Monthly Book Roundup #2(October)

I already did a post all about my favorite spooky Halloween reads, so this monthly book round up will be everything BUT creepy crawly monster smut. You're welcome.

The Female Series by Invi Wright

Okay. I know I said no creepy monster smut, but I did read this series at the beginning of the month AFTER I made my Halloween post, and this series is definitely not in the same category as the books on that list. I would put this in Paranormal Romance. While it was still dark, these books were not fucked up for the sake of being fucked up if you know what I mean. So anywho...

The female population has declined across the realms for a century. Women are now an extremely expensive commodity and very rare. Charlotte's parents have hidden her away since the moment she was born to try and protect her from being taken away and sold at the Female auctions. When a surprise raid on their house leaves Charlie captured and on her way to be sold, her future is looking anything but hopeful.

When Charlie is bought by three extremely powerful demons, The King of Wrath, The Heir to Lust, and A Fate, she assumes she's doomed. But what she's not expecting is to be cherished, cared for, and given anything she can imagine. When Charlie discovers a secret that could save the world, it's up to her, and her men, to ensure the future of the realms...even if it means a civil war.

Crave by Luna Mason

Oh boy. This is the third book in the Beneath the Secrets series, and it was fantastic. Following the story of Lara and Alexei, we find ourselves once again in the complicated and bloody world of the Las Vegas Bratva(Russian Mob.) When Alexei was a child, Lara's older brothers saved him and took him under their wing, and he vowed to serve and protect them, especially their younger sister.

Through heartbreak, kidnappings, and general mob bullshit, Alexei and Lara realize that their feelings run much deeper than that of best friends. Alexei can save Lara from every one of their enemies, but can he save her from herself?

Though you could technically read this as a standalone book, I highly recommend reading the first two books in the series, if not the Beneath the Mask series first as this is a spinoff series of that one. Honestly, just go read some Luna Mason and thank me later. I did also read book two, Caged, this month, but I liked Craved more so I'm not going to do an entire write-up on it.

Fake Around and Find Out by S.M. Shade

My god. This book was deliciously spicy, more than a little kinky, and laugh out loud hysterical. In this enemies to lovers RomCom, we follow Cara and Monroe(Row) on a wild journey from start to finish. Cara has no idea what she's going to do when she loses her job. She was barely scraping by as it was. One night when her more than infuriating( and hotter than hell) neighbor Row, is making a ridiculous amount of noise, Cara has had enough. What she isn't prepared for when she barges into his trailer next door, is a very naked Row...fucking a toy...on camera.

The next day, Row has a proposition... make a few videos with him and make bank. Cara wants to turn him down more than anything but the bills are piling up and she's running out of time. As they make videos and spend more time together, Cara realizes she may have misjudged the annoyingly gorgeous man next door, and his psycho dog with an emotional support dildo.

This was such a fantastic read and my partner had to ask me several times what was so funny. It was light hearted and a nice break from the dark romance I usually read.

Swallow Your Pride by Sarah Blue

Jessa was already looking for a fresh start, so when her bio dad dies, leaving her a house and stock in his company she figures it's a sign. What she isn't prepared for is her dad's best friend, Aiden Carlson.

Aiden is devastated by his best friends death, but learning that he had a 25 year old daughter from an affair was a massive shock. Left as the CEO, he already has a lot on his plate, but add to it the unexpected arrival of young and stunning Jessa...he's left reeling. Giving Jessa a job is the least he feels he can do, but being around her all the time is intoxicating and leaves him wanting the last thing he possibly should...a taste of his dead best friends daughter.

When things reach a tipping point, all Jessa wants is Daddy to take care of her, and Aiden is more than happy to fill that role.

In case you didn't put it together, there is Daddy Kink in this book. If that bothers you, don't read the book.

The Striker by Ana Huang

Discloser: I am in love with absolutely anything this woman writes. She is fantastic and her books are incredible. The Striker is definitely no exception to this rule.

Asher Donovan is one of the best footballers(soccer) in the game. He is fierce, determined and plays to win, on and off the field. But even with all of the fame and notoriety, Asher has always felt like something was missing from his life. When an old rivalry with a teammate costs them the championship game, Asher is in the doghouse with their coach and must spend the summer doing ballet cross training with his rival turned teammate.

Enter Scarlett DuBois. After a tragic car accident ends her career as a Prima Ballerina, Scarlett is left teaching dance instead of performing. Being tasked with training two idiot footballers for the summer isn't her idea of a good time. But when Asher walks into her studio he immediately knows he's in trouble, because Scarlett is stunning, and turned him down in a pub just a few days ago. There's just a couple small problems. One is, Scarlett has sworn off dating any pro footballers after her last ex left her heartbroken in the hospital after her accident. The second problem is going to be much bigger though... the other player, Asher's rival, is Vincent DuBois...Scarlett's older brother.

When Vincent is suddenly called away to France for a family emergency, leaving Asher and Scarlett alone to train for the summer, tension rises until it hits the breaking point. But can Scarlett overcome her hatred of footballers for Asher, the man that unexpectedly stole her heart? And can Asher change his self destructive habits to keep his missing piece? (Spoiler. Of course they do. They rock.)

Ax's and O's by Kayla Grosse

Nate is unhappy with his life, with a job he hates and no girlfriend. He's got no idea what he really wants out of life. One fateful night, Nate is driving through the mountains of California to see his sister for Christmas when he gets caught in a blizzard and crashes his car into a snowbank. Ending up unconcious and freezing to death in a snowstorm from hell definitely is where he saw his life headed...

When Nate wakes up warm...and naked... in a strange cabin in the middle of the woods, he has no idea what to do except find some clothes and get the fuck out of there. Enter Fox and Morgan Malone, the couple who saved Nate from certain death and brought him back to their cabin where they run their logging business out of. They give Nate some bad news... they are snowed in for at least 3 days. Stuck with strangers in the middle of nowhere, Nate has no choice but to trust that they aren't psychos out to get him.

The last Nate sees coming though... is being asked to join them. The Malones have been looking for a permanent third partner for years, with their last partner breaking their hearts when he left them. While Morgan is convinced that Nate would be perfect for them, Fox isn't sold. He doesn't want to see Morgan get hurt again, and doesn't know if he can handle the heartbreak another time. In a steamy and wild turn of events, Nate has his whole world turned upside down and his whole view of who he is thrown out the window.

Can Nate really see himself living in the woods with two gorgeous lumbersnacks? Or will he deny his attraction to them both and go back to a life he hates?

This was a fantastic poly/MMF Christmas themed read. With elements of BDSM, Primal Play, swords crossing, lots of heat, and big emotions, I truly recommend this book. The journey of self discovery that Nate goes through is beautiful and Kayla Grosse really brought the characters to life and made me fall in love with them.

Honorable Mentions

These are some of the other books I read in October, but did not have the time/energy to do a full write up on. It's always hard to pick and choose favorites, so these weren't any better or worse than the above, I just have other things to do, lol.

The Web of Silence Duet by Leigh Rivers

If you're on the darker side of BookTok, you have definitely heard of these books. But a warning to others if you're just entering your dark romance era DO NOT start with this duet. It was taboo, fucked up, morally grey and delicious with an extensive menu..I mean trigger list. It had adoptive siblings that fell in love, kidnapping, bribery, a murder plot, and so much more.

A Blackened Bond by Isla Davon

This is the second book in the Blackened Blade series. I read the first book last year an was immediately hooked. This is a paranormal/fantasy/reverse harem/why choose romance that will have you on the edge of your seat for sure. You get everyone's POV throughout the books and a kickass FMC who is sick of everyone's shit and is doing things differently this time around, even if it kills her...again.

Prey for Rabbit by Aiden Pierce

If you've read my Halloween Book List, then you know I am in love with Aiden Pierce's books. She writes so well and is so delightfully dark. Obsessed in an understatement...but I digress. This quick, and very filthy shifter novel had me enthralled from the very beginning. But, like most of Pierce's books, this is not for the faint of heart.

Ghosts of Halloween by Layla Fae

Oof. BookTok, and my book bestie, made me read it. Though she ironically DNF'd it. While I did love this very dark, paranormal, why choose, I will tell you that the beginning was very confusing and I was unsure what was happening for a good while. HOWEVER, if you can push through, it was a beautiful story and I even cried a few times while reading.

I read (a lot) more than these nine in the month of October, but these were my favorites out of the SEVENTEEN books I read this month. Thanks again for reading and please reach out if you want to know what else I read, have questions, or suggestions for more books! Until next time!