I'm a huge fan of retellings, so I went on a binge and here are the results. Hopefully you find something to fall in love with!

The Beast (Monsters & Beauties #1) by Jenika Snow

A Beauty and the Beast retelling ~ What if the Beast that Belle fell in love with never turned into the handsome prince? Well, you get this incredibly filthy retelling of a monster who is determined to claim his beauty. I was very entertained by the naughty bits, how these characters maneuvered their different parts to mesh so well, and the happy ending that every kind monster deserves.

---

Rapunzel & Robin Hood (Twisting Fairytales #1) by Jessica Erin

A twisted and screwed retelling ~ I’m a huge fan of retellings and this one had a unique premise. Imagine if Rapunzel ended up with a different guy. And instead of being in the tower because of the witch, Mother Gothel, but because of another source. This mashup was totally unexpected and it worked. It was a bit corny, super sweet, and even during the dark moments, so much light shone through that I didn’t really feel the angst. This was a very easy read and I think I’m in for some very cute surprises as the series continues.

---

Queen of the Night by Elizabeth Muse

A Little Red Riding Hood retelling ~ I must admit, although I found myself frustrated with this story, I couldn’t stop reading. This author sure can write and grab my attention. The heroine, Francis, was a petulant brat for most of this book, but by the end I came to finally like her. As for Charlie, he was a seemingly unkillable werewolf enforcer for the mob, who was also a Beta and a consigliere. See that right there? That confusion… that was me! I didn’t really understand the motives for most of this story except for how Francis’s brother died, and that scene was A LOT. Probably the best scene out of the book because it was all there. I didn’t have to question anything because it was all laid out for me. As for the rest of the book, I’m still unclear how Francis’s dad is the Alpha, yet she’s human and she also rules them all. But clearly I enjoyed this story well enough.

Hello hello and welcome to another recap!

Can I tell you how surprised I am by not only how much I read in June, but how many of those books were worthy of all the stars??? Why can't every month be like this? I'm hoping and praying that July is just as grand!!

June happened to be a busy month for me and my children. Two of them graduated, one from middle school and one from high school, and we celebrate every milestone around here. It was a big deal LOL. I'm so excited for the new chapters my daughters will face. One will be starting high school, one will be starting university, and one will be finishing her last year of university. I'm so proud of my girls!!

Okay so back to all the books. My June reading was as follows...




There were a lot of standouts this month. I was pleasantly surprised by how many books I fell in love with.


The other books I read and would recommend were:





Once again, I bought nothing. Aside from the few books I borrowed from the Kindle Unlimited library, I've kept my wallet closed. I hope I can continue this trend for the foreseeable future.

---

"You Keep making me hate you," I whisper.
"Good." A muscle flexes in his temple.
"That will make everything easier."
~ Louisa & Lir

A Court of Sugar and Spice by Rebecca F. Kenney

With their inheritance restricted until their marriage, sisters Clara and Louisa, both in their twenties, must live with their godfather Drosselmeyer. One night, an accident brings to life one of the strange wooden dolls in Drosselmeyer's mansion. The Nutcracker doll is a cursed Fae prince, and he pleads for the sisters' help. During the ensuing journey into the Fae realm, Clara encounters the handsome Sugarplum Faerie, and he promises her the chance to enact all her forbidden fantasies. Meanwhile Louisa and the Nutcracker Prince battle and bicker over everything, despite the growing attraction between them. And to make matters worse, the entire Seelie kingdom is under threat of conquest by the Rat King, ruler of the Dread Court.

Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon

When I picked this book up, I had no idea what I was in for… AND I LOVED IT!! This author has found a new fan in me and after reading A Court of Sugar and Spice, I’ll never look at the Nutcracker or the Sugar Plum Faerie the same!

I walked into a world of magic, with mythical creatures, dangerous terrain, and tons of adventure. The author captured the feeling and wonder of this world perfectly. I could easily imagine the impossible trees and valleys, Fin’s infamous candies and bombs, the beauty that surrounded these characters.

Sorry for being vague, but I truly believe that the plot of this story needs to be experienced rather than told. It’s sexy, fun, charming, and full of love. There happens to be another book involving Clara and Fin and I’m excited to read it!


Rebecca F. Kenney writes spicy fantasy romance about sassy, strong women and hot guys with tragic backstories... pirates, warlords, demons, Fae, and royals. Her two main series are the "Dark Rulers" series (standalones in a shared world) and the Immortal Warriors series (connected books). She has also written a zombie-apocalypse/vampire-romance trilogy (book 1 is "The Vampires Will Save You"). Other books include a demon romance duet, a dark mermaid fantasy duology, and other spicy retellings.

Rebecca lives in upstate South Carolina with her handsome blue-eyed husband and two smart, energetic kids.

For updates and information about upcoming novels, follow on TikTok @rebeccafkenney, Instagram @rebeccafkenneybooks, and on Twitter @RebeccaFKenney1.

"You may not have been all my firsts, Savannah Shaw,
but you've always been my forever.
You've always been my one.
My only.

Between Never and Forever by Brit Benson

She was the first rule I ever broke.
She’ll be the last.

In the beginning, there was Savannah Shaw.
Teasing me with a mischievous, merciless grin by day.
Crawling through my window with tear-stained cheeks by night.

I was ordered to avoid her.
Lectured on her misdeeds.
Forbidden from seeing her.
But my need to protect her was innate.
So natural I never questioned it.
So visceral I couldn’t fight it.

She was the first rule I ever broke, and it’s why I lost her the first time.

Now, out of nowhere, there is Sav Loveless.
World famous frontwoman for The Hometown Heartless,
Hollywood’s newest up-and-coming film star,
and my daughter’s idol.

Her reputation for trouble precedes her,
but the celebrity who sets foot in my small town is no longer a girl in need of protection.
She’s a woman who has saved herself,
and this time, it’s my life that’s falling apart.

Maintaining the distance between us is imperative,
but everything about her pulls at every part of me.
My need to touch her clouds my logic.
My need to have her, to own her, to love her.

She’ll be the last rule I ever break,
but this time, it will be to keep her.

Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon

I've found a new author to follow and I blame Jessica @Chatterbooksbookblog. If it weren't for her spectacular review, I wouldn't be typing this up.

Savannah and Levi grew up together. Both of their lives were full of torment and they were each other's only true comfort. They were friends and loved each other before they even knew what love was. And when circumstances separated them, that love continued to beat within their hearts, not allowing anyone else to touch it.

Fastforward and now Levi's a widower with a child and Savannah is an infamous rock star. Circumstances once again forced them into each other's orbit and after a thankfully brief time of miscommunication, these two found their way back to each other. There were plenty of hurdles and obstacles that they had to leap and punch their way through, but it was incredibly easy to root for these two.

I loved that the author didn't shy away from sharing Savannah's addiction and how it was wrecking not only her life, but those around her. I felt proud and hopeful of the woman she was becoming and that's all because of this author's writing. It was easy to be a little imp on this character's shoulder, egging her on, supporting her, shouting NO, and celebrating every one of her triumphs. I couldn't be more pleased with the way this story played out.

I'm not even going to get started on how much I loved the dynamic between Levi, Boss and Savannah. Throw in Sharon and the love growing between all of these characters, including the members of the band... so sweet!

So yeah, I'll be keeping a keen eye on this author's releases because if they're anything like this one, they're going to be amazing.



Brit Benson writes real, relatable romance novels that depict epic love. She likes outspoken, independent heroines, dirty-talking, love-struck heroes, and plots that tug on every emotion.

Brit would almost always rather be reading or writing. When she’s not dreaming up her next swoony book boyfriend and fierce book bestie, she’s getting lost in someone else’s fictional world. When she’s not doing that, she’s probably marathoning a Netflix series or wandering aimlessly up and down the aisles in Homegoods, sniffing candles and touching things she’ll never buy.

Brit currently resides somewhere near the Blue Ridge Parkway with her husband, daughters, dogs, and an obscene number of books.

Visit https://authorbritbenson.com for more information