Nineteen new paranormal romance titles promise lots of love among the furred and fanged this month, including new series additions from, among others, Christine Feehan (Dark), Alexis Morgan (Warriors of the Mist), Dianne Duvall (Immortal Guardians), Thea Harrison (Elder Races), Sherrilyn Kenyon (Hellchaser), Jeffe Kennedy (Covenant of Thorns), Donna Grant (Dark Kings), and Larissa Ione (Moonbound Clan Vampire).
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
A Love for All Time—Chloe Douglas (September 2, Forever Yours)
Homicide detective Mick Giovanni has seen lot a strange things in the NYPD but nothing like Miss Lettitia Merryweather. The stunning British beauty implores Mick to find her missing sister. She disappeared in London, in 1888. Mick doesn’t believe Lettitia. Until he steps through a time portal onto a gaslit street-and sees a newspaper headline that reads: Jack the Ripper Still At Large. For Mick, it’s the dream of a lifetime, a chance to hunt down the most notorious killer in history. For Lettitia, it’s all too personal, and Mick is her only hope. The handsome cop has only seven days to solve the world’s greatest mystery before he loses his chance to go home. The closer Mick gets to the truth, the deeper his feelings for Lettitia grow. If he solves the case, can these two soul mates say goodbye to a love that was meant for all time?
Beauty’s Beast—Amanda Ashley (September 2, Zebra)
Fair of face and figure, Kristine is young, innocent, pure. Yet she has been condemned to the gallows for killing a man. The only one who can save her is a lord so infamous that some say he is the son of the Devil himself. Erik Trevayne is called the Demon Lord of Hawksbridge Castle, but few know of the curse he lives under. Or the terrifying changes slowly gnawing away at his humanity. When he weds her, all he wants of Kristine is a son. But when he beds her, a wild hope is born, that love that can tame even the most monstrous of beasts.
Dark Blood (Dark #26)—Christine Feehan (September 2, Berkley)
Zev Hunter was an elite warrior, a dark-blood dealer of death to rogue Lycans who preyed on mankind. He was a loner and damned fierce at his job. Zev begins to question his past and his purpose when he awakens in the sacred cave of warriors, and is soothed back to consciousness by the familiar voice of a woman. She was Branislava, member of the Dragonseeker clan. The time has now come for his rebirth, for his blood to stir with that of the ancient warriors before him. He has been assured by Branislava that their fates are entwined. With a blood-sworn vow of honor, mercy and endurance, and under the influence of a siren as bewitching as Branislava, Zev wonders what his purpose is, what it means for the future of the Carpathians and what it is about his rebirth that he has to fear.
Feuds—Avery Hastings (September 2, St. Martin’s Griffin)
Like all Priors, Davis Morrow has spent her whole life primed to be smarter, stronger, and more graceful than the lowly Imperfects, or “Imps.” Davis is only a few weeks away from qualifying for the Olympiads when she meets Cole, a mysterious boy who leaves her with more questions each time he disappears. Davis has no idea that Cole has his own agenda, or that he’s a rising star in the FEUDS, an underground fighting ring where Priors gamble on Imps. Cole finds himself as drawn to Davis as she is to him. Then Narxis, a deadly virus, takes its hold, and Davis’s friends start dying. When the Priors refuse to acknowledge the epidemic, Davis has no one to turn to but Cole. Falling in love was never part of their plan, but their love may be the only thing that can save her world.
Gun Shy (Reaper #2)—Eleri Stone (September 1, Carina Press)
Before the cure, Lieutenant Lyle Dalton’s job was simple: kill the Reapers. Under orders to inject all captured flesh eaters with the serum that restores their humanity, his Rangers at Fort Dougan face entirely new dangers. Someone wanted the Reaper cure badly enough to spill blood for it, and Lyle needs to steal it back if he hopes to hold the border. Jane Fisher escaped Scraper crime boss Gideon Moore with only the clothes on her back. Her new home at Fort Dougan is the first safe one she’s known. Until the remaining supply of serum was stolen. Serving as Lyle’s guide through Scraper territory means revisiting her own personal hell. The mountains are the last place she needs to be. If Jane can find the courage to face down a man like Gideon, no force on earth will keep Lyle from her side. (ebook only)
Honor’s Price (Warriors of the Mist #3)—Alexis Morgan (September 2, Signet)
The Warriors of the Mist have fought side by side for centuries, but Kane alone has felt something darker calling to him. With the Kingdom of Agathia on the brink of rebellion, Kane knows that relying on dark magic to infiltrate the enemy’s court is dangerous but necessary despite the cost to his soul. Lady Theda hopes to end the tyrannical reign of Duke Keirthan, the man who killed his own brother, Theda’s husband. But she has little hope of succeeding, until a mage-marked warrior appears. For the first time in centuries, Kane is tempted not by dark magic, but by a woman who wants more than his protection. But with both of their hearts, and her people’s lives, in jeopardy, giving in to their passion may be a risk too great to take
Love Bites—Angela Knight (September 2, Berkley Trade)
Three tales of seductive vampires and the women who love them. In “Oath of Service,” Morgana le Fay finally gets what’s coming to her. After a fight with a dragon goes wrong, Morgana takes an Oath of Service to Percival, vampire Knight of the Round Table. Percival and his partners decide to give Morgana a taste of bondages and submission she’ll never forget. In “Be Careful What You Wish For,” a beautiful vampire and her two vamp lovers lock horns with a wizard with the ugly habit of refusing to take no for an answer. Amanda finds herself the object of both men’s lust. In “The Bloodslave,” the beautiful, virginal, and very human Verica is captured by three hungry alpha vampires. They desire more than her warm blood. They want her body, leaving Verica more vulnerable than ever before, and loving every minute of it.
Night Unbound (Immortal Guardians #5)—Dianne Duvall (September 2, Zebra)
For centuries, Lisette d’Alençon has been a warrior against the dark. She fights alongside her brothers and comrades. But when the dreams start coming, she can’t bear to confess them to the Immortal Guardians’ command. Dreams of a dark-haired man with soft eyes and brutal wounds, a man her heart aches for, and a man she knows has been declared a traitor. Zach is an exile, a loner. He won’t defend himself against false accusations or grovel to those who should have faith in him. But he’ll damn sure defend the woman who kept him sane against a plague of super-vamps that seems to have appeared from nowhere. The Guardians will blame him, and that will make Lisette suspect, too. With life, death and eternity on the line, who can they really trust?
Night’s Honor (Elder Races #7)—Thea Harrison (September 2, Berkley)
On the run from her former employer, Tess knows that she’s vulnerable on her own amongst the Elder Races. That’s why she decides to audition to become the human attendant of a powerful Vampyre of the Nightkind demesne. But while her position affords her the safety she seeks, her protector turns out to be more than she bargained for. The right-hand man of the Nightkind King, Xavier del Torro is both terrifying and alluring. While his true nature frightens Tess, she can’t ignore the appeal of his innate sense of integrity and self-restraint. Thrown into Xavier’s world, Tess must quickly learn to navigate the dangers, both to her life and to her heart. But the biggest threat comes from her own past.
Shattered (Scorched #2)—Mari Mancusi (September 2, Sourcebooks Fire)
A girl at the end of the world. Two brothers fighting for opposite sides. And a dragon who can save them all. Or set the world on fire. Trinity’s world changed forever the day she stole Emmy’s egg. Now she’s on the run with the last living dragon and twin brothers from a war-torn future. Connor may have betrayed his mission to kill Emmy, but he’ll do whatever it takes to prevent the coming dragon apocalypse. Coddling a temperamental dragon on its way to being the size of a house is no way to keep them safe. But Caleb can’t stand to see Emmy trapped and miserable. When a video of Emmy flying over the skies of the Texas Hill Country goes viral, the government closes in, and the future they’ve risked everything for is about to go up in flames.
Son of No One (Hellchaser #6)—Sherrilyn Kenyon (September 2, St. Martin’s Press)
It’s not easy being life’s own personal joke, but Josette Landry has made an unstable peace with the beast. Josette takes a job with a local paranormal group trying to get their own cable show. When her group accidentally releases something truly evil into the world, they are forced to call in reinforcement. From the moment Josette meets Cadegan, she knows something about him isn’t quite right. He seems a lot older than his apparent age. Centuries ago, Cadegan sold his soul for vengeance against the betrayer who cursed him. There is something about Josette that intrigues him. The last time he felt this way about a woman, it cost him his soul. The evil her friends unleashed is hellbent on consuming her soul. If one more innocent is taken, he will be sent back to an unimaginable prison. How can he keep her safe when his being with her is the greatest threat of all?
WEEK TWO
Rogue’s Paradise (Covenant of Thorns #3)—Jeffe Kennedy (September 8, Carina Press)
Pregnant, possessed, and in love with a man I don’t dare to trust, those are the consequences of the risks I took to save my life. Faerie, the land of blood and magic, is filled with bitter ironies, and the bargains I made now threaten me and my unborn child. The darkly sensual fae noble Rogue still tempts me to danger and desire. I’ve been forced to question whether our offspring is part of a bargain Rogue once made to save himself. He can’t tell me the truth due to a spell the vicious Queen Titania has him under. Rogue insists on an eternal commitment from me, even as Titania’s forces close in on us. I don’t know if Rogue and I can withstand her onslaught, or that of the beast within me. But I will not stop looking for answers, even if it brings the walls of Faerie crashing down. (Digital)
Evil Librarian—Michelle Knudsen (September 9, Candlewick Press)
When Cynthia Rothschild’s best friend, Annie, falls head over heels for the new high-school librarian, Cyn can totally see why. He’s really young and super cute and thinks Annie would make an excellent library monitor. After meeting Mr. Gabriel, Cyn realizes something isn’t quite right. Cyn realizes that Mr. Gabriel is, in fact, a demon. In addition to saving the school musical from technical disaster and trying not to make a fool of herself with her own hopeless crush, Cyn has to save her best friend from the clutches of the evil librarian, who also seems to be slowly sucking the life force out of the entire student body.
WEEK THREE
No new releases.
WEEK FOUR
Fading Light (Shadow Born #2)—Angela Dennis (September 23, Samhain)
Her hundred-year penance lifted, Shadow Bearer Brenna Baudouin returns to the Earthly plane with her partner, Gray Warlow, to keep the peace between humans and supernatural creatures and to prevent another apocalyptic war from happening. The attraction between them is nearing a critical point, but their checkered history has left Brenna unable to trust either her heart or her instincts. It s business as usual until humans begin turning to statues of dust. The humans are convinced it s the work of a deviant supernatural faction. Brenna and Gray agree the deaths have a former comrade-turned-rogue stamped all over them. They are forced to come to terms with their past and decide, once and for all, whether they will come together or fall apart. (Digital)
Salt and Storm—Kendall Kulper (September 23, Little, Brown)
Sixteen-year-old Avery Roe wants only to take her rightful place as the witch of Prince Island, making the charms that keep the island’s whalers safe at sea, but her mother has forced her into a magic-free world of proper manners and respectability. When Avery dreams she’s to be murdered, she knows time is running out to unlock her magic and save herself. Avery finds an unexpected ally in a tattooed harpoon boy named Tane, a sailor with magic of his own, who moves Avery in ways she never expected. Becoming a witch might stop her murder and save her island from ruin, but Avery discovers her magic requires a sacrifice she never prepared for.
Burning Desire (Dark Kings #3)—Donna Grant (September 30, St. Martin’s)
In his quest to destroy the Dark Fae, his nemesis, the Dragon King known as Kiril goes to Ireland as a spy. When a mysterious woman tries to seduce him, Kiril instantly sees through her glamour to the Dark Fae beneath. Shara isn’t just any Dark; she’s from one of the most powerful bloodlines and Kiril can’t stay away from her. Shara has one chance to make things right with her family, and to prove her worth. It seemed like such an easy mission, until she actually meets Kiril. His charm, his sexual magnetism is too much for her to ignore. Shara knows that falling into Kiril’s arms can bring her nothing but trouble. Yet she discovers an inner strength she didn’t know she had, and an attraction that knows no bounds. But is her desire for Kiril worth the risk of eternal doom for them both?
Chained by Night (MoonBound Clan Vampire #2)—Larissa Ione (September 30, Pocket Books)
Leader of the vampire clan MoonBound, Hunter will do what he must to save his people from extinction, or worse, a torturous eternity as vampire slaves and subjects of human experimentation. To keep his enemies at bay, he has agreed to mate a rival clan leader’s daughter in return for peace between the clans and an ally in the looming war with the humans. But survival comes at a price. First, Hunter must break an ancient curse by successfully negotiating three deadly tests. Then he must resist the searing passions of the gorgeous vampire warrior he despises but is bound to mate. Will Hunter stay true to his word? Or will he risk everything for the woman he really loves: the vampire seductress’s identical twin sister?
The Bloodbound—Erin Lindsey (September 30, Ace)
Of all those in the King of Alden’s retinue, the bloodbinders are the most prized. The magic they wield can forge invaluable weapons, ones that make soldiers like Lady Alix Black unerringly lethal. The bloodbinders’ powers can do so much more, and so much worse. Alix only wishes to serve quietly on the edges of the action. When the king is betrayed by his own brother and left to die at the hands of attacking Oridian forces, she winds up single-handedly saving her sovereign. She is head of the king’s personal guard, an honor made all the more dubious by the king’s exile from his own court. Alix must help him reclaim his crown, all the while attempting to repel the relentless tide of invaders led by the Priest, most feared of Oridia’s lords. The king and a fellow scout lay claim to her heart. She may need to choose between the two men who need her most
The Curse Defiers (Curse Keepers #3)—Denise Grover Swank (September 30, 47North)
For centuries the gods have waited, for the betrayal that will release them, for the traitors who will defend them, for the warrior who will challenge them. The gate between the human and spirit worlds is open, and with it, an army of vengeful demons poised to swarm the earth. Only the Curse Keepers, Ellie Lancaster and Collin Dailey, can stop it. Torn between two men, her heart belongs to David, yet her soul is bound to Collin’s, Ellie no longer knows who she can trust. Demons slipping through the gate are leaving a trail of bodies in their wake, each death a chilling reminder of the power of the ancient spirits to bring humanity to its knees. Ellie realizes the time has come to turn her back on prophecy and choose her own destiny, even if it means defying the gods themselves.
Suzanne Johnson is the author of the Sentinels of New Orleans urban fantasy series and, as Susannah Sandlin, author of the Penton Legacy paranormal romance series and The Collectors thriller series. You can find Suzanne on Facebook and on her daily blog, Preternatura.
