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

Hey, ladies!

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. 

Another pretty quiet week, with one exception: I did a radio interview last Sunday! It was a deeper look into an article I wrote on my other blog, and that post exploded into thousands of shares and that interview. I was sick with nerves, but it went quite well. :)

The humidity this week has been brutal. It feels like you're drowning where you stand! August is the most brutal summer month in Florida, I think.

I reached the 100 (actually 102 now) mark on my Goodreads challenge this week! 30 more to go! Well, 28 now. ;)

Sunday - 11,289

Monday - 12,291

Tuesday - 12,519

Wednesday - 14,402

Thursday - 13,624

Friday - 13,155

Saturday - 11,742

Total - 89,022

This Week's Recap

The Olympic Book Tag

Top Ten Tuesday: Books Set in Big Cities

Waiting on Wednesday

{Book Review} Idol by Kristen Callihan

Cover Lust, No. 35

Coming Up

Um...?

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Books That Have Been on My TBR Since Before I Started Blogging...and are still there

Waiting on Wednesday 

{Book Review} The Veil by Chloe Neill

Cover Lust, No. 36

Read This Week

3 stars!
I was pleasantly surprised with this BDSM erotic romance. There was a lot more substance and story than one would expect!

5 stars!
My new favorite rocker romance, and the latest addition to my "Best of 2016" list!

3 stars!
Again, a surprisingly deep read for the genre and subject matter.

4 stars!
I sort of guessed the twist, and the hero's behavior towards the end bothered me, but otherwise this was a great read. Fun, sexy, flirty, had some depth, and was quick and easy. This is definitely the author's best work to date.

4...I think... stars!
I'm really torn on this one. The whole Dani thing still gives me major creeps, because I have a sister Dani's age and it makes me skin crawl to picture her in that light. On the fence about Jada. Don't like Ryodan. LOVE Lor! Super Spy Mac was great, and I still love Barrons.
Audiobook. Fantastic narration!

3.5 stars!
Definitely not up to snuff with the first one, but still enjoyable and action packed, especially for young adult.

Currently Reading

Almost finished with this, and I really like it!
Audiobook

About 45% in, and unimpressed. Very flat characters and I kinda want to stab the heroine. 

What Will I Read Next?

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Top Ten Tuesday: Coming of Age Stories I'd Like to See

Hey, ladies!

It's Top Ten Tuesday by The Broke and The Bookish! This week's topic is ten childhood characters you'd love to visit as adults, or ten characters you'd like to see coming of age stories of.


In no order, here are my picks, thought not a full ten.  Not all would be in childhood (most are actually just set before the book/series started), and not all are the main characters!

Barrons from the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning

I would love to see a novella from Barrons' point of view, before he met Mac. He's such a fascinating character, and I would love to see the circumstances that shaped him. 

Kate from the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews

Speaking of circumstances shaping characters, who wouldn't want to see a younger Kate?

Lily and Lo from the Addicted series by Krista and Becca Ritchie

While it'd be incredibly sad, it'd be so neat to watch the bond between these two form during their childhood. 

Reyes from the Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jones

I could totally get on board with a Reyes story set before First Grave on The Right. Damn, that man is fine.

Bones from the Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost

Bones will always and forever be my favorite book boyfriend. I want to see him before Cat!

Gallagher from Menagerie by Rachel Vincent 

If there ever was an interesting character, it's Gallagher.

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten New-to-Me Authors for 2015

Hey, ladies!

It's that time of the week! ;) Today is The Broke and The Bookish's Top Ten Tuesday. This week's theme is Top Ten New-to-Me Favorite Authors I Read For The First Time in 2015. I've had the most incredible reading year for 2015, and had a hell of a time narrowing it down to ten. Let's get to it!

For the first time ever, this is mostly in order. 5 through 2 are interchangeable! And switch 8 with 9. Okay, they're only kind of in order. 

I couldn't narrow it down to 10, so here's 12!

12. Mia Sheridan 

Archer's Voice, Kyland, Stinger, and Grayson's Vow, among others.

I have a love/hate relationship with Sheridan's writing. Sometimes it's exactly the emotional, beautiful love story I want, and other times it's an angst fest I can't finish. She consistently has an addictive, flowing style of writing, and Archer's Voice has been one of my favorite books this year. 

11. Ilona Andrews

Kate Daniels series, The Edge series, and others.


It's Kate Daniels. Enough said.

Okay, in all seriousness now: Kate is one of my most favorite, kick ass heroines of all time! After the first book (which was admittedly a bit rough), I was completely sucked into the series, and read 8 released books in little more than a week. The world building is fascinating, with a well developed cast of side characters. The action is nail biting, and the chemistry off the charts.
And we can't forget Curran now, can we....rawr. See what I did there?

10. T.M. Frazier

King series and The Dark Light of Day series


T.M. Frazier is a newer one for me, and one I constantly flop around with while reading. My general thought process while reading one of her books is:

Book addict: This is everything I thought I didn't like, but I can't stop reading.
Logic: Come on, this is ridiculous!
Book addict: Did anyone ask you?! Go away so I can keep reading.
Logic: This guy is the biggest asshole!
Book addict: I don't care!
Book addict & a very reluctant Logic: Okay, that was seriously hot.
Logic: But this relationship is toxic!
Book addict: I don't care!
Logic: That is beyond unrealistic.
Book addict: It could happen!
Logic: This is so, so wrong....
Book addict: GIVE ME MORE!!!!!

Her novels are addictive, dark, fast paced, and seriously sexy, with a dash of stupefied skepticism thrown in for good measure. 

9. Karen Marie Moning

Fever series, Highlander series

Because Barrons, and incredible world building, to die for character development, crack-like addictiveness (I read this book, 600 page Shadowfever, in a day), and plenty of mystery and action.
But mostly because Barrons.
Gimme gimme. 

8. Aly Martinez

The Fall Up, On The Ropes series, Wrecked and Ruined series

One of my favorite contemporary authors! Aly Martinez writes some of the most amazing book boyfriends I've ever had the pleasure of coming across (ha...ha!). Add in her intensely-emotional-but-not-choke-you-angst feels, fast pace and amazing side characters and you have one hell of a new adult novel. The Fall Up and Fighting Silence will be on my "Best Contemporaries of 2015" list. 

7. Christina Lauren

Beautiful Bastard series, Wild Seasons series, The House, and others.

I will forever worship this writing duo simply for brining my travel/foreign boy fantasy to life with such flair. If you want a light, ridiculously funny and sexy romance, I highly suggest reaching for one of these bad boys.

6. Rachel Vincent

The Stars Never duology, Menagerie trilogy, Soul Screamers series, Shifters series, and others.

Few authors can evoke such intense physical responses for me like Rachel Vincent can. I have laughed out loud, ugly cried, felt nauseous (Menagerie is a tough - but wildly engaging and beautiful!- read), and slung a book so hard across a room that it knocked a picture frame down (three words: I hate Jace).
I think she is a gifted author who writes some of the most entertaining books ever, but her favor of love triangles annoys the ever loving shit out of me. Thankfully they seem to be absent in her more recent releases, but that Shifters series infuriated me. I can fully admit to not minding the love triangle in Soul Screamers (I actually thought it was well done and believable), but that's as far as I'll go.
I can't say enough good things about Menagerie and The Stars Never Rise!

5. Alice Clayton

Cocktail series, Redhead series and Nuts.

My go-to for hilarious and sexy contemporaries! These are lightning quick books; I don't think there's been a Clayton book that's taken me more than a day or two finish. You can always count on off the charts chemistry, humor in spades, and plenty of steamy sex.

4. Jeaniene Frost

Night Huntress series, Night Prince series, and others.

My all time favorite paranormal romance author and HolyBatBallsCanYouBelieveWe'reGettingTheGravesOuttakesBookThisMonth?!?!!
(insert epic fangirling)


Ehhm. Sorry about that. The Night Huntress series is one favorites ever, and one of the only series I've reread on more than one occasion. Action, fantastic cast of characters, humor, sexy fun, and Bones. What's not to love? Bones...sigh. I love that vamp.

3. Colleen Hoover

Slammed trilogy, Ugly Love, Maybe Someday, November 9, Never Never novellas (with Tarryn Fisher), and others.

No one writes quite like Hoover. Even if I don't love the plot of the book (Hopeless, Maybe Someday), I'm still completely sucked in to the story and finish in less than two days. Her writing style ensnares you, and I can't help but love it. She does know how to write a book boyfriend, too. ;)

2. L.H. Cosway

Hearts series, Painted Faces, The Hooker and The Hermit (with Penny Reid), and others.

I think Cosway's writing may just be more addicted than Colleen Hoovers! I love the fact that her books contain the potential for series emotional happenings, but she never falls into the oh-so-popular angst fest pool. Her writing style flows effortlessly, there's tons of humor and plenty of sex, and it is incredibly easy to sink into the characters' heads.

1. Karina Halle

Love In English, Dirty Angels trilogy, Experiment in Terror series, Sins & Needles trilogy, The Play, Racing The Sun, and others.


Hands down, my favorite author. I love everything about her writing, characters, plots, ect. In 30 odd books, I've only disliked one. She writes my ultimate book boyfriends, keeps me on the edge of my seat, and unfailingly sucks me into the books' worlds.
You think you've found your ultimate book boyfriend? Wait until you meet Dex Foray.

- The Bibliophile Babe

Top Ten Tuesday: Top 10 Book Quotes (From This Year!)

Hey, ladies!

It's The Broke and The Bookish's Top Ten Tuesday! This week's theme is Top Quotes From Books You've Read This Year (Or So), and I've been looking forward to this one for weeks. My books are constantly dog eared, Post-It'ed, or highlighted with quotes that strike my fancy, and I had trouble narrowing it down to these!
Clearly, I went outside the typical 10, and these are mostly recent reads, with a few old favorites slipped in.


In no real order:

14.

"That bitch!"

"She's nice enough, just -"

"Nice enough? I'm gonna put a hit out on her!"

"Okay, hold on there, Tony Soprano. No one's putting a hit on anyone." I paused." Just to be clear, you don't have those kinds of connections, do you?"

"No, but I have money! I'm sure I can buy some connections."

- The Fall Up by Aly Martinez

13.

"My love... I want you free. I want you wild. I want you brave. I want you anyway I can get you. I want you now, and I want you for the rest of my life."

- The Hooker and The Hermit by L.H. Cosway and Penny Reid

12.

I was head over heels in love with her. No, that didn't describe it. 

I was tear my fucking heart out and throw it to her, beg her to take it into hers. I was falling for the greatest heights, with no safety net below. 

I was giving everything of my own life for hers, giving up every inch of my soul so she could wear it proudly. 

I was a former king on my knees before the queen. A jester begging for a chance. 

I was powerless, helpless, and at her mercy. 

- The Dex-Files by Karina Halle

One of my all time favorites! 

11.

I think that in the space between birth and death you can have one life, or you can have many. But in order to have many, you also need the strength to end the one that came before it. And therein lies the tricky part.

- King of Hearts by L.H. Cosway

10.

Much slower, I turned around to see Vlad examining his fingernails, as if his hands weren't still ablaze in the flames that had blasted the ghoul's head off moments before.

"What the hell was that?" I gasped.

"Premature inflammation," He replied. "Happens sometimes. Very embarrassing; I don't like to talk about it."

- This Side of The Grave by Jeaniene Frost

I don't quite know why, but this bit makes me laugh my ass off every time I read it. 

9.

"You're imagination both frightens and intrigues me."

- Racing The Sun by Karina Halle

That's one hell of a compliment. 

8.

"I am forever yours, Kitten, in this life and the next."

- This Side of The Grave by Jeaniene Frost

Oh, Bones! *swoons*

7.

"You're either on my side, by my side, or in my fucking way. Choose wisely."

- Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning

Can't remember which this one was from!

6.

I knew I loved her - fiercely and with every part of my heart, even the broken parts, even the parts that felt unworthy and without value. And maybe those parts most of all.

- Archer's Voice by Mia Sheridan

5.

"Why not live with the magic? Be a kid again, and believe in the fantastical. Life is more fun with a little smoke and mirrors."

- Six of Hearts by L.H. Cosway

4.

She's lost in thought. I'm lost in her.

- Never Never (Part 1) by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher

3.

"In the light of day, I can see all your cracks and your darkness and your flaws, and I fall in love with it all. And I hope you can fall in love with everything that I am, all that lurks in my dark, all that shines in my light. I want you to love every little piece of me, because it all belongs to you."

- The Play by Karina Halle

This book left me with 45 breathtaking quotes! It was so hard to pick just one. 

2.

I moaned like a whore in church. To be fair, I'd never actually heard a whore moan in church, but I had a feeling it would sound a lot like the unholy sounds pouring forth from my mouth.

- Wallbanger by Alice Clayton

1.

He looked at me and I shivered. I never get enough of him. Never will.

He lives. I breathe.

I. Want. Him. Always.

Fire to my ice. Ice to my fever.

- Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning

This one gives me chills. Gorgeous, especially after you read their story!

- The Bibliophile Babe

Book Boyfriends

Morning, y'all!


Today's post is on book boyfriends. You know, those wonderfully illustrious, sinfully sexy, swoon worthy men that have ruined you for real guys....this  sums that feeling up, doesn't it?

I have an embarrassing large collection of these book boyfriends. I may or may not have an entire Goodreads shelf dedicated to my men. It's seriously bad, people. Luckily, this is a very common affliction in the book community, and I'm in good company. ;) I thought I'd share with you my top five book boyfriends, the ones who are just so good they're at book-husband level, haha. Even with that, it was so hard narrowing it down!

(This is in order)

5. Fisher 

from Fisher's Light by Tara Sivec

I loved Fisher. He had so much baggage, had seen so much violence, hate and pain, and I just wanted to help him. His dedication to his recovery and management of his PTSD and to repairing his relationship with his wife was beautiful, and there are few things more attractive than admitting to and owning up to your mistakes in life.

"I'm going to fix this. I have to fix this... I hate every moment that I'm away from her, but I will do whatever it takes to find the man she once loved and bring him back to her."

4. Jericho Barrons

from the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning

The ultimate alpha male! He's the complete package with his insane confidence, protectiveness, unapologetic attitude for who and what he is, mystery, intelligence, and pure sex appeal. I've rarely ever panted so hard as I did when I read this series.

"I'm the one who will always watch over you. Always be there to fuck you back to your senses when you need it, the one who will never let you die."

3. Archer Hale

from Archer's Voice by Mia Sheridan

Oh, Archer. Few books have been uglier cries for me than Archer's Voice. It is by far one of the most beautiful, passionate, and heartbreaking love stories I've ever read. The characters' connection is staggering, and Archer trying to navigate life for his girl made me swoon and cry my eyes out at the same time. He's tied with our next casanova for 2nd place.

"I want to be able to love you more than I fear loosing you and I don't know how. Teach me, Bree. Please teach me. Don't let me destroy this."

2. Till Page

from Fighting Silence by Aly Martinez 

Till was damn near close to being #1 on this list. He's sexy, sweet, tender, protective, and stands up and supports his younger siblings when he's broke himself. He's madly in love with his girl, and he is passionate in his sport. I don't care what you do, if you're passionate about it there is nothing sexier to me. He's in his very early twenties, and is rapidly loosing his hearing. The struggle he had, and the couple's coping, was beautiful.

"I knew I'd never be the same when I lost it to the silence. I'd happily give up every noise in the world if I could just keep her laugh."

1. Dex Foray 

from the Experiment in Terror series by Karina Halle

There is no one better than Sexy Dexy. He's one of the most unusual love interests I've read: he's short, he's both a fearless man and a scared little boy, he's honestly a little bit crazy and he can be the dirtiest bastard and then the sweetest lover. He also has a filthy mouth and some of the best swear words and come backs. I love a man who can make me laugh. He's perfect. <3

"I was head over heels in love with her. No, that didn't describe it. I was tear my fucking heart and throw at her, beg her to take it into hers. I was falling from the greatest heights with no safety net. I was giving everything of my own life for hers, giving up every inch of my soul so she could wear it proudly. I was a former king on my knees before the queen. A jester begging for a chance. I was powerless, helpless and at her mercy."
That's one of my favorite quotes.



Bonus! Tie for #1. Gilbert Blythe
From the Anne of Green Gables series by L.M. Montgomery

My very first book boyfriend, before I even knew there was such a thing. The steadfast devotion and love he has for Anne takes my breath away, and his boyish nature and knack for mischief makes me love him all the more.
I want my own Gilbert Blythe. Even movie Gil is to die for!

"I have a dream. I persist in dreaming it, although it has often seemed to me that it will never come true. I dream of a home with a hearth-fire in it, a cat and a dog, the footsteps of friend - and you!"

"You know... that every day I would pick a different memory I had of you. And I would play it over and over and over again in my mind, until every detail, every hair, every freckle, every part of you was exactly as I remembered it."

There seems to be a bit of a theme with my guys. Intense, devoted, passionate, dark haired, intelligent....

Who are some of your BBFs?

- The Bibliophile Babe 

My Top Five Biggest Book Peeves

Hey, everyone! Happy Hump Day!


Today's post, as you might've guessed by the title, is going to be my most grating book peeves. You know what I mean: you're reading along, happy as a pig in shit, and then you stumble across it. That horrid monstrosity that makes you grit your teeth, makes your hands tighten on your page, and gives you a brief fantasy of pitching the book against the wall. At least, I hope it's not just me who feels like that.....

                                                           

#5. Third Person Point of View

Admittedly, this is one of my lesser annoyances, and it doesn't stop me from reading a third person book if it's fast paced, well written, or deliciously smutty (preferably all three). The style just bothers me. I find it extremely difficult to connect with the characters, and it doesn't hold my attention as well as first person does. It's not as engaging, and as such it makes me infinitely more critical of every tiny little thing in the book.

#4. When The Next Book in The Series is a Different Hight

Good god, this one messes with my OCD on so many levels. I have floating shelves that cover three walls, and a jammed packed bookcase. I love seeing my books set up all lovely, and seeing series lined up together makes me moan like a wanton hussy... unless the damn things are a smidgen different in height. And I'm not talking a paperback vs a hardback! No, this is two paperbacks in the same series! Refer to the below photo, and if this doesn't make you twitch....I don't even know. 

Look at the Nocte trilogy books. They're amazing books with beautiful covers, and it's one of my all time favorite series, but I can barely stand to look at in on my favorites shelf. You can't un-see it!

#3. When your character starts out "fun" and "quirky", and a few books later is just downright annoying

This one always disappoints me, as I usually wind up really liking the series/character at first. The Charley Davison books by Darynda Jones immediately come to mind with this. Charley, the female protagonist, starts out as a bit spacey, but funny and insightful at the same time. I really enjoyed her character during the first four books, but as the series wore on I was getting fed up. The author laid it on too thick, and kept adding to an already existing trait that didn't need any adding. Does she really need to name every goddamn thing under the sun? If you've read the books, you know what I mean. If not, and you're a fan of light PNR (paranormal romance), I highly recommend the first four books. After that, proceed at your own risk.

#2. Suddenly introducing flipping POVs just for the hell of it

Grrr, this one! It was neck and neck with my number one peeve, but got nudged down. It was close, though! I can't stand it when you're reading a series that has been set in one person's point of view for a few books, and we get a well established rhythm going, and then in the next book we suddenly have  dual point of views for absolutely no reason at all. An excellent example would be Captivated By You by Sylvia Day, the fourth book in the Crossfire series. I love the books, but the that one bugged the crap out of me. I liked reading from Eva's POV solely, and as much as I love Gideon, I don't want to read his part. It takes away something from his character, in my opinion. The image I built up of him twisted a bit as I read him, and that frustrated me. 

I'm not against dual POV stories at all (like Colleen Hoover's and Tarryn Fisher's stunning love child Never Never), or suddenly flipping POVs in a series for a good reason (like in Karina Halle's final Experiment in Terror book, Dust to Dust), but when people start doing it willy-nilly it grates on me like nails on chalkboard.

And finally....drumroll please.....

#1. Love Triangles

Stop it, stop it, stop it!!! This one, without question, is my biggest and most intense peeve. Stop. It. It's especially popular in the YA genre, and I have no idea why. I just do not get it, especially when it's in a romance based book or series. You harp on and on about your undying love for the other person, now you're eye-fucking someone else and waffling back and forth between whom you should choose. Drives me insane.

This is one thing that will have me quitting the book and series if there is one, 99.99% of the time. I can think of two books where I persevered, and that's because they weren't really even love triangles! The first is Karen Marie Morning's Fever series, and it's a stretch to call it a love triangle. The second is Karina Halle's A-fucking-mazing The Artists Trilogy. I recently found out from the author that she never intended for people to get the love triangle vibe from the book, and I find that so interesting. The "other guy", if you will, is one of the most fascinating characters I've ever had the pleasure of reading, even though he's a very firm antihero. 

So there you have it! What are some of your biggest issues when reading? Have you ever pushed past one of them simply because the book was that good?

- The Bibliophile Babe