I read 9 books last month. It was an eclectic mix of Rom-com, popular fiction, bestseller, dark romance, popular fiction, it books, and Speculative fiction.m It was a good reading month.
My rating system is at the bottom. Keep that in mind as you read my reviews.
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God Of Fury By Rina Kent
Let me start my review by saying:: THIS BOOK ISN’T FOR EVERYONE!! And that is ok!
I usually hate mafia romances. Too much violence and the dark romance are really not my thing.
BUT I do love a morally ambiguous/shady/ depraved MMC. Nikko is also a golden retriever. That also falls first. Who is also toxic as hell and basically has stalker characteristics, is sadistic, and really f’d up. and really should take his meds all the time. His inner dialogue was chaotic as hell but it served a point even though it confirmed that he is in fact…crazy as hell.
I loved this book. ( what earth does that say about me ??) stayed up until 2 am reading this book. I’ll recommend this M/M romance to any and everyone.
Check the trigger warning because damn everyone is a sociopath ? and there are some
Heavy topics that the other MMC( Bran) has to deal with that are just heartbreaking and makes you just want to give him a hug and protect him.
Keep in mind that this is part of a series so there are multiple stories happening at the same time. But it can be read as a standalone. Which was good because I honestly have no desire to read the rest of the series ?
Rating:4/5. Buy on Amazon.com or Bookshop.org
Parable of the Sower By Octavia Butler
Ive had this book for years,but I started reading it because the book starts in August 2024. It seemed timely. Just wow. I will honestly say it’s not my favorite book of hers but it is just so timely with how the world is right now. I loved the way the story was told, I was invested in the main character in fact ALL of the characters because it was one of those books where i felt like it could really be happening RIGHT NOW. I’m almost afraid to read the next one but I really want to know what happens next…
Rating 4/5: Buy on Amazon.com or Bookshop.org
Remember When: Clarissa’s Story By Mary Balogh
I received this arc and I was delighted because I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Clarissa’s story.
And I want to say I’m on the fence kind of about this one.
On the one hand, Mary Balogh did an awesome job showing the friendship between our two main characters. But it was wordy. OMG. And while I appreciated it, it was almost like eavesdropping on someone’s conversation but I can’t quite decide if it was a good or a bad thing.
I loved loved loved seeing a love story between two characters closer to my own age. But my goodness, almost 50 year olds and over 50 year olds don’t have….sexy times on the hard ground without some discomfort lol.
All in all I am still looking forward to Stephanie’s story ( with the Twin from another series if Im not mistaken ) , but I’ll be happy to read the stories of the other siblings as well.
Rating 3/5. Buy on Amazon.com or Bookshop.org
Beating Heart By Laura Pavlov
This is the fourth in a series and even though you dont have to read the others, it helps.
I must be fully tranparent and say that i’ve done a soft DNF of the last two. Meaning, i didn’t want to not finish them, i just…quietly forgot about them
BUT i did actually finish this one because i love the single dad, small town, he falls first troupe.
It was just ok. I’m really just biding my time for the last book that comes out in October.
Rating 3/5. Its on Kindle Unlimited on Amazon or buy on Bookshop.org
( yes, you do need a Kindle Unlimited membership. Try it out here)
The Rom-Commers By Katherine Center
It was… cute…
But I didn’t know that it was closed door. ( closed door romance means you don’t get any sex scenes) I’m so used to SOMETHING! At least ONE sexy session that I was thrown off.
It was good story, but I like my romance novels with little more spice But if closed door is your jam, this is for you.
If you are like me..pass.
Rating 3/5: Buy on Amazon.com or Bookshop.org
Margos Got Money Troubles By Rufi Thorpe
This was my IT book of the summer. I ADORED this book.
August was the first time in a while that I decided to read something other than romance or fantasy. And my first pick was a hit.
It was so fun to watch margo navigate new motherhood, being an adult, still wanting your parents approval while trying to make your own life choices all while building your social media and only fans account to support yourself.
It was SO GOOD. I highly recommend.
Rating 5/5 Buy on Amazon.com or Bookshop.org
Fall With Me By Becka Mack
This was one of those random books I picked up because it was a recommended book on my Kindle. And I loved it. it was just what I needed at the time: some smut with a plot.
But i really loved the romance behind the smut LOL.
Jaxton was your typical professional sports player man-whore who didn’t believe in love and the Lennon, our main female character was the perfect person to make him change his ways.
And there was lots of smut.
Which frankly, is sometimes needed lol.
This is a part of a whole series that I think i tried to read but never got into. But you really don’t have to read the other books to like the…smut …in this one.
Rating 4/5 ( It was really good smut with a plot) Buy on Amazon ( this was a kindle unlimited book)
Dust Storm By Maggie Gates
This was recommended to me by my book romance and fantasy bestie.
Again, I love a single dad trope. But this one was just…Ok. I had to acutally go back and see what it is about. It was decent. it wasn’t bad. There is more to the series…but do I want to read it? Probably not…
Rating 3/5 Buy on Amazon.com ( kindle unlimited )
The God Of the Woods By Liz Moore
I’m not going to waste your time recapping the book jacket summary of this book.
While reading it, I couldn’t decide if it was brilliant or if a really good editor was needed. While the meat of the story and even the ending was excellent, how we got there was not.
There were too many characters to keep up with.
The timeline kept jumping back and forward at odd times ( I get why we needed to but still)
In the end , each one of those characters we had to keep up with served a purpose in the larger story but you had to get through it to the end to see that.
It was painful
It was a struggle.
I stopped and said I was DNF-ing many many times.
But I’m glad I struggled though .
Rating: 4/5. Buy on Amazon.com or Bookshop.org
A Word On My Rating System
5/5 stars: Couldn’t put it down, loved it. Will re-read. Will recommend to any and everyone. Will have a place on my bookshelf
4/5 Stars: A Solid book. I really really liked it. Or it or it made me think. I would recommend.
3/5 Stars:Not the best thing I’ve ever read but I finished it and most likely it was enjoyable. If someone asked, my response would be, yeah it was ok. Or, it was cute. Probably wouldn’t read it again.
2/5 stars: This is usually the lowest rating I will give. Means I didn’t really like it, but finished it because I felt I had to. Usually a book that disappoints me in some way. If someone asked I am quick to say: don’t do it.
1/5 Star: true WTH moment in reading. I usually list out the reasons why. Could be a DNF
Ok that’s all ..I think that I read last month…if you don’t count the re-reads that i didn’t record. LOL.
Have you read anything on this list? What did you read in August.