Summer is winding down, you can almost smell the pumpkin spice in the air! My fellow contributors and I read some fun books this month, if you haven’t read them already, you should absolutely check them out!
Donna Soluri | Broken Dawn by Dianne Duvall
The tenth book in Duvall’s Immortal Guardians series can be read as a standalone but why on Earth would you want to miss out on all of the Immortal Guardian goodness? This one gives us Immortal Guardian Nick Belanger’s story. He moved in next to a single mom, Kayla Dorman many years ago. Of course Kayla thinks Nick is just a regular guy that keeps odd nighttime hours because he works security. When a terrible car accident leaves her dangerously close to dead, Nick calls in the big guy (Seth) to save her. Unbeknownst to all except Seth, of course, Kayla is a Gifted One. Her journey into the world of psychotic vampires and the powerful immortals that slay them is a fast-paced, wild ride. Kayla’s strength, and tenacity coupled with her caring and loyal spirit is really the star of the show. Nick’s gentle yet fierce to keep her safe and passionately satisfied doesn’t make for shabby reading either! This entire series is addicting and I will never tire of it!
Aurora Dominguez | Fable by Adrienne Young
Filled with amazing character development, intrigue and amazing twists and turns, “Fable” is my top read for August. The book comes out Sept. 1st and I was lucky enough to read an ARC as Frolic’s YA expert.
Synopsis below! You all need this book!
Welcome to a world made dangerous by the sea and by those who wish to profit from it. Where a young girl must find her place and her family while trying to survive in a world built for men.
As the daughter of the most powerful trader in the Narrows, the sea is the only home seventeen-year-old Fable has ever known. It’s been four years since the night she watched her mother drown during an unforgiving storm. The next day her father abandoned her on a legendary island filled with thieves and little food. To survive she must keep to herself, learn to trust no one and rely on the unique skills her mother taught her. The only thing that keeps her going is the goal of getting off the island, finding her father and demanding her rightful place beside him and his crew. To do so Fable enlists the help of a young trader named West to get her off the island and across the Narrows to her father.
But her father’s rivalries and the dangers of his trading enterprise have only multiplied since she last saw him and Fable soon finds that West isn’t who he seems. Together, they will have to survive more than the treacherous storms that haunt the Narrows if they’re going to stay alive.
Fable takes you on a spectacular journey filled with romance, intrigue and adventure.
Jess Moro | The Silvered Serpents by Roshani Chokshi
This month I can’t choose between two reads, both YA fantasy which is a surprise for me. Fable by Adrienne Young was absolutely amazing, think pirates, badass women and even a little romance. Can’t wait for the next one!
The Silvered Serpents by Roshani Chokshi was the second book in this treasure hunting series, The Gilded Wolves, that tackles also social issues. The first book concentrated mostly on world building but here the character development really shines. I loved how much growth was displayed by all. There were some shocking discoveries and the build up for the next in the series is insane!
Bree Hill | The Secret French Recipes of Sophie Valroux by Samantha Verant
My favorite August read was The Secret French Recipes of Sophie Valroux By Samantha Verant. Scheduled to release September 8th, I could not put this book down! Sophie is a chef in NYC and one night at work is set up, a dish of hers is sabotaged and in the matter of moments her Career and reputation are up in flames. This is an amazing story of rediscovering your passion, picking yourself back up and getting back in the game, family, finding love, friendship and has some amazing French dishes all throughout. I loved it!
Alexandra Somelian | White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
White Fragility opened my eyes and made me realize my own inherent racism and my own white privilege. This book is about recognizing the White Fragility inside us, acknowledging it, and being comfortable with being uncomfortable. Robin DiAngelo expertly explains how colorblindness is problematic and how it communicates that racism doesn’t exist. One of the things that resonated with me the most in White Fragility is that every time a white person has learned something valuable about racism, a person of color has experienced its emotional trauma.
Lisa Ward | The Takeover by T.L. Swan
What’s better than getting lost in a book in this upside-down, crazy, and uncertain world? Getting lost with a swoon-worthy alpha.
Tristan is my new book boyfriend. He was thoughtful, clever, sexy, and witty. His complicated relationship with Claire, a struggling widow, and navigating the hot mess of her three sons was one of the most fun and heartwarming journeys I’ve ever read.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a future bonus epilogue because I was beyond sad to leave these characters.
