On the Shelf: April 2023

Wow, I just crawled right into my Kindle during the month of April, didn't I? Between the library, ARCs, and impulse purchases, I was up to my eyeballs in books—and happily so! From recent releases by longtime faves KJ Charles and Molly Fader (aka O'Keefe) to unputdownable suspense/thrillers by Ausma Zehanat Khan, Rachel Hawkins and Kiersten White, to a whole slew of historical and contemporary romances—both older and upcoming. I keep ping-ponging between such dark books and the genre that that will always give me the comforting happily ever after I need. What does that say about me? Don't answer that.  

Keep an eye out for Heba Helmy's debut, The Earl's Egyptian Heiress, which may just be Harlequin's first historical romance with a character actively practicing their Muslim faith. (Don't quote me on that, 'cause I'm not sure. But I'm delighted to see on-page rep either way!) Also, someone needs to slap my hand for waiting so long to read Dial A For Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto. It was such a hoot! Simultaneously over-the-top and totally relatable.   

The Reading Rundown
Some Dukes Have All the Luck by Christina Britton (historical romance)
A Thief in the Night by KJ Charles (historical m/m romance, novella)
The Sunshine Girls by Molly Fader (mainstream fiction, women's fiction)
The Villa by Rachel Hawkins (gothic suspense, mystery/thriller)
The Duchess Hunt by Lorraine Heath (historical romance)
The Return of the Duke by Lorraine Heath (historical romance)
The Earl's Egyptian Heiress by Heba Helmy (out 6/27, historical romance, category romance)
The Rake Gets Ravished by Sophie Jordan (historical romance)
Blackwater Falls by Ausma Zehanat Khan (mystery, suspense)

The Duchess Effect by Tracey Livesay (out 7/11, contemporary romance)
Full Moon Over Freedom by Angelina Lopez (out 9/5, contemporary romance)
Dial A For Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto (mainstream fiction, cozy mystery)
The Lone Wolf's Rejected Mate by Cate C. Wells (paranormal romance)
Hide by Kiersten White (horror, suspense)

Backlists and Rereads: Lady Sophia's Lover by Lisa Kleypas, the surprisingly bonkers The Shape of Night by Tess Gerritsen (there was ghost sex?!), and The Thing About Love by Julie James.

Currently reading: Topaz by Beverly Jenkins and Someone Is Always Watching by Kelley Armstrong.

On the TBR/wish list
The Counterfeit Scoundrel by Lorraine Heath
The Notorious Lord Knightly by Lorraine Heath
Blood Betrayal by Ausma Zehanat Khan
A House With Good Bones by T. Kingfisher
A Sinister Revenge by Deanna Raybourn
The Duchess Takes a Husband by Harper St. George