July Month In Review
Well rom-buds it’s the end of JULY. July, my god where has the time gone. No weekly recap this week because the calendar gods have aligned the universe to end the month on a Sunday. So rather than hit y’all up with two posts you’re only getting one! Sorry, not sorry (but mostly very sincerely sorry).
Currently I’m melting like Hamilton Porter loved toasted cheeser in a heatwave. While I did start out the month in a slower than average reading pace I did manage to read a number of great romances, and a few ARCs too! Here’s the recap and breakdown of platforms I read all the romances on, enjoy!
Apple Books: 21
Kindle Unlimited: 12
Advance Reviews: 3
July Total: 36 | Running 2022 Total: 240
Best Of The Month
The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston
I don’t even know how I found out about this book, I think maybe Twitter? But the premise (millennial ghost writer who can see and talk with ghosts, ends up falling in love with her recently deceased editor) got me good. And oh my god y’all this book was EVERYTHING. It’s definitely going to be making my top of year lists, and good lord what an excellent romance and story all around. I also don’t even give a single flying f*ck its #reylo fanfic because it was PERFECT and so wonderful.
Unwritten Rules by K.D. Casey
K.D. Casey writes the most emotionally moving love stories. But she also writes the BEST love stories as the backdrop to baseball. I love how she writes, the complex characters she creates and how much I love the love they share. Much like Reid and Charlie from Fire Season, Zachary and Eugenio are my little bb’s and I freaking love them.
A Matter of Temptation by Stacey Reid
I have come to love and expect such romance from a Stacy Reid historical and friends this one DOES. NOT. DISAPPOINT. A woman pretends to be her brother to fight and win in a duel! Ends up taking a job as a Duke’s assistant. It was perfect. He is so smitten with her and their chemistry and connection SHINES.
The Perfect Rake by Anne Gracie
This f*cking book was perfect. Might be a shoe-in for one of the best historical romances I read this year. Prudence and Gideon are so freaking delightful as a pairing and gosh does she deserve someone to love the absolute shit out of her after all she’s been through. I also was just screeching repetitively about how blind Gideon seems to be about her sisters (famous) natural beauty, and utter bewilderment that no one else seems to be smitten with Prudence. A king. Love him.
Sin Bin by Teagan Hunter (Free with Kindle Unlimited)
Age gap, workplace sports romance that came out of nowhere and smacked me right in the face with its legit amazingness. This has so many classic tropes I go a little squirrelly for. Grumpy/sunshine, one night stand that ends up being the love of your life, protectiveness, subtle dominance in the bedroom, a liberal and delicious use of “good girl” I can’t wait to read the rest of the romances in this interconnected Hockey romance series.
Last on the List by Amy Daws (Free with Kindle Unlimited)
I love Amy Daws. Her soccer romances have been a repeated highlight of my romance reads over the years, and this one was right up there with the rest of them. Cozy is goals. Girl is so funny, warm, and working through it. And to see her in the workshop working with wood was so satisfying (much like Shelby in Built to Last). Healthy relationships all around. I loved it and the kid was adorable too.
Funny Feelings by Tara Dewitt (Free with Kindle Unlimited)
Two comics (one up and coming and one older and working behind the scenes) need to fake date to help promote her upcoming tour. This is an age gap, friends to lovers, single dad fake dating romance, with shades of I’ve been in love with you for YEARS. I loved how Myers and Farley loved each other. AND how much they both love Hazel. The tension and arc of the relationship these two have is so heartfelt and believable and the time jumps round everything out so nicely.
Built to Last by Erin Hahn (Advance Review)
This is the VERY sweet story of two estranged former child stars that are very much each other’s first and only loves come back together to work on a HGTV Chip and Joanna style home flipping show. AND I LOVED IT so much. Check the full review here.