WHAT HAPPENED IN JULY
- Much time was spent on redecorating in July. I'm happy to report the master bedroom is *almost* done.
- The Husband and I went to a concert and I was in 80's/90's heaven. So much fun. A couple weeks later we went to a baseball game. Slightly less fun but I managed to make it to the 4th or 5th inning. :)
- I spent a lot of time complaining about the heat. But I enjoyed all the rain and thunderstorms.
- We lost a friend in July. Grace (Rebel Mommy Book Blog) was an active member in the book blogging community and will be missed. Gone much too soon.
- Had a health scare with The Husband and spent a day at the hospital having numerous tests run. Thankfully all is well but I spent the next few days not wanting to let that precious man out of my sight.
WHAT I READ IN JULY
I read/listened to seven books in July which is about my average, maybe a little less. No 5-star ratings in July but still plenty of good reads!
Fumbled by Alexa Martin | 4.25/5 stars
Getting Played* by Emma Chase | 4/5 stars
Raze by Roan Parrish | 3.75/5 stars
Good Boy* by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy | 4.25/5 stars
Say You Still Love Me by K.A. Tucker | 4.25/5 stars
Awakening Autumn by Lora Richardson | 4/5 stars
Hope and Other Punch Lines by Julie Buxbaum | 4.5/5 stars
* denotes audiobook
FORMATS
Total Read: 7
2 physical books
3 e-books
2 audio books
3 ARCs
TOP OF THE HEAP
Fumbled | Say You Still Love Me
For the sheer enjoyment factor, these two were total stand-outs. Fumbled cemented Alexa Martin as a new favorite author. And Say You Still Love Me was a perfect example of why Tucker is a long-time favorite.
THE ONE THAT PACKED AN EMOTIONAL PUNCH
Hope and Other Punch Lines
A story that relies so heavily on 9/11 for its plot can either go very wrong or very right. Thankfully Buxbaum handled this one carefully and provided a heartbreakingly wonderful story of loss that was perfectly balanced with humor and hope.
THE QUIET ONE
Awakening Autumn
I've raved about Lora Richardson for a couple years now. Y'all know how I feel about her YA contemporary novels. Awakening Autumn was another example of her gifted story telling. It's a quiet story with a lot of heart.
THE RE-READ WITH ALL THE LAUGHS
Good Boy
After doing yet another re-listen of both Him and Us in June, I decided to continue on and re-listen to Good Boy in July. Blake Riley is simply priceless and one of my favorite fictional characters. Sure he comes across at times as an overgrown man-child, but he's also completely selfless and all heart. His Blake-isms kept me laughing through the whole book.
WHAT HAPPENED ON THE BLOG
I had 15 blog posts in June which included 3 reviews: Raze, Say You Still Love Me, and Awakening Autumn (all are linked above). I also shared my favorite unforgettable characters and my top auto-buy authors.
WHAT I'M CURRENTLY READING
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE READ IN JULY?
You read some really good books last month! I just adores Say You Still Love Me too. Hope you have a wonderful weekend.
ReplyDeleteSay You Still Love Me was such a great story! Tucker is one that never disappoints. Hope you have a great weekend too! :)
DeleteHappy to hear that you and the husband are happy and healthy!
ReplyDeleteI hope we get to see the redecorated room!!
Thanks Lady!
DeleteAnd, holy cow, if I ever finish the @#$&! room I will definitely take pics! LOL Still in search of some artwork and then I think I can call it DONE! :)
Ah July was a mixed one for you! I hope August is great <3 Still so sad about Grace, I have no words - but I'm so glad that the blogging community has shared their memories.
ReplyDeleteIt's wonderful to see so many people sharing their thoughts about Grace. And it's no surprise that she was so well-loved.
DeleteHope we both have a great reading month in August!
Just finished Say You Still Love Me. Loved it! Cannot wait to read The Last Post. Carlino is a favorite. She always brings on the emotions.
ReplyDeleteWasn't Say You Still Love Me such a great, swoony read? :) I'm really enjoying The Last Post so far. And you're so right - Carlino definitely knows how to engage all the emotions!
DeleteI can relate on complaining about the heat. We're only in the high 80s, low 90s but have no air conditioning, so it gets pretty bad in the house some days!
ReplyDeleteSo glad to hear everything is okay with your husband... and I still have no words about Grace.
No air conditioning? What is this craziness you speak of? LOL Our A/C is on virtually all the time from March/April right on thru November and sometimes even into December. The joys of Florida. :)
DeleteI'm glad your husband is okay! Those scares are never fun. I'm loving Say You Still Love Me!
ReplyDeleteGenesis @ Whispering Chapters
Thanks Gen! It was a scary day or so but he's good. So thankful! I'm so, so glad you're loving Say You Still Love Me! That makes me so happy! :)
DeleteI'm so glad everything turned out ok with your husband and it looks like you had an awesome reading month!
ReplyDeleteI've been going to our summer concert series int eh park every week and it's all 80's tribute bands. It's cracking me up hearing my music but it's also tons of fun!
Karen @ For What It's Worth
Thanks Karen! It was definitely a relief when his tests came back as they should be!
DeleteThat concert series sounds like so much fun! Total nostalgia. :)
So glad to hear your husband is ok! That must have been scary. ((HUGS))
ReplyDeleteI just finished Say You Still Love Me yesterday, and I liked it a lot. I was such a fan of the flashbacks. Summer and camp and first love. It was wonderful!
Thanks Sam. When he woke me up at 2 AM and said he needed to go to the hospital it was hard not to panic! It was a long night/day at the hospital but every test was good. Very, very relieved!
DeleteI'm so, so glad you enjoyed Say You Still Love Me! I loved the flashbacks, too. It was so easy to get caught up in their summer romance, even though there were times I cringed at their antics. But it was realistic since teenagers are convinced they are invincible... and nothing bad will ever happen. Until it does.
Glad your husband is okay! That stuff can be scary. And the concert sounds fun- I love the older music :)
ReplyDeleteAnd so true about Grace- it's just unbelievable, so young.
Hope your weekend is awesome.
Thanks Greg! Hope you have a great weekend, too. :)
DeleteI read Hope and Other Punch Lines this month, too! I agree, 9/11 in books can either be really good or really bad. I thought the author was very sensitive and even informative.
ReplyDeleteGrace was such a lovely member of our community, and I miss her.
Buxbaum wrote about 9/11 so well... and like you said, was very sensitive.
DeleteGrace was such a positive force in the community. She'll be so missed.
Relieved to hear your husband is doing okay! I don't blame you for wanting to keep him in your sight. Also, ahhh I can't wait to get to Fumbled. It's going to be a blast, I can feel it!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jessica! I'm so thankful it ended up being nothing too serious and wasn't at all heart related (which was our first thought). Such a total relief.
DeleteI hope you'll love Fumbled! I'm already so excited for the next book that comes out in December! :)
I’m glad The Husband is okay! I’ve been complaining about the heat, too. Sometimes the only thing I enjoy about my job is the air conditioning. I hope you’re having a good August!
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
Thank you, Aj!!
DeleteOMG can you imagine a job with no AC? I couldn't do it. I know that for a fact. I feel for those people that have to work outdoors in the extreme heat. Construction workers, landscapers, etc... I don't know how they do it. Ugh.
The heat was driving me batty the past few months. It got so bad that I grew a weird patch on my face even with sunscreen. I had to go see my dermatologist the minute I returned home to get some medications for it.
ReplyDeleteI'm still so very sad about Grace. She is in my thoughts every day. It hurts that we won't see her anymore around the community and I can't stop thinking about her babies. :( It truly is a terrible loss.
Oh that's such a relief to hear about your husband! It must have been such a scare for you. Happy to hear that Say You Still Love Me was a good read for you. I plan on reading that this week. I loved Fumbled so I'm very glad you liked it.
Oh my goodness, that's crazy about the skin issue. Hopefully it's just cosmetic and nothing serious?!
DeleteI think we'll all be feeling the loss of Grace for a while to come. And it's so hard to think of her husband and children. :(
The husband did give me quite a scare! Shortness of breath at 2 AM... gah! Thankfully it ended up not being heart-related which was an incredible relief!
I hope you'll love Say You Still Love Me, Nick! :)
Oh, so glad that the hubby is okay! I'm also complaining about the heat. I'd love a thunderstorm! Yes, the loss of Grace still hurts my heart!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed Hope and Other Punchlines, and I need to get to Tucker's Say You Still Love Me.
We actually had a little break from the heat this week (88 instead of 98... I'll take it LOL) but it's back to the norm next week. Blah.
DeleteI hope you'll love Say You Still Love Me when you get around to it!
Sorry to hear your husband had a scare! I'm glad he's okay. I don't blame you for not wanting to let him out of your sight for a few days, I'd be the same!
ReplyDeleteYou read some good books this month, if the lowest rating is 3.75 that's a reading win! :)
Thanks Nicci (and sorry I'm responding so late - I'm playing catch up today)!
DeleteA nice reading month! I think Lingus might have been my favorite read for July.
ReplyDeleteI don't hear many people mention Lingus. I really need to try something from Zapata soon! Everyone raves about her!
DeleteI have a copy of the audio of Good Boy and hope to get to it soon. I am so glad that your husband is okay but it sounds like a scary ordeal. I hope you have a great August!
ReplyDeleteI've read a physical copy and listened to the audio of Good Boy. Both are so good! I hope you enjoy it when you get to it, Carole!
DeleteThat's quite the month of reading! I'm glad to see your husband's health scare turned out to be okay.
ReplyDeleteThank so much, Ethan.
DeleteI'm so happy you enjoyed Hope and Other Punch Lines! I thought it was excellent. A few of the others are on my TBR, so I'll get to them eventually... ;)
ReplyDeleteLindsi @ Do You Dog-ear? 💬
Hope and Other Punch Lines really cemented my love for Julie Buxbaum!
DeleteLooks like you had a solid reading month. Your post reminds me that I still need to pick up a copy of Hope and Other Punch Lines. I really want to read that one.
ReplyDeleteI really think you'll love it, Suzanne!
Delete"I spent the next few days not wanting to let that precious man out of my sight" - aww, this is so precious. *sigh I'll be able to read Say You Still Love Me a few days after its release but I'm so glad a lot of you are enjoying this book.
ReplyDeleteI can't help it... he's my sweetie. :) I can't wait to read your thoughts on Say You Still Love Me! (You may have already posted your review but I'm still playing catch up.)
DeleteI'm glad your husband is okay - health scares are not fun. Losing Grace definitely put a damper on July. Other than that, it seems like you had a pretty good month. :)
ReplyDeleteLauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
That was certainly the low point of the month... for many of us. :(
Delete