What I read: July 2019

July was a good reading month thanks to a pinched nerve that kept me away from my laptop much of the time.

Teardrop Shot: A Friends to Lovers Sports Romance by Tijan

This one took longer than a normal Tijan novel for me to get into but once Reece and Charlie started hanging out, I loved it.

Transcend by Jewel E. Ann

I love finding romances with a twist. These flawed characters make perfect sense by the time you're done with the duet. I recommend you give them a chance to tell their stories.

Epoch by Jewel E. Ann

Just read it.

The Truth About Lies by Aly Martinez

In truth, I struggled a bit with this one. Loved the concept and characters but it felt like it went on without much happening for a while. I trusted Aly though, and by the end, I was downloading book two without thought.
In hindsight, the lag was quite possibly my mindset at the time because in the end I'm happy with this duet and would recommend it.

The Truth About Us by Aly Martinez

Love it when totally screwed up lives get happy endings.

Pretty Scars by C.D. Reiss

Talk about a binge read. Thanks to a pinched nerve in my neck, I was able to spend all day reading this wonderfully angsty Romeo/Juliet-esque tale.
Told in past and present, Gabriel and Carrie's story unfolds in perfect little clues and details until every jaw-dropping moment crushes you. Loved it.

The Wrong Prince Charming by Holly Renee

In love with the best friend? check
New amazing -forbidden- guy walks in? check
College life? check
Football life? check
The Wrong Prince Charming hits a whole lot of tropes with a whole lot of steamy fun. This is a great one to read in one sitting.

The Bombshell Effect by Karla Sorensen

Fun sports romance when you're looking for a book to cleanse the pallet after a hefty read. Would have loved to see more of the single dad aspect (and how he handled dad life with "dating" and football) since that was a compelling reason for me picking up the book in the first place. Still enjoyable, and I wouldn't rule out reading more of Sorensen's books.

Heartache and Hope by Jay McLean

Two teens with a bunch of sh#$ luck form a bond that helps remind readers young love is all like. Love this story and thank goodness book two was already published so I could jump right in.

First and Forever by Jay McLean

Yup. I loved it.
Also, I loved the maturity Jay gave her characters while still allowing them to be stupid.
Highly recommend this YA romance.

Stay by Tia Louise

Enemies (kinda) to lovers.
Single mom.
Second chance.
Relationship of Convenience.
Alpha, sexy billionaire.

This bad boy runs with all the tropes. Enjoyable, if not a tad bit (okay a lot) unrealistic. Sometimes you just need a fun dirty romance to get away from reality.
FYI: this isn't all fun. There is a key plot point that provides a lot of emotional meat.

**Bonus points to all the Blue Planet references ;)

One Little Lie: a hate to love rom-com by Whitney Barbetti

This is a super slow burn, kind of second chance, love to hate romance that sees Adam and Hollis telling one little lie so they can both get what they need. The premise for the "hate" aspect is a bit flimsy (IMO) but it's a fun little read nonetheless.

Drive by Kate Stewart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

one woman and two epic loves. Three, if you count music.

My heart hurts. I was absolutely enthralled with this story of love and rock n roll. It's perfection, and now I have a hangover.

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What I read: April 2019

In an effort to share books and authors you may be unfamiliar with, I’ll be posting snippet reviews every few weeks from my recent reads. If I post a review here it is because I enjoyed the story and suggest you give it a read. Happy reading!

Over the Falls by Jordan Ford


Enjoyable surfer read with all the right YA components: drama, rich kids/poor kids, bad boys, breakups, makeups, and a whole lot of flirting.

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The Birthday List by Devney Perry


My one frustration was I wanted Poppy to move on a little faster. << That's a ridiculous statement to make when you're the widow, but Cole was so amazing! It was hard to watch him go out of his way to help her fulfill the birthday list. It sometimes felt like she was using him more than seeing him as a man who'd fallen for her.
Grieving is an individual process and this story was lovely.

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Rock Bottom Girl by Lucy Score


90s Flashbacks

High school was hard. Reading Marley's story felt like reliving those days. Bad boys, bullies, inadequacy, laughter, and tears... My first Lucy Score book will not be my last.

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The Worst Best Man by Lucy Score


There's a crazy bit of drama that surrounds the wedding at the beginning that was a bit out there for me but once we moved beyond that I truly enjoyed Aiden and Frankie's story. Laugh out loud moments, great characters, sexy times, and I hero you can easily fall in love with.

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My Life in Shambles: A Standalone Romance by Karina Halle


Possibly my favorite Karina romance. One thing I love about her characters is they are almost always "flawed" physically. Are you shocked the entire world isn't filled with perfectly sculpted, thin, and gorgeous people?
I also commend Halle for tackling an issue you don't see very often in romance novels. Loved this one.

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What's on my shelf? February reads

I'm under some crippling writing deadlines but that didn't stop me from picking up a book each night before going to sleep. I might only read half a chapter, but at least I read!

This month saw me finishing the Remember When trilogy I began in January.
I re-read Secondborn to prep for reading my ARC of Traitor Born (so so good!).
I admit to ditching Tempt halfway through because it was an erotic read and I was looking for a different type of story. This is a taboo romance and super dirty, so if you're into that you should check it out for FREE. 
I read The Smallest Part and have to say Harmon has such a way with mixing biblical meaning into her stories. She has a very lyrical writing tone.
And last night I finished off the month with The Impossible Vastness of Us, a lovely first foray into YA by Samantha Young that I'd been holding onto for quite some time.

I had a HUGE book haul on the 27th with a ton of titles I've been dying to read so March will find me sharing some of those with you, hopefully! Still on major deadlines, but here's to reading a few pages every day! Happy reading!! 

FEBRUARY READS
5.5 Books
1 YA  ~  2 NA/Adult  ~  .5 Erotica  ~  2 NA SciFi/Dystopian
1 New to me author, Remy Blake
All available now, except Traitor Born which releases 4/17

What's on my shelf? January reads

   For me, being a writer and a reader go hand and hand. I've been both for as long as I can remember. This year I'm going to try and keep you updated on what I'm reading. You can follow me on Goodreads if you want to follow along as I go or check back here monthly for a recap #myshelf
   Out of professional courtesy to my peers, I do NOT review books. You will see me recommend titles I loved, but that does not mean I didn't like the ones I don't talk about. I love championing my friends in this business. 
   Also, I believe each book touches everyone differently. I've put books aside because I didn't like them, only to pick them up much later and find I loved it. There are so many personal things that influence how you perceive a story. I LONG for you to make your own decisions when it comes to getting lost in fiction. 

ONE young adult (Damage Done) and NINE new adult/adult
ONE paranormal. SEVEN contemporaries. ONE psychological. ONE historical.
SIX new to me authors. ONE I've read before.
ONE hardcover from my shelves (Damage Done) and NINE ebooks. 

THREE FREEBIES
A Harmless Little Game
Remember When
Within These Walls