July again was a terrific reading month with 10 own books and an ARC and a requested read for REALMS. The reading frenzy from June fortunately has continued.
This month started when I was on holiday. We went to Tuscany Italy and I had a wonderful time with plenty of sight-seeing but also enough downtime to read some terrific books.
If you want to know more about my reading habits before and during the vacation you can read about it in contribution to the Bookaddicts in the City column at the RealmsOnOurBookshelves Blog


At my arrival home I found a nice surprise: The ARC of the first book of Cindy Gerard's new BLACK OPS Series: SHOW NO MERCY. Look for the review sometime in September on RealmsOnOurBookshelves
I read Cindy Gerard's first BODYGUARDS book: ON THE EDGE on holiday and she is truly on of the best in the romantic suspense genre.

And romantic suspense was a recurring theme this month when Laura Marie Henion requested reviews of some of her books and I was picked to do one. LILLIAN'S LOVE was a very nice read and it's review will be posted on the REALMS-website shortly.
And during the vacation I also read Shannon McKenna's OUT OF CONTROL which essentially also falls under that genre.

But it wasn't just romantic suspense I read. I had a nice return to the historical romance with two Gaelen Foley books: LORD OF FIRE and LORD OF ICE. I read the first book in this series (Knight Miscellany) last year and loved it but other books and newly discovered authors got in the way so it took me a while to get back to this series and I can't wait to continue because she has become on of my favourites in the historical genre. She writes the books I love to read: emotional and character-driven combined with an excellent plot. What more does a girl want???
Well maybe another book from a favourite historical romance author? Because I also read Jenna Petersen's new book" LESSONS FROM A COURTESAN and this was definitely a don't-judge-a-book-by-it's-cover book. I must say that covers are not leading in my decision to buy or read a book because otherwise I would never have bought this one. But as terrible as the cover is for my taste, the story was really, really good. So I'm glad I looked past the cover and read it.
Jenna Petersen has given me something just as good or maybe even better than her LADY SPIES to look forward to.

Of course Lora Leigh can't be missing! I do have to keep feeding my addiction...
I read book 6 and 7 of THE BREEDS and books 4 and 5 of THE BOUND HEARTS and with every book she pulls me deeper into both worlds although I must say the BREEDS have a small lead because there the intensity and intrigue are really mesmerizing me.

And then my new discovery for this month: Anna Windsor!
All I can say about her is: "Watch out, a new star has risen and she's here to stay!"
The first installment of her DARK CRESCENT SISTERHOOD Series blew me away! I loved everything about it and I can't wait for the next books, which should arrive this coming month.

I'm finishing July and starting August with my addiction: Lora Leigh - Tanner's Scheme