Romantic Novelists' Association

New Releases: May 2020

1 May 2020

MAY PUBLICATIONS 2020

 

AnneMarie Brear: Beneath a Stormy Sky

Historical saga
Ulverscroft Aurora Imprint
Audio
1st May 2020

 

Surviving a shipwreck was the least of her problems.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liz Harris: The Dark Horizon
Family sagas
Heywood Press.
1st May 2020.
Paperback and ebook

The Linford Series, Book1. Convinced that Lily, his new daughter-in-law, is a gold-digger and that the feelings of his son, Robert, are a youthful infatuation he’d come to regret, Joseph resolves to do whatever it takes to rid his family of Lily. And he doesn’t care what that is. Robert and Lily are torn apart, and the Linford family is told a lie that will have devastating consequences for years to come.

 

 

 

 

 

Elizabeth Bailey: The Count’s Charade

Historical romance
Self-published
1st May 2020
Amazon Kindle (paperback follows)

 

A shot across the marshes heard by a lone, disabled woman. Grace finds a dying Frenchman in her lean-to. Can she save Henri from his enemies as well as the authorities? Will the truth emerge before he is silenced forever?

 

 

 

 

 

 

AnneMarie Brear: Cece

Historical saga
AnneMarie Brear
Ebook & paperback.
1st May 2020

 

 

Can she find the happiness that eludes her? Will she trust her heart again? Book 3 in the Marsh Saga series!

 

 

 

 

 

Jenny Worstall: Love and Lies
Romantic Comedy
Ulverscroft
Large print (soft cover)
1.05.2020

When Rosie Peach arrives for her interview to become Shaston Convent School’s new piano teacher, the first person she meets is striking music master David Hart. As her new role gets underway, Rosie encounters several obstacles: her predecessor Miss Spiker’s infamous temper, a bunch of unruly but loveable schoolgirls, and her swiftly growing feelings for David. The nuns of the convent are determined to meddle their way towards a school romance, but David is a complex character, and Rosie can’t help wondering what secrets he is hiding…

 

 

 

 

Catherine Curzon and Eleanor Harkstead: The Man in Room 423

Romantic suspense
Totally Bound
ebook, paperback
5th May 2020

When a fling with a stranger turns into a steamy affair, Lizzie finds herself in the sights of a stalker. Ben has spent ten years pursuing a ruthless serial killer who poisons victims at random before disappearing into the shadows. Pursued by the past and threatened by the present, who can Lizzie and Ben really trust?

 

 

 

 

 

Jean Fullerton: A Ration Book Wedding
Saga
Corvus
PB and ebook
7th May 2020

It’s February 1942, and as the Americans finally join Britain and her allies, twenty-three-year-old Francesca Fabrino is doing her bit for the war effort in a factory in East London. But her thoughts are filled with recently married Charlie Brogan, who is fighting in North Africa. But when Charlie returns from the front, his marriage in ruins and his heart burning for Francesca at last. Could she, a good Catholic girl, countenance an affair with the man she has always longed for?

 

 

 

 

 

Julie Houston: Sing Me a Secret

Romantic Comedy/Women’s Fiction
Headofzeus/Aria
ebook
May 7th 2020

The four Sutherland sisters have very different paths in life, but one secret. A tense production of Jesus Christ Superstar will bring them back together again. When the news that pop-superstar Lexia Sutherland is returning to Westenbury, not everyone is thrilled. Juno Sutherland, the village doctor, has got her priorities in order. Will these sisters uncover the past, deal with the future and put on the performance of a lifetime?

 

 

 

 

 

Liz Davies: The Summer of Falling in Love

Chick lit
Lilac Tree Books
ebook and paperback
7th May 2020

 

A heartwarming romance for dog-lovers everywhere, Theo’s life is transformed when his mother decides he needs ‘livening up a bit’, and buys him a dog he doesn’t want and has no idea how to care for. Until Josie, the dog-sitter, comes along…

 

 

 

 

 

Samantha Tonge: The Summer Island Swap
Romantic Comedy
Aria Fiction, Head of Zeus
ebook/print-on-demand, audio at a later date
7th May

After a long and turbulent year, Sarah is dreaming of white sands, cocktails, massages, the five-star getaway her sister, Amy, has booked. The Caribbean is calling to them. But the sisters arrive at tatty beaches, basic wooden shacks, a compost toilet and outdoor cold water showers. Amy decided a conservation project would be much more fun than a luxury resort. So now Sarah’s battling mosquitos, trying to stomach fish soup and praying for a swift escape–although she’s making new friends and distracted by the dishy, yet moody island leader whom she’s sure is hiding a secret.

 

 

 

 

 

Wendy Clarke: The Bride
Psychological Thriller
Bookouture
eBook, paperback, audio
May 2020

When Alice receives an invitation from her best friend, Joanna, to meet her fiancé, she has the terrible feeling something’s wrong. Despite telling her everything, Alice has never even heard of Mark and travels to Joanna’s London apartment. But when she arrives, only Mark is there to greet her. He tells her Joanna is missing. Alice’s world comes crashing down. She thought she’d found her happy ending. She was wrong.

 

 

 

 

 

Charlie Cochrane: A Carriage of Misjustice
Romantic cosy mystery
Riptide
print, ebook
11th May 2020

Murder doesn’t care if you’re a newlywed.
Detective Chief Inspector Robin Bright and Deputy Head-teacher Adam Matthews have just tied the knot, and all they want to do is sink into blissful domesticity. Unfortunately, there’s no chance of that when a chilling murder at a rugby ground takes Robin miles away to help his old boss solve it.

 

 

 

 

 

Kirsten Hesketh: Another Us
Women’s Fiction/ Humour
Canelo
Format: ebook
14th May 2020

‘Prompted by her son’s Asperger’s diagnosis forces Emma to take a long, hard look at her role as a wife, mother, daughter and friend but, this long hard look is fraught with drama, conflict and humour. What may, at first, seem a light-hearted portrayal of playground politics becomes something much deeper and more profound until it becomes something brave and brilliant, and which both entertains and informs. It is a total must-read debut. Claire Dyer, author of The Last Day.

 

 

 

 

 

Kate Field: A Dozen Second Chances
Contemporary women’s fiction
One More Chapter
paperback
14 May 2020

 

 

When Eve receives a dozen vouchers to complete, she is kind to herself and her life changes course with the very first voucher. But with eleven more to go, can Eve learn to put herself first and follow the dreams she’s kept secret for so long?

 

 

 

 

 

Juliet Greenwood: The Ferryman’s Daughter

Family Saga
Orion
Kindle, paperback and audiobook
May 14th 2020

 

As WW1 approaches Cornwall, Hester rows the family ferry to keep a roof over their heads. But Hester has a dream. Can she escape dire poverty by becoming a professional cook and opening a cafe for the artists of St Ives? A gripping saga of tragedy, war and hope.

 

 

 

 

Margaret Mounsdon: The Lombardi Emeralds
Mystery/romance
D. C. Thomson People’s Friend
Pocket Novel
May 2020

Who is Auguste Lombardi and why has May’s mother been invited to his 80th birthday party? May accepts the invite on her behalf and wears her mother’s earrings only to discover they are part of the missing Lombardi collection. Fearing her mother may have been a jewel thief, May sets out to clear her name.

 

 

 

 

Jo Thomas: Escape to the French Farmhouse

Contemporary Romance
Transworld
Ebook
7 May 2020

 

A heart-warming tale about reclaiming your life, set amongst the lavender fields of Provence. Perfect escapism from the author of Late Summer in the Vineyard and The Honey Farm on the Hill.

 

 

 

 

 

Deborah Carr: Mrs Boots of Pelham Street

Historical Biographical Fiction
One More Chapter
e-book                                                                                                                        15 May 2020

 

Book 2, Mrs Boots series: Jesse Boot’s wife, Florence, is now a lady of means and expected to act in a way society demands. She loves being a mother, but as the Boots empire grows, her work there gives her added purpose. Can she show society that a woman can have it all…?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Donna Ashcroft: The Little Village of New Starts

Contemporary Romance Fiction
Bookouture
Kindle and Paperback (POD)
12th May

 

A totally charming and moving romance set in the Scottish Highlands about being true to yourself, the power of new beginnings and one magical summer that changes everything.

 

 

 

 

 

Gill Stewart: ‘Gemma’s Not Sure’ 

Young Adult
Sweet Cherry
Paperback and e-book
14th May 2020.

Book 2 in the Galloway Girls series. Gemma’s not sure if she’s brave enough to go to her audition, or if she even wants to study music at all. She’s definitely not sure forming a band with Lily’s hot ex-boyfriend is a good idea. The Galloway Girls are back! With exams coming up and major life choices in progress, everything is about to change.

 

 

 

 

 

Sarah Mallory: The Mysterious Miss Fairchild

Historical romance
Mills & Boon
Paperback and e-book
30th April 2020

 

Natalya Fairchild is an accomplished beauty who is determined to discover who and what she is. But will the truth destroy all her hopes of happiness with the man she loves?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kathleen McGurl: The Secret of the Chateau

Dual timeline
HQ Digital
Ebook
15th May 2020

 

When Lu and her friends decide to retire to a chateau deep in the French countryside, they have no idea of the secrets it holds, dating back to the days of the French revolution…

 

 

 

 

 

Bella Osborne: Meet Me At Pebble Beach

Romantic Comedy
ebook, paperback & audio
Avon, HarperCollins
28th May 2020

Regan is holding a winning lottery ticket.
Goodbye to the boyfriend who never had her back, and so long to the job she can’t stand!
Except it’s all a bit too good to be true…

 

 

 

 

 

Jessica Thorne: Nightborn
Fantasy Romance
Bookouture
eBook, Print, Audio

The Hollow King, Book 2
Time is running out. With Bastien promised to another, and a stony distance growing between them, will Grace find the source of the nightborn curse before every last soul is consumed by the darkness? Combining sizzling romance, courtly intrigue, and heart-in-your-mouth action, this dark and addictive fantasy series is perfect for fans of Graceling and Emily R. King.

 

 

 

 

 

Susan Willis: Fake News

Psychological Short Story
Susan Willis
Ebook

 

Working in an estate agency, Jason knows their house is in a good area of London. He loves stories whether they are true or false. Jason also loves to read ‘Fake News’.
But what do his housemates think about this?

 

 

 

 

 

Sandy Barker: That Night in Paris
Contemporary Romantic Comedy
One More Chapter (HarperCollins)
Ebook                                                                                                                          April 15

 

Note to self: don’t sleep with your flatmate after a curry and three bottles of wine…
Cat Parsons is on the run and doesn’t do relationships. Joined by new friends, Cat has got two weeks, eight countries and a hell of a lot of wine ahead of her, as they discover hidden treasures and the camaraderie of life on the road, will Cat find a new way of looking at love?

 

 

 

 

 

Jan Baynham: Her Mother’s Secret

Ruby Fiction
Ebook
21st April 2020

 

 

Artist Elin Morgan leaves Wales for an idyllic Greek island, writing about her summer of ‘69 in a diary. Her time there doesn’t last long and she returns home with her secrets. Years later, her daughter reads the diary and travels to Greece to find out the truth.

 

 

 

                             New Releases: Brought to you every month by Sheila Riley.