On the Shelf: August 2022

I slacked off a little in August when it came to gorging on books. And you know what? I'm okay with that. Sometimes I have to remind myself that this isn't a race or a contest. Reading is what I do to recharge, for enjoyment, and it should never feel like a chore. You know what definitely wasn't a chore? Alisha Rai's next contemporary romance, Partners in Crime. It was hijinks-heavy and delightfully caper-y. Much like lawyer Naveen, the reader thinks they know the set-up when accountant Mira Patel comes to him to settle her aunt's estate—but they will quickly realize they're in for a bonkers ride. I loved it. It reminded me of watching Indian serials with my mom and grandmother. 

Another upcoming contemporary I really enjoyed was Jen DeLuca's Well Traveled. It's always fun running off to her Renaissance Faire. In this fourth book, Lulu Malone does exactly that to escape her high-pressure job. In doing so, she grows closer to guitarist Dex MacLean, the faire circuit's most notorious womanizer. As they move from camp to camp, they learn a lot about moving beyond what people expect of them—and I was with them every step of the way. This is such a charming world, and I can't wait for another visit! 

The Reading Rundown
Trapper Road by Rachel Caine and Carrie Ryan (suspense/thriller)
Well Traveled by Jen DeLuca (out 12/6, contemporary romance)
If She Says Yes by Tasha Harrison (contemporary romance, erotic romance)
Partners in Crime by Alisha Rai (out 10/18, contemporary romance)
Nobody's Princess by Erica Ridley (historical romance)
Lay Me Down in Ivy by Stefanie Simpson (historical romance, BDSM/femdom romance)
Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid (mainstream fiction)

Backlists and Rereads: I reread Messy by Katie Porter, possibly for the second time this year, and I am not one bit sorry about that.

Currently Reading: I'm still working on a reread of Sunshine by Robin McKinley and Hollow Fires by Samira Ahmed. Books keep jumping the line and impeding my progress!

On the TBR/wish list
The Vibrant Years by Sonali Dev (12/1)
What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher
Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn (out 9/6)
The Oleander Sword by Tasha Suri