Bout of Books 7.0-Thursday Updates

 

Currently Reading: To Beguile a Beast by Elizabeth Hoyt

Pages Read: 2513

Up Next: Cowboy Take Me Away by Jane Graves

Finished: Undone by Sara Humphreys, A Highland Werewolf Wedding by Terry Spear,
Heart of Iron by Bec McMaster, A Wedding in Springtime by Amanda Forester,
To Taste Temptation by Elizabeth Hoyt, To Seduce a Sinner by Elizabeth Hoyt, It Had to Be You by Jill Shalvis

Tea Drinking:Pu'er day. So probably a Pu Wen Coin from Mandala Tea. It's my last one :(
Goal: My 30 book goal may have been a bit ambitious (crazypants) so I am aiming towards 15 now.
So 7/15

Bout of Books 7.0-Wednesday Updates

 

Currently Reading: A Wedding in Springtime by Amanda Forester

Pages Read: 1109

Up Next: To Taste Temptation by Elizabeth Hoyt

Finished: Undone by Sara Humphreys, A Highland Werewolf Wedding by Terry Spear,
Heart of Iron by Bec McMaster

Tea Drinking: I think today I am going to go with something flavored. I think Apres Ski from Davids Tea.
Goal: My 30 book goal may have been a bit ambitious (crazypants) so I am aiming towards 15 now.
So 3/15

Bout of Books 7.0-Tuesday Updates

 

Currently Reading: A Highland Werewolf Wedding by Terry Spear

Pages Read: 288

Up Next: Heart of Iron by Bec McMaster

Finished: Undone by Sara Humphreys

Tea Drinking: Big Red Robe Dark Roast from Mandala Tea-Roasty toasty goodness with a bit of chocolate flavor. Love.

Bout of Books 7.0-Monday Updates

 

I am experimenting with winging it for a readathon. Usually I have a set list for what I want to read but this time I think I am just going to aim for TBR reduction and be all loosey goosey with it. 

Currently Reading: Undone by Sara Humphreys

Pages Read: On page 105--earlier today

Up Next: Heart of Iron by Bec McMaster

Finished: None yet

Tea Drinking: Yunnan Beauty Oolong from Mandala Tea-Tastes like stone fruit. Peaches and Apricots. And sometimes molasses and honey.

Bout of Books 7.0 Goals

Time Devoted to Reading

I will be reading all week. I have been in a slump and this is the perfect opportunity to get out of it.

My Goals

• My goal is to read at least 30 books. And to lessen my review pile.
  

Books to Read

• Still no clue. But I'd like to mix it up between review books and books that have been on my TBR for a while. I'm starting with a review book, I think.
  

Feature and Follow Friday (May 10th)

Latest Reviews:

• Darius by Grace Burrowes
• Highland Fling by Amanda Scott
• Bite Me, Your Grace by Brooklyn Ann
• The Summer He Came Home by Juliana Stone

Q: Happy Mother’s Day! Who is your favorite mom from fiction?

Hmmm. I think it has to be a tie between Marilla Cuthbert from Anne of Green Gables and Mrs. March from Little Women. I've always loved Marilla. She was a bit tough at the start but she is one of the best mother figures in literature. Mrs. March was such a supportive and kind mother to her daughters...and she set such a good example for them.

Review: Darius by Grace Burrowes

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
ISBN: 1402278519
Pages: 384 pages
Genre: Romance/Historical/Regency
Series:   Lonely Lords
Challenges- TK
Buy this Book: Amazon, Indiebound, Powell's

Summary:

Nicholas Haddonfield has something to hide...
After a wild youth, Nicholas Haddonfield, Viscount Reston, has promised his ailing father he'll finally take a bride, though doing so will force Nick to make impossible choices and face old, painful wounds.
Leah Lindsey is glad to find refuge from her own desperate situation in a marriage of convenience with the gallant viscount. But soon convenience is not enough, and Leah can't understand why Nick remains so distant. What is he hiding, and will he never allow her into his heart?
An extraordinary and passionate tale of courage tested and fears overcome. Once you enter the lush Regency world of award-winning New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Grace Burrowes, you'll never want to leave.

 

My Review:

Grace Burrowes is one of my go to authors. Actually, with this one she pretty much skipped to the top of the list. This book was that good. I loved everything about it...and instead of squeeing like a fangirl, I should tell you why I liked it, now shouldn't I?

Vivian was an ideal heroine. I very rarely say that about heroines because, most often, they annoy me but Vivian was perfection. Even when she did things I did not agree with, I still liked her because I could understand her motives and they came from a good place. They were never selfish or vindictive and I really liked that. And, if it's even possible, I loved Darius more. He was a bit broken and battered but he was oh so kind and honorable. There were just some passages in this book that just made me fall a little in love with him.

I loved this book. In case you couldn't already tell by my semi-pathetic ramblings. I knew Grace Burrowes was an amazing author but this one was just beyond. Everything was perfect...the writing, the story, the chemistry. Nothing fell short of splendid. Darius and Vivian were perfect together. Their connection was so tender when it could have been sort of sleezy. And I loved how William, Vivian's much older husband, was not made into the villain. He was a good and honorable man who only wanted the best for Vivian. He was just as much of a hero as Darius. I know this sounds strange but in most romances where the heroine is married already before meeting the hero, the husband is made out to be creepy, cruel, a dunderhead or a combination of those. Not so with William and it was a nice addition to an already lovely book.

The only issue I am having with this book is I cannot order the next book in print. I looked for Nicholas on Amazon and it takes a month or two for it to ship! I know I could get an e-book but I share books with my mother--she loved this one-- and she cannot read on an e-reader and it tends to give me migraines. I could see myself becoming really addicted to this series but a month between ordering and shipping is kind of crazy.

Review: Highland Fling by Amanda Scott

Publisher: Open Road
ISBN: 1480406821
Pages: 490 pages
Genre: Romance/Historical/Highlander
Series:   Highland
Challenges-TK
Buy this Book: Amazon Kindle, Barnes and Noble, Kobo

Summary:

Forbidden passion has never been more dangerous—or more irresistible—in the first novel of bestselling author Amanda Scott’s spellbinding Highland series.


Scotland, 1750. In the aftermath of the Jacobite rebellion, Maggie MacDrumin vows to keep fighting to liberate her people. But the intrepid Scotswoman is risking her life for a dangerous cause. When her latest mission lands her in a London courtroom on a trumped-up larceny charge, she has only one hope of survival. Enlisting the aid of Edward Carsley, the powerful fourth Earl of Rothwell, is a two-edged sword. The seductive aristocrat who awakens treacherous desire is her clan’s mortal enemy—a man she can never trust.   Edward will do whatever it takes to quell another bloody uprising. But how can he fight his passion for the rebellious Highland beauty in his safekeeping? As their lives come under siege, Maggie lays claim to the one thing Edward vowed never to surrender: his heart.

My Review:

Amanda Scott is a rare case for me. I usually prefer an author's early works. I don't know why but I do. But with Amanda Scott, her later works are my favorite. Nevertheless, I was excited to read Highland Fling.

I really liked Maggie. I loved her independence and strength. She was such a strong heroine. She's not like many of the heroine I have come across recently. She very rarely crossed the line between being strong and brave and being fool-hardy and obnoxious. I really liked Edward as well. I enjoyed him. He had just as strong a personality as I liked watching him try to figure out how to control Maggie when there is simply no controlling her. It was a battle of wills and it was interesting to see how that battle played out.

I really liked this one. It did take me a while to get through this book—about 2 or 3 days---but I am in the middle of an epic reading slump of great magnitude. I loved how historically detailed it was. At times, it did not feel as if I was reading a romance novel. That may not be a positive point for some but I am a history geek and I appreciate such things. It didn't take any focus away from Maggie and Edward as well. I thought Maggie and Edward's chemistry was great. I love that they were on opposite sides and it really played well into the conflict.

Highland Fling may not go on my list of favorites but if you like romances with great historical detail, give this one a try.

Bout of Books 7.0

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 13th and runs through Sunday, May 19th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 7.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

I am planning on participating in Bout of Books 7.0. I need a readathon right now. I have so much reading to catch up on. I have no idea what I will be reading as of yet but this post will be updated with the list soon.

Review: Bite Me, Your Grace by Brooklyn Ann

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
ISBN: 1402274440
Pages: 352 pages
Genre: Romance/Historical/Paranormal
Series:   Bite Me, Your Grace
Challenges-TK
Buy this Book: Amazon, Indiebound, Powell's

Summary:

London's Lord Vampire Has Problems

Dr. John Polidori's tale "The Vampyre" burst upon the Regency scene along with Mary Shelley's Frankenstein after that notorious weekend spent writing ghost stories with Lord Byron.

A vampire crazy broke out instantly in the haut ton.

Now Ian Ashton, the Lord Vampire of London, has to attend tedious balls, linger in front of mirrors, and eat lots of garlic in an attempt to quell the gossip.

If that weren't annoying enough, his neighbor, Angelica Winthrop has literary aspirations of her own and is sneaking into his house at night just to see what she can find.

Hungry, tired, and fed up, Ian is in no mood to humor his beautiful intruder...

 

My Review:

I have been on a bit of a historical kick for a while. I needed a break. Not a big one but something just different enough. This was perfect because it was a historical but had a paranormal twist to it which I loved.

Angelica was one of my favorite heroines that I have come across lately. I loved her bookworm tendencies and her spunk. I also admired her desire to raise hell to spite her mother and society's expectations. I loved Ian. Ian was the perfect hero to start a series with because he was likable with a bit of an edge. He had sensitivity and depth of character that I really appreciated.The chemistry between Angelica and Ian was tender in spite of their conflicts. Their personalities meshed so well. Angelica had a stronger personality than I expected and Ian was much more sensitive and they complemented each other so well.

 I loved just about everything about Bite Me, Your Grace. I have been in one heck of a reading slump but I read this one in a couple of hours, in one sitting. I loved the addition of John Polidori. I read The Vampyre in college in a Gothic Literature class and loved it (seriously download a copy. It's free to download from most places). The way Polidori and his novel were written into Bite Me, Your Grace was absolutely brilliant. And Polidori got a much better ending here than he got in real life.

I HIGHLY recommend Bite Me, Your Grace. If you like Lydia Dare's books, this one will definitely appeal. I can't wait for the next book. I hope it's about Rafe.

Review: The Summer He Came Home by Juliana Stone

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
ISBN:  1402274807
Pages: 384 pages
Genre: Romance/Contemporary/Small Town
Series:   Bad Boys of Crystal Lake
Challenges-TK
Buy this Book: Amazon, Indiebound, Powell's

Summary:

Sometimes the best place to find love is right back where you started...

Falling asleep in a different bed every night has made it easy for Cain Black to forget his past. It's been ten years since he packed his guitar and left Crystal Lake to chase his dreams. Now tragedy has forced him home again. And though Cain relishes the freedom of the road, one stolen moment with Maggie O'Rourke makes him wonder if he's missing out on something bigger than fame.

For Maggie--single mother and newly settled in Crystal Lake--love is a luxury she just can't afford. Sure, she appreciates the tall, dark and handsome looks of prodigal son Cain Black. But how long can she expect the notorious hellion to stay?

The last thing either of them wants is something complicated. But sometimes love has its own plans.

My Review:

Yet again, I have been slow going in my reading. But this time, it's not because of the haphazardness of my life at this time, I just had trouble getting into this book. I had trouble with the heroine and that kind of bled over into the rest of the book.

Maggie presented some trouble for me. I just did not like her at all. She's the type of person that I would actively avoid talking to, if I knew her. I tried to like her, in the interest of finishing this book, but I barely managed not hating her. One of the biggest reasons I did not like her was the fact that she held every little bit of Cain's past against him every chance she got. Yes, he has a bit of a spotty reputation but it was obvious that he was hopelessly devoted to her and her son so she really needed to get off her high and judgy horse for a second. And, furthermore, she had all these secrets that she would not tell Cain but she felt it necessary to Google him (on his own computer!!). She probably would have freaked out if he had gone behind her back to find out about her past. In other words, this woman and I just did not gel. But I did love Cain. He was strong and kind and his connection with Michael was sweet and adorable. I never felt as if he got enough credit for being a good guy from anyone in that town or Maggie. His past was constantly brought up. It made all the people in Crystal Lake seem close-minded.

I did like the book well enough. It'll probably not go on my favorites list but I loved Cain and Michael. Maggie did present quite a bit of trouble for me. I just couldn't make a connection with her and, to be quite honest, I didn't want to. And I think as a result of my dislike of Maggie, the chemistry between Maggie and Cain fell short for me as well. I need to like both to buy into the connection. I also thought that the conflict at the end was a bit rushed. The majority of the book was calm and placid but the ex-husband appears at the end like magic to raise hell. It seemed like it was thrown in as an afterthought.

As you can probably tell, this one did not quite work for me. I will probably pick up the next book in this series but this one was a bit of a miss.

Review: Thrill Ride by Julie Ann Walker

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
ISBN: 1402282699
Pages: 352 pages
Genre: Romance/Contemporary/Suspense
Series:  Black Knights Inc.-1,2,3
Challenges-TK
Buy this Book: Amazon, Indiebound, Powell's

Summary:

He's Gone Rogue

Ex-Navy SEAL Rock Babineaux’s job is to get information, and he’s one of the best in the business. Until something goes horribly wrong and he’s being hunted by his own government. Even his best friends at the covert special-ops organization Black Knights Inc. aren’t sure they can trust him. He thinks he can outrun them all, but his former partner—a curvy bombshell who knows just how to drive him wild—refuses to cut him loose.

She Won't Back Down

Vanessa Cordova hasn’t been the team’s communication specialist very long, but she knows how to read people—no way is Rock guilty of murder. And she’ll go to hell and back to help him prove it. Sure, the sexy Cajun has his secrets, but there’s no one in the world she’d rather have by her side in a tight spot. Which is good, because they’re about to get very tight…

My Review:

I am sorry that I have been a bit slacking on reviews lately. I have been reading and drafting reviews but haven't had time to type them up. I am in the middle of a family emergency so my mind has been elsewhere.

I love this series and I have been looking forward to Vanessa and Rock's story for a long time. I am not even that much of a romantic suspense fan but I love this series to bits and little pieces.

I loved Vanessa. She was so strong and smart. In a way that was completely natural and not at all Mary Sue. I loved how she never really fell apart. I find that is rare in most romantic suspense novels. I liked Rock as well. I did have moments where I wanted to smack him upside the head. But he definitely had his reasons so I could understand but still, I wanted to smack him upside his head. He acted like a jerk to Vanessa not because he was a jerk but because he had his reasons. And it was clear throughout the book that he did love her so I can excuse his jerkiness.

I loved Thrill Ride. It was a bit slow going on the start but again, I've been a bit distracted lately. It did prove to be a great diversion during a time of great stress. Oddly enough, I loved the action sequences. Usually they are the throwaway part for me in a romantic suspense novel. I like that they never became overwhelming or took over the focus from the romance. I also did know who the bad guy was until the end of the book and the buildup was great. The chemistry between a Rock and Vanessa was perfect with a great amount of conflict and tension. That's always a good thing.

This is part of a larger series but can be read on its own. But I highly recommend reading all the books in this series. I've loved each and every one of them.

 

Review: Code Red by Amy Noelle

Publisher: Writer's Coffee Shop
ISBN: 1612131492
Pages: 264 pages
Genre: Romance/Contemporary
Challenges-TK
Buy this Book: The Writer's Coffee Shop, Amazon, Indiebound, Powell's

Summary:

After getting hurt in college by a gorgeous man, Nicole Magette vowed never to risk losing her heart again. Now she lives a structured and satisfying life. Her work is easy, her friends are her family, and the only consistent men in her life are her two cats, Winchester and Huntington Peabody the Third. She doesn't date, and she hooks up only with losers—men she has absolutely no risk of falling for. But if she finds herself in danger, she has her old fail-safe in place—the Code Red.

In college, she and her four best friends came up with the system as a way to keep away the good-looking bastards that might worm their way past their carefully constructed walls. Seven years later, three of her friends have succumbed to their last Code Reds and are happily married. Now it’s just Nicole and her closest friend, Jen, who are still on their own, and Nic is just fine with that.

That is, until Joshua Daniels is transferred to Nicole’s office from New York and assigned to work with her on a special project. He's everything she's avoided and everything she claims she doesn't want, so why can’t she get him out of her mind? He's persistent, dangerously handsome, and sexy as sin. In other words, he’s her worst nightmare. She turns to her friends to help her resist Josh’s considerable charms and the inescapable draw she feels every time she gets near him. Can the Code Red save her this time, or will Josh send her perfectly balanced life into chaos?

My Review:

I'm in another reading slump, I'm afraid. Nothing is working for me. It's not any fault of the books I am reading. It's me. Does this happen this often to anyone else? This one was one of the few books that was not subject to my slow slumping reading. I read this one in a little over an hour and I really liked it a lot.

Nicole was a bit problematic for me. I was completely unable to identify with her. I have never been the type of woman that has to call my friends about guy problems. I usually just figure that stuff out on my own. So, I kind of had to think like High School Grace who did talk to her friends about her boy problems and, to tell you the truth, Nicole and her friends seemed much younger than the early 20's they were supposed to me. Josh, on the other hand, I loved to bits and pieces. He was such a strong hero. I made much more of a connection to him than I did Nicole.

I really liked this book quite a bit. The storyline was engaging and the characters lively. I also liked Josh and Nicole together even though I had to shake my head at Nicole at times. I just couldn't figure out how to make a connection to her because she just seemed so immature. I wanted to like her and, at times, I almost managed it but it never really connected for me. I did love Noelle's writing style. I would be thrilled to read more of her books.

Review: The Geek Girl and the Scandalous Earl by Gina Lamm

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
ISBN: 1402277598
Pages: 352 pages
Genre: Romance/Historical/Time Travel
Series:  Geek Girls
Challenges- TK
Buy this Book: Amazon, Indiebound, Powell's

Summary:

The Stakes Have Never Been Higher...
An avid gamer, Jamie Marten loves to escape into online adventure. But when she falls through an antique mirror into a lavish bedchamber—200 years in the past!—she realizes she may have escaped a little too far.
Micah Axelby, Earl of Dunnington, has just kicked one mistress out of his bed and isn't looking to fill it with another—least of all this sassy, nearly naked woman who claims to be from the future. Yet something about her is undeniably enticing...
Jamie and Micah are worlds apart. He's a peer of the realm. She can barely make rent. He's horse-drawn. She's Wi-Fi. But in the game of love, these two will risk everything to win.

 

My Review:

I am oddly charmed by time travel romances. I always have been. There is just something special about a modern day woman being thrown back into ye olde times and meeting a stodgy aristocrat, falling in loved and adapting to the time period. And this one may just be one of my favorites. I am not at all being sarcastic. I loved this book. I finished it in a little over an hour.

I loved Jamie. She had me chuckling through most of the book. I found her to be utterly charming in a sort of dipstick kind of way. I love that she was a gamer and a tech geek. And I identified with her lack of verbal filter. Mike was equally as awesome. He was so Darcy-like which equals perfection automatically. He was also addicted to Angry Birds which just added to his overall appeal. He did do some things that made me want to throttle him but, overall, I loved him.

Time travel has a tendency to be a bit high on the cheese factor but this was free of that and it had just the right amount of humor and the characters were very engaging. The chemistry between Jamie and Mike was perfect. They had just enough conflict to keep it interesting. The only problem is I don't quite like how the book ended. I don't want to spoil but I do wish they had ended in a different...time zone. But I did love this book. To distraction. You don't stay up until 5am reading a book you don't love. Gina Lamm is definitely an author I will be following.

 

Review: Dangerous Illusions by Amanda Scott

Publisher: Open Road
ISBN: 1480406414
Pages: 482 pages
Genre: Romance/Historical
Series:  Dangerous
Challenges-TK
Buy this Book: Amazon, Indiebound, Powell's

Summary:

The first book in Amanda Scott’s acclaimed Dangerous series journeys from the battlefields of Waterloo to the ballrooms and boudoirs of London, where a deadly deception unfolds . . .

Engaged by proxy to a man she’s never met, Lady Daintry Tarrant is dismayed when the war hero returns, introducing himself as her fiancé, Lord Penthorpe. She cherishes her independence and has turned away many suitors, but this one she must marry. Penthorpe is completely captivated by Lady Daintry—but he’s not who he claims to be.

 

Penthorpe and Lord Gideon Deverill fought together at the battle of Waterloo, and when Penthorpe fell, Gideon assumed his identity in order to see the beautiful Lady Daintry. Gideon knows there’s bad blood between Lady Daintry’s family and his own, but he’s smitten with Daintry and determined to reunite the bitterly feuding clans. When a ghost from Gideon’s past appears, he could lose everything—including Daintry’s love.

 

My Review:

I love Amanda Scott's books. I don't think there is one that has been a miss for me. This one did take me a bit to get into but I did love it once I did.

I really liked Daintry. She was such a strong and vivid character in a not-overbearing way. She was a feminist and she was smart. I wonder how Daintry ended up so sensible with her blockheaded family. I really made a connection to her and I really didn't expect to. I loved Gideon as well. I didn't quite make the connection to him that I did to Daintry but I did like him and he was a great hero. Perhaps not a favorite but definitely good.

I was surprised at how much I loved this book once I got into it. It did take me a while but that was my fault. It was very stop and start reading and I am, quite frankly, not used to that. I loved Daintry and Gideon together. Both characters individually were great but together they were amazing. I also loved the historical accuracy in terms of women and how they were treated and expected to behave. I always appreciate a good bit of historical accuracy in my historical romance. In fact, Dangerous Illusions read to me more like a historical fiction and I really really liked that a lot.

I don't know if this goes on my favorite book list but I did enjoy it.