In August, I read six ARCs and one book from my TBR. I then quickly followed that with two prequel novellas from the author's website to get the background of that world. I had a really fabulous month! The ARCs were all fantastic! I cannot recommend them enough. Just check my reviews and add them to your TBR. The TBR book by new-to-me author Lilith Stone (and the prequels) were exactly the palette cleanser I needed between the contemporary romance reads. Until next time, Happy Reading.
(Note: I also read one book which has been on my kindle for a while which I chose not to rate or review. It was honestly the worst book I have ever read Therefore, I am not counting it in my review stats for the month.)
While You Were Trending (Accidentally Infamous #2)
by Pippa
Grant
ARC: Release Date-08/11/2026
#Celebrity #CinnamonRollHero #EnemiesToLovers #Sports #RomanticComedy #ARC
I am voluntarily leaving this honest review after receiving
an advance reader copy of the book. It is written in first person from an
alternating dual POV and ends with a HEA. Though it can be read as a
standalone, I strongly suggest reading the series in order to better understand
the winery subplot and the relationships between this found family of
characters.
Ginny finally gets the love she has always deserved when
Declan comes back into her life. I adored reading as she works through her
childhood family trauma and heals with the help of his love. Declan is a giant
cinnamon roll hero who has always loved Ginny. I love that he finally takes his shot and wins
the girl. His dog Flow is an excellent character too. I loved being back in the Makepeace Winery
setting with this wonderful found family. Each character brings something
special to the table and shines in their own way.
I love the premise of this series and these characters. This author never fails to make me smile no
matter what is happening in my life or in the world around us. I can’t wait for
the next book.
Colt (Double U Ranch #1) by Jessica Peterson
ARC: Release Date- 8/18/2026
#Cowboy #EnemiesToLovers #FamilySeries #GrumpyHero #SingleDad #SmallTown
#ARC
I am voluntarily leaving this honest review after receiving
an advance reader copy of the book. Book one of this new spin-off series can be
read as a standalone and ends with a HEA.
Colt (31) is the grumpy cowboy trying to keep his head above
water as a single dad to his six-year-old son. Lainey (24) is a recent business
school graduate trying to figure out her path in life after graduation. Sparks flew when these two met. I adored how
confident Lainey was and how well she stood up for herself to Colt. I
appreciated that Colt is vulnerable to Lainey. I loved their honesty and
commitment to open communication. I can always count on this author to deliver
a romance full of solid family relationships, food and drink that makes my
mouth water, and spicy scenes that make my kindle blush. Adding the cowboy
twang to the mix is just a bonus.
There is a lot to love about this book, and it makes me
super excited to read this whole series.
Heaven Help Me (Southern Charm #3) by Marika Ray
ARC: Release Date- August 20, 2026
#EnemiesToLovers #Mafia #RomanticComedy #SecondChance #SmallTown #ARC
I am voluntarily leaving this honest review after receiving
an advance reader copy of the book. This is written in first person from an
alternating dual POV, can be read as a standalone, and ends with a HEA.
Who doesn’t want to read a mafia romcom? Deuce is the
epitome of the southern gentleman playboy. Model handsome, very well dressed,
oozing charm and flirtatiousness: he is the total package. When you add in what
a good friend he is and even more, how he takes care of his dad? Yeah, there is
no hope not to fall for him. That was
even before this reader discovered his romantic tendencies and serious skills
(not all bedroom based). Add in an unexpected phobia and you just cannot resist
him.
Valentina is a black cat heroine. She is a serious bada$$ girl
boss. The more I learned about her, the more I liked her. I appreciated her
willingness to try new things, to adapt to and embrace change, and to learn to
trust that people really did care about her.
I loved that these characters were 40ish and mature. I loved
that they communicated with each other, supported each other when they teamed
up, and worked well together. There are
hot times (literally), romantic moments, tender understanding, and friendship
between the two characters. There were also plenty of moments that made me
snort laugh out loud. If you are looking for a lighthearted, funny read that will
melt your heart, you have found it here.
Falling Together (Pinecrest, Montana #3) by Emily Silver
ARC: Release Date- 08/21/2026
#AgeGap #OneNightStand #SingleDad #SurprisePregnancy #SmallTown #ARC
I am voluntarily leaving this honest review after receiving
an advance reader copy of the book. It is written in first person from an
alternating dual POV, can be read as a standalone, and ends with a HEA.
I am a sucker for the surprise pregnancy trope and I was so
excited to see it happen in this series.
Georgia (25) is the responsible, organized, consistent
friend. She works hard at her horse therapy program for children. When a
snowstorm and a wedding lead her to be a little reckless, she has a hot
one-night stand that leads to a changed life. Grant is a baseball dad who is committed
to his 14-year-old son. When he makes the big move from LA to Montana, he finds
out his one-night stand from a few months ago has a big surprise for him.
I loved that Georgia and Grant have amazing chemistry. I
adored the relationship that Georgia builds with Grant’s son, Luke. One of my
favorite things in this series is the sisterhood Georgia and her friends share.
Their found family is strong and enduring. This was a wonderful small-town read
that I couldn’t put down.
Peaks & Promises (Haven Brothers #6) by Claire Kingsley
ARC: Release Date- 09/08/2026
#FakeRelationship #FriendsToLovers #SingleMom #FamilySeries
#RomanticSuspense #SmallTown #ARC
Reese is home.
I am voluntarily leaving this honest review after receiving
an advance reader copy of the book. It is written in first person from an
alternating dual POV and ends with a HEA. Though Reese and Summer’s story can
absolutely stand alone, I highly recommend this whole fabulous series.
Summer has not had an easy life. She works hard to do the
best she can for herself and her son while avoiding her past. Unfortunately,
her past keeps finding her. I loved her strength, her snark, her fierce mama
bear protectiveness, and her determination. She is an incredibly brave heroine
who fits perfectly when she meets the Haven family.
Reese finally comes home.
I had theories as to what he was doing while he was away, and I have to
tell you: they were all incorrect. The author gave him a believable story that
explained why he was so reserved and a little broken. Reading as he comes home
to a boatload of love made me tear up. I adored his protectiveness of Summer
and Nate. The relationship he formed with Nate was something really, really,
special. I loved that he is a big,
tatted guy with Resting Scary Face and a marshmallow heart. Every book I say
the hero is my favorite Haven. Reese is
last, for sure, but he is absolutely my favorite.
Suspenseful elements, steamy times, tender moments, and a
found family worth keeping made this a read I didn’t want to finish. I didn’t
want to leave this world. Now, I just have a massive book hangover.
State of Ruin (Alchemy of New York #1) by Elodie Hart
ARC: Release Date 9/10/2026
#AgeGap #Billionaire #Obsessed #SecretRelationship #ARC
I am voluntarily leaving this honest review after receiving
an advance reader copy of the book. It is written in first person from an
alternating dual POV. It can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA.
Elyse is an amazing FMC.
At 26, she is working her night job, looking for modeling work (tough at
5’4”) and helping take care of her sister, niece, and dad after a terrible
year. She is optimistic, hard-working, loyal, and has a fantastically good
heart. I adored her on so many levels. She loves with her whole being yet is
not afraid to demand the kind of respect and loyalty she deserves back from the
man in her life.
Sinclair (36) is a nepo baby, billionaire, and CEO of his
family’s corporation. He is used to money, power, and getting what he wants
without regard to the other people that might affect. At the 50% point in this
book, I had to take a break. I’m not sure if I have ever disliked a hero more
than this one. He is so incredibly arrogant, entitled, and completely blind to how
wrong his actions are. Honestly, he is a walking, talking, giant red flag in
man form. I had to talk myself through the process of finishing the book. I trusted this author to do the right thing
and walk this m0r0n through whatever changes he has to make to be a better
person. She promised that she made him grovel, though at that point I was not
convinced there could ever be enough remorse on his part for Elyse to give him
another chance. I should have known better. Of course, the author made him
actually change how he viewed both himself and his impact on the world around
him. She had him look at his entire life and his family through an entirely new
lens of truth. She walked him through some very painful revelations about how
he was trained to live his life. And he chooses to work and become the man who
might deserve a woman as wonderful as Elyse.
Though not as steamy as the original Alchemy series, there
is still plenty of heat. What there is not is multiple partner play or the
exhibition/voyeurism kinks we saw in some of those books. Readers do see a
relationship go from purely physical to intensely emotional and tender. The
betrayal, heartache, and reflection only deepened that bond between them in
their physical relationship. This was an excellent start to a new series, and I
am looking forward to seeing Felix Wolfe get his HEA next.
Rescued by the Orc (Monsters of Motham City Prequel #1) by
Lilith Stone
#Monster #InstaLove #Novella #Prequel
In a prequel set before The Great War, this sets the
historical tone for the Motham City Monsters series. Aria is a human apothecary
saved by Owen when she became endangered among the humans. Sweet, short and
steamy, this novella is written in first person, dual POV, and ends with a HEA.
Abducted by the Ogre
(Monsters of Motham City Prequel #2) by
Lilith Stone
#Monster #InstaLove #Novella #Prequel
Grulko is an ogre who escaped execution by his own family.
Tamsin is a human baker who was raised by her grandmother at the edge of the
forest. When the town turns against her in fear Grulko carries her away to
safety. Hot and steamy, with a quick HEA, this is written in first person, dual
POV, and ends with a HEA.
Mail Order Minotaur (Motham City Monsters #1)
by Lilith
Stone
#Debut #Monster #CinnamonRollHero #InstaLove #FatedMates
Written in third person, this debut novel builds a love
story between a minotaur man and a human woman. It also establishes the
post-war world far in the future where monsters and humans live beside each
other as they struggle to live with each other. There is an undercurrent of
social dialogue that shines light on issues of bigotry, slavery, and economic
disparity between humans and the monster races that is maintained intentionally
by the humans. There is a lot said quietly between the lines without ever beating
you over your head with it.
Bryn is 30 and the oldest of 5 siblings. He is loyal and
kind and values his family more than anything. He cares for them and his
mother, and it is quickly obvious that he has a soft heart. He also just
happens to run an escort service of male minotaur to be hired by humans. Ivy (25)
is an only child of wealthy upper class society parents who is making her way on
her own as a tour guide. Though shy and a little uptight, she can’t explain the
feeling she has when she is around Bryn. I liked that she is willing to fight
for their relationship and is brave in pursuing it. Their relationship is sweet
and steamy. Open door scenes intended for 18+ readers are fun, flirty, and
detailed. This was a fun read. I immediately downloaded the two free prequel
novellas from the author’s website and read them too. I am excited to read more
of this series. It served as a perfect palette cleanser between contemporary
romance novels.
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