Friday, June 29, 2018

Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag


Hello there book lovers! June is almost over, and I thought what better way to celebrate it than with a tag? I was browsing Booktube and I found this tag created by Chami (her original video here) and Ely (her 2017 video here) and I absolutely loved it and I thought I'd do it too.

So without further ado, here is the


Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag

Thursday, June 28, 2018

Mini Book Reviews: The Becoming, Originally Human, Bayou Noel, Tempting Ecstasy

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I found The Becoming when I was in a thrift shop and while I wasn't 100% sure what to make of it, I decided to adopt buy it.

The book reminded me of the older urban fantasy books, with its darker themes and dark characters. Although some details were a bit easy to anticipate, the book still managed to surprise me.

Anna was also a pretty cool character. She was a little morally ambiguous and she cheats on her boyfriend. While that usually is enough to make me dislike the book and DNF it, there was something about this story that kept me engaged despite the issues. All in all, I enjoyed this book and I'm excited about reading the rest of the series.
Rating: 4 Cups


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I was in one of my Goodreads shelf-browsing sessions and I stumbled across Originally Human, in audiobook format. It was a freebie, and since everyone seems to have a thing for audiobooks I thought I'd give the format a fourth chance. The great thing about the audiobook is that it's made to seem like a movie, complete with different voice actors and sound effects. So it made the experience intense and something I would consider repeating.

The story is also pretty interesting. Molly is an interesting choice of heroine. She's definitely not what I expected a succubus to be like. The mystery behind the naked man she finds in the woods is also pretty cool, and the reveal behind who he actually is is super interesting. I'm tempted to try out the rest of the series, because I liked the setting and it seems like a paranormal series I'd enjoy.
Rating: 3.5 Cups


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Another freebie I stumbled upon was this Christmas story set in the world of the Wildlands.

Although I can't really say I liked Molly and Garrick's relationship, it was a pretty cute story. Molly has been having a crush on Garrick for years, while Garrick is trying hard to be cold to her whenever he visits home. I would have wanted a little bit more sincerity from his part, but at the end of the day they work together.

I've been meaning to pick up this series from the start and this short story served as a reminder for me to do so.


Rating: 3.5 Cups



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The more this series progresses, the more I like it.

Conn and Dacia have an interesting story. There are a lot of differences between their story and that of his fellow mated Guardians. We finally get to get a tiny peek into why it's difficult for females to find a partner that is not their fated mate. It's an interesting discovery, really.

I liked where the story is going, and the main plot tying all these books together is starting to slowly make more sense.

At the time I'm reviewing this book I've already finished the entire series, because I just went on a binge with it, so I know what happens, but I'm thinking a reread might be in order.

Rating: 4.5 Cups


Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Top Ten Tuesday: Series I’ve Given Up On & Series I'd Like To Finish One Day

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

This week’s Top Ten Tuesday theme is “Series I’ve Given Up On/Don’t Plan to Finish" and this feels like a painful subject, especially since I know that I will might get in trouble for saying what I'm about to say. At the same time, Jana also allows us to change the prompt a little bit and make it about the series we'd like to finish one day. Because I'm me and I love to make my life difficult, I'm going to combine them and make two top 5 lists: one for series I've given up on, and the other about series I want to finish one day. So without further ado, here are

Five Series I've Given Up On

Monday, June 25, 2018

Down The TBR Hole #3

 

Hello dear book lovers and welcome to another post in the Down The TBR Hole feature hosted by the awesome Lia.

Saturday, June 23, 2018

Book Review: Rome's Chance by Joanna Wylde

Author: Joanna Wylde
Series: Reapers MC #6.6
Audience: +18
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Evil Eye Concepts, Incorporated
Release Date: April 24th 2018
My Rating: 4.5 Cups
Source: InkSlinger PR
Blurb (from Goodreads):
From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Joanna Wylde comes a new story in her Reapers MC series…

Rome McGuire knew he was in trouble the first time he saw her.

She was sweet and pretty and just about perfect in every way. She was also too young and innocent for the Reapers Motorcycle Club. He did the right thing, and walked away.

The second time, he couldn’t resist tasting her.

Gorgeous and smart, fun and full of wonder, she jumped on his bike and would’ve followed him anywhere. Still, she deserved a shot at happiness somewhere bigger and better than a town like Hallies Falls. Walking away wasn’t so easy that time, but her family needed her and he had a job to do.

When she came around a third time, he’d had enough. Randi Whittaker had been given two chances to escape, and now it was time for Rome to take his.

This time, the only way Randi would be leaving Hallies Falls was on the back of Rome’s bike.
*Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book from InkSlinger PR in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my rating or the content of my review in any way.

**Disclaimer: This book contains mature content. As a result, my review may contain references to content intended for mature audiences only.

Friday, June 22, 2018

Blog Tour Book Review: Rainy Day Friends by Jill Shalvis

Author: Jill Shalvis
Series: Wildstone #2
Audience: +18
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Release Date: June 19th 2018
My Rating: 5 Cups
Source: Publisher
Blurb (from Goodreads):
Following the USA Today bestseller, Lost and Found Sisters, comes Rainy Day Friends, Jill Shalvis’ moving story of heart, loss, betrayal, and friendship.

Six months after Lanie Jacobs’ husband’s death, it’s hard to imagine anything could deepen her sense of pain and loss. But then Lanie discovers she isn’t the only one grieving his sudden passing. A serial adulterer, he left behind several other women who, like Lanie, each believe she was his legally wedded wife. Rocked by the infidelity, Lanie is left to grapple with searing questions. How could she be so wrong about a man she thought she knew better than anyone? Will she ever be able to trust another person? Can she even trust herself?

Desperate to make a fresh start, Lanie impulsively takes a job at the family-run Capriotti Winery. At first, she feels like an outsider among the boisterous Capriottis. With no real family of her own, she’s bewildered by how quickly they all take her under their wing and make her feel like she belongs. Especially Mark Capriotti, a gruffly handsome Air Force veteran turned deputy sheriff who manages to wind his way into Lanie’s cold, broken heart—along with the rest of the clan. Everything is finally going well for her, but the arrival of River Green changes all that. The fresh-faced twenty-one-year old seems as sweet as they come…until her dark secrets come to light—secrets that could destroy the new life Lanie’s only just begun to build.
*Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my rating or the content of my review in any way.

**Disclaimer: This book contains mature content. As a result, my review may contain references to content intended for mature audiences only.

Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Cover Reveal: Memento Mori by Lexi Blake

  
 

Six men with no memories of the past

One leader with no hope for the future

A man without a past

Jax woke up in a lab, his memories erased, and his mind reprogrammed to serve a mad woman’s will. After being liberated from his prison, he pledged himself to the only thing he truly knows—his team. Six men who lost everything they were. They must make certain no one else gets their hands on the drugs that stole their lives, all while hiding from every intelligence organization on the planet. The trail has led him to an unforgiving mountainside and a beautiful wilderness expert who may be his only hope of finding the truth.

A woman with a bright future

River Lee knows her way around the Colorado wilderness. She’s finally found a home in a place called Bliss after years lost in darkness. The nature guide prefers to show her clients the beauty found in the land, but she also knows the secrets the mountains hold. When she meets Jax, something about the troubled man calls to her. She agrees to lead him to the site of an abandoned government facility hidden deep in the forest. She never dreamed she was stepping into the middle of a battlefield.

A love that could heal a broken soul

Spending time with River, Jax discovers a peace he’s never known. Their passion unlocks a side of himself he didn’t even know he was missing. When an old enemy makes his first move, Jax and River find themselves fighting for their lives. But when his past is revealed, will River be caught in the crosshairs of a global conspiracy?
   

PREORDER NOW

Amazon |   iBooks  |   GooglePlay  |  Barnes & Noble |   Paperback

Kobo, and Smashwords coming soon!

      “Hello. I’m Jax.” His voice was deep but there was a musical quality to it. She would bet he could sing. “This is my brother, Tucker.”
Brothers. They oddly didn’t look a lot alike, but she’d seen siblings who she would never have guessed came from the same parents. Tucker wasn’t bad himself. Dark, wavy hair any woman would love to have. It was slightly overgrown but did nothing but enhance his male-model beauty. He seemed far softer than his incredibly masculine friend.
Her first impression of Jax hadn’t been false. He was broad and muscular, his face defined by stark planes and lines. He looked predatory and hungry.
She could barely breath. Maybe this was a mistake. She would have a hard time watching this gorgeous man fawn all over Heather. Something about him pulled her in, made her want to forget that she had terrible taste in men. It was like there was some invisible tether connecting her to him.
Except that was stupid because he couldn’t be here for her.
“I’m Heather and my very quiet friend’s name is River.” Heather was smiling that ridiculously sunny smile of hers, the one no man could resist. “Thanks for the fries. You know normally men send over drinks. I’m glad you’re so concerned with consent. That’s very forward thinking of you.”
Tucker shook his head. “We’re not allowed to have sex without consent. Do we need a note? Like a contract?”
Jax jabbed an elbow in his brother’s ribs. “He’s being a weirdo and moving way, way too fast. Sorry about that. He doesn’t get out much.”
Tucker frowned and said something under his breath that sounded like neither do you, but then a sweet smile came over his face. “Sorry. Sometimes my jokes fall flat. Can we please join you? We’re in town for a week or so and besides the Russian dude, we haven’t met anyone.”
“Sure.” Heather slid over.
River did the same, expecting Tucker to slide in next to her, but it was Jax’s big body that moved beside her. She felt tiny compared to him. She watched as Heather grinned her way as though to say you were wrong.
Tucker sat beside Heather and started passing out the small plates.
Jax probably wanted to be able to look at Heather. That was it.
God, he smelled good. She kind of wanted to lean over and run her nose along his shoulder and up his neck. He smelled like soap and sandalwood.
“Can I get you some? I like French fries but they’re even better with cheese and bacon. I think maybe everything is better with cheese and bacon, but if you want something else, I’ll get it for you. You can have anything on the menu. And I’ll buy the wine or beer or whatever. I merely wanted you to understand I don’t want to get drunk tonight. I would rather get to know you.”
She turned, expecting to see Jax staring across at Heather. Nope. Those stunning green eyes were staring at her expectantly. He had a plate in his hand as though waiting for her permission to serve her.
Her. He was looking at her.
“She does talk,” Heather said. “I’ve heard her and everything.”
“Yeah, I would love some.” She was hungry, actually. It was odd. Her stomach kind of rumbled, but in a good way. For the last year and a half it seemed she’d lost her appetite and had to force herself to eat, but tonight she smelled the fries and cheese and bacon and wanted.
And she wanted him, too. She wasn’t going to lie to herself. This time she would be smart. If he turned out to be a nice guy, she might spend the night with him. Might. And then she would send him on his way because he was a tourist.
She wouldn’t fall for him because she wouldn’t spend more than a night.

       
NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog in the world. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn’t until she started writing romance and urban fantasy that she found the stories of her heart. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome, or foursome may seem.

FACEBOOK / TWITTER / WEBSITE / AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

Blog Tour Book Review: Surrender by Elisabeth Naughton



From New York Times Bestselling author Elisabeth Naughton, comes SURRENDER, a new novella in her House of Sin Series, brought to you by 1,001 Dark Nights! Be sure to grab your copy today!

Author: Elizabeth Naughton
Series: House of Sin #3.5
Audience: +18
Genre: Erotic Romance
Publisher: Evil Eye Concepts, Incorporated
Release Date: June 12th 2018
My Rating: 4 Cups
Source: InkSlinger PR
Blurb (from Goodreads):
From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Elisabeth Naughton comes a new story in her House of Sin series…

The leaders of my House want her dead.
The men I’ve secretly aligned myself with want her punished for screwing up their coup.
I’ve been sent by both to deal with her, but one look at the feisty redhead and I’ve got plans of my own.
Before I carry out anyone else’s orders, she’s going to give me what I want. And only when I’m satisfied will I decide if she lives or dies.
Depending, of course, on just how easily she surrenders…
*Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my rating or the content of my review in any way.

**Disclaimer: This book contains mature content. As a result, my review may contain references to content intended for mature audiences only.

Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Book Review: The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert

Author: Melissa Albert
Series: The Hazel Wood #1
Audience: +16
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Release Date: January 30th 2018
My Rating: 5 Cups
Source: Own Copy
Blurb (from Goodreads):
Seventeen-year-old Alice and her mother have spent most of Alice’s life on the road, always a step ahead of the uncanny bad luck biting at their heels. But when Alice’s grandmother, the reclusive author of a cult-classic book of pitch-dark fairy tales, dies alone on her estate, the Hazel Wood, Alice learns how bad her luck can really get: her mother is stolen away―by a figure who claims to come from the Hinterland, the cruel supernatural world where her grandmother's stories are set. Alice's only lead is the message her mother left behind: “Stay away from the Hazel Wood.”

Alice has long steered clear of her grandmother’s cultish fans. But now she has no choice but to ally with classmate Ellery Finch, a Hinterland superfan who may have his own reasons for wanting to help her. To retrieve her mother, Alice must venture first to the Hazel Wood, then into the world where her grandmother's tales began―and where she might find out how her own story went so wrong.

Monday, June 18, 2018

Down The TBR Hole #2


Hello dear book lovers and welcome to another post in the Down The TBR Hole feature hosted by the awesome Lia.

Tuesday, June 12, 2018

Release Day Blitz: Whiskey Reveals by Carrie Ann Ryan


WHISKEY REVEALS by Carrie Ann Ryan is available now! Get your hands on this sexy next book in her standalone Whiskey and Lies series now - read an excerpt below!

 

About WHISKEY REVEALS (Whiskey and Lies #2)

One whiskey-saturated night turns into something far more in the second standalone installment of the bestselling Whiskey and Lies series from NYT Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan.
Fox Collins likes his life just the way it is. His siblings are falling in love all around him, but he'd much rather focus on his next story than on a serious relationship. However, when his latest one-night stand returns to Whiskey-this time for good-he'll need to learn to trust his instincts to figure out if he can live without her in his life.
Former dancer Melody Waters is finally ready to settle down in her grandmother's small Pennsylvania hometown. Bad decisions and fateful nights have changed her path more than once, but now she's focused on one thing: opening her new own dance studio. But fate is a funny thing, and once again, she'll be forced to learn that actions have consequences and some repercussions can not only change your life forever, they can also come back to haunt you…one broken promise at a time.
Each book is a complete stand alone and can be read in any order.

Get your hand on WHISKEY REVEALS:

✦Barnes & Noble http://bit.ly/2iWVlPu ✦Kobo http://bit.ly/2sgwX0L 
✦Google Play http://bit.ly/2Al29gU 
✦Amazon Paperback https://amzn.to/2JSLYfH ✦Audiobook http://adbl.co/2FJIZ6N





Read an excerpt from WHISKEY REVEALS 


By the time the cable box lay forgotten on the coffee table, wires and empty cups of tea next to it, two hours had passed, and Fox was ready to throw the damn thing across the room.
“It’s haunted. That’s the only thing I can think of.” Melody sat next to him, the heat of her thigh pressed into his. His cock was beyond ready, and he had a feeling he was just going to have to get used to a perpetual state of hardness from now on.
“I cannot believe we tried fourteen things, finally got the place on the phone, and it’s still not working.” He’d lost any cred he might have had with being able to fix things. And all because of a damn cable box.
“I hate it. They may be sending a new one— which they wanted to charge us to install. At least between us, I think we convinced them to do it for free— but they still wouldn’t tell us if we lost the DVR settings or not. Grandma isn’t going to be happy.”
Fox reached out and squeezed her hand. “We’ll figure it out.”
He liked saying that. We. As if it were the two of them.
Friends, he reminded himself. They were friends.
“Thanks for everything, Fox. I guess this isn’t how you wanted to spend your day.”
“It’s what friends do. And I had fun, even when we were yelling at the damn thing. I should go, though, since I bet you have work to do, and I promised myself I’d get my yard looking somewhat decent.”
They both stood up as she smiled, and he had to do his best not to reach out and touch her. It wasn’t easy, but he was stronger than the temptation. Maybe.
“I owe you one,” she said softly as they walked to the front door. “Seriously.” “I’ll put you to work doing yard work if you want.”
She laughed again, and he took it in, the sound soothing his soul. “I don’t know if I owe you that much.”
They paused in the foyer, their gazes meeting, and a heated silence stretching between them.
“This doesn’t count as the owing,” he whispered then kissed her, knowing it was a bad idea.
He crushed his mouth to hers, her gasp lost in the kiss. Soon, her back was against the wall, his hands on her face as he deepened the kiss. He didn’t touch her anywhere else, and their bodies remained a breath apart, but they were close enough that he could feel her heat.
She tasted sweet and sinful and everything he ached for.
When he pulled away, their bodies shook, and he forced himself not to kiss her again.
“That was…” she whispered.
“A mistake,” he finished, not missing the hurt in her eyes. “I’m sorry. I know we’re trying to be friends.”
“And kissing complicates things.”
 

Missed the first book in the WHISKEY AND LIES series? Grab it now!

 

About WHISKEY SECRETS (Whiskey and Lies #1)

Sparks fly between a former cop-turned-bartender and his new innkeeper in the first installment of a Montgomery Ink spin-off series from NYT Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan.
Dare Collins is a man who knows his whiskey and women—or at least that’s what he tells himself. When his family decides to hire on a new innkeeper for the inn above his bar and restaurant, he’s more than reluctant. Especially when he meets the new hire. But he’ll soon find that he has no choice but to work with this city girl and accept her new ideas and the burning attraction between them.
Kenzie Owens left her old life and an abusive relationship behind her—or so she thought. She figures she’ll be safe in Whiskey, Pennsylvania but after one look at her new boss, Dare Collins, she might still be in danger, or at least her heart. And when her past catches up with her despite her attempts to avoid it, it’s more than her heart on the line. This time, it might mean her life.

Get your hands on WHISKEY SECRETS now!
✦Amazon http://amzn.to/2oIB7KT ✦iBooks http://apple.co/2j4i3qE ✦Barnes & Noble http://bit.ly/2tkoES5 ✦Kobo http://bit.ly/2hLUb63 ✦Google Play http://bit.ly/2stO9gP ✦Amazon Paperback http://amzn.to/2nHuho9

 

About Carrie Ann Ryan

Carrie Ann Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary and paranormal romance. Her works include the Montgomery Ink, Redwood Pack, Talon Pack, and Gallagher Brothers series, which have sold over 2.0 million books worldwide. She started writing while in graduate school for her advanced degree in chemistry and hasn’t stopped since. Carrie Ann has written over fifty novels and novellas with more in the works. When she’s not writing about bearded tattooed men or alpha wolves that need to find their mates, she’s reading as much as she can and exploring the world of baking and gourmet cooking.

Blog Tour Book Review: Order Of Protection by Lexi Blake


Author: Lexi Blake
Series: Courting Justice #1
Audience: +18
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: June 5th 2018
My Rating: 4.5 Cups
Source: InkSlinger PR
Blurb (from Goodreads):
To high-end defense attorney Henry Garrison, Win Hughes is a woman he met during one of the most trying times of his life. She’s soft and warm, and he finds solace in their brief relationship. But Win has a secret. She’s actually Taylor Winston-Hughes—born to one of the wealthiest families in the country, orphaned as a child by a tragic accident. Win moves in the wealthiest circles, but her lavish lifestyle hides her pain.

When her best friend is murdered in the midst of a glittering New York gala, Win’s charged with the crime, and the only person in the world she wants to see is Henry.

Henry is shocked at the true identity of his lover, but he can’t reject the case. This case could take his new firm into the stratosphere. Still, he’s not getting burned by Win again. And yet every turn brings them closer together.

As the case takes a wild turn and Win's entire life is upended, she must look to the people she's closest to in order to find a killer. And Henry must decide between making his case and saving the woman he loves…
*Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book from InkSlinger PR in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my rating or the content of my review in any way.

**Disclaimer: This book contains mature content. As a result, my review may contain references to content intended for mature audiences only.


Monday, June 11, 2018

Down The TBR Hole #1: The Scary Adventure Begins


Down The TBR Hole is hosted by Lia @ Lost In A Story that prompts you to clean out your TBR of all those books you’re never going to read and sort through it all to know what’s actually on there. The idea is to go to your Goodreads to-be-read shelf and try to figure out if you really want to read the books you added there. For more information, head to Lia's blog.

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Wednesday Chatter: 8 Years Of Blogging And Reading (and counting)


Wednesday Chatter is a weekly feature at Ruby's Books where we'll be talking about anything and everything related to books and reading. Click here if you want to see what we talked about in the previous weeks

WARNING: Some bad words might be used in the following post. Don't say I didn't warn you!



Hello my fellow book lovers! Today's post was inspired by the fact that *surprise* my blog is 8 years old.

 
Source: Giphy.com

Well, more accurately, 8 years 3 months and 9 days old. Wow, time flies. I previously did something similar on a Wednesday Chatter post, where I talked about how blogging changed me. I kind of wanted to update on that post a little bit, since I feel like I've grown quite a lot since 2015, when that post was written, as a blogger, as a reader, and as a person in general. So without further ado, here's my celebratory post about

Tuesday, June 5, 2018

Release Day Launch: Order Of Protection by Lexi Blake





To high-end defense attorney Henry Garrison, Win Hughes is a woman he met during one of the most trying times of his life. She’s soft and warm, and he finds solace in their brief relationship. But Win has a secret. She’s actually Taylor Winston-Hughes—born to one of the wealthiest families in the country, orphaned as a child by a tragic accident. Win moves in the wealthiest circles, but her lavish lifestyle hides her pain.

When her best friend is murdered in the midst of a glittering New York gala, Win’s charged with the crime, and the only person in the world she wants to see is Henry.

Henry is shocked at the true identity of his lover, but he can’t reject the case. This case could take his new firm into the stratosphere. Still, he’s not getting burned by Win again. And yet every turn brings them closer together.

As the case takes a wild turn and Win's entire life is upended, she must look to the people she's closest to in order to find a killer. And Henry must decide between making his case and saving the woman he loves…

Now available

Amazon | iTunes | Barnes & Noble | GooglePlay | Kobo

  

 If Henry gave her a minute, they would be back to polite. He wouldn’t find out if she could want him in an honest way. “Win, I’m an alcoholic. I’m divorced, and it wasn’t some thoughtful conscious uncoupling. It was nasty and ugly. I’m a lawyer who doesn’t give a shit if his clients are guilty or not as long as they have the money to pay me. I have gotten off people who probably went back out into the world to do terrible things, and I’ll probably do it again because I believe in this system. It’s imperfect, but it’s better than anything else. And I’m too old for you.”
She snorted, an oddly amusing sound. “I’m not some shrinking virgin. I’m twenty-nine, and I’ve been around the block a couple of times and with some men I wish I hadn’t ever gotten into the car with. How old are you? Forty?”
He winced. “Thirty-seven.”
Her lips curled up, and it was worth the blow to his ego. “Well, you don’t look a day over forty, and that’s a pretty nice age for a man. You think you don’t deserve such a young, hot chick?”
Thank god she was teasing him again. He’d hated the way her shoulders had slumped when she’d thought he’d rejected her. But still, he had to be honest. If he was going to do this, she would get the new Henry. “I think I could hurt a woman like you if I’m not careful.”
“Then be careful with me, Henry Garrison,” she said, moving closer to him. “And I’m a big girl. I can make my own decisions and live with them. I would like to spend the night with you. It doesn’t have to last beyond tomorrow. I’m not asking to be your girlfriend. I’m asking you to help me get through the night, to help me get that nightmare out of my head, so I can feel safe for the first time in months. It’s been a long time since I felt safe.”
That he could do. She moved in close, right between his legs, and he reached up and cupped her face, holding her still as he looked into her eyes. So much fucking innocence. He didn’t care what she’d been through. She was way too young for him, but she’d said yes and he wasn’t a saint. Not even close. “Be sure. I might want more than one night. I’m here for a few weeks. I could use this. I could use some time with you.”
It wouldn’t work long-term. When he finished up and got back to the city, he wouldn’t have time to spend with her, and she deserved that. He would be knee-deep in the sewer again. It wasn’t a place he would take her, but he could be what she needed here.
“I could use some time with you,” she replied. “You’re right about a few things. I haven’t ever been around a man like you. The men I’ve been with have been boys who cared more about their images than they did about pleasing me. I think it might be different with you. I know you’re trying to scare me off with all that ‘I screwed up my life’ stuff, but I get that. You can’t make me run, or I would run away from myself. Tell me if you can make me forget about everything except what you’re doing to my body because tonight that’s all I want.”
Oh, he could do that. He might not be able to feed her soul, but he could work her body all fucking night long.
         
NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog in the world. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn’t until she started writing romance and urban fantasy that she found the stories of her heart. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome, or foursome may seem.

FACEBOOK / TWITTER / WEBSITE / AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Thought About DNFing, But Didn't

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

Hello my book loving friends! Today we're talking about Books I Thought About DNFing. I mentioned this several times in my long blogging years, but it doesn't take me long to DNF. Since today's topic is mostly geared towards the readers who DNFed too quickly, who might not do it often, I decided to put my own spin on it. So without further ado, here are

TOP TEN BOOKS I THOUGHT ABOUT DNFing BUT DIDN'T 
(and thank god for that!)

1. Brownie Fix by Ellen Cardona - my review here

When I read this book many, many years ago, I struggled with the subject. I was on a "happy books only for this gal" kick, and when I signed up for the blog tour I wasn't sure what to expect. What I got was a story I will treasure forever, and I'll forever be happy and proud for going against my initial reaction of DNFing.

2. And I Darken by Kiersten White - my review here

As a Romanian born and raised person, I'm always, ALWAYS weary of people tackling Vlad the Impaler's story. Why? Because most people get it wrong, they make him be this mythical monster and forget about the military genius he was. And I don't mean they make him into a vampire. The guy was messed up if you are to believe some of the stories from that time, while we view him as a national hero. Does White's version of the story have mistakes? Yes. Is it a perfect rendition of Vlad's life? No. It's full or tiny errors, and they almost made me DNF the book. But the reason why I didn't and the reason why I ultimately gave it 5 cups/stars despite them, was that it made me curious. I never really felt the curiosity to go beyond what I knew of that era, but this book prompted me to do so, and I discovered some pretty curious, interesting things.

3. The Silver Swan by Elena Deblanco - my review here

This book was such a departure from what I normally read. I was tempted at one point to put it aside, not because it's not my normal genre, but because, as I said in my review, I was a little put off by all the flashbacks. I am very glad I pushed through and read it, because it was a truly great story. And, believe it or not, despite the rating, it's one of those books that have stuck in my memory.

4. The First Night by Marc Levy

It's no secret that I love Marc Levy's books. It's rare that I feel disconnected from his stories, but The First Night, the second book of a duology, was not an easy read for me. I don't know exactly why that is, but at one point I was kind of ready to put it down and never pick it up again. I'm glad I kept reading though, because towards the end of the book I got to understand what exactly was this duology all about.

5. Nights of Rain and Stars by Maeve Binchy

Nights of Rain and Stars was, like The Silver Swan, something completely new to me. At the time I read it I was used to Anne Rice's horror stories, full of action, drama and sexual tones. So when I read Binchy's book, I was completely shocked by the slower pace, so much so that I wanted to give up reading it. However, there was something in Binchy's words that kept me reading, and it is, by far, one of my favorite books ever.

6. The Shakespeare Curse by Jennifer Lee Carrell

Shakespeare is another of my favorite subjects. Since it is one of the literary mysteries that probably will never be solved, a lot of authors have tried to figure out who was Shakespeare, if it was one person or a group of people. Jennifer Lee Carrell is one of these authors and her The Shakespeare Secret is one of my favorite novels ever. Unfortunately, The Shakespeare Curse suffers from the "second book syndrome" and doesn't quite reach its predecesor's brilliance for me, and I thought about DNFing it quite a few times. However Kate, the heroine, is awesome, and I enjoyed the chance to read more about her and to find out more about Shakespeare's plays.

7. The Hunchback by Paul Feval

One of my favorite books from my childhood, and yet it was in danger of me enver finishing it. As with Nights of Rain and Stars, there was something about this book that kept me reading, especially when I got to the part where Aurore tells her side of the story of how she grew up. Reading about her childhood is actually the hook that got me to finish the book and what, ultimately, made me love this book as much as I do.

 8. Lover Eternal by J.R. Ward

The Black Dagger Brotherhood was one of my favorite paranormal series ever. I may not be currently reading it, but at the time I read it it was a great joy. I remember waiting impatiently for the newest book to come out, while rereading the previous ones. That would not have happened had I DNFed the second book in the series. I won’t lie, the first two books aren’t as great as I wanted, but the ending of book 2 is what really hooked me to the series. Even though I have parted ways with this series, I will forever be glad that I didn’t give in to the urge to DNF this book.

9. Grave Surprise by Charlaine Harris

Although not my favorite way to tell any Charlaine Harris story, the good thing that came out of me reading this comic book was that I remembered how much I really loved her storytelling. I want to read the books this comic book was based on, and I owe that to this rendition of the story.

10. Originally Human by Eileen Wilks

This was my first completed audiobook experience ever. I don’t have a great relationship with audiobooks, especially when there is just one narrator, mostly because the lack of different voice actors takes me out of the story faster than anything else. Add to that the fact that I am a pretty fast reader, and most audiobooks are not progressing as fast as I’d want, and it’s pretty easy to understand why I don’t really get along well with audiobooks. However... Originally Human is a fantastic audiobook. It’s almost like the old theater plays I used to listen to on vinyl growing up. I’m glad I gave it a chance, because it was an amazing experience. Keep in mind this is an adult story if you want to try it out.

Let’s discuss. What are some books that you almost DNFed but you are glad you didn’t?

Saturday, June 2, 2018

Monthly Wrap-up: May 2018


Hello lovely book lovers!

May was a really slow month for me. Real life interfered with my reading and blogging, so I've been away for a little over two months, actually. But I'm here now, at least for the foreseeable future, and I'm ready to start the summer properly. 
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