Hello Everyone :)
I usually find myself lamenting during my monthly wrap ups about how sad I am to see the month go. However, June is always my least favorite month of the year as work is crazy busy, and I end up working so many extra hours that I often find it challenging to keep up around the house and with my blog. So I am very happy that it is finally July, and that things can go back to normal around here.
I was lucky enough to get to read quite a few books in June though, and today I'd like to share my wrap up with you of all the books I finished in June 2018.
I will be posting in the order in which I finished them, not in a best to worst or worst to best order.
The Chemist by Stephenie Meyer:
This one was a tad out of my comfort zone, but surprisingly I ended up really enjoying it. The action and suspense kept me on the edge of my seat for most of the story, and I always enjoy Stephenie's writing style. I gave this one four of five stars and it was definitely a pleasant surprise this month.
A Kiss In The Dark by Gina Ciocca:
Unfortunately, next was one of the worst books I read the entire month. I'd really enjoyed Gina's novel, Last Year's Mistake, and I was looking forward to reading this one. However, it was not the swoon worthy, young adult romance I was hoping for, and is instead one big over the top dramatic fest from start to finish. Most of the book centers around issues that happened at last year's homecoming dance, and I just wasn't interested. I found the characters really lackluster, the "big secrets" hinted at were extremely obvious to figure out, and it felt like nothing much happened during the 300 plus pages. Plus I was not a fan of the uncalled language, teen drinking, and sexual content that all seemed unnecessary for a Young Adult novel. I gave this one two of out five stars, and I will definitely not be recommending to anyone in the future.
The Cherished Quilt by Amy Clipston:
I've fallen head over heels for Amy Clipston's Amish Heirloom series, and the third installment might just be my absolute favorite. Emily and Christopher were both characters I really felt for, and their beautiful friendship was portrayed perfectly. I gave this amazing story five out of five stars, and you can read my full review here.
A Royal Christmas Wedding by Rachel Hauck:
I finished the Royal Wedding series in June, and this last installment was perfect. I loved that it was Avery's story, I loved the sweet way the romance comes together for Avery and Colin, and I adored one last look into the lives of so many of my favorite characters. It was the perfect ending to the series, and I gave it four out of five stars. I definitely know this series will be a reread for me sometime in the future, as it's a new favorite.
Three Weddings and a Bar Mitzvah by Melody Carlson:
I also finished the 86 Bloomberg Place series in June, and I really enjoyed this last installment. There was such growth shown by all four girls, and it ended in a way I was really happy with. I rated it four out of five stars, and you can read my full review here.
Not Cinderella's Type by Jenni James:
My friend had recommended that I watch the TV movie based off this book, and of course once I did I couldn't wait to read the book. I ended up reading the Wattpad version, and I really enjoyed it. I liked how it was one of the first Cinderella type retellings I've read that tackled the issue of emotional abuse, and let's face it, Bryant was pretty much the most perfect book boyfriend ever. I plan to read the published version of this really soon, and then I'll do a whole review of it. In the meantime though, I rated the Wattpad version four out of five stars, and I'd highly recommend it to anyone looking for a clean young adult contemporary.
By Your Side by Candace Calvert:
I'll be posting a full review of this one soon, but I really enjoyed the first book in Candace Calvert's Crisis Team series. It took awhile for Macy to grow on me, but I adored Fletcher right from the start, and I gave this one four out of five stars.
Not If I Save You First by Ally Carter:
This is honestly such a hard one to have to talk about. I adore Ally Carter. I list both the Gallagher Girls and Heist Society as some of my favorite series of all time, and I also really did love Embassy Row. This new standalone release by her was one of my most anticipated 2018 releases, and I'm sad to say that after I finished it I was slightly underwhelmed. I didn't feel either of the main character's were interesting enough to keep me too invested in the story, and I didn't think the writing seemed the same its been in other Ally Carter novels. All in all, I did enjoy it for the most part, but it failed to live up to the amazing series she's written in the past, and I only ended up rating it three out of five stars.
Ryan Hunter by Anna Katmore:
I decided to reread one of my all time favorite contemporaries in June as well. I love this adorable romance read by Anna Katmore, and I've lost count of how many times I've actually read it. I really adore Ryan and Liza together, and this one always get a five star rating from me. I only wish it were cleaner, as the language and teen drinking is definitely not something I enjoy reading about, but it is still an amazing story.
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen:
June 2018 was finally the month where I read a second Jane Austen novel, and I loved it. Mr. Tinley is such a flirt, and his relationship with Catherine was adorable. This satirical take on gothic novels was such an enjoyable read, and I gave it five out of five stars. I definitely plan on tackling a third Jane Austen novel really soon.
Deluge by Lisa T Bergen:
Last month I finished The River of Time series, and it was sad to see a series that meant so much to me come to an end. While I did have some issues with this series overall, and I talked about all of them in my full review here, I really did love it, and I gave this last installment a rating of four out of five stars.
Step By Step by Candace Calvert:
Taylor and Seth's story was definitely a reading highlight for me from last month. I appreciated the way that Candace Calvert tackled the subject of grief so realistically and authentically, and I gave this second novel in the Crisis Team series a four out of five star rating.
Roadside Assistance by Amy Clipston:
If you've read my blog posts from the last few weeks, you would remember that I've really fallen in love with Amy Clipston's Amish Heirloom series recently, and I was excited to give her YA contemporary release a chance. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this one as much I enjoy her Amish titles, as I had a hard time relating to the main character. I gave this one a three out of five star rating, and I'll be posting a full review on it hopefully next week.
Royals by Rachel Hawkins:
I feel like a lot of the books on my most anticipated releases list for this year ending up being mildly disappointing, and unfortunately this one was another case of this. I figured combining an author I've really enjoyed in the past with one of my all time favorite tropes, and I'd be a happy camper. However, I really couldn't get into this one as it seemed really implausible, predictable, and often even boring at times, and even the moments I really did enjoy weren't enough to make me love it. I gave it a three out of five star rating, and I enjoyed the cute, fluffy read that it was, but it's not one I see myself rereading in the future, and I don't foresee myself ever reading the sequel when it comes out.
Dead Drift by Dani Pettrey:
I was so thankful to have had the opportunity to advance read this one last month, and it was amazing! Dani Pettrey is one of my favorites, and this spine tingling thriller reminded me once again why that is. I gave this one five out of five stars, and I definitely think it's the best installment in The Chesapeake Valor series. You can read my full review here.
The Kissing Booth by Beth Reekles:
While I didn't really enjoy the Netflix adaptation of this one, I still wanted to give the book a chance, especially since I have enjoyed a lot of the books I've read from Wattpad. However, I really really disliked this one. The writing was quite juvenile, the relationship came across as abusive and toxic, and it felt like it was written as a fantasy about how teenagers wish their parent's would behave. For instance, I would hope that any father finding out that his daughter was getting a hotel room on prom night at sixteen with her older boyfriend would not be nonchalant about it, and take the do what you need to do attitude. As well, so many times in the book the parent's didn't care about curfews, or under age drinking, or their kids having sex, and it was really both off putting and unbelievable to me. I only gave it two out of five stars, and I most definitely do not recommend this one.
Maybe It's You by Candace Calvert:
The last installment in the Crisis Team series was probably the most emotional and turbulent yet, and I really enjoyed seeing Sloane's whole story be finally brought to the surface. As well, as a cat mom, I loved Marty and the many adorable moments he features in throughout the story. This is also probably the darkest one in the trilogy, but as always, Candace Calvert does not hold back on the faith element, and I always feel my own faith getting a positive boost after reading one of her novels. I gave this one four out of five stars, and I definitely hope to read more from this author in the future.
The Hope of Azure Springs by Rachel Fordham:
I really enjoyed this refreshing, historical fiction novel by debut author Rachel Fordham. You could tell right from the start how much she'd poured her heart and soul into it, and I loved how the emphasis was on true beauty radiating from the inside. I reviewed this one fully on my blog last week here, and I gave it four out of five stars.
Love and Luck by Jenna Evans Welch:
I'd really adored Love and Gelato, so I was really looking forward to reading this companion release. However, even though I enjoyed certain parts of it, it wasn't really what I was expecting, and I found it to be slightly disappointing. I'll be reviewing it fully on my blog in the next week or so, but in the meantime I rated it three out of five stars.
Love Finds You In Charm Ohio by Annalisa Daughety:
I'd watched the movie adapted from this book a few week's ago, and even though I hadn't ended up loving it, I still really wanted to read the book. I'm glad I did as I enjoyed it so much more than I did the movie, and I especially loved Emma and Kelly's characters, and the growth the reader sees them go through together. I'll be posting a comparison review of the movie and the back in the next few weeks, and in the meantime I'll just say that I rated the book four out of five stars.
and the last book I finished in June 2018 was.......
The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond by Jaime Jo Wright:
This was another novel that I'd been highly anticipating reading, and let me tell you that it definitely did not disappoint. It was eerie, hard to put down, and a fantastic follow up release to The House on Foster Hill. I reviewed this one fully on my blog here, and I rated it four out of five stars.
I'm blessed to have read so many amazing titles last month, and I'm hopeful that this month will be the same. I hope you all join me again on Friday where I'll be sharing my July TBR list with you all!
Thanks so much for reading guys, and have a great rest of your day :)
This is not a sponsored post. All thoughts and opinions are my own. The photos do not belong to me, and all rights to the respective owners.
I usually find myself lamenting during my monthly wrap ups about how sad I am to see the month go. However, June is always my least favorite month of the year as work is crazy busy, and I end up working so many extra hours that I often find it challenging to keep up around the house and with my blog. So I am very happy that it is finally July, and that things can go back to normal around here.
I was lucky enough to get to read quite a few books in June though, and today I'd like to share my wrap up with you of all the books I finished in June 2018.
I will be posting in the order in which I finished them, not in a best to worst or worst to best order.
This one was a tad out of my comfort zone, but surprisingly I ended up really enjoying it. The action and suspense kept me on the edge of my seat for most of the story, and I always enjoy Stephenie's writing style. I gave this one four of five stars and it was definitely a pleasant surprise this month.
A Kiss In The Dark by Gina Ciocca:
Unfortunately, next was one of the worst books I read the entire month. I'd really enjoyed Gina's novel, Last Year's Mistake, and I was looking forward to reading this one. However, it was not the swoon worthy, young adult romance I was hoping for, and is instead one big over the top dramatic fest from start to finish. Most of the book centers around issues that happened at last year's homecoming dance, and I just wasn't interested. I found the characters really lackluster, the "big secrets" hinted at were extremely obvious to figure out, and it felt like nothing much happened during the 300 plus pages. Plus I was not a fan of the uncalled language, teen drinking, and sexual content that all seemed unnecessary for a Young Adult novel. I gave this one two of out five stars, and I will definitely not be recommending to anyone in the future.
The Cherished Quilt by Amy Clipston:
I've fallen head over heels for Amy Clipston's Amish Heirloom series, and the third installment might just be my absolute favorite. Emily and Christopher were both characters I really felt for, and their beautiful friendship was portrayed perfectly. I gave this amazing story five out of five stars, and you can read my full review here.
A Royal Christmas Wedding by Rachel Hauck:
I finished the Royal Wedding series in June, and this last installment was perfect. I loved that it was Avery's story, I loved the sweet way the romance comes together for Avery and Colin, and I adored one last look into the lives of so many of my favorite characters. It was the perfect ending to the series, and I gave it four out of five stars. I definitely know this series will be a reread for me sometime in the future, as it's a new favorite.
Three Weddings and a Bar Mitzvah by Melody Carlson:
I also finished the 86 Bloomberg Place series in June, and I really enjoyed this last installment. There was such growth shown by all four girls, and it ended in a way I was really happy with. I rated it four out of five stars, and you can read my full review here.
Not Cinderella's Type by Jenni James:
My friend had recommended that I watch the TV movie based off this book, and of course once I did I couldn't wait to read the book. I ended up reading the Wattpad version, and I really enjoyed it. I liked how it was one of the first Cinderella type retellings I've read that tackled the issue of emotional abuse, and let's face it, Bryant was pretty much the most perfect book boyfriend ever. I plan to read the published version of this really soon, and then I'll do a whole review of it. In the meantime though, I rated the Wattpad version four out of five stars, and I'd highly recommend it to anyone looking for a clean young adult contemporary.
By Your Side by Candace Calvert:
I'll be posting a full review of this one soon, but I really enjoyed the first book in Candace Calvert's Crisis Team series. It took awhile for Macy to grow on me, but I adored Fletcher right from the start, and I gave this one four out of five stars.
Not If I Save You First by Ally Carter:
This is honestly such a hard one to have to talk about. I adore Ally Carter. I list both the Gallagher Girls and Heist Society as some of my favorite series of all time, and I also really did love Embassy Row. This new standalone release by her was one of my most anticipated 2018 releases, and I'm sad to say that after I finished it I was slightly underwhelmed. I didn't feel either of the main character's were interesting enough to keep me too invested in the story, and I didn't think the writing seemed the same its been in other Ally Carter novels. All in all, I did enjoy it for the most part, but it failed to live up to the amazing series she's written in the past, and I only ended up rating it three out of five stars.
Ryan Hunter by Anna Katmore:
I decided to reread one of my all time favorite contemporaries in June as well. I love this adorable romance read by Anna Katmore, and I've lost count of how many times I've actually read it. I really adore Ryan and Liza together, and this one always get a five star rating from me. I only wish it were cleaner, as the language and teen drinking is definitely not something I enjoy reading about, but it is still an amazing story.
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen:
June 2018 was finally the month where I read a second Jane Austen novel, and I loved it. Mr. Tinley is such a flirt, and his relationship with Catherine was adorable. This satirical take on gothic novels was such an enjoyable read, and I gave it five out of five stars. I definitely plan on tackling a third Jane Austen novel really soon.
Deluge by Lisa T Bergen:
Last month I finished The River of Time series, and it was sad to see a series that meant so much to me come to an end. While I did have some issues with this series overall, and I talked about all of them in my full review here, I really did love it, and I gave this last installment a rating of four out of five stars.
Step By Step by Candace Calvert:
Taylor and Seth's story was definitely a reading highlight for me from last month. I appreciated the way that Candace Calvert tackled the subject of grief so realistically and authentically, and I gave this second novel in the Crisis Team series a four out of five star rating.
Roadside Assistance by Amy Clipston:
If you've read my blog posts from the last few weeks, you would remember that I've really fallen in love with Amy Clipston's Amish Heirloom series recently, and I was excited to give her YA contemporary release a chance. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this one as much I enjoy her Amish titles, as I had a hard time relating to the main character. I gave this one a three out of five star rating, and I'll be posting a full review on it hopefully next week.
Royals by Rachel Hawkins:
I feel like a lot of the books on my most anticipated releases list for this year ending up being mildly disappointing, and unfortunately this one was another case of this. I figured combining an author I've really enjoyed in the past with one of my all time favorite tropes, and I'd be a happy camper. However, I really couldn't get into this one as it seemed really implausible, predictable, and often even boring at times, and even the moments I really did enjoy weren't enough to make me love it. I gave it a three out of five star rating, and I enjoyed the cute, fluffy read that it was, but it's not one I see myself rereading in the future, and I don't foresee myself ever reading the sequel when it comes out.
Dead Drift by Dani Pettrey:
I was so thankful to have had the opportunity to advance read this one last month, and it was amazing! Dani Pettrey is one of my favorites, and this spine tingling thriller reminded me once again why that is. I gave this one five out of five stars, and I definitely think it's the best installment in The Chesapeake Valor series. You can read my full review here.
The Kissing Booth by Beth Reekles:
While I didn't really enjoy the Netflix adaptation of this one, I still wanted to give the book a chance, especially since I have enjoyed a lot of the books I've read from Wattpad. However, I really really disliked this one. The writing was quite juvenile, the relationship came across as abusive and toxic, and it felt like it was written as a fantasy about how teenagers wish their parent's would behave. For instance, I would hope that any father finding out that his daughter was getting a hotel room on prom night at sixteen with her older boyfriend would not be nonchalant about it, and take the do what you need to do attitude. As well, so many times in the book the parent's didn't care about curfews, or under age drinking, or their kids having sex, and it was really both off putting and unbelievable to me. I only gave it two out of five stars, and I most definitely do not recommend this one.
Maybe It's You by Candace Calvert:
The last installment in the Crisis Team series was probably the most emotional and turbulent yet, and I really enjoyed seeing Sloane's whole story be finally brought to the surface. As well, as a cat mom, I loved Marty and the many adorable moments he features in throughout the story. This is also probably the darkest one in the trilogy, but as always, Candace Calvert does not hold back on the faith element, and I always feel my own faith getting a positive boost after reading one of her novels. I gave this one four out of five stars, and I definitely hope to read more from this author in the future.
The Hope of Azure Springs by Rachel Fordham:
I really enjoyed this refreshing, historical fiction novel by debut author Rachel Fordham. You could tell right from the start how much she'd poured her heart and soul into it, and I loved how the emphasis was on true beauty radiating from the inside. I reviewed this one fully on my blog last week here, and I gave it four out of five stars.
Love and Luck by Jenna Evans Welch:
I'd really adored Love and Gelato, so I was really looking forward to reading this companion release. However, even though I enjoyed certain parts of it, it wasn't really what I was expecting, and I found it to be slightly disappointing. I'll be reviewing it fully on my blog in the next week or so, but in the meantime I rated it three out of five stars.
Love Finds You In Charm Ohio by Annalisa Daughety:
I'd watched the movie adapted from this book a few week's ago, and even though I hadn't ended up loving it, I still really wanted to read the book. I'm glad I did as I enjoyed it so much more than I did the movie, and I especially loved Emma and Kelly's characters, and the growth the reader sees them go through together. I'll be posting a comparison review of the movie and the back in the next few weeks, and in the meantime I'll just say that I rated the book four out of five stars.
and the last book I finished in June 2018 was.......
The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond by Jaime Jo Wright:
This was another novel that I'd been highly anticipating reading, and let me tell you that it definitely did not disappoint. It was eerie, hard to put down, and a fantastic follow up release to The House on Foster Hill. I reviewed this one fully on my blog here, and I rated it four out of five stars.
I'm blessed to have read so many amazing titles last month, and I'm hopeful that this month will be the same. I hope you all join me again on Friday where I'll be sharing my July TBR list with you all!
Thanks so much for reading guys, and have a great rest of your day :)
This is not a sponsored post. All thoughts and opinions are my own. The photos do not belong to me, and all rights to the respective owners.
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