I got quite a few books read in May. I really enjoyed pretty much all of them and I couldn’t ask for a better reading month.
When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn
In every life there is a turning point. A moment so tremendous, so sharp and breathtaking, that one knows one’s life will never be the same. For Michael Stirling, London’s most infamous rake, that moment came the first time he laid eyes on Francesca Bridgerton. After a lifetime of chasing women, of smiling slyly as they chased him, of allowing himself to be caught but never permitting his heart to become engaged, he took one look at Francesca Bridgerton and fell so fast and hard into love it was a wonder he managed to remain standing. Unfortunately for Michael, however, Francesca’s surname was to remain Bridgerton for only a mere thirty-six hours longer—the occasion of their meeting was, lamentably, a supper celebrating her imminent wedding to his cousin. But that was then… Now Michael is the earl and Francesca is free, but still she thinks of him as nothing other than her dear friend and confidant. Michael dares not speak to her of his love… until one dangerous night, when she steps innocently into his arms, and passion proves stronger than even the most wicked of secrets…
I really enjoyed this. I loved the romance and I really liked Michael.
Romancing The Grump by Jenny Proctor
Nathan Sanders didn’t earn his reputation as the grouchiest player on the Appies hockey team by chance. So when Summer Callahan breezes into his life with her flirtatious smiles and endless charm, he responds like he always does: he completely ignores her. But Summer is intrigued by the surly defenseman, so when a viral social media post requires her to step in and fake it as Nathan’s girlfriend, she jumps at the chance. She’s convinced the ones with the hardest shells are often the softest underneath, and she’s determined to prove it. But Nathan doesn’t crack so easily. Despite their obvious chemistry, he makes his lack of interest in a relationship—any relationship—perfectly clear. But the longer they pretend, the less fake everything seems, and the more Summer starts to fall.
I loved this so much! The romance was everything. I can’t wait to read more of the Appies players stories.
Every Woman’s Fantasy by Vicki Lewis Thompson
Mark O’Grady has a bad habit of making love to a woman — and then proposing. But sexual chemistry is never enough to get him down the aisle. So Mark puts an ad in Texas Men magazine, determined to take it nice and slow with the next woman — make friends before getting too “friendly.” Charlene “Charlie” McPherson is sick of being every guy’s buddy. One look at Mark’s picture and she’s out to inspire uncontrollable lust in him. Unfortunately it works…before she discovers his reputation as a “serial groom.” Now Charlie has to find a way to say, “I don’t” to his luscious lovemaking…; long enough for Mark to fall in love with her . . .and say, “I do.”
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Very funny with a cute ending.
Of Blood and Bone by Nora Roberts
They look like an everyday family living an ordinary life. But beyond the edges of this peaceful farm, unimaginable forces of light and dark have been unleashed. Fallon Swift, approaching her thirteenth birthday, barely knows the world that existed before—the city where her parents lived, now in ruins and reclaimed by nature since the Doom sickened and killed billions. Traveling anywhere is a danger, as vicious gangs of Raiders and fanatics called Purity Warriors search for their next victim. Those like Fallon, in possession of gifts, are hunted—and the time is coming when her true nature, her identity as The One, can no longer be hidden. In a mysterious shelter in the forest, her training is about to begin under the guidance of Mallick, whose skills have been honed over centuries. She will learn the old ways of healing; study and spar; encounter faeries and elves and shifters; and find powers within herself she never imagined. And when the time is right, she will take up the sword, and fight. For until she grows into the woman she was born to be, the world outside will never be whole again.
So good! Very fast paced and hard to put down. I can’t wait to see what happens next!
No Place Like Home anthology
No Place Like Home is an anthology containing a collection of short stories based on The Wizard of Oz. The authors are made up of a variety of indie writers who all hail from the Midwest.B.D. Brown, D.L. Howe, Darley Collins, Eliza Anne, K. Rose, L.A. Remenicky, Maya Black, Stormy & Alejandra Raeyne, and Tabitha Rose have all come together to give you everything from PNR to LGBTQ to Post Apocalyptic stories.
This was fun. I really liked The Wizard of Oz theme.
Absolute Boyfriend Vol. 1 by Yuu Watase
Shy high school student Riko Izawa aches for a boyfriend but guys just won’t look her way. Then one day she signs up for a three-day trial of a mysterious “lover figurine,” and the next thing she knows, a cute naked guy is delivered to her doorstep–and he wants to be her boyfriend! Has Riko died and gone to heaven? The cute naked guy turns out to be smart, super nice, stylish and a gourmet chef. Plus, he looks like a million bucks…. Trouble is, that’s about what he’s going to cost Riko because she didn’t return him in time!
This was so much fun and was hilarious. I can’t wait to see what happens next!
Catstronauts: Race To Mars by Drew Brockington
Fresh off of their heroic mission to save the world, the CatStronauts–Major Meowser, Pom Pom, Blanket and Waffles–are taking a well deserved victory lap. Parades and fancy awards dinners are the new norm! But around the world, other cat space programs are watching–in particular the CosmoCats, the first cats to go to space! With national pride and scientific research on the line, the world’s space programs rush to be the first cats to Mars, and the CatStronauts are starting months behind! Can they catch up and prove their first mission was no fluke?
This was cute and fun. I loved the ending.
Smooth As Whiskey by Lyra Parish
Top three reasons why I shouldn’t eff around and find out with Cash Johnson. 1. He’s eight years older than me. 2. He’s best friends with my broody, older brother, who’s overly protective. 3. He’s hiding something. So we become roommates. And I become his greatest temptation. I play his dangerous game of cat and mouse until we collapse between the sheets with a promise to tell no one. The only problem is that secrets don’t stay hidden in our small town for long—not our forbidden relationship or the pasts we’re both running from.
Cash and Remi may be my new favorite couple of this series. So good and heartbreaking at times.
His Destiny by Angel Rayne
I’ve always been empty. A void where a soul should be. Now, everything is different. Because of her. Monsters aren’t supposed to have empathy. That’s why I was the perfect mafia enforcer. Cold. Brutal and efficient. Until I dragged Luna into the dark with me. Even as my captive, she shined her light into all the scarred, tortured parts of my world, forcing me to realize I might be human after all. And I hate it. I have no idea what to do with these emotions. Desires. The overwhelming need I have for her touch, her body, her soul. I know I can protect her from our mutual enemy. That’s why I kidnapped her in the first place. But I’m starting to wonder if I’m the one who needs to be saved. Because for the first time in a long time, maybe ever, I think I’m…afraid. After all, what kind of twisted beast will I become now that my heart—the one I only just realized I have—is in her delicate hands?
Such a great ending to this trilogy! So much happens and I couldn’t put it down.
It’s In His Kiss by Jill Shalvis
Becca Thorpe has uprooted her life and escaped to the beach. Now’s her chance to get away from city living, throw caution to the ocean winds, and live in the moment. Especially if the moment includes the deliciously sexy surfer she meets shortly after arriving in Lucky Harbor. Something about the dark intensity of Sam’s eyes and the thrill she gets at his touch convinces her to stay awhile. Boatbuilder and investment genius Sam Brody is a self-made man who knows how dangerous it can be to mix business and pleasure. But he can’t resist offering Becca a job just to hear her laugh and have her near. Yet when her brother comes to town asking for help, will he tempt her back to her glamorous life in the city? Or do Sam and little Lucky Harbor have a chance to win Becca’s heart?
I loved this! So cute and hard to put down.
The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall
Sadie Revelare has always believed that the curse of four heartbreaks that accompanies her magic would be worth the price. But when her grandmother is diagnosed with cancer with only weeks to live, and her first heartbreak, Jake McNealy, returns to town after a decade, her carefully structured life begins to unravel. With the news of their grandmother’s impending death, Sadie’s estranged twin brother Seth returns to town, bringing with him deeply buried family secrets that threaten to tear Sadie’s world apart. Their grandmother has been the backbone of the family for generations, and with her death, Sadie isn’t sure she’ll have the strength to keep the family, and her magic, together. As feelings for Jake begin to rekindle, and her grandmother growing sicker by the day, Sadie faces the last of her heartbreaks, and she has to decide: is love more important than magic?
I loved this even though I did cry for half the book. I loved these characters so much and the romance was great.
Trust Like This by Bethany Monaco Smith
Part two of Mackenzie’s love story…This is a direct continuation of the first eight 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 enjoyed this. It was amazing seeing how far all these characters have grown. Plus that ending…
Born of Blood and Thorns by Riley Hunt
Break the curse, save a kingdom… Blamed for her shattered kingdom, half-vampire Isabella just got a dire ultimatum from her vampire prince father. Unwilling to embrace eternal darkness as a vampire, Isabella flees, pursued by Gideon, the merciless alpha wolf who wants to claim her as his own. Isabella chooses neither. She flees into the dangerous forbidden woods, pursued by Gideon and his pack. Fate leads her straight into the claws of the red dragon, Lore—her enemy and her salvation. Despite her initial disdain, Isabella finds herself drawn to Lore, unraveling the mysteries surrounding him. In a risky alliance, she agrees to help him free his kingdom, only to discover the chilling curses serve a purpose. Trapped in an ancient curse, Lore watches as his humanity slowly fades. By night, he prowls the skies in his beastly form, burdened by the unbreakable curse that plagues his once glorious realm. They are drawn to one another. In a risky alliance, they decide to free his kingdom, only to discover the chilling truth. The price they’ll have to pay is higher than they imagined. It might cost them everything. Born of Blood and Thorns is one of ten books in the Enemies Ever After series, a collection of standalone short novels featuring enemies-to-lovers fairy tale retellings with a touch of steam.
I enjoyed this. Loved the characters and the story. Great ending!
Small Spaces by Katherine Arden
After suffering a tragic loss, eleven-year-old Ollie only finds solace in books. So when she happens upon a crazed woman at the river threatening to throw a book into the water, Ollie doesn’t think—she just acts, stealing the book and running away. As she begins to read the slender volume, Ollie discovers a chilling story about a girl named Beth, the two brothers who both loved her, and a peculiar deal made with “the smiling man,” a sinister specter who grants your most tightly held wish, but only for the ultimate price. Ollie is captivated by the tale until her school trip the next day to Smoke Hollow, a local farm with a haunting history all its own. There she stumbles upon the graves of the very people she’s been reading about. Could it be the story about the smiling man is true? Ollie doesn’t have too long to think about the answer to that. On the way home, the school bus breaks down, sending their teacher back to the farm for help. But the strange bus driver has some advice for the kids left behind in his care: “Best get moving. At nightfall they’ll come for the rest of you.” Nightfall is, indeed, fast descending when Ollie’s previously broken digital wristwatch, a keepsake reminder of better times, begins a startling countdown and delivers a terrifying message: RUN. Only Ollie and two of her classmates heed the bus driver’s warning. As the trio head out into the woods–bordered by a field of scarecrows that seem to be watching them–the bus driver has just one final piece of advice for Ollie and her friends: “Avoid large places. Keep to small.” And with that, a deliciously creepy and hair-raising adventure begins.
I really liked this! So creepy and I couldn’t put it down. I can’t wait to get to more in this series!
Pretend You Love Me by W. Winters and Amelia Wilde
All I have to do is pretend. When the lights go out and the chill of the cell creeps in, I know I must go along with everything he says. His sharp gaze fades into the darkness, and nothing else matters but surviving this moment. I’ll do all he asks. I’ll obey every command and submit on my knees. There’s not an ounce of me that’s willing to risk losing more than I already have. All he desired was revenge, and now all he desires is me. This mafia story is an explicit abduction romance with violence and dubious consent. It’s short and provocative, with a jaw-dropping twist. The tale’s decadent darkness allows us to escape into the fantasy. Please be mindful of these triggers prior to reading.
I wish this was longer, but I was obsessed. So dark and so good!
Kissed By Songs of Lilies by E.V. Everest
Never bargain with a frog. There was a chill in the salt air the morning my sister was taken. All they left was a single golden shell in her bed. The fae had claimed another bride. Now, careless on champagne, I’ve met one myself. By night, an intoxicating gentleman with piercing green eyes. By day, a slimy, conniving frog. When I drop my precious golden shell, he offers to retrieve it… for a price. By his law, we are betrothed. To break a bargain is to die, so I will cross the cursed waters with him and go to their hidden isle. But this won’t be a one-way trip. It won’t be so easy to claim the heart of this princess.
Kissed by Songs of Lilies is one of ten books in the Enemies Ever After series, a collection of standalone short novels featuring enemies-to-lovers fairy tale retellings with a touch of steam.
I loved this! Everything was so good and now I really want Harry’s story.
The Wedding Date Disaster by Avery Flynn
Hadley Donavan can’t believe she has to go home to Nebraska for her sister’s wedding. She’s gonna need a wingman and a whole lot of vodka for this level of family interaction. At least her bestie agreed he’d man up and help. But then instead of her best friend, his evil twin strolls out of the airport. If you looked up doesn’t-deserve-to-be-that-confident, way-too-hot-for-his-own-good billionaire in the dictionary, you’d find a picture of Will Holt. He’s awful. Horrible. The worst―even if his butt looks phenomenal in those jeans. Ten times worse? Hadley’s buffer was supposed to be there to keep her away from the million and one family events. But Satan’s spawn just grins and signs them up for every. Single. Thing. Fine. “Cutthroat” Scrabble? She’s in. She can’t wait to take this guy down a notch. But somewhere between Pictionary and the teasing glint in his eyes, their bickering starts to feel like more than just a game…
This was cute, funny, and a lot of fun. Loved the characters even if I could hit them at times.
The Accidental Dating Experiment by Lauren Blakely
Eight years ago I fell into a secret summer fling with the bright, big-hearted Juliet before our lives went in different directions. Now, I’m the grumpy to her sunshine on a popular dating podcast we host, and when a wealthy fan gives us a charming coastal cottage as the biggest thank you ever, we head to the town where I grew up to give it a makeover. And find the house has only one bed. Located under a mirrored ceiling. To make matters even harder, the woman I’ve been pining for tells me she wants to try to find the one and would I please be her dating coach for the week? Like hell I’ll let her date other men. I’ll coach her on three dates with me. But the second I take her out, I don’t feel like her teacher. I feel like she’s mine, especially when the first night ends with us tangled up together in that bed. Each night we grow closer, but this dating experiment forces me to face my greatest fear – whether a man like me is worthy of her love. Even though I’m already head over heels for her.
This was good. I did like the characters and I loved the ending. There was sooo much sex though…
The Musician and the Monster by Megan Van Dyke
Music says things words never can. I love you. I miss you. I’m sorry I killed you. Every night, Ceridwen Kinsley plays music on her rooftop for the spirit of her dead mother. A peaceful if odd ritual, until she witnesses a murder by something not quite human. The monstrous encounter earns her notoriety within the city and a visit from the reclusive Lord Protector Drystan Winterbourne. Charged with protecting the backwater city of Teneboure by the king, Drystan is failing at his task, and he can’t afford another slip up. But when fate and the very monster he means to conquer bring Ceridwen to his notice, he seizes the opportunity and presents her with an offer: play music for him at his manor in exchange for the money her impoverished family desperately needs. Music eases the strain of his magic, and who better to hire than the woman whose tunes he secretly listens to at night? At first, Ceridwen is put off by Drystan’s unkempt appearance and harsh demeanor, not to mention the odd ailment that plagues him. But as he embraces her passion for music and she draws the recluse out of his lonely tower, the two develop an unlikely attachment. Class lines begin to blur as fearful indifference shifts to unexpected desire, and Ceridwen yearns to help Drystan subdue the monster as well as provide for her family. However, the monster prowling the night isn’t their only enemy, and as terrible secrets come to light, protecting those they love may risk their lives and their hearts.
I loved this! This book had incredible atmosphere and I loved the romance and characters. I can’t wait for the next book!
The Somerset Girls by Lori Foster
When they’re running the animal-rescue farm they inherited from their grandparents, Autumn and Ember Somerset are perfectly in sync. At all other times, not so much. Dependable Autumn would rather curl up with a good book than paint the town red with Ember. After the disaster that was Autumn’s last relationship, it’s pure self-protection. But when her high school crush comes back to town with his adorable young daughter, igniting memories best left forgotten, there’s only one person Autumn can turn to… Beneath Ember’s free-spirited facade is a layer of deep hurt. She’ll gladly nudge Autumn toward a second chance. But risk her own heart? Not likely. The closer Autumn gets to her own happily-ever-after, the more Ember wonders what she might be missing—and if it isn’t her time to be bold, too.
I really enjoyed this. I loved this family and all that they go through. Great romances and loved all the animals.
Those are all the books I read in May! Hope you enjoyed. Until next time.