July 2019 Reads // Book Slumps + A Few Really Good Reads

Woohoo! It's NOT book day! Whomp Whomp... well I'm early, but I'll leave this up anyway! I didn't read a lot this month, and a lot of the things I read and some that I read last month I just did not love. So, I was super happy to adore my latest two reads. Just the fun engaging books I was looking for! :) :)

War by Laura Thalassa - own, ebook

4 Stars - I recommend if you enjoy paranormal romance, and can suspend your disbelief a bit.

The second book in the four horseman of the apocalypse book, where War ravages the earth.

I read this in a few bursts, which was made it a little bit disjointed. Overall it was enjoyable, I like the continued premise of the four horseman plot. I sometimes liked War better than Pestilence, but I also had moments where more-so than Pestilence, I am like HOW DOES SHE LOVE HIM??? I almost wish these were dual POV, because these relationship are SO problematic sometimes. This one felt a little bit long, but I did like the very end quite a bit. It think that the relationship part drug out just a little but the action, reconciling, and resolution of the plot during the last 30% of the book was really good. I'm really intrigued by the rest of the books and to see where they will go after getting a peek at Spoiler?? Death. I did have a harder time overall suspending disbelief in this one. I don't understand what God's role is in this. I always feel like the Horsemen are learning a lesson and not the humans... so why is God sending them to kill the humans...? Maybe it is meant to be unclear, but it was really distracting for me during this book.

Say You Still Love Me by K.A. Tucker* - ARC, ebook

3 Stars? - I might recommend if you like heartfelt second chance romances.

Piper is reluctant to spend the summer as a camp counselor at her mother's old summer camp, but when she meets the irresistible and edgy Kyle she is suddenly more excited for the summer. The two quickly form an intense connection. Piper is drawn toward things she would never do, with destructive consequences. When the summer ends with their expulsion from the camp after an off limits incident Piper and Kyle promise to keep in touch. When Piper never hears from Kyle again, she never stops wondering what happened to him. 15 years later the two meet again. Kyle has become a security guard in her office building and he wasn't placed there coincidentally. What does he want?

I really liked the idea behind this story: two teenage camp counselors fall in love and then meet again later in life. I have to say that I did enjoy their teenage romance, I felt like the thrill of their relationship was very realistic, and it can be fun to read about reckless teenagers from time to time. However, it also had me going... oh dear... I don't know that I could ever be a parent of a teenager. LOLOL I wanted SO MUCH to love this story... but a lot of the present day stuff didn't quite work for me. While I was interested to see who Piper and Kyle became, there was a LOT of buildup in the present day plot. It didn't particularly help that I don't love corporate settings, and a lot of it was related to her job in real estate development. It also took too long for them to meet back up, and their wasn't a lot of focus on their present day relationship... which I really wanted. I did like some of the more emotional parts, and the ending was nice too. It was quite bittersweet, which I also kind of liked. Overall this was a fun read, but I wanted a little bit more from it.

The Lady in the Coppergate Tower by Nancy Campbell Allen*  - ARC, ebook

3 Stars - I might recommend if you enjoy steampunk, or proper romance, or if you have read the rest of the series.

Hazel has spent her life under her mother's protection and as a fledgling medium. However, she finds her talent as Dr. Sam MacInnes's surgical assistant. He once saved her from a vampire attack, and now she must endure her severe crush on him every day as they work together. When she meets a mysterious Transylvanian noble, and he claims to be her uncle and caretaker to her secret twin sister, she is skeptical. She always dreamt of a girl who looked just like her, but her uncle seems less than trustworthy. When tells her that she must come help heal her sister in Transylvania, Hazel warily accepts. Sam is not about to let Hazel go alone, and inserts himself into the trip as a chaperone. What is her uncle hiding and what is wrong with her mysterious twin?

This is one of my favorite series. The mix of fantasy, and proper romance is amazing and so much fun to read. I started this book out feeling the familiar love of the world, but this one fell a little bit flat for me in the middle. I liked the working relationship between Sam and Hazel was very sweet and swoony when they were working in London. However, as soon as they embarked on their adventure I didn't find myself quite as invested in the plot or their relationship. It was still sweet and the steampunk stuff was fun. The setting was interesting too, not a lot of books take place on a submarine, but I just felt like something was missing. I will say that I liked the beginning and end, so maybe it was just a fluke. While this wasn't my favorite in the series, I am still looking forward to more books if Allen writes them!

A Curse so Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer - library, ebook

4.5-5 Stars - I highly recommend if you enjoy fantasy novels and fairy tale re-tellings.

Harper is minding her own business as a lookout for her brother when she witnesses a women being abducted. As she tries to save the woman, she is taken instead, and finds herself in another world. She is now the guest of Prince Rhen of Emberfall in his castle. The more she tries to escape and the more she learns about Emberfall, the less she wants to leave. Rhen just wants to break his curse, and it is his last chance. Harper is the only one who can help him, and she just might be able to help him save his people too.

This is the first book in a while that had me tearing through pages, and that I wanted to stay up all night and read. I really wanted to figure out what was going on, and I immediately was hooked by the short chapters and differences between Harper and Rhen. I appreciated the strength of the characters, their loyalty, and selflessness. I thought that the villains were strong, and the characters were courageous. I loved the setting and the re-telling element. It did remind me a lot of Beauty and the Beast, but it was new enough and different enough that I wasn't bored. I'm a sucker for romance, but I adored the friendships, courage of characters, and strategy to save their kingdom most in this book. The way that this ended was satisfying and suspenseful all at once, I like how some of the things tied together. I'm really excited to see where other books in this world will go.

Wicked and the Wallflower by Sarah MacLean - own, ebook

4.5-5 Stars - I highly recommend if you enjoy historical romance with modern characters.

Felicity Faircloth was once the belle of the 'ton surrounded by friends and suitors, until she found herself in the bedroom of a man who was not her betrothed. Over time scandal after scandal ruined her reputation. Now she is a 27 year old spinster with no friends, and no prospects. As she sneaks onto an off limits balcony at a ball she meets a mysterious stranger in the shadows. He promises her a Duke that will save her reputation, family, and place in society. Devil is one of the Bareknuckle Bastards, the king of Covent Garden, and wealthy smuggler. When he meets Felicity by chance, he sees her as the perfect opportunity to deny his brother the wife and heir he so craves. Along the way he will quickly realize that Felicity is actually who he craves.

Ahh I really liked this book. I thought that Felicity and Devil were such fantastic characters. I loved her wittiness and her child-like awe at the world. I loved that she was a strong female lead who wanted to choose her own life. I thought that while Devil has a ridiculous name, he was an interesting character too. I enjoyed the parts where he was working with his brother, sister, and their men to complete their smuggling tasks, as well as his banter with Felicity. It did take a while for the truth of the past, the oath, etc. to come out, but overall it worked. I appreciated that the male lead was not just another Duke or Marquess... because that does get a bit boring in historical romance. I am super excited to read the next books in this series.

Monthly totals:

Read - 5
Owned - 2
Ebook - 5
Physical book - 0
ARC - 2
Library/Borrowed - 1
Bought - 31 ( 25 physical, 6 ebook) MOST of these were from bday shopping.. I don't even know if that "counts" as it was part of my gift from KC but there you go.
To Let Go - 4

Yearly Totals:

Read - 52
Owned - 15
Ebook - 33
Physical book - 20
ARC - 23
Library/Borrowed - 10
Bought - 113 (93 physical books, 26 ebooks)
To Let Go - 36

Linking up with Jana and Steph for Show Us Your Books today. :) 

What have you been reading? What do you hope to read this month?! 

Let's be friends on Goodreads!

XO,

Alexandra

* Asterisks denote titles that I was given advance access to by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. These reviews are my own opinion, and based on the edition of the book I was given at the time. Thank you Netgalley

**Double asterisks denote books won via a goodreads giveaway! 

***Triple asterisks denote titles that I was given advance access to by Penguin First to Read in exchange for an honest review. These reviews are my own opinion, and based on the edition of the book I was given at the time. Thank you Penguin First to Read!

****Quadruple asterisks denote titles that I was given advance access to by the author of the book in exchange for an honest review. These reviews are my own opinion and based on the edition of the book I was given at the time!