Monthly Wrap-Up: July & August

During our Monthly Wrap-Up, we’ll take a look at what has happened around here in the last month. That’ll include what’s happened in my life, what we’ve read, any other posts we may have had, and our most popular Instagram posts..

*We linked this post to the November Monthly Wrap-Up Round-Up Link-Up at Feed Your Fiction Addiction*

 

Jen’s Life:

✮ Last month we went to Southern California to visit family and spend our days at the beach. I was not ready to come back home to the smoke, it was such a wonderful reprieve! We got to surf, boogie board, kayak, look for ocean creatures in the tide-pools and hang out with family and friends. It was a blast and I’m counting down till we get to go back down there in October!
✮ My boys started 5th and 3rd grade and it’s just been a crazy school year. The majority of their recesses have been inside, because of the smoke from Caldor Fire, since it’s so very close to us. Our air quality constantly goes over 500, ash keeps falling and our skies are orange or red, but we’re still safe! Right now we’re hoping and praying that the firefighters can save as much of our area as they can and that everyone stays safe!

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What We Read:

5 Stars:
Grace and Glory (The Harbinger #3) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
The Perfect Play (Southern U O’Brien Brothers #2) by Cookie O’Gorman
Waylaid (True North #8) by Sarina Bowen
OUR VIOLENT ENDS (These Violent Delights #2) by Chloe Gong
All of Us Villains (All of Us Villains #1) by Amanda Foody
Starlight (Speakeasy Taproom #7) by Christine DePetrillo
Stargazer (Speakeasy Taproom #8) by Wendy S. Marcus

4.5 Stars:
Wildflower (Speakeasy Taproom #5) by Mae Wood
Stronghold (Vino & Veritas #14) by Ana Ashley
Forever Starts Now by Stefanie London


4 Stars:
Arsenic and Adobo (Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery #1) by Mia P. Manansala
Showstopper (Vino & Veritas #17) by Regina Kyle
Attraction (Hypothesis #1) by Penny Reid

 

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Our Favorite Books of the Month:
 

Jen’s Choice – Grace and Glory by Jennifer L. Armentrout & The Perfect Play by Cookie O’Gorman
I’m sorry but I refuse to choose between a Paranormal and a Contemporary.  I loved them both with my whole heart!  Grace and Glory was a stunning conclusion to The Harbinger Series!  With tears, laughter, friendship and love splashed across the pages, this book was such a huge win!  If you’re a fan of Jennifer L Armentrout or paranormal stories then you definitely need this series in your life!  And The Perfect Play was an instant favorite!  Cookie’s books always make me laugh and smile, and again this one was such a huge hit!  If you’re looking for a romance story that is swoon worthy and will make you fall in love, then look no further, this is your book!

 

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Arielle’s Choice – Waylaid (True North #8) by Sarina Bowen
I knew I needed a book about Rickie from the first time we laid eyes on him in Heartland. He was such an enigma to me and I knew that if we were to get a glimpse into what him, him that I would consume it in a day (I did).


 
 
 
 

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Chelsea’s Choice – OUR VIOLENT ENDS (These Violent Delights #2) by Chloe Gong
Gong restored my faith in books. She restored my faith in how I can be addicted and pine and hope for a certain path to be taken and for the author to write certain things, it not go my way (I am veryyyy picky with my romance and enemies to lovers and peril), and STILL love how it goes. Not one thing felt forced. Not one moment blemished by rushing and trying to fit everything in. It all felt real, it felt natural. That is the mark of a true author. THAT is how you create forever fans. THAT is how you CRUSH the YA world.

 
 

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Instagram:

We thought it would be fun to share our most popular posts for August. And they were….

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Star-Crossed Book Blog (@starcrossedbookblog)

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Star-Crossed Book Blog (@starcrossedbookblog)

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Star-Crossed Book Blog (@starcrossedbookblog)

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Star-Crossed Book Blog (@starcrossedbookblog)

 

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So this was our July & August….did you read any of the same books that we did? Or share the same favorite book as us? If not, then what was your favorite book? Or have you read any of the books I just added to my TBR?

Here’s hoping you all had a wonderful July & August. And cheers to September being fabulous for all of us!

 

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10 Comments

  1. Lisa Mandina (Lisa Loves Literature)

    I loved Grace and Glory too! I really want to get my hands on Arsenic and Adobo, because it has a dachshund on the cover! lol The beach trip sounds nice. And it’s nice to know you get to go back in a month or so! I don’t foresee any trips for me unless maybe to Branson in December. I just got a copy of Our Violent Ends and can’t wait to read it! So glad to hear it was good! Have a great September!
    Lisa Mandina (Lisa Loves Literature) recently posted…ARC Review: The Bones of Ruin by Sarah RaughleyMy Profile

    • Jen

      Yay for loving Grace and Glory too! I’m always so sad when JLA wraps up a series but I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a spinoff down the road. Thank you so much!

  2. Tanya @ Girl Plus Books

    That’s so scary about the fire, Jen! I hope you all continue to stay safe. I didn’t have time to do a monthly wrap-up for August, but Grace and Glory was my favorite of the month, too! 🙂

    • Jen

      It’s been a terrifying last few years with fire. I’m hoping we get tons of snow and rain this winter and that next year will be a lot better *fingers crossed*! Yesssssss Grace and Glory was such an amazing ending ♥!

  3. Alicia @ A Kernel of Nonsense

    I am so excited for Our Violent Ends, so I am so happy to see you enjoyed it so much. Hope you have a good September!
    Alicia @ A Kernel of Nonsense recently posted…Monthly Wrap-Up: July ’21 & August ’21My Profile

    • Jen

      Thank you so much, here’s hoping you love!

  4. Danielle Hammelef

    Your trip to the ocean sounds fantastic! I live too far to travel to the ocean, but I so enjoy tide pools and the sandy beaches and salty air. I can’t even imagine what it must be like to have wildfires so close and I hope you all stay safe. October is almost here and you have your next trip coming soon for more relief. Your Instagram pics are gorgeous!

    • Jen

      Thank you so much! I hope someday you’re able to travel back to the ocean *fingers crossed*!

  5. Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

    Oh, wow – glad you got a chance to get away and enjoy time at the beach!
    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction recently posted…Bite-Sized Reviews of Violets Are Blue, Rewritten, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, and Closer to NowhereMy Profile

    • Jen

      Thank you so much! It was much needed to see blue skies again!

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