Step into December with a dazzling lineup of fresh reads: from heartwarming contemporary romances and pulse-pounding sci-fi thrillers, to magical fantasy sagas and transformative journeys.
North Is the Night
Author
Genres
Fantasy Romance, Mythology, Historical Fiction, Retellings,
Publication date
December 17, 2024
Two bold young women defy the gods and mortals, living and dead, in this darkly mythical, Finnish folklore-inspired fantasy duology for readers of T. Kingfisher’s Nettle & Bone, Danielle L. Jensen, Thea Guanzon, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and The Witch’s Heart by Genevieve Gornichec.
In the Finnish wilderness, more than wolves roam the dark forests. For Siiri and Aina, summer’s fading light is a harbinger of unwelcome change. Land-hungry Swedes venture north, threatening the peace; a zealous Christian priest denounces the old ways; and young women have begun to disappear.
Siiri vows to protect Aina from danger. But even Siiri cannot stop a death goddess from dragging her friend to Tuonela, the mythical underworld. Determined to save Aina, Siiri braves a dangerous journey north to seek the greatest shaman of legend, the only person to venture to the realm of death and return alive.
In Tuonela, the cruel Witch Queen turns Aina’s every waking moment into a living nightmare. But armed with compassion and cleverness, Aina learns the truth of her capture: the king of the underworld himself has plans for her. To return home, Aina must bargain her heart—as Siiri plots a daring rescue of the woman she loves the most.
In Tuonela, the cruel Witch Queen turns Aina’s every waking moment into a living nightmare. But armed with compassion and cleverness, Aina learns the truth of her the king of the underworld himself has plans for her. To return home, Aina must make a costly bargain—even as Siiri plots a daring rescue.
In this sweeping fantasy adventure perfect for fans of Katherine Arden, Naomi Novik, and H.M. Long, hope and love can conquer even death itself.
Definitely Better Now
Author
Genres
Contemporary, Romance, Mental Health, Chick Lit, Literary Fiction, New Adult
Publication date
December 17, 2024
A touching and deeply funny debut about starting over sober only to discover life’s biggest messes are still waiting right where you left them.
The very last person anyone should worry about is Emma. Yes, hi, she’s an alcoholic. But she’s officially been sober for one entire year. That’s twelve months of better health. Fifty-two whole weeks of focusing on nothing but her nine-to-five office job, group meetings, and avoiding the kind of bad decisions that previously left her awash in shame and regret. It’s also been 365 days of not dating. And with her new dating profile, Emma, 26, of New York is ready to put herself back out there.
Except—was dating always this complicated? And did Emma’s mother really have to choose now to move in with her new boyfriend? Being assigned to plan her office’s holiday party feels like icing on the suddenly very overwhelming cake until her estranged father reappears with devastating news. Icing, meet cherry on top. But then there’s Ben, the charming IT guy who, despite Emma’s awkwardness and shortcomings, seems to maybe actually get her? Sobriety is turning out to be far from the flawless future Emma had once envisioned for herself, but as she allows herself to open up to Ben and confront difficult past relationships, she’s beginning to realize that taking things one day at a time might just be the perfectly imperfect path she’s meant to be on.
Bittersweet and darkly hilarious, Ava Robinson’s debut novel about navigating sobriety and complicated family dynamics is witty, heartbreaking, and profoundly relatable.
A Cruel Thirst
Author
Genres
Romantasy, Vampires, Paranormal, Young Adult
Publication date
December 17, 2024
A fledgling vampire and a headstrong vampire huntress must work together–against their better judgment—to rid the world of monsters in this irresistible romantic fantasy.
Carolina Fuentes has always wanted to join her family in hunting down the bloodthirsty monsters that plague her pueblo. But these days, her father wants her out of town with a husband of his choosing. That’s not happening. Carolina plans to show everyone that she’d make a better vampire slayer than wife. But when she runs into a sediento that is not only handsome but kind, she questions everything.
Lalo Villalobos doesn’t act on impulses. As the eldest of two, his duties were to carry on the family business, marry, and have children. But then he is turned into a sediento and must flee the city, taking lives as he goes north, where he believes the first vampire was made. Surely, the pueblo there will have the answers to reverse this curse or end sedientos altogether. Another unexpected turn? Lalo runs right into a beautiful young woman who’d gladly stake him.
Fortunately, mostly for him, they share a common enemy. They can stop these evil beasts. Together. And if along the way, Lalo and Fernanda discover what it is to truly live and love, then they’ll have won anyway.
The Tinker’s Daughter
Author
Genres
Romantasy, Young Adult
Series
The Chronicles of Lucitopia #2
Publication date
December 17, 2024
She thought she’d won a pig… but this wasn’t that kind of lottery…
From bestselling author Josephine Angelini comes a delightful cozy fantasy read about magic, courage, and the power of an unlikely alliance. Perfect for fans of Olivia Atwater and Travis Baldree.
Jonara had been a good girl her entire life, and that’s what nearly gets her killed. Being the only virgin for miles made her the perfect candidate for a sacrifice to the village dragon. But lucky for Jonara, this dragon is different, off virgins entirely, opting for a pescatarian diet instead.
Being the resourceful young woman that she is, Jonara uses the opportunity to enlist the dragon’s help in her quest to defeat Asphodel, an evil sorcerer who has decimated town after town in his march south to claim the throne vacated by the newly dead king.
With the help of her dragon, Jonara gathers an army against Asphodel and his dark forces. But this dragon has a secret, one which holds the key to their success. And like with most things in Lucitopia, it also comes at a price, one which Jonara may be unwilling to pay.
Mechanize My Hands to War
Author
Genres
Science Fiction, Fantasy, Adult
Publication date
December 17, 2024
The debut novel from Erin K Wagner is a chilling nonlinear sci-fi that examines androids as a labor force in conflict with both human farmers and homegrown militias in near-future Appalachia
Deep in the hills of Appalachia, anti-android sentiment is building. Charismatic demagogue Eli Whitaker has used anger toward new labor policies that replace factory workers with androids to build a militia–and now he is recruiting child soldiers.
Part of a governmental task force, Adrian and Trey are determined to put a stop to Whitaker’s efforts. Their mission is complicated by their own shared childhood experiences with Whitaker. After an automated soldier shoots a child during a raid to protect Trey, both grapple with the role of androids and their use in combat.
Interrelated with the hunt for Whitaker, farmers Shay and Ernst struggle after they discover their GMO crop seeds have failed and caused a deadly illness in Shay. To help manage, they hire android employees: Sarah as hospice, and AG-15 to work the now-toxic fields. The couple’s relationship to the androids evolve as both humans get progressively more sick.
Timely and chilling, Wagner’s nonlinear debut shares intimate narratives of loss, trauma, and survival as the emergence of artificial life intersects with state violence and political extremism in rural Appalachia.
Cloaked in Beauty
Author
Genres
Historical Fiction, Romance, Christian, Inspirational
Publication date
December 17, 2024
In the heart of the Piney Woods of Texas, Letty Hood has spent the last fifteen years of her life hidden away with her grandmother to escape the deadly schemes of an uncle who wants her dead. Now, with her twenty-first birthday on the horizon, she is forced to accept the escort of a stranger and return to Houston in secret so she can claim a birthright that will make her one of the wealthiest women in Texas. If she lives long enough to inherit. Pinkerton agent Philip Carmichael has one get the Radcliffe heiress home alive. Expecting a spoiled girl, Philip is surprised to encounter a woman of rare strength with a kind soul and keen wit. As they journey together, Letty’s resilience wins his admiration, breaking through his hardened cynicism. Yet the threat to Letty grows more menacing with every mile, and Philip fears that keeping her out of harm’s way may be just as impossible as keeping her out of his heart.”Little Red Riding Hood” and “Sleeping Beauty” entwine for a romantic fairy tale retelling that explores the power of true love conquering even the darkest of nights.
From breathwork practitioner and the founder of black girls breathing®, a practical path for Black women to heal trauma, combat chronic stress, and find freedom in their own bodies and minds—think What Happened to You? meets Breath for readers of Rest is Resistance. It’s no secret that Black women have been oppressed for centuries and, as a Black woman herself, Jasmine Marie knows the impact that intergenerational trauma and systemic racism have had—and continue to have—on her community. Those experiences are why she founded a breathwork company dedicated to helping Black women access somatic practices and understand the power of the mind‑body connection to undo the trauma the carry. In Black Girls Breathing, Jasmine Marie shares the science-backed tools and wisdom of her program to help Connect more fully to their bodies. Give themselves permission to rest. Heal the chronic stress they carry in their bodies and nervous systems. Address their emotional pain. Rebuild themselves and their communities. Ultimately, this book is a long-overdue resource for every Strong Black The woman ready to break cycles of trauma, heal the internalized beliefs of perfectionism and conditional self‑worth, and listen to the wisdom of her inner voice.
Glisser
Author
Genres
Reverse Harem, Omegaverse, Romantasy, Paranormal
Series
Ironside Academy #5
Publication date
December 17, 2024
The name of the game is fame, and the trick is simple:
If you aren’t a player … you’re being played.
Isobel knows it. The Alphas know it. Yet every time they make a move, Ironside counters with two, always one step ahead, outsmarting them at every turn. Just when they grasp a lifeline, Ironside threatens to hang them with it.
They have only one choice: play the game—the real game, exactly as it was designed. With new contracts pulling them deeper into the service of the Stone Dahlia and yet another settlement tour looming on the horizon, they must execute their roles flawlessly.
It’s time to dim the lights, switch on the cameras, and get down to business.
Beware the pretty players, because this social media game just levelled up.
Power Play
Author
Genres
Sports Romance, Hockey, Contemporary Romance
Tropes
Second Chance Romance, Pro Hockey, Brother’s Teammate, Single Mom, Past/Present Timeline
Series
Sinners on the Ice #4
Publication date
December 18, 2024
She broke his heart, but he wants a second chance.
LAYLA BENSON only cares about two things: her two-year-old daughter, Maya, and her flower shop. Determined to be the best mom for Maya and to provide her with everything she needs, she swore off relationships. They aren’t in the cards for her anyway, as Layla believes her bad luck in love is her punishment for breaking CLAY RODGERS’s heart.
Clay is the new goalie for California Thunders, the team he’s been longing to join so he can play together with his best friends. Everything is falling into place for him, including the Stanley Cup within reach for the first time in his career. But making Layla his again is his ultimate goal.
Not even his broken heart or her broken promises make him waver. Layla is the only girl he’s ever loved, and he’s done letting her walk away from him.
Will Clay be able to convince Layla to give their relationship a second chance, or will she push him away again, breaking his heart to the point of no return?
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Power Play is a steamy second chance hockey romance. The book four of Sinners on the Ice series and can be read as a standalone.
Aftermath: Into the Unknown
Author
Genres
Romance, Post Apocalyptic, Fantasy
Series
Love and Survival #2
Publication date
December 19, 2024
Robin dreamed of attending Yale and using her brain. Kory lived on the streets of Seattle and relied on his brawn. Without the asteroid, they never would have met.
For three years, Robin and her grandfather have been hiding, trusting no one. When a biker gang moves into town, Robin can no longer scrounge or tend her garden. Because her grandfather is dying, he urges her to join her extended family—800 miles away in a bunker city in South Dakota, but she doesn’t want to leave.
Desperate, her grandfather disappears to force Robin into action and meets Kory, who’s with the bikers but disillusioned. Seeing a man who likes to read and could protect his granddaughter, he convinces Kory he can start over and accompany Robin on the long journey.
Unaware of her grandfather’s plan, Robin exposes her hiding place searching for him, and Kory saves her. On the run, they battle the elements and survivalists, learning to trust each other. If they can’t reach the safety of Vita xTerra, they won’t survive long enough to have a future together.
Prepare for another non-stop, post-apocalyptic road trip in Aftermath: Into the Unknown as they fight for love and survival.
You picking up anything this week? Did I miss anything? Let me know with a comment below!
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