Monthly Reads: June 2016

Posted July 7, 2016 by Rowena in Features, Giveaways | 8 Comments

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Casee: The summer is always a busy time for me. Between working and kids, it’s surprising that I have time to read at all. I’m not in a slump at all, it’s just finding time to read. Though my list isn’t big for June, I read some very good books.

  1. The Darkest Torment by Gena Showalter | 4.5 out of 5
  2. What We Find by Robyn Carr | 3 out of 5
  3. Dragonbane by Sherrilyn Kenyon | 3.75 out of 5
  4. Born of Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon | 3.5 out of 5
  5. Into the Whirlwind by Kat Martin | 3.5 out of 5
  6. Because of You by Jessica Scott | 3.75 out of 5
  7. Back to You by Jessica Scott | 4.5 out of 5

My favorite book by far was Back to You by Jessica Scott. It was also the most emotional book I’ve read in some time. I loved it. I think the author did a remarkable job of writing what military life is like for families. Of course I could be wrong since I’m not from a military family.

Holly:Things have been crazy for me. I’ve had zero reading time. I did a lot of skimming this month, but I only managed to read 6 books cover-to-cover.

  1. Bittersweet by Sarina Bowen (re-read) | 4/5
  2. Steadfast by Sarina Bowen | 4/5
  3. Diablo Lake: 4. Moonstruck by Lauren Dane | 3/5
  4. Fairytale Come Alive by Kristen Ashley (re-read) | 4/5
  5. Sweet Dreams by Kristen Ashley (re-read) | 4/5
  6. The Return of Eden McCally by Judith Duncan (re-read) | 4/5

My favorite read of the month was Steadfast by Sarina Bowen. I had some problems with it, but oh man did I love Jude. My least favorite read was Diablo Lake: Moonstruck by Lauren Dane. I didn’t dislike it, but I didn’t enjoy it as much as some of the others I read.

Rowena: June was such a busy month for me that I’m surprised I got as much reading in as I did. My nephew came home from serving a two year mission in Nicaragua, my niece got married and then a handful of graduations and promotions kept my family in town and our house loud and just…busy. I’m looking forward to getting back to normal in July.

Here’s what I read in June:

  1. Allegiance of Honor (Psy/Changelings #15) by Nalini Singh | 4.25 out of 5
  2. For the Win (Perfect Play #1) by Sara Rider | 3.5 out of 5
  3. Bittersweet (True North #1) by Sarina Bowen | 4.75 out of 5
  4. Angel’s Blood (Guild Hunters #1) by Nalini Singh | 4.5 out of 5
  5. Smolder (Wildwood #2) by Karen Erickson | 4.25 out of 5
  6. Broken Prince (Royals #2) by Erin Watt | 4.25 out of 5
  7. Stay Until We Break (Hub City #2) by Mercy Brown | 3.5 out of 5
  8. The Billionaire Bachelor (Billionaire Bad Boys #1) by Jessica Lemmon | 4.25 out of 5
  9. Sweet Little Lies (Heartbreaker Bay #1) by Jill Shalvis | 4 out of 5
  10. Steadfast (True North #2) by Sarina Bowen | 4.5 out of 5

My favorite read of the month goes to the True North series by Sarina Bowen. I think I loved Bittersweet just a smidge more than Steadfast but both books were fantastic books. I’m thirsty for more from that group of characters but I can’t help but want a May and Zach pairing. Sorry Zara. You can have Kyle. 🙂 An honorary mention goes to Angels Blood by Nalini Singh though. That book was great too but I loved the Sarina Bowen books a little more.

My least favorite read of the month goes to For the Win by Sara Rider. I ended up liking the book but the characters, the main characters got on my nerves for a lot longer than the other characters I met and read about last month.

This month we’re giving away:

Steadfast by Sarina Bowen (x2)
Back to You by Jessica Scott

If you want to be entered to win, leave a comment on this post telling us what your favorite – and least favorite – reads of the month were. Also, be sure to tell us what book you’re interested in winning. You can put your name in for more than one book, but you’ll only be allowed to win one, so choose wisely.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

So…what was your favorite read of the month? And your least favorite? Use the Rafflcopter Widget to enter! Good luck!


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8 responses to “Monthly Reads: June 2016

  1. CelineB

    My favorite read this month was All I Am by Nicole Helm closely followed by I Wish You Were Mine by Lauren Layne. All I Am has a grumpy veteran hero who rescues animals and makes organic dog treats who I loved! It deals with a lot of issues in a realistic, not too angsty way. Even though I love Layne, I was reluctant to read I Wish You Were Mine since I didn’t like the idea that the hero used to be the heroine’s brother-in-law, but it was handled well and had Layne’s great humor and writing.

    My least favorite was Manwhore by Katy Evans. I know there’s a lot of love for this series, but I just didn’t like either the hero or heroine much. The heroine seemed like a bit of a doormat and the insta-lust with the hero didn’t work for me.

    Other reads I enjoyed:
    Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas- Probably my third favorite book of the month and very close to my first two. I liked it better than the first in the series and loved the way the book dealt with how Feyre had changed after her experiences in the first book.

    Fly Me to the Moon Series by Emma Barry and Genevieve Turner- I loved the setting of the space race and the romance in the first two books (actually book then novella) worked really well for me. The third book, Earth Bound, didn’t work quite as well for me. I probably liked the hero and heroine of Earth Bound the most of all the characters in the previous books, but for some reason the romance didn’t quite work for me. There’s little courtship which makes sense in the book, but may have been why I wasn’t as caught up in their romance.

    Marrying Winterbourne by Lisa Kleypas- Really cute, loved the hero and heroine

    A Common Scandal by Amanda Weaver- Hero and heroine were friends as kids, but hero went off to sea and heroine moved to nicer area when her father made a lot of money. They meet again as adults, but heroine’s sick mother really wants her to marry nobility and the hero is determined to marry to help his shipping business. Obviously, things do not go as planned for them.

    How the Duke was Won by Lenora Bell- Well-written with great chemistry between the hero and heroine, but for those who require historical accuracy this probably isn’t the book for you.

    I would love to win Steadfast by Sarina Bowen. Thanks for the giveaway!

  2. I read 16 books in June. My two favorites were Jane Steele (Lindsay Kaye) and Will’s True Wish (Grace Burrowes.) My least favorite was Noelle Fox’s contemporary romance Blame it on Mistletoe–too cute, too predictable and with a semi-creepy hero who’s in love with the wife of his dead best friend. If I win, I’d like the Jessica Scott book. I enjoy her novels and must have missed that one. Thanks.

  3. erinf1

    My fav read for June was Idol by Kristen Callihan and my least fav was Planet Mail by Kate Pearce ( this I read cuz it was a freebie from long ago and I’m trying to clear the carousel). I’m getting ready to start Bittersweet and I’m very excited! So please count me in for book 2 🙂 thanks for sharing!

  4. I lost my Nora Roberts-inity this month, and it was worth the wait. I’ve been on a binge of her thriller backlist after reading and loving “The Obsession.” I’d say it and “Tribute” have been my favs thus far. Luckily, no bad books in June!

  5. JenM

    Hmm, the Rafflecopter widget doesn’t seem to load for me. Oh well, I guess I’ll check back later and see if it’s there. My favorite books in June were Sidebarred by Emma Chase (such a great end to the series!), Vindicate which was a Loveswept romantic suspense by Beth Yarnall, and The Secrets of Mary Bowser, fantastic historical fiction by Lois Leveen based on the life of a freed slave who was believed to be a spy for the Union during the Civil War. My least favorite book was The Wall of Winnipeg and Me. I know a lot of people have really enjoyed it but it just didn’t work for me on any level. If I win (assuming I’m able to enter) I’d absolutely love a copy of Steadfast.

  6. Kareni

    FYI: I don’t see the Rafflecopter widget.

    I very much enjoyed Sarina Bowen’s Bittersweet which I won here. Thank you! And I agree that Jessica Scott is a wonderful author; I like that her books show both the positive and negative aspects of the armed services.

    I can’t think of a least favorite book.

    I’d love to win Steadfast by Sarina Bowen.

  7. Anne Hardy

    My favorite books of June were two historically accurate romances, set in different time periods, ‘Autumn Bride’ by Anne Gracie and ‘Stone Maiden by Susan King. I had some least favorite books too, but just DNF and deleted. I’d choose `Steadfast’ by Serena Bowen if I won – I’ve enjoyed a number of her other books.

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