Monsters and Mercenaries: 16 Books I Read in August
Hello there, romance readers!
Can you believe we’re already in September?
If you’re like me, you spent the last month of summer buried in a pile of good books. My reading list is packed with high spice, sex clubs, and (to no one’s surprise) reverse harems. Let me take you through the romance novels that have stolen my heart this August. Get your TBR ready. Let’s dive into what I read!
But before getting started, this is a friendly reminder to be aware of your triggers and to check for any necessary trigger warnings associated with the titles below.
Highest Bidder by Sara Cate
Ratings
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Salacious Players’ Club is holding an auction, and she’s next for bidding. Despite not feeling like the type of girl rich men would be interested in, she can’t refuse when Ronan Kade, the wealthiest man at the club, bids over a hundred grand for her time. However, she has reservations about him due to his age, wealth, and cockiness.
The BWBH’s Thoughts
POSSIBLE SPOILER AHEAD!
I really enjoyed Highest Bidder, and then a surprise pregnancy popped up. That has to be my least favorite trope, and it overshadowed the rest of the story for me. Overall, it’s worth the read if you can tolerate a surprise pregnancy.
Get your copy of Highest Bidder from Bookshop or check your local library! This book is also available with Kindle Unlimited.
The Anti-Hero by Sara Cate
Ratings
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Adam is the eldest son of a prominent preacher in Austin, and he has always lived a virtuous life, maintaining a flawless image and clean reputation. However, everything changes when he discovers his father’s hidden secrets – he’s a VIP member of a local kink club, a liar, a cheater, and a hypocrite. Fed up with being righteous, Adam decides to embrace a different path.
The BWBH’s Thoughts
The Anti-Hero is what I expect from Sara Cate—excellent story and character development.
Get your copy of The Anti-Hero from Bookshop or check your local library! This book is also available with Kindle Unlimited.
Morning Glory Milking Farm by C.M. Nascosta
Ratings
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Violet is a millennial who is struggling with debt and in need of a better-paying job. She comes across an unconventional job opportunity at the Morning Glory Milking Farm. Despite the unusual nature of the job, Violet sees it as a chance to turn her financial situation around.
As Violet starts working at the farm, she is specially requested by a stern and deep-voiced client for his milking sessions. While trying to maintain her professionalism, she also struggles to keep her growing feelings for him.
The BWBH’s Thoughts:
Morning Glory Milking Farm is a quick, fun read. This book is also an excellent intro to monster romance.
Get your copy of Morning Glory Milking Farm from Bookshop or check your local library! The audiobook is available through audiobooks.com. This book is also available with Kindle Unlimited.
The Sea Witch: A Little Mermaid Retelling by Rebecca F. Kenney
Ratings
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Averil saves a young man from a shipwreck and believes she feels the Soul Echo, the sign that he is her one true mate. The Sea Witch offers her a deal to win the prince’s heart and coaches her in the art of seduction, but Averil wonders about the real price of the Sea Witch’s help. The Sea Witch is more brutally beautiful and charming than Averil expected
The BWBH’s Thoughts:
I LOVED this story! The Sea Witch is an excellent monster romance, and you’ll get some tentacle play *wink*. I will be reading more Rebecca F. Kenney in the future.
Get your copy of The Sea Witch: A Little Mermaid Retelling from Bookshop or check your local library! This book is also available with Kindle Unlimited.
Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas
Ratings
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Birthday Girl follows the story of Jordan, a young woman who moves in with her boyfriend’s father, Pike, for financial reasons. As they live together, an unexpected attraction develops between Jordan and Pike, leading to a forbidden and intense romance.
The BWBH’s Thoughts:
I was disappointed with this book. It felt like the characters needed more development.
Get your copy of Birthday Girl from Bookshop or check your local library! This book is also available with Kindle Unlimited.
Honey Trap by Tate James
Ratings
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
In the mercenary guild, being a member is not just a job but a calling and an honor. But what happens when love gets in the way of your mission?
Get your copy of Honey Trap from your local library! The audiobook is available through audiobooks.com. This book is also available with Kindle Unlimited.
Dead Drop by Tate James
Ratings
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Get your copy of Dead Drop from your local library! The audiobook is available through audiobooks.com. This book is also available with Kindle Unlimited.
Kill Order by Tate James
Ratings
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Get your copy of Kill Order from your local library! The audiobook is available through audiobooks.com. This book is also available with Kindle Unlimited.
The BWBH’s Thoughts:
Another phenomenal Tate James series.The spice? *chef’s kiss*. Kai and Leon? Ugh, I can’t even—definitely a must-read.
Den of Vipers by K.A. Knight
Ratings
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
In her town, a ruthless and powerful group known as the Vipers runs everything and everyone. Their shady dealings and fearsome reputation make them untouchable, but her father crosses them. He ran up a debt and, to pay it off, he sold her to them.
Now, she belongs to the Vipers in every way imaginable. She may be their possession, but She refuses to be submissive. She’ll make the Vipers regret the day they took her.
The BWBH’s Thoughts:
I wanted to enjoy this book so much more, but I found the FMC annoying after a while.
Get your copy of Den of Vipers from Kindle Unlimited.
Carnal Urges by J.T. Geissinger
Ratings
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
The devil has piercing blue eyes and an Irish accent and holds a profound grudge against her, believing I’m responsible for war, betrayal, and the death of his men. Despite her innocence, he seeks revenge and takes her as his captive.
As time passes, they realize that more intense desires are at play than just seeking vengeance. The line between enemies and something deeper becomes blurred, igniting a real war of emotions and passions.
The BWBH’s Thoughts
Can I call Declan Daddy? I think I will. This was an excellent second book in the Gods & Monsters series. I will be reading book three soon.
Get your copy of Carnal Urges from Bookshop or check your local library! This book is also available with Kindle Unlimited.
I want to know what your favorite read was this month. Share in the comments below!
Carnage by Sarah Bailey
Ratings
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Scarlett was sent to Fortuity to destroy four men known as the Four Horsemen. Drake, Prescott, West, and Francis know exactly who Sarah is and why she’s here. Scarlett doesn’t know that they already know one another – they were friends. The Horsemen are fighting for Scarlett to regain her memories while other forces try to keep her under their control.
Get your copy of Carnage from Kindle Unlimited or check your local library!
Chaos by Sarah Bailey
Ratings
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Get your copy of Chaos from Kindle Unlimited or check your local library!
Corrode by Sarah Bailey
Ratings
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Get your copy of Corrode from Kindle Unlimited or check your local library!
Cataclysm by Sarah Bailey
Ratings
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Get your copy of Cataclysm from Kindle Unlimited or check your local library!
The BWBH’s Thoughts: Four Horsemen
The Four Horsemen series is precisely what I wanted Den of Vipers to be.
Cruel Seduction by Katee Robert
Ratings
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Aphrodite marries Hephaestus for political reasons and plans to keep him off-balance by seducing Pandora, the one person he seems to care about most. However, Hephaestus retaliates by using Adonis, Aphrodite’s ex, to put her in her place. As they play seduction games, emotions become entangled, and lines blur. Meanwhile, unrest in Olympus is reaching new heights, and their actions may have deadly consequences for themselves, their city, and everyone they’ve come to love.
The BWBH’s Thoughts:
The Dark Olympus series was my first introduction to dark romance, and did not disappoint. As always, Katee Robert’s storytelling is inclusive and spellbinding. Representation matters!
Get your copy of Cruel Seduction from Bookshop or check your local library! The audiobook is available through audiobooks.com.
Heartless Heathens by Santana Knox
Ratings
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
She’s the headmaster’s prized possession, hidden away in the bell tower of Notre Dame Parochial College. To most students, she’s just a myth, an urban legend.
But then they arrived, heartless outcasts like her. These dangerous men refuse to conform to the school’s twisted rules and hidden secrets.
Now that they’ve found her, she may never be free again. And maybe she doesn’t want to be.
The BWBH’s Thoughts
It’s an excellent reverse harem, enemies-to-lovers story. Definitely check those trigger warnings before divining in!
Get your copy of Heartless Heathens from Bookshop or check your local library! This book is also available with Kindle Unlimited.
Thirsty for more book recommendations? Check out Five Books I’m Excited to Read This September.
Don’t forget to share which book was your favorite September read with me. Comment below!
Stay spicy,
AJ 💋
