August around these parts means back to school time. I’m gearing up for Bible Study Fellowship next month and I am so excited!! With all my studying I’ll have on my plate (BSF, Systematic Theology, etc), I may not read much going forward. HA! We’ll see. 🙂

This past month was another book filled month for yours truly. I loved every minute.

We have a long post here, folks. Like… really long. I better jump right in.

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The Heart Shot by Emily Schneider

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I enjoyed this book. It was heavy on emotional, past relationship baggage ~ both from parents and a past romantic relationship.

Jameson was so sweet and putting himself out there, even with his meddling family pushing him or getting in the way. Elsie was really struggling the whole story to trust in relationships, but it was good to see a man showing her she could trust him and that she deserved to be loved and cherished.

It wasn’t a favorite, but I did enjoy the writing and I have book two with plans to get book three when it releases.

Chapter 20 was labeled as Jameson’s POV but it was actually Elsie’s 🫠

Book one in the Sweet Meridel Romance series.

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Love in the Storm by Mandi Blake

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I loved this one. The middle got a little slow and I felt like I didn’t know what could possibly go wrong and then the ending was amazing.

I loved the addict recovery storyline and how Lyric and Asa (which is a really cool, uncommon name) encouraged each other and fought for one another. It would have been so easy to write a story of resistance, but this one was full of perseverance.

“It won’t be the last time you question why bad things happen, but remember this is the Lord’s plan, and it is good.”

A good story of faith and love. I’m excited for the rest of the series!!

I’m reading this series as ebooks because I’m using my Amazon credits like a responsible human being even though I REALLY want the paperbacks.

Book one of the Love in Blackwater series.

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Plotting Summer by Jess Heileman

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I didn’t realize it took me 2 weeks to read this 👀

So the beginning was slow for me. I also realize a few chapters in it was only going to be a single POV and not duel, so I think, at the time, I was pretty bummed. Something about the duel POV just draws me in because as the reader I can see both sides. This one turned around and I’m so glad it was single POV!

Tristan and Capri were so stinkin’ cute! I loved their history and how talking about the past cleared up so much for them and the side characters. There was still like 100 pages left I think and I was like… this is too good. How is this gonna end? And then the ending was rocky and then it was adorable. Not to spoil it 🤪

Capri and her imagination throughout at times cracked me up, almost as much as the side characters. Her brother in law, omgggggg. Hilarious!

So yeah, I loved this one.

Part of the Falling for Summer multi-author series.

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Love For a Lifetime by Mandi Blake

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

This one. This one was so good. The beginning was actually like… just so swoony. Dawson and Olivia’s chemistry right out of the gate 🤌🏻🤯🥵🔥

I loved the first half. The journey to get there. The middle was rough, but still good!! It was just more emotional I felt like. The ending wasn’t how I thought it would be, but there was a bonus epilogue that teases the next book which I ALREADY GOT. So I am excited to read that but because at this point I’ve got a lot going on just reading-wise, starting that may be delayed… a day… or two… if I can control myself. 🤣

I loved that Dawson had Olivia in his phone as “chicken tender.” 😂

Friendliness usually helped forge bonds, but fear sometimes trumped bravery.

“Jesus is in the boat with you, Liv. Why are you afraid of the storm? He knows you need help, so why are you afraid to sit at His feet? It’s like you don’t trust Him to take care of you.”

It’s okay to be scared, but don’t stay there. Get up and remember who stands beside you.”

Reading this series as ebooks. For now. I love them so much I may need paperbacks BUT GOD GAVE ME A SPIRIT OF SELF DISCIPLINE. So I’m exercising that at this time.

This is book two in the Love in Blackwater series.

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But He’s My Roommate by Annah Conwell

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

So hyped and so worth it.

Not only was this hyped for this story, but also for the beautiful ending all of us Annah Conwell fans and readers were looking for.

Maverick Carter is an amazing fictional man. Evie Wilder, with her past and concerns are taken into daily consideration by Maverick and put to rest. I love their relationship that’s always has been and always will be beautiful. They’re a team. 🫶🏻 He would do anything and everything for her.

Might be my favorite love story of the Carter brothers.

Though I read this as an ebook, I only did so because I knew I wouldn’t get the paperback for like a week and I knew I could read it by then. 😂

This is the end of the But He’s a Carter Brother series. 😭

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An Improper Proposal by Audra Wells

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

Ah, a marriage of convenience story. Though it ends just how you expect, or better, as the case may be, it’s the journey that makes such a great story.

“Control is only an illusion.”

I loved so much of this. Robert, the Duke, is so serious and controlled. Louisa is carefree and just what the Duke needs in his role. They strike a bargain and Louisa is determined to not love a man. When circumstances change for the Duke’s position on love, the journey they face is one of obstacles. And ya know what? It was so good and I loved it. This is one of my favorite of the four books I’ve read by Audra Wells.

“I’m trying to be …” He took a slow breath, turning his face toward her. So much was said without him uttering a word —the lines about his eyes as he studied her, the tenseness of his shoulders, the puckered fabric of his breeches where his fingers pressed into his leg. “I’m trying to let my mask fall. At least with you. Is that all right, Duchess?” His mouth formed a warm smile.

All sensible thoughts fled. Her stomach swirled and her skin flushed as his usually stern face softened in a way that made her blood sing.

“And now,” he said, still grinning, “I have rendered you speechless.”

“Ah!” She swatted his chest with the back of her hand as she laughed. He chuckled, quickly catching her hand in his grasp and bringing it just in front of his mouth. He paused, hesitating for a brief moment before he pressed a tender kiss to her knuckles. She was mesmerized as his lips slowly dragged across her hand, and she unabashedly leaned closer.

“I told you. It’s more for the sport itself, not notoriety or money. I already have both of those.

Louisa’s scoff came out as more of a laugh. “Well, aren’t you quite full of yourself?”

He raised a brow as he grinned. “I am a duke, Louisa. While I do not love it, all I have to do is walk into a room and watch the heads turn to know my place.”

“And this is your little jab to society, is it?” She crossed her arms over her chest as she gave him a cheeky grin.

“Yes. It is.”

“That was a bit far,” Robert said flatly. “No need to flatter the man.”

“Believe me. Flattery will get you everywhere and anything.”

“I have not found that to be the case.”

“Yes, I am an exception.”

Louisa took a tremulous breath. “I wasn’t supposed to like you, she said, tears threatening the backs of her eyes. “You were sullen and quiet and serious.”

“Am I not those things now?” He took a small step toward her.

“With others, yes. But when it is just the two of us—” Her breath hitched. “When it is just the two of us,” she began again, swallowing and controlling her voice more carefully, “you are so much more. You smile and laugh with me. You say and do the sweetest things, which I do not deserve.”

Robert took a step closer. “Do you know what scares me, Louisa? That one day I will die, and you won’t shed a single tear.How’s that for irony? We fear the opposite ends of the same problem. To care or not to care. Which hurts us more in the end? To live a life without love, a heart so hardened that it goes on as it always has. Or,” —he took her chin in his hand -live life to the fullest, enjoying every moment with a heart so open that it keeps expanding and growing.”

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Love On The Ice by Kerry Evelyn

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

Had to read this since it was a novella to start the series and I have book one.

This one was a fast paced second chance romance. Ginny and Alexei find each other again by coincidence at the sport complex skating rink and Alexei is convinced they’re made for one another while Ginny is skeptical he’s even for real because of previous misunderstandings. The ending was a bit rushed for my taste, but a sweet, quick read (like 45min) if you’re looking for one.

Novella that starts the Palmer City Voltage series.

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Love in the Wild by Mandi Blake

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

Well this is different 👀 I’ve never read a book so rich in God’s truth and the full 180° change in someone’s life. Even from Mandi! This was beautifully written and so deep.

Gage had a rough life. Like so rough with seemingly no way out of the criminal lifestyle he was born into. Hadley gets close to Gage to help a friend and in doing so they actually form a connection. I loved how it wasn’t just Hadley leading him to change but the deep yearning and seeing how Christians around him acted and treated each other.

So much happened to keep me flipping the digital pages. I loved this so much. And the ending was perfect.

This does involve quite a bit of criminal behavior and violence.

This is book three in the Love in Blackwater series. I found out halfway through that one of Mandi Blake’s other books from a different series happens at the same time as this one, about a different couple who’s also heavy in this book. I need to read all her books though. There’s so many I haven’t read!!

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Summer Tease by Martha Keyes

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

Oh man, I loved this story way more than I thought I would. Enemies to lovers, ✅. Swoon worthy man in uniform, ✅. A sassy grandma, ✅.

I loved Officer Palmer (Beau) and our PR/Camera Crew (Gemma). It was beautifully written and showcased just how perspectives can be just that, a perspective and not the whole story.

“Beau,” I reason as he gets near enough to brush my nose with his, “you’re a Palmer. I’m a Sawyer. Your entire island the one you’re crazy about— has expectations about how we should interact.”

“Gemma,” he says, matching my tone, “I couldn’t care less what people think or feel about the Sawyers and Palmers. I don’t adopt other people’s issues-not even people I love as much as my family. What I care about right now is what you think and feel. So…”

“I think I already started unhating you that night,” I say. “So so so so so against my will.”

He laughs and puts his hand on my waist, bringing me toward him. He kisses my hair, then inhales softly. “I swore that night to change how you felt about the island. But really, I wanted to change how you felt about me.”

“You really outdid yourself.”

He smiles. “You know how they say shoot for the moon, and if you fail, you’ll land among the stars? I shot for the stars and somehow got the moon and the stars.” He tips my chin up and kisses me, soft and long, keeping me upright as the boat lists with the gentle waves.

A book from the Falling for Summer, multi-author series.

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Beauty and the Beach by Gracie Ruth Mitchell

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

When the book starts off like this:

I MAY BE A SINGLE MAN, and I may be in possession of a good fortune. No matter what universal acknowledgment says, however, I have never been in want of a wife.

You know it’ll be good. 😂

And it was! I admit that the aggressive enemies part, like the intense insulting and pranks threw me at first. Like it seemed really intense to me. I was ready for them to fall already. As I continued reading, about the midway point with little hints all along the way, I was like hmm, this makes more sense.

Phoenix seemed super bossy, but the more I read, the more that made sense too. I don’t agree with it, but it made sense for his character.

The name calling between Holland and Phoenix made me laugh out loud sometimes, I must say. 😂

I loved that even when they were pranking and insulting each other, they were caring for each other and making sure they had all they needed. It really pulls at the heartstrings.

Phoenix was a rough character in my opinion. He was very serious and dry at times, but then he would do something sweet and I’d like awwwww, he has a heart. ❤️

I want to never look at him again. I want to forget everything that’s happened to us, every nightmare that keeps me awake, every painful memory.

But he’s never seemed to want the same thing, regardless of how poorly we get along. “Give me one more ridiculous bird name,” he breathes, his eyes flashing, “and see what happens—”

“Emu,” I repeat loudly, snickering even though I know it will annoy him. But why call him Phoenix—an imaginary bird – when there are so many real bird names available? “Be grateful it wasn’t Timouse” —a nickname I’ve used before and will absolutely use again-“or Rooster or American Woodcock -“ But I break off as he moves, my grin dying as he reaches for me. “Wait,” I say. His hands find my waist; my eyes widen. “What are you—wait. Hey. Hey!”

Ahhh, marriage of convenience, too! ✅

I turn to face him. “I’m going to bed anyway.” Then, casting my gaze over his clothes, I say, “Do you always wear that? I figured you were probably more casual at home, or at least in the evenings. Do you sleep in a suit? Shower in a tux?”

His eyes glint in the dimly lit hallway as he steps closer to me. “Imagining me in the shower, Amsterdam?” he says, raising one eyebrow.

The nerve.

“Only when I feel like vomiting,” I say sweetly. Then I turn around and continue on to the room I’m staying in, closing the door behind me.

“This is your last warning, Amsterdam,” he says, his eyes dark. “Don’t start a game you can’t win. Don’t kiss me whenever you feel like it.”

The words slam into me, unexpected, a blow to the solar plexus that makes it difficult to breathe.

“Or what?” I say.

“Or I’ll kiss you back.”

This story actually had some serious depth to it. I don’t want to spoil anything, but these two, Holland and Phoenix, both had some things to unpack and comes to terms with. Honestly, this would make a great movie and I would watch it.

No cussing, but just some different language, and references to swearing.

In all honesty, I didn’t give this book 4 stars because I loved everything about it, or I loved the characters or something. It just… made me feel and I think that’s what I needed these few days, so it worked for me and I loved that feeling. I was torn between 4 and 5, but because of what I talked about here, I decided 4 was probably for the best. Maybe a high 4.

It’s like the more “hate” (that’s actually not hate 😅), the more passion at the end.

Also, wow, I had a lot to say about this one. 👀 Someone should have told me to chill out 😂

Part of the Falling for Summer, multi-author series.

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The Summer of Yes by Courtney Walsh

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

This was hilarious and touching at the same time. I wanted to read this when it came out but then I was reluctant because I had so many other books vying for my attention, too.

I ended up listening to the audiobook on Spotify and reading here and there. I recommend both! 😍

I may or may not have laughed out loud while listening and looking at numbers.

Georgina and Kelsey were quite the pair! 😂 I loved the banter and how grumpy Georgina was through most of the story. This was such a sweet story of forgiveness, prioritizing what matters and reconciliation, even if it’s when situations are less than ideal.

A great summer (or anytime) read!

This is a standalone novel!

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One Happy Summer by Becky Monson

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

This was the first book I’ve read by Becky Monson, surprisingly.

It wasn’t like I woke up three days ago and chose violence.

Same. (Jk 🤣)

Presley was a misunderstood actress trying to escape just another stint in the spotlight and Briggs was working in his mom’s bookstore escaping his own woes in life. The two set out to do all the summer things in Sunset Harbor while they’re on the island together and try to figure out where life will take them.

The Book Isle, my mom’s third child, opened its doors nearly thirteen years ago, not long after I turned fifteen.

😂

“Would you come with me? Would you sit on the beach with me?”

I search her face. “Yeah, absolutely.”

“Okay, perfect.” She pulls out of the hug, grabbing on to the hem of my T-shirt like she’s not ready to let go. “You’re kind of my emotional support human.”

I chuckle. “Glad to be of service.”

A few curse words.

It was an okay, summer read.

Book from the Falling for Summer, multi-author series.

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Rebel Summer by Cindy Steel

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

The book I’ve been the most excited for this summer. ❤️

Dax was the total cinnamon roll MMC 🥵😍❤️

Ivy had so much growth in her past and moving forward. I could relate to her, but I’m also not one to step out too often and do things on the wild side.

I loved both characters and their chemistry, even all the way back in high school biology. Good gracious!

The banter was next level and I loved their sense of humor!

He shook his head. “I want it on the calendar. I’d hate for you to cheat me out of what you owe.”

“You’re worried about me cheating?” I asked incredulously as several memories of him attempting to cheat off my test in our biology class came flying back to me.

As if remembering the same thing, a smile lifted the corners of his mouth. “I wouldn’t have thought you’d have a DUI on your record, but you just never know about people these days.”

But life is hard enough without trying to manage somebody else’s expectations.

Some mentions of swearing, cursing, some innuendo and at least one use of an actual curse word. That kind of disappointed me. None of the reviews I had seen mentioned it. Despite that…

The ending was perfection. The whole storyline, wild as it is, and that ending made me give this 5 stars. 😍

Must. Listen. To. “Sweet Caroline.”

Also, this was single POV from Ivy’s POV so it was actually nice!! Most of the time the single POV works out, I just need to give it a chance and I’ve read more this way lately I feel like soooooooo….

Book from the Falling for Summer, multi-author series. since I was reading them in order of their release date, this is the last one! But they can be read in absolutely any order because they take place at the same time.

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Books read this month: 13

Books read this year: 89

Book goal for the year: 75

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If you’re so inclined, let me know what you read in August in the comments!