Creatures of The Night Book Tag

Hey, everyone!

Today I'm doing the Creatures of The Night book tag! I have nothing else to post about, and have been diving into a series, so no reviews, plus I'm lazy.

I'm a big paranormal/urban fantasy fan, so what better tag than sharing my favorite creatures of the night? Let's go!

1. Vampire

Bones, because...Bones. One of my favorite book boyfriends of all time, and a bad ass vampire.

Vlad's not too bad, either!

Also my favorite vampire series, thought the ones in the Kate Daniels series intrigue me. Same with Laura Bickle's Hollowed Ones series. 

2. Werewolf 

I like a good chunk of the wolf pack in the Mercy Thompson series!

3. Zombie

Haven't read too many zombie books, but this is my favorite!

4. Ghost

Favorite ghostly series, and it's made me sleep with the lights on.

5. Witch/warlock/spell-caster

... I can't think of any witchy books I've liked.

6. Fairy/Fae

Fever series!

7. Demon

This is a wildly entertaining and unputdownable take on demons, and oh my god, I just realized the next book is out in less than a month!

8. Angel

Such a guilty pleasure series. 

9. Alien

Not an alien fan!

10. Superpower Human

I'm not sure what to call Kate, or if she's entirely human, but that's one bad ass chick!

Also, I want a sword. And a Curran. 

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. 


Moderately busy work week, with some exciting things on the horizon! Don't want to jinx things, but I can't wait. :D

It's so hot here. So miserably, miserably hot and humid. It's brutal, and constantly in the high 90s, with the heat index hovering around 105 degrees. Brutal, I tell you.

I kinda don't know what to do with myself on Saturday nights now that Outlander's done with its second season. The #Droughtlander is real, I tell you. 

A great steps and yoga week!

Sunday - 14,048

Monday - 11,635

Tuesday - 13,790

Wednesday - 13,066

Thursday - 12,738

Friday - 16,556

Saturday - 12,822

Total - 94,655

This Week's Recap

Book Haul!

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Facts About Me

Waiting on Wednesday

TBR Thursday

Cover Lust, No. 31

Coming Up

Some kind of tag video :p

Top Ten Tuesday: Books Set Outside the US

Waiting on Wednesday

TBR Thursday

Cover Lust, No. 32

Read This Week

The Outlander books take me a week to read, apparently. :p

4.5 stars!

A little scattered compared to the other two, but it was still highly emotional, addictive, and a little infuriating. Several aspects had me on the verge of tossing my Kindle, yet I still loved it. That seems to be the theme with Outlander and me, haha.
There are so many scenes I'm really hoping make it into the third season of the show, because holy bat balls, I can't imagine how epic that'd be on screen, especially with Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan to pull it off. Those two have some serious talent, and that chemistry!

Currently Reading

Yep. Additive. 

What Will I Read Next?

Abs.

Cover Lust, No. 31

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.

Okay, so it's not my favorite cover of hers, but I'm so excited for it! Just about three weeks or so until release!

TBR Thursady

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!

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Black Dagger Brotherhood delivers the first novel in an enthralling new series set amid the shifting dynamics of a Southern family defined by wealth and privilege—and compromised by secrets, deceit, and scandal.... 

For generations, the Bradford family has worn the mantle of kings of the bourbon capital of the world. Their sustained wealth has afforded them prestige and privilege—as well as a hard-won division of class on their sprawling estate, Easterly. Upstairs, a dynasty that by all appearances plays by the rules of good fortune and good taste. Downstairs, the staff who work tirelessly to maintain the impeccable Bradford facade. And never the twain shall meet.

For Lizzie King, Easterly’s head gardener, crossing that divide nearly ruined her life. Falling in love with Tulane, the prodigal son of the bourbon dynasty, was nothing that she intended or wanted—and their bitter breakup only served to prove her instincts were right. Now, after two years of staying away, Tulane is finally coming home again, and he is bringing the past with him. No one will be left unmarked: not Tulane’s beautiful and ruthless wife; not his older brother, whose bitterness and bad blood know no bounds; and especially not the ironfisted Bradford patriarch, a man with few morals, fewer scruples, and many, many terrible secrets.

As family tensions—professional and intimately private—ignite, Easterly and all its inhabitants are thrown into the grips of an irrevocable transformation, and only the cunning will survive.

J.R. Ward can be hit or miss for me, but this one has me curious! Have you read it, and if so what'd you think?

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!

Magic Binds by Ilona Andrews - September 20th

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…

I am a huge Kate Daniels fan, and have been itching for some urban fantasy lately. I'm really excited right now too, because for some reason I thought this was releasing in November instead of September!

Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Facts About Me

Hey, ladies!

It's Top Ten Tuesday by The Broke and The Bookish! Today's topic is Ten Facts About Me, and those can be bookish, general, or whatever you fancy. Let's go!

10. I couldn't read until age 11

Okay, that's a bit of a stretch, but not by much. Up until the age of 11 or so, reading was a huge struggle for me. I couldn't move beyond the most basic of words, and even that was hard. The words didn't make sense, their sounds confused me, and I was so frustrated that I'd wind up crying every time I tried to work on it, and dreading it every day.

I hated reading with a passion, hated that my mind craved something more advanced, but I could not move past where I was. It felt like there was a block in my mind that wasn't letting me access the way I needed to learn to read. As a bright child in every other aspect of life, I felt stupid that I couldn't learn this most basic element.

Then, my mom got me my first audiobook. And everything changed. Without the pressure of reading myself, I could fall into the stories I wanted. I learned structure, pacing, pronunciation, and so much more. I fell in love with books, and wanted to learn more. Within a few months, I went from struggling with "fat cat on a mat" type of books, to devouring Romeo and Juliet, Pet Semetery, Harry Potter, Twilight, ect, completely cutting out the middle learning experience. One to the other, with no adjustment period. I'm so thankful for those audiobooks, and a mom who knew when to let me go at my own speed. 

9. Fake pregnant bellies creep me the fuck out

Anytime someone is pregnant in movies or on TV, it makes me cringe to think of that fake pregnant belly suit thing. I don't know why, but seeing it makes my skin crawl. I'll turn off whatever's on if I see one! 

8. My dog is my part time job

No, literally! And not just because she's a diva and a handful.  In addition to this blog, I write a pet-centric blog chronicling life with Nola, my miniature Dachshund. Believe it or not, it's my part time job, and actually makes a good bit of money.

7. I want a horse, even though they make me wary

When I move, I want to get a horse. I have a very healthy respect for those large, powerful creatures that sometimes borders on slight fear. However, that doesn't stop me from wanting one!

6. I hate to drive

I like going places, just do not enjoy being the driver. At all.

5. ADHD doesn't begin to cover it

I can't for the life of me focus when it comes to doing any form of writing, and that's not a good thing when you write (or attempt to write, anyway) two blogs. This post has taken me way longer than it should have, because YouTube! Reading! Food! Music! Need to stretch! Gotta brush my teeth!

4. Inappropriate on a spectacular level

That's me! 

3. Raunchy books crack me up

It's no secret that I love smutty novels, and read quite a few of them. Partly because, well, smut, and also because they're just so funny. The descriptions make me smirk, or flat out laugh out loud.

For instance, I was reading the third Outlander book yesterday, and came along a line that said:

"He was mightily roused"

And laughed and laughed. In front of my mother, sister, and youngest brother. Then proceeded to text that passage to my mom to share my mirth over it. We have an unconventional relationship, haha.

2. I can't stand silence

Can't stand it whatsoever. I always have music, an audiobook, the TV, ect going if I'm not around other people during the day, and a fan on at night, or I can't sleep. Call it a byproduct of growing up as the oldest of 7!

1. Clothes never fit me right

This has been a lifelong problem. Clothes never fit me right! Despite what magazines would have you believe, clothes aren't built for thin people, especially ones with no hips or butts, smallish chests, and long limbs and torsos, despite being average height. I'm constantly tugging up my shorts and jeans, pulling down my shirt hems, and pushing up fallen sleeves and tank top straps.

Book Haul!

Okay, so less of a haul and more of an this-is-what-I've-bought-since-we've-last-spoken thing. The key is to spread your spending out, so you don't feel as guilty. ;)

Holden Scott is the prince of professional football. At least he was before he lost it all . . . or more to the point, before he threw it all away. Now he's out of a job, out of the public's good graces, and perhaps just a little out of his mind. So when a friend offers up his remote lodge in the wilds of Colorado, giving Holden some time away to get his life back on track, he can hardly say no. The last thing he expects is to see a beautiful girl in the woods—one wearing a white, lace dress who appears in the moonlight, and leaves no footprints behind. Is she a dream? A ghost? A product of his muddled imagination? Or something entirely different?

Midnight Lily is the haunting love story of two lost souls reaching for each other in the dark. A tale of healing, acceptance, and the worlds we create to protect our own hearts. It is a story of being lost, of being found, and of being in the place between.

This is a stand-alone Sign of Love novel, inspired by Virgo Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18. 

“Live, no regrets”

Her…
Sloane Locke has led a sheltered life. However, with a history like hers, she can understand why her brothers and her father want so much to protect her. She has gone along with it for twenty long years, but those days are over. For the girl who never makes promises, Sloane has made a pact with herself that things will change on her twenty-first birthday. So when the clock strikes midnight, Sloane strikes out to spread her wings and break a few rules.

Him…
In addition to inking skin, Hemi Spencer possesses many talents. Controlling himself has never been one of them. It’s never had to be. He’s lived a life of indulgence for as long as he can remember. Right up until tragedy struck. Now, he’s nothing but controlled. He’s a man on a mission, one who will let nothing and no one stand in his way.

Them…
Nothing in their lives could’ve prepared Sloane and Hemi for what they’d find in each other—distraction and obsession, love and possession. But the one thing they can’t find is a future. Neither one has been totally honest. And they’ll soon learn that the devil is in the details. In the details and in the lies.
How far will two people go to live in the now when the now is all they’ve got?

I've always been lost . . . 

Abandoned by a father who didn't want me. Cherished by a stepfather, though I wasn’t his. Shattered by a boy who swore he loved me. 

But I belonged nowhere, to no one. 

Then I met Owen, the sweet-talking hockey player who made me love him. He gave me the courage to trust in someone besides myself. He showed me a love I longed for. 

When an unwanted ghost comes knocking on my door, my heartbreaking history threatens to repeat itself. But where do I turn if I lose everyone? And how do I find where I belong, when I’m still Finding Me? 

Finding Me is a spinoff from the Second Chances series and can be read as a standalone. 

She follows all the rules.

He’s going to teach her how to break them.

After a heartbreaking tragedy, successful attorney Amelia Crowley has numbed herself to the pleasures of life, clinging to a specific set of rules, finding strength in order and organization. When she meets easy going surfer Ryan Fielding, that organized life is turned upside down by a sea of washboard abs and sun-kissed hair.

Sexy and charismatic, Ryan looks for pleasure however he can find it in an effort to silence his own inner demons. Until Amelia crashed into his life the only thing he chased was the next wave. Refusing to break their connection and determined to break through her carefully crafted walls, Ryan sets out to throw out every rule in her book and show Amelia that pleasure can't be planned. 

Can Amelia let Ryan take the lead or will she cling to her rules and wipe out their chance at love?

With her now-classic novel Outlander, Diana Gabaldon introduced two unforgettable characters—Claire Randall and Jamie Fraser—delighting readers with a story of adventure and love that spanned two centuries. Now Gabaldon returns to that extraordinary time and place in this vivid, powerful follow-up to Outlander.

DRAGONFLY IN AMBER
 
For nearly twenty years Claire Randall has kept her secrets. But now she is returning with her grown daughter to Scotland’s majestic mist-shrouded hills. Here Claire plans to reveal a truth as stunning as the events that gave it birth: about the mystery of an ancient circle of standing stones... about a love that transcends the boundaries of time... and about Jamie Fraser, a Scottish warrior whose gallantry once drew a young Claire from the security of her century to the dangers of his.

Now a legacy of blood and desire will test her beautiful copper-haired daughter, Brianna, as Claire’s spellbinding journey of self-discovery continues in the intrigue-ridden Paris court of Charles Stuart... in a race to thwart a doomed Highlands uprising... and in a desperate fight to save both the child and the man she loves. 

From the author of the breathtaking bestsellers Outlander and Dragonfly in Amber, the extraordinary saga continues.

Their passionate encounter happened long ago by whatever measurement Claire Randall took. Two decades before, she had traveled back in time and into the arms of a gallant eighteenth-century Scot named Jamie Fraser. Then she returned to her own century to bear his child, believing him dead in the tragic battle of Culloden. Yet his memory has never lessened its hold on her... and her body still cries out for him in her dreams.

Then Claire discovers that Jamie survived. Torn between returning to him and staying with their daughter in her own era, Claire must choose her destiny. And as time and space come full circle, she must find the courage to face the passion and pain awaiting her...the deadly intrigues raging in a divided Scotland... and the daring voyage into the dark unknown that can reunite or forever doom her timeless love.

After another painful breakup, Laney Temple finally understands that love is a fairytale and sex rarely comes with a happy ending. She's too busy for it right now anyway--she has a business to run, art to create, and candy to crush. Eventually she'll be ready to switch from her plastic-or-silicon lover to a flesh-and-blood one. But before that happens, she needs to be sure she won't feel any of those annoying emotions that make her heart do things it wasn't meant to do...

Like break

Carson Bennett is completely upfront about what he wants, and it has nothing to do with Laney's heart. Her lips? Hell yeah. Other parts of her body? You better f*cking believe it. But her heart? Nope, not even a little. Until it does... a lot. But having feelings for someone isn't allowed. It's the kind of thing you're supposed to push down deep and cover up with one-night stands, sarcasm, and booze...

Like secrets

Two people want the same thing—a commitment to nothing more than great sex in a bunch of different positions. Simple. Enjoyable. A win-win. Problem is, those two people have families and fears and pain that spill into every moment of their lives, control what they do and who they are. And if either Carson or Laney can't free themselves from the past, they'll both be pulled under by it.

Darker Water is a stand-alone contemporary romance that does not end in a cliffhanger.

He’s back.

Not just back in town, but living in the flat right beneath mine. And he looks good enough to eat, which is just one more reason to stay away from him. 

But I can’t resist.

The sex is incredible (pretty sure we’ve shaken the house right off its foundation), but he can’t fool me—not this time. A degree in marketing and five years in advertising have taught me that “true love” is a fairy tale used to sell lipstick, diamonds, and perfume. It doesn’t exist.

He thinks I’m wrong, and he wants to prove it.

I think he’s crazy, so I dare him to try.

It might be the biggest mistake of my life.

24 Authors. Awkward Sex. Epic Cause.

Romance done right is full of beautiful and awe-inspiring sex, where the only noises are gasps of pleasure, and changes of position happen smoothly and effortlessly.

But what happens when it all goes wrong?

This collection of short stories will bring you back to the real world, where you laugh to keep from crying, because sometimes, it's just F*cking Awkward!

100% of digital sales profits go to charity!

**Foreword written by Tara Sivec, USA Today Bestselling Author** 

Perry Palomino and Dex Foray. 

On their own, they’re uniquely brilliant. Together, they’re an unstoppable team. 

Until now. 

Because after everything the duo has encountered, they haven’t come across an evil quite like this. An evil that has been years in the making, an evil that will stop at nothing until they, and everyone they care for, are destroyed. 

Dex and Perry’s love has survived a multitude of sins. 

But can it survive the end? 

Iris Scanlon, Half-Moon Hollow’s only daytime vampire concierge, knows more about the undead than she’d like. Running all their daylight errands—from letting in the plumber to picking up some chilled O neg—gives her a look at the not-so-glamorous side of vampire life. Her rules are strict; relationships with vamps are strictly business, not friendship—and certainly not anything else. But then she finds her newest client, Cal, poisoned on his kitchen floor, and only Iris can help.

Cal - who would be devastatingly sexy, if Iris allowed herself to think that way - offers Iris a hefty fee for hiding him at her place until he figures out who wants him permanently dead. Even though he’s imperious, unfriendly and doesn't seem to understand the difference between "employee" and "servant," Iris agrees, and finds herself breaking more and more of her own rules to help him - particularly those concerning nudity. 

Turns out what her quiet little life needed was some intrigue & romance—in the form of her very own stray vampire.

Fans of Jodi Ellen Malpas, K. Bromberg, and Joanna Wylde will be unable to resist this sexy, deeply intimate tale of a woman running from her past, and the darkly mysterious man who sets her free. 
 
I didn’t think answering someone else’s cellphone would change my life. But the stranger with the low, deep voice on the other end of the line tempted me, awakened my body, set me on fire. He was looking for someone else. Instead he found me.
 
And I found a hot, secret world where I felt alive for the first time.
 
His name was Dylan, and, strangely, he made me feel safe. Desired. Compelled. Every dark thing he asked me to do, I did. Without question. I longed to meet him, but we were both keeping secrets. And mine were dangerous. If I took the first step, if I got closer to Dylan—emotionally, physically—then I wouldn’t be hiding anymore. I would be exposed, with nothing left to surrender but the truth. And my truth could hurt us both.