Sophie Reads YA: June 2021

June Summary

11:00

Only Beloved
Series: The Survivors' Club #7
Author: Mary Balogh
May 3rd 2016 by Piatkus
Read: May 26-June 1 2021
My Rating: 3 Stars
Challenge: 2021 Beat the Backlist Challenge

The Viscount Made Me Do It
Series: Clandestine Affairs #2
Author: Diana Quincy
July 27th 2021 by Avon (eARC)
Read: June 1 2021
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2021 New Release Challenge

The Virgin and the Viscount
Series: Lords of Vice #4
Author: Robyn DeHart
April 12th 2021 by Entangled: Scandalous (eARC)
Read: June 2 2021
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2021 New Release Challenge

Of Princes and Promises
Series: St. Rosetta's Academy #2
Author: Sandhya Menon
June 8th 2021 by Hodder & Stoughton (ARC)
Read: June 3 2021
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2021 New Release Challenge

A Duke in Time
Series: The Widow Rules #1
Author: Janna MacGregor
June 29th 2021 by St. Martin's Paperbacks (eARC)
Read: June 4-6 2021
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2021 New Release Challenge

Duke of Honor
Series: Dukes of Distinction #5
Author: Alexa Aston
June 10th 2021 by Dragonblade Publishing (eARC)
Read: June 10 2021
My Rating: 3 Stars
Challenge: 2021 New Release Challenge

Escaping the Duke
Series: The Secret Crusaders #1
Author: Melanie Rose Clarke
June 17th 2021 by Dragonblade Publishing, Inc. (eARC)
Read: June 13 2021
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2021 New Release Challenge

Not Here to Be Liked
Series: None
Author: Michelle Quach
September 16th 2021 by Usborne Publishing (eARC)
Read: June 13 2021
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2021 New Release Challenge

Witchshadow
Series: The Witchlands #4
Author: Susan Dennard
June 24th 2021 by Tor (ARC)
Read: June 10-13 2021
My Rating: 5 Stars
Challenge: 2021 New Release Challenge

Beyond Scandal and Desire
Series: Sins for All Seasons #1
Author: Lorraine Heath
January 30th 2018 by Avon
Read: June 15-16 2021
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2021 Beat the Backlist Challenge

GIRL (In Real Life)
Series: None
Author: Tamsin Winter
July 8th 2021 by Usborne Publishing (eARC)
Read: June 16-17 2021
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2021 New Release Challenge

Never Fall for Your Fiancée
Series: The Merriwell Sisters #1
Author: Virginia Heath
November 9th 2021 by St. Martin's Griffin (eARC)
Read: June 19-20 2021
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2021 New Release Challenge

Bookshop Girl
Series: Bookshop Girl #1
Author: Chloe Coles
June 14th 2018 by Hot Key Books (eARC)
Read: June 20-21 2021
My Rating: 3 Stars
Challenge: 2021 Beat the Backlist Challenge

We Free the Stars
Series: Sands of Arawiya #2
Author: Hafsah Faizal
Published March 18th 2021 by Macmillan Children's Books (eARC)
Read: June 23-26 2021
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2021 New Release Challenge

Sunny Song Will Never Be Famous
Series: None
Author: Suzanne Park
Published June 1st 2021 by Sourcebooks Fire (eARC)
Read: June 27 2021
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2021 New Release Challenge

Wolf By Wolf
Series: Wolf by Wolf #1
Author: Ryan Graudin
Published November 5th 2015 by Orion Children's Books (eARC)
Read: June 26-27 2021
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2021 Beat the Backlist Challenge

Blood for Blood
Series: Wolf by Wolf #2
Author: Ryan Graudin
Published October 6th 2016 by Orion Children's Books (eARC)
Read: June 28-30 2021
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2021 Beat the Backlist Challenge

Challenges Update:
2021 New Release Challenge: 12 (72 total)
2021 Beat the Backlist Challenge: 5 (79 total)

Summary:

June has been a really good month for reading, and with the academic year ending soon, I’m hoping to get a lot of my backlog of NetGalley books read over the summer before the new school year begins.

How have you done this month? Let me know below.

A Duke Worth Fighting For

Waiting On Wednesday: A Duke Worth Fighting For (Isle of Synne #3) by Christina Britton

10:00

2021 New Release challenge

ARC Review: Becoming Mila (The Mila Trilogy #1) by Estelle Maskame

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Becoming Mila
Series: The Mila Trilogy #1
Author: Estelle Maskame
Published June 3rd 2021 by Black and White Publishing

Goodreads Synopsis
Set in Los Angeles and Nashville over a long, hot summer, Becoming Mila is the first book in an irresistibly addictive and exhilarating new trilogy from Estelle Maskame, shimmering with love, friendship, family frictions – and lots of romance.

Sixteen-year-old Mila lives in LA with her mom and A-list actor dad, whose fame constantly thrusts their lives into the media spotlight. But when Mila's antics around town make waves ahead of her dad's next big movie, something needs to be done. So Mila is dispatched 2,000 miles away to Nashville, Tennessee, where she can cool off for the summer with her aunt and grandfather. The perfect solution – right?

Mila's not so sure. She's dreading the idea of a summer away from her friends, not to mention being shipped to the other side of the country. Apprehensive and out-of-sorts when she arrives, it doesn't take long for her to get off on the wrong foot with the mayor’s son, Blake. In spectacular style.

But Blake's no stranger to Mila's issues. He knows exactly what life's like with a parent in the public eye – the pressures and politics, dramas and dynamics ... Perhaps Mila and Blake have far more in common than either of them care to admit.
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.

Growing up as the daughter of an A-list actor has not always been glorious for Mila Harding. She is monitored constantly by her dad's PA, and when she steps a foot out of line, it'll come back to haunt her. After inadvertently getting drunk at a press event - luckily without the press realising - and falling ill, her dad decides that 16 year old Mila should spend the summer at his family's horse ranch in Tennessee. There is next to nothing to do, and anyway, her aunt has been instructed to keep Mila at home. But, her aunt remembers what it's like to be a teen, and allows Mila the freedom to reconnect with old friends, and even make some new ones. However, her first few meetings with Blake, the son of the local mayor, have not been great. But, there's an attraction there that both try to fight, but knowing what it's like to be in the public eye, and the dynamic of always being scrutinised, is more connecting than they expect, and it's hard to stay away. But, will family history come back to haunt them, and will the try reason behind Mila's exile to Nashville also be revealed?

I remember reading Estelle's debut series, DIMILY, a few years ago, and enjoying them, so being given the opportunity to review her newest series, I couldn't help but jump at the chance. All of the characters, but especially Mila, were amazing to read, and so well written and characterised. Mila's life may be one of privilege, but with the glitz and the glamour come a lot of rules, and she has barely any time with her parents to be herself, and not having to be on all of the time. Everything she does is watched, and she can't make any mistakes, otherwise it could harm her dad's career. Being shipped off to Nashville, where she hasn't been since she was really small, is more like an exile, especially when her social media access has been revoked too. But, she reconnects with old friends, and finds a way to have fun, even if she isn't exactly welcomed with open arms. I will admit, that at first, I wasn't too invested in Mila and Blake's relationship, but the chemistry was there, and soon I couldn't wait for the scenes they had together. The parental figures - barring Mila's aunt - were all definitely lacking the caring gene, but the friendships in the book were worth it, as was the romance. The ending of the book was a definitely cliff hanger, and I can't wait for Trusting Blake. All in all, an enjoyable new series from a wonderful YA author.

Dates Read:
May 18-20, 2021

Rating
4 Stars

2020 New Release challenge

ARC Review: Always the Widow (Never the Bride #9) by Emily E.K. Murdoch

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Always the Widow
Series: Never the Bride #9
Author: Emily E.K. Murdoch
Published December 31st 2020 by Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.

Goodreads Synopsis
Always the widow and never again the bride—her one chance of happiness lost...

Once Elizabeth Howard was widowed, that's all anyone saw her as—but it does come with some perks. She's well-respected, of course, and no one is surprised when a dark gentleman leaves the house in the middle of the night. But that's not all he's left, and now, the thirty-four year old widow has a secret to keep for nine months.

Jacob Beauvale thought nothing of his romantic entanglement with the widow Howard last year, but his return to town with a fiancée brings a shock in the shape of a small child with his grey eyes. Gossip starts to fly, as Jacob ignores his intended to pursue a woman with a child—and Elizabeth knows the facts can never be known. He's determined to have the truth. She's sworn all along that it was her late husband's child. Knowledge is in the balance, and neither will give up their ground.

Will the truth of that night be more dangerous if known—and can Elizabeth and Jacob talk long enough to keep their hands off each other?
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

Having seen her brother-in-law, the Earl of Lenskeyn, marry for love, Mrs Elizabeth Howard laments her own marriage. After being married for over 5 years, with no children, to the wicked Elmore, she finds happiness in the arms of one of her husband's gambling partners, and then is left widowed. Alone, but still under the thumb of her busybody mother-in-law, Elizabeth is shocked to discover she isn't in fact barren after all, and is pregnant with Jacob's child. For Jacob Beauvale, Lord Westray, he can't forget the night he spent with Elizabeth, but a codicil in his parents will means he have to marry soon, and Elizabeth isn't a suitable partner. When they reconnect after Elizabeth rejoins society, Jacob is adamant that even though he is marrying someone else, he will be in the child's life, and in Elizabeth's by extension. They both deserve happiness once and for all, but will they be able to be together?

When I read Always the Matchmaker, I had a feeling that Elizabeth's story would be the next one. She was a character who intrigued me in our first meeting, and learning more about her horrid marriage to Elmore, and getting to know her in more detail, I was overjoyed to read her story. She was so kind and caring, and had been alone for so long, that Jacob was just perfect for her. Both Elizabeth and Jacob were kindred spirits, and though the book was a very quick read, less than 200 pages, we really saw their romance play out across the pages. The whole aspect of baby Beau was perfect, as was seeing the family grow into a proper unit. Yeah, there were some unnecessary moments of angst, but all in all, a really good addition to the Never the Bride series.

Dates Read:
December 21-22, 2020

Rating
3 Stars

june

Stacking the Shelves: June 26th 2021

10:00

2021 Beat the Backlist challenge

Review: Only a Kiss (The Survivors' Club #6) by Mary Balogh

10:00

Only a Kiss
Series: The Survivors' Club #6
Author: Mary Balogh
Published September 1st 2015 by Piatkus

Goodreads Synopsis
The Survivors’ Club: Six men and one woman, injured in the Napoleonic Wars, their friendships forged in steel and loyalty. But for one, her trials are not over....

Since witnessing the death of her husband during the wars, Imogen, Lady Barclay, has secluded herself in the confines of Hardford Hall, their home in Cornwall. The new owner has failed to take up his inheritance, and Imogen desperately hopes he will never come to disturb her fragile peace.

Percival Hayes, Earl of Hardford, has no interest in the wilds of Cornwall, but when he impulsively decides to pay a visit to his estate there, he is shocked to discover that it is not the ruined heap he had expected. He is equally shocked to find the beautiful widow of his predecessor’s son living there.

Soon Imogen awakens in Percy a passion he has never thought himself capable of feeling. But can he save her from her misery and reawaken her soul? And what will it mean for him if he succeeds?
Goodreads

Review
Imogen, Lady Barclay, may be the only female member of the Survivors' Club, but she has suffered too. Her husband was tortured and killed in front of her, and being captured by the French, before being released, cause her to need to convalesce at the home of the Duke of Stanbrook in Cornwall. Now in recovery, she has returned to her home, living with her elderly aunt-in-law, when the new Earl of Hardford - a title that should've been her husband's, arrives. Percy Hayes' side of the family never expected they would inherit the earldom, and he has no real interest in the Cornish estate, or a need for the revenue from it, but after turning 30, and becoming bored with his lot in life, he decides to venture down for a visit. He doesn't expect to find a beautiful young widow, nor an elderly aunt and companion, and a veritable menagerie of strays either. Will Percy and Imogen be able to co-exist in peace, or will the chemistry brewing between them become too much.

I was looking forward to Imogen's book, because, if I'm being honest, I've never grown to her in the previous books. She's always been very aloof, and not too approachable - at least in my opinion - and I knew that part of that was due to what she faced during the war. She was never physically hurt during the capture in Portugal, but the mental torture, and ever present threat to herself, and hearing and seeing what her husband was put through, made it almost worse in the long run. She's also wracked with guilt for surviving when her husband did not, and though she is happy her friends are all starting to find love and happiness, she has no intention of looking for it herself. Meeting Percy, they don't hit it off right away, but it's soon clear there is something there, so she allows herself the fun of having some enjoyment, at least until he leaves and go back to London. She tries to guard her heart, but soon it's lost. Percy is the same too. He's very much a city boy, who is bored in Cornwall, but likes to get under Imogen's skin. And when he hears about smuggling may be occurring on his estate, and he soon gets to know the area, the people, he finds the place in life he's been looking for. I will admit, there were some moments that I was a little bored - and parts dragged and were unnecessary - but all in all, it was a solid book, and there's only one more left in the series.

Dates Read:
May 23-25, 2021

Rating
3 Stars

2018 Contemporary Romance Challenge

Review: Stay Sweet by Siobhan Vivian

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Stay Sweet
Series: None
Author: Siobhan Vivian
Published April 24th 2018 by Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers

Goodreads Synopsis
A summer read about first love, feminism, and ice cream.

Summer in Sand Lake isn’t complete without a trip to Meade Creamery—the local ice cream stand founded in 1944 by Molly Meade who started making ice cream to cheer up her lovesick girlfriends while all the boys were away at war. Since then, the stand has been owned and managed exclusively by local girls, who inevitably become the best of friends. Seventeen-year-old Amelia and her best friend Cate have worked at the stand every summer for the past three years, and Amelia is “Head Girl” at the stand this summer. When Molly passes away before Amelia even has her first day in charge, Amelia isn’t sure that the stand can go on. That is, until Molly’s grandnephew Grady arrives and asks Amelia to stay on to help continue the business…but Grady’s got some changes in mind…
Goodreads

Review
I've heard so much about this author ever since I joined the book blogging community, but for some reason had never read one of her books. When this book was announced, I decided I would try it, and I'm definitely glad that I did. In Stay Sweet, Amelia is now the 'Head Girl' at the local ice cream parlour. That means she is in charge for the summer, and she's been waiting for this opportunity since she started working there. She's ready to take charge, but when the owner, Molly, dies, taking the secret recipes with her, Amelia doesn't know if the store will stay afloat. When Grady, Molly's relative, arrives, Amelia and he work together to try to recreate the recipes, and use one of Molly's old diaries, from the time when she founded the store, to discover more about just why the Creamery was such a local institution.

This book was a mix of cutesy and mystery. Amelia sometimes made some tough decisions, which impacted on her friendships, but the love she had for the store, and also for Molly, showed throughout the book. I did like Amelia, and her interactions with Grady, but the most important part of the book was the diary entries about Molly's young life. Seeing how she overcame heartbreak and difficulty through her own love of ice cream and her own self worth. She was so strong to be living during the Second World War and dealing with the loss of family members, missing her sweetheart, and struggling with what was happening in the world. As important as Amelia's story was, Molly's, to me, was much more worthwhile, and I could've happily read a book that was just about her.

Dates Read:

December 28, 2018

Rating
4 Stars

Bombshell

Waiting On Wednesday: Bombshell (Hell's Belles #1) by Sarah MacLean

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2021 New Release challenge

ARC Review: Witchshadow (The Witchlands #4) by Susan Dennard

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Witchshadow
Series: The Witchlands #4
Author: Susan Dennard
Published June 24th 2021 by Tor

Goodreads Synopsis
Susan Dennard's New York Times bestselling, young adult epic fantasy Witchlands series continues with Witchshadow, the story of the Threadwitch Iseult.

War has come to the Witchlands . . . and nothing will be the same again.

Iseult has found her heartsister Safi at last, but their reunion is brief. For Iseult to stay alive, she must flee Cartorra while Safi remains. And though Iseult has plans to save her friend, they will require her to summon magic more dangerous than anything she has ever faced before.

Meanwhile, the Bloodwitch Aeduan is beset by forces he cannot understand. And Vivia—rightful queen of Nubrevna—finds herself without a crown or home.

As villains from legend reawaken across the Witchlands, only the mythical Cahr Awen can stop the gathering war. Iseult could embrace this power and heal the land, but first she must choose on which side of the shadows her destiny will lie.
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.

After reuniting and restoring one of the Origin Well's, Safi and Iseult have a plan to save Safi's uncle and free all of the hellbards from the Emperor of Cartorra. But, when the plan goes wrong, and Iseult has to flee, using her newfound Voidwitch powers to protect both herself, and her young charge, Owl. But forces are at work to stop her saving those she cares about, and are even controlling those once thought uncontrollable. As Vivia and Vaness fight to reclaim their lost thrones, the proximity and shared anger towards the Dalmotti Doge ignites and they find themselves closer than ever. And for Stix, her newly uncovered past as a Paladin needs exploring further, and the history of the Witchlands is slowly revealing.

Now, one thing I am going to say is that I haven't read Sightwitch, and honestly, I think I needed to in order to understand a lot of what was revealed in Witchshadow, especially Stix's chapters. And, I probably could've done with a recap of the other books in the series, but I think I managed to pick my way through the book without it.

My, this was a beast of a book, full of twists and turns, interleaving events and happenings that completely blindsided the reader. As Iseult's tale, we learnt a lot more about her, including how her powers worked, and who her father was (finally!), and I really enjoyed her chapters. I was gutted she was separated from Safi again, and from Aeduan, but she really grew into her own, and she is such a different person from the one we met all that time ago in Truthwitch. Then we have more information about the paladins, and the truth behind Eridysi's Lament that has been quoted so much in the series. I felt like some of the revelations I had already guessed at, but some shocked me, and I can't wait to see that aspect of the series being explored further. Now that the Cahr Awen are known, they should be all powerful, but some of the events that occur really early on are shocking, and I loved seeing that side of Safi, and also learning more about Leopold and his past betrayal, seeing how it all fits into the bigger picture, and answering some of the many questions we have. I can't wait for the next book, and will definitely be having a re-read (including Sightwitch) beforehand!

Dates Read:
June 10-13, 2021

Rating
5 Stars

2020 New Release challenge

ARC Review: Always the Matchmaker (Never the Bride #8) by Emily E.K. Murdoch

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Always the Matchmaker
Series: Never the Bride #8
Author: Emily E.K. Murdoch
Published November 26th 2020 by Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.

Goodreads Synopsis
Always the matchmaker and never the bride - even when she's found her perfect partner…

Miss Theodosia Ashbrooke does not believe there is anything greater than matching the perfect pair - and she's become rather expert in it. Never mind that she's never found the missing half to her own soul and body.

Perhaps that's not her lot in life, even at the age of eight and twenty.

Her own failure is Albemarle Howard, Earl of Lenskeyn. He's rude, he's arrogant, he's overly confident, and nothing Theodosia can do makes a difference. Albemarle has found his match though: and he is sure it is Theodosia.

He's determined to have her. She's not ready to accept defeat just yet. When you've always been right it's impossible to accept that you're wrong.

Can Theodosia step away from her matchmaker mindset for one minute and see the man in front of her - or will she lose him forever?
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

Always the Matchmaker is the latest instalment in the Never the Bride series, and this time around we see matchmaker supremo, Miss Theodosia Ashbrooke as she meets her hardest client yet, and might just lose her heart in the process. She's got a number of successes under the belt, but when the Dowager Countess of Lenskeyn hires her to find a wife for her 39 year old son, the current Earl, she knows she's in for a struggle. Albemarle Howard is rude, arrogant, and has no intention to marry any time soon, no matter how old he is, but there's something about the fiesty matchmaker that sets him on edge, and if he has to marry, the only person he can imagine being with is Theodosia herself. Will he be able to convince her that he's sincere, and can Theodosia get over the heartbreak of her past, to have the happiness she deserves?

I've enjoyed each of the books in this series I've read, and this one was no different. Both Theodosia and Albemarle were likeable characters - Theodosia more than Albemarle - and I felt like their relationship progressed well. With the way they met, it was a frosty start, but their own humour, and personalities, won the day, and there were many lovable moments too. I did feel as if the angst and inevitable conflict was slightly obvious, and it detracted from the enjoyable a bit, but all in all, I enjoyed the book. I'm so happy Theodosia has had her own love story, after helping so many others.

Dates Read:
November 24-26, 2020

Rating
3 Stars