Intrigued? Read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from Bloodsinger by Juliette Cross, which releases on April 7th 2026.

A spellbinding gift…
A plea answered by the gods…
An unforgiving world where dragons rule Rome.

Lela Bihari’s village was invaded on her wedding night, her betrothed murdered right in front of her. While her sisters were either dragged away or escaped, Lela was sold to Valerius, a consul of Rome.

When she tried to kill Valerius her first night as his slave, her bloodsinger gift manifested… and she was punished for it. Now she’s paraded in front of the other senators for their amusement.

But Trajan Tiberius, the newly elected tribune to the senate, is different. He has no love for the brutality around him. When he frees Lela from enslavement and hides her, Lela is set on a path of vengeance, and using her gift puts her in more danger than ever before.

Now trapped inside the walls of Rome while deathriders circle the skies, how can she possibly trust a Roman dragon? Especially when it is clear Trajan has ulterior schemes of his own? As her powers grow stronger, danger draws closer, and Lela realizes it isn’t just her life at stake, but also her heart.

Bloodsinger is an adult romantasy novel that contains dark themes, including slavery in Ancient Rome and self-injury, which may be uncomfortable for some readers.

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The post Read The First Chapter From ‘Bloodsinger’ by Juliette Cross appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Hi, Juliette! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself? 

I’m a multi-published author of paranormal and fantasy romance since 2014. I was born and raised in south Louisiana where I currently live with my husband, four children, and menagerie of pets. I love quiet days on the back patio that overlooks the bayou and beautiful live oak trees. It brings me peace. I also enjoy dinner dates with my husband, trying new restaurants, and am on a quest to discover who can make the best old fashioned.

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

I always loved writing from a very young age, but it was my 10^th grade English class in high school when my teacher Ms. Anderson asked us to write a fictional short story that truly sparked that deep desire to be a writer. Using my imagination in that way felt magical, and I’ve wanted to be an author ever since.

Quick lightning round! Tell us: 

• The first book you ever remember reading: My mom bought me a pack of three fairytale books that came with a record I could listen to the book on my record player at the same time. I suppose that was my first audiobook. Ha! Interesting that it was a dark fairytale I remember. I can’t remember the other two books in that pack at all.
• The one that made you want to become an author: Jane Eyre. Hands down.
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Son of the Shadows by Juliet Marillier. Marillier is a spellbinding and beautiful storyteller.

Your latest novel, Firebird, is out April 8^th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Brutal, Harrowing, Passionate, Mystical, Hopeful

What can readers expect?

A journey into an Ancient Rome that will feel familiar but has been changed from history in that all patricians have the gods-given gift of dragon transformation. But the gods like to play favorites, so Minerva has bestowed some of her own powers to certain women in order to thwart and destroy evil men. Book 1, Firebird, is the first part of the journey, following Malina and Julianus, but the full tale is told over three books.

Where did the inspiration for Firebird come from?

I’ve always been fascinated by Ancient Rome. I’m a die-hard fan of the HBO series Rome, The Gladiator, and similar movies. I’m also a huge fantasy fan. I was actually just sitting on my patio with my husband one day (about 10 years ago actually), and I said, “Wouldn’t it be cool if the reason Romans were able to conquer and burn across the world was because they were dragon shifters?” That sparked the idea, and I’ve kept coming back to it, keeping notes and writing the prologue, waiting for the day to tell this story. I’m so happy it’s finally here.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

I enjoyed writing Malina’s character and exploring the difficult emotions she felt being captured, enslaved, and then planned her escape from the city of Rome, the heart of the Empire. Knowing that historically this happened often, though they weren’t swept up by a dragon, her character’s inner thoughts and emotions were both the most difficult and the most important, in my opinion.

Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?

My challenges surrounded the details of Roman life. While I have a good background of the way they lived, there were finite details I needed in order to set scenes realistically. So I might have been immersed in a scene then I’d have to stop to research before I could move on. Such as, what else Romans sold in the forum besides animals and food or how they might grind grain for bread at home. That being said, I loved doing the research. It helped make me feel even more as if I was there in this fantasized Ancient Rome while telling the tale.

What’s next for you?

I begin writing The Beast Lord, book 2 in The Rise of Northgall series then I’ll be jumping into writing book 3, Deathrider, in The Fire That Binds which will conclude this series. Bloodsinger, book 2, is already with my editor, and I’m excited to deep dive into edits with her. The main characters in Bloodsinger are very different from those in Firebird. The same will be for those in Deathrider, which I think will make the full journey that much more appealing.

Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up this year?

I’m looking forward to reading Zoey Draven’s Hunger in His Blood. While Zoey is a friend, I also adore her books, and I’ve been looking forward to this one. I also want to read Jenny Nordback’s Irresistible Devil and Naima Simone’s novel coming out later this year, The Huntsman.

Will you be picking up Firebird? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Juliette Cross, Author of ‘Firebird’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Now available from bookstores, Codename Charming is a delicious romantic comedy about a fake relationship between a grumpy royal bodyguard and the charming, sunny assistant who melts his cold, hard exterior.

Managed by Kristen Callihan

Kristen Callihan’s Managed became an instant grumpy/sunshine classic from the day it released—and for good reason. On her way to London for a job interview, the incredibly likeable Sophie ends up sitting next to Gabriel “Scottie” Scott, the tightly-buttoned, grouchy manager of one of the world’s most popular rock bands. They’re oil and water, but the reluctant sparks are there from the beginning, and when they end up working and touring together, and chronic insomniac Gabriel discovers that he can relax and sleep for the first time…as long as it’s cuddled up next to Sophie, the path is laid for one of my all-time favourite pairings.

The War Priest by Ann Aguirre

Ann Aguirre excels at opposites-attract pairings (for anyone who enjoys sci-fi romance, I also highly recommend Renegade Love, in which an abducted human heroine is taken yet again, this time by the universe’s most feared bounty hunter, Toth Krag, who’s been trained as the ultimate weapon of destruction and vengeance, taught to follow orders without question—and who falls like a ton of bricks for the strange “Tiny Nightmare” who’s having none of it.)

In her paranormal series “Ars Numina”, however, The War Priest is one of my favourite romances of the past few years; it sees another unlikely pairing in a soul-singing, soft-hearted lynx shifter and the bear-shifter warrior monk she adores. He’s taken vows of celibacy, there’s a war knocking on the door, and every chance that neither of them will survive the coming weeks—and the bond between them is so heartfelt it just resonates off the page.

Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur

I have a long list of beloved tropes, but grumpy/sunshine and fake dating will always be top-tier for me, and Alexandria Bellefleur’s totally delightful rom-com Written in the Stars hits on both counts—and in every other way. After a terrible blind date, straight-laced, practical Darcy and starry-eyed astrologer Elle are in no doubt whatsoever that they haven’t met their perfect match. However, when Darcy skews the truth to avoid any further family matchmaking, the pair find themselves embroiled in deception, having to pull off the image of romantic bliss until New Year’s Eve. Naturally, sparks begin to fly, and their journey from “absolutely not” to soulmates is witty, sexy, and an instant comfort-read.

Coldest Fire by Juliette Cross

Taking a turn into urban fantasy, an icy archangel set on vengeance is forced to call on a human witch for help, a woman he remembers with bitterness from one of the worst moments of his existence—but as they fight against a common enemy, they both realise that the other isn’t what they assumed. Coldest Fire is another excellent romance from Cross and the epitome of love and light triumphing over evil.

Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert

Talia Hibbert’s writing is just a pure joy to read—even when it’s packing an absolute emotional punch, it remains a comfort read, because she infuses every paragraph with such warmth and love, for her characters, for their world, and for the story, in a way that draws the reader in and makes them immediately part of the experience. The first in the Brown Sisters trilogy was one of my first Talia Hibbert books, so holds a place in my heart—but I think Eve’s story is my favourite of the trilogy. 

On the surface, Eve is the epitome of the sunshine character, but she’s worked to have that positive attitude despite her earlier dreams not turning out as she’d hoped—and when she meets Jacob, the grumpy B&B owner (…and then accidentally runs him over), she can let her guard down for the first time, and the two find strength in each other. Through what they become together, they can more clearly see themselves for who they are as individuals. It’s a beautiful book and an amazing love story.

Hunt the Darkness by Alexandra Ivy

Part of Alexandra Ivy’s paranormal “Guardians of Eternity” series, Hunt the Darkness is the happy-ever-after of vampire clan leader Roke—notorious for his icy, practical nature—and the unintentionally chaotic (and lonely) witch Sally. After Sally accidentally casts a spell that triggers Roke’s “true mate” instinct, the pair find themselves seemingly irrevocably tied together—to their equal horror. It’s a road-trip romance as Sally takes off to find a way to break this seeming curse, with Roke in hot pursuit, as like it or not, she’s his mate and in potential danger. As they transition from enemies to reluctant allies and then lovers—with the well-intentioned but disastrous assistance of a tiny gargoyle named Levet—it’s an excellent mix of adventure and romance. 

Grumpy Fake Boyfriend by Jackie Lau

It’s a Jackie Lau romance called “Grumpy Fake Boyfriend”; it couldn’t have been more obvious this would land on my keeper shelf if there were neon signs pointing at it. I adore Lau’s writing—it’s warm and heartfelt, but it’s also frequently laugh-out-loud funny. I loved the banter between sci-fi writer Will and event-planner Naomi, as the introvert and the extrovert pretend to be dating, in order to help Naomi save face in front of an ex. A relatively low-angst, warm hug of a story, like all of Lau’s novels, in which two very different people find common ground and accept and love each other for who they are.

The post Lucy Parker’s Grumpy-Sunshine Romance Book Recommendations appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Read on to discover our picks and tell us in the comments below if you will be reading any of them!

Hold You Close by Corinne Michaels and Melanie Harlow
Goodreads | Amazon

Ian Chase broke my heart at seventeen, and I’ve spent the last eighteen years hating him for it. He makes it easy, with his smart mouth and playboy lifestyle—which I unfortunately have to observe since he lives behind me… London Parish is my little sister’s best friend, not that it stopped me from falling for her. Our history is complicated. The only thing we have in common is being godparents to my sister’s three adorable kids—until our lives are changed in one tragic moment. Now we’re trying to raise the children we love, mourn an unthinkable loss, and fight an undeniable attraction.

The Good Luck Charm by Helena Hunting
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Is it love, or is she just his good luck charm? Lilah isn’t sure what hurt worse: the day Ethan left her to focus on his hockey career, or the day he came back eight years later. He might think they can pick up just where they left off, but she’s no longer that same girl and never wants to be again. Ethan Kane wants his glory days back. And that includes having Lilah by his side. Just when Lilah might finally be ready to let him in, though, she finds out their reunion has nothing to do with her and everything to do with his game. But Ethan’s already lost her once, and even if it costs him his career, he’ll do anything to keep from losing her again.

Desperate Girls by Laura Griffin
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Defense attorney Brynn Holloran is right at home among cops, criminals, and tough-as-nails prosecutors. She’s a force to be reckoned with in the courtroom, but in her personal life, she’s a mess. When a vicious murderer she once helped prosecute resurfaces and starts a killing spree to wipeout those who put him behind bars, one thing becomes clear: Brynn needs to run for her life. But when Brynn defies advice and gets involved in the investigation, even the former Secret Service agent assigned to protect her may not be able to keep her safe. With every new clue she discovers, Brynn is pulled back into the vortex of a disturbing case from her past.

From Here To You by Jamie McGuire
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

On her wedding day, Darby Dixon holds a positive pregnancy test and realises marrying her abusive fiancé would be the worst decision she’s made, so she runs. She lands a job as a front desk clerk at the Colorado Springs Hotel. Former Marine, Scott “Trex” Trexler has the chance to find peace again, which is Colorado Springs at top-secret military installation. Darby realises he’s dangerous when he walks in and as charming and devastatingly gorgeous as Trex is, he clearly isn’t telling her everything. But as wildfires rage on the mountain and Darby’s ex-fiancé shows he isn’t so willing to let her go, both she and Trex are soon to find out that what you don’t know absolutely can hurt you.

Darkest Heart by Juliette Cross
Goodreads | Amazon

Anya—a stoic, blue-winged angelic warrior— was bitten by a demon prince in battle, and now she has precious little time to find a cure for his deadly venom. But the only archangel with the power to stop the dark poison from corrupting her body and soul is missing. She’ll have to trust her guide, the outcast high demon Dommiel, who is as handsome as he is dangerous if she has any hope. An outcast of his own kind, high demon Dommiel stays under cover while the war between angels and demons rages on. But when the only person who ever showed him kindness asks for his help, he has no choice but to try to save the angel. Venturing back into the dens he has avoided for so long, Anya makes him want and feel things he never thought possible. But Dommiel knows there is no way an angel can ever love a demon…

The Chase by Elle Kennedy
Goodreads | iBooks

Everyone says opposites attract. And they must be right, because there’s no logical reason why I’m so drawn to Colin Fitzgerald. I don’t usually go for tattoo-covered, video-gaming, hockey-playing nerd-jocks who think I’m flighty and superficial. His narrow view of me is the first strike against him. It doesn’t help that he’s buddy-buddy with my brother. And that his best friend has a crush on me. And that I just moved in with them. Oh, did I not mention we’re roommates? Anyway, I’ve got my hands full dealing with a new school, a sleazy professor, and an uncertain future. So if my sexy brooding roomie wises up and realizes what he’s missing? He knows where to find me.

All The Way by Kristen Proby
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Finn Cavanaugh is known for being a force to be reckoned with in the courtroom. He owns a successful law firm with his brother and brother-in-law in Manhattan. But when Finn’s troubled niece goes to stay with him for the summer in Martha’s Vineyard, he’s reluctant to take time off from work. That is, until he meets his beautiful new neighbor, London, a Tony Award winning actress on Broadway. When tragedy strikes her family, leaving her alone and injured, she flees Manhattan for Martha’s Vineyard. Hoping she can figure out how to pick up the pieces of her life, London is convinced that she’ll never be able to return to the stage. But when she meets the charming young girl next door and her sexy uncle, they soon lure London out of her shell as she finally begins to heal from the wounds of her past.

The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Calla Fletcher wasn’t even two when her mother took her and fled the Alaskan wild. Calla never looked back, and at twenty-six, a busy life in Toronto is all she knows. But when Calla learns that her father’s days may be numbered, she knows that it’s time to make the long trip back to the remote frontier town where she was born. While she struggles to adjust to this rugged environment, Jonah—the unkempt, obnoxious, and proud Alaskan pilot who helps keep her father’s charter plane company operational—can’t imagine calling anywhere else home. Soon, she finds herself forming an unexpected bond with the burly pilot. As his undercurrent of disapproval dwindles, it’s replaced by friendship—or perhaps something deeper?

Not So Nice Guy by R.S Grey
Goodreads | Amazon

“Oh my god. Who that?” I get asked this question a lot. “Oh him?” I reply. “That’s just Ian.”Just Ian is the biggest understatement of the century. Just the Mona Lisa. Just the Taj Mahal. Just Ian, with his boring ol’ washboard abs and dime-a-dozen dimpled smile. Just Ian is… just my best friend. We’re extremely close, stuck so deep inside a Jim-and-Pam-style friendzone everyone at works assumes we’re a couple – that is until one day, word spreads through the teacher’s lounge that he’s single. Fair game. Suddenly, it’s open season on Ian. He should be reveling in all the newfound attention, but to our mutual surprise, the only attention he seems to want is mine…

Tailspin by Sandra Brown
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Blind Kiss by Renée Carlino
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Penny is now a suburban housewife, dreading the moment her son departs for MIT, leaving her with an impeccably decorated McMansion and a failing marriage. A lifetime ago she had a chance at happiness. After The Kiss. Before The Decision. The Kiss was earth-shattering and it was all for a free gift card. Asked to participate in a psych study that posed the question, “Can you have sexual chemistry without knowing what the other person looks like?” She never expected The Kiss to change her life forever and introduce her to Gavin: tattooed, gorgeous, and spontaneous enough to ask her out seconds after the blindfolds came off. For a year, they danced between friendship and romance—until Penny made The Decision that forced them to settle for friendship. Now, fourteen years later, both of their lives are about to radically change—and it’s his turn to decide what will become of their once-in-a-lifetime connection.

The Governess Game by Tessa Dare
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

After her livelihood slips through her fingers, Alexandra Mountbatten takes on an impossible post: transforming a pair of wild orphans into proper young ladies. However, the girls don’t need discipline. They need a loving home. Try telling that to their guardian, Chase Reynaud: duke’s heir in the streets and devil in the sheets… Like any self-respecting libertine, Chase lives by one rule: no attachments. When a stubborn little governess tries to reform him, he decides to give her an education—in pleasure. That should prove he can’t be tamed. But Alexandra is more than he bargained for: clever, perceptive, passionate. She refuses to see him as a lost cause. Soon the walls around Chase’s heart are crumbling… and he’s in danger of falling, hard.

Check out our other August book picks on our Goodreads list!

Any other releases you’re excited to read this month? Tell us in the comments below!

The post August Book Releases: Romance appeared first on The Nerd Daily.