June was a great reading month for me. I got a ton of books read and couldn’t be happier. Did you read any good books this month?
No Holding Back by Lori Foster
Trucker Sterling (Star) Parson is no stranger to the challenges a woman faces, both in her industry and in life. But she can take care of herself. She’s never needed—or wanted—a man around…until she meets Cade McKenzie. The take-charge bar owner sets off all kinds of alarm bells for Sterling, but he also sets her heart racing. Cade’s lived in Ridge Trail long enough to know trouble when he sees it, and the moment Sterling—Star—walks into his bar, he knows trouble’s come to call. Secrets run deep in the small town and Cade can tell Star’s got as many as he does, leaving him itching to uncover every last one. But finding common ground will mean trusting one another, further feeding an intense attraction that’s growing impossible to resist.
This was good! Lots of action and the ending was great. I’ll definitely be continuing this series.
Vamplets: The Nightmare Nursery by Gayle Middleton and Dave Dwonch; Illustrated by Amanda Coronado and Bill Blankenship
Teenage Destiny Harper is at a crossroad in her life. Graduation is coming, and she has zero prospects for the future. Answering an ad for “The Night Care Nursery” seems like a great idea, until she is magically transported to Gloomvania, where dark creatures lurk the streets, and the world is being mysteriously overrun by baby vampyres called Vamplets! Can Destiny serve her term as Governess of “The Nightmare Nursery” and return home? Fairy tales get a modern update in the second issue of this coming of age tales of monsters, mayhem, and magic!
This was so good! Super cute and I’m dying to read the rest of the series.
Graphix Goes To School by various illustrators
Do you love comics? We asked some of our favorite artists to write and draw ten original comics just for you. And there’s an exclusive peek at Raina Telgemeier’s new book, Ghosts!
This was good. It was a great way to try out different works by authors/illustrators I’ve never read from before.
The Tell-All by Libby Howard
Life at sixty isn’t quite what Kay Carrera expected. She’s working as a skip-tracer for a PI who is desperate to land his own reality TV show. She has a new roommate who arrived with more than the usual amount of baggage. And her attempts at knitting are less than stellar – way less than stellar. Worse, the cataract surgery that restored her sight has also delivered an unexpected and disturbing side-effect. Kay sees ghosts. And when the dead turn to her for help, she just can’t say no.
This was really good. A great start to the series and I can’t wait to read more.
Lacey Creek trilogy by Bethany Monaco Smith (contains Finally Yours, Always Mine and Only Ours)
Years of wanting. Years of waiting. Could they finally get it right? Follow the O’Brien siblings, Mikey, Luke, and Cece, as they discover the loves that have been right in front of them all along in this set of fast burn, steamy small town novellas.
I loved this trilogy! These are all novellas and I binge read every single one of them. All had great love stories and were super steamy!
Bewitched, Bothered, and Biscotti, Charms and Chocolate Chips, and Some Enchanted Eclair by Bailey Cates
**No synopsis since they are part of a series.**
I really liked all three of these books. I’m currently reading the next in the series and am loving it so far too.
The Doll in the Garden by Mary Downing Hahn
A suspenseful story of unexpected connections between present and past. Ashley and her mother need their new apartment to work out, but everything Ashley does seems to upset the irritable and unforgiving landlady. When Ashley makes friends with the girl next door, Kristi, they uncover a wooden box containing a well-loved turn-of-the-century doll. Ashley wants to keep the doll for herself, but Kristi has other ideas. So does the doll’s original owner, a girl who died decades ago, but whom Ashley meets when she follows a mysterious white cat through a hedge. Can Ashley bring peace to the girl and resolve her own present-day challenges?
This was so good and so sad! It was a bit creepy, but really good.
Neon Gods by Katee Robert
Society darling Persephone Dimitriou plans to flee the ultra-modern city of Olympus and start over far from the backstabbing politics of the Thirteen Houses. But all that’s ripped away when her mother ambushes her with an engagement to Zeus, the dangerous power behind their glittering city’s dark facade. With no options left, Persephone flees to the forbidden undercity and makes a devil’s bargain with a man she once believed a myth… a man who awakens her to a world she never knew existed. Hades has spent his life in the shadows, and he has no intention of stepping into the light. But when he finds that Persephone can offer a little slice of the revenge he’s spent years craving, it’s all the excuse he needs to help her—for a price. Yet every breathless night spent tangled together has given Hades a taste for Persephone, and he’ll go to war with Olympus itself to keep her close…
This was amazing! I loved Hades and Persephone so much! I can’t wait to read the second book in this series.
By the Book by Nancy Warren
Shari Wilson would love nothing more than to have a wild night with her downstairs neighbor, Luke Lawson. When she accidentally discovers that he’s bought a how-to manual on “pleasing” women, she knows a wild night is out of the question! But when Luke asks her for lovemaking lessons, Shari knows she must do her part for all women and make him the best lover ever—and she’ll do it all by the book…. Embarrassed just doesn’t describe how Luke feels when his sexy neighbor sees his first book, Sex for Total Morons. He knows he’s a master in the bedroom, but judging by Shari’s sudden pitying expression, she doesn’t. Fortunately for him, Luke isn’t about to let this opportunity pass by him. Shari’s a teacher, so there’s no way she’d refuse to teach him all the ins and outs of sex!
This was okay. I had high hopes for this book but it just fell a bit flat for me. It was still good, just not a new favorite.
Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman
“I bought the milk,” said my father. “I walked out of the corner shop, and heard a noise like this: t h u m m t h u m m. I looked up and saw a huge silver disc hovering in the air above Marshall Road.” “Hullo,” I said to myself. “That’s not something you see every day. And then something odd happened.” Find out just how odd things get in this hilarious New York Times bestselling story of time travel and breakfast cereal, expertly told by Newbery Medalist and bestselling author Neil Gaiman and illustrated by Skottie Young
This was really weird but very entertaining at the same time. Very short and easy to read.
Beard on Tap by Willow Sanders
♥ Finn ♥ Used to be, the family bar was hopping until last call every night. Now? If the bank doesn’t take her away from me in the next two months, it’ll be a miracle. All because some fat-cat politician thought building a new highway would earn him a few more votes. The last thing I need? A firecracker who has curves in all the right places and a smart mouth, telling me what to do to save my own damn bar. I can do this alone . . . except I recognize the pain I see in those moss colored eyes. Sure I don’t need any help, but it seems like she does ♥ Gemini ♥ All I wanted was a relaxing vacation. Fresh mountain air. Some uninterrupted time with a book. Yeah, right. Maybe I could relax if the bar I stumbled upon-literally– wasn’t run by the sexiest, and most annoying, man in the world. Five minutes in, I couldn’t decide if I wanted to drag him across the bar and kiss him or pour my beer down his flannel shirt. He won’t ask for help, but what he doesn’t know? I’ve never backed down from a challenge. Finn’s going to learn just how stubborn I can be. And maybe . . . we’ll find our happily ever after.
This was so cute! Finn and Gemini were so cute together. This was very short and quick to read.
Under an Alaskan Sky by Jennifer Snow
Single dad Tank Wheeler has vowed to keep his heart shuttered in the name of keeping his young daughter’s life stable. But lately, the chemistry between him and his adrenaline-loving best friend, Cassie Reynolds, has been getting him a little hot under the collar. And then, with one scorching birthday kiss, these best friends are instantly more. Exactly the wrong time for Tank’s ex to show up in Wild River, Alaska. Cassie is pretty sure she’s having a waking nightmare. Not only is Tank’s gorgeous ex hoping to reclaim her family, but a new megastore is threatening the wilderness-adventure business she’s spent five years building. But Cassie never backs down from a fight. And now it’s time to make the most terrifying leap of her life—and hope that Tank catches her…before she falls too far.
This was so cute and sweet. I love a good friends to lovers story and this was great.
Ferals by Jacob Grey
A sinister threat. A city in danger. A boy with the power to command the crows. Ferals is the first book in a dark, action-packed trilogy that’s part The Graveyard Book, part Batman, and all high-octane adventure. Blackstone was once a thriving metropolis. But that was before the Dark Summer—a wave of violence and crime that swept through the city eight years ago, orchestrated by the fearsome Spinning Man. Now the Spinning Man is on the move again, and a boy named Caw is about to be caught in his web. Caw has never questioned his ability to communicate with crows. But as the threat of a new Dark Summer looms, Caw discovers the underground world of Blackstone’s ferals—those with the power to speak to and control animals. Caw is one of them. And to save his city, he must quickly master abilities he never knew he had . . . and prepare to defeat a darkness he never could have imagined.
This was pretty good. It was very interesting and creepy but I probably won’t continue this series.
Sleepless in Scotland by Karen Hawkins
In Sleepless in Scotland, Catriona Hurst learns that her sister Caitlyn is getting into trouble in her societal debut, and she rushes to London to rescue her bolder, younger twin. Discovering that Caitlyn has planned to force Laird Alexander MacLean into marrying her by stowing away in his coach, Triond sneaks inside MacLean’s coach to dissuade her sister. But Triond gets trapped inside when the coach takes off—and it’s not Alex MacLean who discovers her, but his brother Hugh. Distracted by the heat that burns fiercely between them, he doesn’t realize that he’s gotten the wrong sister until it’s too late…
I decided to start giving historical romances a try and I’m so glad I did. This was so cute and the story was super good. I wish I read this series in order, but I didn’t feel like I missed out on much by not reading the others first.
The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa
Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey—ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her. Worse, Meghan’s own fey powers have been cut off. She’s stuck in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can’t help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.
This was so good and addicting! So hard to put down and a lot of crazy happens. I’ll definitely be continuing this series.
Package Deal anthology by BBB Publishing
Families come in all shapes and sizes. Divorced, widowed, adoption, or fostered, each family have their own unique tale. Join these authors as they tell the stories of these amazing single dads who find love in unexpected places. You will laugh, cry, get a little hot, and maybe even throw your phone. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.
This was good! I really liked all the stories in here, but I liked some more than others as usual. I liked the single dads a lot too.
Those are all the books I read this month! Hope you enjoyed! Until next time.