Start the weekend with a new romance book
Check out which newer romances HEA's contributors recommended this week:
Crave by Jennifer Dawson. After witnessing the violent death of her beloved fiancé, Layla joined the ranks of humanity's walking wounded. Layla craves a certain type of sexual kink, and when her desire gets the better of her, she heads to an underground BDSM club, where she meets Michael. Michael patiently nurtures Layla's submissive nature, earns her trust and is instrumental in helping her journey to emotional wellness. Jennifer Dawson shows sensitivity and understanding in giving Layla time to come to terms with the deepening of her feelings for Michael. He is an enticing hero, whose dominance is tempered with tenderness, understanding and protectiveness. (Recommended by Lea Franczak)
Suddenly One Summer by Julie James. This is a hot, sexy read packed full of humor and high jinks as heroine Victoria and hero Ford take tentative steps into romance. Victoria's struggle with the distressing psychological symptoms after a traumatic event cramp her style, but I couldn't help but giggle at her reactions and coping mechanisms. We met the handsome Ford in Love Irresistibly, Julie James' irresistible novel about Cade and Brooke, who is Ford's best friend. I love Julie James' voice, and it's easy to see why her books have such wide appeal, Suddenly One Summer is another jewel added to her basket of treasures for romance readers. (Recommended by Lea Franczak)
The Dark Space by Mary Ann Rivers & Ruthie Knox. This is unlike any New Adult romance I've read. It's not melodramatic, lead characters Cal and Winnie do not meet the stereotypical ideal of beauty, and the dialogue is crisp and sprinkled with laugh-out-loud humor and sarcasm. The Dark Space is told in dual first-person POV from Cal and Winnie, and the authors work the narration to our advantage as the introspection is crucial for us to understand the depth of the bond that forms between them and the other students in a college contact improve class. Sexual exploration is integral to Cal and Winnie's growing relationship, and there is a fair amount of eroticism incorporated into this narrative, which includes a little voyeurism. Mary Ann Rivers and Ruthie Knox have written an intelligent, fun and enlightening novel. The Dark Space is a story you won't soon forget. (Recommended by Lea Franczak)
The Cage by Megan Shepherd. The last fourth of this book throws everything you thought about it into disarray — I mean, everything. I didn't see any of it coming, not where each person ends up, not how heroine Cora ends up. I want the next book in the series ASAP and have to wait another year. This is definitely a recommend. It's a great start to, hopefully, a continuation of the excitement and craziness Megan leaves readers and Cora with. (Recommended by Jessie Potts)
Hold Me Like a Breath by Tiffany Schmidt. This has been the month of awesome YAs, and Hold Me Like a Breath is a good one! Heroine Penelope has a terrible disease that doesn't allow her to live her life the way she wants or longs for. I loved reading about her fantasies, her hopes and, of course, her family. Both Char and Garrett light up Pen in different ways, and hopefully in the next book we'll be get some more nice moments alone and some more sizzle. Pen's transformation — or, revealing, as I like to think of it — is beautiful and kept me wrapped up in the story long after the last page. (Recommended by Jessie Potts)
Daughter of Deep Silence by Carrie Ryan. Carrie Ryan had me with The Forest of Hands and Teeth. Her gritty characters and horrible events just dragged something out of me. Daughter of Deep Silence is just as crazy and emotional. Just watching/reading Libby/Frances and her falling, or refalling, for Gray is intense. I was right there with her: I didn't know if I wanted her to spill everything to Gray, or hold him at arm's length. And that ending? Hope wrapped in secrets. I like that this isn't a love triangle (I thought it was between Shepherd and Gray), but it's twisted relationships. While romance isn't the driving force, the connection between Gray and Frances is palpable. This is a crazy book that I've already told my family and friends about! (Recommended by Jessie Potts)
Royal Wedding by Meg Cabot. The latest Princess Diaries novel is a delightful story where our favorite YA character, Princess Amelia "Mia" Thermopolis Renaldo, has grown up to be one of us. In a conversational style of journaling and texting, a day in the life of an eye-twitching princess reveals a reality with loads of humor, official royal incidents and a pending wedding to Michael Moscovitz — the down-to-earth Prince Charming. While her world unfolds in this weird glass bubble for all to see in viral videos or to read in tabloid magazines and on judgmental websites, Princess Mia has to step up to or step aside from her royal obligations. Surprises and secrets that will change her life come rolling in. (Recommended by Michelle Monkou)
Blowing Off Steam by Joy Lynn Fielding. This is an exciting book! The detective work is engaging and the sex between Ryan and Sam is scorching hot. Bess, a train, is more or less a character of the story. She isn't personified to the point of speaking and thinking, but a lot of the humans' emotions and action revolves around her. Blowing Off Steam is a plot-driven book with characters who are fully developed, have backstories and engage the interest of the reader. This is a unique romance story in which a surreptitious crime occurs and must be discovered before the culprit can even be identified and stopped. Highly recommended! (Recommended by Becky Condit)