#ThrowbackThursday: Romance Edition
Diving into our favourite books from authors with 2026 releases.
Hey all! Happy new year! (That’s still acceptable to say because this is my first post of the year). I wanted to chat about a few authors to keep your eye on this year.
I know the pain of waiting for a new book release—the good news is, these powerhouse authors have incredible backlists that are just begging to be binged. Whether you need a hockey romance fix, a romantasy escape, or something with a little more... bite, we’ve got you covered.
Let’s dive into the authors you need to know before their 2026 drops!
Rachel Reid
I, too, have been sucked into the Heated Rivalry mania! Have you heard the news?! Rachel Reid is writing another book in the series featuring more of Shane and Ilya’s story! GAHH! Sound the alarm and pack your bags to head back to the cottage in Unrivaled! (JK, I don’t know if they actually revisit the cottage but we can dream).
Her backlist is currently available while you wait for September though! The entirety of the Game Changer series is a must-read (go back and check out Kristina’s in-depth post about the series if you want to learn more), but Rachel also has two really great standalones you should check out.
Time to Shine
A merry and bright hockey romance about finding your place and finding your people.
The story follows Landon Stackhouse, who’s called up from a lowly Calgary hockey team into the NHL. A quiet loner by nature, Landon knows he gives off strong “don’t talk to me” vibes but the only player who doesn’t seem to notice is Calgary’s superstar young winger, Casey Hicks. Casey discovers that Landon needs a place to stay and Casey has just bought a massive house—and hates being alone—so of course offers to have Landon stay with him. Spending the holidays together only intensifies their bromance-turned-romance. But as the new year approaches, the countdown to the end of Landon’s time in Calgary is on and the two are not sure what’s going to become of their new found relationship.
The Shots You Take
A sweet, mature and sexy hockey romance about two ex-teammates and former best friends with benefits who are about to discover whether you can ever really have a second chance. This one is a little darker than Rachel Reid’s previous works (I love how she focuses on older main characters), but there’s great emotional payoff in the end that we love.
Sarah A. Parker
An author with an illustrious self-published career, whom HarperCollins has scooped up to traditionally publish.
When the Moon Hatched was viral on #BookTok when it came out!
It’s a lush epic about a young woman with a past she can’t remember, and a mysterious warrior she meets who helps her unlock that past. Great world-building, spicy scenes, and some action to pull you along—this romantasy ended on a cliffhanger that had me dying!
I can’t wait until book #2, The Ballad of Falling Dragons, which comes out in May 2026.
But while you wait, did you know she has another series that’s dark Rapunzel vibes? You can get your hands on the first book now! Gorgeous looking book to boot.
To Bleed a Crystal Bloom
This story follow a young woman who was saved from a bloody massacre nineteen years ago by a very mysterious and powerful High Master. Kept locked away and confined in a castle, she harbors some toxic, unreciprocated love for the man who’s clearly utterly unavailable. But when voracious beasts spill across the land and threaten her carefully crafted existence, her reality will peel back to reveal an ugly truth.
And don’t miss book number two in the series, To Snap a Silver Stem, coming March 3rd, 2026 so really not long to wait!
Jaymin Eve
If you love your romantasy with a side of “morally grey but I can fix him,” you need Jaymin Eve on your radar immediately. She is the queen of fun supernatural worlds where the men are dangerous and the heroines are tough as nails.
And guess what? 2026 is going to be HUGE for her fans. She has three new releases coming our way! Reclaimed drops on February 3rd (so not long to wait!), followed by Reborn on April 21st, and then Night Witch on June 23rd. My calendar is already marked, and my shelf space is already cleared.
But before we get there, you absolutely have to check out Spellcaster and Rejected while you wait.
Spellcaster
This really fun romantasy is set in a country’s elite college for witches with an intense enemies-to-lovers arc. It is a really slow burn and I would say it’s very Wednesday and Zodiac Academy and has that delicious “who hurt you?” trope that I love. And as I mentioned above, the sequel Night Witch is coming out this summer.
Now let’s talk Rejected.
The first in the Shadow Beast Shifters trilogy! And like Sarah A. Parker, Jaymin Eve was previously self-published and this trilogy was her most popular dark romantasy series. It was previously e-book only, and it’s now out for the first time in print with an added all-new bonus scene. It’s about a female wolf-shifter who, when rejected by her “fated” mate, calls on the Shadow Beast, god of the shifter realm, for help...and he answers her call. 🔥
Okay, Dark Romance fans, these next two authors are for you. If you’re under 18, look away!
Sadie Kincaid
If you like romances set in the world of the mafia, Sadie Kincaid is your girl. Her books are like chips—you can’t read just one chapter. You sit down for five minutes and suddenly it’s 3 AM and you’re emotionally compromised.
Sadie has a packed schedule for 2026, and we are screaming! Joey is coming February 24th, followed by The Auction on April 14th, and Lorenzo on July 21st. (FYI, The Auction is a standalone, while the others are a part of the Chicago Ruthless series). It’s going to be a very busy (and very spicy) year.
To prepare yourself for the Chicago Ruthless series domination, you have to start at the beginning with the man who started it all.
Dante
The first book in the Chicago Ruthless series is as an enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity spicy mafia tale.
Dante is man with a heart as cold as ice, whose passion rages like an inferno. He seeps into our main character’s soul and makes her pulse race. But dealing with Dante is like playing with fire.
If that’s Dante, I can’t wait to meet Joey and Lorenzo next!
Alta Hensley
And last but certainly not least, let’s talk about Alta Hensley. She has a new release, Songbird in the Gallows, coming June 30th, 2026. While we count down the days for that, you absolutely must check out her holiday stalker duology. Yes, you read that right—holiday stalker romance. It’s a thing, and it’s addictive. It’s never too late, or too early(?), to read a holiday book and Alta’s books are weirdly festive if you love intense obsession with your mistletoe.
He Sees You When You’re Sleeping
This one is about a jewelry influencer named Chloe, who finds herself torn between a hot online fan and the sexy fireman who seems to always be there for her, not realizing they are the same man… and that’s by his design. He’s been watching and waiting for her to be his.
And it’s sequel—He Knows When You’re Awake.
This one follows a designer named Sloane, who catches the eye of reclusive billionaire Cole Asher, who will stop at nothing to get her. Including striking a deal that’s impossible for Sloane to turn down but brings her right into the lion’s den. Literally. She must move in with Cole to reap any of the rewards he’s offering and Sloane must decide if she’s living in a fairy tale or a dangerous trap.
Now isn’t that intense! Love a dark romance sometimes. They’re absurd in the best way and really reminds me that it’s okay to dabble in your reading, and no, reading dark romance doesn’t make you a bad person 😅.
Anyway that’s my list of authors to check out for now! There are so many more to check out, my 2026 TBR and reading goals are already so overwhelmed! Send help, we’re drowning in tropes over here.
Cheers,
Brenann
YESS!! Read the Game Changers series in December, The Shots You Take this month, and I'm saving Time to Shine 😍 I've also got way too many editions of Unrivaled preordered 😅