The year is half over, which means we’re halfway through the 2017 AWW Challenge! It’s a great time to check in with your progress. Don’t forget to log your books with us! Throughout June we had 12 reviews of 10 books by 10 authors. You can see all the full list on our Books Reviewed page.
There were a number of highly rated books this month. Amanda from Mrs B’s Book Reviews enjoyed Summer Harvest by Georgina Penney:
I have to say I really appreciated the tone of Penney’s novel, which is the first I have read from this author. She managed to deliver a blend of heartfelt insight, realism and humour to the pages of her novel. Whilst the book does cover some fairly serious and life threatening issues, Penney takes it in her stride and the final product is a sensitively handled novel.
Fans of romantic suspense may like to try Le Chateau by Sarah Ridout. Sally Piper had this to say:
‘Le Chateau’ is a sensual and sexy romance. It draws on Gothic tropes, which bring a deep sense of foreboding to its deliciously evocative and authentic French setting. Readers will be kept guessing right to the end as Charlotte unravels the mysteries and implications of her past, which run much deeper than the five years that have been displaced from her memory.
Phillipa Clarke was a fan of A Place to Stay, the first book in a new series by Jennie Jones:
Strong characters, atmospheric landscape, riveting story. A beautifully written book rich with authentic situations and solutions, just enough suspense, and a cast of diverse, likeable characters. Funny moments in the midst of dark ones help navigate the very serious subject of domestic violence. It is the courage of Rachel and the honesty of Luke that make this shine.
Coming Soon
If you’re looking for some rural romance in July, Ally Blake’s Wanted: Outback Wife will be hot of the presses. Fans of the enemies-to-lovers trope might want to look for Wedding Night with Her Enemy by Melanie Milburne. Carol Marinelli has a new novel out with Mills & Boon called Sicilian’s Baby of Shame. And if you like renovation romances, check out Perfect Scents the second in Virginia Taylor’s Romance by Design series.
Elizabeth Fitzgerald is a freelance editor and owner of Earl Grey Editing. She runs a book blog, was a judge for the 2016 Aurealis Awards, and just finished her fourth term as the Secretary of the Canberra Speculative Fiction Guild. An unabashed roleplayer and reader of romance, her weaknesses are books, loose-leaf tea and silly dogs. She tweets @elizabeth_fitz
