Friday, April 29, 2016

Cover Lust, No. 22


Lily hasn’t always had it easy, but that’s never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She’s come a long way from the small town in Maine where she grew up. She graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business. So when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid everything in Lily’s life suddenly seems almost too good to be true.

Ryle is assertive, stubborn, and maybe even a little arrogant. He’s also sensitive, brilliant and has a total soft spot for Lily; and the way he looks in scrubs certainly doesn’t hurt. Lily can’t get him out of her head, but Ryle’s complete aversion to relationships is disturbing. Even as Lily finds herself becoming the exception to his no dating rule, she can’t help but wonder what made him that way in the first place.

As questions about her new relationship overwhelm her, so do thoughts of Atlas Corrigan, her first love and a link to the past she left behind. He was her kindred spirit, her protector. When Atlas suddenly reappears everything Lily has built with Ryle is threatened.

With this bold and deeply personal novel Colleen Hoover delivers a heart-wrenching story that breaks exciting new ground for her as a writer. Combining a captivating romance with a cast of all too human characters, “It Ends with Us” is an unforgettable tale of love that comes at the ultimate price.
 

I will read anything Colleen Hoover puts out, but I am seriously excited for this one. Plus, that cover! The crushed flowers look almost textured, and I love the colors. 
Releases August 2nd






Thursday, April 28, 2016

TBR Thursday

Kimberly @ Kimberlyfaye Reads started a new weekly feature that I'm excited to join in! This feature is to showcase what's on your to be read shelf (or eReader, or Audible library) and see what others think of it. Have you read it? Should I read it or put it back on the shelf? It's a way to dust off the books on your self and decide if they're worth reading!




He knows how to score, on and off the ice
 

Allie Hayes is in crisis mode. With graduation looming, she still doesn’t have the first clue about what she's going to do after college. To make matters worse, she’s nursing a broken heart thanks to the end of her longtime relationship. Wild rebound sex is definitely not the solution to her problems, but gorgeous hockey star Dean Di-Laurentis is impossible to resist. Just once, though, because even if her future is uncertain, it sure as heck won’t include the king of one-night stands. 

It’ll take more than flashy moves to win her over 

Dean always gets what he wants. Girls, grades, girls, recognition, girls…he’s a ladies man, all right, and he’s yet to meet a woman who’s immune to his charms. Until Allie. For one night, the feisty blonde rocked his entire world—and now she wants to be friends? Nope. It’s not over until he says it’s over. Dean is in full-on pursuit, but when life-rocking changes strike, he starts to wonder if maybe it’s time to stop focusing on scoring…and shoot for love.


I've read the first one of in this series (this is book 3, and each can be read as standalones) and don't remember too much about it, but I'm in the mood for a lighter, sporty romance. Have you read this, or any of the others in the series?




Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking The Spine and is a fun way to see what books other bloggers just can't wait to get their hands on!


The Flame Never Dies (The Stars Never Rise, #2) by Rachel Vincent - August 16th

For fans of Cassandra Clare and Richelle Mead comes the unputdownable sequel to The Stars Never Rise, a book Rachel Caine, author of the bestselling Morganville Vampires series, called “haunting, unsettling, and eerily beautiful.” 

ONE SPARK WILL RISE. Nina Kane was born to be an exorcist. And since uncovering the horrifying truth—that the war against demons is far from over—seventeen-year-old Nina and her pregnant younger sister, Mellie, have been on the run, incinerating the remains of the demon horde as they go.

In the badlands, Nina, Mellie, and Finn, the fugitive and rogue exorcist who saved her life, find allies in a group of freedom fighters. They also face a new threat: Pandemonia, a city full of demons. But this fresh new hell is the least of Nina’s worries. The well of souls ran dry more than a century ago, drained by the demons secretly living among humans, and without a donor soul, Mellie’s child will die within hours of its birth.

Nina isn’t about to let that happen . . . even if it means she has to make the ultimate sacrifice.
 

The first book was so interesting and different (especially for YA, which I generally don't like!), and I can't wait to get my hands on this one!


Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Bookish Delights

Hey, everyone!


It's Top Ten Tuesday by The Broke and The Bookish! This week's topic is bookish delights; whether it be the smell of books or the perfect reading weather, this week is all about those little things that make reading that much better.

In no order....


10. The smell of books

Starting it off cliche!



9. Rainbow bookshelf

Not mine. Sadly. 
Even though my shelves don't allow for a good rainbow organizing system (they wrap around the walls, so you can't see it fully), this is such a gorgeous way to display. 


8. Finding a great book, and then discovering it's a series!

There are so many series that have given me such a rush when I find out there's more to be had. Night Huntress by Jeanine Frost, Experiment in Terror by Karina Halle, Addicted by Krista and Becca Ritchie....just to name a few!


7. Discovering a series when most or all of the books are already out

Not gonna lie, I love binge reading series like this. It's so awesome to not have to wait so long for another book. For example: Kate Daniels, Charley Davidson, Mercy Thompson, Chicagoland Vampires...



6. Buying your favorites in physical form

For the past few months now I've been reading almost exclusively on my Kindle of via audiobook. However, that doesn't dim the excitement whenever I order the paperback version of a favorite!



5. Books with food

I could happily eat 24/7, and with my metabolism (thank you, maternal side, for letting me eat everything and not gain anything), I almost have to. I love when I can find a foodie book!



4. Books with dogs

She makes weird faces. 

I am a huge dog lover, and it makes me so happy when the heroine or hero has a pup. Especially a hero...so hot.



3. Books with great covers

Yeah yeah, don't a book by its cover and all that. Come on though, we all love a nice cover. 

So pretty!


2. Great narrators

A fantastic narrator is my favorite way to read a book. It adds so much to the story!




1. Happy endings

I am such a sucker for a happy ending. I need it!



What about you? What are your bookish delights?

- Amanda









Monday, April 25, 2016

{Mini Review} Stuck Up Suit by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward

From the New York Times Bestselling authors of Cocky Bastard, comes a sexy new standalone novel. 

It started out like any other morning on the train.

Until I became mesmerized by the guy sitting across the aisle.

He was barking at someone on his phone like he ruled the world.

Who did the stuck-up suit think he was…God?

Actually, he looked like a God. That was about it.

When his stop came, he got up suddenly and left. So suddenly, he dropped his phone on the way out.

I might have picked it up.

I might have gone through all of his photos and called some of the numbers.

I might have held onto the mystery man’s phone for days—until I finally conjured up the courage to return it.

When I traipsed my ass across town to his fancy company, he refused to see me.

So, I left the phone on the empty desk outside the arrogant jerk’s office.

I might have also left behind a dirty picture on it first though. 

I didn’t expect him to text back.

I didn’t expect our exchanges to be hot as hell.

I didn’t expect to fall for him—all before we even met.

The two of us couldn’t have been any more different. 

Yet, you know what they say about opposites.

When we finally came face to face, we found out opposites sometimes do more than attract—we consumed each other.

Nothing could have prepared me for the ride he took me on.  And I certainly wasn’t prepared for where I’d wind up when the ride was over.

All good things must come to an end, right?

Except our ending was one I didn't see coming.



3 "The First 30% Was Great" Stars



 With the intriguing plot and some early reviews, I was eager to get my hands on this one. I really enjoyed the first 30% or so, and then it started to go down hill for me.
As a matter of fact, this seems to be the thing when I read this author duo: it starts pretty strong, and then by the end, I'm rolling my eyes. 

The hero and heroine are polar opposites: he's a stiff, asshole-ish businessman and she's a quirky editor for an advice column. What starts with a lost phone and a flurry of texts soon turns into a sizzling romance, with plenty of drama and some good humor.


My life was far from Sex and the City. It was more like Sex and the Pity. Or Sex and the Shitty. 


There was suppose to be a big twist, but it was quite obvious to me right off the bat. The drama progressed to nearly ridiculous heights after that, venturing into soap opera-esque drama. It really turned me off and left me quite exasperated with everyone involved.

However, I still devoured it. It was hilarious in places, and kept me entertained. It was a bit of a train wreck, yet I couldn't look away. ;P








Sunday, April 24, 2016

The Sunday Post/It's Monday, What Are You Reading

Hey, everyone!


The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. It's Monday, What Are You Reading is a fun weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date where we share what we've read and reviewed over the past week and what we plan to read next. 


A laid back week with work, but kinda stressful overall! I was sick Monday and Tuesday, still dealing with the broken tooth with my dog (her normal vet wasn't available to do the removal until tomorrow, so that will happen then), which has spiked my anxiety, and some relatives have invited themselves over. They arrive tomorrow and leave Friday and I cannot stand them. At least they're not staying in the house...
Oh well, though. It'll be okay!

I do so love how Outlander is new every Saturday.... #SoDelicious #ButIMissTheKilts



Steps this week:


Sunday - 13,059
Monday - 11,657
Tuesday - 10,000
Wednesday - 11,464
Thursday - 15,322
Friday - 18,161
Saturday - 12,190

Total - 91,853



This Week's Recap







Coming Up*

{Mini Review} Stuck Up Suit by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Bookworm Delights

Waiting on Wednesday 

TBR Thursday 

Cover Lust, No. 22
*as always, subject to change!


Read This Week

Only one this week! I'm a bit ADD with what I'm reading lately. :p




Currently Reading

Funny and sweet!
Audiobook. I much prefer David over Jimmy!
Slooooowwwly starting this.


What Will I Read Next?

That I don't know! Wait, yes I do!




Friday, April 22, 2016

Cover Lust, No. 21

It's not just the motion of the ocean, ladies. It's definitely the SIZE of the boat too.

And I've got both firing on all cylinders. In fact, I have ALL the right assets. Looks, brains, my own money, and a big c*&k.

You might think I'm an a*&hole. I sound like one, don’t I? I'm hot as sin, rich as heaven, smart as hell and hung like a horse.

Guess what? You haven't heard my story before. Sure, I might be a playboy, like the NY gossip rags call me. But I’m the playboy who’s actually a great guy. Which makes me one of a kind.

The only trouble is, my dad needs me to cool it for a bit. With conservative investors in town wanting to buy his flagship Fifth Avenue jewelry store, he needs me not only to zip it up, but to look the part of the committed guy. Fine. I can do this for Dad. After all, I’ve got him to thank for the family jewels. So I ask my best friend and business partner to be my fiancée for the next week. Charlotte’s up for it. She has her own reasons for saying yes to wearing this big rock.

And pretty soon all this playing pretend in public leads to no pretending whatsoever in the bedroom, because she just can’t fake the kind of toe-curling, window-shattering orgasmic cries she makes as I take her to new heights between the sheets.

But I can’t seem to fake that I might be feeling something real for her.

What the fuck have I gotten myself into with this…big rock?

BIG ROCK is a standalone, dirty romance novel written from the guy’s POV by NYT Bestselling author Lauren Blakely…
 


Every so often I just have to throw in some hunk-tastic covers into Cover Lust, and really, is there any better fit for that title than this book?
I do also love how the R in rock looks more like a C...or maybe that's just my licentious mind at work.

The story was great, too! Sweet, sexy, hilarious, with a fantastic male POV.  






Thursday, April 21, 2016

TBR Thursday

Kimberly @ Kimberlyfaye Reads started a new weekly feature that I'm excited to join in! This feature is to showcase what's on your to be read shelf (or eReader, or Audible library) and see what others think of it. Have you read it? Should I read it or put it back on the shelf? It's a way to dust off the books on your self and decide if they're worth reading!




Last Sacrifice (Vampire Academy, #6) by Richelle Mead


They come first.


My vision was growing dimmer, the blackness and ghosts closing in. I swore it was like I could hear Robert whispering in my ear: The world of the dead won't give you up a second time. Just before the light completely vanished, I saw Dimitri's face join Lissa's. I wanted to smile. I decided then that if the two people I loved most were safe, I could leave this world.

The dead could finally have me.


Rose Hathaway has always played by her own rules. She broke the law when she ran away from St. Vladimir's Academy with her best friend and last surviving Dragomir princess, Lissa. She broke the law when she fell in love with her gorgeous, off-limits instructor, Dimitri. And she dared to defy Queen Tatiana, leader of the Moroi world, risking her life and reputation to protect generations of dhampir guardians to come.

Now the law has finally caught up with Rose - for a crime she didn't even commit. She's in prison for the highest offense imaginable: the assassination of a monarch. She'll need help from both Dimitri and Adrian to find the one living person who can stall her execution and force the Moroi elite to acknowledge a shocking new candidate for the royal throne: Vasilisa Dragomir.

But the clock on Rose's life is running out. Rose knows in her heart the world of the dead wants her back...and this time she is truly out of second chances. The big question is, when your whole life is about saving others, who will save you?

Join Rose, Dimitri, Adrian, and Lissa in Last Sacrifice, the epic, unforgettable finale to Richelle Mead's international #1 bestselling Vampire Academy series.
 



I read the other books in this series a couple years ago, and I'm not sure why I never finished. I found the series enjoyable, especially for YA, so I'm curious about this. Only reason I'm hesitating to pick it up is I have no freaking clue where we left off. Oops!





Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking The Spine and is a fun way to see what books other bloggers just can't wait to get their hands on!




Sidebarred (The Legal Briefs, #3.5) by Emma Chase - April 24th

Join Jake & Chelsea, Stanton & Sofia, Brent & Kennedy as they navigate the hilarious and heartwarming hurdles of love, life and the law in this final addition to the Legal Briefs Series.

There was a time when Jake Becker had it all together. He was controlled, driven, ruthless—in and out of the courtroom.

Then, six irresistible orphans and their heartbreakingly beautiful aunt crashed into his perfectly ordered life. They changed everything. They changed him. Now he’s a husband, an upstanding member of society, a father figure—a family man. 
And he’s pretty damn good at it. 

Sure, he has to referee sibling smackdowns, re-learn algebra, ensure his clients stay of jail, and keep his wife happy—but it finally feels like he’s got it together again....
So, of course something has to screw it all up.

It’s huge. Life-changing. Kind of terrifying.

And it will be the most amazing, perfect thing he’ll ever do.

Oh my god, give it to me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jake and Chelsea were my absolute favorite couple in this series, and Sustained is on my Best of 2016 list. I can't wait to get my hands on this. 




Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Top Ten Tuesday: Latest Books That Have Made Me Laugh

Hello, all!


It's Top Ten Tuesday by The Broke and The Bookish! This week's topic is Top Ten Books That'll Make You Laugh. I'm sharing my more recent books that have made me laugh!


In no order...



10. 44 Chapters About 4 Men


Witty, sexy, and wildly enjoyable! I'm not a memoir fan, but I loved this.  



9. Sustained


Loved, loved, loved this! The cast is fantastic, the romance swoony, and how can you not adore Jake?


8. Appealed



Almost as good as Sustained! I love Emma Chase's writing. So fun and addictive. 


7. Forever Pucked


This series is either adored or hated, and I'm firmly in the "adore" category. It's the perfect junk food read!
I literally cried laughing while reading this. There was one season towards the end where I just had to set the book down, because I was laughing too hard to breathe.



6. Big Rock


A quick and easy read, full of humor and heat. I've fallen in love with the male POV this year!


5. Seduction and Snacks


At the risk of sounding like an obnoxious preteen...LOLZ!




4. The Dirt on Ninth Grave


One of my all time favorite series! Charley's off the wall humor kills me every time. The girl has perfect timing on her comebacks. 




3. Nuts


Sigh. Is there anything sexier than a man who can cook?



2. Lick


Yeeaaaah...I know. Hush. We all have our vices!





1. Screwdrivered


A novel where the heroine is a romance reader! I cracked up with this one. Clayton's always good for a laugh!



Monday, April 18, 2016

{Mini Review} A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas



A thrilling, seductive new series from New York Timesbestselling author Sarah J. Maas, blending Beauty and the Beast with faerie lore.

When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it... or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

Perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore and George R. R. Martin, this first book in a sexy and action-packed new series is impossible to put down! 




4 "I Am Very Conflicted" Stars

This will be a short review today! I had a lot of thoughts on this one, but my poor dog broke her tooth over the weekend, so we're off to the vet's today. She's not feeling too good right now. :(




A Court of Thorns and Roses was a well written and intriguing retelling of Beauty and The Beast, and is a refreshing and exciting addition to the new adult genre. It was definitely a hyped novel, and in a lot of ways I can see why. In others...well, I'll just do a pros/cons list and keep it simple. ;)


On the one hand, I love:

- Tamlin. He was an enjoyable character, if slightly one-dimensional. I enjoyed how he did not push Feyre into anything, his loyalty and protectiveness of his people, and he's admittedly pretty sexy.

- Tamlin's best friend, Lucien. That man was hilarious, and I want to see more of him! He and Feyre had some awesome banter.

- The world building is just gorgeous. Rich, vivid, and thought provoking, but thankfully didn't enter the realm of "I have no fucking clue what is going on" high fantasy.

- The Fae were interesting! I've been intrigued by fae since reading Karen Marie Moning's Fever series, and it's always interesting to see another author's perspective. This cast of characters was slightly different from anything I've read before.

- The last 10-15% blew my mind. The action was heart pounding, emotions ran high, and I felt like I was right there with them.

- After the first 70 pages or so, it was incredibly addictive and I didn't want to put it down.

- Despite having more of fade-to-black sex scenes, this was a surprisingly sensual novel!

- I feel it could be read as a standalone without problem.

- The audiobook is pretty decent!




I wasn't as big a fan of:

- Feyre. First of all, I bought the audio version just so I could figure out how the hell to pronounce her name. I was thinking something along the lines of Fay-re, Fear-re, ect, but nope. Her name is pronounced Fair-uh. Never would've gotten that.
Second, I didn't really care for her as a heroine. She's just okay; a bit bland, not too well defined. She wasn't much of anything, good or bad.

- I have a sneaking suspicion that there will be a love triangle. I really, really hope I'm wrong.

- Like I said, it took around 70 pages to get into the story.

- The pacing for the book was a little weird to me. Nothing so hugely, glaringly obvious that I can pinpoint and say "that's what's wrong with it", but more like a nagging little something that set it off as odd to me.

- The romance. This was my biggest disappointment for me, especially because it's a Beauty and The Beast retelling and that storyline needs a romance that is all consuming. This one...wasn't. It was just okay. I wanted, needed to be completely enthralled with their romance, needed to believe in it one hundred and ten percent. The entire plot is revolves around love, and I didn't fully buy Tamlin and Feyre's love.

Overall though, it was an enjoyable read and I look forward to the next!

- Amanda, aka The Bibliophile Babe





Sunday, April 17, 2016

The Sunday Post/It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

Hey, everyone!


The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. It's Monday, What Are You Reading is a fun weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date where we share what we've read and reviewed over the past week and what we plan to read next. 


It's been a laid-back week work wise (only worked this weekend!), which has resulted in some fun little outings like the bay/beach, a little cafe, and the park. Despite the near constant drizzle, it was lovely! 



This face! <3 Love her.


In other, very exciting news...there's something HUGE planned for the fall and winter of this year. Huge. It's one of my biggest dreams, and I'm so damn thrilled, anxious, excited, crazy to get to it. From early October of 2016 to early January of 2017, I will be in Europe! Traveling Italy, France, Scotland, and possibly Ireland, Spain, England, Belgium, Portugal and Switzerland. I'm not really one for a set itinerary, so those last six are mostly up in the air at this point. We'll see!

There is a lot of planning involved, as you can imagine, especially because that pup up there is coming with me (my main blog and part time job is dog blogging, and she's vital to keeping my anxiety levels manageable). I'm excited for it, though! I'll probably share updates every so often on here for anyone who's curious. :)





Steps this week:

Sunday - 15,643
Monday - 18,715
Tuesday - 11,000
Wednesday - 12,259
Thursday - 13,781
Friday - 15,239
Saturday - 17,264

Total - 103,901



This Week's Recap






Coming Up*

{Mini Book Review} A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Books That Will Make You Laugh

Waiting on Wednesday

TBR Thursday

Cover Lust, No. 21
*as always, subject to change!

Read This Week

Bit of a slow week this week!
5 stars!
A very satisfying addition to a favorite series. I can't wait for the next one!
Audiobook

4.5 stars!
Emma Chase is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Loved it!


Currently Reading

About 30% in and kinda ambiguous so far. Not bad, just not wowed.  


What Will I Read Next?

I will get to this, I will!

May just try the audio of this!