Reading didn’t go as well as I had hoped that it would. I did read a lot of really good books, I just didn’t get to read as much as I wanted to with how busy we were. Plus I read one book that I really did not like at all… Hope you enjoy this post and maybe find some new books to look into!
Aquicorn Cove by K. O’Neill
When Lana and her father return to their seaside hometown to help clear the debris of a storm, the last thing she expects is to discover a colony of Aquicorns—magical seahorse-like residents of the coral reef. As she explores the damaged town and the fabled undersea palace, Lana learns that while she cannot always count on adults to be the guardians she needs, she herself is capable of finding the strength to protect both the ocean, and her own happiness.
I enjoyed this. There were some sad topics that really made me miss my mom. I cried a lot in here. I loved the artwork.
Castle In The Waste by Zoey Hendrix
One day on a heist gone wrong, Suri encounters a mysterious man who helps her evade the law only to end up right back in the clutches of someone worse, The Witch of the Waste. Not everything is as it seems when Suri becomes entangled with the mysterious man again only to discover he is the most powerful wizard in the kingdom and a wanted man. Thrust into a shared living situation out of convenience, the mysterious wizard, Kitt agrees to teach Suri magic through the use of sigils drawing on one’s essence to create it. Suri struggles with this until she modifies the sigils to use sign language instead of the dead language of the runes. Learning to trust herself, she finds friends along the way and embarks on an amazing adventure through time and different lands to find the truth of the corruption in the kingdom.
I really enjoyed this! So good and so hard to put down. That cliffhanger killed me though…
Fall Into You by Caroline Frank
I’ve always loved being part of my family. We’re Italian, which, by definition, means that we’re completely in each other’s business and sticklers for tradition. But when Matt, my brother’s sexy best friend from college, comes back into our lives looking hotter and acting sweeter than ever, my family’s involvement really starts getting on my nerves. I pretty much fall for Matt from day one, so when my brother draws a firm line in the sand and forbids us from dating, it really becomes a problem for me. Being with Matt is the first thing that’s made me happy since my dad’s passing and I’m not going to let my brother stand in the way of that. I guess we’ll just have to keep things a secret…
I did not like this at all and really wished I would have just not finished it.
Beasts of Briar by Tee Harlowe
Bellamy’s brothers have been cursed for sixty years, stuck living as swans. She has only a short amount of time left to break the curse, or they’ll be trapped forever. Luckily, she’s finally discovered how. Unluckily, it involves traveling to the deadly shadow court and harvesting the thorny nettle weed that grows in the castle gardens, which Bellamy must use to knit sweaters. One sweater for each of her seven brothers—and she cannot utter a single word until the curse is broken. When the fearsome and mysterious shadow king catches her and offers safe haven, she doesn’t know what to think. She’s hated him her entire life for the atrocities he committed against her people. Yet there’s something alluring beneath his shadowy exterior, and she finds herself drawn to him against all better judgment. But a bigger evil looms over her, one that doesn’t want this curse broken. One that’s not just a threat to Bellamy, but to the entire world. And she may be the only one who can stop it.
I loved this! So hard to put down. This ending was amazing and wrapped up the series nicely!
The Perfect Love by Bethany Monaco Smith
Chelsea Winters knocked me on my ass. Meeting the curvy, auburn-haired goddess was the last thing I was expecting on my first day at a new college. But when she shows up at the lake house I share with my seven close friends, she looks like my literal dream girl. Then we spend a few hours talking, and I know without question, she’s meant to be mine. Until she panics, runs away, and tries to ghost me. But our campus isn’t that big, and it doesn’t take long for us to cross paths again, and when we do, I realize how terrified Chelsea actually is. Afraid to trust or let anyone past the upbeat, confident exterior she puts up. Which means it’s now my mission to show her she’s safe with me. She can trust me with her hurt and her heart. If she needs to go slow, I’ll crawl, as long as it’s to her. We’re both here for a fresh start, trying to heal from our pasts, but the more time I spend with her, the less I’m worried about the past because all I see is my future with her. There might not be any such thing as the perfect love, but I know without a doubt, she’s my perfect match, and I’ll do whatever it takes to be the man she shares her future with.
I really enjoyed this. I loved all the darker topics with such a light romance. I adore these characters and am always happy to be back with them all.
The Truth About Lord Stoneville by Sabrina Jeffries
In the two decades since a tragic “accident” took the lives of his parents, Oliver Sharpe, the Marquess of Stoneville, has survived the scandal surrounding that fateful night by living as an unrepentant rakehell. And with his grandmother vowing to disinherit him if he doesn’t settle down and wed, he plans to fulfill the bargain in true Sharpe style—by bringing home a fake fiancée from a brothel! But his scheme is derailed when he rescues an American beauty in a dire predicament instead. Maria Butterfield came to London to track down her groom-to-be, who’s gone missing, but her engagement won’t stop Oliver from getting what he wants: her, in his bed. His rebellious masquerade may call his grandmother’s bluff, but it’s soon made all too real—by a love that tempts him to be a hellion no more.
I enjoyed this. I loved the romance and really want to continue the series now.
Miss Butterworth and the Mad Baron by Julia Quinn and Violet Charles
A madcap romantic adventure, Miss Butterworth and the Mad Baron has appeared in several Julia Quinn novels and enthralled some of her most beloved characters. Now, this delicious tale of love and peril is available for everyone to enjoy in this wonderfully unconventional graphic novel. Born into a happy family that is tragically ravaged by smallpox, Miss Priscilla Butterworth uses her wits to survive a series of outlandish trials. Cruelly separated from her beloved mother and grandmother, the young girl is sent to live with a callous aunt who forces her to work for her keep. Eventually, the clever and tenderhearted Miss Butterworth makes her escape… a daring journey into the unknown that unexpectedly leads her to the “mad” baron and a lifetime of love.
This was a lot of fun and very entertaining. The art style was great too!
When Alec Met Evie by Jenny Proctor
When Evie moves South to the same mountain town where her childhood crush plays pro-hockey, she arms herself with all the reasons why she can’t fall for him again. Number one: Alec is her best friend’s much older brother. Number two: She’s recently divorced and does not need another man in her life. At least not anytime soon. Number three: With a four-month-old daughter, she has zero time for dating. Trouble is, Evie doesn’t know another soul in North Carolina, so when her rental floods before she’s even moved in, her only option is to crash with Alec for a few weeks. When she protests, he insists it’s what he’d do for his sister, and that’s basically what she is to him. But all these years later, the unexpected chemistry between them definitely says otherwise. A new relationship is risky when Evie is still licking her wounds from her divorce, and she has no idea if Alec has any desire to be a dad. His sister already warned he isn’t the type to settle down. But she can’t make herself care about any of that. Not until she’s already fallen, and it might be too late to save herself from another heartbreak.
I really enjoyed this. Alec is so sweet and swoony. Juno is the cutest baby ever. I cried so much at the end of this.
One Cursed Rose by Rebecca Zanetti
My name is Alana Beaumont, and due to a recent tragedy, I’m the sole heir to Aquarius Social, a family business being systematically dismantled by an unseen enemy. My father’s solution is to give me in marriage and create a coalition with a competing family, so I’m torn between my thirst for revenge and my duty. Now I just have a week to finish my hunt before the wedding. There’s nothing like an assassination attempt to cut short the best of plans—even worse is my unwanted rescue by Thorn Beathach, the Beast whose social media empire is driving Aquarius under. The richest, most ruthless of them all, he protects his realm with an iron rule: no one sees his face. When he shows himself to me, I know he’ll never let me go. Adam may think he can lock me in his castle forever, but I’m not the docile Beauty he expects. If the Beast wants to tie me up, I’m going to take pleasure from every minute of it . . .and we’ll just see who ends up shackled.
I loved this! This was so dark and addicting. I stayed up and read the whole book in a night. I loved these characters and the ending shocked me. I can’t wait for the next book!
Journey To Forgiveness by Danica Favorite
The one place she wants to avoid… Is the home she needs to save. Josie Shepherd never expected to inherit her estranged father’s horse stables—not after fifteen years of painful silence. But keeping the failing business is the only way to protect her hometown from developers, even if it means partnering with Brady King—the man who once broke her heart. Saving the property won’t be easy…but could forgiveness be the key to reopening their hearts?
I really enjoyed this. It was a great palate cleanser and I loved the story. I did cry a lot towards the end of this.
Those were all the books I read in January! Thank you for reading. Until next time.