(Young Adult Fantasy)
After the grim confrontation with Queen Katharine, the rebellion lies in tatters. Jules’s legion curse has been unbound, and it is up to Arsinoe to find a cure, even as the responsibility of stopping the ravaging mist lies heavy on her shoulders, and her shoulders alone. Mirabella has disappeared.
⮞ After reading the previous books, I really need to finish what I started and find out how this story ends.
(SciFi/Adventure/Romance)
UltraAgent TimeTrap is hiding out. This peace-loving, universe-traveling hero is tired of fighting Aztec gods, sociopathic scientists, and her reality TV–star mother. She needs a vacation from using her superpower. With comfy slippers and streaming movies, she’s taken refuge with her new boyfriend, Max Martin, in his high-tech, gated home. Max owes TimeTrap his life. She saved him from a dimensional-jumping kidnapper, and he’s fallen hard for her. He promises to protect her at any cost. Whatever TimeTrap wants, he’ll give her. But is she really safe with Max?
⮞ Another series that I didn't finish. I freaking loved the first two books and I'm excited to see what this one is about!
(Fantasy Romance)
Nevada Baylor is faced with the most challenging case of her detective career—a suicide mission to bring in a suspect in a volatile case. Nevada isn't sure she has the chops. Her quarry is a Prime, the highest rank of magic user, who can set anyone and anything on fire. Then she's kidnapped by Connor "Mad" Rogan—a darkly tempting billionaire with equally devastating powers. Torn between wanting to run or surrender to their overwhelming attraction, Nevada must join forces with Rogan to stay alive.
⮞ As someone who loves fantasy romance, I think it's absolutely bananas that I haven't read from this author before. Especially with a bunch of her books sitting on my physical bookshelves. I really need to stop playing.
(Young/New Adult Fantasy/Paranormal/I don't know)
Eighteen-year-old Trinity Marrow may be going blind, but she can see and communicate with ghosts and spirits. Her gift is part of a secret so dangerous that she’s been in hiding for years in an isolated compound guarded by Wardens—gargoyle shape-shifters who protect humankind from demons. If the demons discover the truth about Trinity, they’ll devour her to enhance their powers.
⮞ It has been a very long time since I've read from this author and even then, it was her sweet romance, which I didn't love. But her fantasy/paranormal work gets so much praise and attention and has been recommended to me soooo much and I have a bunch of her books gifted to me (including this one) that I have to give her another try.
(Mafia Suspense Romance)
He finds the unfindable, but she’s terribly good at hiding … Penny Dunsworth is dead. Well, she should be—a piece of her certainly is. The broken girl she once was no longer exists. Now a trained assassin for The League, she’s turned into the worst nightmare for the monsters who once haunted her every waking moment. She has to be … it’s the only way to keep her past safe. That is if she can keep it from catching up.
⮞ Bethany-Kris is probably one of my favorite (my absolute favorite) mafia romance author. Anything she writes, I one-click. I bought this trilogy in paperback, that's how much I trust her work. So yeah, I'm definitely down to read this before the end of the season.
(Dark Romantic Suspense)
Dylan will do anything to escape her current nightmare, even if it means falling into the tangled web of a ruthless killer.
⮞ Keri Lake hasn't disappointed me yet. I've read a lot of her books and enjoyed every one of them. I'm pretty sure this one will be a new fave.
(Fantasy Romance)
A man with a teasing smile and an angel’s voice, Zeph is supposed to be nothing more than a beautiful, fun Parisian adventure. His voice lures me in. His cerulean blue eyes draw me to him. And his smile puts me at ease. We part after just one night. The next time I see him, I'm captured and trapped in a world I never knew existed. Intriguing and whimsical on the outside, it turns dark and sinister as I plunge deeper into a trap from which there is no escape.
⮞ I've never read or heard of this author before I saw a friend's review. When I learned it's a story about a male siren, I was on board. Something different is always going to tempt me and a male siren is different.
(Chick Lit/Romance)
Beth Fremont and Jennifer Scribner-Snyder know that somebody is monitoring their work e-mail. (Everybody in the newsroom knows. It's company policy.) But they can't quite bring themselves to take it seriously. They go on sending each other endless and endlessly hilarious e-mails, discussing every aspect of their personal lives. Meanwhile, Lincoln O'Neill can't believe this is his job now—reading other people's e-mail. When he applied to be "internet security officer," he pictured himself building firewalls and crushing hackers—not writing up a report every time a sports reporter forwards a dirty joke.
⮞ I still haven't read from this author and although I've seen plenty of mixed reviews for this story, I still went and ordered it from Book Outlet. What's the harm?
(Paranormal Romance)
If your inner wolf and your body react rather enthusiastically to a psychotic Alpha male who’s own wolf has a tendency to turn feral, it can’t be a good thing, can it? Entering into a bargain with him wouldn’t be good either. Unfortunately, Taryn Warner, a latent wolf shifter, doesn’t have many options open to her right now. Okay, she has no options. Basically it comes down to whether she’ll do what it takes to escape the arranged mating with the sick SOB that her father set up. As the answer in this case is yes, it looks as though she’ll have to agree to Trey Coleman’s deal… she’ll have to mate with him instead.
⮞ I feel like this book has been recommended to me a million trillion times. I've got a copy and I'm promising myself to read it pronto!
(Paranormal Romance)
Ellie is horrified to discover the pharmaceutical company she works for is doing illegal experiments. Company scientists have spliced human and animal DNA, creating exotic new species. One such “experiment” captures her heart and she’ll do anything to save him—even if he hates her for it.
⮞ This is another author who has been recommended to me 90 million times. It's about time I gave her a chance to win me over.
And there you have it. Ten books I'm vowing to read before the end of Spring, even if I have to DNF them. I don't even care. Less books on my TBR leaves me less anxious and feeling like I accomplished something.
So... have you read any of these books? Have any of them ever made it to your TBR?
If you have a TTT post, please leave a link to it below so I can come and check it out. Happy Reading!
I could go on and on about all that's happened in my life to delay this post, but I won't because it happened, it's past, and I'm ready to move on. I do promise that I will try to make a timely post for March's recap.
I still haven't read as much as I usually do and it's sad in a way, but it's also good. Reading less has made me appreciate the books I do read so much more and I can give time to each story that I couldn't give before. So in a way, reading less works for me. I found some amazing books in February and I can only hope to find equally awesome books for March.
The Best Book(s) of February
The other books I read this month (all of them good) were:
★ The Young and the Sinner by V.T. Do — a new-to-me author (3 stars)
★ Trapped by Alison Aimes (4 stars)
★ The Cyborg's Secret Baby by Cynthia Sax (4 stars)
★ Stalkers Anthology — a dark romance collection (3 stars)
★ Her Sexiest Mistake by Jill Shalvis — a new-to-me author (3.5 stars)
Book Haul
I've been doing exceptionally well on cutting down how much I buy each month. I did purchase some more signed books (more on that in a future post), but overall, I saved a lot of money as opposed to last year.
Added to my TBR
Falling Into Love With You by Lauren Rowe
Rebellious by Kristy Marie
OMG you guys!! Look how good I did!! Three books??? My TBR is feeling lighter already!!
My Reading Stats
This month, I tried something new. I started putting my books into Google Sheets. I know, I'm probably one of the last readers to do this, but WOW why didn't anyone tell me how great it is to keep track of everything???
Okay, so here are some of my charts so we can see how I'm doing...
Out of a total of 8 books for February:
What Else?
I actually participated in AND completed a reading challenge this month. GO ME!! It was a monthly reading challenge with the Goodreads group called Romance Readers Reading Challenges. You can find all of their information HERE and their challenge for the month of March HERE.
I had a ton of fun doing it, especially when it came to the end of the month and I had to quickly find books to fit the challenge so I could finish it. I was planning to do one for March, but I'm probably going to wait until April and see what the prompts are.
Thanks for sticking around until the end :D I'm still looking for book recs, so if you have one you think I'll love, please let me know.
BTW... how was your February? And how is March treating you?
Talk soon,
A book lay on her bedside table. He flipped it open with one finger, read a single paragraph.
Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. He does not give milk, he does not lay eggs, he is too weak to pull the plough, he cannot run fast enough to catch rabbits. Yet he is lord of all the animals. He sets them to work, he gives back to them the bare minimum that will prevent them from starving, and the rest he keeps for himself.
Leander's lips curled into an amused smile. Animal Farm by George Orwell.
Ah, the exquisite irony.
Shadow's Edge by J.T. Geissinger
Standalone - Night Prowler #1
Release - June 12, 2012
Genre - Paranormal Romance
Multiple POV - 3rd person
Heat Level - 4 out of 5/a few scenes
Format/Source - ebook borrowed through KU
Length - 383 pages
Publisher - Montlake Romance
Blurb from Amazon:
Deep within the primeval forests of southern England, a race of beautiful, savage shape-shifters lives hidden from the everyday world. Bound together by ancient bloodlines and a ruthless code of secrecy that punishes traitors with death, the Ikati send their leader Leander on a mission to capture one raised outside the tribe before she can expose their secret. When Leander tracks the unsuspecting outsider to Southern California, the hardened warrior is prepared for a fight—but not for the effect the sensual young beauty has on his heart.
Jenna spent her childhood in hiding, on the run from someone—or something—her parents refused to discuss. She trusts no one, not since her father’s mysterious disappearance, not since her mother’s sudden death, and definitely not since she began exhibiting strange, superhuman abilities. When handsome, enigmatic Leander appears, promising answers to the mysteries that shroud her past, she knows she shouldn’t trust him either. But their connection is undeniable, and as powerful as the enemy hell-bent on destroying every one of their kind...
This book had so much of what I look for in a great story:
🐾 intense and dynamic characters — and I mean ALL of them!
🐾 compelling plot — I love when I can't predict exactly where the story is going to go. Who's friend and who is foe?
🐾 insane chemistry — I'm telling you, the tension that burned between Leander and Jenna was immense. It practically leaped off of the pages!
🐾 no unnecessary drama — only necessary dramatics, although the heroine came this close to getting on my nerves
🐾 a happy for now ending — the underlying plot isn't over so I'm sure more of this couple will be shown as the series goes (hopefully)
Leander was the brooding, gorgeous and fierce Alpha of the Ikati. He ruled, protected, and carried the heaviest of burdens. When it becomes clear that a half blood is approaching their 25th birthday, a day when their gifts either present themselves or don't, it's up to him to impose punishment. In his world, half breeds are an abomination and should be put to death. Will he be able to carry out this judgment?
Never calling any one place 'home', Jenna has become accustomed to spending her whole life bouncing from one place to the next, never understanding why she and her family couldn't stay still. She always knew she was different and after her father's mysterious disappearance, she was told to hide how special she was. She only knew that if 'they' found her, she was to disappear. However, when Leander comes into her life, she has to choose between fight or flight. Does she continue to hide or does she find the courage to face what she's unknowingly avoided her whole life?
I enjoyed the push and pull of the relationship that developed between Leander and Jenna. There was no easy road for them, but the author didn't make it impossible. Instead, we were given strong people who had to learn to adapt - to a new world, to a new truth, to each other. It was obvious that they were meant to be... the author just made them work for it. I could have easily done without Christian's feelings, which took away from how much I enjoyed getting to know his character, but I'm guessing this is something that will get worked out in another book. Overall, a solid and well-written read and I will definitely be checking out the next book of the series.
You can find your own copy of this book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/38C5Lhn
Note that it is FREE to read with Kindle Unlimited
“Don’t put yourself in danger like that again. Please. I can’t take it. It’s important to me that you’re safe, Jenna.” His arms tightened around her, hard, and his voice dropped to a whisper. “It’s more than important. It’s everything. I would give everything I have to make sure nothing hurts you.”
“You’re the one that can hurt me,” she protested, hating how weak it sounded. Ambivalence and euphoria were doing battle within her, and euphoria was quickly winning. She shook her head, trying to clear it. “I know you think you can keep me here—but I won’t be locked in a cage, Leander. I won’t be your prisoner.”
He dragged his lips over her neck, down to her collarbone. His teeth pressed against the tender flesh there so hard it stung.
“I can’t deny I want to keep you with me. And I want you to want to stay. But...I would do anything to make you happy. Even if it means letting you go, if that’s what you want. Even if it means breaking every Law there is. I’ll do anything, Jenna. I’ll do anything.”
Though his voice was hushed, muffled against her skin, she recognized the truth in it, the raw emotion, and she started with the abrupt realization that he would put himself in danger for her.
He was willing to release her, protect her, and take the consequences, with nothing in it for himself except pleasing her and inciting the rage of all those snarling dark beasts.
It pierced her in the center of her chest, an unfamiliar sweetness that brought a prick of tears to her eyes. She had forgotten sweetness, had forgotten what it was like to be touched and held and cherished, and it opened something in her, it melted her like sunlight on snow. When she next exhaled, all her fears and hesitation sifted away with her breath, leaving only warmth and certainty behind.
She is a three-time nominee in both contemporary and paranormal romance for the RITA® Award, the highest distinction in romance fiction from the Romance Writers of America®. She is also a recipient of the Prism Award for Best First Book and the Golden Quill Award for Best Paranormal/Urban Fantasy.
She’s a Southern California native currently living in Nevada with her husband and rescue kitty, Zoe.
I chose to go back to the beginning of my Goodreads TBR and tackle the books that have been sitting, waiting to be read, the longest, which include:
Rose by Sydney Landon - a New Adult Contemporary Romance - My name is Rose Madden and I have spent my life being the perfect daughter. Thanks to my daddy, I'm an expert marksman who dresses like some modern day freaking June Cleaver. My life has been perfectly scripted since the day I was born. I've never deviated from the plan—until I met attorney Max Decker. Now he has me doing insane things to get his attention, like grabbing him in his car and being arrested for stalking my ex-boyfriend just so he'll come bail me out of jail. He thinks I'm crazy—but he wants me anyway, he just can't admit it. I'm tired of living my life for others, and Max has just given me a reason to show everyone that this good girl is going bad.
Revived by Samantha Towle - Contemporary Romance - Falling for his uptight therapist is not part of Leandro’s plan. Having unethical feelings for her patient, the angry Brazilian race car driver, is not part of India’s plan. But what if the wrong person is the only person who is right?
Fighting For Forever by J.B. Salsbury - Contemporary MMA Romance - She’s everything I hate about Vegas: a stripper, loose with her body and her morals. But there’s something about her, a complexity that she buries deep, and I’m determined to uncover it. The deeper I go, the less I understand. When I finally learn the truth, we engage in a battle where life and death hang in the balance. Fighting could kill us both, but if we win, forever is the prize.
Never Never by Colleen Hoover & Tarryn Fisher - YA Romance/Mystery - Charlie Wynwood and Silas Nash have been best friends since they could walk. They've been in love since the age of fourteen. But as of this morning... they are complete strangers. Their first kiss, their first fight, the moment they fell in love... every memory has vanished.
Confess by Colleen Hoover - New Adult Contemporary Romance - Auburn Reed is determined to rebuild her shattered life and she has no room for mistakes. But when she walks into a Dallas art studio in search of a job, she doesn’t expect to become deeply attracted to the studio’s enigmatic artist, Owen Gentry.
Tribeca by Callie Hart & Lili St. Germain - Dark Romance/Romantic Suspense/Thriller - Roberto Barbieri is known in the Kitchen by many names: Bobby B. The Barber of Brooklyn. Il Assassino. My brother and I call him Father. No matter what name you call him by, when Roberto Barbieri tells you do something, you do it. No questions asked. And you do NOT f*ck it up. - NOTE: this book hasn't been released and probably never will be :(
Bound to You: Volume 4 by Vanessa Booke - Contemporary Romance - I, Rebecca Gellar, am doing the unthinkable. I’m marrying a man who hits every category on my Run-Like-Hell list… 1. Arrogant. 2. Dangerously Handsome. 3. Brooding. 4. Domineering. 5. Possessive. 6. Playboy. The funny thing is I couldn’t be happier.
Hearts of Blue by L.H. Cosway - a standalone contemporary romance that tells the story of star-crossed lovers Karla Sheehan and Lee Cross, a police constable and the thief who steals her heart. She upholds the law. He breaks it.
It's a Wonderful Tangled Christmas Carol by Emma Chase - Contemporary Romance - After a blowout fight with Kate about his workaholic habits sends Drew to the office in anger on Christmas Eve, he falls asleep at his desk. There, three lovely holiday spirits magically visit him to teach him that every moment is precious and that he should never take his family for granted. But when he wakes up, will he just write it off as a dream?
Nuts by Alice Clayton - Chick Lit/Contemporary Romance - When gorgeous local farmer Leo Maxwell delivers her a lovely bunch of organic walnuts, Roxie wonders if a summer back home isn’t such a bad idea after all. Leo is heavily involved in the sustainable slow food movement, and he likes to take his time. In all things. Roxie is determined to head back to the west coast as soon as summer ends, but will the pull of lazy fireflies and her very own Almanzo Wilder be enough to keep her home for good?
Okay, so there you have it. Ten books that have been waiting for years to be read and I need to figure out which one(s) will stay and which will go. Tell me below which book you would kick off!! Oh, and if you have a TTT post, leave a link to it in the comments so I can come by and check it out :D
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