Romances Ever After. Powered by Blogger.

Lisa's June Reading Recap

Hello, everyone! How have you been?

It feels so long since my last post. In my defense, Eid was two weeks ago so naturally I did zero reading that week (plus I was out of town and didn't have access to the Internet), and I still had Eid withdrawals last week and still did zero reading.

This week was relatively better. I managed to finish some books so I consider that a feat.

Unrelated to reading news, I finished my Masters degree! I've submitted my thesis and now officially unemployed while waiting for my graduation ceremony in November. I should be job-hunting, but taking that first step is so scary! I've been in school for 10 years and it's been a comfort zone for me.

Anyway, I figured I'd do a June reading recap. I managed to finish 13 books this month, a small number for me, but eh. Hopefully my July will be better reading-wise. 

 ★★★★  to  ★★★★★


2018 is truly the year of Nalini Singh for me. Her Guild Hunter series has fast become one of my ultimate favourite series, and because I'm having trouble getting into the only book I have left unread in Guild Hunter, I decided to dive into Nalini's Psy-Changeling series because apparently that's the most logical solution, y/y

Slave to Sensation was phenomenal! I rated it a 5 because I just couldn't put it down once I started. It's sexy, addictive, and fast-paced, and I love how Nalini wrote the world of the Psy and Changelings. I like the concept of the Silence and PsyNet (scary as they are). I basically shipped Sascha and Lucas from the moment they met. I love the tension between them, and the sexy dreams (!!!). It got really emotional halfway towards the end because forbidden love and all that, and I was basically crying in the end. Visions of Heat was no less great; it featured another Psy-Changeling pairing that I would die for. Vaughn is a total hottie where can I get one?



Ainslie Paton is one of my current favs. Her latest book, One Night Wife, featured a Robin Hood-ish anti-hero that I love. There were cons in the story that kind of reminded me of Ally Carter's Heist Society and the tv show Leverage, and also fake relationship (!!!). I love that Cal, the hero, came from a family of conmen (it's a family business!); I hope that we get to see more families (because it was mentioned that the Sherwood family has alliance families as well) as the series progressed.

Sara Rider is a new-to-me author, and Real Kind of Love was a delight to read. Our heroine, Clementine, is an audiobook narrator who found herself in a block of a sort after she was asked to narrate her first romance novel. This book also had fake relationship, and I've recently reviewed it here.


When I first found out that Tessa Bailey and Eve Dangerfield were writing a book together, I completely freaked out. I just couldn't imagine the level of smut that book would bring, and Captivated totally exceeded my expectations in that area. This book was hot as hell! I love that I could tell Tessa's and Eve's writing styles apart, and the styles meshed together very well too. There's a bit of age gap, and also Beauty & the Beast vibe.

Mina V. Esguerra is a Filipino author I followed on Twitter and whose books I hoarded but never read, until this one. And boy, why didn't I read her sooner? What Kind of Day was just the kind of book I needed to get out of my reading slump. Our heroine, Naya, is a Manila tour guide, and our hero, Ben is a political speechwriter who's recently fired from his job. They met when Ben accidentally joined Naya's tour group after he was fired. I think the reason why I connected with these characters is because they are both in their thirties and still having doubts about their future (me, an almost-30 unemployed woman full of self-doubt: *wipes tear* I feel this so hard).

Also, this book made me bump up Manila on my Dream Cities to Visit list. Manila is just a 4 hour flight from KL and the tickets are fairly cheap, so I don't know why I haven't visited yet.




These books I enjoyed recently were both written by Australian authors. Kissing Games by Tara Eglington is a Young Adult romance and the second book in the series, and it's even better than the first! And look how cute the US cover is!

C.J. Duggan is the author of my favourite NA series called Summer, and I haven't read any of her newer works outside of that series because....I don't have a good reason but anyway, I bought New York Nights when I was in Sydney because the hero is a single dad (typical Lisa), but I ended loving the heroine more. This book is actually the second in the Heart of Cities series but can be read as a standalone. I actually have the first book on Kobo so I might read that one next (plus, it's set in Paris, one of my favourite cities!).

★★★



Honestly, I started Hold by Claire Kent for the smut and left feeling very emotional about the hero and heroine. I love unexpected surprises, they are the best. This novella is classified as sci-fi erotica. I really like Riana the heroine, and Cain is your typical silent and broody hero (my type, obviously). Plus, it's still FREE!

I requested Touch Wood by Jenika Snow on Netgalley because I've read the second book and really liked it. I love Carina Press' Dirty Bits precisely because of that; the stories are all short and dirty. I had one tiny issue about how the H/h took a long time to even talk to each other, but other than that it was a quick and fun read.


★★ to ★★★



I read V.C. Lancaster's The E.T. Guy a while ago and really loved it. It's also my first time reading romance with aliens in it, and it was WILD. The New Guy and The Security Guy are second and third books in the Office Aliens series, and while I enjoyed them both, I think they weren't as good as the first book, mostly because I have issues with the heroes' behaviors.

The Bashful Bride is my first book by Vanessa Riley. I really loved how it started, but my enjoyment fizzled out halfway because I was annoyed by the heroine and the things she did. I rated it a 2.5 because I didn't root for the romance in the end and I personally felt the hero was better off without the heroine.


What are your June gems?
Tell me in the comments!







I listened to Tycoon and I didn't like it

HEYYYYY!


I feel like I haven't posted here in ages, but it has only been a couple of weeks... SORRY! I've been so busy, and I haven't had much time to stop by. Also, I've been extremely occupied watching the World Cup :D (Portugal just moved forward to the round of 16, and I'm super excited about it).

Now, talking about books. I haven't been reading/listening much this month, again, been super busy, but I wanted to talk to you guys about a book that I didn't like. Yeah, I usually don't purposefully write reviews about books I didn't like, unless they're for ARCs, but this one just annoyed me, and I wanted to talk about it. 

So, here it is, my review of Tycoon by Katy Evans. This was my first book by her, btw...

Another Amazing Series: Forbidden Hearts by Alisha Rai

Hey guys!

My last post was a bit different, but there I mentioned that I was going to read book 2 of the Forbidden Hearts series during my vacation, and I did, which means I finally finished the series. YAY!

Alisha Rai was an author recommended to me by Lisa and Nick when I first started blogging with them, so I thought it was only natural to give my take on the 3 books here.


Blog Tour Stop: Real Kind of Love by Sara Rider

by Sara Rider
Series: Books & Brews #1
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: June 5th 2018
Source: ARC received for review
Rating: ★★★★
Amazon | iBooks | B&N | Kobo

As an audiobook narrator, Clementine Cox has no trouble mastering the voices of space aliens, elven warriors, or even demon-possessed cats. But the moment she tries her hand at an erotic romance, she’s stumped. With her deadline looming, she books a week at a secluded cabin to restore her inner muse, telling her loving-but-overbearing family it’s a romantic getaway with her not-so-existent new boyfriend to keep them from worrying. She never expects them to invite themselves along to meet the new guy. Now, she has less than twenty-four hours to find a pretend boyfriend in order to save her job and, potentially, her sanity.

Workaholic Jake Donovan isn’t interested in a real relationship. After a broken engagement, all he wants to do is focus on keeping his brewpub, the Holy Grale, afloat. But when he finds out his favorite customer is in need of a fake boyfriend, and his business partners insist he take a long overdue vacation, he has no choice but to help Clem out. All he has to do is enjoy the sunshine, play nice with her family, and keep his hands to himself for the week.

But Jake’s not prepared to like waking up next to Clem every morning as much as he does. Or to feel so welcome by her quirky family. And as the line between real and fake starts to blur, he realizes one week might never be enough.


Charming is the word I’d use if somebody asked me to describe Real Kind of Love in one word. This book is charming. I am utterly charmed by this book. It felt like I was watching a Hallmark movie in my head while I was reading this book. I loved every scene on every page and I never wanted it to end.


Vacations! What to read or listen to?

Hey people! 

If the title didn't give it away, let me tell you again, I'm on vacation! I decided to do something I hadn't done since I was around 18, and me and a friend booked a trip to Saidia in Morocco, for 7 days of doing nothing, except going to the beach and the pool.


So I thought I could share with you what I'm reading and listening to while I'm here. Sounds good?! 


Dr. ER (St. Luke's Docuseries #2) by Max Monroe
Dr. Erotic.
That’s what they’ve decided to call me, Scott Shepard, the head of St. Luke’s Hospital Emergency Department.
Just thinking about it makes me smile.
As the new face of the reality docuseries, The Doctor Is In, I plan to take his power and recognition right to the streets of New York City and into the pants of willing women.
Well, that was my plan. Until her — feisty, beautiful, and addictively sexy Harlow Paige.
A gossip columnist that just loves writing about yours truly, she’s everything I thought I never wanted and then some.
She drives me crazy.
Problem is, she doesn’t want to be anything when it comes to me — not friends, not lovers, not even adversaries.
God, I love a good challenge.
Get ready, Harlow. Love is contagious.
I'd been listening to this audiobook for a couple days, so I really wanted to finish it on my trip. Lying on the sun is a perfect time to listen to audio books, as long as the urge to sleep doesn't overpower you.

I've actually finished it, and it was yet another amazing book by Max Monroe. They have quickly become one of my favorite authors to read.



Wrong to Need You (Forbidden Hearts #2) by Alisha Rai
He wasn’t supposed to fall in love with his brother’s widow…
Accused of a crime he didn’t commit, Jackson Kane fled his home, his name, and his family. Ten years later, he’s come back to town: older, wiser, richer, tougher — and still helpless to turn away the one woman he could never stop loving, even after she married his brother.
Sadia Ahmed can’t deal with the feelings her mysterious former brother-in-law stirs, but she also can’t turn down his offer of help with the cafe she’s inherited. While he heats up her kitchen, she slowly discovers that the boy she adored has grown into a man she’s simply unable to resist.
An affair is unthinkable, but their desire is undeniable. As secrets and lies are stripped away, Sadia and Jackson must decide if they’re strong enough to face the past...and step into a future together.
I've been wanting to get to this book for awhile now, and now I cannot put it down. I'm almost done with it, and loving it. Jackson and Sadia are the best and they deserve everything good.

I made amazing progress on this book today, because it's cold as hell today, and I was chilling by the pool completely dressed, with my kindle at hand.
 


Part-Time Lover (Part-Time Lover #1) by Lauren Blakely
I’ll say this about Christian — he made one hell of a first impression.
When I first saw the strapping man, he was doing handstands naked on a dock along the canal. His crown jewels were far more entertaining than anything else I’d seen on the boat tour, so I did what any curious woman would do — I took his photo. I might have looked at the shot a few dozen times. Little did I know I’d meet him again, a year later, at a secret garden bar in the heart of the city, where I’d learn that his mind and his mouth were even more captivating. But given the way my heart had been trampled, I wanted only a simple deal — No strings. No expectations.
Our arrangement worked well enough until the day I needed a lot more from him…
***
Let me just say, this whole part-time lover thing was her idea. I’d have gone all-in from the start, but hey, when a gorgeous, brilliant woman invites you into her bed, and only her bed…well, I said yes.
But then, one hysterical phone call from my brother later, begging me to find myself a wife so grandfather’s business stays in the family, and I need a promotion with Elise. Turns out a full-time husband suits her needs too, and a temporary marriage of convenience ought to do the trick, until we can simply untie the knot…
As long as no one finds out…
As long as no one gets hurt…
As long as no one falls in love…
But our ending was one I never saw coming.
I'm so happy that I was given the opportunity to review this audiobook. I love Lauren Blakely and I absolutely love audiobooks, so a match made in heaven.

I've only started this one yesterday and haven't made much progress, but I hope to get an advance on it tomorrow and the day after, and finish it way before I get on the plane back home.



The Varlet and the Voyeur (Rugby #4) by L.H. Cosway & Penny Reid
He kept his salacious secret for years. But soon, everyone is going to be reading about it in their morning paper…
THE VARLET (and the VOYEUR)
William Moore is a long way from home. A farm boy from Oklahoma, he’s now the most well-respected member of the Irish rugby team. But appearances are often deceptive, and Will isn’t the clean-cut, all-American good-guy everyone imagines him to be. He’s got a secret, one that will tarnish his reputation forever.
THE VOYEUR (and the VARLET)
Josey Kavanagh is a self-proclaimed mess, but she’s finally getting her shi…uh, act together. She’s set her sights on becoming a veterinarian, but there’s one teeny tiny road bump. Her living arrangements are coming to an abrupt end, leaving Josey homeless and in need of a job to pay her way through college.
THE PLAN
What he needs is a companion to keep him on the right path.
What she needs is an apartment with free rent.
Will is convinced Josey will make the perfect companion, since she’s brutally honest and basically ‘just one of the guys.’ Josey is convinced she can ensure Will doesn’t succumb to his voyeuristic proclivities by keeping a scrupulous eye on him.
Except, what happens when the varlet is tempted by the voyeur, and vice-versa?!
Perchance something very, very volatile. And vexing.
I've had this ARC for a few weeks now, but given that the release day is just around the corner, I should probably start reading it, right?!

I've really liked this series so far, and I thought the books have been getting better, so I'm excited to see what this one will bring.
 

These are the books I'm definitly reading during my stay here in Saïdia. I might try to squeeze a few others in, but I'm not sure I'll have the time.

So, have you read any of these books?
What are your thoughts?