Before we get to today’s new releases, including gems by Sienna Waters, Tagan Shepard, Jamey Moody, Catherine Maiorisi, and many others, we have some announcements.
IHL SAPPHIC READING CHALLENGE
It’s week 9 of IHL’s Sapphic Reading Challenge. You can click here for reading suggestions for Girl Next Door romances. 7 of the books featured on the page are on sale.
Remember, you can join the I Heart Lesfic Facebook reader group. Every Monday we will announce the category for the week, and every Wednesday you will have the opportunity to post what book you are reading and be entered into the monthly drawing for a $25 Amazon gift card. (For those who are not on Facebook and still want to enter, remember you can email your reading selection to tbm@iheartlesfic.com).
Second, we have created a Goodreads group where readers can discuss books, swap recommendations, and generally have a good time.
FREE BOOK
by Jordan Meadows
The year is 1987, it’s Nicki’s sixteenth birthday party and she’s having a great time with her best friends, hanging out in a hot tub and listening to the radio while snow falls all around. When a playful practice kiss with one friend, Connie, suddenly turns into more and Nicki likes it — really likes it — she starts down a path of self discovery.
Deal ends on March 8th.
NEW RELEASES
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
by Sienna Waters
Available in Kindle Unlimited
Three kids. Two women. One job.
Spoiled heiress Hadley Rains has never committed to a thing in her life. Until her father cuts off her allowance and she’s left with a point to prove.
Professional nanny Florence Underwood has problems of her own. Her old-fashioned methods are out of style, and she’s swimming in debt.
Enter the McLeod-Allen kids. Feisty, troubled, and reeling from the divorce of their parents, the kids need a nanny. But they end up with two.
When stern disciplinarian meets flighty brat, things really shouldn’t go well. And they don’t. Until a mysterious disappearance draws the two together.
Only true opposites can create a perfect balance, but can either one of them realize what they have before it’s too late?
2022 IHL Reading Challenge Categories: Toaster Oven; Rich Girl/Poor Girl; Ice Queen; Forced Proximity / Stranded Together
Lovers Landing Series: Book 4
by Jamey Moody
Available in Kindle Unlimited
They were meant to be until hate tried to destroy their magical love.
Their families had been intertwined for years and they’d “heard” of one another, but when they met, Lovers Landing put a spell on them like no other.
Sure Jennifer had never been with a woman and Courtney up and moved to Houston to get a teaching job near them, no problem there. Who cares if Jennifer happens to be more than a few years older than Courtney and has two young sons.
Jennifer and her boys were completely enchanted and Courtney couldn’t get enough of them.
When Courtney’s integrity comes under fire they’ll need their Lovers Landing family more than ever. But is this magical love strong enough to battle the evil of hate? And can their family withstand the scrutiny of perception?
2022 IHL Reading Challenge Categories: Age gap; Toaster Oven; Single Parent
by TJ O’Shea
Numbers rule Dr. Mei Sharpe’s life. She has no husband, one friend, two daughters, and three random meetings with the same woman within four weeks. Once is chance, twice is coincidence, but upon the third meeting, even Mei in all her empirical rigidness must admit that perhaps the universe is giving her a nudge. A nudge that lands her directly in the path of Lieutenant Morgan Kelly—an affable, charming detective for the Sheriff Department’s brand-new cold case team working down the hall from Mei’s morgue.
More golden retriever than hard-boiled detective, Morgan is determined to pull the asocial widow out of her shell. As the icy scientist warms to her cheerful new friend, an irrepressible chemistry develops, and Mei begins to realize she’s perhaps a different number on the Kinsey scale than previously considered.
As Mei and Morgan struggle with guilt and grief, drama and desires, Mei finds her scientific austerity is no match for the universe and its nudges toward the startling revelation of what her heart really wants.
2022 IHL Reading Challenge Categories: Age Gap; Love After 50; Toaster Oven; Friends to Lovers; Ice Queen
The Dance: Book 1
by Tiffany E. Taylor
A still-mourning butch who tragically lost her wife long ago. A discouraged femme who’s given up on fairytales and happily-ever-afters. An unexpectedly sensual game of online cat-and-mouse. And two personal journeys that include heartbreak, self-discovery, passion, and courage. Sometimes, taking one more chance on love can be your salvation.
2022 IHL Reading Challenge Categories: Second Chance; Loss / Grieving
by Samantha Hicks
Ellis Davis’s self-imposed isolation is blown apart when a new neighbour moves in next door. Having spent the last five years working from home, shutting herself away from the world she once knew. The last thing Ellis wants, or needs, is the woman next door challenging her beliefs about herself and bringing out feelings Ellis has never experienced before.
Melissa Cole moves into her new home as a recently divorced woman, raising her young son as a single parent with the help of her parents. Melissa is instantly intrigued by her mysterious neighbour next door.
2022 IHL Reading Challenge Category: Single Parent
by Judy Sapphire
Blake Harrison’s star is rising. Preparing for her new museum installation, she’s trying to navigate her work, her newfound fame, and her reputation for volatility. She’s also trying to abide by her “monastic before a show” rule, and has no idea what to do about the stunning lawyer who insults her and entrances her in equal measure.
Jenny O’Toole is in a professional and romantic rut. Her career as a corporate lawyer is stifling, she’s closeted at work, and her current relationship is with Netflix and wine. She’s not looking for a new girlfriend, and if she was, she certainly wouldn’t chase an irrational, pretentious conceptual artist like Blake Harrison.
It’s dislike at first sight—but when the artist and lawyer keep running into each other, the loathing turns to lust. As they weather Boston’s frigid winter, Blake and Jenny navigate their deepening feelings, and hope that their budding relationship can weather everything coming between them.
2022 IHL Reading Challenge Category: Enemies to Lovers
HISTORICAL ROMANCE
Shadow Series: Book 2
by J.E. Leak
She was prepared to lose her life. She was not prepared to lose her heart.
Romance, secrets, and intrigue swirl around two female OSS agents navigating duty and love amidst the backdrop of New York City during World War II.
An encounter with a sultry nightclub singer led reporter Jenny Ryan to a secret job at the Office of Strategic Services and an unlikely romance with the woman of her dreams.
OSS agent Kathryn Hammond fell for her former assignment, and she’ll do anything to keep her safe—including staying away. When ghosts from her past emerge, and Jenny waltzes into headquarters as a new recruit, all of Kathryn’s fears come true.
With Jenny’s protection out of her hands, and society, the war, and time against them, will their love survive?
In the Shadow of Love is the second book in this lesbian historical romance series. If you like secrets, spies, and love against all odds, you’ll love this emotionally sweeping love story.
Note: As this is a series, reading the books in order is recommended.
Sensitive Content: This novel contains instances of PTSD from war experiences. While it is not the central theme of the story, it is woven into the tapestry of the characters’ lives, and I am mindful that for many, such forewarning is appreciated.
2022 IHL Reading Challenge Categories: Historical Fiction; Historical Romance
EROTICA
Twelve Steamy, Erotic Stories
by Sam Kestrel
Twelve steamy, erotic lesbian short stories. Each stands alone. These stories were originally published in Medium under @samkestrel555. Order the book and have them all in one place to enjoy whenever you want.
2022 IHL Reading Challenge Category: Hot & Steamy
MYSTERY
A Chiara Corelli Mystery: Book 4
by Catherine Maiorisi
NYPD Detectives Chiara Corelli and P.J. Parker are assigned what should be a straight-forward murder investigation. But what seems to be the simple murder of a man found in a park gets more complicated when they identify him as Ned Rich, a somewhat paranoid investigative reporter who seems to be living above his means.
The more they dig, the more victims of Rich’s blackmail they find. And figuring out which one killed him seems like an impossible task. But then they stumble on the project Rich was working on at the time of his death—a not so white supremacist and a threat to our democracy—and the focus of the investigation turns to people who will do anything to protect their reputations and the secrecy of their traitorous goals.
Undeterred by the threats and attacks, Corelli and Parker battle to drag the traitors into the light—and put their lives on the line to defend all they believe in.
2022 IHL Reading Challenge Category: Mystery
ROMANTIC SUSPENSE
Sequel to Queen of Humbolt
by Tagan Shepard
I’ll see you in Chicago.
Those words echoed in Marisol Soltero’s mind as she sprinted across Bogota. Back in Chicago, she waited outside Governor Sabrina Sloane’s luxury condo, needing to see the woman she loved return to safety. But Sabrina didn’t return. Not to Chicago and not to Marisol.
That was six months ago. Now a series of disappearances in Humboldt Park provide the distraction Marisol needs. Her people are going missing. Snatched off the street right under her nose. Clues are sparse, but Marisol’s gut tells her the culprit is her old enemy.
Governor Sabrina Sloane has become a shadow of herself. She haunts the halls of the Governor’s Mansion, both her work and personal life flooded with nightmares. She knows Marisol is in danger, perhaps even more now that she’s back in Chicago, and Sloane will do anything it takes to keep the woman she loves safe. Even if it means confronting the man at the center of her nightmares.
But when two chess pieces are directed at the same enemy, they can get in each other’s way. If Marisol and Sabrina get the moves right, they could tango back into each other’s arms. If not, all of Chicago could pay the price.
2022 IHL Reading Challenge Categories: Suspense; Romantic Suspense
FANTASY ROMANCE
Winter’s Consort: Book 1
by Brigid Collins
When dealing with the fey folk, victory today might present unforeseen costs tomorrow.
Abandoned at the altar, Chelsea Hewitt swore she’d never don another wedding dress. No one could be worth the PTSD.
Then Chelsea’s best friend Jen asks Chelsea to be her bridesmaid. The catch? Silly family tradition dictates Jen’s attendant dress identically to her. Supposedly, it confuses evil faeries bent on stealing brides. Fun, right?
Sure, until a real evil faerie turns up looking to get hitched. Now Chelsea must match wits against the ethereally beautiful Winter Queen to protect both her best friend and her own freedom.
2022 IHL Reading Challenge Categories: Fantasy; Fantasy Romance
SCI-FI
Riley’s Time Travel Adventures: Book 1
by Victoria Rush
When curious college student Riley stumbles upon a lost smartphone, she attempts to unlock it to return it to its owner. But after decrypting the passcode, the screen suddenly emits a swirling three-dimensional funnel hologram.
Holding her hand above the strange apparition, she feels a powerful force pulling her body inside. Moments later, she finds herself transplanted to the crew quarters of an old wooden ship.
When the all-women sailors discover the stowaway, they take her to the captain who reveals that she’s captive aboard the Joan of Arc, a seventeen-century pirate ship. After the captain informs Riley that she’ll have to work to earn her keep, the vessel is soon besieged by a much larger pirate ship…
2022 IHL Reading Challenge Categories: Sci-Fi; Speculative Fiction
NEW AUDIOBOOKS
Lovers Landing Series: Book 3
by Jamey Moody
narrated by Amanda Wrege
When the love you’ve been searching for magically appears in the most unexpected person.
Lauren Nichols’ longtime marriage was over. She’d done what was expected, married her high school sweetheart, raised two great kids, and now what? There had to be more to life than work. She wanted to share the passion she knew lived deep in her heart.
When she meets the bigger-than-life award-winning actress Tara Holloway, something kindles deep inside her.
Can passion pull Tara all the way from Hollywood to a small Texas lake town? Is this the true love they have both been seeking? And can love overcome distance, fame, and family objections? Or is this love so hot they both get burned?
Let’s go back to Lovers Landing for another romance on the lake with Krista and friends. Can Lovers Landing cast its magical spell on Tara and Lauren? The truth is…
2022 IHL Reading Challenge Categories: Love after 50; Toaster Oven; Celebrity; Hot and Steamy; Friends to Lovers
SUPPORT SAPPHIC AUTHORS IN KINDLE UNLIMITED
JAE’S SAPPHIC BOOK BINGO
LESFIC BOOK CLUB
BUY US A COFFEE
Running IHL takes the three of us many hours every single week. Also, the costs add up. Last year we setup a Buy Us a Coffee page, which allows people to help cover the expenses. When we first announced the page, we were blown away by the response. Not only were people willing to pitch in, but all of the kind notes and encouragement brought more than a few tears to TB’s eyes. If you’d like to support us, click here. Every cup helps immensely! If you’d like to learn more about TB’s initial response to the outpouring of support, click here.
Have a wonderful day!
Miranda & TB
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