There’s a reason why this post is going up so early and not at the end of the month like my past Wrap-Ups. I’ve mentioned it a few times over the last couple posts, but next week I’m going on vacation – yes, I plan on reading a bunch of books. I decided that I wanted to split up my wrap-up to books read in July and books read on vacation. In retrospect, I should have just combined them, but it’s too late now. (Why does it feel like I should be diabolically laughing right now?)
I have no evil intentions, I swear.
In this past week alone, I’ve read five books, brining my monthly total up to EIGHT. Holy crap. At the beginning of this week, I had only read three. (That’s when I took this picture, not knowing if I would have the time to read anything else while prepping for vacation.) Granted, the books I’ve read this week have been pretty easy, quick but enjoyable reads. Some of them I enjoyed more than others, while some fell a little flat, others exceeded my expectations – see my feeling fueled post from Monday.
With all that rambling out of the way, let’s look at all the books I read (so far) in July!
The House on Tradd Street – Karen White – 3.5
Paperback Finished: July 1, 2018
This book ended up surprising me. It was my book club group’s “monthly” pick, and I honestly didn’t have high hopes. Turns out, it was a pretty quick and enjoyable read, though I will say that the ending really pissed me off, and I found out that it’s part of a five-book series. I liked it enough to entertain reading the rest, so if you’re looking for a slight mystery-thriller, set in a spooky Charleston, then you might want to check this one out!
Practical Melanie Middleton hates to admit she can see ghosts. But she’s going to have to accept it. An old man she recently met has died, leaving her his historic Tradd Street home, complete with housekeeper, dog—and a family of ghosts anxious to tell her their secrets.
Enter Jack Trenholm, a gorgeous writer obsessed with unsolved mysteries. He has reason to believe that diamonds from the Confederate Treasury are hidden in the house. So he turns the charm on with Melanie, only to discover he’s the smitten one…
It turns out Jack’s search has caught the attention of a malevolent ghost. Now, Jack and Melanie must unravel a mystery of passion, heartbreak—and even murder.
Brave: Wicked Trilogy – Jennifer L. Armentrout – 4.5
Paperback Finished: July 2, 2018
The finale of the Wicked Trilogy and I enjoyed every minute of it. It had been awhile since I had read books 1&2 so it took a bit to remember everything that happened. Though it didn’t take long to dive back into the world and fall in love with the characters. If you want Fae set in New Orleans with a brownie who loves to shop Amazon Prime, definitely check this out!
Ivy Morgan hasn’t been feeling like herself lately. Not like anyone can blame her. After all, being held captive by a psychotic fae prince hell-bent on permanently opening the gates to the Otherworld is bound to leave some mental scars.
It’s more than that, though. Something dark and insidious is spreading throughout Ivy, more powerful than she could ever imagine… and it’s coming between her and the man she’s fallen deeply in love with, elite Order member Ren Owens.
Ren would do anything to keep Ivy safe. Anything. But when he makes a life altering choice for her, the fallout of his act has far reaching consequences that threaten to tear their lives apart.
If Ivy is going to have any hope of surviving this, she must put aside the hurt and betrayal she feels, and work with not only those she loves, but with an enemy she would rather kill than ever trust. War is coming, and it soon becomes clear that what Ivy and Ren thought they knew about the Order, themselves, and even their enemies, has been nothing but a cluster of dangerous, deadly lies.
Ivy knows she must be more than just brave to save those she loves–and, ultimately, to save herself.
Because behind every evil fae Prince, there’s a Queen….
The Prophecy – Jennifer L. Armentrout – 4
Paperback Finished: July 18, 2018
It took me a long time to pick this one up. I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to these characters yet. Jen’s Covenant Series is one of my all-time favorites – I’m a sucker for Greek Mythology and stories in a campus setting, so you know, I’m here for it. I really enjoyed this series as a whole, but I wasn’t completely satisfied. But if you want to see some old faves and some new faces, you’ll want to check the Titan Series out.
History is on repeat…
Seth never thought he’d have a future. But now he’s on the brink of having it all with Josie: A tomorrow. A family. A forever. And all that’s standing between him and that forever is the Titans. If he helps Josie entomb them — without killing them, a nearly impossible task for him — everything he could ever want will be in reach. But he soon realizes that as a god, every little choice he makes can reshape the world for the better… or worse. And in meddling with the Titans, Seth may have just set into motion catastrophic consequences that will force the Olympians to enter the mortal realm and reshape the delicate balance of power that keeps the world from total collapse.
A price must be paid…
Entombing the Titans is Josie’s top priority. After all, it was what she was born to do. But the plans her father put into play to help her are no longer an option, and the odds she and Seth face in forging their own path are grim. The escalating violence between halfs and pures only increases the danger closing in on them and their friends. Josie knows their chances of succeeding in their task are slim at best — and if they fail, they might lose everything. But she also knows she’s not fighting just for herself — she’s fighting for the man she loves, for their future, for the world. Together with the Army of Awesome, Josie and Seth will face the unthinkable. And to win this war, the ultimate sacrifice must be made.
For the end is here and the Prophecy will be fulfilled….
The Raging Ones – Krista & Becca Ritchie – 4.5
ARC Finished: July 22, 2018
THIS BOOK. THIS BOOK. I’m still not over it. I really cannot wait for book 2, I need to know what happened to my babies. I’m going to have a review up soon for the book, but you definitely want to check this one out when it comes out in August!
In a freezing world, where everyone knows the day they will die, three teens break all odds.
Franny Bluecastle, a tough city teen, dreams of dying in opulence, to see wealth she’s never known. Like the entire world, she believes it’s impossible to dodge a deathday.
Until the day she does.
Court Icecastle knows wealth. He also knows pain. Spending five years in Vorkter Prison, a fortress of ice and suffering, he dreams of life beyond the people that haunt him and the world that imprisoned him.
Mykal Kickfall fights for those he loves. The rugged Hinterlander shares a frustrating yet unbreakable connection with Court—which only grows more lawless and chaotic as their senses and emotions connect with Franny.
With the threat of people learning they’ve dodged their deathdays, they must flee their planet to survive. But to do so, all three will have to hide their shared bond as they vie for a highly sought after spot in the newest mission to space. Against thousands of people far smarter, who’ll live longer, and never fear death the way that they do.
Fire in You – Jennifer L. Armentrout – 3
Paperback Finished: July 24, 2018
I put off reading this one as well. Out of the whole Wait for You Series this one was probably my least favorite out of all of them, but I still enjoyed it. That’s kind of a great thing about these books, you pretty much know the story when you start it, but then there is always some kind of twist. If you’re curious, my favorite book in this series is Stay with Me. The great thing about these books is you can read them in order, or in any order.
Jillian Lima’s whole world was destroyed in a span of a few hours. The same night her childhood love, Brock ‘the Beast’ Mitchell, broke her heart, her life was irrevocably altered by the hand of a stranger with a gun. It takes six years to slowly glue together the shattered pieces of her life, but Jillian is finally ready to stop existing in a past full of pain and regret. She takes a job at her father’s martial arts Academy and she’s going out on her first date since a failed relationship that was more yuck than yum. Jillian is determined to start living.
She just never expected Brock to be a part of her life again. But he’s firmly back in her life before she knows it, and not only is he older, he’s impossibly more handsome, more teasing and more everything. And when he sees Jillian, he’s no longer capable of thinking of her as the little girl who was his shadow growing up or the daughter of the man who gave him a second chance at life. He sees the woman who’d always been there for him, the one person who believed in him no matter what.
Brock knows she’s the one he should’ve made his, and what begins as a tentative friendship quickly turns to red-hot chemistry that sparks a flame that burns brighter than lust. Falling for Brock again risks more than her heart, because when the past sorrow-filled and guilt-ridden past resurfaces, and a web of lies threatens to rip them apart, the fallout could lay waste to everything they’ve fought to build together, and destroy the dreams of those they care most about.
Paper Princess – Erin Watt – 4
Paperback Finished: July 25, 2018
This one has been on my radar for quite a while now, and I finally picked it up and read it…in one sitting. I will say, I had no idea that the characters were teenagers, and I don’t understand why I was able to purchase books 2&3 in the YOUNG ADULT section at Books-a-Million. Based on what is contained between the covers of this book, I would label this as New Adult with a younger cast of characters. But with that being said, I liked this book for what it was, a quick, enjoyable, sexy read that kept me entertained for a few hours. The ending did leave me wanting the next one – so of course I bought the next two. I’m prepared.
From strip clubs and truck stops to southern coast mansions and prep schools, one girl tries to stay true to herself.
These Royals will ruin you…
Ella Harper is a survivor—a pragmatic optimist. She’s spent her whole life moving from town to town with her flighty mother, struggling to make ends meet and believing that someday she’ll climb out of the gutter. After her mother’s death, Ella is truly alone.
Until Callum Royal appears, plucking Ella out of poverty and tossing her into his posh mansion among his five sons who all hate her. Each Royal boy is more magnetic than the last, but none as captivating as Reed Royal, the boy who is determined to send her back to the slums she came from.
Reed doesn’t want her. He says she doesn’t belong with the Royals.
He might be right.
Wealth. Excess. Deception. It’s like nothing Ella has ever experienced, and if she’s going to survive her time in the Royal palace, she’ll need to learn to issue her own Royal decrees.
Royally Endowed – Emma Chase – 3
Paperback Finished: July 26, 2018
I wanted to love this as much as I loved the second book in the series, but sadly this one just fell really short. Royally Screwed and Royally Matched were both so good, but this one just missed the mark. It was still good, and I liked reading it, I just never got as invested. I felt like the plot was a little loose, and the first half of the book just felt like rehashing everything else that had already happened in 1&2. I expected more and unfortunately it didn’t deliver, or maybe my love for 1&2 set my expectations a little too high.
Logan St. James is a smoldering, sexy beast. Sure, he can be a little broody at times—but Ellie Hammond’s willing to overlook that. Because, have you seen him??
Sexy. As. Hell.
And Ellie’s perky enough for both of them.
For years, she’s had a crush on the intense, gorgeous royal security guard—but she doesn’t think he ever saw her, not really.
To Logan, Ellie was just part of the job—a relative of the royal family he’d sworn to protect. Now, at 22 years old and fresh out of college, she’s determined to put aside her X-rated dreams of pat-downs and pillow talk, and find a real life happily ever after.
The Queen of Wessco encourages Ellie to follow in her sister’s footsteps and settle down with a prince of her own. Or a duke, a marquis…a viscount would also do nicely.
But in the pursuit of a fairy tale ending, Ellie learns that the sweetest crushes can be the hardest to let go.
***
Logan St. James grew up on the wrong side of the tracks, in a family on the wrong side of the law. But these days, he covers his tattoos and scars with a respectable suit. He’s handsome, loyal, brave, skilled with his hands and…other body parts.
Any woman would be proud to call him hers.
But there’s only one woman he wants.
For years he’s watched over her, protected her, held her hair back when she was sick, taught her how to throw a punch, and spot a liar.
He dreams of her. Would lay down his life for her.
But beautiful Ellie Hammond’s off-limits.
Everybody knows the bodyguard rules: Never lose focus, never let them out of your sight, and never, ever fall in love.
Mischief & Magnolias – Kristi Cook – 3
Not gonna lie, it’s been quite a while since I read Magnolia during a really intense thunderstorm, and if you’ve read the book, you know it was mood appropriate. There were moments I forgot I was sitting on a couch in the real world, and not in Mississippi during a hurricane. I feel like this short little 100 page extended epilogue is something that should be read directly after finishing Magnolia – or at least soon after. It’s been years since I read it, and I struggled quite a bit to remember what happened and wasn’t too successful.
Though with that being said, I did enjoy this for what it was, but the synopsis makes it sound a lot more serious than what actually happens between the covers.
When Ryder Marsden and Jemma Cafferty return to Magnolia Branch for Christmas break following their first semester at their respective universities in New York City (Columbia and NYU), their secret relationship is revealed—they’re literally caught under the mistletoe, kissing. Unexpectedly, their parents—who’ve spent their entire lives pushing them together—are somehow less than thrilled, especially when they realize the depth of their deception.
Tensions mount as the Marsden and Cafferty families struggle to come to terms with Jemma’s and Ryder’s feelings for each other, especially as they prepare to send them back to New York City together. At the same time, Jemma and Ryder must face their own problems that have arisen as a result of attending different schools—there are jealousies to be sorted out and hurt feelings to mend if their relationship is going to stand the test of time.
Will their love last, or are they star-crossed lovers, after all?
Geez, I didn’t realize how LOOOOONG some of these synopses were. This month was clearly Jennifer L. Armentrout heavy. I was starting to feel a little stuck and wanted something I knew right away that I would enjoy, and Jen is one of those authors I go to in order to avoid reading slumps. Then once I started, I just kept pulling unread JLA books off my shelf and devoured them.
With that being said, here is my Wrap-Up for July! Keep an eye out for my vacation Wrap-Up and my “What Books I’m Bringing with Me to the Beach”!
Have you read any of these books? If so, what are your thoughts? Are there any books you’ve read that you think I should check out? Leave a comment!
Writing The Universe 