Book #Review: Talk Cowboy To Me (Lucky Cowboys 1) by Carolyn Brown

Book Title: Talk Cowboy To Me ( Lucky Cowboys 1)
Author: Carolyn Brown |Website| Twitter| Facebook|

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Romance
Series/Standalone: Series Book 1
Format: ebook, MM Paperback

Cost: $7.99

Pages: 384

How I got it: Netgalley

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Publisher
Publication Date: March 14, 2017
Add To Goodreads
Synopsis:

One cowboy.
One cowgirl.
One ranch.
Who will win the Double Deuce by the Fourth of July?

Adele O'Donnell knew that Double Deuce Ranch had to be hers the second she walked onto the property. Freshly divorced, she sees it as the perfect spot for her and the kids to start a new life. Remington Luckadeau was always a carefree playboy...until his suddenly orphaned nephews became his responsibility. The Double Deuce Ranch would be the perfect place to raise two boys. But some fiery woman is fighting him for it, and Remington is not sharing-no matter how the sparks fly when he and Adele are together.

This story brings together a few of the other series that Carolyn writes, taking family members and bringing them together for this story, while making the towns all a part of the same world. I loved this story, I think the kids made this story, they had such strong personalities that I can't wait to see if she writes them love stories as well.

I went into this not knowing the premise or anything really, it's how I love reading my books and I just fell in love with the town, the families, the children and eventually the couple.  Given the opportunity to own a piece of land matters to both the parents for different reasons and they have over a month to figure out who is going to win this bet.  I loved how they worked separately and had strong spirits of competition, neither was going to let the other get their ranch.

Separately they each brought their own expertise to the ranch and each of their children has their own reason for loving the ranch.  This romance was so down to earth, the way the couple was so simple and normal.  Sometimes in romance you can forget that it isn't about the glamour but the everyday journey towards being better than you were yesterday that really makes a romance.  I love that Carolyn writes these stories, everyday families with good strong beliefs as their backbone working towards their common goals.  They aren't dirt poor but they aren't the Gates either and that's ok, they still get it done, they still build, create, work and enjoy life.

Remy & Adele learning to work together even though they were competing was fun to read. Adele could easily fit into my family, a strong capable woman who is trying make sure her children don't pay for her mistakes.  She's hell bent on making a home for her girls and making them strong women so they don't ever feel like they aren't everything to her, and yet she's trying to navigate getting past her one mistake of trying to change to fit someone else's idea of who she should have been.

Her choices aren't easy and yet she makes them with the respect to her girls wishes.  I loved that she put her children first and that she loved them so fiercely.  I loved her and Remy coming together, it was sweet romantic and all kinds of cute the way they floundered around trying to move from competitors to friends and to a couple.

Remy grew up fast when his life changed and he got the boys, still close with his family he knew he had to strike out on his own to help the boys adjust and I loved that he wanted a home for them as well.  He came to the realization that he wanted more first and yet he followed Adele's lead and let her set the tone and I loved him for that.

A sweet romance that allowed us to revisit favorite characters, while setting up more for the future and I can't wait to see how the kids turn out in the future.  The girls at least will be a spitfires.

 ★★★1/2

I hope you enjoy this cowboy romance my loves and as always
Happy Reading

My Favorite New Adult Authors & Titles

Hi my loves, welcome to march and my New Adult features this month. I'm hoping to share the good the bad and the worse of new adult and share why I love it and sometimes why I hate it.  I'm sharing my old school favorites and new found loves, from romance to the paranormal and of course the erotic, so let's go for a jaunt in between the stacks.

First up on this list has got to be Jay Crownover, I fell in love with her and her writing about three years ago when I busted a slump by reading Rule and the rest of the Marked Men, but my absolute favorite from her that I highly recommend to lovers of new adult has to be Rome. This Marked man and his lady have an amazing story and I fell in love with and almost cried with and for them. I absolutely loved this story and whenever I need a little pick me up I like to skim through to my favorite parts and read this one pretty quickly.

I also can't leave without mentioning my favorite bad boy by Jay, and the newest addition to the Saints of Denver crew, because OMG he is beautiful.  I really loved this story and gushed about it already in a full review, but you definitely need to check out Church's story if you are looking for good romance for new adult  and it's interracial as well.

Another favorite author of mine is Erin McCarthy and her True Believers series, my absolute favorite however has to be Sweet. Because omgawd (you're going to read that alot) I absolutely love Riley.  He is such an amazing character and the way he loves him some Jess?!!! Just so awesome and another of my slump busters.

This list wouldn't be anywhere near complete if I didn't feature Tammara Webber here.  One of the first new adult authors I read I immediately fell in love with her writing and I haven't been able to stop loving her characters and their stories ever since. Her stories definitely hit close to your heart and make you think.

Another of my favorites is Monica Murphy. Much like Easy, her books Second Chance Boyfriend and One Week Girlfriend were part of my first journey into new adult and it's a rabbit hole I hope to never climb out of thanks to the good writing from these authors.

I read her Once Pure as a review book, then proceeded to purchased the entire series and read it all within a week, Cecy Robson writes a wonderful series featuring some amazing men stronger women, each story building on the last creating a world and community that sometimes fails, but always comes back to have your back. And of course it makes Philly seem so much realer, especially after I visited last year.

Last year I fell not the awesome world of The Reed by Tammy Faulkner brothers.  The first book was recommended by Jen's Library on Booktube.  I was in a slump and pulled this up and it was amazing. I read the entire series in a little over two weeks and I just can't imagine not having this awesome series.  The Reed Brothers are amazing and you definitely need to add them to your reading pile. Especially because we have several characters with different disabilities.

And one of my absolute favorite new adult reads happens to be Raine by J.C Valentine. I gush about this book all the time. It was such an amazing read for me and each time I have re-read it has only grown on me more.

And a few more honorable mentions include Chelsea Fine, whose seres I absolutely enjoyed reading because the characters were well written and so much fun.  I loved how the characters weren't what you truly expected based on their original first glance.

Another honorable mention would be Elle Kennedy's Off Campus series which I really enjoyed reading and loved the final book in the series.

I'm sure there are plenty more I could mention, but whenever I think of new adult and want to read something to bring me out of the slump these are some of my go to authors.

Do you have some suggestions?? Share in the comments down below and we can share and compare.
Thanks for stopping by and for commenting, happy reading my loves

Book #Review: Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover .@colleenhoover

Book Title: Ugly Love
Author:  Colleen Hoover |Website| Twitter| Facebook|

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

Cost: $15.00

Pages: 324

How I got it: Purchased

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

hen Tate Collins meets airline pilot Miles Archer, she knows it isn’t love at first sight. They wouldn’t even go so far as to consider themselves friends. The only thing Tate and Miles have in common is an undeniable mutual attraction. Once their desires are out in the open, they realize they have the perfect set-up. He doesn’t want love, she doesn’t have time for love, so that just leaves the sex. Their arrangement could be surprisingly seamless, as long as Tate can stick to the only two rules Miles has for her.

Never ask about the past.
Don’t expect a future.

They think they can handle it, but realize almost immediately they can’t handle it at all.

Hearts get infiltrated.
Promises get broken.
Rules get shattered.
Love gets ugly.

I said I wasn't going to cry. Then I get to the last few chapters and I can't stop the first few tears then before you know it, tears are rolling down my face and Colleen has won.  Yeah I loved this story and it was so good.

I went into this story completely unspoiled (which is a miracle in itself, considering how popular this books was).  I also went into it not knowng what it was about, just it's new adult and I wanted to read it and I'm so glad I went into it this way.  It's funny like within the first few chapters I was laughing and I was like I might enjoy this book.  There were corny moments within that the characters recognized and it just made me love it even more.

Told in dual perspectives we learn the back story of one character while the other shares the current events of their lives and how they intersect.  It's not until the end that the second character catches up to the present and it totally works with how the story is written.  I loved it so much because the character was living in the past so much they couldn't enjoy the present which is why we never got their POV.

I loved that Tate is a nurse and that Miles is a pilot. I loved how they were able to be strong in the own little worlds and yet be so weak when it came to each other.  I loved she was working on her masters while Miles was working his way up the ladder of being a pilot.  They were so funny together and still so good when apart that you couldn't help but see why one saw things so differently from the other.

I loved the way in which Colleen choose to share this story and how it's all shown and how the title gets used and love in it's many forms is highlighted.  We don't get a lot of other characters in this one because really the story is about the main two and a few others who interact only do so to help them along and I loved that. This was about their journey and not so much about their growth as humans but how to love and be loved in return.  There is a strong familial relationship that is explored and the hypocrisy of wanting one thing for your sibling while being the thing you don't want to happen to them to others. I loved that the character called the brother out on this and I loved his reaction to being put on the spot.

It's a strong story and it made me love it and want to read all her works and I shed a few tears as well so yeah, I loved it and I highly recommend it.

 ★★★★★

Make sure to bring along some tissues when you read but as always 
Happy Reading my loves, 

2017 Monthly Reading List: March

My goal for this year was 365 books. It's March and I wanted to keep the good reading rhythm going.

So far this year I have read 29 books.  Which leaves 336 left for the year.

These are a few of the books I'm planning to read this month:

• Christine Feehan Book
• Non Fiction Book
• J. D. Robb 
• Nora Roberts Challenge
• Erotica Challenge book
• Book from my shelves
• YA Challenge book
• Paranormal Challenge book
• New Adult Challenge Book
• Book from 42 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge
• Ebook Challenge Books
• Brenda Jackson Challenge
• Lora Leigh Challenge
• Randomly Selected Book from previous monthly list "the namesake" jhumpa lahiri

The following five books from my previous months:

• "Wicked Cowboy Charm" Carolyn Brown ARC 
• "A Tragic Kind Of Wonderful" Eric Lindstrom ARC
• "Cole's Red Hot Pursuit" Brenda Jackson
• "Jacob's Faith " Lora Leigh
• "Lock & Key" Sarah Dessen

And all of the new adult books I have on my shelf that are unread.  As many as I can get done this month.  If you have read any of these please don't hesitate to share down below what you thought of them so we can share and discuss. 

Of course my loves, 

Happy Reading

2017 Monthly Wrap Up : February

Another month has come and gone and these are the books I have had the pleasure or displeasure of reading.  I tried to stick close to the monthly reading list. I think I did well. And of course I wanted you to see the hauls & linked down below are a few of my favorite videos from the channel this month.

Stats

Yearly Goal: 365          Monthly Goal:  30            Books Read This Month: 10

Yearly Balance: 335

Monthly Reading Prompts:

•  Christine Feehan Book: 
• Non Fiction Book: 
• J. D. Robb   Ritual In Death; Chaos In Death
• Nora Roberts: 
• Erotica Challenge Book Beyond Control by Kit Rocha, Menage Material by Serena Akeyrod
• Book From My Shelves  Tomas, Cowboy Homecoming by Linda Warren; Baby Be Mine by Emily Mckay
• YA Challenge Book: 
• Paranormal Challenge Book: 
• New Adult Challenge Book: 
• Book from 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge: 
• Ebook Challenge Books: Beyond Pain by Kit Rocha, Beyond Temptation Kit Rocha, Red Zone Sherri Hayes
• Black Author's Challenge: 
• Randomly Selected Book from previous monthly list: Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover
• Witches and Witchcraft Challenge Book: 
• Lora Leigh Challenge: Meghan's Mark Breeds Series Wolfe's Hope
• Brenda Jackson Challenge: 

Yeah this month wasn't a huge reading month, and that could be because I as doing a lot of crocheting and exploring my netflix backlog of shows.  So many of my favorite shows are ending and I'm trying to keep up with them now.  Next month I'm going to be doing a New Adult month featuring my faves as well as for my reading lists.

If you have any new adult to share ith me share down below.  That's it!! What have you read, share in the comments down below.  It's always best to begin as you mean to go on.

Stacking The Shelves (2) February 2017

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!!

E-Books Purchased

Beyond Bundle includes: Beyond Jealousy, Beyond Addiction & Beyond Innocence by Kit Rocha

Beyond Novellas 3.5, 4.5, 5.5 by Kit Rocha These books are absolutely amazing, I can't wait to finish this and dive right in. 

A Gentleman in the Street by Alisha Rai. I follow her on the interwebs and love my interactions with her on Twitter so of course when I saw this being recommended.

Crave Me by Cecy Robson. I absolutely loved the series leading up to this and I can't wait to see this unfold because the female lead is supposed to be a woman who is hearing impaired. 

Truly by Ruthie Know. Because I love Ruthie and I can't wait to see where this one goes. 

Physical Purchased 

The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas. I got this after seeing a video by the author telling us what inspired her. She stated Tupac Shakur's THUGLIFE tattoo and it's meaning meant that I one-clicked that pre-order so fast. 

Riveted (Saints of Denver 3) by Jay Crownover. Because I love Jay's series and I need to know what happens with Church.

Insert Groom Here by K.M Jackson. I fell in love with the cover when I saw it on NetGalley, it was coming out two days after I saw it so I wasn't approved. I went ahead and purchased it anyway because I wanted to read it. 

Goodnight Tweetheart by Teresa Medeiros. Purchased solely based on my love of the author's previous works. 

Dollar Tree

A Bollywood Affair by Sonali Dev. I grabbed this while running errands, the cover drew me in but the synopsis is why I brought it home. 

What'd you get in your haul this week?? Share in the comments down below and I'll see you next week.

Happy Reading & Haulin' my loves

Book #Review: Need (Finding Anna:Series Book 2) by Sherri Hayes .@Sherri_Hayes

Book Title: Finding Anna # 2: Need 
Author: Sherri Hayes   |Website| Twitter| Facebook|

Publisher: Smith Publicity --The Writer’s Coffee Shop
Format: Ebook 

Cost: $8.49

Pages: 231

How I got it: NetGalley 
Series/Standalone: Series Book 2
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Publisher
Publication Date: July 2012

Add To Goodreads

Synopsis:

As Brianna comes to terms with the realization that she is no longer a slave, she must figure out what she wants for her life. Forgetting her past isn’t an option. It is an integral part of who she is now, and it will forever shape her view of life. The one thing she knows is that she cannot imagine her life without the man who saved her, but can she be what he needs?

Stephan never imagined falling in love with the woman he rescued, but the thought of her no longer being part of his life is physically painful. The scars from her past continue to haunt her, and he is helpless to stop them. All he can do is try to help her work through the traumas of her past. Can he be everything she needs and help her move on?

The two must figure out how to navigate not only their relationship with each other, but also the outside world. A friend from Brianna’s past shows up where she least expects them, and Uncle Richard continues to enforce his well-meaning agenda to get Brianna more traditional help. As forces, both friend and foe, threaten to tear them apart, Stephan and Brianna have to navigate the turbulent waters and find what they need in each other.

This is a Repost from my now defunct blog, I still stand by my review and I still love the series.  

I have to gather my thoughts on this book. Clearly there is a book before it, and I need to read it, and now there is a book after that I have to read to get some serious answers.This is one of the first times I have actually read a book and thought to myself "hell I should have read the first one". Most times the author writes the book so there is a chance for you to know the story without feeling like you missed out. In this instance you can read the book, but you won't really get some of the references or the true real reason why Briana is the way she is.

I wasn't sure how to feel about the book for a while, as it was hard to get into the characters beyond feeling extremely sorry for Briana.  I do get why the Uncle thinks Briana needs help, it does kind of smack of Stockholm Syndrome that she is relying on him so much and not seeking help.  She has been free for only two months and she hasn't known anything but violence; so the little piece of happiness she does have she is going to cling to. 

I think Stephan needs to let her seek help from someone who knows about the BDSM lifestyle and knows how this can work to aide her in getting over her past. There are psychologist who are alternative lifestyle friendly, so he should look into that (I'm saying this like he's a real person, but I mean that the author should maybe setup the next scenario as him adding this into his little bag of tricks).

I like that the author shows how BDSM can help people heal, and the difference between abuse and true BDSM relationship.  I did love the characters though, I loved that the author use simple bare writing to carry the tale, instead of giving details that we wouldn't need.  For a man of only 24, Stephan seems to have it all together, it wasn't until I was reading someone else's review that I found out that Briana was only 18, which makes her story kind of both heartbreaking and sad, considering how she ended up where she did.

I'm not sure how to feel about their relationship developing so soon after her rescue, it makes me wonder how much of it is her trying to stay safe, or how much of it is truly her being happy to be there.  Everything that happens seems to point to her being a natural submissive, and then you think about how she was 'trained' and you have to wonder if it isn't just that training coming through.  His punishment for her transgression was pretty fair, considering it wasn't until the end of the punishment that she got the message; which I thought was pretty funny. I'm trying to understand how no one thought that it was wrong that she was under aged and being used that way, then of course I woke up and remembered what world we live in.  

There really wasn't a lot of full on sex, which doesn't make this a true 'erotica'.  She handled the scenario well, evoking some serious emotions for the characters and their plight and really left in a place where I was like. "Where is the next one" Sadly rumor has it that it doesn't come out until summer 2013. BOOOO!!

★★★☆☆

It's a pretty good read, well written, flows well. Characters are fully fleshed out, although it's taking a little while to know Briana.  I'm off to get the other book to read so I can catch up on their story. Happy reading & Be blessed.

Snippet Book #Review: The Breed Next Door by Lora Leigh

Book Title: The Breed Next Door (Breeds 5, Felines 4)
Author:  Lora Leigh |Website| Facebook 

Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Erotic Romance
Series/Standalone: Series
Format: ebook

Cost: $2.99

Pages: 98

How I got it: Purchased

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

Lyra’s neighbor can’t be for real. A man who makes her hormones stand up and scream every time she sees him. And he’s breaking through her reserve to invade her dreams at night. But Tarek Jordan is even more than he seems. A Breed Enforcer with a plan. First, find the Council Trainer he’s tracked to Fayetteville, Arkansas, and second, claim the woman next door as his own. She's fated to be his and his alone. He can feel it in his blood. Untl the danger that has shadowed his life suddenly casts a darkness over Lyra's as well. Now Tarek knows that he can’t wait any longer to claim the woman his heart and soul burns for. He has to tell her who he is, what he is, and what he wants. And Lyra will have to accept him as he is, on his terms, and now. Her life depends on it. The Breed Next Door originally appeared in Hot Spell.

I went into this one desperate for another breed romance, I don't read the synopsis anymore, I just read. I'd been denying myself these book so I could read others on my shelves and man I'm so glad I got to read.

As a shorter story in the Breed world Lora made this work by giving them a back story.  As neighbors for the past six months they had been doing a back and forth dance, as Tarek learned about being free and Lyra just wanted him to stop killing her plants.  I loved the interaction they had and how quickly they both got on the same page.  Tarek was unaware of the strength and depth of his feelings and Lyra wasn't sure what she was going to do with a man like him.  She was fun, funny and very spunky.  I'm looking forward to seeing them throughout the series.

Very quick read, with the mystery being solved quickly but enough tension that you wanted to keep reading.  Fun quick slump breaker.

 ★★★1/2☆☆

Happy Reading

Weekly Wrap Up February 1-10th 2017

Hi my loves it's February Wrap up time and I must share with you all the books I have taken on and read in the past few days.  I'll be sharing full reviews on most of them, let m know if you have read any of these and I will chat with you about them in the comment section.

I read a second chance cowboy romance that made me smile because of how the characters came together despite their families drama.  I loved that the author took on the subject of PTSD and ho it affects the men and women in the military but also how it affects their families as ell.  I really enjoyed this one so I gave it 3.5 stars.

I finally finished Maiden Flight (book 1 in the Dragon Knights Series) by Bianca D'Arc.  This one took me a little bit to get into because it was kind of hookey when it first started and I'm not really about that life.  I love romance but 2 second insta love makes me skeevy, however it does settle into a full world that she builds for us and it included dragons so I might go back to it, there were some pretty interest threads laid out that might make this world worth reading.  I have it 3 solid stars.

I also had this book on my shelves for over 14 years, and I made the decision to read it.  BABY BE MINE by Emily McKay.  I give the  book 3 stars and only because the male character saved the book, i got into a more in depth review, but ohmigawd, she was just so annoying and I anted to shake her, like girl what??

The next book I read includes my random.org pick for the month and I'm so freaking glad I read it, it actually became my fist 5 star read for the year so far and that is UGLY LOVE by Colleen Hoover,  My full review will be up on the blog next month for New Adult Month, but yeah I finally know why she's talked about so much among the new adult book lovers, this was awesome.

then i read RITUAL IN DEATH by JD Robb and I fell back into the In Death world with no problem, falling in love once again with our cast of characters and loving the mystery as it unfolded, I loved that there was a little bit of magic in this one even if Eve hates the Woo Woo stuff.  One of my favorites series, definitely a solid 4 star read.

I cheated and counted as a bonus read the next book from the In Death series CHAOS IN DEATH  this was a read I didn't expect and I totally LOVED the retelling that Eve has to face.  This was a cute story and a little bit crazy; I didn't know what to expect and I'm very glad I got to read it.  Another solid 4 star read.

There it is those are the books I have read for the first ten days of the new month. I can't wait to share with you the second weeks' wrap up.  How are you doing my loves?? Your reading goals working for you?? Share in the comments down below and we can motivate each other.