Books of the Month August 2019

August has come and gone in the blink of an eye, but at least our readers managed to find a couple of good books to remember it by. Once again, there was something for everyone this August, regardless of genre. If you are curious about what you might have missed, here is our list of the best books for the month of August as decided by our readers.

Best Romance

Third Daughter

by Susan Kaye Quinn

For a Bollywood-style royal romance, Third Daughter by Susan Kaye Quinn is not to be missed. It is about Aniri, the Third Daughter of the Queen of Dharia. Because she has two older sisters, Aniri is considered to be the "backup" daughter who will only be useful if her older sisters' arranged marriages don't work out. Not that Aniri minds as she's waiting for her 18th birthday to be free to marry the fencing instructor who she likes. But, against all the odds. Aniri receives a marriage proposal from a barbarian prince in the north. Aniri has no choice but to agree as the new flying weapon of the prince could be deadly for her own kingdom. However, she is determined to spy on the prince and find this weapon while also avoiding a war as well as the marriage.

Best Action & Adventure

Shadow of the Moon

By Kwen D. Griffeth

Shadow of the Moon is an action and adventure novel featuring love, murder, and werewolves. It begins with the brutal death of a diplomat's son in Central Park, which draws the attention of an NYPD detective and FBI agent. The way in which the man was killed makes it look werewolf related, so the FBI agent consults with a history professor who is an expert on legends and folklore. However, the professor shocks her by not only agreeing on the method of death, but he also claims to be a werewolf.

Best Mystery & Thriller

Exposed in Darkness

by Heather Sunseri

Heather Sunseri takes readers on an unforgettable thrill ride with Exposed in Darkness, the first book of the "In Darkness" series. FBI Special Agent Brooke Fairfax has been out of the game since the murder of her husband, but then her former boss contacts her with a unique case. A sophisticated international mogul, named Declan O'Roark, is the prime suspect in a terrorist attack and Brooke is tasked with connecting him to the crime. Things become even more complicated when Brooke begins to fall for the charming suspect.

Best Biographies

The Things Our Fathers Saw

by Matthew Rozell

The Things Our Fathers Saw is not just a book for history or World War II buffs. It is filled with the harrowing accounts of people who actually lived through the brutality of the Pacific Theater during World War II. These untold stories are about ordinary people who entered the war and emerged changed. The author also allowed them to tell their stories in their own words. It is a book about the horrors of war, but also the bravery and determination of the soldiers who put their lives on the line to protect their loved ones back home.

Best Children's Book

Britfield and the Lost Crown

by C. R. Stewart

Older children will love the adventures of an orphan boy named Tom in Britfield and the Lost Crown by C. R. Stewart. Tom spent most of his life at the harsh and cruel Weatherly Orphanage but made his escape when he learns some vital information about his family. While Tom is on the run with his best friend, Sarah, the orphanage hires a private detective to find them and bring them back. This is just the start of an adventure that will take them from Oxford University to Windsor Palace, London, and many other locations. Along the way, the kids meet plenty of exciting people and also learn some valuable lessons.

Best Young Adult

Sanyare: The Last Descendant

by Megan Haskell

Sanyare: The Last Descendant is a must-read for fans of fast-paced fantasy adventure. It is the tale of Rie, a human who becomes a target for assassins from the enemy Shadow Realm. After being framed for treason Rie has no choice, but to flee into enemy lands to prove her innocence. However, she is not alone as she also has the company of fierce carnivorous pixies. Together they uncover the truth of the past and find that war might be looming in the nine faerie realms.

Best Fantasy

The Dragon Wakes

by Sarah Dalton

The Dragon Wakes is a whirlwind fantasy adventure that is set in the Kingdom of Estala. It was once a place of dragons and magical wielders, called Menti. However, those days are long gone as sorcery is now outlawed and anyone caught wielding magical powers are hunted down by the Order of Insight. The punishment for sorcery is slavery or execution, which causes quite a problem for Prince Luca when he discovers his own powers. However, The Dragon Wakes is not just the tale of Prince Luca, but also Reva Avalon. Her life is thrown into turmoil when she is orphaned and sold by the king to his most feared general. On top of it all, there are rumors of the return of the mighty dragon shifters, which might just cause the end of the world as it is known.

Best Historical Fiction

The Boys Who Woke Up Early

By A. D. Hopkins

 

The Boys Who Woke Up Early is a coming of age story that is set in the mountains of Southwest Virginia. It takes place in the late 50-s to early 60s and follows the life of Stony Shelor, a boy just starting his junior year at Jubal Early High. Things are not going so great for Stony until the arrival of a new boy in town named Jack Newcomb. Stony is quickly drawn into Jack's fantasy of being a private detective, and against all odds, the two boys land their first case. However, the stakes rapidly begin the rise as the two begin to encounter dangerous situations.

Best Horror

Demon King

by Erik Henry Vick

 

Demon King is the first in the Bloodletter Collections series and a real treat for fans of small-town urban horror stories. It is set in Oneka Falls, New York, where three children walk away alive but scarred by the worst that the town has to offer. The three children make it to adulthood, but only by making use of coping mechanisms to try and forget what had happened to them in their youth. However, as adults, they must return to the town and face the evil again. Fans of Stephen King novels, such as It, will love what Erik Henry Vick has created with Demon King.

Best Literary Fiction

Meet Me at the Beach

by Suzanne Jenkins

Meet Me at the Beach is the 13th book in the Pam of Babylon series, and it's a testament to Suzanne Jenkins's writing skills that readers still can't get enough of her characters. Like the rest of the books in the series, Meet Me at the Beach is filled with varied and intriguing characters as well as interesting situations. This time there is a wedding, new discoveries, secrets, and even a love triangle to keep readers turning the pages.

Best Science Fiction

The Turing Test

by Andrew Updegrove

How do you outwit an artificial intelligence that is thousands of times more intelligent than the average human? That is the challenge faced by Frank Adversego, the hero of The Turing Test. The headlines are full of warnings from people like Elon Musk about the dangers of artificial intelligence and the events in this science fiction thriller are all very plausible. However, you don't need to be a tech expert to be able to appreciate this gripping tale. The Turing Test is the fourth book featuring Frank Adversego, but no prior knowledge is required to enjoy the story.

Best Non-Fiction

Inspired by Art: Rise to Power

by Uvi Poznansky

Inspired by Art: Rise to Power uses the novel approach of using sculptures, paintings, etchings, and manuscripts as inspiration for its story. The series is about David, and this volume focusses on the decline of the House of Saul and David's rise to the throne. If you have a passion for art, then you will love this book as it is filled with images by Rembrandt, Ivan Schwebel, William Blake, Vollatton and many others. The art is also arranged in order of the story instead of by artist, style, or era.

Best Paranormal

Bound

by Kirsten Weiss

Bound by Kirsten Weiss is the first book in the Witches of Doyle series of cozy mysteries. This is no ordinary mystery, though, as it features a paranormal slant thanks to the magic-wielding Bonheim triplets. The trio lives in the small town of Doyle, California, where they are careful to keep their magic a secret from their neighbors. Unfortunately, a body is found in a coffee shop owned by one of the sisters, Jayce. Karin is determined to prove that her sister is innocent, but along the way, she discovers that there are a lot of other mysteries in her small mountain town. Each book in the Witches of Doyle series is told from the perspective of a different sister and features its own complete mystery, but Bound is a great place to start.