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Wednesday, August 31, 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!



September 26th, 2016

She’s good at achieving her goals…

College senior Sabrina James has her whole future planned out: graduate from college, kick butt in law school, and land a high-paying job at a cutthroat firm. Her path to escaping her shameful past certainly doesn’t include a gorgeous hockey player who believes in love at first sight. One night of sizzling heat and surprising tenderness is all she’s willing to give John Tucker, but sometimes, one night is all it takes for your entire life to change.

But the game just got a whole lot more complicated

Tucker believes being a team player is as important as being the star. On the ice, he’s fine staying out of the spotlight, but when it comes to becoming a daddy at the age of twenty-two, he refuses to be a bench warmer. It doesn’t hurt that the soon-to-be mother of his child is beautiful, whip-smart, and keeps him on his toes. The problem is, Sabrina’s heart is locked up tight, and the fiery brunette is too stubborn to accept his help. If he wants a life with the woman of his dreams, he’ll have to convince her that some goals can only be made with an assist.

I am so excited about this one! I really enjoy the author's style, and this character has always been a favorite. 




Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Books Set in College and High School

Hey, ladies!




It's Top Ten Tuesday by The Broke and The Bookish! This week's theme is a back to school freebie, so anything school related is up for grabs! I'm going 10 books set in college and high school, which it turns out I don't read too much of! This was a fun little challenge to hunt these down. :D


10. Addicted to You by Krista and Becca Ritchie


Very angsty and emotional, with good reason! 
College 

9. The Deal by Elle Kennedy 


Funny and sexy! 
College 


8. Broken Juliet by Leisa Rayven


Overly angsty.
College 

7. Easy by Tammara Webber


Takes a hard look at serious issues, with heart and all the feels. 
College 


6. Mara Dyer series by Michelle Hodkin


Weird but entertaining paranormal type romance thing.
High school


5. Never Never by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher


First two were great, third sucked.
High school


4. Sweet Filthy Boy by Christina Lauren


Okay, so technically the only college part is in the first chapter where they attend their graduation, but I couldn't help but slip one of my favorite contemporary romances in here. Plus, you know, Ansel. <3
College 


3. Monster in His Eyes series by J.M. Darthower


Fantastic anti-hero!
College 



2. Disruption by Jessica Shirvington


Dystopian romance!
High school


1. Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead


Everyone knows this series, haha.
High school 




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Monday, August 29, 2016

{Book Review} Dearest Neighbor by Penelope Ward

STANDALONE NOVEL that does *not* need to be read in conjunction with any other book.

From New York Times bestselling author, Penelope Ward, comes a friends to lovers story with sexy new characters.

After getting dumped, the last thing I needed was to move next door to someone who reminded me of my ex-boyfriend, Elec.

Damien was a hotter version of my ex.

The neighbor I’d dubbed “Angry Artist” also had two massive dogs that kept me up with their barking.

He wanted nothing to do with me. Or so I thought until one night I heard laughter coming through an apparent hole in my bedroom wall. 

Damien had been listening to all of my phone sessions with my therapist. 

The sexy artist next door now knew all of my deepest secrets and insecurities.

We got to talking. 

He set me straight with tips to get over my breakup. 

He became a good friend, but Damien made it clear that he couldn’t be anything more. 

Problem was, I was falling hard for him anyway. And as much as he pushed me away, I knew he felt the same…because his heartbeat didn’t lie.

I thought my heart had been broken by Elec, but it was alive and beating harder than ever for Damien. 

I just hoped he wouldn’t shatter it for good. 

Author's note – Neighbor Dearest is a full-length standalone novel. Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.




2 "Why Must I Always Be The Black Sheep" Stars



I was very excited to try this recent release, since I'd been eager to try the author out and there are a staggering amount of positive reviews for it. Not to mention it ticked so many of my guilty pleasure boxes, including:
Artistic hero (artists and rockstars are my weaknesses)
Dog loving hero
Woman scorned
Friends to lovers


I was expecting to be like other readers, and to fall in love with Damien and Chelsea's story. 
I did not. In fact, I nearly shelved this as a DNF!

My biggest problem with the story was the heroine, Chelsea. She was completely destroyed after breaking up with her then-boyfriend, and her only real joy comes from working at a youth center, at least until her new neighbor arrives. 
Once Damien was on the scene, all that angst over the previous relationship went out the window. While I was glad she was no longer moaning over the other guy, it was jarring to see her go from being totally listless to wanting any and all of Damien's attention. Ex-boyfriend who?

I can handle negative attributes in a protagonist; it gives them a more well rounded and believable feel. However, you have to balance that out! Aside from whining, moping, acting like a dramatic 14 year old, questioning herself and being horny (that one's not a flaw!), Chelsea had no other characteristics. She had no backstory beyond the ex-boyfriend, no likes or dislikes beyond Damien, and no real hopes or dreams. She mentions her enjoyment of her job at the youth center, but we never get to see or hear why she enjoys it.



Then there's Damien. He was a very typical contemporary romance love interest: a bad boy with a soft side, who happens to be hiding something that he feels the heroine cannot handle. He was pretty forgettable, to be honest.


My favorite characters were Damien's two Rottweilers. They were the most original part of the book.


One thing I had a massive problem with were the sex scenes! There was absolutely no foreplay, none at all. They'd be having a conversation, make eye contact and then boom, penetration. It was like really bad porn.


The pacing was choppy, with some things rushed and some things that dragged on. It kept me from really falling into the story.

On the plus side, it was as addictive as reality TV, and I finished it in less than a day. 

Overall, I was not a fan of this one. Clearly, haha. However, don't take my word for it - I'm the only one to rate it lower than 3.5 stars!


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Sunday, August 28, 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. 

The faintest breath of fall happened this week, with a day of only 60-70% humidity! Granted, it was still in the 90s, but breeze and low humidity, so I'll take it. I'm so ready for fall!

A very, very busy work week. I'm so tired!


Holy crap, I'm nearly finished with my Goodreads challenge! Only 20 more to go, and I read 8 books this week. 8!

There's a new addition to the family as of nearly 3 weeks ago! This is Layla, my 11 week old English Mastiff puppy. She's currently 25lbs, expecting to top out at around 140-150lbs. She's joined my miniature dachshund, my mini Aussie, and the catdog kitten.


Pike, Nola, Layla









Sunday -11,326
Monday - 9,372
Tuesday - 11,785
Wednesday - 11,823
Thursday - 12,020
Friday - 11,055
Saturday - 14,623

Total - 82,004



This Week's Recap







Coming Up

{Book Review} Cocky Bastard by Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland 

Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Books Set in College 

Waiting on Wednesday

TBR Thursday

Cover Lust, No. 37



Read This Week


4 stars!
A really enjoyable start to a new series.
Audiobook

2 stars!
This was just really bad.

3-ish stars!
Very intriguing and creepy as hell, but the characters were rather flat and read very young, despite it being a new adult novel. Curious about the upcoming sequel. 

3 stars!
Very sweet love story. 
4 stars!
I really, really enjoy this series. I can't wait until the third! I mean, there had better be a third, because it can't have ended like it ended.
Audiobook

4 stars!
Awww, this was just so cute and heartwarming and heartfelt and I just have all these feelings. 

5 stars!
This was shockingly good! I absolutely loved it, and happily shelved it as my Best of 2016.
Audiobook

2 stars!
So much potential, so poorly executed.


Currently Reading

I have about 2 hours left of this audiobook, and I don't think I'm reading the same book that everyone else rated 4 and 5 stars. The guy is the world's biggest asshole! 

This is hilarious and addictive!



What Will I Read Next?

Releases on the 30th!


Friday, August 26, 2016

Cover Lust, No. 36

Libby

I found Killian drunk and sprawled out on my lawn like some lost prince. With the face of a god and the arrogance to match, the pest won’t leave. Sexy, charming, and just a little bit dirty, he’s slowly wearing me down, making me crave more.

He could be mine if I dare to claim him. Problem is, the world thinks he’s theirs. How do you keep an idol when everyone is intent on taking him away?

Killian

As lead singer for the biggest rock band in the world, I lived a life of dreams. It all fell apart with one fateful decision. Now everything is in shambles.

Until Liberty. She’s grouchy, a recluse—and kind of cute. Scratch that. When I get my hands on her, she is scorching hot and more addictive than all the fans who’ve screamed my name.

The world is clamoring for me to get back on stage, but I’m not willing to leave her. I’ve got to find a way to coax the hermit from her shell and keep her with me. Because, with Libby, everything has changed. Everything.
 


I love the colors and the title placement, plus, you know, rockstar. This was a fantastic book!

Thursday, August 25, 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!


"But what if we can’t find Jude?"
He leans closer. His breath is warm on my ear. "We will."
"How can you be so sure?" I want to believe him so badly, but this is Rafa. The guy who’s all action and no plan. His smile is tired, knowing. An echo of a shared past I don’t remember.
"Because I’m not smart enough to give up, and you don’t know how to."

Gaby Winters’ nightmares have stopped but she still can’t remember her old life. Still can’t quite believe she is one of the Rephaim—the wingless half-angels who can shift from place to place, country to country, in the blink of an eye. That she was once the Rephaim’s best fighter. That demons exist. That Rafa has stayed.

But most of all, she can’t quite believe that her twin brother, Jude, might be alive.

And Gaby can’t explain the hesitancy that sidetracks the search for him, infuriates Rafa, and sends them, again, into the darkest danger.
 

I read the first book earlier this year and wasn't impressed, but it was during a reading slump and nothing was impressing me, haha. I shelved book two on my TBR and left it alone. Should I try again?





Wednesday, August 24, 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!



September 20th, 2016

Mercenary Kate Daniels knows all too well that magic in post-Shift Atlanta is a dangerous business. But nothing she’s faced could have prepared her for this…

Kate and the former Beast Lord Curran Lennart are finally making their relationship official. But there are some steep obstacles standing in the way of their walk to the altar…

Kate’s father, Roland, has kidnapped the demigod Saiman and is slowly bleeding him dry in his never-ending bid for power. A Witch Oracle has predicted that if Kate marries the man she loves, Atlanta will burn and she will lose him forever. And the only person Kate can ask for help is long dead.

The odds are impossible. The future is grim. But Kate Daniels has never been one to play by the rules…


Ugh, hurrrrrrry uuuuppppppp. I need this right now! Need it. 




Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Top Ten Tuesday: Books That Have Been on My TBR, Pre-Blogging

Hey, ladies!



It's Top Ten Tuesday by The Broke and The Bookish! Today's topic is ten books that have been on your shelf or TBR since before you started blogging, that you still haven't gotten to yet. 

I've been blogging for a little over a year, but in that time my TBR has gone from 100 books to over 1,000. Lots of which have remained unread!



In no order.....


10.

A friendship between the lost and lonely Caroline, and the unhappy Sebastian, leads to an illicit love that threatens them both.
Caroline Wilson is trapped in a cold and loveless marriage with an older man. When her husband finally wins a long sought-after promotion, Caroline feels she has little choice but to follow him to a new home in San Diego. There she meets Sebastian, a young man of 17. 
For an all too brief summer, their happiness blooms. 
But external pressures begin to bear down, not least from the overbearing David, and Sebastian’s parents begin to suspect that their son has a secret. Even Caroline’s new friend, Donna, realises that dark passions exist below the serene surface.

This sounds pretty angsty, but it's well rated and I'm curious!


9.

Six months ago, I was happy. I was simply Naomi Carradine. 

One month ago, I was admitted into a psych ward. 

Yesterday, Lachlan visited me. Kissed me. And told me that I’m starting to lose my mind. 

Hours later, Max haunted my thoughts, reminding me I’m not crazy and that he needs my help. 

A few minutes ago, I drifted further from reality, trying to unravel the past. 

And now...everyone thinks I’m insane. But, I know he's real, and I know he needs me. 

Do you believe me?

This has been put off because of the love triangle. I hate love triangles. That said, I'm insanely curious and have heard good things!



8.

Olivia Kaspen has just discovered that her ex-boyfriend, Caleb Drake, has lost his memory. With an already lousy reputation for taking advantage of situations, Olivia must decide how far she is willing to go to get Caleb back. Wrestling to keep her true identity and their sordid past under wraps, Olivia’s greatest obstacle is Caleb’s wicked, new girlfriend; Leah Smith. It is a race to the finish as these two vipers engage in a vicious tug of war to possess a man who no longer remembers them. But, soon enough Olivia must face the consequences of her lies, and in the process discover that sometimes love falls short of redemption.
Why are love triangles such a popular theme?!


7.

Sweet tea, corn bread, and soup beans—everyday fare for eight-year-old Alix French, the precocious darling of a respected southern family. But nothing was ordinary about the day she met ten-year-old Nick Anderson, a boy from the wrong side of town. Armed with only a tin of bee balm and steely determination, Alix treats the raw evidence of a recent beating that mars his back, an act that changes both of their lives forever.

Through childhood disasters and teenage woes they cling together as friendship turns to love. The future looks rosy until the fateful night when Frank Anderson, Nick's abusive father, is shot to death in his filthy trailer.

Suddenly, Nick is gone—leaving Alix alone, confused and pregnant. For the next fifteen years she wrestles with the pain of Nick's abandonment, a bad marriage, her family and friends. But finally, she's starting to get her life back together. Her divorce is almost final, her business is booming, and she's content if not happy—until the day she looks up and sees Nick standing across the counter. He's back…and he's not alone.

Once again Alix is plunged into turmoil and pain as Nick tries to win her love, something she resists with all her strength. Only one thing might break the protective wall she's built around her emotions—the truth about Frank Anderson's death. But when that truth comes out and those walls crumble, neither Alix nor Nick is prepared for the emotional explosion that could destroy as well as heal.
Haven't read this one because the synopsis sounds like the story would piss me off.


6.

The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi pure bloods have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals--well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures.

Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1:Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden. Unfortunately, she's crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn't her biggest problem--staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is.

If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck.
Sounds like an easy guilty pleasure, though I've heard it's nearly the exact same as Vampire Academy. Thoughts?



5.

I live in a world without magic or miracles. A place where there are no clairvoyants or shapeshifters, no angels or superhuman boys to save you. A place where people die and music disintegrates and things suck. I am pressed so hard against the earth by the weight of reality that some days I wonder how I am still able to lift my feet to walk.

Former piano prodigy Nastya Kashnikov wants two things: to get through high school without anyone learning about her past and to make the boy who took everything from her—her identity, her spirit, her will to live—pay.

Josh Bennett’s story is no secret: every person he loves has been taken from his life until, at seventeen years old, there is no one left. Now all he wants is be left alone and people allow it because when your name is synonymous with death, everyone tends to give you your space.

Everyone except Nastya, the mysterious new girl at school who starts showing up and won’t go away until she’s insinuated herself into every aspect of his life. But the more he gets to know her, the more of an enigma she becomes. As their relationship intensifies and the unanswered questions begin to pile up, he starts to wonder if he will ever learn the secrets she’s been hiding—or if he even wants to.

The Sea of Tranquility is a rich, intense, and brilliantly imagined story about a lonely boy, an emotionally fragile girl, and the miracle of second chances.
I have the audiobook of this, and I think I may start it soon!


4.

Adelaide Carmichael and Damien Allen couldn’t be more opposite.

Adelaide’s mother abandoned her when she was ten years old, leaving her to be raised by her abusive and alcoholic father.

Damien on the other hand came from a wealthy family, was a local celebrity, and seemed to have a bright future ahead of him.

Despite their differences, Adelaide and Damien were young, wild, and fiercely in love.

And they had a plan.

They were going to run away.

Be together forever.

And their plan was set in motion, until tragedy struck and for some reason, Adelaide wound up in The Oakhill Institution for the insane.

Adelaide has no idea what she did to wind up at Oakhill, but she knows one thing for sure...

She wants out.

And after Damien follows her there to aid her in escaping, Adelaide slowly begins putting together the pieces of her memory that are missing.

And it doesn’t take Adelaide long to figure out that sometimes...

That one true love never dies.

Warning:Do not read if you have a weak heart.
I'm intrigued! The cover, though...it's creepy. Looks like her head is on backwards.


3.

"But what if we can’t find Jude?"
He leans closer. His breath is warm on my ear. "We will."
"How can you be so sure?" I want to believe him so badly, but this is Rafa. The guy who’s all action and no plan. His smile is tired, knowing. An echo of a shared past I don’t remember.
"Because I’m not smart enough to give up, and you don’t know how to."

Gaby Winters’ nightmares have stopped but she still can’t remember her old life. Still can’t quite believe she is one of the Rephaim—the wingless half-angels who can shift from place to place, country to country, in the blink of an eye. That she was once the Rephaim’s best fighter. That demons exist. That Rafa has stayed.

But most of all, she can’t quite believe that her twin brother, Jude, might be alive.

And Gaby can’t explain the hesitancy that sidetracks the search for him, infuriates Rafa, and sends them, again, into the darkest danger.
 
I read the first book and wasn't terribly impressed, so I put off reading the next book. Should I reconsider it?


2.

"One day I'm going to touch you in a thousand different ways and show you how to touch me," he said. And he did.

Struggling with a tormented past, undergraduate Olivia Winter once led a practical but isolated life. Then she met Professor Dean West, a brilliant scholar of medieval history who melted Liv's inhibitions and taught her the meaning of both love and erotic pleasure. But after three years of a blissful, lusty marriage, Liv and Dean now face a crisis that threatens everything they believe about each other. And when dark secrets and temptations rise to the surface, the fallout might break them apart forever.
Another crowd favorite.




1.
It's Spring Break of senior year. Anna, her boyfriend Tate, her best friend Elise, and a few other close friends are off to a debaucherous trip to Aruba that promises to be the time of their lives. But when Elise is found brutally murdered, Anna finds herself trapped in a country not her own, fighting against vile and contemptuous accusations.

As Anna sets out to find her friend's killer; she discovers hard truths about her friendships, the slippery nature of truth, and the ache of young love.

As she awaits the judge's decree, it becomes clear that everyone around her thinks she is not just guilty, but dangerous. When the truth comes out, it is more shocking than one could ever imagine...
 
Suppose to be quite twisty!