August was our hottest stretch of the year, and I am literally… OVER IT. Though it was hot, it did not mean I stayed inside and just read. I did read, but it wasn’t all fiction so not much was finished until laaaaate in the month.

Summer, didn’t finish a book until the second week of the month?

I know. 🙂

So, let’s get these few book reviews and recommendations done, shall we? 🙂

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Movers and Fakers by Annah Conwell

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

LOVED THIS TO PIECES.

I actually have no notes or quotes 😂😂 I made notes though!

Aurora is a dancer in college with a really (over) supportive family. Hayes is basically the typical trust fund kid rebelling against his familial obligations. He’s the sweetest and most attentive to Aurora. This is one of the light and sweet variety of books in this series. Hayes, who appeared in a previous book, isn’t immediately liked by at least one of Aurora’s friends, but they come around. He’s harmless.

Notes:

• Aurora Driscoll – CompSci major, dancer, normal
• Hayes Rosewood – CompSci major, boxer, heir to father’s company, billionaire
• Hayes is a year ahead of Aurora
• THE NICKNAMES
• Everything
• Dual POV

This is book three in the RomCom University series. Cannot wait for Saylor and Graham’s story next!!!!!!!!

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The Bodyguard’s Fall by Cindy Steel

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

Even though I gave this 4 stars (it’s a vibe), I really enjoyed this one! It kept me turning the page (plus, I was trying to finish it before the next book arrived, LOL).

Cindy Steel knows how to write spectacular chemistry. I loved the banter in this one. At the beginning there seemed to be more innuendo and a few mild curses, which you’d think maybe that’d be more at the end…???? I don’t know. But it was fine. The connection between the characters was so good that it carried the story for me.

Notes:

• Liv (Olivia) – screenwriter
• Tate – injured police officer
• stalking
• protective brother / family
• fall vibes (festivals and shenanigans)
• friend groups
• small town
• Single POV (glimpse of his POV at beginning but 99% of book is only her POV)

The stalking is a major thing throughout the whole book so if this is a trigger at all, might stear clear.

This is the first book in the multi-author Falling for Autumn series. These can be read as standalones I’m sure, but I’m reading them as they release (of course).

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The Not So Neutral Zone by Susan & Sarah May Warren

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

Don’t let the length of time for me to read this fool you. I just prioritized other books ahead of this one.

Susan May Warren is an author I’ve heard great things about, and I have maybe a book or two by her on my shelf??? But I haven’t actually read her work yet until this book. A few things were off but overall, if you’re looking for an enjoyable Christian hockey romance, this series is going to be it!

Notes:

• Chloe Dawson – event planner
• Brody Kane – pro hockey player
• fake dating
• real feelings
• Christian theme of finding worth in Christ rather than something of the world
• family dynamics
• addiction
• Dual POV

This is book one in the Blue Ox Boys series.

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Stay Here With Me by Judy Corry

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I don’t know… I just couldn’t enjoy this one. Sure, Theo was great, but the rest of the book itself? Come on. The intimacy was way more than it should have been in this book. There wasn’t much depth in my opinion. It’s fade to black and they never actually do anything, so it’s closed door, but it’s a lot of descriptive making out that I had to stop reading and come back to later. The most depth was when Theo talked about his wife’s death. I also didn’t like how they talked about their relationship – like okay? Are you just going to kiss? It was like they weren’t going very deep. I was frustrated.

Notes:

• Nora Miller – nanny, recent graduate
• Theo Archibald – corporate lawyer, widowed, single dad
• best friend’s brother
• age gap
• fake dating (for a few chapters)
• Dual POV

This is book four in the Kings of Eden Falls series. I’m hoping the next books go back the other direction on the heat level scale.

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Stuck With My Christmas Crush by Francesca Spencer

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I just didn’t enjoy this one 😕

I didn’t care for the writing style and the characters were kind of annoying and not really likable, in my opinion. Just wasn’t for me.

This is a standalone novel from the multi-author Sweet Christmas Kisses series.

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A Holly Jolly Mix Up by Bella Greene

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

Oh, I loved this one!

It was like Hallmark movie ❤️ one I’d actually want to watch over and over. This one is going in my Christmas recommendations post! FOR SURE.

Nothing felt forced or awkward like other books I’ve been reading and so this is just what I needed 🥹😍❤️

Notes:

• Jane Brooks
• Andrew Harrington
• Double booked cabin rental
• Detective MMC
• Journalist / bookstore owner FMC
• A dog named Angus
• Christmas and small town vibes

This is a book from the multi-author Sweet Christmas Kisses series of standalone.

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Autumn On My Mind by Gracie Ruth Mitchell

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I didn’t know if I’d like this one because they’re trying to break their parents up, but it was so hilarious and heartfelt, that I just ate it up.

Reese and Dominic were so cute together. They dated in college but no one knew and there’s so much to unpack there 🫠 the whole of their history is revealed in flashbacks throughout the novel.

Notes:

• Reese Berkeley – 27
• Dominic Harper – about 30?
• She had a crush on him in high school
• Grief over losing parent
• Flashbacks to when they were at college
• Engineering
• He’s a handyman
• Reese calls her mom by her first name
• He’s a twin (to Rosie)
• Emma is his other sister
• Single POV (with hints of what’s playing in his head in the chapter headers 😍)

Notes (not in bullets):

He’s several years older than her (probably 3-4 yrs). He’s introverted. Was never rich or popular. But looked like he could lift a bale of hay, no problem (Reese’s words (basically), not mine 🙂 ).

Undeniably manly and strong.

They met on college campus, but both were from Autumn Ridge, so they had a connection. I LOVED (while originally frustrated I didn’t have all the dets at the beginning like a noob) that their college experience and dating was revealed slowly throughout the novel. It just slowly unfolded and things clicked into place.

Her mom is a piece of work! I loved the theatrics in this, and all the pieces worked well together in my opinion.

This is the second book in the multi-author Falling for Autumn series.

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Prayer: Communing with God in Everything by A. W. Tozer

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

Life changing.

I love just about anything by Tozer at this point but I just LOVED all he brought out about prayer.

This book is a compilation of different works of his and sermons he gave. There’s also additional commentary from Seaver (who I don’t know 😅) and some reflect and apply questions that work well individually or as a group.

Highly recommend this! No notes! Just, amazing.

I initially picked this up thinking the sermon series on prayer at church was going to last longer, but alas… it did not. I’m so glad I picked this off my shelf though. ❤️

Also, look for a post tomorrow over a topic within this book!

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Resisting the Fall by Jess Heileman

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

All the laughs and tears in this one! I did not want to put this down at all. I didn’t even take any notes with it! But I’ll put some below as I think about it.

Maven Price and Bennett Walker have been a pain in each other’s side since the moment they met as elementary age kids. Maven had an instant crush on her older brother’s friend when they moved to Autumn Ridge and Bennett didn’t like that a girl was tagging along on the all boys fishing trip with his dad. The banter from day one was hilarious! All the pranks over the years was something! LOL

I loved how this story was told. We get Maven’s present day perspective and then Bennett’s perspective in flashbacks until it makes it to his present day perspective. It slowly unfolds their story and all these important moments in time. I just… it was beautiful. This is probably going to be my favorite book of the series, let’s be real… but since I haven’t read most of the series (since they’re not released yet) I will leave it at that for now.

Notes:

• Maven (Price) Walker – professional violinist
• Bennett Walker – woodworker / business owner
• Married couple who divorced find out they’re still married
• Communication in marriage problems
• Banter for days
• She falls first, he falls harder
• dog named Finn
• “it’s always been you” vibes
• Dual POV (Maven: present day, Bennett: past to present throughout the story)
• Music I listened to while reading this that went perfectly: Take You Up On That album by Clayton Mullen

This is the third book in the Falling for Autumn multi-author series. I cannot wait for the rest! They’re just getting better!

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I got in the mood and listed more (fiction) books this month. Feel free to check out what’s available.

https://pangobooks.com/bookstore/notyourseason

GoodReads:

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

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Books read this month: 9

Books read this year: 91

Book goal for the year: 96

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Did we read any of the same things? What did you read this past month?