With a month filled with travel and many trials, it’s a testament to the quality of books I read in September. There were only a few duds. With the exception of those few, I devoured every book I picked up.
As autumn begins to cool the temperatures from the high 90s to the mid-80s, I don’t quite feel cozy. Yet I want to dive into some cozy reads which is new for me. I am an emotional reader, a mood reader. I pick up what I’m feeling, not what the weather is pushing at me.
If you have autumnal reads of any genre, please share them with me!
The Risk by: S.T. Abby
I knew absolutely nothing about this series before diving into it, other than the fact that there was a lot of hype when it came out. I finally picked it up, and I’m obsessed.
Revenge killings and a righteous serial killer falling for the FBI agent investigating her case. It’s like a bloody, spicy Criminal Minds, only so much more. There’s gore, trauma, betrayal, jealousy, and spice.
In all honesty, if there were no steamy bits and everything faded to black, the story would have still been phenomenal.
Lana is the epitome of strength. Dragged through hell as a child, beaten and broken. She literally became someone else to serve bloody justice. And not just for what was done to her. For those who didn’t survive the deviants. For those who no longer have a voice.
A criminal even law enforcement is rooting to succeed.
Logan falls for her instantly and is in constant awe of Lana’s strength and understanding. But he is totally a Dudley Do-Right. Having us all wonder from the very beginning, what will happen when he finds out her secret? Which obviously he will at some point. Absolutely flew threw this first book. Ready to binge the next.
Sidetracked by: S.T. Abby
Well crap. This gets better and better.
Everything is winding tighter and tighter until it’s threatening to snap and the stuff will hit the fan.
As much as Lana tries to keep Logan from getting too deep into her head, he is just as obsessed with her as I am with this series. He’s a skilled profiler, and Lana can still surprise him. He expects her to react like the average woman, even though he knows her past is dark without knowing the details.
Don’t mistake that for foolishness. There’s just a blind spot where she’s concerned. He is, after all, chasing two serial killers. One of whom has his eye on him, personally making Lana’s revenge mission a bit trickier. As their relationship grows and they grow closer, the stakes get higher. There is never a dull moment in these books so far. I don’t foresee that changing.
Scarlett Angel by: S.T. Abby
It was only a matter of time before Lana’s passion project leaked out to those around her. But it’s not Logan it seeped out to…
Ahhhh, I can’t get enough. It’s one of those series you can’t wait to devour but dread finishing because you don’t want it to end…ever!
If Logan had it his way, Lana would be locked up in a protective bubble because she needs to be protected from the evils of his job. Teehee. He is slowly realizing how ridiculously strong she is, which goes against all he had profiled about her.
The more the FBI looks into Lana’s case, the more they support her actions. They don’t condone the killer taking the law into his hands, but they don’t hate it either. Rather the guy they think is running around brutally torturing the victims.
Because there is no way a woman could accomplish all Lana has. Especially by herself. Never underestimate a woman scorned!
All the Lies by: S.T. Abby
Absolutely devastating!
Everything that has been building comes to a head. I’m torn between falling into the next one and prolonging getting my heart ripped out. But I am way too obsessed with this series. It’s one of those that feels like losing real friends by the end.
We all saw this book coming. Each step Logan took was taking him a bit closer to all the answers he never wanted to accept. Lana knew it was coming, too.
I love that throughout this whole series, the typically morally grey roles were reversed. Lana is the blurred-lines character willing to burn the world down for the one person able to break through her barriers. Logan is the one almost taking advantage of her because he refuses to accept the depth of their love, but doesn’t realize it.
Paint it all Red by: S.T. Abby
Clearly, I have been obsessed with this series. This, unfortunately, is my least favorite. It’s still a fantastic book. But especially for a finale, I found it lacking.
I was a bit worried about the twist, that there might not even be one. There were hints throughout the entire series, at least I thought there was, that the main manhunt was one huge misdirection from the most important hunt of them all. But it was there, presented in the best way.
And we finally get our HEA.
Why was this my least favorite? I was hoping to get more closure. And it is totally nitpicky of me. Especially since all the major loose ends are tied up. The petty B in me wanted a few others to suffer (not necessarily through death or torture, though) and get their final Karen Karma moment. Either way, I’m sad to see this end.
Especially because this series is so much more than a smutty romance. (BTW, pretty happy there’s not a ton of steamy bits to pad the story or detract from it. And I’m usually all for those.) This journey of healing and survival is so raw. And not just Lana, who is beyond amazing and resilient. Logan may not have the scars Lana does, but he does have obstacles, ones Lana unknowingly forces him to plow through. Her actions and inherent personality do that to several people, and it’s satisfying. All the characters, good and corrupt, play such a pivotal role. Nothing is superfluous. Such a well-plotted, multifaceted storyline. Wasn’t expecting the circumstances of the epilogue!
Red Sin by; Aleatha Romig
Aleatha has done it again. This is the second series I’ve read of hers and I am quickly becoming an even bigger fan than I already was.
This is an age-gap trope. Almost like a fated lovers’ story with so much family drama and a fair bit of suspense. Donovan is domineering and borderline narcissistic. But his heart is instantly captivated by Julia. He’s constantly at war between being who he is, bulldozing the world around him, and wanting to be the man Julia deserves.
Julia isn’t exactly timid and submissive. She is, however, young and is now just seeing how naïve she was to the world around her.
The chemistry between the two is electric. Julia is hired to write Van’s business memoir. He is tired of the stigmata surrounding his success. It is almost impossible not to equate his personal life with his professional one. Something he wants to keep separate from Julia is well.
Desperate for her to see the man, within limits, of course, he’s nowhere near ready to reveal all his secrets. So many secrets and some unintentional betrayal. At least on Van’s part. This story flows effortlessly. The characters, main and side, are all dynamic, making this story a huge win.
Green Envy by: Aleatha Romig
While Red Sin is all passion, chemistry, and mystery, Green Envy is plot-driven and just as passionate in so many more ways.
Sure, Van and Julia still have their blazing chemistry that ignited in the first book. Now there is so much more at stake.
Their lives are becoming more intertwined, which, of course, is inevitable. Where Van is completely immersed in Julia’s life, Julia is finding she has more questions than answers when it comes to Van.
The more time Julia spends with Van and away from her parents, the more independent she becomes. the woman is strong but was being hidden by her family. I love watching her confidence blossom. Van, the amazing man he is, is there to support her every step of the way. Can’t forget Aleatha’s trademark cliffhanger!
Gold Lust by: Aleatha Romig
Holy cliffhangers! So far, this book has had the most nail-biting suspense of the series.
Starting right where we left off from Green Envy, this takes no time getting back into the thick of it. Then we proceed to trudge through some very murky waters. In the best possible way of course.
Van and Julia’s little snowglobe of perfection has a few cracks, all caused by outside forces – for the most part. While Van has tried to give Julia as much knowledge as he can about her family’s company, there are a few key pieces of information he has not been ready to share with her yet. That lack of knowledge comes to bite both of them in the ass.
Filled with so many more twists and turns, I have no doubt the final book is going to be epic!
Pandemic by: A.G. Riddle
I read the Origin Mystery series way back when I bought my first Kindle and haven’t read anything by this author since. That wasn’t to say I didn’t like that series.
This gives Outbreak vibes, coupled with a powerful secret society that no conspiracy theorists would come close to predicting. I think Riddle excels at weaving these stories together. Several plot lines are playing themselves out to end at the same destination.
The big reveal is quite intricate. It’s a really tangled web Riddle has woven. One I didn’t have trouble following, there’s just a lot. Between Peyton and Desmond discovering a very significant person in their life played a role in this global conspiracy, even if that person didn’t realize it, is almost uncanny.
I had so much fun following all the breadcrumbs Desmond left behind. Discovering who he is, his past and present life, his connection with Peyton, and his basic
origin story while recovering his memories. Even after all that that though, it’s hard to get a true read on who he is. Maybe because there’s still so much to learn about him or he is just not as relatable as he was meant to be. Seems Riddle wants us to relate to his humility and empathy, but there is something off there. Never fully trusted him.
Peyton. Hard not to fall in love with the bleeding heart humanitarian with aspirations of saving the world one virus at a time. Written in 2017, Riddle had no idea what would happen three years later. Thank goodness 2020 was not this extreme. Can’t wait to read the conclusion of this duology
Pestilence by: Laura Thalassa
Going into this, I knew exactly three things:
- I am a big Thalassa fan.
- This is obviously a series about the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
- A woman will somehow change each horseman because that’s just the way these things go.
I immediately fell in love with Pestilence’s naive view of the world. As a being that hasn’t lived as or with humans, it is a very primitive way of dissecting human behavior. Not that we don’t deserve it, but that’s beside the point. It’s the simple acts that we take for granted as mundane that he finds taxing and confusing.
Sara is strong-willed but ultimately gets distracted by a pretty face and body. She is filled with compassion and struggles with the limits of her own mortal abilities.
From there, I can see why people had a problem with her falling for someone who is causing such death and suffering. Here’s the thing. You have to look at humanity as Pestilence does. He has a very narrow scope, along with orders he believes are justified. Sara begins to see past the horseman’s actions for the being that lies underneath. Just as he begins to see humans through her eyes and actions.
So, of course, his initial treatment of Sara is something only the darkest romance readers would find appealing.
In the end it all balances out. Yes, it is dark, Pestilence is not kind in the manner in which he initially treated Sara, but you have to remember, he is there as a plague on humans. I mean, what did you expect?
Once the story progresses, so do the characters.
Pucking Strong by: Emily Rath
After reading Pucking Sweet, the book I had been waiting for the whole series and, in my opinion, the best book in the series, I was reluctant to read this.
At the end of Pucking Sweet, I was so satisfied, all the loose ends were tied into a lovely little bow. Then, out of nowhere, one random paragraph snuck its way in to set up for this story. It was weird and turned me off.
I’m glad I caved and read this. While this was not to the standard of Poppy and her men, Teddy and Henrik were wholly unexpected. MM can be hit or miss with me. Some heavily rely on cliches and stereotypes.
The love bond growing between these two is sweet and healing. I love the way all the Rays players, significant others, and their offspring all make an appearance. Allowing us to catch up with the characters we’ve grown attached. (Some more than others).
As I have said many times about the third-act glitch in romance novels, you know, that something that threatens their HEA, which is typically trivial and just plain dumb, none of that here. There is enough tension in the beginning to loom over the entire story. The unity and devotion of this unlikely duo are so lovely. Their diverse backgrounds and opposing personalities played beautifully together. Opposites not really attracting but complementing. And of course, the Rays coming together to support two of their own. While I didn’t like it better than Pucking Sweet, it is a close second.
A Curious Tale of the In-Between by: Lauren DeStafano
Another great middle-grade read.
My daughter and I loved The Girl with the Ghost Machine and immediately wanted another from this author. This is the one my daughter chose for us to read.
A story filled with layers of emotions. Broaching heavy, real-world topics which, hopefully, young readers will not have to experience for a very long time. Showing that uncomfortable emotions in life are not to be feared. Find that true friend in your life and hold onto them.
Pram is in the unique situation of being a child who has operated as an adult without the knowledge or experience to do so. Each character is dynamic, and you immediately become attached to them.
Clarence and Felix are two characters you’d be remiss if you didn’t fall for both of them.
Pram’s aunts are just eccentric enough to appear oblivious, loving, and attentive at the same time. The paranormal aspect fits seamlessly.
Both of Lauren’s books I’ve read have a few things in common. Both dealt with death and grief from several points of view. The other is the time period. As an adult, I can guess at the time these stories are set in through small cues, but it’s vague. I think that adds to the charm.
I have one complaint, and it is a personal annoyance and kind of trivial. Pram said. Clarence said. Felix said. Almost everything a character states is ‘said’. No, exclaimed, asked, stated, admitted, ordered, grumbled – nothing. About 90% of dialogue went this way. Monotonous and a bit frustrating. In the grand scheme of the story, not a huge deal, I suppose.
Reign of Wrath by: Eva Ashwood
Book three of four and it was a bit of a struggle to get through. I’m determined to make it through the series, but it feels so dragged out.
Most of this book, just like the previous one, was a whole lot of talking and planning for some anticlimactic action. Sure, going after Julian took some careful scheming and execution. Something about it didn’t seem satisfying enough. Almost vague since River is in her head most of the time, more than usual.
Understandably, given what she went through with her sister. It is pounded into the reader over and over how impactful it is. I was torn. River went through another absolutely devastating event involving her sister (trying really hard not to give anything away). She is supposed to be falling into the darkness of grief. And of course her guys, who have all experienced a certain level of personal
trauma and grief of their own, are there for her. On the other hand, her inner thoughts were becoming so redundant, they were annoying and barely skim-worthy.
In my opinion, for what it may be worth, this series should have been a trilogy. I don’t want to leave it unfinished with only one book left. That’s right, we’re not even at the endgame yet. There is no excitement diving into the final installment. Just personal determination to get it done.
Unravel Me by: Tahereh Mafi
I really want to like this series, but Juliette completely ruins it for me.
That’s right, the main character is what is mainly wrong with this series. She is such a horrible character who is not supposed to be perceived as such. You’re supposed to feel empathy toward her and be rooting for her to heal and find her strength. That is never going to happen since she is too busy whining and living in her own self-centered universe.
That does not make her a horrible person; she’s not. She is whiny, petulant, obsessed over a boy in a time of war, and completely self-involved. There is a real threat to her and those around her, and she only cares about her feelings and Adam. You just want to shake her, hoping to wiggle a clue or two into her.
Kenji does lay into her once, so we know that the author is aware of how Juliette comes across. I had hoped that would be the turning point. Nope. His rant affects her for about a millisecond.
Kenji, however, is by far my favorite character. Despite that not meaning much, the character bar is pretty low here. He has a great personality; I would love to meet him in real life. He’s like the dystopian Jack Sparrow, all jokes and levity but willing to sacrifice everything to save those around him.
Adam can continue to be phased out. Never a big fan of his. The lost puppy panting over a girl with his tail between his legs. Warner, at least, is involved with the world around him. Understanding the importance of the war and survival beyond the scope of a girl.
A girl who, other than plot and a good body, I can’t understand why people are falling over themselves for her. Sure, her power is mega useful. She can’t control it, is hypocritical, and destructive. Yes, Juliette had enough compassion to fuel the rebuilding of the world, but it’s mostly driven by guilt.
There are some good reveals in this story though. The only reason I want to continue is to appease my curiosity. We still don’t have a clear picture of the end game yet. I need to know!
Holy Knit by: Deborah Alexander
This is one of those books that I went into with very low expectations. A quirky read my bestie and I found during a Stuff Your Kindle Day. And this turned out to be exactly what I expected, only worse.
The concept and storyline are actually cute. The execution is not great.
The thing that sent it over into ‘hard to read’ was the tremendous number of mistakes. Poor grammar is one thing, which this had in spades. But the number of times the wrong word was used is inexcusable. We’re not talking about ‘further’ instead of ‘farther’ or ‘to’ instead of ‘too’. More along the lines of using ‘depths’ instead of ‘deaths’.
It seemed as if this was written in a notes app, and autocorrect had a field day changing words all willy nilly. There are several times when words are simply missing.
All it would have taken was for one more person to have read this before hitting that publish button. No need to spend money on an editor, which clearly didn’t happen either.
Since this is a short story (novella?), there’s not much time to really get deep into the characters. A quick in and out, if you will. Still, it’s chaotic and vague. Like I said, the concept is a really interesting one, clever. I wish the author had taken the time and care to make this a full story, even short; it could have opened an opportunity for sequels and amazing world-building. Instead, we have this shortie, what a way to ruin such potential.
Missed last month’s reads? Check it out HERE
