Monthly Roundup & Look Ahead

Monthly Roundup: September

Taking a quick look at the numbers for September. . .

• Books bought – 7
• Books downloaded – 9
• ARCs received for review (physical) – 7
• ARCs received for review (digital) – 5
• Books read – 16
• Average rating: 4.1

Last month’s reviews included:

• Lady of Stone by Barbara Ann Wright
• The Witch’s New Dolly by Regina Watts
• Protecting Shawna by M.C. Questgend
• Space Station Down by Ben Bova and Doug Beason
• Her Roman Slave by Regina Watts
• Kinship and Kindness by Kara Jorgensen
• A Brother’s Price by Wen Spencer
• Olive the Lionheart by Brad Ricca
• Creature Feature by Steven Paul Leiva
• Deeply Hidden Secrets by M.C. Questgend
• Rangers of Yeon by April Garrus
• Feeling Dottie by Regina Watts
• Hired For His Womb by Phoenix Rose
• Seven Devils by Laura Lam and Elizabeth May
• Blood of an Exile by Brian Naslund
• Warrior Rising by J.L. Nicely

I always find what reviews are best received across different mediums to be fascinating, as it points to different audience segments being engaged. A good again mix this month with Regina Watts coming on top twice.

• Most read on the blog – Feeling Dottie by Regina Watts
• Most liked on Goodreads – Seven Devils by Laura Lam and Elizabeth May
• Most reach on Facebook – A Brother’s Price by Wen Spencer
• Most liked on Twitter – Feeling Dottie by Regina Watts

Guests this month included CC Bridges, Holly Gray, Nina Munteanu, Steven Paul Leiva, Patricia C. Lee, R. B. Lemberg, and Aurora Lee Thornton.

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Look Ahead: October

I always hesitate to look too far ahead, since my reading is dictated as much by my whims and desires of the moment as by release dates. This month I reviewed 8 of the 11 that I planned to cover, and I’m currently reading 2 of the others, so it’s looking good.

October is a tough month to plan, what with Halloween activities and our wedding anniversary coming up, but reviews I’m hopeful you’ll see this month include:

• Kevin by Marilize Roos (I’m late getting to this, but enjoying it)
• Princess by Sara Gravatt-Wimsatt (the waiting is over, and I’m having fun with this)
• Getting Even: Prank War by M.C. Questgend (this releases tomorrow, but I’ve had a copy for weeks . . . so good!)
• The Trophy Wife by Courtney Captisa (I beta read this back in July, so I’m excited to read the final product)
• Phoenix Extravagant by Yoon Ha Lee (I started this over the weekend and it’s wonderful)
• Horrorsexual by M. Christian (I’m tardy in getting to this, but so far it’s fantastic)
• Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse (I’m reading this now and just finding my groove)
• Best Women’s Erotica of the Year, Volume 6 by Rachel Kramer Bussel (this is a December release, but I need to get it reviewed before submitting to Best Bondage Erotica of the Year, Volume 2)
• Bloodlaced by Courtney Maguire (this is an early October tour stop)
• Fighting for Home by Kim Richards (I already had this on my TBR, but a late Oct tour stop guarantees a read)
• The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow (I received a finished copy of this and I’m eager to get reading)
• Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth (Victorian Sapphic romance & metafictional horror – I’m excited to get reading)
• The Midnight Bargain by C.L. Polk (another October release that I’m excited about, with women, magic, and Regency romance)
• The Plumbers by Terry M. West (a short read from Terry, who is always fun, that I’ve been saving for Halloween)

As for features and guests, a very busy October has scheduled tour stops for Dr. Cushing’s Chamber of Horrors by Stephen D. Sullivan, The Boss’s Daughter by L.M Mountford, Bloodlaced by Courtney Maguire, Mad Hatter Vampire Prince by Kia Carrington-Russell, Perceptions by Mary Eicher, Lockset by Brenda Murphy, Fighting for Home by Kim Richards, Prospects of a Woman by Wendy Voorsanger, and Juan of the Dead by Jacalyn Boggs.