the Warriors of Destiny, whom she knows in her heart to be noble, and a menacing army holding her father captive. Her hope for survival is in the hands of Soren, the man she once loved, the man who betrayed her, and the only man she can trust in a raging battle against evil.
Too Hot to Touch: Three Breeds Novellas—Lora Leigh (October 6, Berkley)
A Christmas Kiss: Jessica Raines would never willingly betray the people she believes in. But she did expose Breed secrets, and now someone wants her dead. Her protection is Wolf Breed Hawke Esteban, and he’s got the mating urge for a woman on the run. Christmas Heat: Jaguar Breed Noble Chavin’s new role: bodyguard to Haley McQuire, a woman at risk after discovering a conspiracy against the Breed community. For Noble, being this close to Haley has brought out the mating heat, and she’s more than willing to stoke it. Primal Kiss: Betrayed Kita Engalls, drawn into shady activities involving the Breeds, can trust only Lion Breed Creed Raines to help. But their mating passion reveals Kita’s fear that Creed may be guilty of the greatest betrayal of all.
WEEK TWO
Passion Ignites: Part One—Donna Grant (October 13, St. Martin’s)
Thorn is the bad boy of the Dragon Kings, a gorgeous, reckless warrior whose passions run wild and fury knows no bounds. When he sees the brave, beautiful Lexi being lured into the Dark Fae’s trap, he has no choice but to rescue her from a fate worse than death. But will his desire put him in mortal danger, for eternity? (Digital)
Winter’s Night—Sherrilyn Kenyon (October 13, St. Martin’s)
From demons to cowboys, from werewolves to mistletoe, this pair of novellas will keep you warm during cold December nights. A Dark-Hunter Christmas shows Gallagher, in New Orleans, at Christmastime, without his family. Missing the ones he loves is a powerful force, and threatens to cast a pall over the Big Easy’s Christmas cheer. But Simi has a few tricks up her sleeve, intent to show him that even though he is apart from his loved ones, he still has people to lean on. In Santa Wears Spurs, the wanted outlaw O’Connell was forced years ago to abandon his spitfire of a woman, his wife, Catherine, before his enemies hurt her to get to him. Now he’s ready to turn himself in to the authorities, but not before he does one last good deed. It will take a little miracle and a whole lot of Christmas magic to put his enemies behind him and allow him to win back his own good name and a heart he should never have abandoned. (Digital)
WEEK THREE
Mixed Signals (Off the Grid #3)—Alyssa Cole (October 19, Carina)
Four years after the Flare, the world is finally starting to rebuild. For Maggie Seong, that means leaving the safety of her family’s cabin for college. She won’t be alone, though, former military cadet Edwin Hernandez, will be there. Things look pretty bleak romance-wise until Maggie discovers that Devon, the pre-Flare internet boyfriend she’d assumed was dead, is not only alive but on campus. Their bond is strong, and they quickly pick up where they left off. Edwin’s desire to protect her makes her question her heart. Maggie’s torn between the future she didn’t dare to hope for and the past she can’t let go of. When a group of neo-Luddite terrorists threaten the campus, everyone’s loyalties will be tested. To ensure that the world doesn’t go back to the dark days following the Flare, Maggie might have to sacrifice it all. (Digital)
Five Past Midnight—Robin Bielman, Robyn Bachar, Anne Hope, Corrina Lawson and Cassi Carver (October 20, Samhain)
Veiled Target by Robin Bielman: Tess wants revenge, but thrust into an inconvenient alliance with her sexy enemy, she must trust the shifter she’s supposed to kill or risk losing everything. Blood, Smoke and Mirrors by Robyn Bachar: Hunted by a powerful evil, exiled witch Cat must entrust her fate to the man who betrayed her. Now Lex faces the fight of his life to keep her safe. Slayer’s Kiss by Cassi Carver: Fallen angels Gavin and Julian have been sent to protect Kara, but she’s determined to track down a killer, even when she realizes her target may be the creature hunting her. Soul Bound by Anne Hope: Jace is no longer human. Something dark and powerful has taken root within him. Something that that could destroy the one woman he’d sacrifice everything to protect. Phoenix Rising by Corrina Lawson: Everyone looks at firestarter Alec Farley as a weapon. Beth is the only one who sees a hero. But proving that could be deadly. (Digital)
Passion Ignites: Part Two—Donna Grant (October 20, St. Martin’s)
She had no question that what was happening between them was meant to be. Thorn’s desire for Lexi knows no bounds. But by saving this tempting mortal, he exposes himself to his fiercest enemy, and a fiery passion. As the war between Dragons and Fae heats up, so does the heat between Lexi and Thorn. And when love is a battlefield, the heart takes no prisoners. (Digital)
Warrior of Fate (Truth Seers #3)—Debra Mullins (October 20, Tor)
Warrior Adrian Gray has dedicated his life in service to his people, and has never doubted his calling, until now. Three mystical Atlantean power stones were assumed lost for centuries, but one by one the Seers of Atlantis have tracked them down in a tireless race against the extremist Mendukati. Adrian’s mission? To ensure that the stones are acquired and protected by the right people, his people. Adrian has always been uncompromising in his dedication to the cause. But the True Seer Tessa Montana proves a sensual distraction in his quest, and he soon finds his discipline wavering. Torn between his sacred duty to the Warriors and his desire for Tessa, will Adrian and his secrets cost them the war?
WEEK FOUR
Hell’s Geek (Welcome to Hell #5)—Eve Langlais (October 22)
Big deal, so he kept losing the oar. It wasn’t Adexios’s fault the Styx monsters were working against him, but tell that to his dad. Charon is determined to make a man out of him, whether his mother likes it or not, and Lucifer has offered to help. Help means sending Adexios in to the wilds of Hell with an Amazon warrior as his companion. The savage fighter doesn’t know what to think of her geeky partner. Adexios attracts Valaska with his brains instead of brawn. He also shows a cunning courage she can’t help but respect. They’ll need all the skills they can muster, though, if they’re going to prevail against the newest threat to Hell. With the wilds submerged by seawater, and monsters hungry for flesh, they’ll have to fight to stay alive, and learn opposites not only attract, they explode. (With passion, not guts, in case that wasn’t clear.) (Digital)
Blood Hunt (Latter-Day Olympians #5)—Lucienne Diver (October 27, Samhain)
Tori Karacis is back in L.A., relieved to once again match her passport photo thanks to a tattoo that controls her gargoyle-esque wings. Her newest case doesn’t involve gods or an impending apocalypse. It does involve murder. Jessica Roland’s suspicions began when her brothers returned from Egypt eerily different. The terror kicked in with the ritualistic murder of her parents. At the scene of a second attack, there’s evidence it’s the work of Set, the god of chaos, who should have been locked away a long time ago. Neith, a warrior goddess who’s got the hots for Tori’s ex, Nick Armani. Tori should be cool with that. After all, she’s involved with Apollo, that Apollo. Still, it’s a bit much for Neith to ask for seduction advice! Set is gaining strength, chaos is leaking all over the place, and L.A. is a powder keg set to blow. (Digital)
Gabriel (The Styclar Saga #2)—Nikki Kelly (October 27, Feiwel and Friends)
Young Adult. Gabriel is an Angel Descendant. He’s also an ally to a generation of vampires who want to break away from the demon who controls them. His faith in the power of good over evil wavers, however, when he discovers that Lailah, the woman he considers his only true love, may be both angel and demon. Is their love enough to overcome the dark forces who are ready to go to war with Gabriel, the vampire Jonah, and the angel and vampire forces? And can Gabriel compete with Jonah, who is also in love with Lailah?
Passion Ignites: Part Three—Donna Grant (October 27, St. Martin’s)
Whatever was happening between them was meant to be. Lexi is on a mission of justice. Every day, she searches for the monster who murdered her friend. Every night, she hides in the shadows and plots her revenge. But the man she seeks is more dangerous than she ever imagined. Can Thorn protect her, and love her, over and over again, for eternity? (Digital)
The Single Undead Moms Club (Half-Moon Hollow #4)—Molly Harper (October 27, Pocket Books)
Widow Libby Stratton arranged to be turned into a vampire after she was diagnosed with late-stage cancer. It wasn’t the best idea she’s ever had, but she was desperate, she’s not about to leave her seven-year-old son to be raised by her rigid, overbearing in-laws. On top of post-turning transition issues, like being ignored at PTA meetings and other mothers rejecting her son’s invitations for sleepovers, Libby must deal with her father-in-law’s attempts to declare her an unfit mother, her growing feelings for Wade, a tattooed redneck single dad she met while hiding in a closet at Back to School Night, and the return of her sire, who hasn’t stopped thinking about brave, snarky Libby since he turned her.
Suzanne Johnson is the author of the Sentinels of New Orleans urban fantasy series, including a new Sentinels novella in the Dark Secrets anthology releasing September 29. You can find Suzanne on Facebook and on her website.
