Reading Round Up: July Part 4 Vacation Reads!

Hello Friends! Here is my last round up for July and it’s not too bad. I was hoping to get more read on my vacation but I was too busy having fun and didn’t read as much as I normally do. Have you read any of these? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Summerhaven by Tiffany Odekirk – 3 Stars This is a regency romance that follows Hannah as she is invited to a house party where she hopes her former childhood sweetheart Oliver, will finally propose to her. Turns out he has no interest in that and so Hannah and Oliver’s brother Damon decide to fake an attachment to help push Oliver towards that. I thought this one was just ok, it never really drew me in. I did think that Damon was a pretty swoon worthy hero and was one of my favorite parts of the book. If you like regency romance and a fake dating trope than I would recommend picking this one up.

Eclipse The Moon by Jessie Mihalik – 4 Stars Eclipse The Moon by Jessie Mihalik is the second book in her Starlight’s Shadow series which is a mix of a space opera and a romance, two of my fave genres!! This one follows Kee who is a hacker and bounty hunter as she tries to figure out what the big super powers in the galaxy are up to. We also follow Varrow who is a silent weapons expert as he tries to keep Kee out of trouble! I loved Kee and Varro’s relationship so much, they are a great grump/sunshine which is one of my favorite tropes. While technically you could read this as a stand alone I think starting with Hunt The Stars would be beneficial as it sets up the world. Thank you so much @avonbooks and @harpervoyagerus for my #gifted copy! 

Just Another Love Song by Kerry Winfrey – 4 Stars I posted my review of this for a blog tour and you can find that here. Loved this one just I like the other books I have read by her!

The Lion’s Den by Katherine St. John – 4 Stars After reading last years thriller from Katherine St. John I knew I wanted to go back and read her first one The Lion’s Den, her books usually follow Hollywood types and I love the drama she creates! This one follows Belle who is an aspiring actress as she gets invited to celebrate her friend Summer’s birthday on a yacht in the French Riviera. Belle quickly realizes that things are not as the seem as she and the fellow guests are drugged and locked into their rooms at night. While this is going on we also get past chapters of Belle and her friendship with Summer and what leads up to the trip. Overall this a was a fun and fast paced thriller and I am already excited for her newest release next month!

Reading Round Up: July Part 3

Hi Friends! I am a little behind on my round ups as I was on vacation for the last couple of weeks but I am hoping to get caught up soon. Have you read any of these? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

She’s Up To No Good by Sara Goodman Confino – 3.5 but rounded up to a 4 Star – I enjoyed this story about a woman who is going through a break up and takes a trip with her grandmother. You can see my review here.

Bayou Sweetheart by Lexi Blake – 4 Stars – Enjoyed this one and have a more detailed review for a blog tour which you can read here.

The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy – 5 Stars I don’t even know where to start with this one! It was so different than most books I read and I loved every minute of it! This book is pretty much half fantasy and half romance and both parts were equally good. In this world we have Marshalls who are tasked with finding the lost souls and bringing them back to the Undertakers so the bodies can be prepared properly for the afterlife. Hart is a grumpy Marshall who is so lonely that one day he pens an anonymous letter to “A Friend”. Mercy is the trying to keep her father’s undertaking business afloat while her little brother finishes school and one day receives a letter simply addressed to “a friend.” The two start up a correspondence and these letters were some of my favorite parts of the story! I am always a sucker for enemies to lovers and a grump sunshine trope and this book is both! I also thought the world building was so fun with the unique creatures who deliver the mail to the lost souls and the what the appendix is used for! I basically can not recommend this book enough!

Bend Toward The Sun by Jen Devon – 5 Stars I have had this one sitting on my kindle waiting to be read for quite some time and I am a little upset with myself that it took me so long to get to it. I loved my reading experience for this book and the atmosphere was perfect! This story follows Rowan who takes on the job of restoring a vineyard while working on her thesis and Harry who is escaping to his parents new vineyard after facing a career set back. This is so much more than a love story between two people, it is also about healing and learning to overcome the setbacks that thrown at us during life. I laughed and cried while reading this and didn’t want it to end. I loved the setting of the vineyard and that Rowan was a botanist who loved plants and everything about them. I think some of my favorite scenes were ones that took place outside. I will say that there are some heavier topics with this read so you may want to look into content warning before reading but the beauty of the writing gives such a great sense of comfort. There are a few side characters in this one that I am really oping get their own stories and if they do I can not wait to read them! Highly recommend picking this one up when it comes out August 9th. Thank you St. Martin’s Press for my gifted copy! I included two blurbs below that I felt really captured the spirit of this book and I hope you decide to give this one a chance!

“Soul satisfying, sensual, and unforgettable.” – Libby Hubscher, “Heart-warming, sensual, beautifully written.” –Ali Hazelwood

Ruby Fever by Ilona Andrews – 5 Stars Ilona Andrews was one of the first urban fantasy authors I read so many years ago and I continue to pick up their books because they are so good!! This is the sixth book in the Hidden Legacy series and the third book following Catalina Baylor. This is the conclusion to Catalina’s books and the next one will start the story centering on the youngest Baylor sister, Arabella. The first three books follow the oldest sister, Nevada. Its really hard to talk about this series without spoiling it because this is book 6 but in this one we are following Catalina and her fiancé Alessandro as they try to save their House and the city of Houston. I really can’t say enough good things about this series and if you haven’t read it before and like Urban Fantasy or Paranormal Romance then I would check them out. This isn’t one you can just pick up but you can start with book 1 of the series which is Burn For Me. Or you can start with book 4 which is the first in this trilogy following Catalina and it is called Sapphire Flames. Catalina and Alessandro are so much fun to read about and the Baylor family is such a great representation of a found family and I love it so much! Again I can not recommend this series enough! Thank you Avon for my #gifted copy for review!

August (Maybe) TBR

Hi Friends! I was on vacation for the last week and a half so I am really behind on my posts! Here is my hopeful TBR for August! What books are you hoping to read this month?

For my back list books (which is any book I bought prior to January 1st 2022)

  • Riley Thorn and The Dead Guy Next Door by Lucy Score
  • The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher

ARC’s For August that I need to read.

  • Husband Material by Alexis Hall – August 2nd
  • The Blame Game by Sandie Jones – August 16th
  • The Getaway by Emily March – September 6th – I would like to get a head start on Septembers books
  • The Make Up Test by Jenny L. Howe – Spetmber 13th

For Kayla’s Buzzword – This month’s buzzword is an object or thing.

  • I am so stumped on this one that I have no idea what I am going to read!

New Releases I am hoping to read as soon as they come out!

  • Trapper Road by Rachel Caine and Carrie Ryan – August 2nd
  • Storm Echo by Nalini Singh – Stars – August 9th
  • Love on The Brain by Ali Hazelwood – August 23rd
  • Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney – August 30th

Again these are all books that I would like to read soon but I know I probably won’t get to most of these. What are you reading this month? Are you participating in any fun reading challenges?

WWW Wednesday – 8/3

Welcome to WWW Wednesday! This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived by Sam on Taking on a World of Words. All you have to do is answer the three questions below and leave a link to your post in the comments for others to look at. No blog? No problem! Just leave a comment with your responses. Please, take some time to visit the other participants and see what others are reading. So, let’s get to it!

What are you currently reading?

  • The Make-Up Test by Jenny L. Howe – Not really far but also not enjoying it and could put me into a slump.
  • Waking Olivia by Elizabeth O’Roark – About 70% into this one and I am loving it!
  • The It Girl by Ruth Ware – Just started the audio, not very far but intrigued in where it might go


What did you recently finish reading?

  • Eclipse The Moon by Jessie Mihalik – 5 Stars
  • Just Another Love Song by Kerry Winfrey – 4 Stars
  • The Lion’s Den by Katherine St. John – 4 Stars
  • Stay Awake by Megan Goldin – 4 Stars
  • Real by Katy Evans – ReRead

What do you think you’ll read next?

  • Husband Material by Alexis Hall – ARC I would like to get that released this week
  • Riley Thorn and The Dead Guy Next Door by Lucy Score – Hoping to start soon
  • The Blame Game by Sandie Jones – ARC I need to get too

What are you currently reading? Let me know in the comments below!

Blog Tour: Just Another Love Song by Kerry Winfrey

ABOUT THE BOOK

Two high school sweethearts get a second chance at their perfect ending in this charming new romance by Kerry Winfrey, author of Very Sincerely Yours.

Once upon a time, Sandy Macintosh thought she would have her happily ever after with her high school sweetheart, Hank Tillman. Sandy wanted to be an artist, Hank was the only boy in town who seemed destined for bigger things, and they both had dreams to escape town together. But when Sandy’s plans fell through, she stayed in their small town in Ohio while Hank went off to Boston to follow his dreams to be a musician, with the promise to stay together. Only that plan fell through, too.
 
Fifteen years later, Sandy runs a successful greenhouse while helping her parents with their bed and breakfast. Everything is perfect…until Hank rolls back into town, now a famous alt-country singer with a son in tow. She’s happy with the life she’s built by herself, but seeing Hank makes her think about what might have been. There aren’t enough cliché love songs in the world to convince Sandy to give Hank another chance, but when the two of them get thrown together to help organize the town’s annual street fair, she wonders if there could be a new beginning for them or if what they had is just a tired old song of the past.

MY THOUGHTS – 4 Stars

I am a huge fan of Kerry’s books! I have loved every book I have read by her, she writes such heart warming stories with relatable characters. This book is told in alternating timelines with Sandy in the present and then we would go back to when she was in high school. I know I say this a lot on my blog but I am not a huge fan of alternating timelines and this is one of the times where it kept taking me out of the story and I would struggle to pick it back up when setting it down. I also really liked the relationship between Sandy and Hank as well as the relationship between the them and the town. Their hometown plays a decent part in the story as Sandy feels her identity is tied to it. Overall I still enjoyed the story and I will continue to pick up her books in the future as I love her writing and characters. Thank you Berkley for my #gifted copy for review!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kerry Winfrey is the author of Love and Other Alien Experiences, Things Jolie Needs to Do Before She Bites It, Waiting for Tom Hanks, Not Like the Movies, and Very Sincerely Yours. She has written for many websites, including HelloGiggles. When she is not writing, she is most likely baking yet another batch of cookies or watching far, far too many romantic comedies. She lives with her husband, baby, and dog in the middle of Ohio. Learn more at www.kerrywinfrey.com.

Book Review: She’s Up To No Good by Sara Goodman Confino

From Goodreads: For two women generations apart, going home will change their lives in this funny, poignant, and life-affirming novel about family, secrets, and broken hearts by the author of For the Love of Friends.

Four years into her marriage, Jenna is blindsided when her husband asks for a divorce. With time on her hands and her life in flux, she agrees to accompany her eccentric grandmother Evelyn on a road trip to the seaside Massachusetts town where much of their family history was shaped.

When they hit the road, Evelyn spins the tale of the star-crossed teenage romance that captured her heart more than seventy years ago and changed the course of her life. She insists the return to her hometown isn’t about that at all—no matter how much she talks about Tony, her unforgettable and forbidden first love.

Upon arrival, Jenna meets Tony’s attentive great-nephew Joe. The new friendship and fresh ocean air give her the confidence and distance she needs to begin putting the pain of a broken marriage behind her.

As the secrets and truths of Evelyn’s past unfold, Jenna discovers a new side of her grandmother, and of herself, that she never knew existed—and learns that the possibilities for healing can come at the most unexpected times in a woman’s life

My Thoughts: 4 Stars This story follows Jenna who’s husband suddenly asks for a divorce and leaves her moving back home with her parents.  Seeing that Jenna is stuck in a rut her grandmother Evelyn, decides it would be nice to visit her hometown in Massachusetts and the two embark on a roadtrip.  Along the way Evelyn tells Jenna all about growing up there and a history that Jenna knew nothing about.  This is told in alternating timelines of present day and then in the 1950’s with Evelyn’s story.  Typically I am not a huge fan of alternating storylines but this one worked really well for me.  Both were very engaging and I was always disappointed when we would jump back and forth because both stories left you wanting to know what happened next!  This one is full of family friends and romantic relationships and I loved all of them equally.  Evelyn was such a fun character and I loved her personality and can only hope I am like her when I am older.  Thank you GetredPR, Lake Union Publishing and Sara Goodman Confinofor my gifted copy for review!  I can’t wait to read more from this author in the future! This one publishes today!

August New Releases

Hi Friends! Im sharing some of my anticipated August releases today! Do we have any we are both looking forward too? Or did I miss any of your most anticipated books for August? If so let me know down in the comments!

  • She’s Up To No Good by Sara Goodman Confino – 4 Stars – August 1st
  • Husband Material by Alexis Hall – August 2nd
  • Trapper Road by Rachel Caine and Carrie Ryan – August 2nd
  • Just Another Love Song by Kerry Winfrey – Stars – August 2nd
  • Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan – 5 Stars – August 2nd
  • Storm Echo by Nalini Singh – Stars – August 9th
  • Stay Awake by Megan Goldin – Stars – August 9th
  • Bend Toward The Syn by Jen Devon – 5 Stars – August 9th
  • The Blame Game by Sandie Jones – August 16th
  • The Last Housewife by Ashley Winstead – August 16th
  • Folk Around and Find Out by Penny Reid – August 23rd – Goodreads is still saying this date but it might be postponed til September
  • The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen – 5 Stars – August 23rd
  • Ruby Fever by Ilona Andrews – 5 Stars – August 23rd
  • Love on The Brain by Ali Hazelwood – August 23rd
  • Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney – August 30th
  • Other birds by Sarah Addison Allen – August 30th
  • Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid – August 30th

Reading Round Up: July Part 2

Hi friends I am completely slacking on my round ups for this month! I have been on vacation since the end of last week and I am struggling to keep up! Hopefully part 3 will be up soon!

Have you read any of these? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston – 5 Stars I haven’t been a huge fan of the new paranormal romance trends but this one was so good and I absolutely loved it! Florence is a ghost writer for a famous author and can also see ghosts. Shortly after meeting her new editor, Florence is called home because of family emergency and while there the ghost of said new editor greets her at the door to her parents house. I really enjoyed the quirky aspects of this book and the atmosphere of the setting. The romance was perfect as was all the family dynamics. Highly recommend this one if you are looking for something a little outside the box.

Thank You For Listening by Julia Whelan – 5 Stars Julia Whelan is one of my favorite audio book narrators and when I saw she had a new book coming out I knew I wanted to read it! This book follows Sewanee who once was an actress but after an accident became an audio book narrator instead. Sewanee started out as a romance narrator but has since left that behind and refuses to go back to it but when the author who gave her her first chance passes away and gives her an offer she may not be able to refuse, Sewanee must make a choice she was not ready for. To make things more interesting the male narrator for this new offer is the famous Brock McKnight who has been delighting romance listeners for years! I loved everything about this novel and I could not put it down. Julia narrates this one and it is perfect in my opinion! Sewanee was such a fun character to read and I loved the journey she went on in this book! Thank you Avon and LibroFM for my gifted copies for review! Be sure to pick this one up when it comes out August 2nd 2022.

For You and No One Else by Roni Loren – 5 Stars This is the third book in the Say Everything series and I think each book is better than the last. Eliza is a therapist that has a date go viral and while trying to deal with the professional fall out that comes with it she decides to take up her office neighbor Beck’s help to go on a technology cleanse. I really enjoyed the relationship between Eliza and Beck and I loved getting to see the couples from the two previous books as well. Roni Loren’s books do tend to have heavier topics involved with them so I would check out any content warnings if you need them.

The Lifestyle by Taylor Hahn – 2 Stars. I don’t have a lot to say about this book except I really didn’t like it. I thought the writing was well done and it kept me engaged but I never really liked any characters in this book. Also this was stated to be a take on Jane Austen’s Emma and I really did not see that anywhere on page except with the main characters need to “match make”. I would also check content warnings for this one as there is cheating.

WWW Wednesday – 7/27

Welcome to WWW Wednesday! This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived by Sam on Taking on a World of Words. All you have to do is answer the three questions below and leave a link to your post in the comments for others to look at. No blog? No problem! Just leave a comment with your responses. Please, take some time to visit the other participants and see what others are reading. So, let’s get to it!

What are you currently reading?

  • The Pallbearers Club by Paul Tremblay – audio I am only like 25% into this one and my library hold is about to expire but I am really enjoying this one and might have to find another way to finish it.
  • The Make-Up Test by Jenny L. Howe – Not really far but also not enjoying it and could put me into a slump.
  • Eclipse The Moon by Jessie Mihalik – About 90% into this one and can’t wait to finish it! Such a fun story!
  • Stay Awake by Megan Goldin – Not far into this one but I am intrigued by it so far.
  • Just Another Love Song by Kerry Wifrey – I am close to 40% of my way through this one and I am liking it but it has alternating time lines and it is really taking me out of the story when it jumps back in time.


What did you recently finish reading?

  • Ruby Fever by Ilona Andrews – 5 Stars
  • The Last To Vanish by Megan Miranda – 4 Stars
  • Summerhaven by Tiffany Odekirk 2 Stars

What do you think you’ll read next?

  • Husband Material by Alexis Hall – ARC I would like to get to before it releases on Aug 2
  • The Lion’s Den by Katherine St. John – Brought this with me on my vacation.
  • Riley Thorn and The Dead Guy Next Door by Lucy Score – Also brought this one on vacation with me to read.

What are you currently reading? Let me know in the comments below!

Reading Round Up: Summerween 2022

Hi friends! Here is my round up for my favorite read-a-thons; Summerween! This is a read-a-thon hosted by Gabby from Gabby Reads and Olivia from Oliviareadsalatte over on youtube. I endedup only reading 4 books during this time and one was a big flop for me!

  • Read a book in the dark – I read every night in the dark before I go to bed so all of them work
  • Read a book with Halloween colors on the cover – The Haunting of Maddy Clare
  • Read a book with haunt in the title – The Haunting of Maddy Clare
  • Read a slasher – Look What You Made Me Do
  • Bake or make a treat with your spooky read – I didn’t have time to make anything.

Look What You Made Me Do by Elaine Murphy – 3 Stars – This book follows a woman who has to help her serial killer sister clean up her messes and soon becomes the target of another killer in their small town!

Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins – 2 Stars After reading the Wife Upstairs last year I was really excited to read Rachel Hawkins next release, Reckless Girls. The cover and the story were really speaking to me but sadly the book was not for me. This story follows Lux and her boyfriend Nico as they are hired to take two young woman to the secluded and possibly haunted Meroe Island in the south pacific. When they arrive to the island they find that there is already a boat anchored there but soon become friends with the couple on the other boat. For days the six of them enjoy a peaceful island paradise until another boat shows up and this time the party is not a fun one. I have really enjoyed books about people sailing all over the world and just traveling from island to island and really enjoyed that aspect of this book. I also really liked the history that the author gave to the Island, in fact I spent some time googling it because I wanted to know more about it. Sadly it is not a real place but that doesn’t take away from the vibes of this book. Even though the writing was great I was just never that invested in any of the characters and the ending really left me wanting more. If you like a slower paced thriller and one that is set on a lush tropical island than I would check this one out as I think I am in the minority on this one. My disappointment with this one doesn’t diminish the fact that I think Rachel is an excellent author and I can’t wait to read her next release The Villas which comes out early 2023. Thank you St. Martin’s Press for my gifted copy for review.

The Haunting of Maddy Clare by Simone St. James – 5 Stars This was a re-read for me and I loved it just as much this time as I did the first. Simone St. James has quickly become one of my favorite authors and I will read whatever she writes! This is a paranormal mystery set in England after the first World War.

The Last To Vanish by Megan Miranda – Out 7/26 but I received a #gifted influencer copy from LibroFM. I have really enjoyed most of Megan Miranda’s books and this one is up there with my favorites of hers. This is about Abby who works at an inn in a small town in North Carolin that is on the Appalachian Trail and is famous for the people who keep going missing while there. I liked the audio for this one and would recommend listening to it! I will also be buying a copy when it comes out because I enjoyed it!