May was a pretty good reading month for me. I wanted to get more read but ran out of time. Did you get any good books read this month?
How The King of Elphame Learned to Hate Stories by Holly Black and illustrated by Rovina Cai
Once upon a time, there was a boy with a wicked tongue. Before he was a cruel prince or a wicked king, he was a faerie child with a heart of stone. #1 New York Times bestselling author, Holly Black reveals a deeper look into the dramatic life of Elfhame’s enigmatic high king, Cardan. This tale includes delicious details of life before The Cruel Prince, an adventure beyond The Queen of Nothing, and familiar moments from The Folk of the Air trilogy, told wholly from Cardan’s perspective. This new installment in the Folk of the Air series is a return to the heart-racing romance, danger, humor, and drama that enchanted readers everywhere. Each chapter is paired with lavish and luminous full-color art, making this the perfect collector’s item to be enjoyed by both new audiences and old.
I loved this! I was so happy to be back in this world. The stories were great and the illustrations are gorgeous.
Brownies and Broomsticks by Bailey Cates
Katie Lightfoot’s tired of loafing around as the assistant manager of an Ohio bakery. So when her aunt Lucy and uncle Ben open a bakery in Savannah’s quaint downtown district and ask Katie to join them, she enthusiastically agrees. While working at the Honeybee Bakery—named after Lucy’s cat—Katie notices that her aunt is adding mysterious herbs to her recipes. Turns out these herbal enhancements aren’t just tasty—Aunt Lucy is a witch and her recipes are actually spells! When a curmudgeonly customer is murdered outside the Honeybee Bakery, Uncle Ben becomes the prime suspect. With the help of handsome journalist Steve Dawes, charming firefighter Declan McCarthy, and a few spells, Katie and Aunt Lucy stir up some toil and trouble to clear Ben’s name and find the real killer..
This was really good! A great start to a series.
Come Back to Me by Mila Gray
Home on leave in sunny California, Marine and local lothario Kit Ryan finds himself dangerously drawn to his best friend’s sister, Jessa – the one girl he can’t have. But Kit’s not about to let a few obstacles stand in his way and soon Jessa’s falling for his irresistible charms. What starts out as a summer romance of secret hook-ups and magical first times quickly develops into a passionate love affair that turns both their worlds upside down. When summer’s over and it’s time for Kit to redeploy, neither Kit nor Jessa are ready to say goodbye. Jessa’s finally following her dreams and Kit’s discovered there’s someone he’d sacrifice everything for. Jessa’s prepared to wait for Kit no matter what. But when something more than distance and time rips them apart they’re forced to decide whether what they have is really worth fighting for.
This was so good but so sad! I loved the love story in here.
Fierce Hearts Anthology
The Fierce Hearts Charity Anthology includes 46 romantic fantasy novellas, novelettes, short stories, and exclusive sneak-peek chapters from more than 40 authors, including New York Times and USA Today bestsellers. Stories range from mild to scorching in heat level. Most importantly, all proceeds (100%) will be donated to the International Rescue Committee (or a similar charity should IRC become unavailable), which in turn will be directed to supporting humanitarian efforts on behalf of the Ukrainian people. Authors featured include: Jeffe Kennedy, Olivia Wildenstein, Amelia Hutchins, Elizabeth Briggs, Karpov Kinrade, Sylvia Mercedes, Shari Tapscott, Hollee Mands, Miranda Honfleur, Carissa Broadbent, Clare Sager, Jessica M Butler, Catharine Glen, Monica Enderle Pierce, Karen Tomlinson, Marina Simcoe, Tessonja Odette, Anthea Sharp, Denali Day, Bethany Adams, and many more!
This took me forever to read, but it was so worth it! It was so good and I really enjoyed almost all of the stories, which hardly ever happens in anthologies.
Freaking Love: Part 3 by Bethany Monaco Smith
Everything is an utter wreck. This isn’t how I saw my life going. Braden is unconscious with life threatening injuries. As we walk the fluorescent-lit hospital halls and sleep in uncomfortable waiting room chairs, the weight of what we’ve all been through—are going through—hits us hard. Vince is struggling with guilt over his broken relationship with Braden, and the painful memories this situation brings up about his mother’s death. Nick and Leigh are trying to navigate a new relationship and pregnancy as Nick deals with regret over the last words he said to Braden, and Leigh continues to battle the anger inside her. And then there’s me. I spend the hours replaying our last conversation, the hurtful things I said. Those feelings mix with my anger toward him, but also with the memories of what we once were. What I want us to be again. I need him to wake up. I need him to fight through this so we can fight through this. I need my best friend back. Most of all, I need him to know I still love him—we all still love him. This is the forever kind of love, and we’re not giving up. I just have to hope he won’t give up either.
This was so good! I love how this ended. I cried so much in this book. It was super emotional and I loved the character’s journeys.
Etched In Honor by Carrie Ann Ryan
The betrayal that had nearly taken out the Aspen Pack has passed, but the ramifications of starting with a new hierarchy are taking their toll on Audrey Porter. Once traitor to the former leaders for trying to save their people, she’s now the Beta of the Pack and must try to hold their shattered remains together. Only she never expected the man from her past to awaken memories long since buried. Gavin Powers is the new Tracker for the Aspen, yet it feels as though he’s always been part of the Pack, rather than a newcomer trying to heal a people long since thought forgotten. There are secrets within the den that could alter how the world sees shifters, and if Gavin isn’t careful, his attraction to Audrey could ruin everything. There is a mysterious new enemy on the horizon, one long since vanquished into myth. As the darkness surrounding the Packs is unveiled, it will take a wolf and a lioness to unbury the past and fight for their future—or risk losing everything before it begins.
This was great! I loved the love story and the fantasy element with the shifters, vampires, and demons. I can’t wait for the next book to come out!
How To Kiss Your Best Friend by Jenny Proctor
Kate Fletcher is my kryptonite. She’s also my best friend. Former best friend? I’m not sure what you call it when we grew up attached at the hip and then she left Silver Creek (and me) to travel the world. The important thing is: Kate is back. (Temporarily.) And I’m still in love with her. (Permanently.) But something is different now. The attraction doesn’t seem one-sided. I don’t think I’m imagining the heat in Kate’s eyes or the chemistry crackling between us. But will that be enough to keep Kate here, when, for as long as I can remember, all she’s wanted to do is leave? I’m determined to give her a reason to stay. Family. Connection. Roots. And me. I’ll have to start with sparks and fire, but if I take this step, there’s no turning back to simple friendship. And if she doesn’t feel the same way, I might lose her again—this time for good.
This was so cute! I really enjoyed this friends to lovers story and can’t wait for the rest of the Hawthorne brothers’ stories
Those are all the books I read this month! Thank you so much for reading. Until next time.