Hello everyone,

Laura and I thought it might be a good idea to talk more about books; or more than we already do, anyway 😉 So we’re starting a new monthly section in which we’ll tell you a bit about our favourite reads from the last month and the ones we’re eagerly anticipating reading in the next one. We hope you like it and come back each month to know a little more about us!

Let’s start with our favourites books from the past month*.

Annie:
For me that was Speakeasy by Suzey Ingold, although it was not an easy decision, but in the end this one won because it sucked me in. I loved how the 1920s came to life on page and I really couldn’t stop reading until I had read the last
page. Ms. Ingolds description was so vibrant and simply beautiful. And I loved to see the emotional bond between both characters grow and evolve. Highly recommended!

“In the height of the Prohibition era, recent Yale graduate Heath Johnson falls for Art, the proprietor of a unique speakeasy tucked away beneath the streets of Manhattan where men are free to explore their sexuality. When Art’s sanctuary is raided, Heath is forced to choose between love and the structured life his parents planned for him.”

Links: Goodreads / Interlude Press

Laura:
My favourite read from last month was Empty Net by Avon Gale. I’ve loved her Scoring Chances series so far, all the books have made me smile and feel warm, but this one was truly something else. She did something incredible with the enemies-to-lovers trope and brought to life two characters that I won’t forget easily. Give it a chance, and you won’t regret it.

Spartanburg Spitfires’ goalie and captain Isaac Drake ended last season with an unexpected trip to the playoffs. He’s found a home and family with his coach and mentor, Misha Samarin, and he’s looking forward to making a serious run for the Kelly Cup. But things take an interesting turn when Isaac’s archnemesis, Laurent St. Savoy, is traded to the Spitfires. After Laurent’s despicable behavior in the playoffs last year, Isaac wants nothing to do with him – no matter how gorgeous he is. But that changes when Isaac discovers the reason for Laurent’s attitude.

Laurent St. Savoy grew up the only son of a legendary NHL goalie in a household rife with abuse, constantly treated like a disappointment on and off the ice. When a desperate attempt to escape his father’s tyranny sends him to the Spitfires, the last thing Laurent wants is to make friends. But there’s something about Isaac Drake that he can’t resist, and Laurent has an opportunity to explore his sexuality for the first time, but he’s cracking under end-of-the season pressures. When facing the playoffs and a rivalry turned personal vendetta, Isaac’s not sure he’s enough to hold Laurent—or their relationship—together.

Links: Goodreads / Dreamspinner Press

You can also read Annie’s review here.

*favourites from the past month refers to the books we read in August, but it doesn’t mean they were released in August.

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Now let’s take a look at the books we’re most looking forward to.

Annie:
There’s A LOT of books I can’t wait to read. For example Where We Left Off by Roan Parrish and In Vogue by Lucia Laurent. But the book I’m most excited about is Defenseless by AJ Rose. The blurb sounds like this will be one hell of a ride, an amazing and emotional story that will probably break my heart along the way before everything is put back together? At least that’s what I hope.
In any way I’m really excited for this story. And can I just point out the amazing cover art of this? So gorgeous!

Kyle Decker knew dating Jesse McGovern would change his life. Young and in love, and with the Supreme Court ruling in favor of marriage equality, the world is theirs to conquer.

But their victorious Pride celebration ends in a savage attack, brutally demonstrating they’re far from equal. Instead of wedding planning, Jesse and Kyle face an arduous recovery and a shattered sense of their place in the world, their once-promising future suddenly something to survive.

While Jesse struggles with a permanent injury and its emotional aftermath, Kyle’s single-minded focus on Jesse’s recovery is the only thing keeping his demons at bay…for now. What was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of love is now full of lies and resentment.

With their dreams tattered and forever changed, trusting anyone—even each other—is daunting. So how can they have faith in twelve strangers on a jury? They’ve already learned the hard way it only takes a moment to become truly defenseless.

Links: Goodreads / Amazon

Laura:
I was jumping up and down when I saw Where We Left Off was up for preorder on Dreamspinner’s website. I’ve adored the previous books in this series and I can’t wait to get my hands on this one. Will and Leo story promises to be a great ride, and I’m looking forward to it. And have you see that cover? It’s gorgeous!

Leo Ware may be young, but he knows what he wants. And what he wants is Will Highland. Snarky, sophisticated, fiercely opinionated Will Highland, who burst into Leo’s unremarkable life like a supernova… and then was gone just as quickly.

For the past miserable year, Leo hasn’t been able to stop thinking about the powerful connection he and Will shared. So, when Leo moves to New York for college, he sweeps back into Will’s life, hopeful that they can pick up where they left off. What begins as a unique friendship soon burns with chemistry they can’t deny… though Will certainly tries.

But Leo longs for more than friendship and hot sex. A romantic to his core, Leo wants passion, love, commitment—everything Will isn’t interested in giving. Will thinks romance is a cheesy fairy tale and love is overrated. He likes his space and he’s happy with things just the way they are, thank you very much. Or is he? Because as he and Leo get more and more tangled up in each other’s lives, Will begins to act like maybe love is something he could feel after all.

 Links: Goodreads / Dreamspinner Press

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That’s all from us! What about you? Which was your favourite August read? Which release is circled in your calendar? Tell us about them in the comments!

monthly review AJ Rose Anticipated Reads Avon Gale Defenseless Empty Net Favourites Picks from the Bottomless List Roan Parrish September Releases Speakeasy Suzey Ingold Where We Left Off