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Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

What I read in September


Soooo, I'm back!!  I took a bit of a blogging break this past month, but I am going to be going back to blogging once or twice a week and possibly build up to more as I go.  I got hit with a major case of blogger burnout.  BUT I am back with another "What I read" post.  I have kept up on my reading! I read 28 books last month!  A ton of romances, as usual, but also some fantasy books sprinkled in there.  I labeled the types of books they were to make it easier for people to skip the genres that they aren't interested in.

My rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Matt and Grace meet during their senior year in college and being fast friends. Grace was cellist and Matt was there for photography. After spending almost every day together their feelings grow to something even more. Towards the end of the semester Matt gets the opportunity to travel with National Geographic until the end of summer. They make plans to be with each other when he gets back, but after a misunderstanding, they don't see each other until 15 years later. Matt only saw her for a split second on the train platform before her train pulled away. After seeing her he can't stop thinking about how in love they were and decides to write a "missed connections" post on Craigslist with hopes that she'll see it.

My rating: 2 out of 5 stars
This is Captain Hook's story.  I feel like this once started out okay but then quickly lost some steam. The middle section of the book really dragged on for me. I also didn't really understand why Peter Panwas a happy boy playing around Neverland one second and bloodthirsty murderer the next. I expected some kind of reasoning. I'm also not a huge fan of stories that are depressing the whole way through with no redemption at all. I mean, I knew it wasn't going to end well for James but it just felt like watching someone repeatedly kick an injured dog. While others may enjoy this one, it just wasn't for me

My rating: 2 out of 5 stars
I really love any story that is inspired by a fairy tale but I had a hard time getting into this one. I didn't feel like the story flowed very nicely. It could be because I missed the first book in the series. The beginning of the story really dragged for me until it got past halfway, so that was disappointing. I really didn't feel the attraction between the two characters much. It seemed a bit forced.to me.

My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
I really loved the way this one started out. It was a lot of fun watching them try to get under each other's skin while stuck in the train compartment together. It was a different kind of story than I'm used to, being a hate to love kind of thing, but I loved it. I thought it lost a bit of steam towards the middle and end though.

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Rory was one of the biggest MMA stars around until an injury destroys his career. He is depressed and has no direction until he meets Clare. She makes him want to change and get his life back together. Clare is new to town but she has a dark past. She is running from something and has a lot of secrets. She just wants to move on and forget everything that happened but her plans didn't involve falling for a tough MMA fighter.

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Annie grew up idolizing her brother's best friend, Nick, and has had a crush on him since she was a kid. When her sister asks her to be the maid of honor at her wedding, she is surprised to find out that Nick is the best man. Through their bickering and all of the wedding drama they start to have a lot of chemistry with each other.

My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
This was a cute fast read, filled with funny moments. It was centered mostly around the road trip itself so it all took place in a short span of time. I thought the ending was a little rushed, and they left a lot of loose ends with their families. I liked it but I didn't love it.

My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Fire Chief Gavin is shocked to run into his high school love, Jordan, after leaving the school for a false alarm. He never really got over her and he's still hurt by there way that she disappeared on him 15 years ago. Jordan is trying to start over in her hometown after divorcing her husband in New York. She starts feeling all of the old feelings coming back but she is nervous about starting over with someone again.

My rating: 2 out of 5 stars
I was really excited about the idea of a tattoo shop family, but this one just wasn't for me. Paul's relationship with his ex was extremely weird and Friday handles it WAY too well. She claims to be the jealous type but never really showed it when there was a big reason for it. I just couldn't get into the story with this one. I haven't read any of the others in the series, so maybe I was missing something from an earlier story.

My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
I thought this was really sweet and I love that they both had troubled histories that helped them bond and heal together. I thought they both acted a bit immature at times and the story moved a little slow. I think my favorite part of the whole book was the grandmother, Ruby, who owned the Inn

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Cooper was professional surfer until a career ending injury forces him to take it easy. His best friend of 6 years, Maggie, insists that he stay at her house with her and her son while he recuperates. There has always been an attraction between the two of them but they have kept their relationship strictly friendship. But after being in each other's company for days they are both having issues keeping it that way. Cooper doesn't want to ruin their friendship and Maggie doesn't want to have her son be hurt when Cooper goes out traveling again.

My rating: Did not finish
Lainey's high school crush, Danny, dies in a tragic hit and run accident.  The whole school, including the the popular girl/bully Wynter, blame her for his death.  Danny's ghost appears one day and asks Lainey to solve his murder.  This one moved extremely slow for me.  I couldn't get into the story at all.  She didn't even see a ghost until halfway through the book!

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
I loved both of these characters. I could really relate with Penelope because I grew up a big tomboy, and as "just one of the guys". I had a lot of the same self esteem issues too. Cole was introduced as kind of a womanizing type but he didn't really come off that way to me at all. He treated Penelope great and did a lot of really sweet things for her. I am definitely going to try to get my hands on the other books in this series because the secondary characters were so much fun!

My rating; 4 out of 5 stars

My rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
I had a bit of a hard time with parts of this one. My biggest problem with this was that Isabelle decided to completely change her looks to try to get his attention. That just rubbed me the wrong way, I guess. And then how Devon proposed this affair between the two of them is just insulting and sounds cheap. Some of the things that he said to her to give her a "reality check" were really harsh and cruel and she lets him get away with it! I would have like to see her take more of a stand for herself. She ended up coming off very weak. All of that being said, I still managed to enjoy pieces of this one.

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
I loved the whole love/hate relationship that they had with each other. I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about Eli at first because he seemed so sneaky but I feel like he really grew on me. Alex had such a great tough-girl personality and I loved the banter between her and Eli. I also loved Alex's protective brothers. I'm definitely going to go back and read the first one in the series, since I missed that one.

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
I was surprised by how much I liked this one! First of all the heat factor is through the roof! I think I was just as surprised as Gracie when it came to James. At first he came off kind of snooty but after a while you realize he's not really that way at all. They had a crazy amount of chemistry. I was pleasantly surprised that Gracie wasn't just a bubbly airhead type too

My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Brenna decides to head back to the town of her old high school when when of her older friends passes away. She is a very closed off person so she has to try to get used to living in a small town again where everyone knows everything about each other. One person she wasn't prepared to see was her old crush Jake. Jake has some demons in his past that he is trying to hide from as well. Whenever they are around eachother they both feel the attraction but are both weary of acting on it.

My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Leary and Reeve are opposing attorneys in an upcoming case. Leary isn't afraid to use her charms to win cases but she's never come up against anyone like Reeve. They begin a relationship but both worry what's going to happen between them once the case is over.

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars
A big part of this book was their sexual relationship since they were "friends with benefits" but I thought the author wove their growing feeling into the story nicely. It never felt forced to me. It seemed like Chloe was the one that had to get over her emotional hangups the most, even though what Ryan's ex did to him was pretty awful. I was surprised that Ryan let it go and still had his friendship with his team mate. The ending was so perfect, especially with the epilogue added. So sweet

My rating: 2 out of 5 stars
After reading the first one in this series, I was really looking forward to Ty's story. I thought the emotional connection between him and Brian was great and I really loved them together but unfortunately I just didn't feel like it worked with Randi added too. Randi and Brian were too "inst-love" for me. It seemed like once they added Brian, she didn't really care about Ty anymore. She seemed to get more of an emotional connection with him right off the bat, even though she was supposedly falling for Ty. It just seemed off to me.

My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
It was so much fun on their trip when they would start to bicker with each other and rile each other up. I loved how sweet they were with each other at times but towards the end of the book I just wanted to hit them both for acting like children. When the HEA came along I felt like it was too rushed and didn't answer some of the questions in the book. I didn't dislike this one but it probably won't be something that I remember a few months from now

My rating: 2 out of 5 stars
I thought some parts of this were really fun with their flirting and chemistry, but sometimes when Blake opened his mouth I wanted to punch him in the face. Any time he would feel any sort of emotion towards her he would insult her repeatedly. And she would let him!! It made me crazy! She was a girl with a stronger personality but she just let him say awful things to her on multiple occasions. She just forgives and forgets instantly...I guess I'm just not wired that way

My rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this one but I wish it was just a little bit longer. This is a pretty short story. I was able to read it pretty quickly in one sitting. The story takes place in just a week's time so I think instead of skipping a few days, it would have made the story a little bit stronger to talk more about their time together even if it would have added more pages. I still enjoyed this one though, and I would definitely read the others in the series

My rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Fiona and her family grew up in their small hometown being great friends with Ben, but Fiona always had a huge crush on him. He always treated her like the annoying little sister, and was chasing after her older sister. But now that she is back in town to plan her sister's wedding, he is starting to take notice of her. 

My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
I definitely had a few moments where I laughed out loud at this one, and then other parts where I was cringing at the awkwardness. I liked Cowboy's cocky attitude, but there was definitely a point where I wanted to punch him for being a jerk. I liked it but I didn't end up loving it as much as I thought I would

My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
I really loved Nick's character but I have to be honest, I didn't really care for Ava. I liked her wit but other than that I just couldn't understand her. Even after hearing about the way she grew up, she still didn't make sense to me.

What have you been reading lately?  If you are on Goodreads, we should be friends!

** All of these Kindle books (with a couple exceptions) were given to me for free from NetGalley or Entangled Publishing for an honest review.  All opinions are my own. **


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Monday, September 14, 2015

What I've read lately


In August I read 18 books!  Not as many as last month (30) but still really good.  I know I said I was going to try to mix things up and read something other than romances but I guess I didn't pick the right books to try because I couldn't even finish some of them.  So if you have any mystery/thriller recommendations, I would love to hear them!  This past month I read a lot of books that are part of a series, so I tried to include that in the title.  Although they are part of a series they are stand alone books, so you don't need to read the others in the series to understand what is going on.  (With the exception of Darker the release)

Just Say Yes by Alyssa Goodnight 
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
 Jade was s single mother to a teenage daughter named Evie when her new friend Opal introduced her to Max. Max was a contractor and Jade hired him to completely remodel her kitchen. They both felt the magnetic pull towards each other and tried to fight it at first. Max decided to give in and made a bet with her that if he could finish her kitchen in 2 weeks then she would have to go out on a date with him.

At Any Price by Brenna Aubrey
My rating: 2 and a half out of 5 stars
Mia is a popular gaming blogger who decides to auction her virginity online (yep, you read that right) to help pay off her mother's debt and get her through school.  Adam is a software prodigy/millionare who wins the auction.  I just couldn't get into this one at all.  I had a hard time understanding the way Mia would reason things out.  She was a smart girl but seemed to not want to use her brain much

SLATE (Breaking the Declan Brothers #2) by Kelly Gendron
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Rayna and two of her friends head to her old hometown for vacation and she sees her first love Slate there.  It doesn't take her long to realize that he is not the same man that she remembers.  He is now a scarred MMA fighter that is battling addiction issues.

Tamed By The Outlaw by Michelle Sharp
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Jesse is an erotic romance writer who meets and has an amazing night with a man in Vegas. It was great until he left without a word the next morning...or did he?? Grayson was the new CEO of the publishing company that Jesse works for and he thought SHE walked out on HIM. When they are forced to work together a year after their night together sparks fly and they have to decide if they can work things out or not. I loved Jesse's spunky personality, and Grayson was trying so hard to be a good guy. I do wish the story was just a little bit longer. The ending felt a little bit rushed to me

Darker the Release (Revenge Saga #2) by Claire Kent
My rating: 2 out of 5 stars
This was the second part of Sweet the Sin.  I honestly didn't care for the first one very much but I am a curious person and NEEDED to know how it ended. lol!  I ended up not being overly thrilled.

Jayhawk Down by Sharon Calvin
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Caitlyn Stone is a Jayhawk pilot in the Coast Guard who has vowed never to date another doctor OR anyone in the service again, but then she meets Dr. Stillman Gray. Not only is he a doctor but he also flew Blackhawk helicopters and ran dangerous missions in the service.  I liked how strong of a character that Caitlyn was at the beginning of the story but then I feel like she started to fall apart. I also thought the story really dragged towards the middle, I wanted a little more action!

Broken Play by Samantha Kane
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
This is a very different type of romance than I am used to reading.  It involves 2 men and one woman all falling in love and making a relationship with each other.  I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about the idea of a menage type of relationship but I thought the author handled it really tastefully, for the most part.  There was a lot of sexually explicit content (just a warning for some readers).  I thought they ending was a bit strange but that could just be me.

The Doorway by Alan Spencer
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Morty comes home late from the bar one night to find his wife missing. Not only that but an overwhelming burning smell is coming from his bedroom and the doorway is glowing bright red. An investigation is started and one night Morty, his daughter, his friend Bruce, the detective, a reporter, and several officers are pulled through the red doorway to face a horror beyond anything they could have expected. This story definitely contains bloody and gory violence, so readers beware!

And Then Forever by Shirley Jump
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Darcy and Kincaid had a summer romance when they were younger and then Kincaid left to go back to his privileged lifestyle with his family. Now 7 years later he returns and sees Darcy again working at The Love Shack where they used to hang out. Sparks fly and old feelings come back to the surface but Darcy has a 6 year old secret, with eyes and hair just like her dad, that she never told him about.

Gypsy Heat (Gypsy Beach #3) by Jillian Neal
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Nadya has just left an abusive relationship with her ex-husband and decided to return back to Gypsy Beach where she grew up. She is excited to be home and free from her ex but she has a lot of issues she needs to work through. Gypsy Beach is also the home to her first love Grady. They both want to rekindle things but face some obstacles, including someone trying to bring down Grady's family. I loved both Nadya and Grady's characters. While she was definitely damaged she still had a fierceness about her and Grady was such a sweetheart

It's In His Heart by Shelly Alexander
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Ella was married to Coop's best friend Bradley for years until she lost him to cancer. When Bradley passed away he left his cabin to both of them. After 2 years of mourning his death, Ella decides it's time to move on but before she does she want to spend some time at the cabin because it was his favorite place. She doesn't expect Coop to be there when she gets there and she definitely doesn't expect the sparks between the two of them.

Here All Along by Crista McHugh
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
I like "friends first" types of stories, so I was excited to give this one a try.  I thought Gideon was sweet but a bit childish. While there were some parts of the book I really like, other parts had me rolling my eyes. But it was a nice quick book that passed the time.

King Stud by Liv Rancourt
My rating: 1 out of 5 stars
Dani has three months to remodel her grandmother's old house before she has to get back to her life in LA.  She hire her best friend's younger brother to fix up the place and they both are attracted to each other.  Dani tries to deny the way she feels for him because she just got out of a relationship, she has to go back to LA soon, he is her best friend's brother, and because he is 9 years older than her.  Ryan has his own set of problems: he has an extremely attached ex-girlfriend who is an alcoholic and won't take no for an answer AND he also has extremely bad anger issues.  I tried really hard to get into this one but every single character drove me absolutely insane.

Just One Reason by Brooklyn Skye
My rating: 2 and a half out of 5 stars
Declan is working at a dueling piano bar trying to save up enough money for his brother to have a serious surgery, when he meets Melody. Melody happens to be the CEO's daughter and could be his ticket to getting the better position he's been hoping for. I liked this one to start out but it just got more and more unbelievable as the story went on. Melody's "poor me" attitude and he complete lack of faith in herself really started to grate on my nerves. The ending ended up just seeming ridiculous

Hold Me Down (Deacons of Bourbon Street #3) by Jackie Ashenden
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
I've read all 3 of the books in the series.  The Deacons are a motorcycle club in New Orleans.  This one is about "Blue" and Alice.  I've enjoyed all 3 books but I still think the first one is the best in the series.  I did like this one a bit more than the second one though.

Fighting Dirty (Worth the Fight #5) by Sidney Halston
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
I wasn't sure if I was going to like this one as much as the last one I read (Cain's story) because both of their personalities were so extreme: her the crazy "fly by the seat of your pants" artsy type, and him the OCD neat freak businessman. But I really loved "watching" them grow as the story went on. Enzo had his alpha moments but was such a sweetheart to her. I love this series and can't wait to read Travis' story! I don't want this series to end!

Wrong Number, Right Guy by Elle Casey 
My rating: 2 out of 5 stars
I wanted to like this one, I really did! I loved Elle Casey's Shine Not Burn books but this one just fell a bit short for me. I loved the humor that she mixed into it, but then May was just so painfully awkward that it killed any attraction that may have been there between her and Ozzie. I didn't feel the spark with them. He came off a bit cold.

Off Limits (Aces Hockey #1.5) by Kelly Jamieson
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Andrew, who is a defenseman in the NHL, was taken in by the McFadden family when he was young and lost his family. He becomes part of the family and best friends with their son but can't help his growing attraction for their daughter Jenna. Jenna has loved him since she was a young teenager but knew they could never be together because she knows he fears he would lose the new family that he's made. I ended up loving it even more than the first one in the series!



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Tuesday, August 11, 2015

What I've read lately

(Click on the titles of the books for the Goodreads synopsis)

In July I read A TON of romances....that's actually all I read, so in August I might try to mix things up a bit and add in other types of books like; thriller/mysteries, young adult, fantasy etc.  I was just in a "happily ever after" kind of mood, I guess.  

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
This one had me laughing out loud at a few parts and getting frustrated for the characters. I'm a huge sucker for a love story about people who have known each other for ever. I was rooting for them the whole time....while also screaming in my head, "just talk to each other!!" lol!

My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
A story about a man that got the worst news a father could ever have and a woman living with her sick mother.  They decide to have a "one night stand" type of agreement but it becomes much more than than for them both.  Then Shae is dealt devastating news that tears them apart.  I liked this one but I do feel like it may have been a bit drawn out in a way.

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
I really liked both of these characters a lot and I think their love story felt genuine and not forced. Henrik was such a sweetheart and not what I expected at all. Jacqui was even a really enjoyable character. I read it all in one sitting because I needed to know what was going to happen at the end. I wasn't sure if I was going to end up heartbroken or not!

My rating: 2 out of 5 stars
I was a bit disappointed with this one.  I expected more focus on his hockey career and there wasn't too much talk about it at all.  The main thing that I had a problem with the were the romantic scenes they were just missing something.  I love Auden's character even if she did seem really naive and immature at times.  The love between the two main characters seemed really forced and almost instant.

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars
LOVED this one! At first I wasn't sure if I was going to like Cameron very much but once he started opening up more and warming up I loved him, almost as much as Millie. I love how positive and upbeat she always tried to be. And it also helps that she loves Disney movies like me. I found myself laughing hysterically at some parts, and wanting to shake some sense into the characters in other parts (in a good way!). I wanted to punch Olivia multiple times too.! Great book that left me smiling!

My rating: 2 out of 5 stars
This was a very short novella (at only 82 pages).  I liked the idea of this one but I was a bit let down.  I feel like the whole relationship progressed really rapidly without any mention.  One minute they are sleeping together for the first time and then she's moving in with him.  It ended up feeling very rushed.  The chemistry between the two of them was great but I feel like that was lost pretty quickly.

My rating: 2 out of 5 stars
I liked the idea behind this one a lot but I was left disappointed.  There was no resolution at all at the end of the story and I think it really needed it.  I didn't realize until I wasn't almost at the end that it was a series so maybe that was part of the problem.  She was a very unlikable character.  I know she had a troubled past but I just couldn't like her for some reason.  I think I just expected more of an absolute type of ending and some love, instead of just the lust.

My rating: 1 out of 5 stars
I couldn't get into this one at all.  At first, I was really liking both lead characters because they both had such strong personalities, but then Nix ended up just coming off across as bitchy.  And he acted like it would absolutely kill him not to say something about her giving him a blowjob in every single conversation.  It got old really fast.

My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
I really enjoyed the back and forth bantering between the two of the main characters.  I did think that the ending way a bit rushed though.  I liked the chemistry between the main characters a lot but some of the secondary characters probably didn't need to be there, unless this will become a series.  All in all, a nice love family love story, but I just wanted more out of the ending.

My rating: 2 out of 5 stars
This whole story read a bit awkward for me.  Jared had no backbone at all what-so-ever when it came to his ex.  He was avoiding going to charity events just because she was going to be there.  What full grown man does that?  And his "feelings" made no sense at all.  Meghan was giving me whiplash with her feelings too.  Just not my type of story, I guess.

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
I'm such a huge sucker for "friends that become lovers" type of books, so I absolutely loved this one. I enjoyed both of the main characters so much, and the secondary characters were really interesting too.  I'm actually kind of hoping this turns into a series because I would love to read a book on Eve or Justin's brother.  It was a lot of fun to see both of the main characters trying so hard to fight the attraction and failing miserably.

My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
I really enjoyed the first one in this series a lot so I was so happy to read the second one.  I'm a big sucker for love stories about people who have known each other forever.  I thought the book ended a little too abruptly though.  I really liked the direction that the book was going but I would have liked just a little bit more.   I did still enjoy the story, just not as much as the first one

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
A romance about a hot hockey player??  Yes, please! I really ended up enjoying this one. Ryker was such a sweetheart and I loved the stronger female character of Gray. I really loved the interactions with his daughters.

My rating: 2 out of 5 stars
This book was incredibly frustrating for me.  Keaton comes back to Jocelyn at the beginning of this book asking for another chance.  Their marriage ended because he was caught cheating on their anniversary with her one enemy and HE has the balls to say she's being unreasonable when she says she doesn't want to take him back.  Definitely not my type of book.  

My ratings: 4 out of 5 stars
Violet is a romance novel addict and Jared is a womanizer who refuses to settle down. Jared's mother doesn't have much time left so in an effort to make his mom happy he blurts out that he has a serious girlfriend and he's bringing her for the big celebration they have every year. He convinces Violet to pretend to be his girlfriend for 2 weeks to make his mother happy. They both try to keep their distance and fail miserably. I had a couple of laughs and even teared up once or twice with this one

My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
I felt like this one started out strong then lost some steam somewhere in the middle but finished really strong. I loved the last couple of chapters. It showed a lot of growth on both sides and it was so sweet. It was nice to see such a tough character like Kincaid voice his feelings and be such a sweetheart.

My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
A suspenseful romance book was just what I needed to shake things up and it was fun trying to figure out who the bad guy was. I really loved how protective Ethan was of Carly. It was really sweet and also pretty sexy. "She doesn’t like it when strangers touch her, so either get your hand off her, or I will be removing it."

My rating: 3 and a half out of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this one a lot.  This is another friends before love type of story.  I only took one star off because I felt like there was a little bit too much not answered at the end.  Cam was so clueless and he was such a sweetheart.

My rating: 1 out of 5 stars
This one made me want to bang my head against the wall.  I liked the idea behind it but HATED everything else about it.

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Gavin was such a sweetheart throughout this whole book.  Jessica was a great character too, both were really likable characters which was nice.  I definitely want to go back through the series and check out the earlier books too.  I loved all of the secondary characters.  The baseball team he played for was a lot of fun with their pranks.

My rating: 2 and a half out of 5 stars
Neve becomes Rory's penpal while he is in Afganistan and they start exchanging sexy letters back and forth.  They have plans to meet up when he gets home to fulfill all of the fantasies they came up with in their letters.  Through a misunderstanding Neve believes he is engaged and runs off.  So a lot of the story is Rory trying to make up for that while struggling with PTSD, and Neve also has a pretty promiscuous past that she is trying to overcome.

My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
This was definitely a darker romance than I expected. I am not a huge fan of the topic of rape and a lot of this book was centered around it, so it took some getting used to. While I wasn't a huge fan of that part of the story, their love story was really sweet. They were both very damaged people but they were perfect for each other. They shut the world out but not towards each other. It was nice to see the character growth in them both. I wasn't surprised by the reveal of the killer but I expected that.

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
What happens in Vegas doesn't always stay in Vegas! This one definitely had me laughing out loud at some parts. I loved how witty they both were, and Mack was definitely swoon-worthy. I've never had a "thing" for cowboys but he may make me start! I loved how sweet he was. There was definitely a lot of sexy parts too. Andie and her life plan made me a little bit crazy at times but I loved seeing her character grow and loosen up as the book went on. I love the Mackenzie family. Very sweet and steamy love story!

My rating: 3 and a half out of 5 stars
Going into this one, I wasn't too sure how I was going to like Candice's character. She seemed so ditsy and high maintenance in the last one that I didn't think I would like her much. It was great to see another side of her in this book. She's still a little ditsy and high maintenance BUT there's a lot more to her than that in this one. I loved Ian almost as much as Mack (from the first book). He's the grump and trouble maker of the family so it fun to see him loosen up with Candace and play around. This was much more of a slow burn type of romance than the first one was. I think overall I enjoyed the first one maybe just a teeny bit more but really liked them both.

My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Gavin is a Dr that lives in Dublin and is visiting his sister for a month in New York, where he meets Toni, his sister's best friend.  They instantly feel an attraction and decide to have a summer fling while he is on vacation.  It's supposed to be a no strings attached, just sex kind of relationship but they both start to develop feelings for each other.  I would have liked to see them do more than just eating, drinking, and having sex though.  We didn't really get to see too much of their relationship

My rating: 2 out of 5 stars
I liked how this one started out but then after that it sort of fell apart for me a bit.  It's supposed to be a love story involving Amy and Sean but most of the story is about her job and her friend's wedding/miscarriage.  Sean and Amy hardly spend any real time together before he realizes that he has feelings for her.  It ended up being too unbelievable for me.

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this one! It had such a different storyline that I instantly knew I wanted to read this story. I loved Gracie's spunky personality and that she could kick butt if she needed to. Jake was an absolute sweetheart and smooth-talker when he wanted to be but like her, definitely had a temper. I liked that neither one of them were perfect, nothing is worse than an ultimately "perfect" character. It makes it more believable when they have flaws. They both had pasts that they had to move past. I love all of the supporting characters and can't wait to read the next one in the series!

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
I'm such a huge sucker for "friends to lovers" type of stories, and this one didn't disappoint. Riley was the typical womanizing college student but he was so incredibly sweet with Devyn. I loved their friendship and how close they were. The chemistry between the two of them was off the charts too. The way he planned out that whole day to make sure everything was special for Devyn was so sweet. There were definitely times in the story when I wanted to shake or smack one of them upside the head but you'll have that. There were also quite a few laugh out loud moments with Nate.

My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Roni is a woman with a traumatic past that has a problem with running when things get intense/difficult. Coleman is a bull-riding cowboy with a 15 year old son and a ton of patience. Roni and Coleman feel an instant strong connection with each other and Coleman wants to give it a chance. Roni tries to run away multiple times but he won't let her and he takes his time with her, gaining her trust. Coleman was so romantic and sweet with her all the time. I loved Roni's "take no crap" attitude too. I'm very glad the author added the "extra" at the end with Coleman's POV. It answered some of the questions I was having about a pretty big reveal towards the end. I will admit that the continued use of the word "shitdizzle" got on my nerves a bit but all in all, I enjoyed this story.


What have you been reading lately?  If you are on Goodreads, we should be friends!


**I received every one of these ebooks for free from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review, so HUGE thanks to them and the publishers.**


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Tuesday, July 14, 2015

What I've read lately


Well, I read A TON of books again last month. lol!  I've fallen into the habit of laying in bed and reading before my daughter gets up in the morning and for an hour or two after she goes to bed at night.  It's my relaxing time.

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
A romance with a happy ending is just what I need sometimes and this one didn't disappoint.  I'm such a sucker for the stories of people that have known each other for so long and end up together.  Those are always my favorite kind.  The main character was just a little bit too innocent and naive at times but I loved the male character, even if he is bone-headed sometimes.
(c/o NetGalley)

The Escape by Hannah Jayne
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Two people enter the woods and only one comes out but he doesn't remember what happened.  The ending wasn't very surprising but the story was still interesting...even though at some parts you wanted to grab Avery's shoulders and shake her for being so dense and naive.  Have you ever watched a horror movie and though why would any person do that?  Yeah, I had quite a few moments like that in this one.
(c/o NetGalley)

Sweet as Sin by JT Geissinger
My rating: 2 1/2 out of 5 stars
I really thought I was going to love this one because it's a romance involving a rock star but I just couldn't get around how aggressive and possessive he was with her.  He was ALWAYS angry.  I would describe their relationship as volatile most of the time.  I didn't hate it but I didn't love it either.
(c/o NetGalley)

Wicked White by Michelle A Valentine
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
This is actually another romance story involving a rock star. lol!  I guess I had a theme this month.   This one was much different though.  He was a rock star trying to leave the fame and he was more of a gentleman type of guy, even if he occasionally had anger issues as well.  I loved the part of the story when they were in the trailer park together getting to know each other and falling in love, but after that there were just a bunch of dumb decisions that really annoyed me.
(c/o NetGalley)

 Blurred Lines by Lauren Layne
My rating: 5 out of 5 stars
LOVED this one!  I've read a lot of romances lately trying to find a good love story and I really loved this one.  I felt all of the ups and downs of their friendship/relationship and wanted to scream at them on more than one occasion too. lol!  I'm a sucker for a love story about two people that have been friends for a long time first.
(c/o NetGalley)

 The Heartbreakers by Ali Novak
My rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Two five star books in a row?!  That never happens!! lol!  This was a young adult story/romance and I thought it was really sweet.  I loved all of the characters.  I found myself not wanting this one to end.  I just realized when I looked on Goodreads that this is actually going to be a series so I can't wait to read more about the characters.
(c/o NetGalley)

 Goose by Dawn O'Porter
My rating: 1 out of 5 stars
I ended up not even finishing this one.  I'm not sure if I had a hard time connecting to the characters because this was the second book in the series and I didn't read the first one or what but I really couldn't get into this one.  The characters were supposed to be seniors but acted more like younger teens.
(c/o NetGalley)

 Make You Burn by Megan Crane
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
I always love a good Alpha male, especially when paired with another strong personality. I really enjoyed them together but was a little disappointed with the story. They made the big revelation that her father was murdered but then never really talked about it again. I guess she is probably just saving it for the next book in the series. It just seemed like it would have been better to have that resolved.
(c/o NetGalley)

 The Memory Game by Sharon Sant
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this one.  I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to connect to the characters since this a shorter book but I really did.  The ending was bittersweet but I really liked it a lot.  I think I would have been disappointed if it would have ended any other way.  I love the way they grew from two people who didn't really like each other to much more.  The character development was great in such a short book.  It had me tear up more than once too!
(c/o NetGalley)

Fire Me Up by Rachel Johns
My rating: 2 out of 5 stars
The was actually the second book after Make You Burn (that I listed above), so I was really excited to read another story like that.  Unfortunately, I ended up a bit disappointed.  The ending just didn't make much sense to me... I won't say much more than that because I hate spoilers.  All of that being said I am really looking forward to the third book.  I hope it's more like the first one in the series.
(c/o NetGalley)

 What Janie Wants by Rhenna Morgan
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
This is the first romance I've read when the woman was older than the man.  It's almost always the other way around, so that was refreshing.  I was great to see their real-life type of struggles.  Zade was definitely a really dreamy type of guy.  I'm a sucker for artist types.  I enjoyed seeing how Janie changed from such a closed up person to finding a way to love herself again.
(c/o NetGalley)

 The Piano Man Project by Kat French
My rating: 5 out of 5 stars
This story really blew me away. It reminded me of Jojo Moyes "Me Before You" in a lot of ways and I loved it. I found myself laughing out loud during some parts and actually tearing up at others. A great heart-warming story. I expected this to just be a bubbly easy romantic read but I felt like it was much more than that.
(c/o NetGalley)

 Eeny Meeny by M.J. Alridge
My rating: 2 out of 5 stars
"Two people are abducted, imprisoned, and left with a gun. As hunger and thirst set in, only one walks away alive."  This was a really dark thriller that left me depressed when I was done reading it.  I can't really even explain why without giving anything away but there were some things that I wanted answers to and never got and then waited for something "good" to happen and it never did. lol!
(c/o NetGalley)

 Gypsy Beach by Jillian Neal
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Yep, another romance was needed after that last dark book.  I really like some parts of this book and then other parts had me rolling my eyes because they seemed so ridiculous.  It really made me crave a beach vacation though! lol
(c/o NetGalley)

The Major's Faux Fiancee by Erica Ridley
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Bartholomew was such a swoon-worthy guy.  I really loved his character but I didn't love Daphne as much.  She constantly felt sorry for herself, and then when anyone tried to get close to her or help her she pushed them away.  He had a really good reason to feel sorry for himself and she was constantly comparing random trivial things with his situation and I thought she was crazy.  I really loved the ending though.
(c/o NetGalley)

Simmering Ice by Veronica Forand
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
A romance about a professional hockey player who lost his wife and a woman who has her own set of insecurities, falling in love. I really enjoyed their story a lot. Alec was such a sweetheart and I definitely understood Annie's insecurities. If I were in her shoes, I would probably feel insecure about my looks compared to the "model-looking" women too. I love series romances where you can read more about other characters in the book. I can't wait for the next one in the series.
(c/o NetGalley)

All It Takes by Sadie Monroe
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
A girl returns to her hometown to clear out her hoarder mother's house when she is informed of her death.  While home she meets Preston, a man that made a terrible mistake in his past and just got out of prison on parole.  The only job he can get is to help her clear out the house.  I really enjoyed this one. I only took away a star because that ending left so many things unanswered.
(c/o NetGalley)

Candidate: A Love Story by Tracy Ewens
My rating: 5 out of 5 stars
I think I found my newest favorite author! I LOVED her first one (Premiere) and I loved this one too! At first I didn't realize that this was a series, until I got to the part where they mentioned going to Peter's show and I got all excited. What I loved most about both of these stories is how real the characters seem. There were so many really cute moments, like the testing of the cereals; but there were also serious moments too. Great story! I REALLY hope she continues with this series!
(c/o NetGalley)

Jax by Kelly Gendron
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
A great a steamy read, but it also has a lot of real emotion in it too. I wasn't ready for the heat between the main characters. It was seriously off the charts! I love her girlfriends and Jax's brothers and I can't wait to read the next ones in the series. That cliffhanger involving Slade is going to have me wondering until the next book comes out. I need to know what happens!
(c/o NetGalley)

How to Get Dressed by Alison Freer
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
This is a book written by a costume designer of the stars so I was really excited about it, but unfortunately I felt a bit let down.  It's more for how to alter your clothing to fit you and things like that.  Much more of a reference guide then outfit suggestions like I thought.  I wanted colorful pictures of outfit inspiration! lol
(c/o Blogging for Books)

Love Arrives in Pieces by Betsy St. Amant
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
A story about 2 damaged people trying to fall in love again.  The main characters had known each other for years and had attempted a relationship before but they are trying to do it the right way this time.  It was great seeing them work through each of their issues but eventually Stella's issues just got to be so repetitive.  It was great to see her grow as the book went on.
(c/o BookLook Bloggers)
(I received free galley's of these titles for an honest review, all opinions are my own)

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Tuesday, June 9, 2015

What I've read lately

(All titles link to Goodreads synopsis)

I read A TON of books again this month (FIFTEEN!!)!  I've been on a roll lately, I guess.  I have been doing one mini book review post a month for quite a while now but I'm wondering if I should start splitting them up and do two a month so it's not sooo many at once....  What do you guys think?  Would you rather me just keep things the same and list all the books I read that month in one post, or is it a bit too much information for you?  Let me know what you think!!

Paper Towns by John Green
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
This was my first ever John Green read, and I still have mixed feelings about it. I really love Quentin and his group of friends, and even the interactions with his classmates because they seemed very real and like people I would have known in school. But I really didn't like Margo at all. At first she didn't seem bad but then as the story went I liked her less and less. Without giving anything away, I would like to say that I'm glad Quentin made the decision he made at the end.

Caught Up in You by Kim Boykin
My rating: 3 out of 3 stars
This one was a really quick romance read (104 pages) so I finished it in one sitting. I enjoyed it, but I also felt as if it could have used more story in some places. I think it would have been more complete with just a few more details.
(c/o NetGalley)

There Goes the Bride by Catherine Mann
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
This was another really quick romance read. I think the author did an amazing job with the chemistry between the two main characters. It really sizzled. I wish it was just a teeny bit longer. I didn't feel as if I got a good feel for the characters.
(c/o NetGalley)

Down the Aisle With Bridezilla by Carli Palmer
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
I've always loved books that involve weddings and Bridezillas so I was really excited about this one. I thought there was going to be a little more humor in the book than there was. It was just another demanding bride after another and Megan (the main character/wedding coordinator) always seemed completely miserable. I didn't feel any real "sparks" between Megan and her love interest at all either. It was a fun read with lots of quirky and crazy brides though.
(c/o NetGalley)

Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
First I would like to say that if you are not a fan stories involving things like: graphic violence, rape, adultery, eating disorders, etc then this is definitely not the book for you. I felt as if the story started a bit slow and then got really good towards the middle and then fell flat for me at the end. I wanted a bigger punch at the end! I was waiting and hoping for something big to happen but it never did. Almost every character in this book is VERY unlikable, including the main character. But I think that intrigued me even more.
(c/o NetGalley)

Love in a Time of Monsters by Teresa Yea
My rating: 5 out of 5 stars
I ended up loving this one! It was my first fantasy read in quite a while.  I loved how flawed and damaged the main character, Cat, is even though she is supposed to be the monster slaying "hero". This book is a lot grittier than I expected it to be. There were so many times that I couldn't put this one down because I needed to know what was going to happen!
(c/o NetGalley)

If You're Not the One by Jemma Forte
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
I thought the concept for this book was really interesting: a woman who is unhappy with how things are currently in her life is involved in an accident that sends her into a coma where is is able to see how her life would have turned out had she chosen a different paths. It ended up dragging on a bit for me, especially when she kept going back through her and Tim's story. I couldn't stand his character at all so I had to force myself through those storylines. The story kind of ends open-ended and leaves you to sort of make up your own ending about what you think she decides to do. It ended up falling a bit short for me.
(c/o NetGalley)

The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest by Melanie Dickerson
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
This story was designed to be a mix between Swan Lake and Robin Hood, so I knew I would really like it.  It is a Christian novel (which I actually had no idea before starting it) so there were a lot of mentions of God, and praying, and things like that.  I don't normally read too many Christian novels but the religious undertones didn't really bother me at all.  It ended up being a pretty nice love story.
(c/o NetGalley)

Spelled by Betsy Schow
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
The really cheesy play on words got old really fast. "pix you" "oh for Grimm's sake". Once I blocked out all of those I was able to enjoy the story a bit more. The princess starts out very self centered and I hated her at first so it was nice to see her go through a bit of transformation, and grow up a bit as the story goes on.  I really liked Kato's character a lot.  I like how the ending set it up for another book.  I also enjoyed all of the references to other fairy tale characters.
(c/o NetGalley)

The Lie by C.L. Taylor
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
This one definitely kept me turning the pages.  I wasn't sure what to expect out of this one and it had my heart beating like crazy during some of the "5 years ago" chapters.  You had no idea who to trust or what was really going on some of the time.  I wasn't overly surprised by the ending, however.  Once they said Leanne was alive and out of an institution I kind of figured she would be up to something.  I really liked Al's character a lot
(c/o NetGalley)

My rating: 2 out of 5 stars
It started out with so much potential but there was just something missing for me. they focus on her job in the company more than the relationship between the main two characters and then when something happens you expect for some kind of romance but it's came off more as lust. I would have liked to have seen them talk about everything that happened more until leaving it for one short talk at the very end. I didn't dislike it...it was just kind of "okay"
(c/o NetGalley)

Forward Pass by Desiree Holt
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
I wasn't quite prepared for the heat factor in this one. It was much more of an erotica romance than I am used to reading but I ended up really loving it. I love stories where they have known each other all their lives. I love their witty and sarcastic banter back and forth too. The only criticism I would have is that the ending felt a little bit rushed
(c/o NetGalley)

Paris Time Capsule by Ella Carey
My rating: 2 out of 5 stars
I just couldn't get into this one at all.  It sounded like such a great story: A woman from New York inherits property in Paris from a woman she doesn't even know. She tries to uncover the truth about why she inherited it instead of the family.  It started really slow and never really picked up for me, and the love story felt like it came out of no where.
(c/o NetGalley)

Faking Perfect by Rebecca Phillips
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
I really liked this one. I only wish there was a little bit more about Tyler in the book. we don't know too much about him other than him having a secret hook-up relationship with the main character. he was probably my favorite character though. I enjoyed "watching" the main character grow as the book went on. going from someone that was extremely desperate to fit in into someone who realized that it's okay to be yourself.
(c/o NetGalley)

Shroud of Roses by Gloria Ferris
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
I really like Bliss' stubborn and witty sarcasm but I actually wasn't found of her "boyfriend" at all. Most of the time he acted as if he didn't care about her at all or treated pretty crappy. I understand that he had issues in his past, as did she, but I wouldn't have put up with it. Other then there relationship, the mystery itself has me pretty curious but I wasn't very surprised by the ending either. I enjoyed reading it but it just fell short for me in a few areas.
(c/o NetGalley)

What have you been reading lately?  If you are on Goodreads, we should be friends!



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Tuesday, May 12, 2015

What I've read lately

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I was a reading machine this month!  This is probably the most I've read in a month EVER!  I'm actually really proud of that. lol!  Also, I've already hit my Goodreads goal for the year....so that's crazy.  Next year, I will have to pick a higher number.  I honestly thought I was going to struggle to read 20 books this year, but I've really been enjoying this a lot!  I have such a long reading list that I will probably never catch up.  I read a total of TWELVE books this month!

Down the Shore by T. Torrest
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
I thought this was a really fun read. I really enjoyed Livia's character a lot because she's not the typical "damaged" or "weak" girl. She knows exactly what she wants and she's not afraid to show it. While obviously being a happy romance book, it still doesn't have the feel of a typical romance novel. Sometimes, I need a good "fluff" type of book to break up the darker ones I read.
(c/o NetGalley)

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Speaking of the darker books I read..... this is definitely one of them. I didn't end up enjoying it as much as Dark Places and Gone Girl but I still thought it was okay. I think the main thing about this one that I didn't like was that the end didn't seem quite as shocking as her other books. I had already kind of guessed who the killer was...so that kind of takes a little away for me, I guess.

Premiere: A Love Story by Tracy Ewens
My rating: 5 out of 5 stars
I had never heard this author's name before but I REALLY enjoyed this book! It was such a sweet love story. I am a huge theater lover and even hold a degree in back stage theater so this one was right up my alley! It was an easy and refreshing read.
(c/o NetGalley)

Nothing Like Looking by Chris Van Hakes
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Honestly, I thought it was a little strange that the main character faked being gay to be popular at her new school. I actually went to school with quite a few gay friends and it in no way made them popular. If anything it made them more of outcasts, so that took me a little bit to wrap my head around. I think I mostly enjoyed this one because of the J R R Tolkien references. lol!
(c/o NetGalley)

 Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this one a lot.  I loved the dorkiness of the main character with her fanfiction, because I can totally relate to that.  lol!  (I'm a big Harry Potter nerd)  I read Attachments by Rowell last month and liked that just a teeny bit more so that's the only reason that it has one less star, but I really did enjoy their love story.

Beyond A Doubt by Nancy Cole Silverman
My rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Honestly, I got about 35-40% of the way through this book and decided to give up on it. The main character, Carol, is investigating disappearances/murders of women in the area so she goes to a few nightclubs that she thinks they may have disappeared from, BUT for some unknown reason, decides to bring her underage daughter with her...??  Why would she do that?  What mother would do that?  Then she doesn't watch her at the nightclub (mother of the year award) and she ends up finding her drugged in a bathroom...duh!  Ugghh  I was just frustrated and done at that point...lol.  I only gave it a 2 star because, who knows, maybe it got better after I stopped reading.  I just couldn't get into the story at all.
(c/o NetGalley)

 Don't Turn Around by Caroline Mitchell
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
This one was a lot different from the usual mystery/thrillers that I've been reading, and I really enjoyed it! It has a more paranormal story line than I'm used to but it was done in a really good, non-cheesy way. It was really creepy and had me guessing the whole time.
(c/o NetGalley)

One Plus One by Jojo Moyes
My rating: 5 out of 5 stars
I think it's safe to say that I've found a new favorite author.  I really liked Me Before You when I read it last month and I loved this one even more!  I've added a bunch of her other books to my "to read" list now too.  I can't get enough.  I love the way she writes her characters and makes you really feel every emotion that they are going through.

Damage Done by by Amanda Panitch
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
This one was definitely a page-turner for me, I think I ended up reading it in one day actually!  I ended up guessing the ending before it happened but it still held the creepiness factor.
(c/o NetGalley)

 Don't Get Me Wrong by Marianne Kavanagh
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
I was a little bit disappointed with this one.  They were saying if you loved Jojo Moyes than you would love this one, and also that it was a sort of modern day Pride & Prejudice type of story.  I felt as if the prejudice was all very once sided in this one.  I also felt like they rushed the love at the end...  The ending wasn't much of an ending and leaves you to sort of make your own guess too.
(c/o NetGalley)

 The Ice Twins by S.K. Tremayne
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
This one was super creepy!  It's a thriller about a 7 year old girl that lost her twin sister, and everyone in the family is keeping secrets from each other.  What is it about children that can end up being so scary?!  lol.  It definitely had the hairs on my arms standing up more than once. I didn't see that ending coming at all either!  I love a good twist ending.
(c/o NetGalley)

 Flipped by Ines Saint
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
This was definitely the type of book I needed after that last creepy one.  It was a light fluffy type of romance book, but I really enjoyed the characters a lot.  It is actually going to be a series, going through each one of the brother's lives and I will definitely try to keep up with them because the brothers were my favorite part!

What have you been reading lately?  If you are on Goodreads, we should be friends!





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