I read a lot in July. Most of them were novellas or manga/graphic novels, but I’m happy to have gotten to so many. Plus I read so many amazing Christmas books. Hope you enjoy!
Tempting The Dhampir by Elle Sterling
Sadie’s plan for summer break was a tropical vacation with her sister, and maybe some cocktails on the beach. It did not include a gorgeous dhampir and a magical mate bond that forces them to stay near one another. Everett never expected to meet anyone like Sadie—witty, charming, and up for a Vegas adventure with the fanged man she just met on an island—but keeping her is a whole different matter.
Can Everett convince Sadie that the bond is more than just the fates playing games with them? That it could be their forever, if they’re just brave enough to reach for it?
I loved this! Such great banter and I can’t wait for the next book!
Demon Love Spell Vol. 3, 4, 5,and 6
Miko is a shrine maiden who has never had much success at seeing or banishing spirits. Then she meets Kagura, a sexy demon who feeds off women’s feelings of passion and love.
I loved this series and I’m sad that it’s over now. So much fun and I even teared up a few times.
Unfamiliar Vol. 2 by Haley Newsome
Based on the hit webcomic, Unfamiliar Volume 2 continues the exciting witchy adventures of Planchette and her new friends, Pinyon, Sun, and Babs. More magical mayhem ensues as Planchette and her new witch friends try to help a ghost bride rest in peace. Join them as they work together to handle a blackmailing Faerie King, a possible new romance, and an overnight camping trip in a profoundly evil forest.
Great characters and it was so cute! Loved the art style.
Christmas Presents by Tarah Dewitt
In Idaho, Tait and Henry make a last minute change of plans for the holiday, and scramble to get into the spirit. In LA, Meyer and Farley watch Hazel perform in the Nutcracker, and reflect on some of the meaning behind one of the season’s traditions. Over in Santa Cruz, Deacon and LaRynn are finally slowing down after a year of new beginnings.
I really enjoyed this! Such sweet stories filled with love.
Ensnared By The Werewolf by Lillian Lark
Belinda loves curse breaking. When a man shows up at her shop asking for help, she’s delighted to assist.
Who wouldn’t help their fated mate after all? Things go from bad to worse and now she’s left on the rebound. Perhaps riding the local lake monster through his heat will be enough to patch up her wounded soul and get her life out of the rut it’s fallen in. Getting lost in the woods on the way to her date was not a part of the plan. What also isn’t a part of the plan? Belinda has unfinished business coming for her with an entirely different type of rut in mind. Can she outrun what hunts her? Does she want to?
I really enjoyed this. Loved the romance in here. Very steamy.
The Plight Before Christmas by Kate Stewart
Clark Griswold was onto something, at least with his annual holiday meltdown. And since the last three weeks of my life have been riddled with humbug—another breakup, a broken toe, an office promotion I deserved and didn’t get—I’m not at all in the mood to celebrate nor have the happ, happ, happiest Christmas EVER. When Mom insisted that we all gather at my Grandparent’s ancient cabin for an old school family Christmas, I fully intended to get into the holiday spirit with the help of the three wise men, Johnnie Walker, Jack Daniels, and Jim Beam. But those boys did absolutely nothing to offset the shock or temper the sting of seeing my EX on our doorstep the first day of our holiday soiree. Apparently, Santa missed the memo, and this elf is pissed. Stuck for a week with the man who obliterated my heart nearly two decades ago, I did the only thing I could do and put on my game face, thankful for the home advantage. I knew better than to drink that last cup of eggnog. I knew better than to get tongue tangled beneath the mistletoe with the only man to ever break my heart. I knew better than to sleep with Satan’s wingman on the eve of the Lord’s birthday. I could blame the nog. I could blame the deceitful light blue eyes, thick, angelic hair, and panty evaporating smirk…but mostly, I blame Eli because he always knew exactly which of my buttons to push. I foolishly thought a family Christmas filled with nostalgia was going to turn my inner Scrooge around, but this year’s festivities went up in flames. Leave it to the ghost of my Christmas past to be the one to light the match. Fa la la la la, la FML.
I still love this book so much! So happy to finally have a physical copy so I could tab it up. Definitely one of my favorites.
Veiled in Stars and Silver by J. Ann Curtis
He’s the dread pirate captain who kidnapped her brothers. She’s out for revenge. For seven years, Wendy has been preparing for the day that she can finally return to Neverland, rescue her brothers, and take her vengeance on Captain Hook. But when she finally returns, things in Neverland aren’t how Wendy remembers. Since when did Peter come off shallow and grating? And the captain of the Jolly Roger has a strange allure that is oddly difficult to resist. When Peter tells her that her brothers are dead, her world is shattered. And yet, Hook claims they are alive. He will lead her to them if she retrieves a powerful weapon capable of destroying all of Neverland. She can’t trust his searing forget-me-not gaze. She shouldn’t agree. But Wendy will do anything to find her brothers. Even bargain with evil itself in the form of one James Hook.
I enjoyed this! Such great plot and I loved James a lot! Loved the ending!
The Naughty, The Nice, and The Nanny by Willa Nash
One week with one little girl—an angel, according to my staffing agency. Acting as the short-term nanny for a single dad should have been an easy way to make some extra cash. Until I show up for my first day and face off with a demon disguised as a seven-year-old girl wearing a red tutu and matching glitter slippers. Oh, and her father? My temporary boss? Maddox Holiday. The same Maddox Holiday I crushed on in high school. The same Maddox Holiday who didn’t even know I existed. And the same Maddox Holiday who hasn’t set foot in Montana for years because he’s been too busy running his billionaire empire. Enduring seven days is going to feel like scaling the Himalayas in six-inch heels. Toss in the Holiday family’s annual soiree, and Christmas Eve nightmares really do come true. But I can do anything for a week, especially for this paycheck, even if it means wrangling the naughty, impressing the nice, and playing the nanny.
This was so cute! Loved the romance. Can’t wait to continue this series!
Play by Play by Kaylee Ryan
Samantha Jase Andrews is trouble… but the best kind. Too gorgeous for his own good, the former professional athlete is every woman’s dream, including mine. I need to stay away, but he’s relentless. Most girls want Jase because of who he is, but that’s exactly why I don’t want to get involved. A guy like him and a girl like me are bound to fumble. His panty-melting smile is so hard to resist… until one day, I don’t. I give in and say yes to my boss’s cocky best-friend. His charming determination wears me down, and once I realize what I’ve been missing, there is no going back. Now we’re a team, and thanks to his insatiable drive, our squad is growing. Jase The minute I lay eyes on her, I know she will be mine. I want her, even though my best-friend warns me to stay away from his assistant. Samantha Wilson is smart, gorgeous, and not afraid to call me out. She’s perfect. A refreshing change from all the women who threw themselves at me when I was in the professional league. Not Samantha. She turns me down. Every. Single. Time. For nearly a year. It makes me want her even more. I’m not giving up, I’ve got plays for days, and I’m not afraid to use them. When she finally says yes. My life is turned upside down in ways I can’t imagine — get ready for the play by play.
So cute and sweet! Jake is the best.
Dirty Christmas by Mira Lyn Kelly
As car-jackings go, I know I lucked out. But still. Christmas is rough. Now I’m stuck in some tiny twinkle-light town with my plans to avoid the holiday hype blown to *holly* hell. I’m starting to suspect there’s no escaping this lump of coal when a feisty redhead lands in my lap. Suddenly, I know exactly what I want for Christmas. Now I just have to convince her I’m not the naughty player she thinks I am and to give me a chance to score a permanent spot on her nice list.
So cute and funny! I really want to read the whole series now!
Sips About To Go Down by Audrey Vaughn
Returning to my small hometown after I crash and burn in the city is bad enough. Having my lifelong rival, Wes Stryker rub it in my face doesn’t make it easier. Even worse, I’m hired to help him pull his family’s distillery out of a rough patch. Oh, and I’m forced to be his roommate. And that means dealing with his annoying flirting and one-upping all day, every day. He’s unbearably cocky, and his dimpled smile charms everyone with a pulse – except for me. At least until he starts to make me ugly laugh and I see glimpses of his big heart under the side he shows everyone else. Resisting him when he wanders around the house in nothing but sweatpants, undressing me with his eyes? Not possible. But I’ve sworn off charmers like him and the last man I let into my heart destroyed my confidence and my career. I won’t make that mistake again.
I enjoyed this. Loved the bartending/cocktail element. Wes was everything!
Trapped By Claws by Jessica M. Butler
Going unnoticed is one of Mena’s best skills but when she rescues an otter in the forbidden North Sea, she catches the eye of the one fae who can’t look away from her. It’s clear the rakish Corvin likes to flirt and play games. So when he teases his intention to carry her off, Mena can’t be sure it’s merely a taunt. After all, she’s just a spinster stew cook. But after her ship strays across the King of the North Sea’s magical boundary, Corvin is revealed as an enforcer, required to patrol fae water and destroy all who cross. Fae law has no mercy, and neither does he. The ship must be destroyed. Mena and Corvin strike a Everyone aboard will be spared, but only if she becomes his. Mena’s sacrifice ensures the crew’s survival and her mother’s safety, but now she’s trapped at the bottom of the sea, in a cold cave strewn with the remnants of other wrecks with no chance of escape. Mena’s handsome captor is not exactly who he seems. Corvin is trapped by his own bargain, owned by the King of the North Sea. If they are found, they’ll face swift, torturous execution. Because by the king’s command, shifter fae cannot have mates, and they’re forbidden to save humans. But now that Corvin has found his fated mate against all odds, he can’t let her go. Even if it costs him everything.
I loved this and could not put it down! The characters and romance was amazing. Plus I need my own pet otter…
His Christmas Vixen by C.C. Monroe
Spending the Christmas Holiday snowed in with my sin of a Fiancé, has never been more thrilling. Hanna and Theo are back with their Holly and Jolly Christmas night in. What awaits them this snowy night?
I enjoyed this. Great characters and VERY steamy.
Tainted Love by Steffanie Blais
Our past is too tangled. Too turbulent. Too tainted. Michael Tazman is the one. The one who broke my heart. The one who bulldozed his way back into my life. The one who refuses to go away. He wasn’t always the popular hockey player destined for the NHL. Once upon a time, he was a bruised and broken little boy. The boy that I loved. No one knows that side of him, just like no one knows what happens late at night when he slips into my bed under the veil of darkness. But he’ll never slip back into my heart. And while our chemistry could set an ice rink on fire, Michael Tazman and Sascha Bell aren’t meant to be. So why does fate, with her twisted sense of humor, seem hellbent on changing our course?
I really enjoyed this! The story kept me hooked and I loved the characters.
Lore Olympus Vol. 6 by Rachel Smythe
Witness what the gods do after dark in the sixth volume of a stylish and contemporary reimagining of one of the best-known stories in Greek mythology, featuring exclusive behind-the-scenes content from creator Rachel Smythe.
So good! One of my favorites of the series. Loved all the Hades and Persephone moments and can’t wait for the next volume!
A Little Bit Dirty by Willow Winters
I’ve got a thing for men who work with their hands. I thought I learned my lesson years ago. But here I am, back in the small town I grew up in, staring down the man who broke my heart years ago. I intended to tell him off. My plan was to flip him the bird and prove to both of us that he hadn’t ruined me. I sure as hell wasn’t going to sleep with him. Until he tells me he’s sorry. Until he gives me that smoldering look I still dream about. Until he whispers just beneath the shell of my ear… His breath trails down my neck and he leaves an opened mouth kiss right there, in that sensitive spot. “You have no idea how much I’ve missed you.” My treacherous heart wants more. More of him. More of us. But there’s a reason it didn’t work before and when you don’t learn from your past mistakes, you’re bound to repeat them.
I loved this! Such amazing characters and I loved the romance.
The Mistletoe Motive by Chloe Liese
He loathes the holidays. She loves them. She’s full of festive cheer. He’s brimming with Bah, Humbugs. Besides unreasonably seasonable names, the only thing Jonathan Frost and Gabriella Di Natale have in common is a healthy dose of mutual contempt. Well, that and the same place of employment at the city’s most beloved independent bookstore, Bailey’s Bookshop. But when the store’s owners confess its dire financial state, Jonathan and Gabby discover another unfortunate commonality: the imminent threat of unemployment. With the Baileys’ requests to minimize expenses, win new customers, and make record sales dancing in their heads, Jonathan and Gabby conclude—barring a financial Christmas miracle—one of them will soon be cut from the payroll. Neither are willing to step down from their position, so they strike a bargain: whoever has more sales in December gets to stay on in the new year; the loser will resign. With a lifetime’s worth of festive tricks up her sleeve, Gabby should easily outsell her nemesis, except the unreadable Mr. Frost’s every move seems purely designed to throw her off her game. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Gabby’s deceptive ex won’t quit pursuing her, and her anonymous online friend suggests they take a break. Worst of all, as the pressure mounts to save the bookshop and her job, Gabby meets a new, tender side of Jonathan. Is this the same man she’s called her cold-hearted enemy? Maybe he’s got a motive she just can’t figure out—or maybe Jonathan Frost isn’t as chilly as she once thought. Maybe Jonathan and Gabby already know—and love—each other in ways they never thought possible.
This was so cute! I loved the characters and the banter.
The Tinder Fix by Nikki Castle
Came for a date, left with the bartender.
So much fun! Loved the characters and wish that I could have more of them.
Love and Other Champagne Problems by Sarah Sutton
She meets the only man who’s ever been able to make her melt…but it’s not her prince charming. As the ice queen heiress to a multi-million-dollar luxury hotel chain, Margot always knew her parents would choose who she was to marry—whichever candidate had the deepest pockets and the most business assets. So when the time comes to either enter an engagement with a man she’s never met or lose her sparkling fortune, Margot knows there is only one answer. To keep her impulsivity in check, and to avoid ruining the business deal of a lifetime, Margot’s parents enlist Sumner Pennington, a new hire at the hotel, to play her secretary and to keep the leash on her tight. Sumner, part-time cater-waiter and now apparent part-time babysitter, is a breath of fresh air from the elegant and cutthroat world around Margot. Optimistic, cheery, warm-hearted—everything she isn’t. But as the two grow closer, and Margot finds herself falling for his cinnamon roll exterior, it becomes clear that there’s more to Sumner than meets the eye—and she begins to wonder if she even knows him at all. With her first meeting with her fiancé drawing nearer, and her parents’ grip on her becoming tighter, Margot’s faced with the realization that romance isn’t always a guarantee for someone in her position, and that falling in love may be just another champagne problem.
I loved this so much! I could not put it down. So good and I cried so much.
The Christmas Blanket by Kandi Steiner
When I decided to surprise my family in Wellhaven, Vermont for Christmas, I never could have known that I’d get a surprise of my own — in the form of an unexpected blizzard.
This was so sweet. I loved these characters and cried quite a few times in here.
Always Like This by Bethany Monaco Smith
The final chapter of the Friends Like This series, featuring POVs from all six of the best friends as the move into the next chapter of their lives. This is a direct continuation of the first ten books in the series. If you haven’t read them yet, please go back to the beginning and jump on the roller coaster in Friends Like This.
I loved this so much! It was bittersweet knowing it was the end of the series. This book broke me but put me back together by the end. So good!
The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai
Rhiannon Hunter may have revolutionized romance in the digital world, but in real life she only swipes right on her career—and the occasional hookup. The cynical dating app creator controls her love life with a few key rules: – Nude pics are by invitation only – If someone stands you up, block them with extreme prejudice – Protect your heart Only there aren’t any rules to govern her attraction to her newest match, former pro-football player Samson Lima. The sexy and seemingly sweet hunk woos her one magical night… and disappears. Rhi thought she’d buried her hurt over Samson ghosting her, until he suddenly surfaces months later, still big, still beautiful—and in league with a business rival. He says he won’t fumble their second chance, but she’s wary. A temporary physical partnership is one thing, but a merger of hearts? Surely that’s too high a risk…
I really enjoyed this. I liked all the topics talked about in here. The characters were great and I liked the romance.
A Festive Feud by Maren Moore
My family is famous for two things in our small Our annual Christmas party And…. Our feud with The Pearce family. Our families hate each other. It’s a tale as old as St. Nick himself. So, imagine what happens when a harmless little argument with Jackson Pearce ends with us both behind bars for the night. As if that wasn’t bad enough… The punishment for our crime? The only Christmas party we’re allowed to have is one together. At Town Hall. But… It gets worse . That means that I’ll be forced to spend time with Jackson and his enormous ego while we plan this party and somehow keep our families from strangling each other with tinsel this holiday season. It doesn’t help that he is annoyingly attractive and goes out of his way to push my buttons. With his old, dirty, work boots, and his stupid veiny forearms, he works his way into my perfectly organized life and leaves everything in disarray. Will we actually be able to survive this… Festive Feud, or will we end up back where we started?
I loved this! Such a quick read that was very spicy and funny.
Smog by Sarah Jaeger
Henri When the King of the Wolves realizes I am grossly underqualified to be the pack publicist, I will be so fired. I can’t lose this job. Even if that means spending nearly every day with the notorious Alden playboy. Someone has to keep him from damaging the positive public image I’ve worked so hard to craft for wolf shifters. Working with James “Deacon” Alden shouldn’t be a problem. Unfortunately, my boyfriend’s trust issues are proving to be an obstacle I hadn’t accounted for. Deacon This life — if we can call it that — with the “gift” of seeing the ancestors, is hard, even on the best days. The days I get to see her. From the shadows, I’ve seen to it that my family is safe and settled, but there’s one last thing standing in my way out of this existence. Henri Greene, the newest member of our found family, has proven that she, too, needs saving. But some people, you just can’t save. Is Henri destined to be one of them? Smog is the fifth book in The Ardelean Bloodline series. Each book in The Ardelean Bloodline will need to be read in order.
I can’t say the romance for these two characters were easy. Their lives were both so rough and full of hurt but they were made for each other. This book hurts and I cried quite a bit through it for these characters but I loved it so much.
The Ruined by Roxanne Tully
Have you ever tricked a man into bed with you? Neither have I. Wouldn’t dream of it—I’m a girl with class. Except when it comes to my ex-boyfriend Noah. Three years ago, I ruined any future with him and I’m done trying to win him back. Better off. He’s Grumpy Gorgeous and I’m Sunshine Plain Jane. With nothing left to keep me in our small town, and my best friend’s wedding to his brother looming, I make my amends. Call a truce so we don’t accidentally cause a scene during their big day. The trick? Noah thinks my imaginary date to the wedding is my ticket to losing my V-card. And…I might have let him believe it. A spark I thought was long gone ignites and suddenly he’s determined to prove I’m not ready. By volunteering himself to demonstrate. It’s one dangerous game I agreed to, but it’s all I ever wanted. I only hope that when the truth comes out, we won’t be completely and unforgivably ruined.
I loved this! Noah is amazing and I love him and Charlie together. Such a quick read for me and I can’t wait for Levi’s story!
Those are all the books I read this month! Thank you for reading! Until next time.