Category: Recap

September Reads

~ Tej ~ Leave a comment

September was such a busy busy month. While I read the most books in quite some time in August, it seems like I slowed way down and read maybe my fewest books in a month in September. My month started strong, but then I fell into a book slump. And I just felt like re-reading a lot – so that’s exactly what I did ☺ Favorites of this month include The Kingmaker by Kennedy Ryan (why did I wait so long to pick up this book?!) and Portrait of a Scotsman by Evie Dunmore!

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Portrait of a Scotsman by Evie Dunmore (ARC)

Dear Enemy by Kristen Callihan (re-read via audiobook)

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood (re-read via audiobook – ALC)

The Kingmaker by Kennedy Ryan

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Good Girl Complex by Elle Kennedy (ARC)

Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren (re-read)

The Roughest Draft by Emily Wibberly and Austin Siegemund-Broka (ARC)

Series Spotlight – Make it Sweet & Dear Enemy by Kristen Callihan

~ Tej ~ 2 Comments

Have you discovered any new to you authors this year? I have discovered a few of them including – Karina Halle, Lucy Parker and Kristen Callihan. In February so many friends were posting about Make it Sweet by Kristen Callihan and I had to buy the book and check it out for myself.

To say that I loved Make it Sweet would be an understatement. I loved the broody, pastry making, ex hockey player Lucian as well as sweet and sunshine-y movie star Emma. Their fun banter, slow burn and vulnerabilities got to me and I LOVED this book so much. I realized soon after reading Make it Sweet that there was a second book in the same universe – Dear Enemy. I immediately started reading it and maybe loved it even more than Make it Sweet.

I love an angsty, second chance romance, enemies-to-lovers slow burn romance and Macon and Delilah were a couple I was rooting for from the first page! Dear Enemy had me crying not soon after starting it and I loved everything about this book.

If you haven’t read either of these books yet, I highly recommend them! I have the audiobook, e-book and physical books of both of these books – that only happens if I really LOVE a book 😍

You can read my full review of Make it Sweet here and Dear Enemy here!

August Reads

~ Tej ~ 4 Comments

August was a really good reading month! Somehow I managed to read 11 books – which is the most I have read in a month this year. I think it was a combination of reading really good books, audiobooks and my kids being back in school that allowed me to read so much. Standouts from this month included Hook, Line, and Sinker from Tessa Bailey (which doesn’t release until next spring), Electric Idol by Katee Robert, Lease on Love by Falon Ballard (another spring release) and The Lady Gets Lucky by Joanna Shupe which releases next month!

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey (ARC)

The Lady Gets Lucky by Joanna Shupe (ARC)

Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas (reread via audiobook)

Scandal in Spring by Lisa Kleypas (reread via audiobook)

Electric Idol by Katee Robert (ARC)

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Witches Get Stitches by Juliette Cross (ARC)

Lease on Love by Falon Ballard (ARC)

A Lot Like Adios by Alexis Daria (ARC)

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling (ARC)

Rating: 3 out of 5.

While We Were Dating by Jasmine Guillory (ARC)

Devil in Disguise by Lisa Kleypas (ARC)

July Reads

~ Tej ~ Leave a comment

July was a great ARC heavy reading month for me. I ended up reading 9 books – which is a lot, considering it was a busy busy month! Favorites of the month included Isn’t it Bromantic? and Bombshell! I’m excited to see what great books August has in store!

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Bombshell by Sarah MacLean

Isn’t it Bromantic? by Lyssa Kay Adams

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Out of the Blue by Kathryn Nolan

Love Next Door by Helena Hunting

The Devil and the Heiress by Harper St. George

The Dating Playbook by Farrah Rochon

Rating: 3 out of 5.

When Stars Collide by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

The Viscount Made Me Do It by Diana Quincy

June Reads

~ Tej ~ 2 Comments

I can’t believe it’s already July – the best month (okay maybe only because it’s my Birthday month 😂). How is half of the year already over?! I wrapped up my favorite books of the year so far and you can read my blog post here if you’d like. There have been some amazing books that have released this year and I am looking forward to what’s in store for the rest of the year. I ended up reading more than my usual in June. The Royals Next Door was easily my favorite book of the month!

Rating: 5 out of 5.

The Royals Next Door by Karina Halle

Pucked Off by Helena Hunting (re-read)

Rating: 4 out of 5.

The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren

Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord by Sarah MacLean

The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton

The Austen Playbook by Lucy Parker

The Queer Principles of Kit Webb by Cat Sebastian

Love Scenes by Bridget Morrissey

Rating: 3 out of 5.

To Sir, With Love by Lauren Layne

When Sparks Fly by Helena Hunting

Mid-Year Favorite Romances

~ Tej ~ 5 Comments

How is June over already?! I feel like the year just started and it’s already halfway over. Summer is my absolute favorite season – most likely because my birthday is coming up 🤗 I love the longer days, the best fresh fruit and relaxing by the pool! I also love the amazing romances that are released in the spring/summer. I have read some amazing books this year – some have been ARC’s that are still going to be released later in the year and others are books that are already out!

Here are my top ten reads of 2021 so far –

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

  • Fake dating, forced proximity with plenty of sizzling chemistry – I adored this rom-com!
  • Wonderful STEM representation that was so cute and nerdy!
  • Already I can’t wait to re-read The Love Hypothesis!
  • Releases September 14, 2021 – add it to your TBR!!

Battle Royal by Lucy Parker

  • Enemies-to-lovers amongst judged on a baking competition – YES!
  • I loved the banter and sizzling chemistry between Sylvie and Dominic.
  • Definitely plan to be hungry while reading about all the sweet treats in this fantastic rom-com.
  • Battle Royal releases August 17, 2021.

Dear Enemy by Kristen Callihan

  • Kristen Callihan is a new to me author and I only discovered her after reading Make It Sweet – technically the book after Dear Enemy!
  • Loved loved loved the chemistry and history between Macon and Delilah!
  • I’m a sucker for a great second chance romance and Dear Enemy had me hooked right from the beginning!!

Twice Shy by Sarah Hogle

  • I remember describing Twice Shy as a warm, gentle hug and it truly felt like that while reading it.
  • This romance was achingly sweet. I loved the relationship between Maybell and Wesley.
  • Enemies-to-lovers, grouchy cinnamon roll hero and…an only one tent situation – yes!
  • Highly recommend Twice Shy.

The Royals Next Door by Karina Halle

  • I recently read The Royals Next Door and while it was my first Karina Halle book it definitely won’t be my last!
  • A bodyguard romance with a sarcastic/grumbly/cinnamon roll hero – yes please!
  • I loved the relationship between school teacher Piper and Harrison, the bodyguard to the royals (who moved next door).
  • I was often laughing, but also loved the more serious topics discussed like mental health and privacy (especially of the royals).
  • Add this one to your TBR – releases August 31, 2021.

People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry

  • I have to start off by saying friends-to-lovers is not my go to trope. And yet…I LOVED Popply and Alex.
  • Told in alternating timelines between the past and the present I felt like I completely understood these two.
  • The writing from Emily Henry was beautiful as always and I honestly can’t wait to re-read this gem!

A Lady’s Formula for Love by Elizabeth Everett

  • Strong STEM representation especially women in HR
  • Grumpy + sunshine
  • A romance so swoony and tender
  • Highly recommend this historical rom-com!!

Accidentally Engaged by Farah Heron

  • Own voices romance featuring fake dating and a cooking competition – yes!
  • Loved Reema and Nadim! They were funny, sweet and so adorable.
  • I related so much to the South Asian representation in Accidentally Engaged and can’t wait to read more from Farah Heron!

It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey

  • Loved this romance between grumpy sea captain Brendan and insta-famous socialite Piper
  • It Happened One Summer had the perfect combination of humor, romance (so hot!) and tenderness. I loved both Brendan and Piper so much!!
  • Add this book to your TBR – releases July 13, 2021. I already can’t wait for the next book in the series!

Float Plan by Trish Doller

  • Absolutely lovely and brilliant writing by Trish Doller! I was highlighting so many passages as I read along.
  • Loved Anna’s journey of self discovery as the book progressed.
  • While there were serious topics being discussed including mental health and suicide, I loved the way relationships bloomed for Anna. Not just with Keane but the people she meets on her journey while sailing across the Caribbean.

May Reads

~ Tej ~ 2 Comments

I can’t believe that June is here! How did almost half of the year already fly by? May was a great month! A few of my favorite things from this month included baking these cinnamon rolls I baked for mother’s day that turned out amazing. I also got to have happy hour with my girlfriends who I hadn’t seen in 1+ year (all of us are vaccinated) which was so much fun and made my heart so happy. And I listened to more audiobooks on my runs (thank you Hoopla!). I had a pretty great reading month and even had a chance to read one of my most anticipated books of the summer/fall!

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Battle Royal by Lucy Parker

A Daring Arrangement by Joanna Shupe

Hang the Moon by Alexandria Bellefleur

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto

A Scandalous Deal by Joanna Shupe

The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang

April Reads

~ Tej ~ Leave a comment

April flew by and I can already feel the beginnings of my favorite season – Summer! My reading lately has been hit and miss. Sometimes I can read a few books back to back and other times I just need a break or a re-read. I didn’t read very many books in April, but the books that I did read were mostly really stellar! Standouts included The Love Hypothesis and People We Meet on Vacation. Looking forward to reading some great summer romances in the next few months!

Rating: 5 out of 5.

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

Hana Khan Carries On by Uzma Jalaluddin

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Meet Me in Paradise by Libby Hubscher

Managed by Kristen Callihan

Must Love Cowboys by Carly Bloom

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas

March Reads

~ Tej ~ Leave a comment

March totally flew by! I ended up binge reading a few books including Neon Gods, Twice Shy and Dear Enemy. My reading really slowed down during the end of the month and now I’m in a weird funk, where even if the story is good I’m just reading it so slooooooowly 😭 I hope to bounce back and read more in April!

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Twice Shy by Sarah Hogle

Dear Enemy by Kristen Callihan

A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J Maas

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Neon Gods by Katee Robert

The Devil in Her Bed by Kerrigan Byrne

Forever Never by Lucy Score

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Sandcastle Beach by Jenny Holiday

Second First Impressions by Sally Thorne

Rating: 2 out of 5.

The Dating Plan by Sara Desai

February Reads

~ Tej ~ 2 Comments

February flew by and I definitely felt like I didn’t have a lot of reading time this month. Figures, since I started my new job and computer training/training took up a good part of the month. Although I didn’t read a lot of books this month, the ones I did read were mainly 4 and 5 star reads!

I haven’t made my TBR list for March, but there sure are a lot of good books releasing in the next few months!

Rating: 5 out of 5.

A Lady’s Formula for Love by Elizabeth Everett

Love at First by Kate Clayborn

Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert

Make it Sweet by Kristen Callihan

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Mine Till Midnight by Lisa Kleypas

The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas

The Frind Zone by Kristen Callihan

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Wicked Sexy by J.T. Geissinger