July 2025 Reading List

Her Dark Monster from the Psych Ward…

Alex is somewhat of a legend in his fraternity and the campus overall. No one really knows what happened in the secret society’s trial that landed him a room at the Montgomery Psychiatric Ward. He has the scars, both mental and physical, to mark his survival. And he hasn’t spoken a word since then… until her.

Mila is his sister’s best friend and roommate. The more time she visits him at Montgomery the more they each become obsessed with the other. She’s the only one he shares his journaled thoughts and his whispered words with. But she has no idea just how dangerous he really can be.

When the time finally comes for him to leave and go back to the fraternity that pushed him there, everything is about to change. He’s been watching and waiting in the shadows, manipulating things behind the scenes.

Meanwhile Mila has been on the hunt for the truth and revenge for what happened years before. But it’s dangerous to dig for secrets in the dark and dangerous mystery that is Sigma Sin. Good thing she has her own fierce protector at her back.

These two were just meant to be, even if they are vastly different. Alex with his dark urges and Mila with her fierceness and love of playing with knives. They had so many sweet moments balanced out with steamy ones. The mystery, suspense, secrets, and twistedness gives this story the whole package. Love it! I want more from this world.

Rules are meant to be broken…

Kodie is a hockey legend that Casey has had a crush on since she was a teenager. But since she’s the daughter of his coach now that he’s been traded to the LA Vipers, she’s off limits to him. When Casey gets the opportunity to get on his radar for just one night while keeping her true identity a secret, she takes the chance. Her father’s neglected ticket for the charity masquerade event is too good to pass up. Afterwards neither of them can get their time together off their minds. And that only intensifies when he realizes who she really is.

They have the perfect chemistry. And his freaking adorable little girl, Sutton, is just too cute. But that also puts an added bit of rule breaking into the mix for them. As they sneak in messages, video chats, and stolen moments together their situationship and connection grows. In the end they have to decide if what they have is worth upsetting their own relationships with Casey’s father and possibly Kodie’s place on the team.

I absolutely loved this little found family. And I loved the side characters that pulled you in that much more. This is a great start to a new series.

So good!

This was my first book from this author, and I absolutely loved it. It was so good. I could really relate to a lot of personal things with Carolina. But her life was so hard and she had so much she was dealing with. She was such a strong character, determined to do whatever it took to make a better life for her and her younger sister. She had a hard time opening up to others around her and dealing with her new group of friends that really cared about her. The relationship dynamics between her and Josh, between Clay and Xander, and then between all of them as a whole was a great balance. But oh that cliff hanger at the end! I can’t wait for the next book. I have to know what their story is going!

AUDIOBOOK UPDATE: The audiobook was a re-read for me and it just made me fall in love with these characters and this story even more. The narrators did such a great job of bringing the story to life. And a duet narration style makes it even better. Of course now I really need book two on audio to go along with it.

Absolutely fantastic debut…

This is the first full book in the Eternal Wars series and I’m absolutely hooked on this world. Honestly I fell in love with it while reading the prequel novella – Unwritten by the Gods – first. Just that novella pulled me in and made me want more. So I was pleasantly surprised with how seamlessly both connected. And yes, that means you can look forward to some character cameos in this one. And yes, there was literal out loud excitement for that.

Leina and her family have spent their lives fighting for every humble scrap they have, living in the shadows and at the mercy of the king’s reign. She has lost family and friends to the kingdom’s soldiers and decrees. Lately she has discovered growing power, strength, and abilities in herself that no one from her area has seen before.

When she stands up for those she loves, she’s convinced of the deadly repercussions she’s sure to face. Instead she finds herself with the warrior, Ryot, being dragged into a whole other world of armies, training, and service to the gods. But a connection to a goddess changes how everyone sees her and changes her future path. Throughout it all she is determined to do what’s best and what’s right for her people and those she left behind no matter what anyone thinks of it or her.

This story, Leina’s journey, and the connections with Ryot and those around her was epic. I absolutely loved it and the rollercoaster of emotions this book took me on. She is a total badass and I just can’t wait to see where this series goes. So freaking good!!!

Adorably in Denial…

Nate’s roommate Jonas has created a dating app as a class project to match up students on the LSU campus. He agrees to help test it out for him and gets surprised when he turns up for the blind date to find Charlie. Both guys are straight and thought they were there to meet up with girls. They made the best of the situation and ended up just grabbing a drink and hanging out. They even continued hanging out as friends off and on because they just clicked.

When Charlie shows up to Nate soccer practice to train with the team for an article, Nate introduces him to his sister Sophie who came to watch. Charlie ends up socializing with Sophie a couple times. Both guys try their hardest to get the other off their minds with so success. They are clearly in denial about how they really feel for each other. Emotions and lust runs high. They can only fight their attraction for so long without giving in.

These two were so freaking cute together. I loved their flirty banter all throughout and I was routing for them to come to their senses from the very first “date.” Their story was so good!

Champagne and Second Chances…

Ryker, along with his brothers, runs La Lune Noire. It’s the dark, sexy, and mysterious resort and casino that calls to those in the criminal underworld. They are the kings of New Orleans. Fierce and loyal, obsessive and protective, elusive and powerful.

Mercy was his closest friend and someone he would do anything and everything to protect. Even if that meant letting her disappear into hiding to keep her safe. Even if it tore him apart to be away from her for three long years. In that time his obsession grows to the point he can’t live without her any long and tracks her down to bring her home where she belongs.

Ryker proposes a contract that means she gets to come back and use her law degree working with his family. But it also means she comes back posing as his future wife to discourage someone who just can’t take a hint. Only this fake relationship is never really fake to him. Ryker is determined to show Mercy what life with the Noires can really be like again. He’s ready to protect them from any lingering threats and give her and her little boy the life they deserve.

I absolutely loved the KORT series and craved seeing more of the Noires. So I was super excited for the start of this new series and was not disappointed. Their story was so good!!! They were clearly meant to be and meant to heal together, not apart. I love this whole world and can’t wait for more.

Mystery and Mythology…

Charlie is barely making it through her junior year, stuck in this limbo state of mourning since losing her twin sister. But when the disappearances of classmates happen and mysterious Nordic symbols are left carved into the trees, she finds herself drawn into the woods to investigate what’s really going on. Another mystery is added to the mix in the form of a handsome stranger, Elias, with a smirk that says he knows more than he’s letting on.

Now there’s more mystery, secrets, and danger than ever before in her life. And she just might be finding more of herself throughout it all. She’s pulled in by Elias’s dark charm and the world she discovers has been hiding right under her nose all along – a world of magical and mythical beings.

This was my first book from Emma and I loved it. There were so many layers to the story and the world she created. There was so much love and friendship, mystery and lies, danger and fantasy. I’m really looking forward to the next book with the shocker we were left with.