Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
This week is a thankful freebie, so I decided to list 10 ARCs I’m thankful for. All of these release in the next few months , and I’m eager to read them. Let’s check them out!
1. Secretly Yours by Tessa Bailey
Title: Secretly Yours
Author: Tessa Bailey
Series: A Vine Mess #1
Page Length: 384
Publication Date: Feb. 7, 2023
Publisher: Avon Books
Synopsis: Hallie Welch fell hard for Julian Vos at fourteen, after they almost kissed in the dark vineyards of his family’s winery. Now the prodigal hottie has returned to their small town. When Hallie is hired to revamp the gardens on the Vos estate, she wonders if she’ll finally get that smooch. But the grumpy professor isn’t the teenager she remembers and their polar opposite personalities clash spectacularly. One wine-fueled girls’ night later, Hallie can’t shake the sense that she did something reckless–and then she remembers the drunken secret admirer letter she left for Julian. Oh shit.
On sabbatical from his ivy league job, Julian plans to write a novel. But having Hallie gardening right outside his window is the ultimate distraction. She’s eccentric, chronically late, often literally covered in dirt–and so unbelievably beautiful, he can’t focus on anything else. Until he finds an anonymous letter sent by a woman from his past. Even as Julian wonders about this admirer, he’s sucked further into Hallie’s orbit. Like the flowers she plants all over town, Hallie is a burst of color in Julian’s gray-scale life. For a man who irons his socks and runs on tight schedules, her sunny chaotic energy makes zero sense. But there’s something so familiar about her… and her very presence is turning his world upside down.
2. A Little Bit of Luck by Jill Shalvis
Title: A Little Bit of Luck
Author: Jill Shalvis
Series: Lucky Harbor (#7&8)
Page Length: 649
Publication Date: Nov. 29, 2022
Publisher: Forever
Synopsis: Get swept off your feet in the small town of Lucky Harbor with love stories from the fan-favorite series by New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis.
IT HAD TO BE YOU
Ali Winters is not having a good day. Everyone in town thinks she’s a thief, and now she’s about to be kicked out of her home. Her only shot at keeping a roof over her head and clearing her name is to beg for help from a police detective who’s as sexy as he is stern. As Luke Hanover helps Ali put her world back together, the pieces of his own life finally seem to fall into place. Is this the start of a sizzling fling? Or are Luke and Ali on the brink of something big?
ALWAYS ON MY MIND
After messing up her big break on a reality cooking show, Leah Sullivan returns home to Lucky Harbor and the comfort of her best friend, Jack Harper. In an effort to cheer up Jack’s ailing mother, Leah tells a little fib—that she and Jack are more than just friends. Soon, pretending to be hot-and-heavy with this hunky firefighter is more than Leah bargained for, and Jack is longing to turn their fake relationship into something permanent. But do they dare risk falling in love for real?
3. Stone Blind by Natalie Hayes
Title: Stone Blind
Author: Natalie Haynes
Page Length: 384
Publication Date: Feb. 7, 2023
Publisher: Harper
Synopsis: They will fear you and flee you and call you a monster.
The only mortal in a family of gods, Medusa is the youngest of the Gorgon sisters. Unlike her siblings, Medusa grows older, experiences change, feels weakness. Her mortal lifespan gives her an urgency that her family will never know.
When the sea god Poseidon assaults Medusa in Athene’s temple, the goddess is enraged. Furious by the violation of her sacred space, Athene takes revenge–on the young woman. Punished for Poseidon’s actions, Medusa is forever transformed. Writhing snakes replace her hair and her gaze will turn any living creature to stone. Cursed with the power to destroy all she loves with one look, Medusa condemns herself to a life of solitude.
Until Perseus embarks upon a fateful quest to fetch the head of a Gorgon . . .
In Stone Blind, classicist and comedian Natalie Haynes turns our understanding of this legendary myth on its head, bringing empathy and nuance to one of the earliest stories in which a woman–injured by a powerful man–is blamed, punished, and monstered for the assault. Delving into the origins of this mythic tale, Haynes revitalizes and reconstructs Medusa’s story with her passion and fierce wit, offering a timely retelling of this classic myth that speaks to us today.
4. A Wicked Game by Kate Bateman
Title: A Wicked Game
Author: Kate Bateman
Series: Ruthless Rivals #3
Page Length: 304
Publication Date: Dec. 27, 2022
Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks
Synopsis: A teasing bet.
Shipwrecked and imprisoned thanks to an incorrect map, Captain Morgan Davies has returned to London to exact sweet revenge on the cartographer responsible for his suffering. He’s also vowed to claim the winner’s prize―three kisses―in the bet he made with his long-time nemesis, the prickly, smart-mouthed Harriet Montgomery. His incarceration has clarified his feelings for her, but convincing the infuriating woman he wants to marry her is going to be his greatest challenge yet. When Harriet’s revealed to be the very mapmaker he seeks, Morgan decides to combine revenge and seduction into one delightful package. . .
A dangerous enemy.
Harriet’s always wanted witty scoundrel Morgan, and now he’s back; as handsome and as taunting as ever. She has enough on her plate dealing with her father’s failing eyesight and a rival mapmaker copying her work to play wicked games with a dastardly Davies―however tempting he might be. But when a threat from Morgan’s past puts them both in danger, Harry discovers that she and Morgan might not be enemies at all . . .
5. Exes and O’s by Amy Lea
Title: Exes and O’s
Author: Amy Lea
Page Length: 400
Publication Date: Jan. 10, 2023
Publisher: Berkley Books
Synopsis: A romance novel–obsessed social media influencer revisits her exes on her hunt for true love in this romantic comedy from the author of Set On You.
Romance-novel connoisseur Tara Chen has had her heart broken ten times by ten different men–all of whom dumped her because of her “stage-five clinger” tendencies. Nevertheless, Tara is determined to find The One. The only problem? Classic meet-cutes are dead thanks to modern dating apps. So Tara decides to revisit her exes in hopes of securing her very own trope-worthy second-chance romance.
Boston firefighter Trevor Metcalfe will be the first to rush into a burning building but the last to rush into a relationship. Love just isn’t his thing. When his new roommate Tara enlists him to help her reconnect with her exes, he reluctantly agrees. But Tara’s journey is leading him to discover his own new chapter.
The more time they spend together, the more Tara realizes Trevor seems to be the only one who appreciates her authentic, dramatic self. To claim their happily-ever-after, can Tara and Trevor read between the lines of their growing connection?
6. A Love by Design by Elizabeth Everett
Title: A Love By Design
Author: Elizabeth Everett
Series: The Secret Scientists of London #3
Page Length: 336
Publication Date: Jan. 17, 2023
Publisher: Berkley
Synopsis: You couldn’t design a better hero than the very eligible and extremely charming Earl Grantham. Unless, of course, you are Margaret Gault, who wants nothing to do with the man who broke her youthful heart.
Widowed and determined, Margaret Gault has returned to Athena’s Retreat and the welcoming arms of her fellow secret scientists with an ambitious plan in mind: to establish England’s first woman-owned engineering firm. But from the moment she sets foot in London her plans are threatened by greedy investors and–at literally every turn–the irritatingly attractive Earl Grantham, a man she can never forgive.
George Willis, the Earl Grantham, is thrilled that the woman he has loved since childhood has returned to London. Not as thrilling, however, is her decision to undertake an engineering commission from his political archnemesis. When Margaret’s future and Grantham’s parliamentary reforms come into conflict, Grantham must use every ounce of charm he possesses–along with his stunning good looks and flawless physique, of course–to win Margaret over to his cause.
Facing obstacles seemingly too large to dismantle, will Grantham and Margaret remain forever disconnected or can they find a way to bridge their differences, rekindle the passion of their youth, and construct a love built to last?
7. The Claw and the Crowned by Sarah M. Cradit
Title: The Claw and the Crowned
Author: Sarah M. Cradit
Series: The Book of All Things
Release Date: January 3, 2023
Synopsis: Freedom is her desire. Vengeance is his price.
Slip into this scintillating tale of a young royal whose loyalty is torn between the prince she was sold to and the tempestuous knight determined to ruin her.
Imryll is unfit to be a princess. Everyone has always told her so. So when the king stuns everyone by crowning her the prince’s consort, her life is completely upended, crushing any lingering dreams of a future away from the suffocating Rhiagain court.
Still reeling from the news, she meets Drazhan, the formidable, mercurial knight who wins the right to be her personal guard. But when he defiantly refuses any show of respect, a dangerous spark ignites between them, one she doesn’t know how to extinguish. Worse, she’s not sure she wants to.
The dark knight’s licentious midnight whispers linger over her, commands she feels inexplicably called to obey. His dangerous promises spread their tendrils over her desperate, failed attempts to embrace life with the prince, her childhood best friend. They take her apart and put her back together, piece by agonizing piece.
Yet she can’t shake the sense Drazhan is hiding something important. He refuses to explain why he surrendered a life of privilege to become her guard. The roaring vengeance burning in his heart, scorching him from the inside out, is a painful mystery Imryll can’t solve.
But she will.
Because Drazhan’s revenge doesn’t just start with Imryll.
It ends with her.
8. A Ruinous Fate by Kaylie Smith
Title: A Ruinous Fate
Author: Kaylie Smith
Series: Heartless Fates #1
Page Length:432
Publication Date: Jan 3, 2023
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Synopsis: Fate does not choose the weak. Fate chooses the ready.
Calliope Rosewood is a witch with a long streak of bad luck. Like all witches in Illustros, her fate is directly tied to Witch’s Dice—powerful artifacts that have blessed her kind with limitless magic but also set them on a path toward destruction. Cursed with unspeakable powers that terrify even the most dangerous witches and fae, Calla deserted her coven four years ago and has been in hiding with her two best friends since. But Calla is also hiding a grave secret: She is only three Rolls away from becoming the last Blood Warrior and starting the Final War that will decimate her people and eradicate their magic.
After a betrayal from her ex leads her one step closer to fulfilling that age-old prophecy, Calla is desperate to do whatever it takes to reset her fate . . . even if that means journeying into the deadly Neverending Forest with said ex and his enticing, yet enigmatic older brother to find the one being who can help her forge her own path. As Calla ventures farther into the enchanted woods, she finds her heart torn between her past desires and the alluring new possibilities of her future and learns that choosing your own destiny may come with deadly consequences.
9. The Poison Season by Mara Rutherford
Title: The Poison Season
Author: Mara Rutherford
Page Length: 384
Publication Date: Dec. 6, 2022
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Synopsis: One choice could change everything.
Leelo has spent her whole life on Endla, coexisting with the bloodthirsty forest and respecting the poisonous lake that protects her island from outsiders who seek to destroy it. But as much as Leelo cares for her community, she struggles with the knowledge that her brother will be exiled and forced to live with the outsiders unless he gains enchantment powers before his next birthday.
Then comes the day that Leelo sees a young outsider on the verge of drowning in the lake. She knows she is supposed to leave him to his fate, but, instead, she betrays her family, her best friend, and her whole community by helping nurse the young man, Jaren, back to health, understanding that discovery could lead to unthinkable consequences for both of them.
As they grow closer, Leelo and Jaren discover that not all danger comes from beyond the lake—and they can only survive if Leelo is willing to question the very fabric of her society, her people, and herself.
10. Pride and Protest by Nikki Payne
Title: Pride and Protest
Author: Nikki Payne
Page Length: 416
Publication Date: Nov. 15, 2022
Publisher: Berkley Books
Synopsis: A woman goes head-to-head with the CEO of a corporation threatening to destroy her neighborhood in this fresh and modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice by debut author Nikki Payne.
Liza B.–the only DJ who gives a jam–wants to take her neighborhood back from the soulless property developer dropping unaffordable condos on every street corner in DC. But her planned protest at a corporate event takes a turn after she mistakes the smoldering-hot CEO for the waitstaff. When they go toe-to-toe, the sparks fly–but her impossible-to-ignore family thwarts her every move. Liza wants Dorsey Fitzgerald out of her hood, but she’ll settle for getting him out of her head.
At first, Dorsey writes off Liza Bennett as more interested in performing outrage than acting on it. As the adopted Filipino son of a wealthy white family, he’s always felt a bit out of place and knows a fraud when he sees one. But when Liza’s protest results in a viral meme, their lives are turned upside down, and Dorsey comes to realize this irresistible revolutionary is the most real woman he’s ever met.
I am thankful for #5 as well. I really enjoyed it.
Nice! I loved her first book.
The Shalvis novel looks like a great one and it has such a pretty cover, too. I hope you enjoy all these!
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
I just finished it and loved it! Both stories were great. Thank you, Susan!!
None of these were on my radar, so I am thankful that bloggers like you introduce me to books and authors, Julie.
Awww – I’m grateful for you too, Carla! I’m so glad we connected this year. 🙂
Ooh, so many of these look good! I’m really loving the look of the Claw and the Crowned, the Poison Season and Pride and Protest. I hope you enjoy all of these ARCs, Julie! 😍
Thanks so much, Dini! 🙂
I’m always thankful for the arcs I get but I am definitely thankful for winning an arc of A Fire Endless on Goodreads!
Oooh, that’s so exciting. Congrats – I hope you enjoy the book!
Thank you!
I’m glad you liked them all so much!
My post: https://lydiaschoch.com/top-ten-tuesday-ten-reasons-im-thankful-for-books/
There’s a few on here that I really want to read!!! I hope you enjoy them all!
Thanks, Leslie!!
#3 sounds like one I’d definitely be interested in, I’ll have to look into that one in more detail!
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2022/11/22/top-ten-tuesday-395/
I hope you love them all!
Thank you! 🙂