Project 45 TBR Clean Up Reboot

So all over the Booktube lands I have been hearing this buzz about Project 10, which is basically a way to stop purchasing books until you have read 10 books on your self. Well I'm way too behind for just ten books, so I thought why not do a Project 45 instead that way, I'll not purchase any books until I've cleaned up my TBR shelf a bit.

Since I tried this at the beginning of the year and had a blast because I accomplished quite a bit. I managed to clean up over 45 books from my TBR pile and was extremely motivated to continue doing so.  For me the Project 45 will run from July 1st until September 30th (or really until whenever I have finished them I doubt it will take that long) and then all bets on books are off.  I hate creating lists because I tend to not stick to them with that in mind I'm going to share some of the ones I'm really looking forward to reading.

July Completed:   Balance:
August Completed:  Balance
September Completed:  Balance:

Each book read will be marked off by these colors.

• Blue - July,  
• Green = August; 
• Yellow= September

The Books: (in no particular order)

1. Once Upon a Prince
2. Crown of Midnight Sarah J Maas
3. Heir of Fire Sarah  J Maas
4. Me Before You by Jojo Moyers
5. The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa
6. Iron Traitor by Julie Kagawa
7. From Ashes Molly McAdams
8. My Life After Now
9. Rogue by Gina Damico
10. Unwind Neal Schusterman
11. Unwholly Neal Schusterman
12. Hush, Hush Becca Fitzpatrick
13. Just Listen Sarah Dessen
14. 20s Girl Sophie Kinsella
15. WyrmeWeald the Returner's Wealth by Stewart and riddell
16. Calculated in Death by JD Robb
17. Thankless in Death by JD Robb
18. The Edge of Never by JA R
19. The Water Witch
20. Enslaved
21. Born to be Wild
22. Wake To Darkness by Maggie Shayne
23. First Grave on the Right Daryanda Jones
24. For Darkness Shows the Stars Diana Peterfruend
25. Fifty Shames of Earl Grey 
26. The Eye of Minds
27. Thorn Jack Katherine Harbour
28. Bond of Denial
29. Bond of Courage
30. Shattered Bonds
31. Avenge Me Maisey Yates

I'm also going to be creating a list on Goodreads that I will update as I find more books I wish to read and place them on the shelf.  Once the project is done I will do a recap with all of the reviews as well.

Does a Project 10 or 45 sound good for you?? Share in the comments.

YA Blog Tour #Review: The A Word @joypreble

Book Title: The A Word (Sweet Dead Life #2)
Author: Joy Preble |Website| Twitter| Facebook|

Publisher: SOHO Teen
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Series/Standalone: Series
Format: paperback

Cost: $17.99

Pages: 272

How I got it: Publisher

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Publisher
Publication Date: May 2014
Add To Goodreads
Synopsis:

Jenna Samuels is about to turn fifteen. It's been almost a year since her stoner brother, Casey, bit the dust. Almost a year since he returned as her guardian angel, along with his "angel boss," Amber Velasco, the hot twenty-something former EMT. Almost a year since Casey and Amber used up their one-time-only angel power of flight to save Jenna from the evil Dr. Renfroe, swooping down to catch her as she tumbled off the balcony at the Houston Galleria. In short, a lot of A-word shenanigans and a mostly happy ending. Except now Casey's begun to wonder why he's still hanging around—not that he minds protecting Jenna. She's a handful, but there's got to be a bigger picture, right? Something to distract him from his on again/off again, doomed relationship with cheerleader Lanie Phelps, who has no idea her boyfriend is, well, dead. After all, he can't use his angel wings anymore. Neither can Amber. Enter Bo Shivers, Amber's "angel boss"—a mysterious A-word guy Jenna and Casey didn't even know existed. Whiskey-guzzling. Handsome in a grizzled way. Unpredictable. Okay, make that crazy. Bo lost his angel wings in an earthly flight a long, long, long time back—and he's been a thorn in Angel Management's side ever since. But Bo knows something is coming. Something big. Something that was worth forfeiting wings for Jenna... something that might just change everything for everyone.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

 ★★★☆☆

Happy Reading

#Review: The Real Thing (Westmoreland Series) @AuthorBJackson @HarlequinBooks

Book Title: The Real Thing (Westmorelands #28)
Author: Brenda Jackson |Website| Twitter| Facebook|

Publisher: Harlequin Desire
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series/Standalone: Series
Format: ebook, Mass Market Paperback

Cost: $5.25

Pages: 192

How I got it: NetGalley 

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Publisher
Publication Date: March 4, 2014
Add To Goodreads
Synopsis:

What happens when a pretend boyfriend wants more than make-believe? Find out in this Westmoreland novel from New York Times bestselling author Brenda Jackson! No red-blooded man turns down the chance to escort gorgeous Trinity Matthews—and Adrian Westmoreland is definitely red-blooded. For her, he'll pretend to be her man. But keeping his hands to himself? That is impossible. A Westmoreland always keeps his word, but how long before Adrian turns this fake affair into something real?

OMGawd, my loves, why have I waited so long to dive into this?!!! I love Brenda's writing and I foolishly put this book aside after getting it, I'm now kicking myself, but I can't wait until September to get Aiden's story. Ok let's back up a bit.

I loved this story, first of all the characters are African American who are successful and affluent. YAYAY for diversity!!!  We meet Trinity who is the sibling of Tara a recent Westmoreland addition,  Trinity moved to Denver because of her residency and she's super excited to making serious headway into her dream career. Except she's working in an hostile environment, she's being sexual harassed by a mentor and is desperate for a way to turn him off; her sister Tara had a brilliant plan to have a Westmoreland, Adrian to be exact help her out.  They decide to pretend to be lovers in hopes of turning the asshat Dr away.  Now considering I have been in several hospitals myself, I can't lie and say this isn't a realistic look sometimes, it always takes someone with brassier balls than the offending party to get them to back off.  Which is effing sad as hell.

While I was pissed on Trinity's behalf, I totally got why she made the choices she did and I don't blame her for it.  While working on finding a way around Dr. Asshat (that's what I'm calling him from now on),  Trinity and Adrian find themselves connecting more than they expected. Adrian pushes Trinity to try new things, to look beyond what she always saw for herself and to embrace the changes that came with seeing beyond those dreams. Of course I won't lie, the sex?? Girl dayuum it's hot!!

I loved Trinity as a character, I loved Adrian and his family. I loved the fact that they had great relationships with their siblings, and their families. I loved reading their interactions as a couple and with their family. I loved the unfurling of each characters' characteristics and their raw intensity with each other.  I will say I laughed a little at the beginning when they first got together because of the language used in the romance, not because of them, it's funny because i read raunchy erotica, and this was tame for the first few chapters then BAM it got good and raunchy too.  Never let be said that romance can't have a little kick with those nice flowers.

While their romance blooms, we have tension mounting at the workplace, and we are left wondering how will it work itself out.  As we progress, moves are made, gmae changing steps taken and man oh man does Adrian show up for Trinity!! I love this book and the family??!! Where do I sign up to marry into this??

I really loved coming back to the Westmoreland Clan and I can't wait to catch up completely and of course I'm now dying to read the Secret Affair which comes out September.

 ★★★★☆

Have you read any Brenda Jackson??  Or do you have another author like her you think I should check out?? Share down in the comment section and I will gladly look into them. Thanks for stopping by and of course,
Happy Reading

Blog Tour #Review: The Witch's Salvation (Book 1 in The Witch's Trilogy) @FrancaPelaccia

Book Title: The Witch's Salvation (Book 1)
Author:  Francesca Pelaccia |Website| Twitter| Facebook|

Publisher: Author
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Series/Standalone: Series Book 1
Format: ebook, paperback

Cost: $0.99, $12.99

Pages: 388

How I got it: Blog Tour

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble |
Publication Date: April 27th, 2013
Add To Goodreads
Synopsis:

A witch who demands humanity. The immortal families who denied her of it. Two mortals commanded to right the wrong. That is the fate of the urban princess Anasztasia and the renegade prince Matthias, born shockingly mortal to two immortal families. If they go back in time and restore the witch’s humanity, she will grant them immortality. She will also break a 550 year-old curse that imprisons Matthias’s family in their ancestral homeland and exiles Anasztasia’s family from it. But to make their lives their own, the heirs must return to the most dangerous day in their families’ past, Easter Sunday, 1457, the day Vlad III, aka Dracula, massacred nobles. How can they change the day when their families will not speak of their wrongs? How can they refuse when the witch owns their lives

Freaking amazeballs. When I was sent this galley I was afraid that it wouldn't be ok, because sometimes debut authors mean well but don't quite execute what they planned. I needed had worried, I was glued to this book from the very beginning.  The author writes about history, time travel, family honor, Knights and adventure. Who doesn't want that???  I was addicted and even gushed about the book to my sister and i was only like 150 pages in. I was loving it!!

The build up to the adventure our young princess and prince was facing was very well done.  I found myself desperately reading as fast as possible to see what was on the next page  Would they do what they were supposed to?? Would they fight for themselves?? How was this going to pan out??  I can't go into detail without spoiling it for you because it moves so quickly into the tale that anything could give more than I mean to.

The rich history used as the back drop, the myths, the love of the violin & music; oh my gosh there are even Knights, Saxon merchants, nobles, and Gypsies (Otherwise known as the Roma).  I found myself completely drawn in especially because she was talking about the Carpathian Mountains.  I found myself stopping a few moments to google some of the things she talked about so I could picture the men of the Teutonic Knights better, looking at maps so I could view the landscape better in my mind I was deeply entranced by this story and cannot wait until the second one comes out.

I have so many questions about friend the Knight, who is he, what does his symbols mean. Is he who I think he is???  OMGosh, this story just flew by and I can't quite explain how much I found myself enjoying it.  The sense of adventure, the lore, the fast paced sword fights, the love of family, of duty, of honor. The horror of Vlad the Third, the killing fields, the feast. I was just so lost in the story ( In a good way).  And of course the mysteries, why did her Grandfather not tell the whole story, who was the Witch?? What happened back then, I just wanted the mystery to unfold and of course pieces were given that made the story richer, and feed us just enough to keep you glued.  I loved the unfolding and how we got answers yet were left with so many more questions.

I'm going to stop gushing now and let you take a gander yourselves.  IF you had a chance to read it, share what you think down below, I'm off to stalk the author's goodreads page to see when the second book in the trilogy comes out.

Excerpt:

 In a cave shaped by five centuries of the earth’s temper, the wind’s hand, and the sky’s will, a witch stirs from beneath the dry leaves and twigs that make up her resting place. She pushes herself through, then brushes the blanket of brittle leaves from her furrowed face and shriveled limbs. But after five centuries of sleeping and waking in a bed of earth, she does not recognize foliage from skin. She plants her emaciated feet on rough stones and drags herself across the cave to the aged branches of her door, her steps shaky like those of an infant learning to walk. The door grinds as it opens with one silent command. The world outside her hovel is as it is inside—dark, dank, musty, the bottom layers of centuries of overgrowth and the absence of human vanity. Yet she hears everything, worms burrowing, insects feeding, foliage breathing. They have been her companions and teachers through the ages as much as they have been her nourishment. Her bones slipping against the shell of her body, she stumbles toward the ragged stump of an ancient beech. Over five centuries ago, she snapped the sapling from its roots, nurturing its swell to remind herself of the passage of the years, the turn of the centuries, and the approach of salvation. It is as old and as dead in life as she is, but it has kept her will strong and focus sharp. Instead of resting her frail body on it, or sipping from the water trickling over one of its gnarled roots and collecting in a hollow at its base, she climbs onto it. She crawls to the middle, appearing no bigger than a rodent on a master’s grand table. Her pupils are dull and worn away, but she finds the first ring with her fingertips and begins to count. One, two, three, four, five…It is slow and meticulous work for one taught only the basics of language and numbers by those she once served. But her voice is strong, her need to count a hunger, her focus unrelenting. Once she had magnificent eyes. Dark, almost black, alert and alive, eager to see the world, to touch it and to know it. Her hair matched the black of her eyes. Long and thick, it shone brighter than those nobles with marigold hair. Once, she was a young woman, until the nobles of the two warring families tore her from her family, wrenched her life from her body and her soul from her flesh, turning her into what she is now. Once, she had a name, a lovely, rhythmic name. But that was robbed from her, too, and she inherited another name. Strigoaic. Witch. A witch who was once a girl. A girl who once had a life. A life now trapped in death.

PrologueThe Strigoaic counts the rings without stopping, her voice moaning through the clearing and the dense trees around it. She stops when her fingers grasp a ring larger and more pronounced than the others. Her heart begins to thump as it did when she first discovered it, as it did in her human life. Slipping over the edge of the stump, her fingers never leaving that ring of hope, she begins to count again, but from one, to two, to three, all the way to eighteen. She lowers her head, a drop of blood falling from her eyes. Crawling back onto the stump, she lies on it, the pulse of the ancient tree pounding against her palms and heating her chilled skin. The time has come. After centuries of waiting, the time has come to summon those two nobles who robbed her of her humanity. But it is not them she wants. She has already punished them. She imprisoned one noble and his family in the boundaries of the earth once known as their homeland of Wallachia, while the other noble and his family she exiled from it. Unwise about her sorcery, however, she imprisoned and exiled them for eternity to an immortal life. That will right itself in time, too. Now she wants—no, needs—the last born of each family. She decreed them, and she will have them. Clawing her fingers through the flesh of the stump, she lets a shrill break from her lips that shakes birds and trees and mountains. The time has come to get her name back.

Wednesday, May 14

Book Featured at Sweeping Me

Thursday, May 15

Book Featured at Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews

Friday, May 16

Interview at As the Page Turns

Monday, May 19

Interview at The Book Connection

Tuesday, May 20

Book Featured at Literarily Speaking

Wednesday, May 21

Book Featured at Literary Winner

Thursday, May 22

Book Featured at Bibliotica

Guest Blogging at Lori’s Reading Corner

Friday, May 23

Book Featured at The Literary Nook

Monday, May 26

Guest Blogging at I Heart Reading

Tuesday, May 27

Book Review & Guest Blogging at The True Book Addict

Wednesday, May 28

Interview at Angie’s Diary

Thursday, May 29

Book Featured at Booklover Sue

Friday, May 30

Interview at Virginia Beach Publishing Examiner

 ★★★★★

Happy Reading

May Challenge: Clean Sweep & Bout of Books 10.0

Clean Sweep ARC Challenge Hosted by Kimba@ Kimba's Caffienated Book Reviewer
May 1 through May 31 
 Rules 

• Link-up and add button to your blog Arc must be read between May 1st and May 31st, 2014 
• Challenge starts and ends at midnight in your local time zone 
• All ARCS/finished copies that were provided by publisher/author are eligible. They can be in any format (eBook, physical, audio) Post start up post with goals.(can be posted during event) 
• Tweet using hashtag #CleanSweepARC 
• You do not have to post review on blog during the month of May. Just provide a link to Goodreads showing read May 1 to 31st with a two sentence review. 
• Twitter Party Wednesday May 14th 7pm (EST) #CleanSweepARC Participate in challenges 
• The Participant Giveaway will include entries for each linked book read, posting about challenge, start up/results post (can be combined), having button on your sidebar, participation in Twitter party, entering challenges and for following hosts. 
• Grand Prize- One winner will receive a new release of their choice (can be audible credit, novel or gift card) valued at up to 20.00 US dollars. Open internationally. 
• Challenge Schedule and entry form will post on May 1st and participant giveaway will close on June 3 at 11:59 (CST) 
• Sounds like fun right? So come on grab the button, link up and get ready to make a clean sweep. Angie and I will be here to cheer you on and motivate you!

I'm signing up for this, I'm hoping to complete at least 25 books.  I have so many books I need to clean off of my TBR list, Sweet Goddess am I behind and so many good books come out this month!! So here's my list of books to clean up this month.

1. Robyn Carr: The Newcomer, The Wanderer, The Chance, The Promise, Four Friends
2. The Witch's Salvation 4/12
3. Thorn Jack
4. 3rd Degree
5. Counting to D
6. Mystic River
7. A Perfect Hostage
8. Undone He Comes
9. The Burning
10. Night of Pleasure
11. The Adventure of Julian
12. Immortal Rules Julie Kagawa
13. Eternity Cure Julie Kagawa
14. Forever Song Julie Kagawa
15. The Broken
16. The Word Exchange
17. Kate Douglas duet
18. love's paradox
19. the body in the woods
20. Blossom St. Birds
21. Searching for perfect
22. Honoring Grief
23. Born Confused
24. We are the Goldens
25. No One Needs to Know
26. Hot Secrets 
27. The Temptation of Anna Jacobs
28. Awakening The Warriors
29. Templeton Twins Have an Idea (book 1), Make a Scene(book 2) by Ellis Weiner

I'm also signing up for the Bout of Books 10.0 which starts on May 12th. I will be doing most of my updates via the YT channel. (my channel). I'm not sure what I'll want to read, I'll definitely try to finish these though because they need to go back to the library.

1. Rogue Gina Damico
2. If I were You Lisa Renee Jones
3. Fathomless by Jackson Pearce
4. The Rake's Redemption Regina Scott
5. Who I kissed Janet Gurtler
6. You Found Me Jane Lark

Or I might just grab anything that catches my eye. But I really want these off my TBR Pile!!

What are you going to be reading this month?!!  Share down below and I'll come cheer you on!! Happy Reading and good luck!!

Adios Bloggiesta 2014

Well we're supposed to become good friends with Pedro (Plan, Edit, Develop, Review & Organize). I normally use this time to do all the behind the scene stuff on the blog. I will have to note here, I'm not tech savvy enough to have done all of this by myself, most of these come from Kimba's Blog Tips & Tricks, and the few she didn't have I noted beside each check off.  

Here's what I did:

1. Buy the domain name
2. Clean Out Email Took the whole damn day, Jeez !!
3. Clean up 12 reviews & Pre post them Completed just 1. yeah fail!!
4. Participate in Challenges and Chats  I particpated in a few chats, and challenges, I used the IFTT thingie by the Book Vixen, took a little work but I got it now. Or I hope so!!
5. Set up BEA 2014 posts
6. Link Last few reviews to author pages & title pages
7. Set up Review by Ratings Page
8. double check broken links Using Google Webmasters program, it checks for broken links and let you know. (It's free)
9. watermark all my pictures and put them back up & delete duplicates Only had a few of these to do
10. Fix rating on side bar Tried new rating on sidebar didn't like, went back to old template
11. Make blog button I created mine via this website. 
12. Fix Facebook & Twitter headers & twitter background
13. Set up Google + header properly
14. Link FB page so posts go there
15. Youtube Channel Header & Background

Added on after stalking other participants posts:

fix favicon button Completed mine using this website but for some reason it's not showing, you know because Blogger HATES ME!! UGH!! Update Now it's showing Yes!!!!

Setup BEA Page

Setup BEA IMM and link reviews

Info & copyright information at bottom of page
Backup Blog ( Thanks to Bri @ The Book Vixen I remembered this) 

I didn't do it all but I still did great and completed quite a bit of my list. How'd you do?? Share down below. 

Have a great week and I can't wait until the next one. 

And So It Starts: Bloggiesta 2014

Well my loves it's the beginning and it's time to get working on my list. So far here's what I've done:

Some of you may be wondering what exactly is Bloggiesta and/or when is it? In short, Bloggiesta is a blogging marathon revolving around ticking off those items on your to-do list and improving your blog while in the good company of other awesome bloggers doing the same thing. Our awesome mascot Pedro (Plan. Edit. Develop. Review. Organize) is ready to break out the nachos, enchiladas, drinks, mariachi music and whack a pinata or two! It’s nothing short of an awesome fiesta! Bloggiesta was originally started in June of 2009 by the lovely and tenacious Natasha from Maw Books Blog. In March of 2012 Natasha graciously passed the torch on to Suey fromIt’s All About Books and Danielle from There’s A Book. After hosting this fantastic event during both March and September of 2012 it was decided thatBloggiesta needed it’s own home, which is the site you’re now visiting.

Well we're supposed to become good friends with Pedro (Plan, Edit, Develop, Review & Organize). I normally use this time to do all the behind the scene stuff on the blog. I will have to note here, I'm not tech savvy enough to have done all of this by mysel, most of these come from Kimba's Blog Tips & Tricks, and the few she didn't have I noted beside each check off.

So here goes nothing:

1. Buy the domain name
2. Clean Out Email Took the whole damn day, Jeez !!
3. Clean up 12 reviews & Pre post them
4. Participate in Challenges and Chats 
5. Set up BEA 2014 posts
6. Link Last few reviews to author pages & title pages
7. Set up Review by Ratings Page
8. double check broken links Using Google Webmasters program, it checks for broken links and let you know. (It's free)
9. watermark all my pictures and put them back up & delete duplicates Only had a few of these to do
10. Fix rating on side bar Tried new rating on sidebar didn't like, went back to old template
11. Make blog button I created mine via this website. 
12. Fix Facebook & Twitter headers & twitter background
13. Set up Google + header properly
14. Link FB page so posts go there
15. Youtube Channel Header & Background

Added on after stalking other participants posts:

fix favicon button Completed mine using this website but for some reason it's not showing, you know because Blogger HATES ME!! UGH!!

Setup BEA Page

Setup BEA IMM and link reviews

Info & copyright information at bottom of page
Backup Blog ( Thanks to Bri @ The Book Vixen I remembered this) 

Bloggiesta Challenge: I Accept the Challenge

Some of you may be wondering what exactly is Bloggiesta and/or when is it? In short, Bloggiesta is a blogging marathon revolving around ticking off those items on your to-do list and improving your blog while in the good company of other awesome bloggers doing the same thing. Our awesome mascot Pedro (Plan. Edit. Develop. Review. Organize) is ready to break out the nachos, enchiladas, drinks, mariachi music and whack a pinata or two! It’s nothing short of an awesome fiesta! Bloggiesta was originally started in June of 2009 by the lovely and tenacious Natasha from Maw Books Blog. In March of 2012 Natasha graciously passed the torch on to Suey from It’s All About Books and Danielle from There’s A Book. After hosting this fantastic event during both March and September of 2012 it was decided that Bloggiesta needed it’s own home, which is the site you’re now visiting.

Well we're supposed to become good friends with Pedro (Plan, Edit, Develop, Review & Organize). I normally use this time to do all the behind the scene stuff on the blog. So here goes nothing:

1. Buy the domain name
2. Clean Out Email
3. Clean up 12 reviews & Pre post them
4. Participate in Challenges and Chats 
5. Set up BEA 2014 posts
6. Link Last few reviews to author pages & title pages
7. Set up Review by Ratings Page
8. double check broken links
9. watermark all my pictures and put them back up & delete duplicates
10. Fix rating on side bar
11. Make blog button
12. Fix Facebook & Twitter headers & twitter background
13. Set up Google + header properly
14. Link FB page so posts go there
15. Youtube Channel Header & Background

That's it for now, once I get those done then I might do more. But I don't want to write a massive list then not get them done.

Are you participating?? What's on your list of things to get done?? Share down below and I'll swing by to encourage you.

Best of Luck!!

Mardi Gras Madness Bingo Challenge

Yes I'm signing up for another darn challenge but this one looks awesome doesn't it!! And it's going to help with the Project 45 & the Project 350 (otherwise known as my TBR pile).

This wonderful Bingo game is the brain child of the lovely ladies over at Oh The Books, Click here to learn all the rules.  It's Bingo y'all it should be hella fun to do!! So far I have B. I. G

Read a book that…

B1: involves Greek mythology
B2: features a jester character
B3: has a mostly purple cover
B4: has a character that leads a life of excess Antonio in Sex & The Single Vamp Robin Covington
B5: has a crown on the cover

I1: has gems or jewels on the cover
I2: has a character going to a party 2/18 What the Greek's Money Can't Buy Maya Blake
I3: is set in Paris
I4: involves doubloons in the story
I5: has a king character or on the cover

N1: is set in The Big Easy (New Orleans, baby!)
N2: involves Egyptian mythology
N3: FREE SQUARE! Dial M For Menage 
N4: is set on/in/near a large body of water
N5: has a mostly yellow or gold cover

G1: has a character who goes to a ball
G2: has a mask on the cover
G3: involves a carnival (faire/circus)
G4: has a queen character or on the cover
G5: has cake on the cover or being eaten in the story Tart Lauren Dane ( Wedding Cake)

O1: has a French character or author 
O2: has a mostly green cover
O3: involves a feast Rome ( Rule's wedding)
O4: has characters wearing costumes
O5: has a feathered character or feathers on the cover 

Won't you join in?? We can share book suggestions and ideas. Let me know if you're participating too, cause this is about to be fun!!

Happy Reading

#Review: A SEAL's Kiss

Book Title: A SEAL's Kiss
Author: Tawny Weber |Website| Twitter| Facebook|

Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Romance
Series/Standalone: Series
Format: ebook, paperback

Cost: $5.50

Pages: 224

How I got it: NetGalley

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Publisher
Publication Date: March 2014
Add To Goodreads
Synopsis:

Subject: Navy SEAL Petty Officer Aiden Masters Current Status: On leave Obstacle: Deploy "Mission: (Fake) Engagement"…without actually falling for his fiancée! The goal of Mission: Engagement is simple—a fake engagement concocted to bring happiness to Sage Taylor's ailing father. The Rules: 1) Treat it like a military mission 2) Keep the truth undercover 3) The "engagement" lasts as long as the professor's health depends on it; and 4) No sex…especially with each other! But the incredibly spirited (and a touch quirky) Sage has never been one for rules. Especially when they involve Aiden's rock-hard navy bod and a ton of smokin'-hot sexual attraction. Which means in order to seduce this sexy SEAL, she'll have to completely outmaneuver him….

I loved reading my second Tawny Weber book. It's, of course, another one about the SEALs and it followed up from Brody ( A SEALs Salvation), who does make a brief appearance in the book which was awesome.

So let's go back a little, we meet our two characters Aiden & Sage,  who happen to be lifelong friends, Aiden who is a genius & Sage who is a bit of a free spirit.  They rarely see each other and have mostly stayed in contact via Sage's blog and her father, Aiden's mentor.  When Sage comes home for another wedding and learns that her friends are gearing up to set her up she comes up with what should be a little white lie but quickly blooms into a big one.  Which is made even more complicated when Sage gets some seriously devastating news. Now it's up to the duo to maintain the mission for as long as possible, and most of all don't forget the rules.

I loved reading this story., (Don't I always say that?? Naw not really). He was definitely in love with Sage for longer than he was willing to admit.  I loved that even though she was considered the flake she was actually well put together.  I likened her to Dharma from the awesome show Dharma & Greg, she was just as fun & new agey.  She was seen as just flitting about when she's actually doing a great job making a difference in the world. She has had some misadventures along the way but then again we all do.

I like that she has an alternative life to the 'boring' ones that some of us are sometimes forced to choose (because bills don't pay themselves). In her life she has managed to see a lot, make a bit of a difference and do what many wish they could.  It may earn very little money, but it does something even better which is feed her soul. She didn't even have to have the midlife crisis to decide that's where she really wants to go.  I loved that they were totally into helping each other even if they refused to see why.

In this instance Sage was the best character because it's her change and transformation we saw more than Aiden's.  He was already stable in his career and in most of his life, but Sage needed to find a place to settle, a career she wanted and when she realized she already had all the things she just needed to aim better it was awesome to read.

This was once again a book that was relationship focused and it dealt more with their need to find themselves and each other instead of some big outside influences, even though there were a few, we really focused on the characters and what they needed.  I personally loved the choices they were faced with, and how they had to decide what was best for them, even if everyone else didn't agree.  It was very quick read and funny in moments, serious when it needed to be, & really smoking hot when the couple finally got there. All in all it's a good read!!

Here's your chance to get yourself a copy. Enter for a chance to win.  Still need convincing?? Check out this excerpt

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4 Witch Hats: Engaging Plot, Well rounded and well written characters. Great world building.  It's a definite must add to your TBR Pile and a highly recommended read for the genre.

I hope you enjoy
Happy Reading

Project45 March Update

So all over the Booktube lands I have been hearing this buzz about Project 10, which is basically a way to stop purchasing books until you have read 10 books on your self. Well I'm way too behind for just ten books, so I thought why not do a Project 45 instead that way, I'll not purchase any books until I've cleaned up my TBR shelf a bit.

For me the Project 45 will run from January 15th until April 22nd (or really until whenever I have finished them I doubt it will take that long) and then all bets on books are off.  I hate creating lists because I tend to not stick to them with that in mind I'm going to share some of the ones I'm really looking forward to reading.I'm also going to be creating a list on Goodreads that I will update as I find more books I wish to read and place them on the shelf.  Once the project is done I will do a recap with all of the reviews as well.

March Update: Ok as of 3/5 I have read and completed quite a few of these titles, a few are scheduled to post in the following days so I'll update the reviews then.  I really did good in February, I mean I really cleaned up the reading pile and back reviews nicely.  I'm loving this, it's kept me motivated and given me a reason to really get back into reading.

From my list I have dnf'd two books and will be replacing them, I tried to read the first book and hated it so I just went ahead and removed the other book in the series from the list

Completed: 19  Balance: 25

Each book read will be marked off by & relevant reviews posted next to them.

The Books: (in no particular order)

1. A December Bride ✓ Review
2. A January Bride ✓     Review
3. A February Bride✓    Review
4. A March Bride✓ 
5. Once Upon a Prince
6. A April Bride✓
7. A May Bride✓
8. Throne of Glass Sarah J Maas✓ 
9. Crown of Midnight Sarah J Maas
10. Wild Cards by Simone Elkeles✓ 
11. Me Before You by Jojo Moyers
12. The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa
13. Iron Traitor by Julie Kagawa
14. From Ashes
15. My Life After Now
16. Walking Disaster by Jamie McGuire✓ 
17. Beautiful Disaster by Jamic McGuire✓ Review
18. Rogue by Gina Damico
19. Unwind Neal Schusterman
20. Unwholly Neal Schusterman
21. Hush, Hush Becca Fitzpatrick
22. Just Listen Sarah Dessen
23. 20s Girl Sophie Kinsella
24. True Erin McCarthy✓ Review
25. Sweet Erin McCarthy✓ Review
26. Believe Erin McCarthy✓ Review
27. WyrmeWeald the Returner's Wealth by Stewart and riddell
28. Calculated in Death by JD Robb
29. Thankless in Death by JD Robb
30. Real by Katy Evans DNF'D
31. Mine by Katy Evans REMOVED FROM LIST
32. The Edge of Never by JA R
33. Keepers Of Christmas
34. The Water Witch
35. Enslaved Elizabeth Naughton 
36. Born to be Wild 
37. Wake To Darkness by Maggie Shayne
38. First Grave on the Right Darynda Jones
39. For Darkness Shows the Stars Diana Peterfruend
40. Pushing the Limits Katie McGarry✓
41. Crossing the Line Katie McGarry✓
42. Dare You To Katie McGarry✓
43. Crash Into You Katie McGarry✓
44. A SEALs Salvation Tawny Weber ✓ Review
45. Cosmo Red Hot Reads: Crazy Stupid Sex Maisey Yates✓ Review

Bonus Books:

1. Fifty Shames of Earl Grey 

That's how I'm doing on my Project45. Have you decided to do the same?? Does a Project 10 or 45 sound good for you?? Share in the comments.  If not let me know what you're doing to clean up your TBR a bit.
Happy Reading my loves

Book #Review: Beautiful Disaster (Book 1)

Book Title: Beautiful Disaster Book 1
Author: Jamie McGuire  |Website| Twitter| Facebook|

Publisher: Atria Books
Genre: New Adult Romance
Series/Standalone: Series
Format: Trade paperback

Cost: $15.00

Pages: 416

How I got it: Purchased 

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Publisher
Publication Date: August 2012
Add To Goodreads
Synopsis:

The new Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn’t drink or swear, and she has the appropriate number of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance from the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University's Walking One-Night Stand. Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby needs—and wants—to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the ultimate college campus charmer. Intrigued by Abby’s resistance to his appeal, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis’s apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match.

Once again I started this book late at night, right before going to bed, Yeah...I didn't sleep I stayed up to finish reading this and I loved every moment of doing that and of reading this book.   After my disastrous attempt at reading Real by Katy Evans. I was afraid to pick up another popular book but I needed have worried  I enjoyed this immensely.  The characters were well written, they drew you into the story and made you apart of it. I loved reading the book, I mean a fact that's evidenced by it taking me one night to finish.

This has been a unique experience for me, because the characters were different from how most romance characters are written, I mean yeah Travis was the stereotypical manwhore, but in other characteristics he was written differently, he was a good friend, extremely smart, extremely broke yet working on it an even more unconventional way. Abby was a pretty different character as well, she completely didn't fall for his lines and man did he go crazy over that.  She was also smart, good looking, was from a pretty unique family background ( not completely but the elements that made hers different wasn't one I've read before).

I loved how uniquely Jamie made their love, their friends and their college experiences.  It was great fun and frankly reminded me a lot of my college days so I loved reading it.  The characters were fun, funny, witty, the conversations flowed and the storyline kept flowing so well that I kept fighting sleep to finish it.  I loved how well she created the world of their college experiences, writing in a way that allowed you to almost see the campus, the classrooms, the teachers, just created it in a way that you could kind of map it out. but at the same time leaving out enough details so you could create it based on your own experiences ( at least that's what I did, I totally imagined my college campus and simply named the buildings like she did)

I loved their passion, their quirkiness and Abby's stubbornness. There were moments I wanted to shake her, like really?? And moments I completely loved her.  Her best friend America *Mare* was totally kick butt.  I loved their dynamic and how much the girls truly loved each other.  I enjoyed reading Shep's & Mare's romance, their ups and downs totally rivaled those of Abby and Travis and I loved every moment.

I loved and loathed the nickname Travis gave her, because really dude I have a name use it!!  So much of their issues were character driven issues and I loved how they both worked at it and sometimes ran from it, making the romance both the focus and the reason for their growth.  Their issues didn't miraculously disappear and that they didn't immediate have a happily ever after, no they were too stubborn and hot headed for that.

There are a few moments in here that make you pause, however the characters were aware of them and either called each other out on them or immediately tried to stop them.  My biggest concerns were the fights he was participating in and the eventuality of a accident taking place due to one or at one.  I have seen reviews that say this book glorifies violence and Travis's bad behavior, I don't think so, especially because he worked at changing, at managing his behavior and modified it when needed.  I'm not going to lie there were a few O_o worthy moments but as I said before they were called out by several different characters and once made aware, Travis really tried to change.  I had a few problems with her indecisiveness as well, either you want him or you don't; if not stop with the holding it against him because you don't want him doesn't mean other won't take him. Stop playing games Abby. just stop. At the end there were a few unanswered questions which I guess is good since there is a second book.

Yeah I have pretty much nothing else to say other than it was an awesome ride and you must check it out.  I'm diving right into the other books and novellas. And I love how gorgeous the covers are and how they all match so well.
 ★★★★★

Happy Reading