Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Breaking the Spine, which spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. My choice for this week is:

A Defy Novel, book three
YA High Fantasy
Publication Date: January 5, 2016
 
 
Isn't that cover pretty? This is a fun YA series, I enjoyed the first two books and I'm looking forward to reading the conclusion this January.  So, what is your WOW pick this week? 

Monday, July 27, 2015

The Professional Bride by Lucy McConnell

The Professional Bride (Billionaire Marriage Brokers, #3)The Professional Bride by Lucy McConnell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I decided to bump all these up to four stars, because I do enjoy them and look forward to reading them. I like the original premise and the characters are always likable.

I liked that this one was a little different than the first two. Our heroine Amber, has been working for the BMB for a few years now, has actually had three husbands so far. Amber really does consider this her job, and while she builds friendships with her husbands, it's never been anything more. Until she meets her new husband Rym, then all her rules go out the window. Or down the slopes. Rym just inherited his fathers very successful and exclusive ski resort in Park City, Utah. I LOVED the setting in this one. I've spent a lot of time in Park City and had an easy time getting into this one. Amber was a likable character, as well as Rym. They were good for each other.

Like the other books, I would have liked to see more of Rym and Amber together, especially out side of work. I think if this were a full length novel the time spent at work wouldn't bother me as much. Then we could see them on their "down time" and see them really fall for each other. I have a hard time buying the falling in love part.

Overall, a fun addition to the series. I look forward to reading the next one.

Content: Clean
While this is the third book in the series, it could stand on its own.

View all my reviews

Cover Characteristic - Cupcakes

This is a really fun meme hosted by Sugar and Snark. "Each week we will post a characteristic and choose 5 of our favorite covers with that characteristic. If you want to join in and share your 5 favorite covers with the weeks particular characteristic, then just make a post, grab the meme picture (or make your own) and leave your URL in Linky. You don’t even need to participate, just stopping by and saying hi would be great! Don’t forget to stop by the other participants!"

This Weeks Theme: CUPCAKES!

 
 
 
 

Saturday, July 25, 2015

Shelf Candy Saturday

This meme is hosted by A Night's Dream of Books and focuses on the pretty book covers you come across and want to share with others. Here's my pick of the week:

Medieval Historical Romance
 
I really enjoy Ms. Bale's historical romances. I loved her first The Heart's Warrior quite a bit and was excited when I saw she had written another one. Of course, this cover totally caught my eye and drew me in. I think it's beautiful. 

Stacking the Shelves

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews and 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!"

Here are the most recent arcs I've received via Netgalley (one of my all time favorite sites). Aren't the covers gorgeous? They all sound like really good reads too. Can't wait to get read them.

Shattered Blue by Lauren Bird Horowitz
YA Science Fiction-Fantasy
Publication Date: September 15, 2015
 
 A Noble Masuerade by Kristi Ann Hunter
Christian Historical Fiction
Publication Date: September 8, 2015
 
The Lost Heiress by Roseanna M White
Christian Historical Fiction
Publication Date: September 8, 2015
 
Falling for the P.I. by Victoria James
Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: August 11, 2015
 
Sweet Mountain Rancher by Loree Lough
Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: September 1, 2015

Friday, July 24, 2015

Fiction Spotlight of the Week : Favorite Fictional...Celebrity

'Fictitious Fridays' is a new weekly meme hosted by Aiysha at Mortal Moments. Each week a specific subject will be chosen for the spotlight for example: favorite fiction book, character, place, food and many more. I was excited for this meme, I've recently become a fan of celebrity storylines and have founds some really fun ones. Here are a few of my favorites.

Masquerade by Janette Rallison
When Clarissa takes a much needed job under slightly false pretenses, she doesn't think it will be such a big deal. She may have told her movie-star boss that she was married, but that shouldn't matter. After all, she doesn't want anything to do with men for a long, long time. It's hard for a woman to keep up the masquerade when her boss is as handsome as Slade Jacobson and the job takes her to Hawaii with him. In between handling his whirlwind four-year-old daughter and dealing with a whole cast of Hollywood personalities, Clarissa has to keep a tight hold on her heart.


The Catching Kind by Caitie Quinn
When camera-shy author Hailey Tate’s agent loses a bet and brokers a deal, it leaves Hailey in the last place she wants to be: backed into the corner of Publicity and Paparazzi. Now, thanks to her girl-next-door image and role as pretend girlfriend to a womanizing short stop, she's getting the attention she always managed to avoid. Connor Ryan is not only America’s Sexiest Athlete, he’s also the current Bad Boy of Baseball. But when he goes a base too far, management wants to bench him…permanently. One thing he never counted on? Falling for his sweet, fake girlfriend. He’s the guy who can catch anything and now she’s next on his list.  

The Royal Date by Sariah Wilson
Kat MacTaggart is a girl who has a plan for everything—including her holiday ski trip to Monterra with her best friend. Everything is going according to plan until she finds herself careening out of control down a mountainside and being rescued by a guy who looks like Superman’s hotter Italian cousin. HRH Prince Nico is intrigued by the woman he saved on the slopes and her refusal to date him. He offers Kat a deal—let him show her his country and he’ll pay her to write articles that will help Monterra’s tourism industry. Kat agrees, but given her past and lingering distrust of men, she has one condition—absolutely no kissing.


Five Days in Skye by Carla Laureano
Hospitality consultant Andrea Sullivan has one last chance to snag a high-profile client or she'll have to kiss her dreams of promotion good-bye. When she's sent to meet Scottish celebrity chef James MacDonald on the Isle of Skye, she just wants to finish her work as efficiently as possible. Yet her client is not the opportunistic womanizer he portrays himself to be, and her attraction to him soon dredges up memories she'd rather leave buried. For James, renovating the family hotel is a fulfillment of his late father's dreams. When his hired consultant turns out to be beautiful, intelligent, and completely unimpressed by his public persona, he makes it his mission to win her over. He just never expects to fall under her spell.

The Wedding Game by Amy Matayo
Cannon James has a plan: Sign on as a contestant for his father’s new reality show, marry a blonde hand-picked by the producers, and walk away two million dollars richer. It’s all been arranged. Easy. Clean. No regrets. Until Ellie McAllister ruins everything by winning the viewer’s vote. Now he has to convince America that he’s head over heels in love with her. Not easy to do since she’s a walking disaster. Ellie McAllister has her own problems. She needs money, and she needs it now. Despite her parent’s objections and her belief that marriage is sacred, she signs on to The Wedding Game…and wins. Now she’s married to a guy she can’t stand, and if she wants her hands on the money, she has six months to make voters believe she loves him. Not easy to do since he’s the most arrogant man in America.



Thursday, July 23, 2015

What's Next?


What's Next? Is a fun meme hosted by IceyBooks where you post 3-5 books you're having a hard time deciding on which to read first. Post the cover and if you want the description or exceprt from the book. Then leave it up to fellow booklovers to help you decide which to read next. For more info, click here.

As for me, here are my three picks for this week:

The Royal Spy by Cassie M Shiels
Synopsis: Even though Katie is a royal princess, all she knows is how to be a spy. She constantly goes from mission to mission, never getting the chance to understand her birthright. This all changes when her father sends her on a mission to Floric with the cover of being a princess who is trying to win the prince’s heart. This mission proves to be very different from the others with a shadowy figure to chase, secret passages to explore, secrets to keep and the problem of betrayal that she is about to discover.
 
Trouble in Paradise by Karen Tuft
Synopsis: Andy Kendrick has always dreamed of bigger things than tiny Eagle Bluff, Arizona. So when the opportunity arises to shake off the dust of his hometown and move to the tropical paradise of Hawaii, he grabs it. But he never imagined that apiece of his past would follow him to his new life . . .Kimberly Briggs has lived her life on the fringes of the crowd, timid and afraid since the death of her brother, but when she learns that Andy, her lifelong crush, is moving to Hawaii, she's finally ready to step out of the shadows and take a risk.

 
Girl of Mine by Taylor Dean
SynopsisThe year is 2003 and Captain Lucas Graham is at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, about to be deployed to Iraq. A few weeks ago, he broke his engagement with Jillian Barrett, leaving her stunned and heartbroken. Knowing he can’t leave for war without putting his affairs in order, Luke obtains a four day pass with only one goal in mind: explain his life story to his former fiancée. The problem: Jill is now engaged to another man. But Luke isn’t giving up. He only has four days to gain an audience with Jill, even if he has to resort to drastic measures to do so. And he will . . .
 
SO, What Should I Read Next??

The Organized Bride by Lucy McConnell

The Organized Bride (Billionaire Marriage Brokers, #2)The Organized Bride by Lucy McConnell
Contemporary Romance
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a cute series, I love the idea for the Billionaire Marriage Brokers and the modern day arranged marriage storylines. I look forward to reading the rest of the books.

While I thought this one was cute, I thought there was too much emphasis on their time at work or talking about work. It's all they ever really talked about and I thought it distracted from the romance. There wasn't a whole lot of romantic interactions and I was a bit unbelieving in their sudden declarations of love. I would have liked to see more of the day to day things and more conversations that didn't revolve around work/charities. I did think it was a fun read and kept me entertained, I just think the romance could have been a little better. I liked the characters and again look forward to reading more from this series.

Content
Romance: Clean
Language: None
Violence: None
Other: Mild (view spoiler)
Religious: None
Series: Billionaire Marriage Brokers, Book Two. Can stand on its own.</["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]>

View all my reviews

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Breaking the Spine, which spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. My choice for this week is:

by Amy Matayo and Nicole Deese
Contemporary Romance
Published: Sometime 2015 (I hope/think)

Synopsis from Goodreads:
There are two sides to every story...whose will you believe?
Noah Jennings and Lexi Reese may have experienced the same fateful collision early one November morning, yet their testimonies under oath are none too similar.

Somebody's lying.

Maybe it's him. Maybe it's her.

Maybe it's just another case of he said/she said.

Or maybe it's something else entirely.


Why I'm Waiting:
Ms. Matayo and Ms. Deese are two of my favorite authors. I've only found them recently, but enhoy their books quite a bit. When I heard they were teaming up to write this contemporary romance I knew I had to have it. It was supposed to come out earlier this year, but has been pushed back. I'm not sure when it'll be released, but I'll keep you posted. I know I'll be the first in line.

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

(Mis(fortune) by Melissa Haag

(Mis)fortune (Judgement of the Six, #2)(Mis)fortune by Melissa Haag
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
New Adult Urban Fantasy

4.5

I enjoyed this one much more than the first book. Maybe it was the fact I knew more about what was going on or maybe I just liked the story and characters more. We learn new things in each book, but basically there are six girls with different abilities, because of their specialness werewolves are attracted to them and are able to mate with them (they're not able to mate with regular humans. Dang it.) In the first book, Gabby was unsure what her talents were and how they worked. She figured out a little more by the end of the book. In this book, Michelle is more self aware, she may not know *why* she has her talent, but she is more comfortable with it and how it works. That is until her talent starts changing.

I thought this was an enjoyable story. Michelle and her two little brothers escaped from captivity and are on the run. They cross paths with Emmitt at an out of the way pit stop. He sees they are in need and offers his protection. Not having any other options, Michelle takes a risk to trust him and goes to stay with his family. Most of the book is spent with her time in hiding, which was okay with me. I liked seeing Michelle and Emmitt's relationship grow, he's so patient and kind. I loved how he gave Michelle time and space, but still made an effort to be with her. Then towards the end things start to pick up again and we learn a little more about Michelle and her captors.

Overall, this was a fun installment. Part of me thought it would have made a good first book, but it works well with the series and world building. If you enjoy a good Urban Fantasy I'd give this series a try. I'm excited to read the next book.

Content
Romance: Clean, kissing and very mild innuendo
Language: None (there may be one or two, can't remember)
Violence: Mild, a kidnapping and mild werewolf fighting
Other: Drinking, going to bars, etc.
Religious: None

View all my reviews

Teaser Tuesday: (Mis)fortune by Melissa Haag

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by A Daily Rhythm. It is open to anyone and is a fun way to get a taste of different books. The rules are simple and everyone is welcome to participate. 1. Grab your current read. 2. Open to a random page. 3. Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page. 4. Be careful NOT to include spoilers (you don’t want to ruin the book for others.) 5. Share the title & author 6. After completing your post, return to A Daily Rhythm and add a link in their “comment” section.

My Teaser:


"When you walked in, you flooded my senses until only one word beat through my mind." He leaned in until his lips brushed my ear. "Mine."
 
~ (Mis)fortune by Melissa Haag, Loc 2376
New Adult Urban Fantasy
Judgement of Six, Book Two

Monday, July 20, 2015

It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list. Hosted by Book Journey.
What I Read Last Week:
The Guy Next Door by Kate Palmer: My Review
 
Hope(less) by Melissa Haag: My Review
 
The Academic Bride by Lucy McConnell: My Review
 
The Kiss that Launched 1000 Gifs by Sheralyn Pratt: My Review
 
Catching Caytie by Cindy Roland Anderson: My Review
 
 
Currently Reading:
 


Library Loot

Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by The Captive Reader and the Silly Little Mischief that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate, just write up your post-feel free to steal the button-and link it using the Mr. Linky any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries.
Since I rarely go to the library anymore, I decided to post about what books I'm reading through Kindle Unlimited. I also get books through BookLending.com. I'm always on the look out for good lending sites, so if you know of any please let me know! Anyway, here are the book I currently have out through Unlimited:

Sunday, July 19, 2015

Hope(less) by Melissa Haag

Hope(less) (Judgement of the Six, #1)Hope(less) by Melissa Haag
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: New Adult Urban Fantasy
Published: November 2013

Pretty good.

Gabby’s always been a little different, being able to see peoples inner light (not sure how to describe it) and for some reason has an unnaturally strong appeal to men. Because of this, and losing her family and having to be raised in foster care, she has built up some pretty think walls. She is about to be kicked out of her latest foster home when she is walking home from the park and runs into a werewolf.

I thought Gabby was a pretty likable character. Considering her background, I could understand her strong desire to live her life and make her own choices. She wants to get out on her own, go to college, start a career and be self reliant. She does not want to be “claimed” by a werewolf at just eighteen and be tied to someone who will prevent her from fulfilling those dreams. I liked that she was always looking for the good in people, especially those close to her, yet was careful not to let people take advantage of her.

Clay was an interesting character. Still not quite sure what to think about him. Mild spoiler, he doesn’t speak for pretty much the entire book. We’re left having to get to know him in a totally different way. Based on his actions and how he treats Gabby we learn that he’s a pretty great guy. I think the book would have been strong if it had switched POV so we could really get to know him better though. And I admit, I was expecting a little more in regards to *why* he never spoke to Gabby. I thought his reasoning was a little anti-climatic. Could just be me though. I still thought they had a good relationship and it does grow throughout the story, which takes place a little over six months. I like that it took place over a longer time frame.

I thought the werewolf mythology was unique, but could have been developed a little more. Same with Gabby’s talents, which I thought could have been explained a little better. I was kind of confused by that. I’m guessing it will be explained a little more in future books, although it’s my understanding that the following books each focus on a different H/h.

I did think it was a little slow in places, but overall an enjoyable read that kept my interest.

Content
Romance: Clean, just kissing and mild innuendo. Talk about roommate spending the night at her boyfriends house and vice versa.
Language: Mild
Violence: Mild, not overly descriptive fight scene
Religious: None
Series: Book One, Judgment of the Six


View all my reviews

Cover Characteristic - Castles


This is a really fun meme hosted by Sugar and Snark. "Each week we will post a characteristic and choose 5 of our favorite covers with that characteristic. If you want to join in and share your 5 favorite covers with the weeks particular characteristic, then just make a post, grab the meme picture (or make your own) and leave your URL in Linky. You don’t even need to participate, just stopping by and saying hi would be great! Don’t forget to stop by the other participants!"
 
Today's Characteristic: CASTLES