Saturday, September 30, 2017

Stacking The Shelves 2017 (Oct 1)

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! If you want to find out more about Stacking The Shelves, please visit the official launch page! Stacking The Shelves now has a new host and check out that new image!!

Sooooo I got a few things this week and I thought I would share them with you.

Kindle:
Inseverable (Carolina Beach 1)  by Cecy Robson

Pre-Orders:

ARCs
Rugged Texas Cowboy by Lora Leigh



Goodwill
I went looking for some more of the Roald Dahl and I couldn't find as many as I wished but I lucked out with the following:


I have loved this series since I was a child, it's the first series I ever read on my own, and my aunt got me one of the box sets with the blue covers.  My family home was ravished by a fire and the books were inside except for three which I had brought with me on vacation. I have been attempting to replace them for years now but they are always a different color, so I thought why not go ahead and just get a few others since I will never be able to replace the original set anyway.  I snagged this one when I saw it.  
I snagged a few classics as well.  Little House on the Prairie

S.E. Hinton's Outsiders in the anniversary blue cover.   

Shakespeare Four Great Comedies : Taming The Shrew, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Twelfth Night & The Tempest.  


A Celtic Book of Days by Sarah Costley & Charles Kightly.  

Elijah of Huxton by Christopher Paul Curtis 

And that's all I got, What did you get this week?? Share down below and I'll swing on by and share the love.  

Happy Reading and Haulin'

Friday, September 29, 2017

Book #Review: Pride and Pleasure by Sylvia Day .@SylDay

Book Title: Pride and Pleasure
Author:  Sylvia Day |WebsiteTwitterFacebook|
Publisher: Kensington
Genre: Historical Romance
Series/Standalone: Stand Alone
Format: Trade paperack
Cost: $15.00
Pages: 276
How I got it: Purchased
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BAM
Publication Date: Jan 2011
Add To Goodreads
Synopsis:
Wealth has its dangers... There are disadvantages to being an heiress, as Eliza Martin knows well. Fortune hunters flock to her, acquaintances lie and pander, and lately, someone is engineering "accidents" to propel her to the altar. But Eliza will not be bullied, and she will get to the bottom of this plot. All she needs is a man to infiltrate her assemblage of suitors and find the culprit. Someone not easily noticed; a proficient dancer, quiet, and even-tempered. ...so do certain men Thief-taker Jasper Bond is entirely too large, too handsome, and too dangerous. Who would believe that an intellectual like Eliza would be seduced by a man of action? But the combination of her stubbornness and the mystery makes the case one Jasper can't resist. Client satisfaction is a point of pride and it's his pleasure to prove he's just the man she needs after all...
I love reading Sylvia Day's writing.  She writes funny, quirky relateable characters.  Her women are smart, capable, beautiful and nerdy.  Needing something to pull me out of slump a book is trying to put me in I snagged this one from my shelves and finished it in two days and only because I didn't have time in one day to sit down and read it.

With a bit of a mystery, & intrigue, we meet our characters who are trying to solve a bit of mischief that is taking place in Eliza's life.  Eliza reluctantly hires Jasper as her private detective to help discover who is creating the mishaps that ere taking place in her life.  As it so happens she's a heiress who is planing to retire after the Season is over, she's adamant she won't be swayed into marriage by any of the men who are courting her and from there we get our story.

At times funny, and others, introspective, Eliza is a woman who knows her own mind.  With a quirky and absentminded Uncle who happens to be an Earl, she's left after her parents untimely passing to find her own way.  She's cared for by her mother's best friend and her Uncle, and she's doing her best to never follow in her mother's mercurial footsteps so she becomes enamored by numbers and figures, because those are easier to handle.  Jasper is a man who has moved his way up the ranks by virtue of his determination, friends with many of the Season's most eligible bachelors he's working on his revenge when he takes on Eliza's case.

It was a fast read, the story went by quickly with there being a new red herring and possible solutions to her original problem.  As the story progresses both characters have to make the decision to cling to the past and it's lessons or to move on and find their own way form there.  Eliza struggles with understanding her emotions and of course wondering after each decision is made whether this was something her mother would have done.  She feared the loss of control her mother had *which incidentally sounds a lot like being Manic depressive/Bipolar disorder*.  The different strings that kept being pulled characters from other books and series being mentioned, places being mentioned that show up in other books made this an even more richly curated story.

I loved the growth each character showed, while showing a bit of the struggle of letting go while trying to find a new way.  Of course I dont' even really have to mention how steamy and erotic the intimate scenes are because this is Sylvia Day and that is to be expected.  I loved the exploration they had and how they were together.

I did however wish this had another book to follow because there are several characters whose stories I would love to read. I also want to know what happened to Jane.  Who was the person eavesdropping in the shop?? When the villain was revealed and I was so annoyed because really?? Did you have to do all of that?? I never understand the villains and their motivations, is it really so hard to be a decent person??

A quick funny erotic read.  Highly recommend.
 ★★★★☆
Happy Reading my loves, 


Sunday, September 24, 2017

Stacking The Shelves:2017( Sept 4 )

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! If you want to find out more about Stacking The Shelves, please visit the official launch page! Stacking The Shelves now has a new host and check out that new image!!

Pre-Orders

I picked this up because I saw this on one of my favorite Youtube channels and it sounded awesome.So one click it is.


I have already read it and loved it as well.  Summonerr by S. D. Grimm

Purchased 

The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury because Samhain is coming and I must read.


The Return of the Light by Carolyn Edwards. Because Yule is coming.  

ARCS:

Eternal by Cecy Robson. I have loved Cecy since I read her to years ago and I had to jump on this when I saw this as coming out. She writes an amazing family saga New Adult series featuring a Latin American family, you must read it. 

I needed an erotica in my life so I snagged this;


Double Dose by Katie Allen. this is apparently a reprint of a previously released title. I loved Katie's One Two Punch which is my favorite polyamory/ menage romance.

And then I got a non-fiction:


The Witching Hour by Silver Ravenwolf.  Now I have my issues with Silver like many people do, but I like to give her a chance, she always has some good information you just kind of have to dig it out.  

Library Book Sale 

I went to return books to the library and decided to stop in the bookstore and go the following three:


Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquirel. This has been on my list for years so I snagged it when I saw it.  

And then I picked up two from the Sookie Stackhouse series:


Dead In the Family  by Charlaine Harris


Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris 

And that's it.  I'm trying to stay away from bookstores and online but I just know next month that is going to be a failure.  My birthday is in November and so many books come out next month. I'm just putting aside my entire entertainment budget just for books.  Let me know what you got in your mailbox this week and I will see you next month!!

Happy Reading my loves


Friday, September 22, 2017

ARC Book #Review: Red Zone by Sherri Hayes

Book Title: Red Zone (Daniel Brothers 2)
Author: Sherri Hayes |Website| TwitterFacebook|
Publisher: Smith Publicity
Genre: Romance
Series/Standalone: Series
Format: ebook
Cost: $4.99
Pages: 224
How I got it: NetGalley
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound
Publication Date: Jan 2013
Add To Goodreads
Synopsis:
The only thing Rebecca Carson ever wanted to do was join the FBI. Now, that was in danger because of a situation, of which she’d had little control. So when her ex-partner and mentor, Travis Hansen, calls and offers her an opportunity to help him with a job, she jumps at the chance. Gage Daniels has made a pretty good life for himself. As a professional football player, all he has to do is ask, and most things are made available to him. This includes women. A well timed smile is usually all it takes to attract the opposite sex, especially in Nashville. When a stalker threatens Gage, the team owner calls an old friend to help protect his star quarterback. Rebecca must work to protect Gage while staving off his advances. The last thing she wants is to be another notch on a hot shot athlete’s belt.
I actually read this book in order and enjoyed it.  This is a sports romance featuring a hot Footballer and a FBI agent who is assigned to him.  Gage isn't your typical footballer, having grown up in a tight family he's actually a decent guy, he hasn't let the fame get to him and he's funny, and decent, which is rarely written now when it comes to sports romance.  he isn't a manwhore although he does state he dates, but he's honest up front and doesn't court the kind of drama that a few real life players do.

I really enjoyed the conversations that Rebecca and Gage had, the way the verbally sparred and teased each other.  I really love the description of Gage's home which is where most of the story happens.  The layout and the decor and how it felt like home for them.  I loved that we had gotten a glimpse of it from his brother's perspective as well in the first book.  I loved that Rebecca as the hero in this story, she's the one who saves him, she's the one with the gun.

I really enjoyed the character development that Sherri put in.  Even though this was Rebecca's and Gage's story when they met up with the family each of the characters & their unique personalities shined through and I enjoyed myself in those scenes, including the most awkward moments of Rebecca's sister being introduced, wow I'm not sure I could forgive that moment. Talk about inserting a whole shoe department in your mouth bro.

Written from a dual POV the characters inner thoghts, fears, and ideas gave this story a depth only one POV wouldn't have.  As much as I enjoyed the story I kept saying to myself that in today's celebrity obsessed world there is no way some paparazzi wasn't stalking Gage for a story or behind the scenes shots and didn't get shots of what was happening when Gage wasn't around.  Their keeping things from him had the potential to be dangerous not just for him but for everyone around him as well.  I did notice a few minor plot threads that weren't really worked on and I'm hoping some will be picked up in the other books.

I really enjoyed the overall story, about love and the strength of family.  Gage's family and their closeness are a grounding force for him, and Rebecca's younger sister is the reason she's who she is.  I loved the flow of the story even though the mystery wasn't the strongest, it still kept me reading to find out because she didn't give a lot of clues about who the perpetrator was.

The thanksgiving trip is the turning point of this book for me I really loved them there and I can't wait to read all the other stories that were setup there and seeing more from the Daniels' brothers., Their mom is my favorite character because she's so cool and she reminds me so much of my mother,  s a sports romance I loved that the author didn't try to teach us the game while talking about the job that Gage had, like you wither know it or use google.
 ★★★1/2
RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Buchanan Series by Julie Garwood
  • Off Campus Series by Elle Kennedy


Happy Reading my loves, 



Thursday, September 21, 2017

Book #Review: Behind Closed Doors by Sherri Hayes

Book Title: Behind Closed Doors ( Daniel Brothers Book 1)
Author:  Sherri Hayes  |Website| TwitterFacebook|
Publisher: Writers Coffee Shop
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series/Standalone: Series
Format: ebook
Cost: $0.99
Pages: 216
How I got it: Purchased
Purchase: Amazon |  Publisher
Publication Date: Feb 2012
Add To Goodreads
Synopsis:
Elizabeth Marshall spent the last nine years doing all the things she was supposed to do. She went to a good college. Married a man with a promising future. Elizabeth even had a nice house in a respectable part of town. There was even the promise of 2.4 kids in her future. From the outside everything looked picture perfect.

Then one night, the world she lived in came crashing down. Six months later with her husband dead and her friends gone, Elizabeth moves to the small town of Springfield, Ohio to start a new life where no one knows who she is or about her past.

Christopher Daniels enjoys the simplicity of his bachelor life. After his divorce three years ago, he swore off women. He has no desire to change that philosophy.

When Elizabeth Marshall moves into the apartment below his in the small Victorian house, she makes him reconsider the motto he’s lived by for the last three years: women are trouble. She is everything his ex-wife is not, and it doesn’t help that she is his fantasy come to life.

He is determined to resist her charms; however, when someone sends threatening messages to Elizabeth, he finds himself in the role of protector. Can he protect Elizabeth and still resist the pull she has on his body and his heart?
Sherri has updated all the covers to her book and this makes me happy.  However the original cover of this book is the one listed above, along with the name, and Sherri's past books I was expected a different kind of story.  I was really looking forward to a BDSM novel, this is not a BDSM novel.  Nope it's a contemporary romance.  it as very emotive due to the subject matter because Elizabeth is a domestic abuse survivor, whose husband died ans she was left bereft when she lost all their 'friends and family'.

Elizabeth moves on to a small ton to start over and rents a small apartment from a sweet older lady, who also has one other tenant which is fine by her because she's not looking to make friends yet, she's here to recover. She believes she's going to get a new beginning however someone doesn't want her to forget.  This new danger in her life throws her into the life of her neighbor.  Chris is a nice guy going through a bad divorce, he's here to lick his wounds and recover form the fact that he wasn't enough for his wife.  He eventually hires Elizabeth to work for him and help him keep his company afloat as he begins to grow and expand.

As the story progresses Chris and Elizabeth become friends, and slowly they begin to see each other for ho they are.  As she grows out of her shell, the attacks on her and her home become more frequent as her stalker grows bolder.  I did enjoy the story that I got because his family as so wonderful to embrace Elizabeth and make her feel like she was wanted.   I loved the introduction to the future books through this one, meeting the characters was pretty awesome.  The buildup to the reveal of the villain was good.  I did enjoy the story e got even if at times it moved slower than molasses.

Considering her history you can understand why they took so long to get there.  While I understood it and the buildup was good.  I will be honest that I went into this without knowing what the book was about and because I was looking forward to things to happen that weren't going to happen.  I did enjoy the glimpse of his brother's home and of course the beginning of his brother's story as well.  The familial relationship really help to make this book great, and Chris being a genuine nice guy was awesome.  I enjoyed them together.   It was only a 3.5 stars for me because unlike her other works I can barely remember this one.  I really feel bad writing that but it's true.
 ★★★1/2☆
Happy Reading my loves, 


Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Waiting on Wednesday (WOW) 3: Wrong To Need You by Alisha Rai & The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman,

Hosted by: Jill over at Breaking The Spines.  This is a weekly book lust prompt, asking for us to share our absolute can't wait to get our hands on a copy books. Swing on over to find out how to participate and to see what others are sharing.

Adult Fiction/ Romance / Erotica

A Rule of Magic by Alice Hoffman
Find your magic For the Owens family, love is a curse that began in 1620, when Maria Owens was charged with witchery for loving the wrong man. Hundreds of years later, in New York City at the cusp of the sixties, when the whole world is about to change, Susanna Owens knows that her three children are dangerously unique. Difficult Franny, with skin as pale as milk and blood red hair, shy and beautiful Jet, who can read other people’s thoughts, and charismatic Vincent, who began looking for trouble on the day he could walk. From the start Susanna sets down rules for her children: No walking in the moonlight, no red shoes, no wearing black, no cats, no crows, no candles, no books about magic. And most importantly, never, ever, fall in love. But when her children visit their Aunt Isabelle, in the small Massachusetts town where the Owens family has been blamed for everything that has ever gone wrong, they uncover family secrets and begin to understand the truth of who they are. Back in New York City each begins a risky journey as they try to escape the family curse. The Owens children cannot escape love even if they try, just as they cannot escape the pains of the human heart. The two beautiful sisters will grow up to be the revered, and sometimes feared, aunts in Practical Magic, while Vincent, their beloved brother, will leave an unexpected legacy. /i>
Due Date: October 10, 2017
Print: Hardcover, ebook
Pages: 384
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Add To Goodreads

Don't talk to me about anything, Just give me the book and no one will be hurt.

Wrong To Need You by Alisha Rai
He wasn’t supposed to fall in love with his brother’s widow… Accused of a crime he didn’t commit, Jackson Kane fled his home, his name, and his family. Ten years later, he’s come back to town: older, wiser, richer, tougher—and still helpless to turn away the one woman he could never stop loving, even after she married his brother. Sadia Ahmed can’t deal with the feelings her mysterious former brother-in-law stirs, but she also can’t turn down his offer of help with the cafe she’s inherited. While he heats up her kitchen, she slowly discovers that the boy she adored has grown into a man she’s simply unable to resist. An affair is unthinkable, but their desire is undeniable. As secrets and lies are stripped away, Sadia and Jackson must decide if they’re strong enough to face the past...and step into a future together.
Due Date:  November 28, 2017
Print: ebook, Mass Market
Pages: 368
Publisher: Avon Romance Publisher
Add To Goodreads

I follow Alisha's social media and she's too awesome and of course I need to support her.  I bought another of her books and loved her works, of course , I need this one in my hands as well.

Are you getting any of these?? What's on your book lust list?? Share in the comments down below!!
Happy Lusting


Tuesday, September 19, 2017

ARC Book #Review: Coming Up For Air by Miranda Keneally

Book Title: Coming Up For Air (Hundred Oaks 9)
Author:  Miranda Kenneally |WebsiteTwitter
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Genre: Young Adult / Sports Romance
Series/Standalone: Series
Format: ebook
Cost: $9.89
Pages: 320
How I got it: Publisher via NetGalley
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Publisher
Publication Date: July 4th, 2017
Add To Goodreads
Synopsis:
Swim. Eat. Shower. School. Snack. Swim. Swim. Swim. Dinner. Homework. Bed. Repeat. All of Maggie’s focus and free time is spent swimming. She’s not only striving to earn scholarships—she’s training to qualify for the Olympics. It helps that her best friend, Levi, is also on the team and cheers her on. But Levi’s already earned an Olympic tryout, so Maggie feels even more pressure to succeed. And it’s not until Maggie’s away on a college visit that she realizes how much of the “typical” high school experience she’s missed by being in the pool. Not one to shy away from a challenge, Maggie decides to squeeze the most out of her senior year. First up? Making out with a guy. And Levi could be the perfect candidate. After all, they already spend a lot of time together. But as Maggie slowly starts to uncover new feelings for Levi, how much is she willing to sacrifice in the water to win at love?
Apparently this is the final book in this series.  Oops.  I read the last book first bwahahahaha.  I must be honest, I tried picking up catching Jordan years ago and I wasn't in the mood so I moved on to something else.  These books however have always been on my radar and now I want to read the entire series in order so I can know just how truly awesome they are.

I really enjoyed the fact that the young woman was a serious athlete, she wasn't doing it because her family wanted her to, she wasn't doing it because of some guy, or because she was trying to change who she was, she as here because she has always wanted to be here.  Having spent so much time in the pool or training or competing she really hasn't had the 'typical' high school experience, and when she goes away to a college trip she realizes it's possible to balance it all and have fun while being an athlete. Not sure who else to turn to she asks her best friend Levi to help her gain all the knowledge and experience she's missed out on, because who else would understand that's she's focused on becoming an Olympian but someone else who is also vying for that spot??

Throw in an competitor who seems to have it all together and who is doing better than she is even though she came to the sport later in life, and you have the makings of a great story.  I really enjoyed this one. I loved how Maggie explored with someone she felt safe with, she was still strong and into her sport, she sought out help when trying to learn how to balance it all, which means we got to see several old characters from the other books.  I loved the advice she was given and how she tries to take the advice while still remaining who she was.  I really related to this as a former gymnast, especially the workout schedule and the eating and the focus on doing better by just seconds.  While I'm not a swimmer this definitely made me feel like I understood them better and their training was something to truly respect.

I really loved how this wasn't about a love story, but really a story of firsts, a story of exploration and a story of understanding how to balance all your wants and needs while still being the best you can be in your field.  Maggie has some great friends, and an even better family and it really made the story that her parents were still such a strong couple who totally supported their daughter.

Very well written, and for someone who hasn't read the entire series. it was a heart warming story and it made me want to read all the others as well, so guess what I did?? You guessed it, I got all the others to read in order then read this one again with the history of all the other couples and stories in my head.  it's a journey I look forward to.

I recommend for those looking for a good story featuring a true athlete and an exploration of love and who we can be.
 ★★★★☆
Happy Reading my loves, 


Monday, September 18, 2017

Book #Review: Her Destiny (Reverie 2) by Monica Murphy

Book Title: Her Destiny ( Reverie 2)
Author:  Monica Murphy |WebsiteTwitterFacebook|
Publisher: Monica Murphy
Genre: Romance, Mature YA
Series/Standalone: Series Finale
Format: ebook
Cost: $3.99
Pages: 180
How I got it: Purchased
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound
Publication Date: August 2014
Add To Goodreads
Synopsis:
I knew from the moment I first saw him he was the one. The only boy I could ever want.
The only boy I could ever love.
They say he’s bad for me.
But I know he’s not.
Until the day he rejects me.
And breaks my heart.
Completely.

Everything changes in the blink of an eye. My entire life as I’ve known it is…gone. Secrets are revealed. Promises once made are irrevocably broken. There’s no way my family can get back to what we once were.
So when Nicholas Fairfield walks back into my life like he never left it, I’m furious.
Thrilled. Irritated. Excited.
Conflicted.
Despite my confusion, I want to be with him. I love him. But danger lurks where we least expect it. Someone will do whatever it takes to tear us apart. All I know is: I won’t let them.
Because Nick Fairfield? He’s mine.
I dived into this one because His Reverie ended on a cliffhanger and I needed to know how they were going to go on from there.  This one picked up a few weeks later and the main voice is Reverie and here we are seeing the full fall out of all the secrets revealed in the background of book one.

This book at first was filled with Rev being such a baby and brat and it really took the people who cared about her the most calling her out on her shyt for her to realize how much of a brat she's being.  Like I get that this was devastating for you and your family but think of all the people who were more hurt by your parents actions & take your head out of your ass.  And the end of the day you came out on top hen many people didn't.

My favorite characters in this story had to be her best friends because they did not hesitate to take her to task and hold up a mirror to her actions and make her start to think.  Reeling from the revelations she realizes she was super naive and yet she still acts out.  Her brother was another of my favorites because where before he was a spoiled guy you never really saw, he stepped all the way up and began to make all the adult decision especially because Rev was going through her phase.

Having her world implode made Rev start questioning everything and so she rebelled and made friends with people she would have never been friends with because lets face it, at the end of the day Rev is a nerd, and being racy and wild really isn't her style.  I loved that she began to grow and challenge herself all because she saw that her brother was doing the same.

The story focused on Rev learning to find herself again and realizing who she was wasn't founded only on what her parents had always demanded from her.  She also realized family isn't always the people who you are born to.  While discovering all of this she starts to learn what her boundaries are in relationships as well.  Nick and Rev had been separated due to her family's scandal and she thought he chose to leave her as well and that threw her for a loop.  Now Nick has to work to make his way back into her life, while also proving himself to her brother.  Of course the mystery we had started to reveal in book one comes back into play and have the fall out from that.

The story was and wasn't predictable, how they were going to end up together wasn't certain because of how Monica wrote it out.  Maybe they would have only been a summer fling, the journey to see if they were more was good.  I loved the growth both characters went through and of course seeing how much her brother also grew and of course the end to the mystery made this one fly by.

I recommend this one along with Ask Me by Kimberly Pauley.
 ★★★☆
Happy Reading my loves,  let me know what you thought in the comments down below.