August Month In Review
I sometimes catch myself feeling so overwhelmingly thankful to have books (especially romance books) in my life. I’ve struggled (as documented) this year with lots of things: mental illness, chronic physical illnesses, imposter syndrome, a veritable buffet of things that can feel bad™. But being able to check-out for awhile. To go somewhere else. To live other lives. To experience other love stories (even though I am so so so so thankful for my own) is a gift.
I’ve been reflecting recently on the evolution and resulting commodification of this hobby of mine. In 2021, I was reading SO much and obviously the pandemic was encouraging a lot of indoor time, I thought “hey this is a way to have some measure of what I was up to”. Some receipt of progress? That grew into a following here and on Twitter, which led to getting offered and access to advance copies (I swear this is going to have a point), and at some point between late 2021, and now reading romance has become kind of like a job?
I love reading, especially romance. And I never want to lose this hobby. So I’m adjusting. I’m going to finish up the ARCs sitting on my Kindle, and I won’t be taking any more on for the end of this year. We’ll see how 2023 goes, but my focus is and has always been reading for joy and pleasure of it, and not much more.
Whew… Okay onto the good stuff (the stuff you’re here for): the monthly recap.
Monthly Totals:
Apple Books 20
Kindle Unlimited 14
Advance Reader Copies 5
August Total: 39 | 2022 Running Total: 277
August Best of the Month
The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen
I have been WAITING so long for this book and it DOES NOT disappoint. “Hello Hart-Ache.” “Hello Merciless”. A grumpy Marshall and a sunshine-y undertaker who aren’t fond of each other, end up falling in love through anonymous letters. Oh my word my heart was SO invested in this just wonderful romance. She has plot. She has humour. She’s got queer rep. She’s got a magical mail system. And how lonely Hart is, oof. Watching them fall in love is so sweet and the tension in the 3rd act works, but prepare for some tears. But fear not, all is well with Hart and Mercy.
Sustained by Emma Chase
A criminal defence lawyer falls in love with a young woman and aunt to her 6 nieces and nephews. Oh my god did I love this one. The perfect mix of sweet, sexy, funny and heartfelt. And the entire book is written in a single POV and it’s not hers! Hell yes.
Devil in Spring by Lisa Kleypas
Also me again being a dumb b*tch and leaving this one out for a long time because I saw a goodreads review that made me second guess myself. Gabriel and Pandora ARE f**king adorable and perfect and Evie’s little story about him loving his fox pups without changing them, gave me all the feels. Note to self, stop reading goodreads reviews first.
Heartbreaker by Sarah MacLean
Book two in the Hell’s Belle’s series sees Adelaide and Henry going on an adventure of a lifetime and was just FREAKING fantastic. The banter, the romance, the PRAISE kink. Dear god, I’m still recovering. The worst part about it, is that it ended and I immediately need Tommy and Imogen’s book.
Finding Gene Kelly by Torie Jean (eARC)
Childhood best friends who have been in love with each other for years reunite in Paris. Endo rep. HUGE feels. Full advance review here.
Some Dukes Have All the Luck by Christina Britton (eARC)
A Duke must grapple with how to let himself love and be loved while trying to manage two wild wards. A quick marriage to a naturalist and bluestocking reveals he’s actually a big softie but some clown behaviour keeps them a part, until he pulls his head out of his ducal butt. Full advance review here.
Miss Newbury’s List by Meghan Walker (eARC)
A young woman betrothed to a Duke wants to live it up before being bound in marriage to someone she barely knows. Her best friend and her wayward cousin help see her dreams come true, but not before she realizes how very much not in love with the Duke she really is. Full advance review here.
The Heir Apparent’s Rejected Mate by Cate C Wells (Free with KU)
Book two in her five packs book! I really loved book 1 and was EAGER to jump head first into Cadoc Collin’s alpha buffoonery when it dropped this month. And I might have loved this one MORE than book 1? So much more pack world building. I loved the backstory Abertha gets to have and cameos from Una and Killian?! Virgin MMC? Say no more.
Spare Me by Tara Sivec (Free with KU)
I’ve lost track of what Summersweet Island book this is (I think 6?) but Tara is a real auto-read author for me. And this one is no different. Hot, quiet nice guy Ryan who is the high-school algebra teacher, finds his voice and dominant side in the bedroom with Danny. Lego sets, listening to police scanners, classic island hijinks, crafting with the men and grump Uncle Dean, Sip and Bitch! I loved it.
When She Belongs by Ruby Dixon (Free with KU)
I picked this up on KU after reading an “good girl” excerpt over on the r/romancebooks subreddit. I love Ruby’s alien romances. This one for me might be the romance I’ve read that has the most depth in terms of story development and love story. So many things worked for me, and the genuine love these two have for each other makes this story so great.