Summer is in high gear, which means that the sun is bright and the days are sweltering. We’re mostly hiding in the air conditioning lately, devouring book after book and clamoring for some great new reads. We’re in luck as August is packed with new releases that we can’t wait to get our hands on, from long awaited sequels to new reads from our favorite powerhouse authors.
Here are the top ten books of August that are helping us beat the heat:
Y is for Yesterday, Sue Grafton (Marian Wood Books/Putnam, August 22, 2017)
Grafton is almost at the end of her coveted alphabet-themed series about private investigator Kinsey Millhone. In her latest adventure, Kinsey is dealing with a 10-year-old sexual assault case and a missing tape of the event that’s being used for blackmail. But that’s not all, as a perpetrator from her past might be resurfacing in a way that could have deadly consequences.
The Right Time, Danielle Steel (Delacorte Press, August 29, 2017)
The queen of romance returns with a story about orphaned novelist Alexandra Winslow, a talented mystery writer who publishes under the male pseudonym Alexander Green. But as her books gain more and more popularity, Alex struggles with leading a double life and all of the consequences that come from living in the shadow of her own success.
Of Mess and Moxie, Jen Hatmaker (Thomas Nelson, August 8, 2017)
Part self-help and part inspirational, Of Mess and Moxie is all about inspiring women to embrace struggle and recognize that they’re strong enough to overcome almost anything. Told with a blend of humor and personal stories, Hatmaker offers advice and inspiration, showing readers how to consistently find their inner strength.
The Store, James Patterson (Little, Brown and Company, August 14, 2017)
Patterson’s latest novel imagines a future where consumers rely on the Store, a powerful company that can deliver anything you need (and even stuff you didn’t know you need). Writers Jacob and Megan Brandeis decide to go undercover to expose the Store’s secrets in a tell-all book, bringing them into a dangerous world that they may never be able to escape from.
The Stone Sky, N. K. Jemisin (Orbit, August 15, 2017)
Jemisin concludes her acclaimed post-apocalyptic Broken Earth trilogy with The Stone Sky (the first book, The Fifth Season won the Hugo Award for Best Novel!). Using shifting perspectives and inventive worldbuilding, Jemisin wraps up the story of her abused and battered survivors, including the powerful Essun and her missing daughter Nassun.
Mrs. Fletcher, Tom Perrotta (Scribner, August 1, 2017)
It’s all about discovering new parts of yourself in Perrotta’s novel about a mother and son who are thrust out of their comfort zones in various ways. For the 40-something Eve Fletcher that means a sexual awakening that’s connected to the idea of herself as a MILF. And for her son, Brendan, it means readjusting his expectations as he leaves home for his first year at college.
Seeing Red, Sandra Brown (Grand Central Publishing, August 15, 2017)
Brown’s latest sexy thriller introduces us to Kerra Bailey, a TV journalist with a complicated past who gets caught up with John Trapper, the son of a national hero Kerra is desperate to interview. The two share Brown’s signature banter and chemistry, even as they’re fighting to protect Kerra and John’s father – and dredging up an old bombing incident that affected both of their lives.
Devil’s Cut, J. R. Ward (Ballantine Books, August 1, 2017)
This is the third and final book in Ward’s popular Bourbon Kings series, wrapping up the tale of the complicated Bradford family. With Edward facing jail time for the murder of his father, the entire family has been thrown into chaos. Now, his brother Lane is set on discovering the truth, and, despite his dire circumstances, Edward finds himself unable to resist business rival and long-time love, Sutton Smythe.
Bad Deeds, Lisa Renee Jones (St. Martin’s Griffin, August 8, 2017)
Jones’ Dirty Money series is described as “Wall Street meets the Sons of Anarchy.” Um, sign us up! Bad Deeds is the 4th book in the series, continuing the dark and sexy story of Shane Brandon and his love, Emily Stevens. With a war brewing between the drug cartel and his family, Shane will do whatever it takes to save those he loves. He just might lose himself in the process.
The Duchess Deal, Tessa Dare (Avon, August 22, 2017)
We adore Dare’s historical romance novels, and The Duchess Deal is filled with her trademark wit and sexy storytelling. When the Duke of Ashbury decides he needs an heir, he’s willing to settle for vicar’s daughter Emma Gladstone. Emma agrees to the marriage of convenience as well, but she’s got some demands for our scarred hero – demands that will most certainly lead to love.
