I was very surprised that I read more than two books in August. We did quite a bit of traveling. Looking at the nine books I did finish, they are all fairly quick reads. Even more surprising, I really enjoyed all of the books I read.
There is only one complaint, and it’s completely against myself! I have been on a book-buying ban for two years in a row now. At the beginning of the year, I was determined to get through as many of my physical books as I could. Well, cue the sad music. That has not happened, not even a little. Every book I read in August was on my Kindle. True, I have a ridiculous amount of books on there thanks to Stuff Your Kindle days and Kindle Unlimited.
Still, that’s no excuse! September is only the ninth month, I can absolutely get a handful of physical books done…maybe…hopefully, by the end of the year. Keep your fingers crossed.
Until then, here are the books I finished in August! Let me know what you have been reading.
Destruction’s Desire by: Melody Joanne
If you read my review on the first in this series, Creation’s Captive, this rating might surprise you. I didn’t hate it, extremely disliked with a passion is more like it. I mean, most of us have been through Tamlin to land on Rhys. Only Leon, don’t get me started on the name, is just a toxic possessive a-hole that never gives us a chance to want him to have a redeeming quality. It was painful.
There was an inkling that he was not the endgame. It might have been wishful thinking, though, and not actually indicated in the first book.
Speaking of Rhysand, this is very reminiscent of life in the House of Wind, A found family brought together by circumstances and safety. Sin may not be the leader as Rhys is, but he is just as powerful.
ACOTAR comparisons aside, this is binge-worthy.
If brooding were a being, it would be Sin. Vivian is still a strong yet broken girl. Her spirit and confidence were crushed by Leon, and she is in no hurry for a repeat. I loved watching her evolve and grow. The additional characters that live in Morgana’s castle are the best side characters. I do wish some of them didn’t fall off partway through. Fall off as in not heavily featured, not died off.
Sin is possessive and domineering in the best possible way. This is truly a mates done right situation, and I greatly appreciate it. As for trigger warnings, there are some. Does ‘cliffhanger’ really qualify as one, though? I think these TW are getting a bit out of hand and are more for shock value than actual content.
Wicked Pursuit by: Katee Robert
At first, I was so excited to have a Katee Robert story to read. Even more excited to see that the characters are the next gen from the Wicked Villains series. Then I was super disappointed to discover Katee only wrote one book in the series.
Fortunately, in true Katee fashion, she knocked it out of the park. She is very good at bringing kink to the masses. The drama of Carver City still runs thick with mafia rule in this little red riding hood re-imagining.
Suspense, betrayal, feral games, murder, and primal passion. It is a roller coaster that you just keep wanting to ride over and over.
FMC has the stereotypical call to her family through loyalty and duty while trying to balance that with wanting to be true to herself.
The wolf is dynamic, dangerous, and possessive. The two of them together unlock their greatest desires.
Ruthless by: Gena Showalter
While Heartless was sweet in a bloody sociopathic kind of way, Ruthless is healing and heartfelt. Very different vibes from Heartless but nonetheless bloody.
Full of precariously gained trust, self-worth issues, suspense, and a whole lot of heat.
The story of Kaysar’s sister Viori, is revealed and continued. It’s intricate and so worth the read.
I originally found this book in a Dollar Tree and it is worth so much more.
Mikah, Kaysar’s nemesis, is just as broken as Viori. But neither is able to outright trust the other for so many deep-seated reasons. They spend a great deal of time and effort working through them during a time of war.
All your favorite characters from Heartless make an appearance. For some reason, the way Cookie is portrayed wasn’t my favorite.
While she and Kaysar are a case of accepting your darkness and fanning the black flames, Mikah and Viori are all about accepting your darkness, crawling through it, and finding the light together.
I still really wish there was a third book! There is one king who needs his story completed.
Prey Tell by: Amanda Richardson
While this is mostly a plot-because-of-smut book, it is surprisingly really well done.
Chase and Juliet have such a complicated history. The story could have become unnecessarily messy. I loved the intro to all the Ravage brothers and their past. Since the series revolves around them, the foundation laying was just enough to intrigue, not overwhelm.
The dynamic between Chase and Juliet is electric. As her brother’s best friend since high school (or was it middle school?), their lives come with certain rules. Ones they both have wanted to break for years.
The BDSM aspect was done well. Not just for shock value like some.
Jules is doing her dissertation on something involving some aspect of human sexual behavior. The specifics were mentioned once early on, so I thought it would play a bigger role. Dive into the teacher and student aspects of a D/S relationship. But the subject of her studies became moot.
Marry Lies by: Amanda Richardson
Miles, the most closed-off Ravage brother and the oldest.
Arranged marriage, childhood trauma, borderline reclusive behavior, and voyeurism. What’s not to love?
Miles’ extreme grumpiness to Estelle’s British sunshine. He’s classically beige to her fuchsia couch – literally. Watching Stella pull him out of his privileged shell was hot and heartfelt.
Stella may have had her own demons fueling her independence, but she attached to Miles quickly in a non-hooker Pretty Woman sort of way.
I think I liked this one a bit more than the last.
Kings of Chaos by: Eva Ashwood
If you’re looking for a reverse harem that is teeming with romantic tension executed like a group project, this is not it. A reverse harem in the way of a why-choose situation.
The Kings of Chaos are not your typical looking-for-the-one-woman-for-them-to-share quartet. In fact, sharing is not a word mentioned in the book.
As far as the spice goes, it’s very individualized. You hear reverse harem, and you automatically have certain expectations. This is your typical mafia/gang romance with morally grey characters. It just happens to have four MMCs.
But River is not your typical FMC. She is also not extremely likable. That’s not to say I disliked her. She’s stubborn, self-serving, and completely oblivious to anything outside her own head. She grows on you.
Each of these 5 people has a broken past, fusing them together. Other than their trauma, there is no cohesion among them. There are moments of banter here and there between the men, attempting to showcase the depth of their bond. It’s alright, but doesn’t add much because it’s not very strong.
Having the majority of the focus on River means there’s an even bigger disconnect between them all. River has her interactions with each in their own time and own way. The guys vaguely discuss the impact River’s presence has on their lives. They all individually assume what type of physical relationship the others are having with her. Everything in the story is divided into a little box for each guy, leaving a barrier between the reader and the story.
Regardless, I love the plot that is there to support the smut. And each guy having their own little box to themselves, and River gave us a chance to really know them. Not having a group dynamic that wasn’t vague is my only complaint. Otherwise, I can’t wait to dive into the next book.
Queen of Anarchy by: Eva Ashwood
I liked this much more than the first in terms of cohesion. It wasn’t one woman figuring life out with four individual men that seemed close in words only.
A team dynamic was built. Even in the first, they were all working toward a common goal, but it seemed they had their individual parts. Occasionally, working together because it was easier.
Now the Kings and River are coming together as one unit. But it is a lot of talk and only a bit of action. I’m not talking about the steamy bits. I’m referring to the bloody bits. Although in this book, those seem to blend.
They are all connected to the mafia, have been threatened by an unknown enemy, discuss it within an inch of its life, and take small actions. Very slow.
Then there’s Hannah. What was the point?
Still liked it and going to continue the series.
Pen Pal by: J.T. Geissinger
I have never read a more deceptive summary of a book ever.
First, this is a paranormal romance with ghosts; nothing about the summary indicates that whatsoever. If you were expecting a dark romance involving an obsessive inmate, you are going to be sorely disappointed.
WARNING: minor spoiler coming up!
Maybe it was because I had expectations reading the publisher’s summary. Or perhaps it was because it was a little too Sixth Sense (there’s your spoiler). Or maybe, this is not an ‘unconventional’ HEA, it’s just an ending tying up loose ends, trying to leave the reader with some satisfaction. I was left unsatisfied. The concept was a good one that lacked execution.
Tin by: Amber R. Duell & Candace Robinson
Marketed towards fans of Sarah J Mass, Thalassa, and Armentrout. All three of those women are known for epic fantasy romances. This does not fall under that category.
Yes, there are fae, curses, and romance. It is definitely not epic or that intricate.
World-building is good, but this lacks character development and has some inconsistencies. Dorothy is from the 20s. In the beginning, she has the mindset of a woman of the era. She quickly goes from ‘having new and different physical reactions’ to Tin, and in the next moment, she’s ripping her clothes off and falling in love with him.
I was excited about the storyline. Then I was met with a whole lot of traveling and anticlimactic resolutions.
Maybe I just had higher expectations from the publisher’s summary.
This is by no means a bad story; it simply didn’t rise to the occasion.
One response to “August 2025 Reads”
Ok, got it. Leave you be.