Book Review: The Southern Gentleman: Protective Instinct by Sweden Reese

Author: Sweden Reese
Series: Dominant Heroes Collection #1
Audience: +18
Genre: Erotic Romance, BDSM, Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Lens Flare Press
Release Date: September 13th 2016
My Rating: 4 Cups
Source: Netgalley
Blurb (from Goodreads):

ENTER THE GLAM WORLD OF A CRISIS MANAGEMENT AGENCY SPECIALIZING IN CELEBRITY SCANDAL AND POLITICAL INTRIGUE...

Sex. Politics. Scandal.

When a shadowy group intent on stealing the U.S. presidential election targets a leading candidate’s daughter, jaded professional fixer Nolan Jackson is hired to safely escort her across the country to a star-studded Election Eve event. There's only one problem: She’s ditched the campaign and disappeared… A southern gentleman who likes fast cars, deadly weapons and total control, Nolan is used to winning at all costs. Except in love. Yet, he’ll soon find himself irresistibly drawn to the candidate’s beautiful, naïve daughter.

Sheltered heiress Lola Randall has always played it safe. Now she’s gone rogue. After escaping the media spotlight and her overbearing parents, the last thing she needs in her life is an alpha male. But when Nolan shows her how good it can feel to relinquish control, she begins to secretly crave his domination. Now, she must choose between her independence and falling in love. Because Nolan is determined to win her heart and nail the bad guys before the opposition finds a way to steal the White House.

Erotic romantic suspense series for mature audiences

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: This is Book 1 in a steamy, suspenseful 2-book story. Book 1 ends in a scandalous cliffhanger, Book 2 delivers the HEA.

*Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book from Netgalley and Lens Flare Press in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my rating of the book or the content of my review in any way.

This is book 1 of the Dominant Heroes duology and it is quite an interesting story. It's the old famous, rich girl in need of protection, dark alpha male offering said protection story, only with a twist.

Lola is pretty innocent, doing what she needs to all the time, but she needs to escape, she wants to be on her own, without the watchful eyes of her security detail. She finds herself being "hunted" by Nolan, fixer and dominant alpha male, and being brought back home. On the way home though she gives him hell, he retaliates, she submits, he falls for her. The thing I liked about this book was that it didn't jump right to sex, it allowed the attraction between Lola and Nolan to grow.

It was interesting to see Lola going from hell-bent on rebelling to submitting so beautifully to Nolan, even though she didn't know anything really about submission. What I didn't fully like was the fact that Nolan at times was too harsh, knowing that Lola didn't know the rules of the game. But that is countered by how Lola reacts to his dominance, and how she eventually kind of goads him into punishing her.

The book ends with a cliffhanger, but not to worry, because you get to see how it all ends in book two. This was a book that, strangely, was a bit out of my comfort zone. I'm not used to reading about total-power-exchange or relationships with so much dominance over every aspect of someone's life, and I was pleasantly surprised.

Book Review: Playing By Her Rules by Amy Andrews

Author: Amy Andrews
Series: Sydney Smoke Rugby #1
Audience: +18
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC (Brazen)
Release Date: July 11th 2016
My Rating: 4 cups
Source: Netgalley
Blurb (from Goodreads):

In this grudge match, the first to score…

When style columnist Matilda Kent accidentally lets slip that she was once involved with the captain of the Sydney Smoke rugby team, she suddenly finds herself elevated to the position she’s always wanted – feature writer. The catch? She’s stuck doing a six-part series on her ex. Still, there’s no way she can turn down a promotion…or the chance to dish the dirt on the guy who so callously broke her heart.

…could win it all!

Tanner Stone wants to be involved in a feature series about as much as he wants to snap an Achilles. But the thought of seeing Tilly again is a bonus—and has him more worked up than he wants to admit. Only he’s not prepared for how different she is – all cool and professional. His Tilly is still in there, though…and he still wants her, now more than ever. All he has to do is charm her into giving him a rematch. And this time, winner takes all!

*Disclaimer: I was offered an eARC from Netgalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC in exchange for an honest review. 

It seems that second chance romances are popular again, which I don't mind in the least, let me tell you.

Matilda and Tanner have an explosive relationship, one that isn't just going to go away, no matter how much they want it to. I liked their interactions. At times it felt like watching a tennis match, wondering who will render the other one speechless first, who will make the other one mad, or laugh like a lunatic.

I have to say, for about half of the book I was confused about my feelings for Tanner. I understood what he did, why he did it, but I wasn't really sure why he couldn't have done it any other way. Some wisdom from Matilda's grandmother, as well as a great scene between the two love birds made me change my mind about him. I'm actually really happy with how the story ended for these two.

Matilda has a pretty unique sense of humor, if you ask me, especially in the articles she wrote about Tanner. I didn't exactly agree with her search to find something that will "expose" Tanner, but I did like her professionalism and how she didn't let her personal feelings ruin what she was writing.

I like that this story is about Aussie characters. That was a change for me, and a very good one, too. I would want that the focus would fall a little bit more on the sport itself too, to be honest. I was also very pleased with how this book opens the door for the series focusing on the other rugby players from Tanner's team. I thought it was a good introduction to a new series, and I'll definitely be checking out the rest of the books when they will be published.

Book Review: 1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Six

Author: Jennifer L Armentrout, Lorelei James, Alexandra Ivy, Laura Wright, Donna Grant, Rebecca Yarros, Kennedy Layne
Series: 1001 Dark Nights
Audience: +18
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Paranormal Romance, Military Romance
Publisher: Evil Eye Concepts, Incorporated
Release Date: August 23rd 2016
My Rating: 4 cups
Source: InkSlinger PR
Blurb (from Goodreads):

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors Jennifer L. Armentrout, Lorelei James, Alexandra Ivy, Laura Wright, Donna Grant, and introducing Rebecca Yarros and Kennedy Layne.

Seven Dark Tales. Seven Sensual Stories. Seven Page Turners.

DREAM OF YOU: Abby Erickson isn't looking for a one-night stand, a relationship, or anything that involves any one-on-one time, but when she witnesses a shocking crime, she's thrust into the hands of Colton Anders. His job is to protect her, but with every look, every touch, and every simmering kiss, she's in danger of not only losing her life but her heart also.

STRIPPED DOWN: A flirty game of sexual truth or dare between best man, Wynton Grant, and maid of honor, Melissa Lockhart during their BFF’s wedding reception results in a steamy hookup. But their plans for a one and done change when a family crisis leaves Wyn shorthanded at the Grant Ranch. Mel volunteers to help and gets way more than she bargained for.

RAGE: Rage has never had a problem charming the females. All except Lucie Gaudet. The lovely Geek is a born troublemaker, and it was no surprise to Rage when she was kicked out of the Wildlands. Now the Pantera need a first-class hacker to stop the potential destruction of their people, and it’s up to Rage to convince Lucie to help.

KILLIAN: Gorgeous, brutal, aggressive, and human, Killian O’Roarke wants only two things: to get rid of the Pantera DNA he’s been infected with, and get back to the field. Rosalie lost her mate to a human, and now the Hunter despises them all. In a time of war between their species, isn’t any chance of love destined for destruction?

DRAGON KING: Grace Clark has found the perfect spot to break through her writer's block. Until Arian, a Dragon King who has slept away centuries in his cave, appears and tries to force her away from the mountain. Unaware of the war she just stumbled into, Grace doesn't just discover the perfect place to write, she finds Arian - the most gorgeous, enticing, mysterious man she's ever met.

IGNITE: In Legacy, Colorado, I buried my father alongside his elite Hotshot team. Ten years later, I’ve followed in his footsteps—fighting fires in the mountains of Alaska with my brother.
Amid the flames, nothing ignites me like Avery Claire. She’s stubborn, strong, sexy as hell, and my best friend. She also has no idea that I’m in love with her.

FATED IDENTITY: Grady Kenton relishes the long seductive weekends with Brienne Chaylse, the beautiful CIA liaison who understands his boundaries and accepts things the way he needs them to be. When Brienne’s identity as a CIA special agent is leaked to the media, she and Grady must race to discover whose betrayal runs deep while their true feelings emerge.

Every Dark Nights tale is breathtakingly sexy and magically romantic.

*Disclaimer: I received an e-ARC of this book from InkSlinger PR and Evil Eye Concepts, Incorporated in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my rating or my opinion of this book.

I am slowly, but very surely, becoming addicted to the 1001 Dark Nights series, guys! Besides the fact that most of my favorite authors are writing for this series, I get to find out about more authors that need to be on my shelves ASAP.

Dream Of You by Jennifer L. Armentrout

When I saw that this bundle had an Armentrout novella in it, I did a happy dance. I may have squeed a little bit too (not a very nice sound, let me tell you). I can always trust Armentrout to write a really relatable female character. Abby was phenomenal, there's just no other way to describe her. She has, what is in my opinion, the perfect job. But aside from that, I love how strong she is. She was scared out of her mind, but she still did the right thing, and I respect her a lot for that. Colton was a great hero, and it was really sweet seeing how he viewed her in high school. I loved him mostly for his integrity, for his sense of right and wrong. He's a great guy, and I really loved him, and I'm super happy they found each other again, even in the most terrible way.

Stripped Down by Lorelei James

It seems that not long ago I found the perfect cowboy romance series, by Lorelei James. So when she comes out with another cowboy novella, I trust her to write great heroes, great heroines, but also really natural, real human interactions. There's just something about James' characters that make them feel like real people, and that's what I felt with Wynton and Melissa. They were funny and sexy together, there's no denying that, but I also loved reading about how they interacted outside of the bedroom. Melissa is struggling to come to terms with some really important developments in her life, and it was a really fascinating to read about that. I also loved seeing how even with what was going on with her, she still found it in herself to help Wynton when he needed it the most. I also loved the ending. I laughed at it, because it shows just how perfectly these two characters fit together.

Rage/Killian by Alexandra Ivy & Laura Wright

I really need to go back and read the Bayou Heat series from the very beginning. Rage and Lucie have a very peculiar relationship. Lucie's childhood is filled with a lot of pain, and I was amazed by her strength and by how she managed to make a really good life for herself. I'm pretty sure Rage would have helped her had he known what was going on back then, as he even says as much. I was glad to see these two end up together.

Killian and Rosalie's story has a different tone than the previous one. Both of them have lost a lot, and they're both a little damaged. It was interesting to read about Killian's struggle to come to terms with what was going on with him. I would have wanted to read more about him and about his story prior to being exposed to the Pantera DNA. Rosalie is in a lot of emotional pain, and she's lashing out at everyone, including herself. I was really sad reading about her story and about her past. I like how, in the end, they both kind of help each other heal.

Dragon King by Donna Grant

I loved this take on dragons. I haven't read many books with dragons, but I was really happy with how Grant wrote them. This was my first Dark Kings book, so in a way, I understood Grace and how new she was to this world. I really liked Grace. She's a writer, she travels to Scotland to find her muse, and I really enjoyed reading about that, about her thought process, about her struggles to write a book under a strict timeline. Arian is a great character, and I loved reading about his past. He's really good with words, with explaining the history of dragons, and I found myself kind of lost in that. I know this book is part of a long series, and I am definitely going to check it out, because I need to read more about these dragons. Also, I'm really hoping the King of Kings gets his own story.

Ignite by Rebecca Yarros

River is the kind of guy you just have to love. Everything about him is perfect, from his sense of duty, to his little rituals when getting home from a fire, to his willingness to do the right thing even if it means he doesn't get the girl. He's a nice guy, and I liked him a lot. Avery is a girl who's been through a lot, much more than any person should go through. My heart was breaking while I was reading her story, because she's a good girl that's stuck in a really shitty situation. I respected her a lot, how she took care of her dad and her little sister, but at the same time I wanted to shake her. I was happy with how the story ended for her, but I would have wanted to see her have the courage to do what she did, earlier. I'm hoping there are more books in this series, because I am very curious to see how her life goes on and how her sister grows up.

Fated Identity by Kennedy Layne

The last novella in this bundle was a really powerful one. I kind of felt like watching scenes from NCIS, to be honest. There's a lot of intense scenes in this book, a lot of danger, the pacing is amazing. Brienna and Grady are really great characters, and it was fascinating to read about them. Grady is struggling to adjust to some changes in his relationship with Brienna, when they get the news that she's in danger. And I was really fascinated with how he reacted, and especially with how they were both willing to sacrifice themselves in order to see the mission complete. I also liked how Brienna stated some facts that Grady wasn't really ready to hear, but that he needed to. I am definitely going to check this author out, especially since this particular novella is part of a series.

OVERALL RATING

I was super happy to have received an ARC of this bundle and I absolutely loved it. I cannot wait for more 1001 Dark Nights novellas and bundles to come out, and to discover new authors and new series, as well as read more stories from my favorite authors.

2016 ARC August Wrap-up Post

Hi guys! I can't believe that August is over, and that ARC August has come to an end. I'm also sad, because this means my vacation is also over, but that's another matter. I was super excited to participate in this challenge. When I signed up, I had 27 books on my list. Here's what I managed to read:

That's 11 books out of 27, which is way more than I expected when I made up the list, to be very honest with you. 

I also read 2 books that were not on the list, that were also ARCs:

So I read a total of 13 books in August. I'm super proud of myself, given that I haven't read this many books in one month in a very, very long time. 

Since I still have some ARCs on my hands, as well as some other books I've received for review, I plan on reading (and hopefully finish) them in September. 

How was your ARC August? Did you read the books you planned on reading?

Book Review: Flame Unleashed by Jillian David

Author: Jillian David
Series: Hell To Pay #3
Audience: +18
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Crimson Romance
Release Date: September 14th 2015
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: Reading Alley
Blurb (from Goodreads):

When Civil War nurse Ruth Blackstone sacrificed her soul to save her husband’s life, he utterly betrayed her trust. Now, 150 years later, she’s still stuck killing depraved souls to feed her devil of a boss, Jerahmeel. She’s never been one for hair-brained schemes or sweet-talking flirts. That is, until she meets Cajun rogue Odie Pierre-Noir.

Odie has the research and the war plan to overthrow Jerahmeel and win freedom for all Indebteds. There’s just one hitch: he needs Ruth to act as bait. With charm on his side, he shows Ruth an intense passion she’s never experienced before.

Now Ruth must make the hardest decision of her long, damned life: continue in relative safety as an Indebted with Odie as her lover, or risk their eternal souls for one chance to break the curse. Will she choose the lesser evil?

*Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of this book from Reading Alley and Crimson Romance in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my opinion or my rating of the book in any way.

The last book in the Hell To Pay series was a pretty intense one, and definitely not how I pictured it would be. Actually the entire story was surprising and different than what I imagined at first.

You have Odie, an older Indebted, who, I'll be honest, wasn't my favorite in the beginning. I let my feelings be a little bit influenced by Ruth's reluctance to let him in, to be honest. But besides Ruth, I kept wondering what was his angle. I knew he showed his cards from the very beginning, and he was pretty honest from the get go about what his plan was and what he wanted, but a part of me wondered if he wasn't more than just the guy who wanted to end Jerahmeel forever, that maybe he wanted more. Then as the story progressed, I started liking him, especially after he shared his story, which is rather heartbreaking. I liked his dedication and his willingness to do whatever it took to free his brothers and sisters from their boss.

Then there's Ruth. Ruth was also a very different heroine than Allie and Hannah. Reading the book, I kept having this impression that she's much more than a nurse and a killer, like those were just masks. I liked the power struggle that went on between her and Jerahmeel. It was an intriguing aspect of the story. I am happy with how the story ended for her, especially with what she found out about her human family, because she really deserved it.

We finally find out more about Jerahmeel, and his story was not what I expected. Of course, knowing him and knowing what he did to Peter and Dante, I have to question some parts of his story. I also wonder if the ending of the book really meant the end of Jerahmeel. I know this is the last book in the series, but you know me, I'm always craving some drama in my books.

The pacing was great, not different from the other two books. I feel like the ending was a little rushed, especially since I still have some questions about this world. Also Jerahmeel's story kind of brought up more questions. It answered a few, but it certainly opened up a whole bunch of others, for me at least. All of that aside, I really enjoyed this book and I'll definitely be checking Jillian David's books in the future.

Book Review: Rookie Move by Sarina Bowen (ARC)

Author: Sarina Bowen
Series: Brooklyn Bruisers #1
Audience: +18
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance
Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group
Release Date: 06 Sep 2016
My Rating: 5 cups
Source: Netgalley
Blurb (from Goodreads):

The first novel in a sexy new series featuring the hockey players of the Brooklyn Bruisers and the women who win their hearts—from the USA Today bestselling author of the Ivy Years series.

In high school they were the perfect couple—until the day Georgia left Leo in the cold...

Hockey player Leo Trevi has spent the last six years trying to do two things: get over the girl who broke his heart, and succeed in the NHL. But on the first day he’s called up to the newly franchised Brooklyn Bruisers, Leo gets checked on both sides, first by the team’s coach—who has a long simmering grudge, and then by the Bruisers’ sexy, icy publicist—his former girlfriend Georgia Worthington.

Saying goodbye to Leo was one of the hardest things Georgia ever had to do—and saying hello again isn’t much easier. Georgia is determined to keep their relationship strictly professional, but when a press conference microphone catches Leo declaring his feelings for her, things get really personal, really fast...

*Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of this book from Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my opinion or my rating of the book in any way.

Sports romance is becoming one of my top 5 romance subgenres. This paired with my newly discovered love of hockey, made me desperately need to read Rookie Move. Let me tell you, it was an awesome decision.

It's always interesting to read about second chances, about high school sweethearts getting a second chance at a relationship, mostly because it's interesting to see how they evolved and how the relationship can grow, but also because it's cute. I admit it! My inner romantic goes giddy over second chance stories, I think I've already told you that. Georgia and Leo's story is particularly beautiful because of what happened to make them break up. It's a sad story, really.

Georgia was a great character. Her story is heartbreaking. There's a beautiful scene between her and her roommate, Becca, where she realizes that fear and courage aren't mutually exclusive, and I loved that scene. And it also touches on the fact that some crimes affect your loved ones as well. Georgia is fearless even with her past, and I loved reading about that.

Leo was such a sweetheart. I loved him so, so much. I think even as a teenager, he was a great man, and I was so happy that he got to find his happy ending, because a guy like that deserves that and more. We don't get to see much of his life from the time he was apart from Georgia, aside from a few mentions here and there. I would have wanted to see more of that, but this is probably due to the fact that Brooklyn Bruisers is a spin-off to Bowen's Ivy Years, and there's a possibility that some of those scenes are in those books.

I was also glad that there was a lot more sport in this book. The sport wasn't just something some of the characters did, but at times it kind of felt like another character in the book, which was nice. I am curious to see how the author will approach the various aspects of the sport in the future books, depending on the main character's involvement in the team. And, yes, I may be very happy about who the hero of the next book is.

This was my first Sarina Bowen book, but I'll definitely check her other titles out while I'm waiting for the next Brooklyn Bruiser book to come out.

ARC August 2016: Week 2 Progress Update

Hello fellow readers! I hope your weekend went great and that it will continue to be fantastic. I decided to give you an update for my ARC August challenge. In case you don't remember, I planned on reading at least 27 books during this challenge. Here's where I stand after the first two weeks:

ARCs read that were part of my initial list:

ARCs read that weren't part of my list:

I know I said on Twitter that I was going to start with my oldest ARC on my initial list, Menagerie, and I was going to, honestly! But for some reason my heart wasn't into it, and I decided instead of DNFing, to work my way up to it. Plus, I was craving some fast paced books. Also, I recently got some other books that I need to get to, that are ARCs and that weren't part of that list. I hope to get to read them all *fingers crossed*.

So as of right now, I've read 3 books out of 27, and 1 book extra. Pretty proud of myself, considering I've had to do some work around the house and could only read at night, before bed. Hopefully soon I'll get some free time on my hands.

Did you make any progress on reading the books you wanted to during this challenge?

Book Review: Holding Up The Universe by Jennifer Niven (ARC)

Author: Jennifer Niven
Series: N/A
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publisher: Penguin
Release Date: October 6th 2016
My Rating: 4 Cups
Source: Netgalley
Blurb (from Goodreads):

From the author of the New York Times bestseller All the Bright Places comes a heart-wrenching story about what it means to see someone - and love someone - for who they truly are.

Everyone thinks they know Libby Strout, the girl once dubbed 'America's Fattest Teen'. But no one's taken the time to look past her weight to get to see who she really is. Since her mum's death, she's been picking up the pieces in the privacy of her home, dealing with her heartbroken father and her own grief. Now, Libby's ready: for high school, for new friends, for love, and for EVERY POSSIBILITY LIFE HAS TO OFFER. I know the part I want to play here at MVB High. I want to be the girl who can do anything.

Everyone thinks they know Jack Masselin too. Yes, he's got swagger, but he's also mastered the art of fitting in. What no one knows is that Jack has a secret: he can't recognize faces. Even his own brothers are strangers to him. He's the guy who can re-engineer and rebuild anything, but he can't understand what's going on with the inner workings of his own brain. So he tells himself to play it cool: Be charming. Be hilarious. Don't get too close to anyone.

Until he meets Libby. When the two get tangled up in a cruel high school game which lands them in group counseling, Libby and Jack are both angry, and then surprised. Because the more time they spend together, the less alone they feel. Because sometimes when you meet someone, it changes the world - theirs and yours.

Jennifer Niven delivers another poignant, exhilarating love story about finding that person who sees you for who you are - and seeing them right back.

Praise for All the Bright Places:

'If you're looking for the next The Fault in Our Stars - this is it' Guardian

'[A] heartbreaking love story about two funny, fragile, and wildly damaged high school kids' Entertainment Weekly

'A do-not-miss for fans of Eleanor & Park and The Fault in Our Stars, and basically anyone who can breathe' Justine Magazine

'At the heart - a big one - of All the Bright Places lies a charming love story about this unlikely and endearing pair of broken teenagers' The New York Times Book Review

*Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book from Netgalley and Penguin in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my opinion or my rating of this book in any way.

Do you ever find yourself surrounded by one book and one book only? Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, even other blogs and booktubers at one point or another featured this book, so I got so curious I had to try it out.

The book is about Libby and Jack and their road to acceptance. Of themselves, of each other, of other people. It's also about standing up to bullies, which is a theme I don't get to read about that much.

Libby was an interesting heroine. She talks about her struggles with being overweight, her fear for her health for something that happened when she was a kid, and she's also talking about fitting in, in a society that equals thinness with being cool, smart, and "the way to be". It was interesting to read about her struggles, but what I loved most was reading about how she dealt with bullying. I also liked that she tries to understand the people around her, even with people that don't honestly deserve it.

Jack suffers from prosopagnosia, which means he can't recognize faces. I was actually more excited to read about his POV. This is because while I studied this disorder, back in university, I never got to learn what people that suffer from this disorder actually go through, how they deal with it, how it affects their everyday life. So it was a unique experience for me, and also a way to learn more about this disorder. I liked reading about his journey especially towards accepting what he's suffering from.

The book is pretty fast-paced, and I liked the way the focus shifted from Libby to Jack. I also liked the way the book ended, because it gave me the feeling that everything was possible for Libby and Jack moving on. I didn't get the feeling of Libby getting "better" and finding herself because of Jack, but I definitely got that feeling with Jack, that he got to accept himself because of Libby. It didn't bother me as much as I thought, because in the story it makes sense, and also because sometimes you just need another person to wake you up. My only issue with the book, and really the only reason why my rating isn't the highest possible, was with most of the adults in the book. I don't want to spoil anything, so I won't talk about it, but let's just say that some of the adult figures in this book let me down. Not all, some were actually pretty cool.

All in all, a really good book, and I'll definitely be checking the author's books out in the future.

ARC August: Sign up Post

ARC August starts today and let me tell you, I have waited for this for a long time. Now, I know what I said two years ago, about giving up ARCs and all of that, but I'm a book addict okay? And ARCs are my drug of choice. So, as you can probably tell, I have a lot of ARCs I need to go through, and what better way to do it, than in the company of so many great readers.

In case you're wondering, ARC August is an event hosted by the amazing, wonderful and awesome Octavia and Shelly from Read.Sleep.Repeat and if you want to participate, hurry up and sign up. (I admit that I signed up late, because like an idiot I forgot to make up the post. Like literally FORGOT to write it. Don't ask, working in a school kind of fried my brain).

Anyway, here are the books I hope to get to read this month (and there are a lot of books in this list, so have patience here):

Young Adult

• Menagerie by Rachel Vincent

• The Hawkweed Prophecy by Irena Brignull

• The Otherlife by Julia Gray

• Holding Up The Universe by Jennifer Niven

• The Continent by Keira Drake

• Ink And Bone by Rachel Caine

• Paper and Fire by Rachel Caine

• Riverkeep by Martin Stewart

• How To Make Out by Brianna R. Shrum

• Extraordinary October by Diana Wagman

Adult

• Relentless Flame by Jillian David

• Flame Unleashed by Jillian David

• Flame's Dawn by Jillian David

• Wrong For Me by Jackie Ashenden

• The Illusionist's Apprentice by Kristy Cambron

• Rookie Move by Sarina Bowen

• Playing By Her Rules by Amy Andrews

• Bad Boys After Dark by Tina Moss, Ellis Leigh, Vivian Lane, Kallysten, Fionn Jameson, Shelley Munro, Nicola R. White, Bonnie Dee

• Son Of Thunder by Libby Bishop

• Lure Of Obsession by Lisa Kessler

• Mastering Darkness by Kate Wendley

• Abandoned Darkness by Kate Wendley

• Chaos Rises by Pippa DaCosta

Comic Books

• Monstress issues #3, #4, #5 & #6 by Marjorie Liu

In case you didn't count, that's 27 books. Actually more, since Bad Boys After Dark is actually a collection of 8 full-length books, so 34 books to read for ARC August. Good thing I'm on vacation, right?

Are you joining on the fun? What does your TBR for this challenge look like?