I’m pretty sure I break all sorts of rules by adding to my TBR pile before even finishing the books from the month before, but what can I say? I’m a rebel.

May is going to be a slow month for me, reading-wise. One week in, and I’m already waaaaay behind in my blogging, not to mention my housecleaning*. Only three must-reads on my list, but I’m being daring: I’m ::gasp:: trying a new author.

There’s been a veritable whirlwind of hype over on the Dear Author blog concerning Thea Harrison’s first novel in over a decade, Dragon Bound. On May 3rd, the paranormal fantasy released from Berkley, and—me being me—I immediately** downloaded it to my Kindle. The gist is that Pia, our very special and mysterious heroine, is blackmailed into turning klepto, and Dragos (the hero and mighty Alpha wyr) kicks his Monday blahs to the curb and pursues Pia—and her mysteriousness—with heretofore untapped enthusiasm. I’m excited to tap into Ms. Harrison’s world-building, as it’s purported she does it well.

Speaking of world-building, Nalini Singh’s long-awaited novel, Kiss of Snow, releases on May 31st in hardback (woot!), as well as digitally. The most recent installment in her amazingly delicious Psy-Changeling series features Hawke, the wolf changeling alpha of the SnowDancer pack, and the little renegade Psy, Sienna, that he just can’t keep his paws off of. Rumor has it that their romance isn’t only combustible, it’s a bit heart-wrenching, too. I personally cannot wait; I’ve been in the process of rereading the entire series*** in anticipation of this book.

The other May 31st release I’m looking forward to is by beloved Regency writer Julia Quinn. Just Like Heaven gives us the start of a series (well, I’m hoping for a series, anyway) starring characters who, in the past, remained in the rather humorous periphery: Honoria Smythe-Smith is one of the debutante musicians whose family is often referenced—as being the hosts of ear-splittingly painful musicales—in Ms. Quinn’s previous novels. She’s one of my go-to “Keeper Shelf” authors and has been since college: I can’t imagine not wanting to read Honoria and Marcus’s romance.

Let’s just keep our fingers crossed that having only three must-reads on my May list keeps my book-buying budget**** happy. It hasn’t been happy in a long while, but I sure have!

*It’s shedding season, but my vacuum is afraid to come out of the utility closet and do its civic duty. …That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.

**I’m not very good with delayed gratification.

***And no, I’m not a crazy fangirl—this is totally normal behavior. …Right?

****Impulse purchases don’t count. Or rather, they don’t count much.