★ The Possession of Alba Diaz
Romance and horror blend in Isabel Cañas’ fascinating and transportive tale of greed and passion set in 18th-century Mexico. In The Possession of Alba Diaz, Alba and her adoptive, aristocratic parents escape to the mountains with her fiancé’s family after plague enters their city. There, at an isolated silver mine, she encounters Elias Monterrubio, a former student of alchemy. Their attraction endangers the impending, convenient marriage Alba welcomes—which is also complicated by the demonic voice she begins hearing that seems to come from within the mine . . . or within herself? Tensions escalate as the Catholic Church and the occult clash at the mine, and secrets are revealed. With its evocative language and unrestrained violence, this moody gothic romance will make readers’ hearts race. With supernatural danger lurking, ready to pounce, they’ll wonder if a happy ending is even possible.
Here for a Good Time
The ever-popular friends-to-lovers trope is front and center in Pyae Moe Thet War’s satisfying Here for a Good Time. Fresh off the success of her debut, Poe Myat Sabei is dealing with the sophomore novel blues. Her best friend, Zwe, claims that working in his parents’ bookstore is all he ever wanted, but he’s clearly repressing more than one desire. But War spices things up with a luxury resort setting (only one bed, naturally, though there seem to be no other guests) that is suddenly overrun by armed terrorists. Now Poe and Zwe, who have been trying to avoid their attraction in case it ruins their epic friendship, are faced with death . . . and what life would be without each other. They must use ingenuity to get out of their hairy situation—oh, and there’s a dangerous storm coming on! Told in Poe’s first-person perspective, this fun, fast-paced read has a feel-good ending that doesn’t quite plug all the plot holes, but after such a wild and original ride, readers aren’t likely to care.
Pitcher Perfect
In Pitcher Perfect, the fourth entry in her Big Shots sports romance series, Tessa Bailey is back with another easy to like, easy to read and easy to recommend rom-com. It begins with a meet cute that is downright ugly: Star collegiate softball pitcher Skylar Paige overhears pro hockey player Robbie Corrigan crowing about his latest conquest. After he realizes what happened, Robbie is chagrined, then intrigued by the talented female athlete, then downright smitten. From there, a fake-dating plot arises, and as Robbie sees his playboy ways through Skylar’s cool gaze, he wants to change—so that he can have her forever. Can she forget his wild past, and can he trust that she will, all while their sexy connection smolders and then blazes into fire? Torrid lovemaking, a charming cast of characters and Bailey’s signature banter make this story totally swoonworthy.
