Hello everyone and welcome to another recap of whatever the heck I'm reading.

Once again, I've made great strides in knocking books off of my TBR. Some are winners and some... not so much. But I'm enjoying the experience!

August was another great reading month for me. I've been able to read so much more this summer than I have for any other part of the year. I can only hope I can keep this up.

It's back-to-school prep time for me and my girls and being a single mother, trying to do it all, isn't easy. But it sure is fun! I'm not the only one who loves back-to-school shopping, right?!

I do hope that August treated you as well (or even better) as it has treated me and I wish you all the best for September!!

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Playing for Keeps by R.L. Mathewson

Done with being the world's biggest pushover, Haley decides that things are going to change starting with the aggravating neighbor who has too much charm and not enough restraint. What she didn't expect was to be sucked into his world, but Haley has a game plan and she won't let herself forget just what the bad boy next door is capable of.

The last thing Jason expected was for his little shy neighbor to go Rambo on him over some ruined flowers. After he decides to take her under his wing he can't help but that notice that she fits very nicely in his life. Now the only thing left is to convince her that this is anything but a game.



Reading this story again was like reading it for the first time. I loved it years ago and I've realized I love it even more now!

Haley and Jason were amazing together. Hilarious, sweet, sexy, and fun, they were a joy to read.

He was a neighbor from Hell before he became the best friend Haley could ever ask for. And then... he became so much more. He was reluctant to love, but when he did, he did it well. I loved the way these characters loved each other.


The drama Haley created was expected. I didn't like it but it did give me a heck of a lot of laughs. Jason was just as stubborn as she was and knew they belonged together. And when he gave up the fight and she took up the battle, I swooned. I love when the both characters can make me into a sappy mess.

All jokes about the food and Jason's never-ending stomach aside, this story was super sexy and sweet. I've already read so much of this series and I can't wait to read them again!


New York Times Bestselling author, R.L. Mathewson was born in Massachusetts. She’s known for her humor, quick wit and ability to write relatable characters. She currently has several paranormal and contemporary romance series published including the Neighbor from Hell series.

Growing up, R.L. Mathewson was a painfully shy bookworm. After high school she attended college, worked as a bellhop, fast food cook, and a museum worker until she decided to take an EMT course. Working as an EMT helped her get over her shyness as well as left her with some fond memories and some rather disturbing ones that from time to time show up in one of her books.

Today, R.L. Mathewson is the single mother of two children that keep her on her toes. She has a bit of a romance novel addiction as well as a major hot chocolate addiction and on a perfect day, she combines the two.

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Kissed by a Dark Prince by Felicity Heaton

Olivia thinks it’s her lucky night when a dangerously handsome unconscious fae ends up on her inspection table. He’s her chance to redeem herself with her employer, the demon-hunting organisation, Archangel. But when the tall, dark and deadly immortal warrior awakes, she gets much more than she bargained for…

Attacked by his enemy in the elf kingdom, the last thing Prince Loren expects when he comes around is a beautiful angel watching over him and medical technology of the mortal realm. Hazy from his injuries, all he can focus on is the pulse ticking in her throat and the sweet allure of her blood.

One single bite reveals she is his eternal mate, triggering a bond between them that will leave him weakened until it is complete… or broken, and pulling Olivia into the crossfire of his ancient feud.

To protect his people and his mate from the machinations of a madman, Loren must risk everything by working with Olivia at Archangel to find a way to break the bond blossoming between them.

But will Loren be strong enough to place duty before desire and give up the one thing he has waited millennia for and craves above all others—his eternal mate? And will Olivia be able to resist the incredible heat that burns between them and the temptation of her dark prince’s kiss?



As a first read from this author, I'd say it was a win.
I went in with zero expectations and enjoyed myself.
Loren was a delicious dark hero, who was a bit broken and a lot intriguing.
I wasn't a big fan of Olivia's until near the end. I just couldn't get past her referring to Loren repeatedly as a 'specimen'. Like he was beneath her and all humans in some way. He's a powerful supernatural being. It felt so wrong. At least my feelings warmed up!
I didn't like that she yelled for Loren when he was in the middle of a life-and-death battle, but not everyone has the best sense in dangerous situations.
She really should have known better though.
I was most entertained by the idea of the war between brothers. Learning that Vail wasn't who he seemed to be made me almost burst with sympathy and now I want to get to his book!
I find it incredibly hard to resist a broken hero.

Well-written and memorable, I'll definitely be trying another book from this series.


Felicity Heaton is a New York Times, USA Today and international best-selling author writing passionate paranormal romance books. In her books she creates detailed worlds, twisting plots, mind-blowing action, intense emotion and heart-stopping romances with leading men that vary from dark deadly vampires to sexy shape-shifters and wicked werewolves, to sinful angels and hot demons!

If you're a fan of paranormal romance authors Lara Adrian, J R Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Gena Showalter and Christine Feehan then you will enjoy her books too.

If you love your angels a little dark and wicked, the best-selling Her Angel series is for you. If you like strong, powerful, and dark vampires then try the Vampires Realm series or any of her stand-alone vampire romance books. If you’re looking for vampire romances that are sinful, passionate and erotic then try the best-selling Vampire Erotic Theatre series. Or if you prefer huge detailed worlds filled with hot-blooded alpha males in every species, from elves to demons to dragons to shifters and angels, then take a look at the new Eternal Mates series.

Visit http://www.felicityheaton.com for more information

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Truth of Dragons by Aja James

Every lore of every clan, across time and space, dreamed of dragons. Did you ever wonder why?

Erebu and Sorin fought through countless lifetimes of trials and tribulations to find one another again. They even conquered death.

But Ere’s rebirth requires a price: he must answer the Celestial Summons when it comes and faithfully complete each task the Jade Emperor sets before him.

On the bright side, he doesn’t have to perform miracles alone. Sorin will be right there with him. On the not so bright side, his Fate, the Fate of all dragon Kind, and by extension, the Universal Balance, depend on the successful execution of each quest.

No pressure.



Know what you get when you pit a liger against a Dark Hunter?

One of the hottest romance novels I have ever read!

Zai was a reluctant Hunter for the Dark Queen. Born with no name, no parents, no one to care for him, he had to make the most of what he had. His skills made him the best and yet he didn't quite fit in.

Being different was what led him to make the most important decision of his life—betray all he's ever known, throw caution to the wind, and stand up for justice.


Honorable to a fault, when Zai realized that Sin was an imprisoned slave of the new Queen, he was willing to enter the lion's den, facing certain death, to free him. And Ben... sweet Ben was along for the ride. He knew that Zai was relevant to his latest mission. But how?

Long-time enemies, Sin and Zai were never meant to be. Or were they?

Sin had vowed to kill Zai. He was blind with rage, swearing vengeance. And Zai knew that all of that hate was well deserved. This man probably hated himself more than Sin ever could.


The hate was so strong until it wasn't.

What do you do when the person you're supposed to hate the most becomes the most important person in your life?

What happens when your greatest enemy becomes your greatest love?


I loved Ben.
Obviously.
I've loved him from the first moment he crossed the page.
Wise, precocious, sweet and funny. He reminded me of Ere, but he was wholly himself.
And the man he's turning into is only more intriguing.
And my heart hurts a little bit for whatever's in store for him.
But I'm not even really worried.
Aja James always delivers!

But this story was really about Sin and Zai. What they shared, from the bitterest battles to their all-consuming passion, was incredible to watch.
And so freaking explosive.
No one writes MM quite like this author.
The love, the understanding, the wonder of this couple, it had this beautiful synchronicity.
It was magical.

There was a savagery deep within that he struggled to leash. A need for violence, to inflict the maximum amount of pain and damage upon his prey and enemies. An unquenchable thirst and hunger for blood.

But then, Anya came. She fulfilled him in ways he'd never imagined. She changed his world view.

She taught him that it was the duty of those stronger to protect the weak. She calmed the Beast within, though she never tried to tame him. With Anya at his side, his strength and power began to attract other animal spirits, and thus they formed a pride.

But ever since he'd chosen his Mate, and especially since she started carrying his young, all he wanted to do was protect his own.

His flesh and blood. His family. They embodied his heart and soul.

He feared for them every moment of every day.

Best-selling author, Aja James, just completed the Pure/ Dark Ones paranormal-fantasy romance series in 2020. If you want your heart battered, bruised, shattered and skewered, then put back together in the most glorious ways, check out the series below. Every couple gets an HEA, but they fight like hell for it on the way.

Aja is now working on her new series, Dragon Tails, because dragons are her favorite shifters of all!

Check out Aja's expanded distribution of the Pure/ Dark Ones series on Google, Apple, Kobo and Barnes & Noble Books.

Visit https://aja-james.blog for more information!