New Releases June 3-9 & Reader's Choice C*ntest

Holy listmania, Batman!  I’ve been promising a humongous release week was coming, and—guest what—it’s here. I don’t know how many new releases are coming out this week because I’m too lazy to count them, but sheesh. Do you have your work cut out for you, deciding what among this list you most want to read!

As always, leave a comment telling me the book here you’d most like to win, and maybe random.org will make your wishes come true. International, as always.

Also, the contest for the Kindle goes on over at my sister site HERE, where Susannah Sandlin is counting down her Top 12 Vampires between now and June 12, when her new paranormal romance, Redemption, is released.

Now, here we go….

1636: The Kremlin Games (Ring of Fire, Book 14), by Eric Flint, Gorg Huff and Paula Goodlett (June 5, Baen)

After carving a place for itself among the struggling powers of 17^th-century Western Europe, the out-of-time modern town of Grantville, West Virginia, must fight for its life in a war-torn Europe just emerging from medieval skullduggery. Russian emissary Vladimir Gorchacov arrives in Grantville and hires auto mechanic Bernie Zeppi to journey to Moscow and bring the future to a Russia mired in slavish serfdom and byzantine imperial plots. For Bernie it’s the chance to prove he’s not the loser he believed himself to be.

Accidentally Dead, Again (Accidentally, Book 6), by Dakota Cassidy (June 5, Berkley)

After a wild, work-sponsored Halloween party, entomologist Sam McLean wakes up with a spotty memory—and a pointy set of fangs. Somehow, Sam’s unconscious body ends up at the OOPS office, where paranormal crisis counselors Nina, Marty, and Wanda give him the lowdown on accidentally becoming a creature of the night. And then Phoebe Reynolds finds herself in the direct bath of Sam’s fangs, and the OOPS girls have two fledgling vamps on their hands.

Arise (Hereafter, Book 2), by Tara Hudson (June 5, HarperTeen)

Amelia—still caught between life and death—must fight for every moment of her relationship with the human boy Joshua. They can hardly even kiss without Amelia accidentally dematerializing. Looking for answers, they go to visit some of Joshua’s Seer relatives in New Orleans. But even in a city so famously steeped in the supernatural, Amelia ends up with more questions than answers…and becomes increasingly convinced that she and Joshua can never have a future together. Young Adult.

Blazing the Trail (The Dragon Diaries, Book 3), by Deborah Cooke (June 5, NAL)

It’s almost Valentine’s Day, and Zoë Sorensson’s love life is heating up. Cute, loyal, and understanding, wolf shifter Derek is pretty much the perfect guy. He likes Zoë, and he knows what it’s like to have to keep a secret. Yet, Zoë can’t help but wish it was rebel rocker Jared asking her to the Valentine’s dance instead. But Jared’s too busy playing hot and cold with her heart, calling Zoë his dragon girl one minute and then taking special interest in her best friend the next. Young Adult. 

Blood Kin (The Half-Light City, Book 2), by M.J. Scott (June 5, Roc)

Imagine a city divided. A city where human and Fae magic rests uneasily next to the vampire blood and the shapeshifting beasts. A city where a fragile peace is brokered by a treaty that set the laws for all four races—a treaty that is faltering day by day. Abandoned by her father, but with some of his magic and skills of her own, the half-breed daughter of a Fae lord teams with a Templar Knight to battle the treachery and violence that threaten both their kind. Young Adult.

Blue Remembered Earth (Poseidon’s Children, Book 1), by Alastair Reynolds (June 5, Ace)

One hundred and fifty years from now, in a world where Africa is the dominant technological and economic power, and where crime, war, disease, and poverty have been banished to history, Geoffrey Akinya wants only one thing: to be left in peace, so that he can continue his studies into the elephants of the Amboseli basin. But Geoffrey's family, the vast Akinya business empire, has other plans. After the death of Eunice, Geoffrey's grandmother, erstwhile space explorer and entrepreneur, something awkward has come to light on the Moon, and Geoffrey is blackmailed to go up there and make sure the family's name stays suitably unblemished. But little does Geoffrey realize what he's about to unravel.

The Broken Universe (Universe, Book 2), by Paul Melko (June 5, Tor)

Possessing technology that allows him to travel across alternate worlds, John Rayburn begins building a transdimensional commercial empire, led by him, his closest friends, and their doppelgangers from several different parallel universes. But not every version of every person is the same, and their agendas do not always coincide. Despite their benign intentions, the group’s activities draw unwanted attention from other dimensional travelers who covet their technology and will kill anyone to control it, a threat that culminates in a nuclear standoff for dominance throughout the multiverse.

Chaos Burning (Bound by Magick, Book 2), by Lauren Dane (June 5, Berkley)

The life of Lark Jaansen, hunter in Clan Gennessee, has been shaped by violence and unrest—and it defines her future. Well-trained and resilient, she’s met her militaristic match in Simon Leviathan, a warrior not of this world. Locked in mutual admiration and a desire so hot it burns, Lark and Simon have something else in common: they love the dark, and as a shadow is cast over their world, they’re each coming into their own. A mysterious war has been waged among the Others. As witches and humans turn against each other, as faes retreat in fear, and as vampires rise, Lark and Simon discover that an unseen force is behind it.

The Craving (The Pack, Book 2), by Jason Starr (June 5, Ace Trade)

Manhattan thrives on desire—the longing for a better apartment, a higher-paying job, fame. Simon Burns ought to know, since he nearly lost it all: his job, his family, his home. But now things are turning around, thanks to the pack. Just when he thought he hit rock bottom, Simon found a group of friends, daytime dads like himself. But there was something “off” about Michael, Charlie, and Ramon, and Simon found himself slowly changing into the kind of man he gave up trying to be a long time ago and rediscovering the most primal of hungers. There were nights he made constant love to his wife, nights he roamed the city streets, nights he doesn’t even remember. And it’s one of those blackouts that’s going to come back to haunt him.

Dead Reckoning, by Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edghill (June 5, Bloomsbury)

Jett is a girl disguised as a boy, living as a gambler in the old West as she searches for her long-lost brother. Honoria Gibbons is a smart, self-sufficient young woman who also happens to be a fabulous inventor. Both young women travel the prairie alone – until they are brought together by a zombie invasion! As Jett and Honoria investigate, they soon learn that these zombies aren’t rising from the dead of their own accord … but who would want an undead army? And why?

Fascinated, by Marissa Day (June 5, Berkley)

Alicia Hartwell has never experienced the pleasure of passion. Despite all her efforts to comprehend the notion of romantic love, it has remained an utterly foreign concept to her. Resigned to the life of a spinster, Alicia is therefore stunned when she receives a marriage proposal from the highly eligible bachelor, Lord Carstairs...until she meets him. But Lord Edward Carstairs is not a normal nobleman. He's a Catalyst—able to draw magical power from the natural world for use in spells by human sorcerers. He senses that Alicia is a victim of enchantment, one that has suppressed her erotic urges. Powerfully attracted to her, he's certain that he's the one to help her experience pleasure for the first time.

Hex Appeal, edited by P.N. Elrod (June 5, St. Martin’s Griffin)

In the magical world that lies hidden beneath our own, witches and conjurers play deadly games. They know just the right spell to kill a man with one kiss—or raise him back again. And they’re not afraid to exact sweet revenge on those who dare to cross them. But what if you’re the unlucky soul who falls victim to a conjurer’s curse? And if you had the power to cast a magic spell of your own, would you use it? In this bewitching collection, nine of today’s hottest paranormal authors tell all-new, otherworldly tales. Includes stories from: Ilona Andrews, Jim Butcher, Rachel Caine, Carole Nelson Douglas, P. N. Elrod, Simon R. Green, Lori Handeland, Erica Hayes and Carrie Vaughn.

Home from the Sea (Elemental Masters, Book 8), by Mercedes Lackey (June 5, DAW)

Mari Prothero has lived all her life with her father, Daffyd, in a tiny fishing village on the coast of Wales. Though Daffyd takes his boat out on the sea regardless of weather, Mari has learned not to fear for his safety, for her father is a Water Mage, and always comes home safely with a large catch. Mari knows that in her family, children are expected to marry at eighteen, to an appropriate stranger. However, Mari is a fledgling Water Master with a rebellious nature. She has no intention of agreeing to any arranged marriage. But Mari has yet to learn the truth of the magical heritage that must be protected by these very marriages.

Judgment at Proteus (Quadrail, Book 5), by Timothy Zahn (June 5, Tor)

The Quadrail that connects the twelve civilizations of our galaxy has been the flashpoint of a battle for dominance fought mostly unnoticed by humankind. But Frank Compton of Earth, aided by the enigmatic woman Bayta, has fought on the front lines, using every bit of his human ingenuity and secret agent skills to outwit the Modhri, a group intelligence that would control the minds of every sentient being it can touch. Following a trail of deception and death to Proteus Station, Compton has discovered a conspiracy that threatens all life in the galaxy: the Shonkla’raa, an ancient enemy thought to be long dead, is rising again.

Kiss the Dead (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, Book 21), by Laurell K. Hamilton (June 5, Berkley)

When a fifteen-year-old girl is abducted by vampires, it’s up to U.S. Marshal Anita Blake to find her. And when she does, she’s faced with something she’s never seen before: a terrifyingly ordinary group of people—kids, grandparents, soccer moms—all recently turned and willing to die to avoid serving a master. And where there’s one martyr, there will be more. But even vampires have monsters that they’re afraid of. And Anita is one of them.

KOP Killer, by Warren Hammond (June 5, Tor)

Juno Mozambe once had a life. That was when he was a dirty cop, married to a woman who suffered such profound abuse that she murdered her vile, drug kingpin father. Juno loved his wife and did his best to help her survive her guilt, her drug habit, and her desire to end her life on the dead-end planet of Lagarto. When she died, however, Juno’s life went downhill. And then his first partner, the corrupt chief of the Koba Office of Police, was murdered. The man responsible, Emil Mota, is using the KOP for his personal gain. Juno has been laying low, but now he’s ready to do whatever it takes to take down the bastard.

Live and Let Drood (A Secret Histories Novel), by Simon R. Green (June 5, Roc)

Eddie Drood’s family has been keeping the forces of evil contained in the shadows for as long as humans have walked the earth. Eddie, recently suffering from a slight case of death, gets another chance when powerful witch Molly remedies that wrong. Unfortunately, the Drood family wasn’t so lucky. In his absence, Drood Hall was destroyed and all his relatives were killed, leaving Eddie as the last of the Droods. Then Eddie realizes that things weren’t as they seemed. Someone had activated a dimensional engine, sending Drood Hall off to an alternate Earth, replacing it with a burnt-out doppelganger. His family is still alive out there. Somewhere. And nothing’s going to stop him from finding them.

The Melting Sea (Seekers: Return to the Wild, Book 2), by Erin Hunter (June 5, HarperCollins)

Toklo, Kallik, Lusa, and Yakone trek onward toward the Melting Sea, battling the elements and struggling to move quickly as the ice begins to thaw. Kallik is anxious to reunite with her brother, Taqqiq, and the rest of the bears at her old home—but Toklo and Lusa can't imagine continuing their journey without her. As they cross the Melting Sea, the foursome encounters Shila, an injured white bear who tells them that a vicious gang of bears is terrorizing others for food and land. Kallik is horrified to discover that her brother has joined these fierce bears. Can the Seeker bears convince Taqqiq to come back to the right side? Young Adult.

Messenger’s Angel (Lost Angels, Book 2), by Heather Killough-Walden (June 5, Signet)

Since the beginning of time, the archangels have longed to know true love. When four female angels were created for the four archangels, Michael, Gabriel, Uriel and Azrael, a chaos spurred by jealousy erupted, and the archesses were secreted away to Earth. The four favored archangels followed, prompting a search that has lasted millennia. For hundreds of years, Gabriel has passed himself off as a common Scottish villager. Few know he is the Messenger, a powerful archangel who has secretly scoured the world for the only woman who can complete him. Now, he’s shocked to discover the object of his desire in his own backyard.

Redshirts: A Novel with Three Codas, by John Scalzi (June 5, Tor)

Ensign Andrew Dahl has just been assigned to the Universal Union Capital Ship Intrepid, flagship of the Universal Union since the year 2456. It’s a prestige posting, and Andrew is thrilled to be assigned to the ship’s Xenobiology laboratory. Life couldn’t be better… until Andrew begins to pick up on the fact that every Away Mission involves some kind of lethal confrontation with alien forces, the ship’s captain, its chief science officer, and the handsome Lieutenant Kerensky always survive these confrontations, and at least one low-ranked crew member is, sadly, always killed. Not surprisingly, a great deal of energy belowdecks is expended on avoiding, at all costs, being assigned to an Away Mission. Then Andrew stumbles on information that completely transforms his and his colleagues’ understanding of what the starship Intrepid really is.

Silver, by Rhiannon Held (June 5, Tor)

Andrew Dare is a werewolf. He’s the enforcer for the Roanoke pack and responsible for capturing or killing any Were intruders in Roanoke’s territory. But the lone Were he’s tracking doesn’t smell or act like anyone he’s ever encountered. And when he catches her, it doesn’t get any better. She’s beautiful, she’s crazy, and someone has tortured her by injecting silver into her veins. She says her name is Silver, and that she’s lost her wild self and can’t shift anymore. The packs in North America have a live-and-let-live attitude, and try not to overlap with each other. But Silver represents a terrible threat to every Were on the continent. Andrew and Silver will join forces to track down this menace while discovering their own power and their passion for each other.

Spellcrossed, by Barbara Ashford (June 5, DAW)

It's not easy losing the magic in your life. But when Maggie Graham freed Rowan Mackenzie to return to Faerie, she took the first step toward her new life as director of the Crossroads Theatre. A hectic new season of summer stock leaves her little time to moon over the past. She has to balance the demands of her interfering board president and a company of actors that includes bewildered amateurs, disdainful professionals, a horde of children, and an arthritic dog. And while Maggie yearns to give others the kind of healing she found at the Crossroads, even she recognizes that magic must take a back seat to ticket sales. But magic is hard to banish from the old white barn.

The Spirit War (The Legend of Eli Monpress, Book 4), by Rachel Aaron (June 5, Orbit)

Eli Monpress is vain. He's cocky. And he's a thief. All Eli Monpress wanted was the biggest bounty in the world. He never meant to have obligations, or friends, but master swordsman Josef Leichten and Nico, the daughter of the dead mountain, have saved Eli's life too many times to be called anything else. But, when a friend upsets your plans and ruins all your hard work, what's a thief to do? After years of running from his birthright, Josef is forced to return home and take up his title as prince. War is coming for humans and spirits between the Immortal Empress and the Council of Thrones, and Josef's little island is right in the middle. But conquest isn't the Empress's only goal, she has a personal vendetta against a certain thief.

Sworn in Steel (Tales of the Kin, Book 2), by Douglas Hulick (June 5, Roc)

It’s been three months since Drothe killed a legend, burned down a portion of the imperial capital, and unexpectedly elevated himself into the ranks of the criminal elite. Now, as the newest Gray Prince in the underworld, he’s learning just how good he used to have it. With barely the beginnings of an organization to his name, Drothe is already being called out by other Gray Princes. And to make matters worse, when one dies, all signs point to Drothe as wielding the knife. As members of the Kin begin choosing sides—mostly against him—for what looks to be another impending war, Drothe is approached by a man who not only has the solution to Drothe’s most pressing problem, but an offer of redemption. The only problem is, the offer isn’t for him.

Undead and Unstable (Undead, Book 11), by MaryJanice Davidson (June 5, Berkley)

Betsy Taylor is determined to change the future for herself and her loved ones, but her actions could have life-shattering repercussions. That’s to be expected when a friend returns from the dead, when your dear sister just happens to be the Antichrist, and when your mother is the devil.

Vengeance Moon (Earth Witches, Book 2), by Lee Roland (June 5, Signet)

For millennia the Sisters of Justice have served the ancient Mother Goddess. Ashera, Inaras, and Ishtar are but a few of a thousand names they have called the ancient Earth Mother, the Mother of Men. Most of her servants see her as a nurturer, a giver of life. The Sisters of Justice see her darker image. Men will call her Kali—Kali the Destroyer. She hides that darker face and the Sisters of Justice are abandoned until she needs them … her dark angels, her servants.

Visions of Chains (The Awakening, Book 3), by Regan Hastings (June 5, Signet)

“First Daughter” Deidre Sterling campaigns to protect witches from internment camps and execution, though her celebrity as the president’s daughter puts her at personal risk. When she is pulled deeper into the fight for witches’ rights, she meets Finn, who catalyzes her dormant power and makes her “one of the most powerful witches in the world.” As they search for an artifact that will help the Awakened witches make amends for and seal the hole to hell they opened 800 years before, Deidre comes to realize that Finn could be more to her than just a sexual partner who focuses her power.

The Shadowed Sun (Dreamblood, Book 2), by N.K. Jemisin (June 7, Orbit)

Gujaareh, the city of dreams, suffers under the imperial rule of the Kisuati Protectorate. A city where the only law was peace now knows violence and oppression. And nightmares: a mysterious and deadly plague haunts the citizens of Gujaareh, dooming the infected to die screaming in their sleep. Trapped between dark dreams and cruel overlords, the people yearn to rise up—but Gujaareh has known peace for too long. Someone must show them the way. Hope lies with two outcasts: the first woman ever allowed to join the dream goddess’ priesthood, and an exiled prince who longs to reclaim his birthright.

Whew! Now…what do you want to read? Leave a comment and tell me, and I’ll draw one name to win his or her choice. International, as always. And if the book is in a series you haven’t started, you can always pick the first one in the series instead.

As always, four entries possible: +1 for comment to tell me what book (any book) you want, +1 for blog follow, +1 for Twitter follow @Suzanne_Johnson, and +1 for a Tweet or RT about the contest. This contest is international. Contests end at midnight CDT U.S., and winners are announced on Sunday’s blog. It’s the responsibility of the winner to contact me with their mailing info. Books unclaimed after a month will go into a general giveaway pile.

Now….go!