Angel Reads

04 Oct

I Couldn’t Stop Myself | September Haul

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For the most few months I’ve been trying really hard not to buy books. But September I crumbed and bought too many books for my own good.

I got a lot of books in September. I don’t even know why it kept on happening. But I just couldn’t stop myself from buying more books. There is a mix of YA and romance here. It’s been a while since that has happened. And even though I did buy a fair few books, I’m excited about them all.

Let’s get into it like always these are in no order. I did buy most of my books this month but I also did get a few for review.

Physical Books

Blood & Honey (Serpent & Dove #2) by Shelby Mahurin: Normally I would have picked this one up after a shift at work, but since I’m still not working. It took a little longer for me to pick this one up. I am so glad that I have it now and hope that I can get to it this month.

A Rogue of One’s Own (A League of Extraordinary Women #2) by Evie Dunmore: This one is similar to Blood & Honey in that it took me a while to get a copy, but I finally did and I’m so excited to read it I adored Bringing Down the Duke, and I’m intrigued to see where the story goes.

Psy-Changeling #3 – #5 and #10 by Nalini Singh: I’m slowly making my way through this series – or trying to. But I love it so much, and because of that, I’m slowly getting my copies of all the books. I was trying to get them in order. However, I found a cheap copy of book 10 – Kiss of Snow and jumped on it. I’m so ready to keep on reading this series.

The Duke and I (Bridgertons #1) by Julia Quinn: I’ve been wanting to start this series for ages and since they are expected to release the series this year, I want to get to it before then. I did purchase this one a few months ago. In saying that my copy has yet to arrive, so I grabbed another copy.

The Governess Game (Girl Meets Duke, #2) by Tessa Dare: After finishing the first book in this series I couldn’t stop myself and had to get all the books that are currently out. I’m so excited to start reading this one.

The Wallflower Wager (Girl Meets Duke #3) by Tessa Dare: This is the last book in the series that is currently out so I grabbed it as well. I adore the covers of this series, they are stunning and now I can look at them all the time.

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo: I finally got my own copy of The Poet X. I adored this book. Now I have a copy that not only matches my other Elizabeth Acevedo collection. But I have a copy of a book I love.

The Rogue (Devil’s Duke #1) by Katharine Ashe: I don’t know too much about this one. But it sounds like it’s going to be a blast to read, and I found it for a fantastic price.

The Earl (Devil’s Duke #2) by Katharine Ashe: I also grabbed the second book as well, because again I think I’m really going to love this series and I couldn’t stop myself with the fantastic price.

A Most Unlikely Duke (Diamonds in the Rough #1) by Sophie Barnes: I’ve been reading more and more historical romance lately and I wanted to expand my collection and get some new authors. This one sounds like it’s going to be fantastic and I’ve read some great reviews.

The Match of the Century (Marrying the Duke #1) by Cathy Maxwell: This is another one that I don’t know too much about but it sounds great and I didn’t have the will to stop myself from buying it. And I also blame Ely because I was at hers when I got a batch of these books.

Storm and Fury (The Harbinger #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout: This book has been on my tbr for a while now. As I’ve started getting back into paranormal/fantasy, it seems the perfect time to pick it up.

Swing by Kwame Alexander with Mary Rand Hess: This is another one that has been on my wish list for a little while now and I managed to find it for a decent price as well. I’m so excited that I will get to read it.

Ebooks

Scoring off the Field (WAGS #2) by Naima Simone: After finishing the first book in this series I quickly jumped at getting the rest of them. I enjoyed reading this series a lot and it was a great sports romance. You can check out my series review now.

Scoring the Player’s Baby (WAGS #3) by Naima Simone: As soon as I finished the second book, I quickly jumped onto the third and it was fantastic. It’s my favourite of the series so far, and I’m really excited to read more from Naima Simone.

Rifts and Refrains (Hush Note #2) by Devney Perry: I bought the second book in this series as soon as it came out. I haven’t read a Deveny Perry before so I didn’t know what to expect. But I’ve already read it and loved it.

ARCS

Lies & Lullabies (Hush Note #1) by Sarina Bowen: The Hush Note Series finally came out last month. I received an earc of Lies and Lullabies and read it right away. You can check out my review now.

Muses & Melodies (Hush Note #3) by Rebecca Yarros: I also received an earc of this one and you all know me with my Rebecca Yarros. Again I picked it up as soon as it landed on my kindle and it was fantastic.

Tempting Lies (Tempt Me #4) by Sara Whitney: This is the last book that I received in September. I reviewed this one recently and it was a surprise with how much I enjoyed reading it.

And those are all the books I that I picked up in September – I think. I try and keep an eye of what I do buy but sometimes I forget.

What books did you get in September? Were you like me and couldn’t stop yourself and kept on buying? Let’s Chat!

03 Oct

Banned and Challenged Books On My TBR

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The week of September 27-October 3 marks Banned Books Week. And I thought I would share some of the banned and challenged books that I currently want to read.

Banned Books Week celebrates the freedom to read. It also highlights current and past attempts at challenging and banning books across libraries and schools. You can find out more about Banned Books Week on the ALA website.

So today I’m taking my stand by sharing the books that I want to read that have been frequently banned and challenged. There is a range of books on this from young adult to middle grade.

George by Alex Gino: This has been banned and challenged for it’s LGBTQIA+ content, sexual references as well as conflicting religious viewpoints and the notion of “traditional family structure”. This has been on my tbr for some time now. I have a copy now and I’m excited and to pick this one up.

A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo by Jill Twiss and illustrated by E.G. Keller: This has been challenged for it’s LGBTQIA+ content and political viewpoints. This one looks adorable! I have fallen in love with the cover and it sounds like it’s going to be an amazing read. It has some incredible reviews.

Drama by Raina Telgemeier: Drama has been challenged for it’s challenged for LGBTQIA+ content. This one has been on my tbr for some time now. It’s one that we sell so well at work and I’ve always banned to pick not only this one up but anything by Raina Telgemeier. I’m so glad that we sell so many copies of Drama at work.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie: This has been banned and challenged for many things including; sexual references, profanity, violence and religious viewpoints. This has been on my tbr for years now, but I just haven’t picked it up. I want to have this read but halfway through next year for sure!

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson: This has been challenged for its content that glorifies drinking, cursing, and premarital sex. Speak has been on my TBR since I heard about it. It is one that I have heard incredible things about and I know that I have to be in the right frame of mind for it.

Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan: This has been challenged and burned for including LGBTQIA+ content. I heard David Levitan speak a few years ago now and it was pretty amazing and since then I’ve wanted to read his books. This is at the top of my list and I hope that I can get to it soon. I’ve already read a few by him and adored them so I can’t wait.

And that is it, those are some of the banned and challenged books on my TBR. What banned and challenged books do you want to read? What are some that you have read? Let’s Chat!

02 Oct

Book Review: Tempting Lies by Sara Whitney

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Tempting Lies (Tempt Me #4) by Sara Whitney

Pages: 290
Publish date: September 10th 2020
Publisher: LoveSpark Press
ASIN: 085W7KWF9
Purchase: Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

Thea needs help renovating her house. Aiden needs help renovating his reputation. A fake engagement could solve both of their problems—or it could create a whole set of new ones.

After her widowed mother rushed into a marriage they both regretted, Thea Blackwell vowed never to commit to anything. Not jobs, Not hairstyles. Not men. Still, part of her wishes she had enough money—and enough courage—to buy her dream home and have it renovated by the gorgeous former neighbor who never spared her a second glance.

Aiden Murdoch put his playboy ways behind him to help his ailing father run the family business, but he can’t seem to escape his scandalous past. Then his childhood friend Thea shows him the listing for a tumbledown fixer-upper, and he stumbles on the perfect solution: he’ll provide the labor on her new house, and she’ll make him look happily domesticated in front of his father’s nervous clients.

But fake kisses can lead to real feelings, and their simple arrangement gets complicated fast, leaving Thea unsure if her pretend fiancé has truly given up his wild ways and Aiden aching to prove he’s worth a lifelong commitment. Are they brave enough to tear down the lies they’ve told each other, or will the future they’re building turn to sawdust?

Tempting Lies:

I received a free earc of Tempting Lies by Sara Whitney via Inkslinger PR in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.

I didn’t know too much about this book when I picked it up. However, I’m always looking for second chance romances and this one was something that sparked my interest. And I ended up enjoying it quite a bit.

Tempting Lies follows Thea Blackwell as she tries to navigate her life not committing to anything including love. But when her dream home goes on the market she would do anything to have it. It’s her princess home after all. But the one person that can help her is her former neighbour who has never spared her a second glance. Aiden Murdoch would do anything for his family, including putting aside his playboy ways. And when an old childhood friend needs some help he thinks of the perfect solution. It starts with fake kisses and then it turns into something much more. But both Thea and Aiden have their concerns and commitment issues and things start to get complicated very fast.

Photo by Jorge Salvador on Unsplash

Thea is such a pleasure of a character and while at times I just wanted to give her a little shake to wake her up, I still enjoyed reading her. At a young age, Thea lost her father and her mother quickly moved her away from her home and married her stepfather. Because of all this Thea doesn’t like the idea of committing to anything. From her job to the way that she looks, let alone her love life. But something about Aiden changes her and it’s not something that she likes at first. I loved that Thea would dive headfirst into things. That she would help where it’s needed and not even second guess the situation.

I also enjoyed Aiden as a protagonist in Tempting Lies. On the outside, he looks like this very rough. But Aiden is sweet. He cares what people think of them and he only wants to be the best for this family. I felt for him throughout the novel when those around him judged him and he just wanted to do some good and be seen that way. The reader can see Aiden grow throughout the novel and not only get to understand Thea more but himself as well.

The romance in Tempting Lies is both adorable and sexy. I loved the build-up between the two of them. From the start, the reader can see there is a heap of chemistry between Aiden and Thea. One of my favourite things about reading Tempting Lies was seeing these two fall for one another. It’s slow at first, and then it picks up the pace and it’s fantastic. I liked what they did with each other. They made the other better and that was nice to see.

Photo by KJ Styles on Unsplash

I adore the fake dating trope. It’s a trope that is not only fun but plays with the characters and their arcs. One of my favourite things about Tempting Lies is that it was Aiden that wanted more first and admitted it. We rarely get to see a male own up to his feelings first, the way that Aiden did and I loved it.

Family is a complicated thing throughout this book. I felt that for the most part, Aiden had a great support system. He and his brother had some unsaid things, but it was nice to see them talk through it and come to terms with it. Their parents were also fantastic. I wish that Thea had more of a support system though. Her stepfather was a dickhead and her mother didn’t support her in the way that I wish she would have. I also felt that though she had friends, there were times when I felt that she was alone and I wanted her to have someone at least to talk about anything with.

Photo by Lauren Richmond on Unsplash

Overall, Tempting Lies by Sara Whitney was a lovely book. It had all the right elements and I had a great time reading. Thea and Aiden had a heap of chemistry and I loved seeing them fall for one another. Tempting Lies explores fake dating, friends to lovers as well as family, friendship and believing in yourself. It’s a great romance that has all the right elements. I might pick up the rest of the series in the future and hear their stories.

Have you read Tempting Lies by Sara Whitney? What did you think of it? Have you read anything from Sara Witney? Let’s Chat!

Author Bio

Sara Whitney writes sassy, sexy contemporary romance novels packed with wit, heat, and heart. A 2019 Romance Writers of America Golden Heart award finalist, Sara worked as a newspaper reporter and film critic before she earned her Ph.D. and landed in academia. She’s a good pinball player, a so-so karaoke singer, and an expert TV opinion-haver.

In a funny twist of fate, Sara’s married to a divorce attorney, and she likes to think that her happily-ever-afters help keep their household in balance. She and her husband live in the Midwest surrounded by books, cats, and half-empty coffee cups. Keep up with Sara by subscribing to her mailing list here.