And Some More Name Books: Cold Fury Hockey

Alex by Sawyer Bennett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is going to be a disaster, because you can't just read about one hockey player, you have to read about the whole team. Obviously, as evidenced by the 11 books already in this series. And now it owns me, and I have a feeling I'm going to learn more about hockey than I ever needed or wanted to know.

The main guy in this story is a really crusty bugger, so it's fun to watch all of his edges start to soften.

Book 207 read in 2018

Pages: 224

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Garrett by Sawyer Bennett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is even better than the first one. I adore Garrett. He's funny and steadfast, which is a nice quality considering the challenges faced in this story.

Book 208 read in 2018

Pages: 278

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Zack by Sawyer Bennett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Despite the intense look of the cover, this book is actually super nerdy. It also contains a 4 year old boy, which brings an added touch of sweetness to the whole thing.

Book 209 read in 2018

Pages: 325

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Eleanor Oliphant is socially awkward, to say the least. She has no friends; no one has ever been in her apartment except the random social worker. She never talks on the phone, except to her mother, once a week. It becomes evident that she suffered a traumatic childhood that has isolated her, and kept her from connecting with other people.

Then an IT guy named Raymond works on her computer one day, and seems to actually like her. The two of them happen to see an old man (Sammy) fall in the street one day, call emergency rescue, and stay with him until he is put in the ambulance. She and Raymond then visit Sammy in the hospital, and the three of them begin to form a bond.

This is a quirky, ultimately satisfying novel. Eleanor grows on you, despite seeming pretty unlikeable at first.

332 pages

Fer-de-Lance by Rex Stout

This is the first book in the Nero Wolfe series. When Maria Maffei shows up on Wolfe's doorstep, wanting to hire him to find her missing brother, Wolfe sends his sidekick Archie Goodwin to check it out. There are no promising leads until Wolfe spots an article in the newspaper about a professor who dies of a heart attack while playing golf. The usual twists and turns occur, and in spite of a deadly snake (the fer-de-lance) left in Wolfe's desk drawer, he gets his man in the end.v

304 pages

Rogue Royalty by Meghan March
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A great ending to their story, but not just as drawing as the first two books. There was so many plot twists in this one. 

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300 Pages

Cozy Corgi Mystery Series by Mildred Abbott

SUMMARY: After being dumped by her husband and betrayed by a friend in business, Winfred “Fred” Page and her dog, Watson, move to Estes Park to start over. Before she even has a chance to furnish her bookstore, let alone open it, a murder takes place and Fred must use her investigative skills to clear her stepfather’s name. And, of course, murder is not a once in a blue moon event in a cozy series, so about every couple of months a new body turns up with a new mystery to solve.

REVIEW: For some reason, cats always seem to help the heroine solve the crime, so I liked the idea of a dog coming to the fore this time. So far, the books in this series have been light, fun reads.

BOOKS IN SERIES:

Cruel Candy: Book 1, 282 pages

Traitorous Toys: Book 2, 278 pages

Bickering Birds: Book 3, 280 pages

Savage Sourdough, Book 4, 296 pages

RATING: I have been rating the titles between 4 and 5, so I guess that makes it a 4.5 out of 5 rating from me.

Strawberries and Strangers: Pelican Cove Mystery, Book 1

SUMMARY: Jenny King moves to Pelican Cove to get a new start on life after being dumped by her husband. She settles into baking at the Boardwalk Café, but turns to sleuthing when her aunt is accused of murder.  Of course, there is the usual love-hate relationship with the local sheriff.

REVIEW: This book had too much stomping off and petulance in the heroine for me to find it enjoyable. I’d pass this one by.

RATING: 2 out of 5           PAGES: 187

The Secret Garden by Frances Burnett Hodgson

SUMMARY: Mary Lennox is sullen, bossy and autocratic. Her cousin, Colin, is equally overbearing. But slowly, fresh air, restoring a garden, and friendship softens them both.

REVIEW: I somehow missed reading this one as a child, so figured it was high time to read this classic. I probably would have enjoyed reading this one more when a child than I did as an adult.

RATING: 3 out of 5           PAGES: 242

One O'Clock Hustle: Rebecca Mayfield Mystery, Book 1

SUMMARY: Rebecca Mayfield is a by-the-book cop, but when it looks like Richie Amalfi is being framed for murder, she throws the rule book aside and she and Richie join forces to track down the true murderer.

REVIEW: I chose this book because the author kept coming up on my “recommended for you” book lists. It has somewhat of a Castle TV show feel to it which made it fun, but for me the relationship between the main characters felt very forced.

RATING: 4 out of 5           PAGES: 248

Mr. Churchill's Secretary: A Maggie Hope Mystery

SUMMARY: Maggie Hope is somewhat frustrated as a secretary, recognizing she has many more important skills to offer at No. 10 Downing Street. This book offers a glimpse into war-torn England in 1940 and includes betrayal, code-breaking, light romance and high adventure.

REVIEW: I selected this book when I read it was going to be a Wolfner Library Book Discussion selection and it sounded intriguing. I was not disappointed.

RATING: 5 out of 5           PAGES: 380

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Told through a series of letters, the reader is introduced to the titular wallflower, Charlie, who is just starting high school. Through Charlie's eyes, the reader is taken through the roller coaster that is being a teenager---first dates and family drama, loss and love, new friends and new books. Trying to live his life while trying to run from it, one is given a glimpse of what it's like to live life on the fringes all the while trying to feel infinite.

213 pages.

Blood River Rising by Victoria Pope Hubbell

Blood River Rising by Victoria Pope Hubbell

"Some day, something will happen to you, and regardless of the outcome here on earth, you'll know what you felt and saw and heard. And you'll agree with me that something else [God] is there with you.
"Both Crismon and Dad were wounded that day."

Part oral history, part the author's musings and recollections of sessions with 86-year-old Hadley Thompson, Blood River Rising details a little-known feud that took place in Miller County, Missouri, in the 1920s. When the Crismons first move next door to the Thompsons--the family of the aforementioned Hadley Thompson--it seems as if their relationship will be the normal neighborly sort. But when tensions rise because of the presence of the Ku Klux Klan, life will be forever altered for the two families.

236 pages.

Marked Men

 Series Rule by Jay Crownover
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Shaw and Rule have been friends for years. She has been part of his family and was best friends with his twin. A few years after his twin passes away, she is trying to peace together Rule's family after the loss of his twin. Shaw had to look past a lot of crap that Rule did, but she has been holding a crush on him for years. He was the only one that couldn't not see it. 

View all my reviews

369 Pages

Book 2: Jet

Jet is Rule's best friend and Ayden is Shaw's best friend. So you just could just seen that these two would try to make things work. Jet was such a good guy and not at all what I was thinking he would be since he was the lead singer for a rock band. Ayden's past caught out with her and she was afraid to tell Jet all about it. During this book we meet Asa, Ayden's brother and I can't wait to hear more of this story and how he will change his life around. 

416 Pages

Book 3: Rome

Rome is Rule's older brother that had been away for war for years. He was also good friends with Shaw's, since they all grew up. I fell for Cora and how good of a friend she become to Shaw in book 1. I enjoyed how this book they hit their bad part earlier than normally that way I knew the rest of the book would. 

387 Pages

Book 4: Nash

Nash seems like one of the sweetest of the guys. I really enjoyed this story of how him and Saint knew each other from the past. They both made mistakes in the past and during their relationship. There are a couple of times that I find myself wishing they explained them more. Like if he wasn't talking about her, than who was he? Also really what woman wouldn't be upset finding him in Royal they way they were. 

302 Pages

Book 5: Rowdy

Rowdy's past is just crazy. I didn't really know how this story was going to turn around since he thought he was in love with both sisters. However, once the full story came out and begin to make more sense. 

332 Pages

Book 6: Asa

I was happy to see Asa get a happy ending and turn his life around all the way. He made a lot of mistakes in the past and was learning how to turn his life around. I didn't expect them to pair him and Royal up but after I starting reading the book I realized that they would be another great couple. 

416 Pages

Red, White, and Blood by Christopher Farnsworth

The Presidential Campaign Trail, 2012: A political operative and a volunteer are brutally murdered while caught in a compromising position. Written in their blood on the wall of the crime scene: IT’S GOOD TO BE BACK.

And with that, a centuries-old horror known only as the Boogeyman returns to taunt Nathaniel Cade, the President’s Vampire. Against the backdrop of the 2012 presidential race, with the threat of constant exposure by the media, Cade and Zach must stop the one monster Cade has never been able to defeat completely. And they must do it before the Boogeyman adds another victim to his long and bloody list: the President of the United States himself.

This is the third, final, and (imo) creepiest of the Nathaniel Cade Series.  It features the Boogeyman - yep.  And it is as creepy a thing as you would want it to be.

These books are not for the faint of heart.  They are definitely horror/thrillers with adult scenes and themes.  But - I love them.  Great action, creepy monsters, government secrets, hidden societies - what more could you want?!

5/5

400 pages

Did I mention it's creepy? :)

Hawke by Sawyer Bennett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Hawke and Vale have a back story, they where in love when the where sixteen. Hawke and Vale where very wild when they dated before. They need to learn what each other is like and see if they can work past what they had before. 

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275 Pages


Max by Sawyer Bennett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh WOW! Max is such an amazing guy! He meets Julianne at a gas station and when she doesn't act like he is anyone important, helps draw him into her. Since he is use to other people just wanting to date him since he his a hockey player. Julianne is taking care of her sister's kids and this doesn't stop Max from trying to get to know her and help her out. 

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306 Pages




Roman by Sawyer Bennett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lexi comes into town after her mother passes away because she realizes that she has a father and she wants to get to know him and her sister Gray. She meets Roman before even meeting her family. Her sister Gray doesn't like Roman that much because of the way he was in the past. 

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242 Pages

Lucas by Sawyer Bennett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was excited for Lucas after reading Max's book. (Lucas is Max's brother) This book started out way different than any other books. I really enjoyed the different story. Stephanie was brought up by some awful parents who really didn't want her and nothing to do with her. This has made it very hard for her to open up to others.

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244 Pages

  Van by Sawyer Bennett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Simone is Lucas and Max's sister, and I could not wait to see what happened with these two after the kiss in the bar to help Max from hooking up with someone. I didn't expect to get so much humor from this book. Simone is the funniest person out of all the books and she is also the wildest. The only thing that I didn't like about this book is when they had their fight and didn't seem like her brothers cared much. Which was not expected, because I would have thought they would have been more upset with Van for his behavior.

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224 Pages

 Reed by Sawyer Bennett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Josie is Reed's neighbor and she knows about how he was in the past. She keep referring to his women as Barbie's, which is just complete humor. They start out with a great friendship and than decide to take things to the next level. Until her past comes back into her life.

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189 Pages

Name Books: Marked Men Series

Rule by Jay Crownover
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

We get extra points for books with names in the titles for this year's work reading challenge, which is how I happened upon this series. It's called Marked Men, because Marked is the name of the tattoo shop that the majority of the guys work at.

This is a story of unrequited love, and it's delicious.

Book 200 read in 2018

Pages: 369

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Jet by Jay Crownover
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I can tell this series is going to be a problem for me, as it makes me want more ink, stat!

Book 201 read in 2018

Pages: 416

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Rome by Jay Crownover
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book deals with survivor's guilt, post military service, but the female lead brings some color and sass to the story to keep it from being too heavy.

Book 202 read in 2018

Pages: 387

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Nash by Jay Crownover


It's a good thing this was an audiobook, or I would have drooled on the cover. Luckily my phone has a waterproof case. Yum.

Book 203 read in 2018

Pages: 302

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Rowdy by Jay Crownover
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love these two characters. They are so unique, but I thought their story could have been a lot better. Something about it all was too easy, which made me feel less invested. It's strange for me that two characters with such messy and imperfect lives came together so easily. Even the drama of this one wasn't really drama but simple misunderstanding.

I'm not saying that two such lovely characters don't deserve an overwhelmingly happy love story (minus some side drama from their sisters), but I guess that I really don't need to read about that. Their happiness could have been acknowledge in another book, if this one wasn't going to have more oomph. Again, these are still two of the most interesting and unique characters out of the whole series, so perhaps my expectations were just too high.

Characters = A+
Storyline = B-

Book 205 read in 2018

Pages: 332

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Asa by Jay Crownover
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It's a redemption story, about someone who has lost faith in themselves. I enjoyed that.

I thought this was the last book in the series, but apparently it branched out into a companion series that I need to check out.

Book 206 read in 2018

Pages: 316

Ryker by Sawyer Bennett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ryker is a father of two little girls and the goalie for the team. He starts seeing his manager secretly. Than Ryker's ex starts to plot to get him back. Gray proves that she would also do anything for Ryker. I enjoyed this book but I wish there would have been more with the girls. 

View all my reviews

269 Pages

Garrett by Sawyer Bennett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Garrett wins book boyfriend award in my eyes! I figured that I would like him after the way he was with Sutton. But I didn't think that he would have been such a sweet caring guy like he was. Wow! He had a lot to deal with in this book and he handled it all very well. 

278 Pages



 Zack by Sawyer Bennett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I felt like poor Zack after what happened to him in book two. I feel like he was a total pain at the first part of this book. I am guessing some of that is that guilt of what happened and how he really felt about everything. He started to come around and become a nicer guy. When he went straight back to his old ways after their fight, that made me think he really didn't change his ways at all. Lastly, there was a little boy in this book. There just something about adding a child to a book that makes me happy. Kate brings so much needed humor to this book. 

325 Pages

Meddling Kids

 Meddling Kids

by Edgar Cantero

Pages: 322

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Quirky, fun story set in 1990 but full of nostalgia for the 1970s. In the 1970s a group of kids meet in a small mining town off the Zoinx River Valley in Oregon. They team-up to solve mysteries and become known locally as the Blyton Summer Detective Club since there are all only in Blyton in the summers. Then comes the fateful summer of 1977 and their final case together. Once again they literally unmask an adult pretending to be a monster for his own personal gain, but all of the kids know that this isn't really the end of the mystery and none of them return to Blyton after that summer. 

Now 13 years have passed and Andy decides that they have to get back together and solve the mystery once and for all so they can all have a chance of leading a normal life. After all, she is currently on the run from the law and wanted in at least two states and she knows the kid-genius of the group, Kerri, has dropped out of college and is now tending bar to scrape by and poor Nate, the horror nerd has been in and out of mental asylums. The only friend Nate has seen in recent years is handsome jock turned movie star, Peter. The problem with that, is that Peter has been dead for several years.

With the assistance of Tim, the great-great-grandson of their faithful dog Sean, the gang heads back to Blyton to find and defeat the real monsters once and for all. Full of playful word usage and references to the classic Scooby-Doo show and other 1970s nostalgia, what starts out as a quirky fun read - turns in to a seriously scary novel by the end. For fans of horror but with a sense of humor. 

Staked (The Iron Druid Chronicles #8)

 Staked (The Iron Druid Chronicles #8)
by Kevin Hearne
Pages: 310
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Atticus has made some enemies in his over two thousand years of life, including some vampires. Now he has made an agreement with a coven in Poland to rid all of Poland of all vampires and vampires from around the world are taking revenge, especially one powerful, old vamp, Theophilus. 

Atticus ends up with backup from some unexpected places.  This is good since new druid Granuaile is trying to free herself from Loki and deal with some personal issues from her own past and his arch-druid is trying to start a school for new druids and doesn't need trouble with vampires too.

The President's Vampire by Christopher Farnsworth

For 140 years, vampire Nathaniel Cade has been bound to protect and serve the United States of America. When an ancient evil is resurrected, the President's Vampire and his human handler, Zach Barrows, must track down its source. The prime suspect is a shady private defense contractor who may be dealing with powers far deadlier than any mortal weapon. So it's up to Cade and Zach to drag the forces of darkness into the light...

This is book two of the Nathaniel Cade series.  I have re-read this trilogy many times over the years, and I still thoroughly enjoy each book each time.  The audiobooks are excellently done, and the story moves at a good clip without sacrificing character development or emotion.

5/5

448 pages

Review of Blood Oath (Book One)

Maigret and the Killer (Maigret #70)

 Maigret and the Killer (Maigret #70)
by Georges Simenon, Translated by Lyn Moir
Pages: 168
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Inspector Maigret accompanies his friend and physician on an emergency call and is drawn into a common street crime. Or so it appears at first, but this is not the obvious murder that it seems. Maigret is lead to a mysterious killer who leaves exasperating clues. Translated from the French. First published in 1969. A quick straight-forward detective story. Even though the work is translated French names have been retained for places and addresses.

Warrior Witch by Danielle L. Jensen

Warrior Witch by Danielle L. Jensen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

All along, I asked for more action and intrigue with the first two books. This one had far more of both, but I struggled the most with this book. It didn't keep my attention as well as the other two, and I got confused and rewound a lot, as a result.

I do like the ending, but I just wish everything leading up to that had been a bit less disjointed and more compelling. I'm not unhappy that I read it. It just wasn't the smoothest reading experience.

Book 199 read in 2018

Pages: 384

Sisterland by Curtis Sittenfeld
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this novel about twin sisters with psychic abilities set in Saint Louis. One twin, Vi, has embraced her supernatural powers and the other, Kate, has not. Vi has a vision that there will be an earth quake and seeks to warn her community of its impending devastation. The reader must read on to find out what happens.

Meanwhile, Kate, embraces a life of tradition and predictability as a stay at home mom of two children. I really liked this book for the reason that many reviewers disliked it. Kate's day to day of caring for small children is represented in a way I could really relate to. For example Sittenfeld writes, "Rosie’s clothes smelled like the teachers, which wasn’t to say the teachers smelled bad—just that there was no denying Rosie had been elsewhere." I just sent my son to daycare two weeks ago. While I love that he is cuddled and cared for while I am away, it is strange to have him come home to me smelling like another woman. 416 pages.

Misadventures with the Boss by Kendall Ryan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have been slowly reading some of the Misadventures Series. I enjoyed this book and picked it because I like Kendall Ryan. This is a short cute little story about two people who meet on a blind date and than find out that he is her new boss. 

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208 Pages

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

Esther Greenwood is brilliant, beautiful, enormously talented, and successful, but slowly going under—maybe for the last time. In her acclaimed and enduring masterwork, Sylvia Plath brilliantly draws the reader into Esther's breakdown with such intensity that her insanity becomes palpably real, even rational—as accessible an experience as going to the movies. A deep penetration into the darkest and most harrowing corners of the human psyche, The Bell Jar is an extraordinary accomplishment and a haunting American classic.

5/5

288 pages

Alex by Sawyer Bennett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Alex starts out being a pain and people don't like to be around him. He meets Sutton from something that his coach makes him do to help clean up his act. Alex hasn't really had a girlfriend his whole life because his father always told him that they where to much trouble and that he should be focused on hockey 100%. Sutton slowly starts to bring him out of his normal behavior and begins to be a great guy. Than he lets his dad get into his head again and he than realizes his mistake. What he does at the end to win Sutton back is just amazing and the sweetest thing ever!

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224 Pages

Seven Series

  Seven Years by Dannika Dark
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lexi lost her brother seven years ago in a tragic accident or she thought. Seven years after her brother's death his best friend Austin Cole comes back to town. Lexi always had a crush on Austin and wasn't happy that he had left after her brother left. She felt like she lost both of them. Austin opens Lexi to a new world and she begins to realize who she really is and that her family isn't anything like she thought it was. 

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332 Pages

Book 2: Six Months

April is Lexi's friend and works with her. This is how Reno first met her. I enjoyed this book just as much as the first one. This was a completely different story than the first one. April's past isn't even her mess and she is trying to clean up the mess her grandma left her. Each book gives you a little more into the world of shape shifter and I enjoy it. 

340 Pages

Book 3: Five Weeks

Jericho was one of my favorites from book 1. I began to like him even more than I did from the first book. He needed to make up for mistakes in the past with Izzy. I was happy to see that in the end he realized that he needed to start over and work on his friendship first. 

314 Pages

Book 4: Four Days

I was very curious about Lorenzo after meeting him in book one. I began to realize that he is a lot more than I was thinking he would be. Ivy always came off as such sweet little girl. I was happy to see that she is a sweet woman and she has an awful past that I didn't' see coming. 

307 Pages

Book 5: Three Hours

This was my least favorite book so far. I didn't really like either of the people from the other books. But I still enjoyed the story and needed some of the information to keep moving onto the next book. 

318 Pages

Book 6: Two Minutes

I couldn't wait for Maizy's story. I thought maybe it would be kind of weird since she started out in book 1 at a young age. But it came around and I began to really like the story. 

317 Pages

The Villa by Nora Roberts

The Villa by Nora Roberts

Sophia is a proud member of the Giambelli clan and a vital member of the family business---wine. When family matriarch Tereza announces a merger with her husband's winery, MacMillan, Sophia knows she has to keep on her toes. The one thing she didn't count on, however, is Tyler MacMillan, whom she must work closely with to ensure a smooth takeover. Sophia finds herself pleasantly surprised by Tyler, and she finds herself leaning on him more and more as acts of sabotage threaten not just the family business, but the family itself.

486 pages.

Hidden Huntress by Danielle L. Jensen

Hidden Huntress by Danielle L. Jensen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Book two is solid. I also enjoyed it. It has a bit more intrigue, though it is clear to the reader for quite some time what the trickery is. The part that is not clear is how the good guys will be able to resolve it.

Since I immediately purchased book 3 on audible, I think it's clear that overall, I'm in favor of this unusual YA fantasy series about humans and trolls.

My only complaint is that the romantic moments, if they can even be called that, are all almost entirely fade to black, which doesn't impact the overall storytelling. However, I still find that disappointing. After two books, I should at least get a compelling make-out scene before it fades to black, especially between characters that are married. Hell, I would even settle for an intense eye gaze that makes us all feel something. All the vague hinting is a big let down after so many chapters of waiting for just one moment of sweetness or raw emotion between two characters. However, I still am enjoying the story. Just don't expect a typical amount of YA fantasy romance, as this book has as little as is possible to hold the story together.

Book 198 read in 2018

Pages: 464

Shacking Up Series

  Shacking Up by Helena Hunting
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is just the humor that I needed. Sometimes I just need a little humor to break up my reading. Ruby needed a place to crash because she was going to lose her apartment. So her friend has the perfect solution, she will move in Bancroft and pet sit for him. They began to fall for each other while talking on the phone during his trip. 

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480 Pages

Book 2: Hooking Up

Amalie is at her wedding reception when her whole world falls apart. This book also had some funny moments through out the book that you could not help but laugh. When it first started I wasn't for sure that it would have any humor in it with the way that it started. 

444 Pages

Book 1.5: Getting Down

Just a little additional book into the Halloween party. During this book I just found myself wondering how Amalie couldn't see that he wasn't the right guy for her. Why would she keep putting up with that stuff. 

160 Pages

Stolen Songbird by Danielle L. Jensen

Stolen Songbird by Danielle L. Jensen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When I picked this up, I thought this was an adult fantasy novel, but it's actually a YA fantasy, which made me really happy. And it's really good.

I don't think I've ever read a novel about trolls before, and the world building is fascinating. I adore the characters, even the bad guys and side characters. They are all interesting and layered.

The audiobook is excellent, and I plan to start book two immediately. The only thing I want that I didn't get was just more. More of everything, including a more intricate and intriguing plot. This book had my attention the full way through, but that was simply due to a love of the characters and world. I'm hoping book two raises the stakes and comes back with a really killer, high action plot. I want to see more of the magic in action.

Book 198 read in 2018

Pages: 469

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This started out in an unexpected way, and I thought, okay. Maybe. The concept was interesting, but the execution was problematic for me. There are some amazing quotes, but the world building is a struggle, in terms of presentation. Still, I was willing to give it some time to settle in to a good groove and also, to give it a few passes, due to its age.

Unfortunately, it did not settle in. Instead, it quickly becomes that person in your social media feed who just can’t stop mansplaining. You know the guy. Please don’t be that guy. But, hey, if you are that guy, then this book is perfect for you!

Book 197 read in 2018

Pages: 288

Wicked Ties by Shayla Black
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed the story in this book, but not the dominant nature of it. Jack is a bodyguard that protects Morgan because he wants revenge against Brandon. They began to fall for each other. They spend a few days in a cabin trying to figure out who is after her. 

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341 Pages

Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young

I LOVED THIS BOOK! Definitely a favorite from 2018 so far. It's one of those where you can't put it down, but you force yourself to read a bit slowly so that you can savor it as long as you can. 

I have no more words, so I'll just point you to Becky's review. 

340 pages

Savage Prince by Meghan March
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When I heard this was like Ruthless King by Meghan March, I had to read but I was also nerves because that series crossed my normal line for what I was use too. But I love Meghan March so I needed to read this. This book started out a little crazy but the more it got into the story the more that I began to like it. I also as always like when Meghan brings characters from other books into this world. 

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275 Pages

Book 2: Iron Princess

I like this book better than the first one. This book gets more into the actually story and what their life is and more about his past life. With these short series they basically take a big story and break it up into three different books. She does a great job of leaving it at a cliff hanger to pull you into the next book. The 3rd book doesn't come out until later in May. So I will have to wait a couple of weeks to see how things will end. 

300 Pages

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Bono met his wife in high school, Park says.
So did Jerry Lee Lewis, Eleanor answers.
I'm not kidding, he says.
You should be, she says, we're 16.
What about Romeo and Juliet?
Shallow, confused, then dead.
I love you, Park says.
Wherefore art thou, Eleanor answers.
I'm not kidding, he says.
You should be.

Set over the course of one school year in 1986, this is the story of two star-crossed misfits-smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you'll remember your own first love-and just how hard it pulled you under.

During the years I taught high school, this book made the rounds.  I have always avoided it because my students warned me it was romance based, and I have always been vocal about how idiotic I find most YA romance.  However, I think this book has an entirely different vibe from other YA romance I've read.  There is a realness to the main two characters and their families (both bad and good), and the teens sound and act like teens (to the point that I felt frustration often).  This may be the only romance novel in my entire life that I've stayed up past bedtime for.

4.5

336 pages

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

#BecRereads2018

SPOILERS WILL FOLLOW. YOU WERE WARNED.

This is one of those rare books where the movie is actually better, or at least the end of the movie is better than the end of the book. Now, when I first saw the ending to the movie, I was utterly shocked, upset, horrified, and screaming at the screen, internally.





That was perfect. Awful, but perfect. Make me feel something, especially after a 4 book build up.





On previous reads of this book, I remember feeling first excited, then disappointed by the arrival of the Volturi, even though the story ends generally happy. Because, come on! You're going to show me all those epic powers, and all that battle training, building me up for some epic smack down between the Volturi and the Cullens, and the nope. Just, nevermind. Let's not fight after all, and instead, we can just stand around and endlessly discuss things until everyone is bored out of their ever-loving minds and kind of hoping someone would just die already (though I'd be super pissed if it was one of my favorites).




Anyway, long story longer, I remember being super annoyed and disappointed by the end of this book the first time I read it, when everyone else was happy. Don't get me wrong, I love a happy ending, but give me some action, excitement, and almost death first, please and thank you.





I feel pretty similar this time around, especially because they brought together so many amazing vampires with so many awesome powers. And then nothing. Meh. Also, I still dislike the whole imprinting thing with Jacob. Not my cup of tea. It just feels wrong for the characters, which is why book 2 is still my all time favorite.





Book 196 read in 2018

Pages: 756