Dear lesfic fan,

Here are this week’s new ebook and audio releases and announcements.

Please click on this link for how to submit books (ebook and audio) for the newsletter. IHL will not include books unless they receive an email from either the author or publisher.

Happy reading and listening,

TB & Miranda

ROMANCE

LOVE AND LOTUS BLOSSOMS

by Anne Shade

Janesse Crawford is living the dream. Married to a man who loves her in the beautiful home he built for her with his own hands, she has raised two wonderful children and has a successful career doing what she loves.

But when Janesse’s past comes rushing back in the form of sexy and bold fashion stylist Maya Lawson, the lie she has been living for the past thirty years comes crashing in on her. She let Maya get away years before, but her second chance at true love will cost her the picture-perfect life she’s spent a lifetime building.

It’s not too late for Janesse to break through the mud of her life to blossom into the woman she’s always wished to be for the love she’s always dreamed of. But her path to self-acceptance will risk everything—and possibly everyone—she loves.

UNBREAKABLE LOVE

by Chloe Peterson

Sophia Cordell fought hard to distance herself from her biological family and their life in the mafia. But when her best friend Harry’s life is threatened, she strikes a deal with her birth family: she must marry Harry’s adult daughter for protection and will owe them a future favor.

Billy Nielsen lost her mother to criminal activity. She vowed never to associate with anyone connected to that world. When she discovers Sophia’s ties to the mafia, her lingering teenage crush on the older woman dulls.

The two women settle into a fake marriage and all the uncomfortable situations it brings. As they adapt to playing the happy couple in public, their friendship blossoms. Soon, they discover a growing mutual attraction.

But Sophia’s family has a dangerous request as payback for protecting Billy and her father. One that might spell the end of her relationship with Billy, who just might be her forever…

TEACH ME

by Melissa Tereze and Jourdyn Kelly

Available in Kindle Unlimited

After years of separation and mutual longing, Vanessa Hughes and Emma Bradley are blissfully engaged. Everything about their new life together is wonderful, until Emma learns the children’s sport agency that sent her to Africa has gone bankrupt. Back when she was pining for Vanessa, Emma’s work was a godsend, both for her and for the kids who had nothing else good in their lives. The thought of those children losing that vital support is heartbreaking—but how can she help from so far away?

Vanessa loves how Emma cares for others, but the thought of losing her to Africa again is almost more than she can bear. Despite the insecurities from her past still clinging to her soul, Vanessa can’t sit by and watch the woman she loves suffer, much less the children. So there’s only one thing to do—call on an old friend for help.

Philanthropists Eve and Lainey Sumptor are eager to come to the rescue. With the help of their pooled resources (including an erotic meeting with Mistress), Vanessa and Emma embark on the journey of a lifetime. A journey that will finally heal the last cracks in their wounded souls.

Follow the ladies from Melissa Tereze’s bestselling Mrs. Middleton and Jourdyn Kelly’s critically acclaimed LA Lovers series as they join forces for a wild journey to explore the deeper sides of themselves.

LOVE IN THE LIMELIGHT

by Ashley Moore

Marion Hargreaves is a Hollywood legend and the finest actress of her generation. She’s navigated her career with aplomb for nearly thirty years by being intensely private about her personal life and her sexuality. But a year on from her third Oscar, nothing seems interesting anymore until she becomes a voice actor for Petunia’s Potion, an animated movie based on her favorite children’s book. That role becomes the challenge of a lifetime when she discovers her costar is the out and proud global pop icon Jessica Carmichael—the woman Marion fell in love with and whose heart she abruptly broke without explanation.

The last thing Marion wants is to work in such close proximity to Jessica. She can’t forgive herself for the way she left twenty ago but can’t resist the attraction that has only gotten stronger with time. Being true to herself and her passions isn’t going to be easy and may set the stage for love in the limelight.

UP AGAINST HER

by Lisa Elliot

Available in Kindle Unlimited

Skye, Head of Qualitative Research, loves her job exploring what makes people tick and generating insights for her clients. She’s worked her way up and is on the brink of a promotion at her top market research consultancy. But when she’s forced to merge her department and compete for the job she thought was hers, she’s seriously displeased.

Brianna, Head of Quantitative Research, prefers numbers and statistics over people. Confident and successful, she never shows any vulnerability at work and keeps her personal and professional lives strictly separate. She’s only been at the consultancy for six months, so when she’s offered the chance to go for the top job, she doesn’t hesitate.

They have two months to work together, jointly leading a single research team, to prove they should be the next Director of Research. As rivals going for the same job, their opposing styles clash as they try to lead their team into a new future.

They don’t get on. But as they spend more time together, prior assumptions give way to pleasant surprises. Will they keep it professional and ignore the electricity between them? Or will they find their way to each other against the odds?

SUSPECTING HER

by Mary P. Burns

Erin O’Connor is broke in more ways than one. A rising star in the art world, her last showing crashed and burned, wrecking her marriage on the way down. Now her finances are in ruins, and she may have to leave New York City. To help Erin out, her best friend, journalist Nat Robicheaux, hires her to help research a story about racist practices at a local realty company.

Catherine Williams, Sumter Realty’s top saleswoman, thought she was done with relationships when her last one imploded. But when Erin walks into one of her open houses, all bets are off. She invites Erin to a private showing. Then, she asks her to dinner. And a friend’s wedding. The more time she spends with Erin, the deeper she falls.

BEGINNER’S BET

A High Stakes Romance: Book 3

by Fiona Riley

Ellison Gamble owns the most successful luxury real estate firm in Boston, but the accomplishment feels hollow when she comes home to an empty house.

Institutionalizing her mother for her own safety was the hardest thing Katie Crawford has ever done. The costs are becoming more than she can manage, and her only solution is to sell her childhood home that has fallen into disrepair.

After a tense first interaction with Katie, Ellison eventually finds herself in an unlikely friendship and makes a risky offer to help Katie sell her mother’s home. Katie will do anything to help her mom, but being attracted to a woman for the first time was not in the plan.

Will the risks they take be worth the reward? Or have they wagered on a losing bet?

HISTORICAL ROMANCE

LATE CITY SUMMER

by Jeanette Bears

It’s the summer of 1946 and Emily Stanton is returning to New York City for her wedding. After graduating from college and having her life planned out for her, she’s ready to walk down the aisle to the perfect man. That is until she’s face-to-face again with the woman who defined her love for the city and so much more over one long summer four years earlier.

Kate Alessi has made a life photographing the times and people around her, while trying to forget the woman who came to town for a few short months and turned her world upside down. When she ends up as the photographer for Emily’s coming wedding, she and Emily will have to navigate how to follow their dreams while realizing the ones that were lost along the way—the biggest of those dreams being their love for one another.

EROTIC ROMANCE

WHAT YOU NEED

by Torrance Sené

Ness has one thing on her mind—advancing her career in real estate—but a snowstorm, one bed, and a passionate attraction to her coworker threaten to bring joy back into her workaholic life.

Author note: This story was originally published in the now-retired anthology

FANTASY ROMANCE

ELEMENTAL ATTRACTION

A Myth World Novel

by K. Aten

Two people find themselves in a quandary: Aderri, a powerful dragon shifter with some light defensive magic, and Ellys, a half-elven swordswoman for hire, one of the best across the six nations.

When Aderri gets news that she must come home for the naming ceremony of a new hatchling, she’s forced to hire Ellys and her telepathic steed, Roccotári, to see her safely there. Of course, things are never as simple as they seem. Not only do they have to traverse the land between two kingdoms on the brink of war, but Aderri’s Clan expects her to return with a romantic interest. So, for the added promise of triple Ellys’s normal fee, the half-elf agrees to pretend to be Aderri’s suitor.

Ellys and Aderri have to convince a Clan full of magical mixed-shifters for a week that creatures of differing elements can burn with the flames of love, without actually lying. A situation made even more difficult by a matchmaking mare, steamy baths, and an innkeeper with mischief on the mind.

Caught between the weight of the past and expectations of the future, they must find their true destiny within the heat of fire.

PARANORMAL ROMANCE

ALL THAT REMAINS

by Sheri Lewis Wohl

Search and rescue volunteer Johnnie Lancaster and her dog, Cougar, serve their community by bringing home the skeletal remains of the lost no one could save. But sometimes being the best at what she does isn’t good enough. Nothing has trained her for a serial killer who appears to chew on the bones of their victims, and it’s not long before Johnnie is convinced the killer walks by day as a human and hunts by night as a werewolf.

Forensic anthropologist Shantel Kind has never seen a case like this one. That doesn’t mean she’s prepared to believe in a preternatural killer. As she works closely with Johnnie, their attraction is impossible to deny, but the death toll keeps rising, and time is running out. They might have to risk their lives—and their love—to stop a werewolf.

SCI-FI ROMANCE

MY EVERYTHING

The Alpha God: Book 6

by  Lexa Luthor

Kal loses the Spirit of Kalatas and returns to her former self as Sumner. Not only does Sumner confront old memories, but also vulnerability, risk, as well as a rare opportunity to truly be herself with Charlie. The dangers of their next mission weigh on Charlie, who will protect her mate on their journey to secure an alliance with Serrato Corps. Will Sumner and Charlie’s mission off-world succeed, or is this the break the Sworne needed to capture Kander with Kal gone?

Trigger Warnings: The book has a female lead character with a penis.

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE / THRILLER

CHAIN REACTION

Fox County Forensics: Book 4

by Cara Malone

Available in Kindle Unlimited

The chemistry is off the charts in the latest romantic suspense in the bestselling Fox County Forensics series.

Hardworking chemist Dylan and quiet-but-quirky histologist Elise are inseparable. Instant best friends ever since they joined the medical examiner’s team, they fancy themselves matchmakers around the office—and they’re blind to what’s right in front of them.

Focusing on the lab work that’s been piling up ever since a tornado hit the city, Dylan and Elise are the only two in the office who can’t see how in love they are.

But when danger comes knocking and Dylan has a close encounter with the Rideshare Stalker who’s been terrorizing Fox County, everything changes.

Life is short, true love is a gift, and the world is about to find out just how loud Elise can get—and how far she’ll go to save the woman she loves.

IGNIS

by KJ

Available in Kindle Unlimited

Felicity Davis, principal of Rawson Girls Grammar School, is a passionate educator, an inspirational leader, some say even an ice queen, although she’s not sure about that last one. But one thing Felicity knows is that she is perfectly happy with her life. That is until the trauma, the darkness of her past, comes crashing into her present, revealing a deeply buried secret, and placing Felicity and those she loves in incredible danger. Inspector Tal Diamandis takes on the case, attempting to extinguish the flames of Felicity’s past before they consume her. Matters become complicated as Felicity and Tal realise their mutual spark of attraction but when they finally connect the shocking links, the explosive conclusion will leave everyone reeling.

Can Felicity play with fire or will the fire become an inferno?

A dark, romantic thriller from the author of Coming Home.

THE ACQUISITION

by Rachel Ford

When Sutherland Bio buys up the little bio research firm Human Resources specialist Angela McCormack works for, she tries to adapt. Even though her shady new boss’s smarminess and sexism makes her stomach turn. She sticks it out through the verbal abuse, and through the benefit cuts and layoffs.

But when her boss, George Sutherland Jr., tasks her to recruit replacements for the people he laid off—and lets it slip that the layoffs were just part of a regime change strategy—she’s ready to throw in the towel. As much as she hates the idea of shoveling manure again, she’d rather return to her family’s farm and petting zoo than stay with Sutherland Bio.

Then George Jr. takes a particularly bad day out on her. And Angela decides she’s tired of the humiliation. She’s going to fight fire with fire. She makes it her mission to fill George Jr.’s team with the worst possible candidates she can find.

But she didn’t take into account falling for one of the new hires. All of a sudden, she’s not sure she wants to leave. Not yet.

And that’s just the first chicken to come home to roost. Little does she know, George has plenty of secrets of his own. And when one of them turns deadly, Angela will have to rely on her handpicked sabotage crew for survival. She might just wish she was back home shoveling manure after all.

HOLDING FIRE

by Annelise Sorrell

Available in Kindle Unlimited

When Rei Takeda first joined Nexus Security, she’d been under the impression she’d be taking on assignments helping victims of the widespread mob rule that plagues the city of Red Palms. Driven by her own past run-ins with Clan violence, she thrives in her job—until the day her boss assigns her to look after his estranged sister, who just so happens to be the heir to one of the city’s most notorious Clans.

Dangerous, magnetic, and calculating, Sora Hoshino has spent her life devoted to upholding her father’s legacy as Red Palms’ kingpin. But when his arrest throws her world into violent upheaval, she reluctantly accepts help from her disgraced older brother—and Rei.

With both life and legacy hanging in the balance, a tangled history weaving between them, and a wary but powerful attraction sparking at every turn, Rei and Sora’s world heats up to a dangerous boiling point. In the end, the only question is whether their bond is strong enough to survive the flames, or if they’ll both go up in smoke.

Trigger warnings: Kidnapping, branding, graphic action-related violence, drug use.

YOUNG/NEW ADULT ROMANCE

TWO WINTERS

by Lauren Emily Whalen

The winter of 1997 is a tragedy waiting to happen. Small-town life isn’t easy for seventeen-year-old bisexual and closeted Paulina, especially when her best friend Mia becomes pregnant and doesn’t want to tell the baby’s father, Paulina’s other best friend, Tesla. Meanwhile, Paulina’s secret relationship with volleyball star Ani is about to go public. One fateful night, everything changes forever.

In the winter of 2014, Perdita, bi and proud in Chicago, is weeks away from turning seventeen. She loves her two moms, but why won’t they talk about her adoption? When Perdita meets improv performer Fenton, she discovers both a kindred soul and a willing accomplice in her search for the truth. Will Perdita find what she’s looking for?

Two Winters is a contemporary YA retelling of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale about birth, death, Catholic school, improv comedy, and the healing nature of time.

DANGEROUS WITHOUT YOU

by Lexus Grey

Aspen Wellington is whirling through life with the help of alcohol and one-night stands until she meets Remington Stone, a girl from the other side of the tracks. Somehow, Remington sees behind all Aspen’s defenses, leading her on an unexpected journey of self-discovery.

Remington is a badass, with a father in prison and a mother working two jobs. Aspen, a spoiled, popular cheerleader, isn’t her type at all. Remington doesn’t want to like her, but she can’t seem to stop.

Denna Ashford and Raleigh Hunter are Aspen’s best friends. Denna is quick-witted but has temper issues. Raleigh is a genius with a difficult past who excels in everything. They’re in love, but that doesn’t mean their relationship is always perfect.

On the cusp between high school and adulthood, all four face challenges in life and romance that they never expect. Each is dangerous without the love and loyalty that holds them together, but their love for each other just might be the thing to save them all.

ANTHOLOGY

DESIRING MORE

by Raven Sky

In this collection of steamy stories, a rich variety of lovers desire more—more from a lover, more from themselves, and more from life. Their erotic journeys in search of answers range from oh-so-hot to incendiary.

Adventure with them on their exciting trysts in unusual locales—an empty theater, an ice fishing hut, a sex club, a remote hot spring. Powerful transformation occurs when opposites attract, whether it’s a rich housewife and her genderqueer gardener, or a shy divorcee and a latex-clad dominatrix.

This collection has something for everyone, from sweet tales of little old ladies reminiscing about a lifetime of lovemaking to gritty explorations of jaded sex workers finding true love together. A goddess and a Valkyrie. A model and a two-spirit, lone wolf. Even the classic English teacher meets gym teacher.

Spanning differences of race, age, and class, these queer couplings ultimately find pleasure and empowerment together.

NEW AUDIOBOOKS

A MATTER OF BLOOD

by Catherine Maiorisi

narrated by Abby Craden

Just back from her second tour in Afghanistan, NYPD Detective Chiara Corelli goes undercover to expose a ring of dirty cops. But when she’s ordered to kill to prove her loyalty, she aborts the operation without having identified the leaders. Now, Corelli is the one exposed. With her brothers and sisters in blue ostracizing her, can she trust Detective P.J. Parker to watch her back?

Parker is the daughter of a vehement critic of the NYPD. But that doesn’t stop her from wanting to work in the homicide division. And wanting to learn from the best. Unfortunately, Chiara Corelli is the best…even if she is the most hated detective in the department.

Without Parker, Corelli will be condemned to desk duty. Corelli is Parker’s only chance to work in homicide. Will the two women put aside their fears and join forces to solve a brutal murder and identify the leaders of the dirty cops before they get to Corelli’s family?

YOU, ME, AND THE SUNKEN TREASURE

The Cushing-Nevada Chronicles Book 3

by Georgette Kaplan

narrated by Abby Craden

Alone. Betrayed. Left for dead. The danger couldn’t be higher in this gripping, final chapter in The Cushing–Nevada Chronicles adventure romance, with kick-ass lesbians fighting for their lives…and each other.

For years, rogue archaeologist Easy Nevada has been hunting artifacts of immense power for her billionaire employer. But when the key to unlocking their secrets turns out to be her partner, Candice Cushing, Easy’s boss double-crosses them.

Candice is kidnapped and Easy is left stranded in the middle of the Sahara Desert with no supplies, no hope of rescue, and an army of mercenaries between her and Candice.

They don’t stand a chance. Then again, they could always try things the Easy way.

GIVEAWAY

VOTE FOR BOOK OF THE MONTH

PROJECT KINDNESS

At I Heart Lesfic, we believe the world could use a bit more kindness after one of the hardest and longest of years. Many authors have signed up to help IHL spread kindness in the world.

KJ penned Epitome of Kindness. Also, KJ is giving away 1 ecopy of Ignis.

SAPPHIC READING

CHALLENGE

iReadIndies

LESFIC BOOKCLUBS

2022 IHL READING CHALLENGE

Beginning in January, IHL will launch the I Heart Lesfic 2022 Reading Challenge. We will feature 2 new book categories each week, along with a recommended reading list for books that qualify for each category.

We have collected a lot of suggestions for categories, so our first task is to narrow the list to 90 choices based on the number of nominations we receive for each.

Authors can submit a total of 5 books for consideration.

Click here for the Book Submission page.

FRIDAY FEELS LAUNCHES SEPT 24

At I Heart Lesfic, we’re always looking for ways to help authors find more readers and for readers to discover new books, while also having fun. So, we’re going to launch a new feature this fall called: Friday Feels.

That’s great, but what the heck is it?

Click here to find out.

Have a wonderful week!

TB & Miranda

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