August Book Haul

So August was a pretty good month book wise. I amassed a total of 11 books this past month, 2 of which were review copies.

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

If I Never Met You
by Mhairi McFarlane

I’ve been reading a lot of McFarlane’s books lately, both in English and in Danish and it so happens that I bought the Danish version of this book without realising I had already ordered the English copy *shrug*

---

If faking love is this easy… how do you know when it’s real?

When her partner of over a decade suddenly ends things, Laurie is left reeling—not only because they work at the same law firm and she has to see him every day. Her once perfect life is in shambles and the thought of dating again in the age of Tinder is nothing short of horrifying. When news of her ex’s pregnant girlfriend hits the office grapevine, taking the humiliation lying down is not an option. Then a chance encounter in a broken-down elevator with the office playboy opens up a new possibility.

Jamie Carter doesn’t believe in love, but he needs a respectable, steady girlfriend to impress their bosses. Laurie wants a hot new man to give the rumor mill something else to talk about. It’s the perfect proposition: a fauxmance played out on social media, with strategically staged photographs and a specific end date in mind. With the plan hatched, Laurie and Jamie begin to flaunt their new couple status, to the astonishment—and jealousy—of their friends and colleagues. But there’s a fine line between pretending to be in love and actually falling for your charming, handsome fake boyfriend…
(Goodreads)

---

♦

100 Dage 100 Digte
by Pelle Hvenegaard

This was a review copy from the author. It’s called 100 Days 100 Poems – Everyday thoughts from a time of Corona. It’s a Danish book of poems written this spring just when Denmark went on lockdown. For my Danish viewers, you can read my review here

♦

Midnight Sun
by Stephenie Meyer (review copy)

This is a copy of the Danish translation
sent to me for review by the publisher. Does it need any further introduction?

---

When Edward Cullen and Bella Swan met in Twilight, an iconic love story was born. But until now, fans have heard only Bella’s side of the story. At last, readers can experience Edward’s version in the long-awaited companion novel, Midnight Sun.

This unforgettable tale as told through Edward’s eyes takes on a new and decidedly dark twist. Meeting Bella is both the most unnerving and intriguing event he has experienced in all his years as a vampire. As we learn more fascinating details about Edward’s past and the complexity of his inner thoughts, we understand why this is the defining struggle of his life. How can he justify following his heart if it means leading Bella into danger?
(Goodreads)

---

♦

Queen of Nothing
by Holly Black

The last book in the Folk of Air trilogy and I cannot wait to read it. I’m amazed I didn’t just drop everything and start it immediately. Because I seriously need to find out how it ends!

---

He will be destruction of the crown and the ruination of the throne.

Power is much easier to acquire than it is to hold onto. Jude learned this lesson when she released her control over the wicked king, Cardan, in exchange for immeasurable power.

Now as the exiled mortal Queen of Faerie, Jude is powerless and left reeling from Cardan’s betrayal. She bides her time determined to reclaim everything he took from her. Opportunity arrives in the form of her deceptive twin sister, Taryn, whose mortal life is in peril.

Jude must risk venturing back into the treacherous Faerie Court, and confront her lingering feelings for Cardan, if she wishes to save her sister. But Elfhame is not as she left it. War is brewing. As Jude slips deep within enemy lines she becomes ensnared in the conflict’s bloody politics.

And, when a dormant yet powerful curse is unleashed, panic spreads throughout the land, forcing her to choose between her ambition and her humanity…
(Goodreads)

---

♦

The Eve Illusion
by Tom and Giovanna Fletcher

The sequel to Eve of Man by two of my favourite British people, which I’ve been waiting for! I do recommend reading the first book. The link one line up will take you to my review.

---

Eve is the last girl on earth.

For the last sixteen years, Eve has been a prisoner. Guarded by the Mothers. Trapped by her fate. Watched by the world.

Until she took her chance, and escaped.

Eve finally has the freedom she has wanted for so long, and with Bram she has the love. But both come at a price. In this dangerous new world beyond the Tower, the regime are only ever one step behind. And together with the desperate rebel group fighting against them, Eve has found herself in more danger than she ever could have imagined.

With everything stacked against them, can Eve and Bram survive?
(Goodreads)

---

♦

The Wedding Date
by Jasmine Guillory

This has been on my radar and Book Depository Romance Wish List and I finally decided to get it. Also, look at those cover colours!

---

On the eve of his ex’s wedding festivities, Drew Nichols is minus a plus one. Until a power outage strands him with the perfect candidate for a fake girlfriend…

Agreeing to go to a wedding with a guy she gets stuck with in an elevator is not something Alexa Monroe would normally do. But Drew’s proposal proves hard to resist.

After their wedding date turns into a whole weekend of fun in San Francisco, Drew and Alexa return to their all-consuming careers – his in LA and hers in Berkeley. Too bad they can’t stop thinking about each other..

It could be the long-distance dating disaster of the century – or Drew and Alexa could be just a flight away from what each of them truly wants.
(Goodreads)

---

♦

Truly, Madly Like Me
by Jo Watson

Jo Watson is on my short list of auto-buy authors. I own all her books and they never disappoint. Not in the laughter or romance department.

---

It all started with a faulty elevator…

When social media influencer Frankie Paulson’s followers turn on her after an embarrassing public break-up with her perfect #couplegoals boyfirnd, and she almost plummets to her death with two strangers in a faulty elevator, all she wants to do is hide. 

A town with no internet is the ideal sanctuary, but Frankie has never done anything without sharing it on one of many apps she can’t live without. After all, surely it’s much more satisfying to take the perfect photograph of her breakfast than eat it?

When Fate, in the form of a new four-legged companion, plays a hand in keeping her in town, Frankie starts to make tentative but genuine connections with the people she meets. Suddenly every rule she’s been living by seems far less meaningful and she begins to wonder if her apparently #blessed life wasn’t as real as she thought… 

♦

Some Kind of Wonderful
by Giovanna Fletcher

I own pretty much all of Giovanna Fletcher’s fictional works and I love her writing and mind. I read this book back when it was an ARC on Netgalley and you can read my review here.

---

Lizzy and Ian have been a couple since their first day at university. Now, after celebrating a decade together, everyone thinks they’re about to get engaged. A romantic escape to Dubai is the perfect moment, but instead of the proposal Lizzy hopes for, Ian reveals he’s not sure he even wants her anymore.

Lizzy is heartbroken. But through the tears, she realises this is her chance to seize the opportunities she missed as Ian’s other half. But what does she want? How much of her is really Lizzy, and how much was Ian’s influence? Determined to discover who she is at heart, Lizzy sets out to rediscover the girl she was before – and in the meantime, have a little fun . . .
(Goodreads)

---

♦

The Unhoneymooners
by Christina Lauren

I have only read 1 Christina Lauren book before (Dating You/Hating You) but I fell in love and have wanted to read more of this dynamic romance duo.

---

Olive is always unlucky: in her career, in love, in . . . well, everything.

Her identical twin sister Amy, on the other hand, is probably the luckiest person in the world. Her meet-cute with her fiance is something out of a romantic comedy (ugh) and she’s managed to finance her entire wedding by winning a series of online contests (double ugh). Worst of all, she’s forcing Olive to spend the day with her sworn enemy, Ethan, who just happens to be the best man.

Olive just has to get through twenty-four hours of wedding hell before she can return to her comfortable, unlucky life. But when the entire wedding party – except for Olive and Ethan – gets food poisoning, there’s an all-expenses-paid honeymoon in Hawaii up for grabs.

Putting their mutual hatred aside for the sake of a free vacation, Olive and Ethan head for paradise, determined to avoid each other at all costs. But when Olive runs into her future boss, the little white lie she tells him becomes a whole lot bigger.
She and Ethan now have to pretend to be loving newlyweds. But the weird thing is that she doesn’t mind playing pretend. In fact, she feels kind of . . . lucky.
(Goodreads)

---

♦

Probably the Best Kiss in the World
by Pernille Hughes

British book set in Denmark by a Danish/British author.
How have I not gotten this book sooner?!

---

Jen Attison likes her life Just So. But being fished out of a canal in Copenhagen by her knickers is definitely NOT on her to do list.

From cinnamon swirls to a spontaneous night of laughter and fireworks, Jen’s city break with the girls takes a turn for the unexpected because of her gorgeous, mystery rescuer.

Back home, Jen faces a choice. A surprise proposal from her boyfriend, ‘boring’ Robert has offered Jen the safety net she always thought she wanted. But with the memories of her Danish adventure proving hard to forget, maybe it’s time for Jen to stop listening to her head and start following her heart…
(Goodreads)

---

♦

I Followed the Rules
by Joanna Bolouri

I am a big fan of her other work, mainly the steamy, sexy The List and it’s sequel, Relight My Fire.

---

Rule 1: Never ask him on a first date. Rule 2: Laugh admiringly at all his jokes. Rule 3: Always leave him wanting more.

. . . wtf?!

Have you heard of The Rules of Engagement? It’s a book that promises to teach you to find the man of your dreams in ten easy steps. Unsurprisingly, I don’t own a copy. What is it, 1892?

But I’m a journalist, and I’ve promised to follow it to the letter and write about the results. Nevermind that my friends think I’m insane, I’m stalking men all over town and can’t keep my mouth shut at the best of times.

My name is Cat Buchanan. I’m thirty-six years old and live with my daughter in Glasgow. I’ve been single for six years, but that’s about to change. After all, I’m on a deadline.

I Followed the Rules and this is what happened. 
(Goodreads)

---

So that’s my August haul. I’ll probably won’t get as many in the coming months because I do have to protect my bank account..

---

What did you haul in August?