I ended up getting a lot of books read this month. I’m proud of how much I accomplished and hope the great reading months continue.
Whiskey In A Teacup by Reese Witherspoon
Academy award-winning actress, producer, and entrepreneur Reese Witherspoon invites you into her world, where she infuses the Southern style, parties, and traditions she loves with contemporary flair and charm. Reese Witherspoon’s grandmother Dorothea always said a combination of beauty and strength made Southern women “whiskey in a teacup”. We may be delicate and ornamental on the outside, she said, but inside, we’re strong and fiery.
I loved this! I’ve always liked Reese but this made me like her even more. So many recipes I want to try!
Pro Gamer’s Aim by Lena Song
Two Neighbors. One Meet-Cute. Samantha James prefers pixels to people. By day, she grooms dogs; by night, she dominates (or fails to) in Build-A-Battle Royale, the hottest third-person shooter on the planet. Asher Sinclair, retired pro gamer, is hiding from fame in a friend’s quiet duplex. He’s not interested in neighbors, especially not quirky dog groomers. That is, until he hears her being murdered on his first night there. With 911 on speed dial and a hammer in hand, Asher charges in to save the day… Only to discover Samantha is just in the middle of a virtual showdown. No unalivers here, unless you count the avatars on her TV screen.
I really liked this! So cute and steamy! I can’t wait to get to the next book!
Recklessly in Love by Melanie A. Smith
Joanie Morris thought she had it all figured out — a successful career as a lawyer, lavish vacations, and a no-strings-attached approach to relationships. But when she abruptly parts ways with her firm, Joanie finds herself wondering what comes next. Seeking a distraction in her best friend Mia’s idyllic mountain town of Alpine Ridge, Joanie never expected to find herself drawn to the rugged charm of the local community center director.
I enjoyed this! I loved the characters and laughed a lot.
Scone Cold Dead by Kaitlyn Dunnett
With one solved murder case under her dance belt, Liss has no idea she’s about to spiral into another… Liss still misses the life of a professional dancer with Strathspey, the Scottish dance company she belonged to. So she arranges a reception for the troupe when they’re on tour, complete with a Scottish theme that includes a new spin on the classic Scottish Scone. Liss soon realizes life in the group isn’t all happy jigs and fancy stepping. Victor Owens, the company manager, has been making life miserable for everyone. But she has no idea how miserable until Victor bites into one of Liss’s prized cocktail scones, collapses and dies. When the police set their sights on Liss and her best friends, it’s up to Liss to find out whodunit before this culinary killer makes an encore.
I didn’t really like this. I guessed the murderer early on and I didn’t like the characters.
The Demon Prince of Momochi House Vol. 1 by Aya Shousto
On her sixteenth birthday, orphan Himari Momochi inherits her ancestral estate that she’s never seen. Momochi House exists on the barrier between the human and spiritual realms, and Himari is meant to act as guardian between the two worlds. But on the day she moves in, she finds three handsome squatters already living in the house, and one seems to have already taken over her role!
I really enjoyed this! So cute and I can’t wait to continue the series.
Moonlight and Mischief by Aly Hollis
Just six months ago, Jasper was the heir of an enemy pack. Now, he’s striving to prove his loyalty and carve out a place in his new community. His biggest distraction? The beautiful and endlessly cheerful Marigold, the pack’s beloved teacher. Marigold puts everyone else first, stretching herself to her limits as she cares for her students and her family. After a falling out with her grandmother, Marigold needs a new place to live. She’s nervous to stay with Jasper, but he’s been a reliable friend, and it certainly doesn’t hurt that he’s ridiculously gorgeous. Unfortunately, Jasper’s former pack still harbors a grudge and both Marigold’s safety and the new life Jasper has built are under threat. Alliances are crumbling and Marigold must decide if a relationship with Jasper is worth the risk.
I enjoyed this! Loved these characters and really can’t wait for the next book.
Perfectly Wicked by Lindsay Lovise
Holly Celeste and her sisters make the best apple cider in Maine—courtesy of a magical secret ingredient—but even that hasn’t been enough to keep their orchard afloat. To save the family business, Holly accepts a proposal to let a ghost hunting series film an episode on her farm. Connor Grimm may be the sexy and down-to-earth TV host the nation loves, but to Holly he represents her greatest fear: exposure. Holly doesn’t mind if Connor chases down a silly ghost story—it’s their other secret she’s terrified he’ll reveal. Connor Grimm’s life goal is to normalize the paranormal, which he does on his show, Grimm Reality. Except he isn’t only looking for a ghost at Wicked Good Apples. There have been rumors of rain during droughts and other inexplicable happenings that could only be attributed to something supernatural, and Connor plans to expose it on an episode that will take his show’s success to another level. Intent on keeping Connor in the dark, Holly joins him as he interviews eyewitnesses, hunts for old records, and unearths a story even she didn’t know existed. Despite her resolution to dislike him, she begins to fall for the only man who’s ever made her feel like strange could be normal. Too bad a relationship with Connor could only be temporary; he moves to a new state every month, and there’s no room in his life for a woman with a pet hedgehog, a houseful of nosy aunts and sisters, and a failing apple orchard. When Connor finally pieces together Holly’s greatest secret, he’s forced to choose between revealing his biggest paranormal discovery yet and propelling his show to the top of the charts, and giving it all up for the wicked woman who’s charmed his heart.
Such a fun, Fall read. I enjoyed these characters and the ghost hunting element.
You Had Your Chance, Lee Burrows by Piper Rayne
Lee f’ing Burrows The Kingsmen’s star quarterback. Legendary throwing arm. Six-pack abs. Kissable lips. Oh, but don’t forget, he’s also a lying, heartless egomaniac who broke my heart in college. It took me years to build myself back up after his deceit, and now I have the dream opportunity to prove myself working as a sports therapist for a professional team. The hurdle? Or mountain to be more accurate… The job is with the San Francisco Kingsmen. Back when I was a naïve college girl, I felt lucky that he even noticed me. Now eight years later, he’d be lucky if I gave him the time of day. Which I won’t. Not ever. Some people don’t deserve a second chance and Lee Burrows is one of them. Now if someone could only tell him that because he’s hell-bent on scoring the winning touchdown and won’t accept that it’s game over for us.
I liked this. A very quick read with a great ending.
Love At First Bite by Sherrilyn Kenyon, L.A. Banks, Susan Squires, and Ronda Thompson
Until Death We Do Part by Sherrilyn Kenyon Over five hundred years ago, Esperetta’s soul was bound to her husband’s by dark magic, and when Velkan became a Dark-Hunter, to her horror, she became immortal as well. Now, they must come together to fight an old enemy…and the passion that threatens to consume them once more. Ride the Night Wind by L.A. Banks Dark dreams haunt Jose Ciponte, dreams of a woman so beautiful he aches for her-and a deadly enemy who stalks them in the night. And now those dreams have become a reality… The Gift by Susan Squires All Major Davis Ware wants to do is propose to the beautiful Emma Fairchild. Instead, he is called back into battle, and a desperate fate. And Emma will venture into hell itself to save him. The Forgotten One by Ronda Thompson Lady Anne Baldwin longs to break free from her proper bonds. When she meets the mysterious Merrick, whose eyes glow like a wolf’s, she may have found more than she bargained for.
I didn’t really like this. I hated one of the stories and the rest were pretty meh to me.
Aim Assist by Lena Song
Liam Taylor lives by one Enjoy what you’re doing, or don’t do it at all. That’s why he swapped pro gaming glory for the thrill of investing into his best friend’s company. Life’s a game, and Liam’s winning. Amy Sloane is absolutely, positively, unmistakably No more men, especially not gamer boys. Fresh off a breakup with her cheating ex, she’s done with streamers and their infamous purple vegetable emojis. But what Amy doesn’t know is that the mysterious gamer who plays Shadow Ops with her every night is about to slide into more than just her DMs. They’ve signed a contract to stream together, blissfully unaware of each other’s real identities… When the virtual world collides with reality, sparks fly. Suddenly, Amy finds herself tangled in a flirtation with a man who takes her breath away. Will love be their ultimate game-changer?
I loved this! So spicy and the characters were great. I loved the gaming element and need more of this series.
My Pucking Mate by Izzy Elliot
When Leera Adams loses her parents months before starting college, the excitement of beginning the next chapter of her life is now shadowed with grief. Having grown up traveling the world with her photographer & journalist parents homeschooling her, she’s a little awkward and anxious to settle down in one place but vows to do her best to have a normal college experience. She never planned for him. Roman Razboinic has lived through his father’s darkness, rebuilding the king’s werewolf army, and learning to play professional hockey. When in reality he feels like he died the day he lost his mate and their unborn pup. Every day, he’s just going through the mundane motions of taking care of his pack, his closest men, and playing hockey, until the time comes for him to fulfill his duty to his people. That is until an incredibly short and spunky woman throws his entire world off its axis.
I really enjoyed this! So much fun but that ending…I have sooo many questions!
The Baby-Sitters Club: Logan Likes Mary Anne! by Gale Galligan and Ann M. Martin
It’s the first day of a new school year, and while Mary Anne doesn’t know what to expect from the eighth grade, she’s looking forward to getting back into the swing of things. One thing she definitely doesn’t expect is to meet Logan Bruno, who just moved to Stoneybrook! Logan has a dreamy southern accent, he’s awfully cute… and he might be interested in joining the BSC. But the baby-sitters aren’t sure if Logan would make a good club member, so they send him on a job with Mary Anne as a test. Logan and Mary Anne hit it off, but Mary Anne isn’t sure of where their friendship could go. Life in the Baby-sitters Club has never been this complicated — or this fun!
This was so cute and I loved the art too!
Red Ink by Imani Jay
GIUSEPPE Heavens have mercy on who dares touch a single hair on his woman’s head… Madeleine Sow has craved for Giuseppe, Joey, DeLuca for as long as she can remember. No man has ever compared. Not even the one her father has arranged for her to marry… Joey’s had his eye on Maddie for a long time. Waiting for the girl to grow into a woman. For the woman to become his match. But just when he thinks she slipped through his fingers, Maddie comes knocking on his door, and blows his mind with a proposal no man can refuse. Now he has no choice but to claim his woman and protect her. This savage will stop at nothing to keep what’s his safe. BOSTON SOUR She’s no damsel in distress, but a strong woman in need of protection, and he’s the perfect man for the job. I escaped the clutches of my criminal ex and rebuilt my life. But now I have to move again, because even locked away, the man finds a way to make my life a nightmare. Then my son-in-law, Joey DeLuca, puts me under the protection of his hot-as-hell best friend. And Lord have mercy, the man is fine! But I have no time for shenanigans. There’s a stalker after me, and I need to stay smart. Now if only my lady bits and Cal’s big… hum… thing got the memo!
This was super smutty and a fast read. Not my favorite..
Fall I Want by Lyra Parish
My first impression of Zane Alexander isn’t great. The second is worse, but when he forces me to hang out with him, I can’t say no. We quickly go from familiar strangers to flirty friends. When my ex returns, Zane flawlessly pretends to be my boyfriend to protect me. He’s so damn good at it, I almost believe it. Afterward, we devise a plan to fake date through the holidays. I become his plus one and he becomes mine. I don’t know when our relationship moves from pretending to passionate, but I catch feelings. As our exes desperately crawl back into our lives like zombies, I realize there is only one man for me, and (f)all I want is him.
Just what I needed to pacify my yearning for Fall. This book was perfect and I adored these characters. I love how all of Lyra’s characters just seem to pop in other’s books too. Such a great read!
Things We Left Behind by Lucy Score
There was only one woman who could set me free. But I would rather set myself on fire than ask Sloane Walton for anything. Lucian Rollins is a lean, mean vengeance-seeking mogul. On a quest to erase his father’s mark on the family name, he spends every waking minute pulling strings and building an indestructible empire. The more money and power he amasses, the safer he is from threats. Except when it comes to the feisty small-town librarian that keeps him up at night… Sloane Walton is a spitfire determined to carry on her father’s quest for justice. She’ll do that just as soon as she figures out exactly what the man she hates did to—or for—her family. Bonded by an old, dark secret from the past and the dislike they now share for each other, Sloane trusts Lucian about as far as she can throw his designer-suited body. When bickering accidentally turns to foreplay, these two find themselves not quite regretting their steamy one-night stand. Once those flames are fanned, it seems impossible to put them out again. But with Sloane ready to start a family and Lucian refusing to even consider the idea of marriage and kids, these enemies-to-lovers are stuck at an impasse. Broken men break women. It’s what Lucian believes, what he’s witnessed, and he’s not going to take that chance with Sloane. He’d rather live a life of solitude than put her in danger. But he learns the hard way that leaving her means leaving her unprotected from other threats. It’s the second time he’s ruthlessly cut her out of his life. There’s no way she’s going to give him a third chance. He’s just going to have to make one for himself.
I’m mad I waited so long to get to this! I loved this so much and it may be my favorite of the series.
Rosario + Vampire Season 2 Vol. 7 by Akihisa Ikeda
Yuokai Gakuen has been repaired and the new semester is underway. Tsukune and gang are back, and more powerful then ever. Anti-Thesis’s true identity is relieved. With new adversaries looming on the horizon, and something much more sinister then the gang has ever faced before.
I enjoyed this. A lot of action and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
Always The One For Me by Carrie Ann Ryan
It took two days for me to know Kendall was the one for me. And it took two years for me to realize I had to leave in order to protect her. When I walked away, I told myself it was for the best. But now we work together, and every time we’re in the same room, we end up fighting. If we didn’t, we’d end up naked. Or worse–spilling heartbreaking secrets. If she knew the truth, she’d either walk away for good or convince me to take a second chance. The first thing would break me, and the second would break her. I can’t let either of those things happen…
I loved this! Such a quick read for me. I loved Kendall and Evan so much. Now I just need to get caught up on this series.
Wild Scottish Fortune by Tricia O’Malley
Orla Clarke is a master builder with a secret—she can see ghosts. Tasked with building Common Gin’s newest distillery in Loren Brae, Orla faces more than just architectural challenges. Haunted by her past as an orphan and the spirits that have followed her since childhood, Orla’s talent for building walls extends to her heart. She’s brilliant at solving problems on the construction site, but when it comes to matters of love, she’s always kept her distance. Enter Finlay Thompson, the charming and driven director of the distillery project. Determined to breathe new life into the old stone building, Finlay is equally passionate about gin as he is about profits. Betrayed by family, and untrusting of relationships, he can’t help but be entranced by the pint-sized powerhouse overseeing the build-out of the distillery. With mysterious things happening around Loren Brae, the more Finlay puts himself in Orla’s path, the more he is drawn to the quiet builder with luminous eyes. As spirits bring secrets to light, Orla and Finlay must confront their deepest fears. Can they build a future together, or will their haunted pasts keep them apart forever?
I loved this! I could not put it down! I did not read the first five in this series but I didn’t feel like I missed out. I will be going back and reading them though because I loved this world and want to read the other character’s stories.
A Doomful of Sugar by Catherine Burns
Leila Khoury has always believed that everyone loved her father as much as they loved his artisanal maple syrup. But when he’s killed, and she returns to Sugar Ridge, Vermont to take over his business, she starts to realize how much of his life she’s left untapped. With her brother under suspicion, her mother just barely holding it together, and police not producing any leads, Leila will have to investigate herself if she wants answers about her father’s sticky end. But the more she learns, the more she worries that there won’t be a sappy ending to the story.
I started out not really liking this book. By the middle I did like it more, even though I did predict the murderer. I do want to continue the series at some point though.
Knocking Boots by Willow Winters
A drunken bet that led to a fake relationship? My naive little heart still hoped it would last… We were never meant to be together. He’s a bartender with noncommittal tendencies. I’m looking for … the opposite. Commitment. Period. But drinks and a bet led to something it shouldn’t a fake relationship. Worse, a first date, a first kiss… and then more. He’s addictive and I can’t bring myself to accept the reality. That it’s all a lie and I’m fooling myself by thinking he could want more. That I could change him. He’s mine for as long as I keep on pretending like this is just for fun. As if I don’t want more… Like when he whispers my name, I pretend it doesn’t make my heart flip. Like when he holds me at night, I pretend I don’t want to lay in his bed every night. It’s just a bet; just a lie . . . until it isn’t.
I loved this! These characters were amazing and I loved the romance. So sweet and cute.
That’s all the books I read this month! Hope you enjoyed. Until next time.