I know I should finish out this month before throwing out this format of wrapping up my months, but I’ve had this half written for four days now and I still haven’t made much progress. So… I’m going to try something inspired by Kim and Nick because I just don’t feel like reviewing every book I read this month. So, let’s dive in to this experimental format and see how it goes.
Burn for Me by Ilona Andrews – 5 star reread
The Hitman by Katrina Jackson – 5 stars, highly recommend
Velvet Song by Jude Deveraux – 2 stars, do not recommend
Solstice Dream by Alexis Daria – 4 stars
Scandalous Secrets by Synithia Williams – ARC Review (4 stars)
Just a Heartbeat Away by Cara Bastone – 5 stars
Can’t Help Falling by Cara Bastone – ARC Review (5 stars)
Play with Me by Alisha Rai – 4 stars
Long Bright River by Liz Moore – 2 stars
Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles – ARC Review (4 stars)
Secret Crush Seduction by Jayci Lee – ARC Review (3 stars)
Trust Fund Fiancé by Naima Simone – ARC Review (4 stars)
Reckless Envy by Joss Wood – ARC Review (4 stars)
Erstwhile by H. E. Trent – 4 stars
A Summer for Scandal by Lydia San Andres – 4 stars
Statistics
Total Books Read: 27
Average Rating: 4.4
Sources: Owned (including hauled in 2020): 15, ARCs: 9, Borrowed: 2
Genre: 7 SFF, 4 Speculative Romance, 12 Contemporary Romance, 2 Literary Fiction, 2 Historical Romance
Age: 25 Adult, 1 YA, 1 ? (graphic novel)
Format: 5 Physical, 18 Ebooks, 4 Audiobooks
BIPOC Authors: 18
Favorites of August
You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria
This book has really stuck with me. I absolutely loved the story within a story and Jasmine and Ashton. I am so excited for the fact that we are getting the cousins’ stories and I can’t wait for book two next year!
Emerald Blaze by Ilona Andrews
I really think this sequel was absolutely incredible and I loved Catalina and Alessandro’s growth as individuals. I am in agony waiting for book three in Catalina’s trilogy so you can expect my continued repeat reads.
Better Than People by Roan Parrish
I love the way Roan Parrish does mental health representation. I love Puddles and I loved how soft this story is. It’s really not an angsty story and was exactly what I wanted when I read it. I loved it so much I bought a physical copy of it to join my bookshelf.
The Hitman by Katrina Jackson
I initially gave this book four stars, but I don’t know what I was thinking. This book is excellent and I am so excited for the next book in the series. I don’t usually read mafia romance, but, uh, this book was sexy af so I recommend for that reason too.
Just a Heartbeat Away by Cara Bastone
This is the book that led to my discovery that I like single father romances. Who knew? I loved this one so much, I bought a physical copy of it too! I don’t even fully know how to express my love for this book. Something about Sebastian and Via just captivated me essentially from page one. (CW for grief)
My Favorite Posts of Mine from the Month
1989 + Romance Novels, Part One and Part Two; folklore + Romance Novels Part Two
Most Anticipated Books of Fall
#FallIntoRomBingo Recommendations & TBR (technically a September post, but shh)
My Favorite Posts from Around the Internet
This incredible piece on Vivian Stephens who is still alive!! I’m so angry RWA made me think she was not??
These archives of the Date Night Virtual Events Alyssa Cole has hosted through Loyalty Bookstore!
Dani’s #FallIntoRomBingo TBR! I’m still so excited and amazed we pulled this together this month. I so excited to put a board together for winter… We have a Google doc with so many prompt ideas for future boards!
This absolutely magical episode of Quarantine Cuisine, aka Alisha Rai’s brilliant You Tube channel, of Alisha making macarons because of Nick’s post and me begging her to make them. Here is the best thread of macarons + book covers from Nick that provided the inspiration!
This great article with Alyssa Cole in EW.
I love Amber’s post about things she’s learned in nine years of blogging!
I started a thread on Twitter asking people to share some of their favorite blog posts to counteract the messiness of authors on twitter last weekend. It was a really nice bright spot in the midst of me wanting to scream at so many authors I used to love.
Alisha Rai did the best TikTok cover reveal for First Comes Like and I’m obsessed with it. The cover reveal for Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert! And for One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston!! Rosie Danan showed off her cover for The Intimacy Experiment on Twitter and it’s delightful! E revealed the cover for the anthology Love All Year: A Holidays Anthology. Emily Henry’s next adult romance is called People We Meet on Vacation and there’s a cover and I’m deceased until May, tbh. Another reason I’m deceased until then is because that’s when Chanel Cleeton’s next book, The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba, comes out and I’m obsessed with this cover.
Nalini + Ilona Andrews + Amanda Bouchet!!!!
Ms. Bev’s Blessings series has been optioned!
This awesome thread about places in Hidden Legacy from Claire.
This Dolly Parton interview (which isn’t really book related, but it’s Dolly).
Okay, so this post actually wound up being so long, but I had a lot of fun putting it together! I hope you like reading it, but please feel free to let me know if you like my normal style more. I think I may be experimenting for a while until I find something I like and that keeps me feeling inspired. The good news is, I do have some fun post ideas coming up! Now to actually write them…
Anyway, what were your favorite August reads? Have you sent an email to your Senators lately asking them to finally reauthorize federal funds for the Violence Against Women Act? If not… It’s always a good time to do that.
xx
firewhiskeyreader 
2 responses to “August Wrap Up, Part Two”
I like this format for recapping your month a lot. Also, it makes me ridiculously happy that you’re now a Cara Bastone fan. And you didn’t like single dad heroes before this???? *GASPS*
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Truly, all thanks to you!!
I mean, I did, but not like… would have sought them out. Lol
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