What a slow month. I think I mentioned I’d slow down on reading? But usually that’s just me talking, not reality. 🤣

I was pretty busy with things like Bible Study Fellowship starting back up again. Work stress took too much of my focus time, plus I’ve been rowing again so that’s taking up some time during the week I’d normally just be a potato and read. 🙂

Even with all those things, it was a great month in and outside of reading!

I did read quite a few reads, but not like a book every two days like I had been for a while. Just felt like a really slow reading month.

Here’s what I was able to get through this month!

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Betsy: Miss Grumps Don’t Fall for Mr. Sunshines by Sarah Monzon

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

Apparently, I didn’t make any notes about this book. 🙂

Betsy was sooooo grumpy though. She did not date musicians (even though she works with them every day) and the why was fleshed out later in the story. Guilt and shame were dealt with in this story. I loved how Asher was patient with her and met her where she was. A great story of forgiveness and moving past hurts.

This is the last book in the Sewing in SoCal series.

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Bargaining for the Barrister by Anneka R Walker

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

Oh. My. Goodness. I LOVE THIS SERIES AND THIS IS THE FIRST BOOK. If you haven’t yet experienced Anneka R. Walker’s books, you need to. This is probably my second or third by her? I don’t know. But this book has me itching to binge her backlist.

Notes:

• Paul Sheldon (the barrister) is 26.
• Paul’s best friend Ian is also 26. Ian is hilariously against marriage.
• Louisia is 19-20ish.
• Paul has to deal with belonging and this feeling of indebtedness.

Quotes:

He might be charitable, but he could be intimidating when he chose to be.

He stared at her, and with lowered brows, she stared right back. This petite woman hid her spirit behind her sweet smiles and soft voice, but he knew better. Louisa Cox was a force strong enough to knock the sense from a man and make him question all his life choices.

This is the first book in the Matchmaking Mamas series. A new favorite regency series!

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A Sea View Christmas by Julie Klassen

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

UGH. My only frustration is that this is the end!

I loved this series so much. The books got better as the series went on. Although I didn’t think this one was as spectacular as the last two full length books in the series, I did like how all the sisters’ stories had an ending (and beginning, In Georgie’s case).

Speaking of Georgie! I was so shook when Colin had interest in another girl in town. WHY. Colin’s a few years older than Georgie (I think by 5-7yrs???) but HELLO. I thought they were cute together (because I totally saw them, LOL).

This is the ending novella to the On Devonshire Shores series. I’m excited for whatever Julie Klassen has next for us!!

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An Unwitting Alliance by Anneka R Walker

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

OKAY. I thought the first book in this series was good. THIS ONE? Wow. I read this one a little faster even! The unfolding story throughout this one and ALL THE FEELINGS. Oh, man. If you want to have a slow burn where they fight their feelings til the end, this is IT.

Notes:

• Cassandra was born when Tom was 7
• Tom was present at her birth!!
• Tom is hilariously charming
• HE CALLS HER CASSIE
• Cassandra has several younger siblings: Jane, Bethany Megan, Michael, Robert, Peter and one more on the way!
• Tom is an only child (he had a younger brother who passed away as a child)
• Tom is playful and endearing. I probably fell a little for Tom myself.
• Grief and loss is a topic in Tom’s life that comes up and builds up near the end.
• Ian’s appearances in his friends stories never disappoint.

Quotes:

He easily peeled lan’s hand off his arm. “If it means that much to you, why did you not say so?” He sighed dramatically. “I suppose I am up for a lark. I assume you’ve picked out my partner already. Who’ll it be? Am I to make someone jealous?”

“Why would I want to make someone jealous? No, you’re keeping her away from me. She keeps following me around, and I’m only free from her clutches now because I arranged the last dance for her as well. I’d hate to make a woman cry, but if she comes near me again, so help me…”

Anyone overhearing would think a name like Rebels meant trouble, but rebellion was often misunder-stood. He and lan belonged to the most respectable group of Rebels that Society had ever seen. Their actions promoted goodness and benefited many. He, of course, had been responsible for naming the group. He had a knack for such things. Besides, the irony of their title always made him smile. The Rebels put up their noses at the ridiculous rules governing their class and did their best to protect anyone who was wronged by said rules. And they danced when they did not want to, if only to spare their friends from being harassed.

This is book two in the Matchmaking Mamas series. I’m so excited for the next two books! AND I AM SHOOK – I read the back of the next book and I thought that there was a moment in this book that Miles had a thing for Lisette? But apparently it’s JEMMA. Maybe I’m tripping, but I was midly shook, which isn’t the first time I’ve been wrong.

MOVING ON.

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Say You Remember Me by Judy Corry

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

The beginning of the book, I did not enjoy. I liked the conversations and Maddie, but Ian got on my nerves, for real. I mean the guy was a player, basically. He was in book one and I thought he was questionable. He was (is) Evan’s best friend in book one. He developed feelings for Evan’s fiancé in that book and it was interesting to see just how much affected him in this book. It was brought up toward the beginning, that he decided to change and be celibate. What bothered me was in inner thoughts about it which I mention in notes.

Notes:

• Maddie is about 26
• Ian is 28
• Fake relationship between boss/assistant
• Ian talks about not getting laid in months at the beginning of the book…
• A few mentions of cussing, but I don’t think the actual words are used

Ian wasn’t as bad to deal with the second half of the book with his inner thoughts, but I do think there was some fade to black going on.

This is book two in the Kings of Eden Falls series.

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The Friend Face Off by Grace Worthington

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I took a break from this series because I didn’t have the next books… and then forgot about it. How did I remember? I got SERIES TWO. Like the whole series. And then I realized, wow, I never finished series one…

So here I am. THIS IS MY STORY. Don’t be like me. 🙂 LOL

I loved this one. This is such a classic older brother’s best friend story. I loved how this one played out. The cellar moment recreated years later is a solid move, my guy.

Notes:

• Emmy (Emerson) Roberts is like 25ish
• Dawson Hayes is around 27ish
• Dawson is a pro goalie
  • THE COVER SHOWS HIM WITH A REGULAR SKATER STICK, NOT A GOALIE STICK
    • I need this explained 🙂
• Emmy works at the bookstore in town
• Dawson is GONE for Emmy and is romantic and charming
• Pact made years ago
• Don’t believe everything you see or hear in the media

This is book three in the Love on Thin Ice series.

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Love in Overtime by Melissa Baldwin

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I didn’t make any notes about this one because I read it so fast!

Blair is Cooper’s new publicist and travels to Maple Falls with him. She’s basically like his assistant though, keeping him up to date on the itinerary. She wasn’t what he was expecting, but a good surprise for him! She’s just what he needed.

While I enjoyed this story, obviously, it was definitely an insta-love type of story. It was like 6 weeks I think from start to finish?

Also, I think the series can be read in any order because each book takes place over the same time frame so you get glimpses of the other couples while reading about one couple. So am I reading in order? YES. But did I try to finish a smaller but later book after I finished this one to squeeze it into September reads? Also, YES. I did not succeed in this so you won’t see it here this month. 🙂

This is book four in the Love on Thin Ice multi-author series.

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Once Upon a Boyband by Jenny Proctor

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

Let me tell you why it took me so long to read this one. Which honestly, I thought it took me over a month because I took like a 2 week break from this.

I’m adding what I didn’t like before my good things because I did really love the main characters overall and it has me excited for the next story (and whatever comes next!).

So what I didn’t like is that a main side character, Percy is gay. And it’s not just that, but that it comes up over and over again throughout the book, especially at the beginning.

Another thing… Since when is it IF WE DON’T SHARE A ROOM PEOPLE WON’T BELIEVE WE’RE ENGAGED… ??????? Um, maybe you SHOULDN’T share a room and people will think you’re NOT MARRIED? I don’t know. I had a problem with it.

There’s some minor swearing and almost swearing throughout. Mentions of body parts and attraction??? Was kind of caught off guard.

So if we take all that away and just focus on what I loved, which were the main characters and mostly Adam, I loved this. 🙂

Notes:

• Laney (Dr. Elena Lawson) is 26
• Adam Driscoll is also 26
• Loved the rekindled friendship between Freddie and Adam
• ADAM. A fave.
• I loved how normal Adam is and how he was against all the attention.

Quotes:

The only thing better than tall, dark, and handsome is tall, dark, and handsome… with puppies.

This is book one in the Midnight Rush Romance series. I got excited for this series after seeing the promotion of book two (about Freddie), so watch for that being read soon!

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I realize as I type this that I was unintentionally absent in the blogging world this past month, but it was just busy. A lot of good has happened in my Bible studies though so I hope to share some nuggets of truth with you soon!

Feel free to comment what you read in September, I’d love to know!

Have a great rest of your week!

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Books read this month: 8

Books read this year: 129

Book goal for year: 100

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I actually sold some books in a yard sale while my neighbors had their sale! It was a good time all around. That said, I do still have books I need to part with…. Check those out at my Pango link.

You can check out my bookstore here:

https://pangobooks.com/bookstore/notyourseason

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https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/131896341-summer

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