Welcome to the MOSL Book Challenge


Tuesday, July 31, 2018

News of the World by Paulette Jiles

Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd, having lost all he owned during the Civil War, travels the country, renting halls and reading newspapers to the townspeople. In one town, he is convinced to deliver a 10-year-old girl, taken captive by the Kiowa when she was six, back to her relatives in South Texas. As they make the 400 mile trip by horseback and wagon the Captain tries to civilize Johanna, and teach her English. The two of them form a bond as they travel through the rough terrain, fighting off raiders and thieves.





229 pages

The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout

 
Jim and Bob Burgess have a past. When he was four years old, Bobby killed his father.  Now in their fifties, and far from their native Maine, they are both lawyers in New York City. Jim is a successful corporate attorney, while Bob works for Legal Aid. Jim has always belittled Bob and Bob has always taken it in stride; he idolizes his big brother.

When their nephew is arrested for rolling a pig's head down the length of a Muslim Mosque, they go back to Shirley Falls to help their sister. Suddenly, they are thrown into a family situation that changes their dynamics forever.
                





337 pages

Books, Books and More Books :)


My Best Friend’s Ex by Meghan Quinn (405 Pages) Emma needs to move out of her apartment ASAP. She takes her friends ex offer to move in with him. She realizes that she has feelings for him and he has feelings for her as well.

At the Stroke of Midnight by Tara Sivec (261 Pages) Oh my, this is one of the funniest books that I have read in a long time. Cynthia’s whole world comes crashing down and she becomes best friends with two other women.

Levitate by Kaylee Ryan (268 Pages) Kensington hasn’t been the same since her mother died. She has a hard time trusting others. Maxton never wanted to fall in love, after his mother walked away from his father. They are forced to hang out because their best friends are dating.

Just Say When by Kaylee Ryan (242 Pages) Ava has been in love with her brother’s best friends Nate. They have don’t a great day avoiding each other because of the feelings that they have for each other.

The Dark Ones by Rachel Van Dyken (268 Pages) Genesis is the Heroine and she is human. Ethan is a Vampire. Genesis has learned about Vampires since she was growing up. She is placed in Ethan’s care. Ethan needs to protect Genesis or everything will be at a lost.

Sign Your Heart Out (318Pages), Strum Your Heart Out (353 Pages), Rock Your Heart Out (378 Pages), Play Your Heart Out (360 Pages) by Crystal Kaswell This series is about a rock band and the different paths that they take to find that one special person. Each have their own pasts and change their life once that meet the special someone.

The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsh (278 Pages) the aftermath of a war killed two-thirds of the population are left dead from a vicious strain of influenza. Stephen Quinn and his family were among the few that survived and became salvagers.

Roman Crazy by Alice Clayton (336 Pages) This is a second chance romance, Avery and Marcello met when they were younger and things just didn’t fall into place. Nine years later they have a chance meeting and realize that they still have feelings for each other.

Queen of Someday by Sherry D. Ficklin (262 Pages) Sophie is sent to marry a prince when and she falls for someone else she needs to figure out what she will do.

Broken Beautiful Hearts by Kami Garcia (407 Pages) Peyton receives the offer from her college choice senior year. She discovers her boyfriend’s dark secret, confronts him and then finds herself falling down a flight of stairs. Peyton moves to Tennessee to be with her uncle and cousin during her recovery and stay away from the threats that having been happening since she got hurt.

Bully by Penelope Douglas (333 Pages) Tate and Jared were best friends growing up than he came home from a visit with his dad and Jared starting treating Tate like crap. Jared was a huge bully to her, than she left for a year and when she came back she decided that she wasn’t going to take his stuff anymore.

Until You by Penelope Douglas (406 Pages) This is Jared’s point of view of Bully. I wasn’t for sure that I would like this book because Jared was a huge bully to Tate. However, it was okay and he grew on me a little. He still should have never treated Tate the way he did.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer (390 Pages) This is a retelling of Cinderella, just a little different with Cyborgs and androids. Cinder is a cyborg who is a mechanic, and with an evil step mother.

Untouchable Darkness by Rachel Van Dyken (310 Pages) This is Cassius story, he is given the chance to see if he can make things work with Stephanie. Cassius has been watching over Stephanie since she was little. This was a great story spanned over the time.

Rival by Penelope Douglas (366 Pages) I was excited to learn more about Madoc because he was trying to do what he could help get Tate and Jared together. Fallon and him have a past, and where pulled away from each other because of her mother.

Neighbor Dearest by Penelope Ward (269 Pages) Chelsea moves into a new apartment and realizes that her neighbor as a couple of loud dogs and he turns out to be more than just her neighbor. Damien is a very nice guy and you can tell right away that he has feelings for Chelsea but is keeping himself guarded. Damien has a secret that he isn't telling her. 

Emphatic by Kaylee Ryan (238 Pages) Logan goes on vacation in Hawaii after graduation and she meets a guy that she decides to have a fling with, since her boyfriend of a few years ended thing again. Than she is starting her new job on Monday.... Well her new boss is the last person she ever thought to see again.

Assured by Kaylee Ryan (244 Pages) Yay Cole and Stacey's story... I was excited to learn more about them and also get the update on Logan and Kacen. I also am enjoying how this series doesn't seem to have the normal break up in the middle of the book like normal. :)

Definite by Kaylee Ryan (274 Pages) This was my favorite one! Tristian's mystery is solved...in the last book they make points to bring up that Tristian is hiding a secret. This was a cute little story... Tristian was my favorite because he just super sweet. 
How to Manage Your Home Without Losing Your Mind: Dealing with Your House's Dirty Little SecretsHow to Manage Your Home Without Losing Your Mind: Dealing with Your House's Dirty Little Secrets by Dana K. White


"If you truly can't understand how someone could sleep while dirty dishes are in her sink..." then this book is NOT for you. "If you've ever wished you could donate dirty clothes because you're so behind on laundry..."you will find hope in this book.

224 pages

Decluttering at the Speed of Life: Winning Your Never-Ending Battle with Stuff by Dana K. White

In Decluttering at the Speed of Life, decluttering expert and author Dana White identifies the mind-sets and emotional challenges that make it difficult to declutter. Then, in her signature humorous approach, she provides workable solutions to break through these struggles and get clutter out--for good!

But more than simply offering strategies, Dana dives deep into how to implement them, no matter the reader's clutter level or emotional resistance to decluttering. She helps identify procrasticlutter--the stuff that will get done eventually so it doesn't seem urgent--as well as how to make progress when there's no time to declutter.


This wasn't as impactful as her previous book, but it did have some good parts.  I am planning on passing this one on and re-reading How to Manage Your Home Without Losing Your Mind.  

4/5  

240 pages

Hunted (House of Night, #5) by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

At the start of this heart-pounding new installment of the bestselling House of Night series, Zoey and her gang must discover a way to deal with an unexpected danger that might bring them all down. Neferet guards her powerful new consort, Kalona, who looks gorgeous and has the House of Night under his spell. A past life holds the key to breaking his rapidly spreading power, but what if it shows Zoey truths she can't face? Meanwhile, the red fledglings have cleaned up well, but are they really as friendly as they seem? On the boyfriend front, Zoey has a chance to fix things with super-hot ex-, Erik, but she can't stop thinking about Stark, the archer who died in her arms, and she is driven to save him from Neferet's sinister influence. Will anyone believe the power evil has to hide among us?

This series is like a train wreck, y'all.  I can't look away.  The writing is iffy at best and the characters are straight-up stereotypes.  But!  The world is great.  The big story is interesting.  So I'm going to keep going until the bads outweigh the goods (and it's a close race).

3/5

336 pages

Monday, July 30, 2018

Doctor Who: Time Lord Fairy Tales by Justin Richards, Illustrated by David Wardle

Doctor Who: Time Lord Fairy Tales by Justin Richards, illustrated by David Wardle

If you're expecting something in the vein of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, this is different.

Featuring tales humans and Time Lords alike will recognize, as well as a few original tales, Time Lord Fairy Tales showcases fifteen tales set in the world of Doctor Who.

261 pages.

Paradox Bound

 Paradox Bound
by Peter Clines
Pages: 373
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Eli is obsessed with a mysterious women he keeps seeing along the road in his town. It may be years in between sightings but he can't stop thinking about her. This traveler reappears still driving her 100 year old car and wearing Revolutionary time period clothing and Eli is determined to learn more about her. But his determination leads him into a mystery that spans across the United States and across American history. 

Watchers by Dean Koontz

This book really read like an action/sci-fi movie and I was able to read it from start to finish without stopping. I truly enjoyed the story but I had a lot of trouble with the credibility of some things. One of the characters is a shut-in who was mentally abused by her dead aunt (and there are some not-so-subtle allusions to Great Expectations here) who within 2 months is completely over her trauma without any adverse symptoms. Yeah, don't think it really works that way, but I was willing to suspend my disbelief for this one.

I liked the idea of a beyond normal intelligent dog and the idea of the "Outsider" was creepy, but I was hoping for more than just the boiler plate action book.

Rating: 3/5

Pages: 352

Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann

Very interesting! I had never heard of these events and the conspiracy just got bigger and bigger. Definitely recommend if you are into true crime or history.

Rating: 4/5

Pages: 359

Sunday, July 29, 2018

Plum Lucky (Stephanie Plum #13.5)

 Plum Lucky (Stephanie Plum #13.5)
by Janet Evanovich
Pages: 166
Rating: 4 out of 5

Stephanie Plum's Grandma goes missing and her mom sends her to find her. Grandma's found a bag of money and decides to go to Atlantic City for her own adventure. Set around St. Patrick's Day and a guy who thinks he is a leprechaun, this adventure is a wacky tale.

Aunt Dimity Beats the Devil (Aunt Dimity Mystery #6)

 Aunt Dimity Beats the Devil (Aunt Dimity Mystery #6)
by Nancy Atherton
Pages: 247
Rating: 4 out of 5

Lori's twins are walking and talking and getting into mischief but she's going stir crazy. Then her old boss asks her to take a commission for him and travel to Scotland to Northumberland to visit Tarrant Hall to evaluate a book collection. But her exciting vacation turns out to be full of Gothic intrigue.

Aunt Dimity's Christmas (Aunt Dimity Mystery #5)

Aunt Dimity's Christmas (Aunt Dimity Mystery #5)
by Nancy Atherton
Pages: 214
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Lori Shepherd wants to have the perfect family Christmas and the perfect Christmas party for the whole village. Then a homeless man collapses outside her house and nearly freezes to death. The pastor who runs the homeless shelter thinks the man is mentally unstable and needs psychiatric care but Lori's convinced there's something else causing his unusual behavior. Can she discover the truth behind his behavior before he is sent away?


Aunt Dimity Digs In (Aunt Dimity Mystery #4)

 Aunt Dimity Digs In (Aunt Dimity Mystery #4)
by Nancy Atherton
Pages: 275
Rating: 4 out of 5

Aunt Dimity's Ghost and Lori shepherd have to track down the culprit when private pamphlet's go missing from the vicarage and a visiting archaeologist threatens to ruin village traditions.

Aunt Dimity's Good Deed (Aunt Dimity Mystery, #3)

Aunt Dimity's Good Deed (Aunt Dimity Mystery, #3) 
by 
Pages: 277
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Thanks to Aunt Dimity, Lori Shepherd's life has become a fairy-tale. She plans a second honeymoon for herself and her workaholic boyfriend, Bill. Bill has a work emergency but insists she goes on ahead to England and take his father with her. Then he disappears. How can Lori tell Bill that she's lost his Dad?

Aunt Dimity and the Duke (Aunt Dimity Mystery #2)

 Aunt Dimity and the Duke (Aunt Dimity Mystery #2)
by 
Pages: 290
Rating: 3 out of 5

This book tells the back story for series lead, Lori Shepherd's best friends and how they became a couple. Emma Porter is a frumpy, amateur gardener going on a garden tour of England when she meets the twin Pym sisters. The sisters and Aunt Dimity send her to Penford Hall
 where she finds a mysterious duke and a handsome carpenter.

Aunt Dimity's Death (Aunt Dimity Mystery #1)

 Aunt Dimity's Death (Aunt Dimity Mystery #1)
by 
Pages: 244
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Down-on-her-luck Lori Shepherd thought Aunt Dimity was a pretend character in her mother's bedtime stories ... until the Dickensian law firm of Willis & Willis offers the possibility of large inheritance -- if she can discover the secret hidden in letters between Dimity and her mother.

This is the first book in sweet, cozy, mystery series.

Friday, July 27, 2018

All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover

All Your PerfectsAll Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I believe I have crossed over that line from obsessively loving Colleen Hoover's stories to realizing there's nothing left for me to say about this author's work that I haven't already said a million times before.

This story is perfection, and it hurts in all the right kind of ways.

Pages: 308

Book 225 read in 2018

Thursday, July 26, 2018

How to Manage Your Home Without Losing Your Mind: Dealing with Your House's Dirty Little Secrets by Dana K. White

This book was awesome.  I have read SO MANY organization/cleaning books over the years, as I am a self-admitted slob.  :)  This book is the ONLY one that has impacted me.  Her straightforward nature is so refreshing, and it is very obvious she is in the same boat.  She doesn't love cleaning.  She isn't a nutty minimalist.  There are no recommendations to buy more organizing stuff (um, that's more stuff), or cleaning light-switches (which you should do, but when you're as messy as I am, is not priority), or taking everything out and putting it back (which I've tried and failed because honestly, it was all Tetris'ed in there and I can get it all back in so it sits in the way).  Highly recommend for my fellow slobs!


5/5

230 pages

Her blog is aslobcomesclean.com.  Check it out if you're interested!

Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann

Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBIKillers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

At the beginning of the 20th century, members of the Osage of Oklahoma found extreme wealth due to the discovery of oil on their land. At a time when 1 in 11 Americans owned a car, each Osage could afford 11 cars. Chapter by chapter, Grann flawlessly peels back layers of intricate manipulation and reveals the sinister expansiveness of the murders of Osage citizens for their mineral headrights.

This is the Columbia, MO One Read. I can't wait to hear the author speak in September.

339 pages

Heartless by Marissa Meyer

HeartlessHeartless by Marissa Meyer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

#BecRereads2018

Bloody brilliant. It has a well-paced, intricate plot, fascinating characters, and solid imagery. Plus, it viciously fist punches you in chest, leaving you gasping for breath, which is always fun in a miserable sort of way.

My previous review still stands.

Book 224 read in 2018

Pages: 452

PREVIOUS REVIEW:

First, I said hello to this fascinating new story:



It was so delightful:



Until it wasn’t:



And then:



Followed by:



View all my reviews

Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Time Lord Fairy Tales by Justin Richards

I love the show and this was so adorable! (Thanks, Tammy!!) It takes some of the classic fairy tales and gives them a nice Doctor Who/space spin. Although not all the tales are derived from our classic tales, at least I didn't recognize them if they did, they are really fun and the Doctor makes an appearance in several of them.

Rating: 4/5

Pages: 260

Untamed by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast

Life sucks when your friends are pissed at you. Just ask Zoey Redbird – she's become an expert on suckiness. In one week she has gone from having three boyfriends to having none, and from having a close group of friends who trusted and supported her, to being an outcast. Speaking of friends, the only two Zoey has left are undead and unMarked. And Neferet has declared war on humans, which Zoey knows in her heart is wrong. But will anyone listen to her? Zoey's adventures at vampyre finishing school take a wild and dangerous turn as loyalties are tested, shocking true intentions come to light, and an ancient evil is awakened in PC and Kristin Cast's spellbinding fourth House of Night novel. 

4/5

352 pages

Colters' Daughter by Maya Banks

Colters' Daughter (Colters' Legacy, #3)Colters' Daughter by Maya Banks
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Nope. Just no on so many levels. No, no, no, no, no, no, and no again.

I disliked this one so much, that I finally stopped reading the series, which is probably a good thing.

This just felt gross and yicky all over. It took a strong, independent character that I loved in the previous book and turned her into nothing. And the dude was as far from being Christian Grey as was humanly possible. He was arrogant and selfish, while constantly trying to tell me that he wasn't those things. Yuck. Plus, they didn't delve into or really explain his backstory or why he was the way he was at all, which made it even less satisfactory.

Just thinking about him makes my skin crawl in a bad way. I hated this, in retrospect, so I reduced it to 1 star. I only finished it in case I wanted to read book 4, but by the time I finished this, I couldn't stand to go on to book 4.

Book 223 read in 2018

Pages: 240

Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Daughter of the Siren Queen by Tricia Levenseller

Sequel to Daughter of the Pirate King

Summary: "Alosa is the daughter of the Siren Queen, and her mission is finally complete. Not only has she recovered all three pieces of the map to a legendary hidden treasure, but the pirates who originally took her captive are now prisoners on her ship. Still unfairly attractive and unexpectedly loyal, first mate Riden is a constant distraction, but now he's under her orders. Now Alosa and her crew are in a deadly race with Vordan, the pirate king, to find the treasure."

Well, I liked this book, but I wish it was just...more. It felt like the author didn't know where to take the story. In the first book, there was a stronger focus and purpose to everything that happened. In this book, plot-lines seems random and unfulfilled. I still enjoyed Alosa, Riden and the other characters as well as the female pirates and sirens. The sirens were ultimately underused and underappreciated - I wanted so much more from them! 

341 pages

Colters' Lady (Colters' Legacy, #2)

Colters' Lady (Colters' Legacy, #2)Colters' Lady by Maya Banks
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This suffers from some of the same issues as book one, but I thought the storytelling was a bit better. Also, I liked how it took a different angle and explained things, even if sometimes it didn't explain things in a way that was satisfactory.

Book 2 is about the children of the quadruple in book 1. The children decide to lead a different sort of life, until blam. They're hit by the sharing curse, and they get pulled down the path towards quadrupledom.

Again, it sometimes felt like staring at a train wreck, but I think that's part of the weird charm.

Book 221 read in 2018

Pages: 330

Monday, July 23, 2018

Colters' Woman by Maya Banks

Colters' Woman (Colters' Legacy Book 1)Colters' Woman by Maya Banks
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I've been in a huge reading slump, and this book temporarily talked me out of that, for so many wrong reasons, but it felt so right in the moment to be reading again and. . . well, enjoying might be the wrong word for this one.

So let’s talk about this beautiful disaster. It’s a dated (or maybe just reads like it's dated) erotica novel about 3 brothers who decide they’re only going to have one wife to share. It is how they grew up and what they are comfortable with. It’s sort of like a backwards Sister Wives situation, but without the always separate intimate relationships. And hey, they just sort of pick the girl out of the snow, in the middle of the wilderness, and then call dibbs, which pretty much sums up the . . . well, I think meet cute is definitely the wrong definition for whatever that was.

Now, I suspect many of you are like—wha-wha? I have so many questions about how this works. Like, how does this work? Do they hide this from people? What does their community think? How do they manage to share without fighting? Are they incapable of getting their own separate women, or do they just prefer it this way? Does it ever get awkward? How did they decide on this path and why? How can I go on with my life without answers to my many questions?

And yes, I did have a whole lot of questions, most of which I can’t post in a book review. The logistics were very unclear, which peaked my curiosity, which is why when Nicole told me she started this novel and quit it, because “I don’t think I can do it,” I knew immediately that my difficult brain was going to insist on picking it up and getting some answers.

Basically, Nicole failed me, and I had to know, which is how I started reading this ridiculous story in the first place. And yes, the whole first part of the book is really a stretch. It’s not well-written, and I had to work hard to suspend disbelief. Almost nothing is logical, and characters don’t act in ways that are true to who they supposedly are. But, I mean, I needed some darned answers, so I kept on, like a good little soldier.

Then something insane happened. The writing evened out. The characters and backstory grew more interesting, and somehow, I was suddenly hooked on this story, which I had intended to DNF as soon as I got enough answers to sate my curiosity.

Then I finished this book, and I found out there were more of them, so darned if I didn’t download them all and continue on with book two.

Here’s the deal: if you can’t handle intimate relationships that are outside of the norm, then you shouldn’t have picked this book up. If you can handle those, you’re still going to struggle with the rocky storytelling, which I suspect many people would say is not the point of the story anyway.

Overall, this had my attention, even if it wasn’t for the usual reasons.

Book 221 read in 2018

Pages: 272


View all my reviews

Sunday, July 22, 2018

Nicole's Books

Hot Asset by Lauren Layne (266 Pages) Lara is working on a case involving Ian. Neither of them expected that they would fall for each other.

Tempting Tatum by Kaylee Ryan (262 Pages) Tatum's whole world falls apart in one day. She moves away with her best friend and works on starting her life over again.

Saturday, July 21, 2018

Divergent Series by Veronica Roth


The Transfer (55 Pages) This is the first of four stories, each between fifty and seventy-five pages long, set in the world of Divergent and told from Tobia’s perspective. Tobia’s aptitude test, Choosing Day, and the moment he is given the infamous nickname “Four”.

The Initiate (40 Pages) A glimpse into Four’s initiation experience, including an epic game of late-night Dare; his first tattoo; the beginning of his passion for training new initiates; and his nascent understanding of the danger of being Divergent.

The Son (65 Pages) Tobias struggles to find a place in the hierarchy of the Dauntless. He also begins to suspect that a foul plan may be brewing within the Dauntless leadership and discovers a truth about his past that could greatly affect his future.

The Traitor (48 Pages) Tobias uncovers the details of an Erudite plan that could threaten the faction system, and makes plans of his own to keep Abnegation safe. At this time, Tobias is getting to know a new transfer initiate: Tris prior.

Dearest Series by Lex Martin

Dearest Series by Lex Martin
Dearest Clementine (370 Pages) Avery is trying to move on from her past and has a hard time learning to let people in after all the things that happened to her.

Finding Dandelion (310 Pages) I was excited that this book was about Jax (Clementine brother), and was nice to see what was going on with his life. Dani is Clementine's roommate, she is just one of the sweetest people.

Kissing Madeline (260 Pages) Daren is Jax's best friend and Clementine's ex-boyfriend. Even though he explained why he treated Clementine the way he did.. I wasn't for sure how I would feel about having a book about him. However, I was wrong because I begin to like Daren as much as the other men in the series.

Friday, July 20, 2018

Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch by Sally Bedell Smith

Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch by Sally Bedell Smith

In Elizabeth the Queen, readers are introduced to a young girl who was never meant to be queen. When her uncle, King Edward VIII, abdicates the throne to be with the woman he loves, Elizabeth's father is suddenly thrust into the spotlight. Now Elizabeth is "heiress presumptive," and her life is drastically changed and highly scrutinized. But Elizabeth would go on to meet all the hallmarks of a normal life during that time: falling in love, repairing army trucks during World War II, struggling to find a balance between motherhood and the demands of her job. With access to never-before-seen documents and interviews with those close to the Queen, biographer Sally Bedell Smith brings readers inside palace doors for a glimpse into the private life of a monarch who has led her country and Commonwealth with heretofore unseen grace, dignity, and intelligence.

663 pages.   

She's Not There: A Life in Two Genders by Jennifer Finney Boylan

This book is the true story of a person changing genders. The author, Jennifer Finney Boylan, began her male to female transition in 2000. This memoir tells Boylan’s story of the secret she lived with for so many years and how she finally admitted she could no longer escape its powerful hold on her. It is also so much more. It is a story about the power of love and acceptance. It is humorous, touching, thought provoking, and sometimes sad. Originally published in 2003, this second edition published in 2013 includes sections written by Boylan’s best friend, novelist Richard Russo, and by Boylan’s wife Deirdre, as well as an update from Boylan herself. The message of this book is best summed up in a passage from a letter Boylan wrote and sent to family, friends, and colleagues explaining her transsexualism and journey from Jim to Jenny: “. . . [W]e all have dragons to slay in life. This one is mine. I hope that doing so will provide a model to others on how to find the bravery to be true to oneself, even if it means doing something that seems impossible.” 322 pages.

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

1930: Rill and her 4 siblings are stolen from their parents and put into the Tennessee Children's Home Society Orphanage where they face mental/physical/sexual abuse. On top of that they are slowly separated when the siblings begin to be adopted by the wealthy. 

Present: Avery is following the family legacy of becoming a senator while finding out that her grandmother has a big secret. She starts finding clues to the true identity of Grandma Judy. 

Rating: 3/5

Pages: 342

Thursday, July 19, 2018

Jersey Angel

Jersey Angel by Beth Ann Bauman (208 Pages)
It's summer before senior year and Angel is ready for some fun. Her boyfriend Joey pulls away because Angel can't decide what she really wants, her best friend is off touring colleges,  and she finds herself spending more time with her best friend boyfriend.

Wednesday, July 18, 2018

From Manhattan with Love Series

From Manhattan with Love Series by Sarah Morgan

This Series is about a group of friends from New York. They each have their own stories and different way that they are tied together. (Brother-Sister, Best Friends) Sleepless in Manhattan you first meet all of them for book 1-3. The next two books are some of the couples from the the first one. Book 3-6 is all tied together with main characters being brothers and sisters. 


1.Sleepless in Manhattan (464 Pages)
2. Sunset in Central Park (384 Pages)
3. Miracle on 5th Avenue (384 Pages)
4. New York, Actually (376 Pages) 
5. Holiday in the Hampton's (411 Pages)
6. Moonlight Over Manhattan (384 Pages)

Monday, July 16, 2018

Romance


Something So Right by Natasha Madison (250 Pages) - Second chance romance book for a single mother of two kids. 

Delivery Girl by Lily Kate (243 Pages) - Hockey player orders pizza and the delivery girl is just want he had been looking for. 

Capture (288 Pages), Keep (297 Pages), Steal (283 Pages) by Rachel Van Dyken - This series was about three famous Hollywood people and the path they take to find love. 

Lost Voices by Sarah Porter (291 Pages) - Luce becomes a mermaid because she has a rough life. This first book shows you the view of what mermaids are and how they live.

Just Look Up by Courtney Walsh (416 Pages) - Lane has to go back to her home because her brother got hurt. She has to face all her past that she was running away from for year.

Rescue Me (384 Pages), I Do (112 Pages) by Rachel Gibson - Sadie comes home and meets Vince on her first day back in town. Sadie was just going to be there for a day but her dad got sick, so she ended up staying longer. I Do is about Sadie's wedding and Becca's love story. Which is a good friend of Vince.




Flashmob by Christopher Farnsworth

As a fixer for America’s one percent, John Smith cleans up the messes of those rich enough to afford him. But he’s no ordinary gun for hire. Smith is a man of rare gifts, including the ability to read minds. Arriving at the wedding of Kira Sadeghi, a reality television celebrity he recently saved from kidnappers, Smith witnesses a group of gunmen open fire, hitting the bride and others. Though he’s unarmed, Smith cripples one of the killers and is able to pry one word from his mind: "Downvote."

Eager to learn more, Smith hacks into the brain of an FBI agent investigating the attack to discover the Bureau has been investigating a nefarious new threat called "Downvote," an encrypted site on the "dark net" that lists the names of celebrities and offers a hefty bounty for anyone who can kill them—unleashing an anonymous and deadly flashmob with a keystroke.

Finding a mastermind on the internet is like trying to catch air—unless you’re John Smith. Motivated by money and revenge, he traces a series of electronic signatures to a reclusive billionaire living at sea, accompanied by a scary-smart female bodyguard who becomes Smith’s partner in his quest. The hunt for their prey will lead from Hong Kong to Reykjavik to a luxury gambling resort deep in the Laotian jungle. Yet always this criminal mastermind remains one step ahead.

The only way Downvote’s creator can stop Smith is to kill him . . . because while this diabolical genius can run, there’s no hiding from a man who can read minds.

While I did enjoy and finish this series from Mr. Farnsworth, his President's Vampire Series is much better (imo).  This book would be exactly what someone who enjoys tech sci-fi and thriller action would love.  The characters are interesting, the stakes high, and the plot swift, I'm just not as impressed with the villain or the overall story arc in this series like I am with his other works.

3/5

368 pages

Saturday, July 14, 2018

Hell and Back

Hell and Back (Heaven & Hell 1)Hell and Back by Natasha Madison
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book a lot even though there is a hard story behind Bella past. It is very hard to hear about the stuff that Bella and her daughter Lilah went through in the past. There are two twists in this story, one of them I was able to see coming but the other was a shocker. 

View all my reviews

350 Pages

Friday, July 13, 2018

Tempt the Boss by Natasha Madison

Tempt the Boss (Tempt, #1)Tempt the Boss by Natasha Madison
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lauren goes back to work when her marriage ends. She is late because she gets in accident on the way to her first day, and he is an arrogant, cocky jerk. Than he turns out to be her boss and has been working his way through assistants. I enjoyed this book, even with the fact that she had issues with her ex husband. 

View all my reviews

228 Pages

Thursday, July 12, 2018

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman

Illuminae (The Illuminae Files, #1)Illuminae by Amie Kaufman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

#BecRereads2018

Oh, AIDAN. Such a fascinating and twisted character. We reread this book on our day trip to Astoria, OR. It was also fantastic the 2nd time through.

Book 220 read in 2018

Pages: 602

PREVIOUS REVIEW:
Wow! Just. . . So. Much. Wow! A thousand stars. My mind was blown. This is the best science-fiction novel I’ve read in a long time!

The format is unique, offered as a series of collected reports, online conversations, video feeds, and research, after an extremely deadly occurrence among a small planetary civilization, a fleet of government ships, and corporate terrorists.

I listened to this on audiobook (at double speed, which added to the excitement), and I highly recommend that format, as it comes with different readers for different materials, as well as sound effects which add to the whole experience. However, I feel certain I will go back and read this in print, in the future, so I can study the style and writing concept further.

It’s YA, but I recommend this to anyone who loves Sci-Fi or space fantasy, or anyone who is genre flexible and likes to try new and interesting books.

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

The Scorpio RacesThe Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

#BecRereads2018

Still gorgeous, and brilliant. This is also one of the 10 books I'd grab before being stranded on a deserted island. I have a feeling those 10 books would be more like 25. . .

This is one of my favorite standalone YA fantasy novels. It just has so much texture, depth, and heart. Plus it's brutal, which is always a hit with me.

Previous review still stands.

Book 219 read in 2018

Pages: 409

PREVIOUS REVIEW:
Brilliant. Gorgeous. Frightening. Fierce.

The definition of love. The explanation of longing. The reason why humanity is enthralled by that which cannot be tamed or owned. The exploration of loss. The justification for facing down fears and having courage in light of unimaginably poor odds. The argument for both digging up your roots and letting them grow deeper. This story is everything all at once.

Marek by Sawyer Bennett

Marek (Cold Fury Hockey, #11)Marek by Sawyer Bennett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I wanted to kick these two in the pants a few times, but they eventually worked it out. This is a first love gets a second chance kind of story, with lots of drama.

Book 218 read in 2018

Pages: 226

Nothing Personal by Jaci Burton

Nothing PersonalNothing Personal by Jaci Burton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ryan had to marry someone because of his grandfathers will. He had this all planned out but on the night he was to marry she backed out. Ryan asked his assistant if she would help him out and she did because she has been holding a crush on him since she first started working for him. I love stories that make people open their eyes and see what has been sitting in front of them the whole time. 

View all my reviews

208 Pages

Wednesday, July 11, 2018

The Martian by Andy Weir

As part of a summer reading challenge, I was required to read a science fiction novel. Science fiction is not a genre I read. Period. So I went to my well-versed sci fi reading coworkers for a suggestion, and their suggestion was The Martian by Andy Weir. I could not be more thankful for their suggestion! It was funny, dark, complicated, and thoroughly engaging. It was so much better than I ever expected. 375 pages.

A Game of Thrones (Song of Ice and Fire Book 1)

Game of Thrones!!! Love the show and love this book. Sure the first season follows really close to this book, but I love the detail and world building, and who can resist sword fights and magic. I am still mad about Eddard Stark, but where would the story be if he didn't play his part. Definitely suggest for anyone who loves fantasy and political intrigue.

Rating: 5/5

Pages: 848

I Flipping Love You by Helena Hunting

I Flipping Love You (Shacking Up, #3)I Flipping Love You by Helena Hunting
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rian and Pierce meet when he starts talking to her about something that she did a few days ago, than he realizes that Rian has a twin so it was her sister that he thought he was talking to. Pierce was always a great guy from the beginning of the book and falls for Rian fast. Rian needs to let go her past first before she can move forward. 

View all my reviews

320 Pages

Chosen (House of Night #3) by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Bloodlust and dark forces are at work at the House of Night…

Fledgling vampyre Zoey Redbird's adventures at the school are about to take a mysterious turn. Those who appear to be her friends are turning out to be enemies. And oddly enough, sworn enemies are also turning into friends. So begins the gripping third installment of this "highly addictive series" (Romantic Times), in which Zoey's mettle will be tested like never before. Her best friend, Stevie Rae, is undead and struggling to maintain a grip on her humanity. Zoey doesn't have a clue how to help her, but she does know that anything she and Stevie Rae discover about the secretive and sinister power that's turning dead fledglings into bloodsucking monsters must be kept secret from everyone else at the House of Night, where trust has become a rare commodity.

Speaking of rare: Zoey finds herself in the very unexpected position of having three boyfriends. Mix in more than a little forbidden desire to the equation and the situation has the potential to spell social disaster of massive proportions. Then, vampyres start turning up dead. Really dead. It looks like the People of Faith, and Zoey's horrid step-loser in particular, are tired of living side-by-side with vampyres. But, as Zoey and her friends find out, things are not always what they seem…

Yes.  I'm still reading these.  They're my no-thought-needed, guilty pleasure. 

3.5/5

320 pages

Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Stella Rhys Books


  Ex GamesEx Games by Stella Rhys
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Taylor was engaged to Aaron, when he woke up one day and decided that he didn't want to be with her anymore. She takes a long time to deal with the fact that Aaron just left her and left her with an apartment that she could not afford. Mason is Aaron's brother and he makes a plan with Taylor to get back at Aaron because only a few months after he left Taylor he is engaged to another woman.

At first I didn't know I was going to feel about another story of someone with their siblings ex, however this turned out to be a great funny story that had me sucked in .

View all my reviews

206 Pages

Sweet Spot (Irresistible, #1)Sweet Spot by Stella Rhys
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lukas moved into his sisters apartment while she was away. When he first met Lia she was coming out of the bath and wasn't expecting to see him. Lia had ended a long term relationship a couple of years ago and was avoiding men because of what she went through with her past. She decides to give Lukas a shot and it turns into way more than what she thought.

View all my reviews

289 Pages

  Bad Boss (Irresistible #2)Bad Boss by Stella Rhys
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was so excited that this book was about Sarah she was Lia's best friend. When she decides to quit her job of 9 years to try something new because she was tired of the crap. She ends up working for Julian to help him bring in some billionaires into an investment. They start to see each other behind everyone's back because after all Julian is a workaholic who doesn't have time for anything else.

View all my

327 Pages

  Dirty Deeds (Irresistible, #3)Dirty Deeds by Stella Rhys
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Emmet is Julian's brother, she you knew that he was a major player and didn't settle down from Bad Boss, so it was nice to get to understand what was going on behind his head. Alyson and Emmet had been friends since they where little but had a falling out 12 years before and just met up again. The first time the met up was the best ever, so I was hooked on this book within the first chapter. Over the course of the book you realize what happened to break them apart and also that Alyson's father treats her like crap and loves Emmet like he should have been his child.

View all my reviews

300 Pages

Killfile by Christopher Farnsworth

John Smith has a special gift that seems more like a curse: he can access other peoples thoughts. He hears the the songs stuck in their heads, their most private traumas and fears, the painful memories they can’t let go. The CIA honed his skills until he was one of their most powerful operatives, but Smith fled the Agency and now works as a private consultant, trying to keep the dark potentials of his gift in check—and himself out of trouble.

But now Smith is unexpectedly plunged into dangerous waters when his latest client, billionaire software genius Everett Sloan, hires him to investigate a former employee—a tech whiz kid named Eli Preston—and search his thoughts for some very valuable intellectual property he’s stolen. Before John can probe Preston’s mind, his identity is compromised and he’s on a run for his life with Sloan’s young associate, Kelsey.

Hunted by shadowy enemies with deep resources and unknown motives, John and Kelsey must go off the grid. John knows their only hope for survival is using his powers to their fullest—even if means putting his own sanity at risk.

4/5

416 pages

Betrayed (House of Night #2) by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Fledgling vampyre Zoey Redbird has managed to settle in at the House of Night. She's come to terms with the vast powers the vampyre goddess, Nyx, has given her, and is getting a handle on being the new Leader of the Dark Daughters. Best of all, Zoey finally feels like she belongs--like she really fits in. She actually has a boyfriend…or two. Then the unthinkable happens: Human teenagers are being killed, and all the evidence points to the House of Night. While danger stalks the humans from Zoey's old life, she begins to realize that the very powers that make her so unique might also threaten those she loves. Then, when she needs her new friends the most, death strikes the House of Night, and Zoey must find the courage to face a betrayal that could break her heart, her soul, and jeopardize the very fabric of her world.


310 pages

3/5

Monday, July 9, 2018

Heat Wave

Heat WaveHeat Wave by Karina Halle
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Ronnie is still dealing with the loss of her sister and the way that her family treats her. She takes a job Logan who was married to her sister. While working there she gets a better understanding of who her sister really was and how far her family will go to make them self happy.

View all my reviews

380 Pages