Carolyn's July Books ... so far

Now is when I need the shit load of books I had ordered in the last few months because yesterday I got the Apple payback from Amazon. Now, I don't particularly like Apple and to my knowledge I haven't bought anything of theirs except my iphone. Which I don't need, I just need a phone to call Lori, could be any plain old phone.

But baybee, I got a VERY large settlement. And I have only three or four books listed for July. Isn't that always the way?? However, I did stock up on the rest of the Rizzoli and Isles mysteries by Tess Gerritsen so, yay me, lol.

Okay, here's my pathetic little list.

1.  Even Odds
     Author: Elia Winters
     Publisher: Simon and Schuster
     Releases: July 4, 2016
     Price: $1.99

Geeky meets kinky in this first deliciously sexy novel in the Slices of Pi series by RITA-nominated author Elia Winters, which follows the romantic rendezvous of the employees at PI Games, a gaming company based out of sultry Florida.

As a design manager at PI Games, Isabel Suarez is no stranger to the struggles of being a woman in a male-dominated industry. But when her team attends a gaming convention on the other side of the country, she figures there’s no harm in putting aside her professional demeanor for one weekend to participate in a risqué scavenger hunt. Why shouldn’t she let loose and have a little fun?

A careless romp soon turns into more, however, when Isabel ends up having a fling with Caleb Portland, an artist and animator, without knowing he has just been hired to partner with her at her company—and Caleb can’t bring himself to tell her. When they end up coworkers a few weeks later, they need to find a way to work together and keep things strictly professional. Caleb doesn’t want to take on a relationship and risk failure. Isabel doesn’t want to risk ruining the professional reputation she’s worked so hard to develop. But when faced with the undeniable sizzling chemistry between them, will either of them be able to resist temptation?

A sexy and witty tale of romance and modern workplace politics, Even Odds is the latest winning entry in Elia Winters’ unique and well-loved erotic novels.

Well, it says it's erotic, so I have been warned. I just liked the premise and the price was definitely right, so I'll give it a try.

2.  Steadfast
     Author: Sarina Bowen  
     Publisher: Rennie Road Books (self published?)
     Releases: July 12, 2016
     Price: $3.99

She’s the only one who ever loved him—and the only one he can never have.

Jude lost everything one spring day when he crashed his car into an apple tree on the side of the road. A man is dead, and there's no way he can ever right that wrong. He’d steer clear of Colebury, Vermont forever if he could. But an ex-con in recovery for his drug addiction can’t find a job just anywhere. 

Sophie Haines is stunned by his reappearance. After a three year absence, the man who killed her brother and broke her heart is suddenly everywhere she turns. It’s hard not to stare at how much he’s changed. The bad boy who used to love her didn’t have big biceps and sun-kissed hair. And he’d never volunteer in the church kitchen. 

No one wants to see Sophie and Jude back together, least of all Sophie's police chief father. But it's a small town. And forbidden love is a law unto itself.

I love Sarina Bowen and I like her new series (all one book of it, lol). She's an autobuy for me.

3.  Among the Wicked: A Kate Burkholder Novel
     Author: Linda Castillo
     Publisher: Macmillan
     Releases: July 12, 2016
     Price: $12.99

Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is called upon by the sheriff's department in rural, upstate New York to assist on a developing situation that involves a reclusive Amish settlement and the death of a young girl. Unable to penetrate the wall of silence between the Amish and "English" communities, the sheriff asks Kate to travel to New York, pose as an Amish woman, and infiltrate the community.

Kate's long time love interest, State Agent John Tomasetti, is dead set against her taking on such an unorthodox assignment, knowing she'll have limited communication - and even less in the way of backup. But Kate can't turn her back, especially when the rumor mill boils with disturbing accounts of children in danger. She travels to New York where she's briefed and assumes her new identity as a lone widow seeking a new life.

Kate infiltrates the community and goes deep under cover. In the coming days, she unearths a world built on secrets, a series of shocking crimes, and herself, alone... trapped in a fight for her life.

This is a great series and I'm so glad I discovered it. I like Kate and how she lives her life.



And one more June book, because I've become invested in the series ...

4.  Avenged (The Altered Series)
     Author: Marnee Blake
     Publisher: Macmillan
     Released: June 27, 2016
     Price: $3.99

Three terrifying months.

That’s how long Kitty Laughton has been at the mercy of the scientist who experimented on her town, killing over a dozen people and giving the rest of them unique powers. But Kitty doesn’t feel powerful, especially when she learns the crazy man plans to test his research on more unsuspecting people. She refuses to let anyone else die, but trapped with no one to help her she’s out of options…that is until sexy and exasperating Nick Degrassi arrives.

Special-ops soldier Nick blames himself for Kitty’s capture, and he’ll do whatever he can to free the quiet beauty, but close quarters and a shared secret bring an attraction that neither of them expected. With the organization that started it all making mercenaries for hire, Nick and Kitty must save themselves and stop a madman…before it’s too late.

The Altered series is best enjoyed in order.
Reading Order:
Book #1 Altered
Book #2 Avenged

I'm reading Avenged now. There's nothing intrinsically wrong with it but I'm able to put it down (when I had a sudden urge to reread Duke of Sin by Elizabeth Hoyt, for instance ;-) ) and pick it back up. Perhaps it'll grab me later in the book. Anyway, seemed a good idea to have #2 next in line.  

That's it for July. I'll have to find another way to spend my Apple bonanza but I've got a year to decide, so that's good. I wonder if I can buy videos with it ...?