July Wrap-Up

Hello lovelies and Happy first day of August. So July was a really good reading month for me considering I was extremely busy with work. I was able to read 8 books and ended up really enjoying them all. I try to pick books I know I’ll like, so for the most part it’s very rare for me DNF or dislike a book. I do take a break from a book/genre every now and then. Not because I don’t like it or anything, but I’m kind of a mood reader. Anyway, without further ado, here are the books I got through in July!

Click the link to view my reviews. All others are rated and will have reviews soon. 

 

Kissing Max Holden by Katy Upperman 

★★★★★ – DELICIOUS, SWOONY AND SO FULL OF HEART!

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The plot is so well written, realistic and deeply moving. Katy Upperman does such a great job delivering an unforgettable heart-wrenching story about first love, heartbreak, tragedy, forgiveness and hope. I seriously can’t recommend this book enough.

Starstruck by S.E. Anderson 

★★★★ 3/4 – QUIRKY, OUTRAGEOUS AND FUN

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S.E. Anderson, without a doubt, knows what she’s doing. She lures you in with an intriguing premise, sends you on a fabulous out of this world adventure, messes with your mind just a little (okay…. maybe a lot), and then zoom… she leaves you with so many unanswered questions you’ll be ridiculously anxious for the next installment. Starstruck is definitely one of my favorite reads this summer.

Lake of Destiny (Celtic Legend #1) by Martina Boone

★★★★★ – SWEET, MAGICAL, AND HEARTWARMING

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Martina Boone’s gorgeous storytelling enthralled me from start to finish. The plot is captivating, whimsical, and full of surprises that kept me turning the pages. It made me smile like a dork, swoon a wee bit crazy and tug at my heart.

Click’d by Tamara Ireland Stone

★★★★ – Had fun with this one. Review to come.

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Lucky in Love by Kasie West

★★★★ 1/2 – FUN, SWEET AND SUPER CUTE

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While not my favorite (that spot goes to P.S. I Like You and On the Fence), this book is fun and as cute as can be that I had such a difficult time putting it down. There’s humor, a bit of mystery, some drama, great friendships, lessons to be learned and a swoony romance. I love Kasie West’s writing style and her stories always make me feel so darn happy.

 

The Third Kiss (Love’s Mortal Coil #1)

★★★★ 1/2 – Fun Swoony Romance with a Paranormal Twist

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The writing in this book is so creative, vibrant and compelling. The characters are lovable and relatable. The drama, romance, mystery, plot twists, and the humor made this story wickedly awesome. I’m so excited for the sequel!

The Tiger’s Watch (Ashes of Gold #1) by Julia Ember

★★★★★ – LOVED this book! Review to come.

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Hickville Redemption (Hickville High #3) by Mary Karlik 

★★★★ 1/2 – Really enjoyed reading this. Review to come

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So how did you do with your July TBR? What were some of your favorite books? Let me know in the comments down below!

Sincerely Karen Jo

Review

Lucky in Love

Kasie West

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4.5★ – Fun, Sweet and Super Cute
Published by Scholastic July 25, 2017
Genre(s): Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: Hardcover 333
Buy Amazon, Barnes and Noble
Maddie doesn’t believe in luck. She’s all about hard work and planning ahead. But one night, on a whim, she buys a lottery ticket. And then, to her astonishment —
She wins!
In a flash, Maddie’s life is unrecognizable. No more stressing about college scholarships. Suddenly, she’s talking about renting a yacht. And being in the spotlight at school is fun… until rumors start flying, and random people ask her for loans. Now, Maddie isn’t sure who she can trust.
Except for Seth Nguyen, her funny, charming coworker at the local zoo. Seth doesn’t seem aware of Maddie’s big news. And, for some reason, she doesn’t want to tell him. But what will happen if he learns her secret?

If you’ve been following me for a while, then you know how much I love cutesy YA contemporary books. Kasie West happens to write REALLY GOOD ones. Thanks to both Uppercasebox and Owlcrate, I received P.S. I Like You last year and ever since then, I’ve been in love with West’s gorgeous writing (Also, I’m so not complaining about having two copies). Her books are a bit predictable, but they are ALWAYS entertaining, adorable, and absolutely swoony. Every single time I finish one of her books, I have this silly smile on my face that just won’t go away and Lucky in Love most definitely did just that.

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I love Maddie and I think she’s such a great MC.  She’s smart, hard-working, down to earth, and very caring. When she wins the lottery, everyone suddenly wants to be her best friend. Some really amazing things happen and some not so great. Through the most exciting highs and the heartbreaking lows, Maddie handles her situation pretty well. She acts way better than how I imagine most teenagers would have with that much money. I admire that she tries to see the good in others and gives them the benefit of the doubt. While she’s a bit naïve given her young age, I think Maddie has a good heart and just wants the best for everyone.

Seth is absolutely charming and you can’t help but fall for him. I love his carefree personality and positive energy. He’s funny, super friendly and so stinkin’ cute. He’s the type of person who can brighten your day and make you smile like a dork. It’s no wonder Maddie couldn’t stay away from him. Not only is he handsome… he’s also just full of life that you want to be around him all the time. Seth’s definitely a great love interest for Maddie and an adorable book boyfriend to add to my list. Oh and he’s Asian too. Love seeing more diversity in books these days so thank you Kasie West! You just became even more awesome!

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While not my favorite (that spot goes to P.S. I Like You and On the Fence), this book is fun and as cute as can be that I had such a difficult time putting it down. The plot is fast-paced, light-hearted and easy to read. The characters are genuine and relatable. There’s humor, a bit of mystery, some drama, great friendships, lessons to be learned and a swoony romance. Speaking of romance, while not the main focus of the story, I thought West depicted Maddie and Seth’s friends to lovers storyline really well. Their relationship is so endearing and definitely gave me the feels. Totally ship those two and oh my gosh that ending — ADORABLE TO THE MAX!

Lucky in Love is a delightful and sweet contemporary book. I love Kasie West’s writing style and her stories always make me feel so darn happy. If you’ve read any of her books, then you’ll definitely enjoy this one. And if you haven’t, then it’s time you change that and pick this one up.

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P.S. When I saw her at the lineup for Yallwest this year, I made it my mission to meet her, get my books signed, and grab Lucky in Love at the ireadya booth. Sooo happy I was able to do all those. West is not only an amazing writer, but she’s also really nice and super sweet! I can’t wait to see her again.

Sincerely Karen Jo