American Hit Radio: A History of Popular Singles From 1955 to the Present

 American Hit Radio: A History of Popular Singles From 1955 to the Present

by Thomas Ryan

Pages: 672

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars. 

This work arranges Top 40 hits chronologically. The essays about each one include information on the artist, inspiration for the songs and the cultural context of when the songs came out. The book begins with singles from 1955 since that is when the Top 40 charts came into existence. The book was printed in 1995 so, of course does not include more recent works. If only authors (and their editors) would choose to name books with From (date) to "the Present." Now if only all these facts I've been reading and learning about music and musical theater, would stick in my head and be recalled at the right moment during trivia games, etc.

Broadway Musicals: Show by Show, 9th edition

Broadway Musicals: Show by Show, 9th edition by Stanley Green

Revised and Updated by Cary Ginell

Pages: 439 plus indexes

Rating:  5 out of 5 stars. 

Described by the author, Stanley Green, as a combination history, guide, fact book and photograph album of the most memorable productions presented both on and off Broadway each year from 1866 to 2018. The wide variety of the types of stories told, the embracing of changing technology and social norms makes this a history of American society as well. With photos of playbills and posters and a brief summary of the plot and the musical's performance, Green also lists revival performances and movie versions of each musical. He lists the cast, songs, songwriter, lyricist, producer, director, choreographer, songs and the theatre where the musical was performed and the dates of the run. 

There are so many more musicals out there than I realized. Especially since those listed in the book are the successful, award-winning or otherwise memorable performances and not all the musicals performed in say, just New York City that year, or published that year. 

Wisp of a Thing by Alex Bledsoe

Rob Quillen recieves a mysterious message to come to Cloud County Tennessee to find a song guaranteed to soothe his broken heart. The second Tufa novel is just as good as the first, with more lore of the fae, long lost poetry on forgotten tombstones, and well-developed characters.

This is a great fantasy series!

349 pages

The Hum and the Shiver by Alex Bledsoe

Bronwyn is a Iraqi War hero back in her Tennessee mountainous hometown after two years. Her body and mind broken, she is slowly feeling her way back into her community, relearning the magic and music of her heritage. Oh my goodness, this book was amazing. Definitely planning on reading the rest of the series. Bledsoe is an amazing storyteller, and the idea of Appalachian fairies makes for original fantasy. I'm excited to read the rest of the series!

I would highly recommended this novel for fantasy lovers.

349 pages

Read Harder Challenge Task #10

Rhythm, Chord & Malykhin by Mariana Zapata

Rhythm, Chord & Malykhin by Mariana Zapata
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book, but it was just very slow pace for me. Felt like it took so long to get to the to point of the book. Just a lot of missing pieces for me.

398 Pages

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Bright Lights by Christine J. Darcy

Bright Lights by Christine J. Darcy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was lucky to get an advanced copy of this book!! I had a hard time stopping once I started, but life got in the way :) I’m dying to see what happens next for her, she has had a rough year and come out so strong in the end! I hope that maybe in next book she will get that happy ever after!!! Now I will have to wait to see!!! I won’t give any spoilers, but I hope they find her a new love interest or a guy that has been hiding in plain site...

268 Pages

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The Rocker That Holds Me by Terri Anne Browning

The Rocker That Holds Me by Terri Anne Browning
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I gave this 4 stars because it was a good normal romance book. I just felt like it was missing anything that would put this book apart from any other romance book. She could have turned this into a much better story if she would have moved the time line along in the correct order. 

102 Pages

Sustain by Tijan

Sustain by Tijan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Summary: I had a simple life. I worked two jobs, made ends meet, and hung out with my mom and twin brother. The other part of my life was about avoiding him, but when SWAT raided my boyfriend's home, that was the last straw. The boyfriend got tossed and to help me keep busy, my brother talked me into joining their old band again, but I had to be honest. It wasn't a hard sell. Playing drums was in my blood. I used to be addicted and that craving hadn't been satisfied in three long years. The only problem was their lead singer."

It was hard for me to give this book such a low rating. Because I fell in love with all the other Tijan books that I have read. I expected the focus of this book to be on the two main characters, Luke and Brielle...but their stories were overshadowed by secondary characters. I had a harder time connecting with the main characters, their love story, or even staying interested in the plot. 

232 Pages

The Silent Waters by Brittainy C. Cherry

The Silent Waters by Brittainy C. Cherry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I think this is my favorite of the series so far. It's the perfect combination of sweetness and turmoil.

Book 293 read in 2018

Pages: 316

Lucy & Harris Series

Catching Lucy by Terri Anne Browning
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I wish that you would have learned more about Lucy’s past. That would have helped give a better understanding of why Lucy was the way she was. With that being said, Lucy has such an amazing family that is very supportive of her. Harris was a an old friend that she hadn’t seen in a few years, because she developed feelings for him and she didn’t think he could ever feel the same way about her. 140 Pages


Craving Lucy by Terri Anne Browning
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This moves their relationship alone a little more. I am enjoying this series, but I just wish they would move it along a little faster. I just don’t feel like you get much out of this book. It was kind of different to have the novellas before the main story. 234 Pages



Rocking Kin by Terri Anne Browning
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This takes place at the same time frame as the first two books, and gives you a little more of the ending of Craving Lucy. Kin moves to Virginia after the death of her mother, her first and only friend is Lucy. Going out with Lucy is when she runs into Jace. Her ex that left to make his band something more.  309 Pages



Un-Shattering Lucy by Terri Anne Browning
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was the ending to Lucy and Harris story. I felt like you get a better idea of who Lucy is and what she feels she needs to deal with what has happened in her life. I really enjoyed in this book how much they both have family their to help them through all of their stuff.   266 Pages


Summary:  You might think I’m a a**hole. I sound like one, don’t I? Guess what? You haven’t heard my story before. Sure, I might be a playboy, like the NY gossip rags call me. But I’m the playboy who’s actually a great guy. Which makes me one of a kind. The only trouble is , my dad needs met to cool if for a bit. 235 Pages

Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas

Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was more than what I expected. The two main characters met as pen pals in elementary school, (they keep writing for years) than because of a chance meeting they meet at a warehouse. His world changes that night, so he stops writing with her. Both of their worlds start to pull apart after they stop talking to each other. I enjoyed the little beautiful words or thoughts that are thrown in throughout this book. 343 Pages

Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas

Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow. This surprised me on so many levels. I love the storyline, and all of the conflict. I also love all the beautiful words and thoughts that are sprinkled throughout. Plus, it's heated and the drama is fueled by years worth of emotion.

I think this is the ultimate reversal on the enemies to friends trope, and sparks fly everywhere as these two knock heads. Also, there's so much character growth, which is fun to watch.

Character-wise, this would be a YA romance. Graphic content-wise, it leans hard towards an adult, or new adult audience. I mean, don't get me wrong. I would have definitely read this in high school, but my mother always let me read whatever I wanted, from birth on. A more fearful parent of a teen might stroke out if they realized their teen had read this story, so if you're a teen with a more challenging, judgmental, controlling, and/or very conservative parent, be sure to respect your parent and read this book as far away from your house as is possible. ;)

Book 276 read in 2018

Pages: 343

Cake Series by J. Bengtsson

Cake by J. Bengtsson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rock star meets normal girl at a brother’s wedding. Jake’s past is very hard to learn about and know what happened to him. Casey is just the fun lovely person that he needed to bring him out of his shell.  611 Pages

The Theory of Second Best by J. Bengtsson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have to agree with Becky, I enjoyed this book so much better than the first one. This one had more humor, and Kyle has such a great personally. I enjoyed that Kyle started to come out of the shadows of his brother. Kenzie is in the same spot as Kyle, she needs to start pulling herself away from her family.  526 Pages

Black Falcon Series by Michelle A. Valentine

Rock the Heart by Michelle A. Valentine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lane gets the break that she has been waiting for with her career. Only problem is that she needs to work with her high school sweetheart. Lane was not supportive of Noel’s dreams and that is why she ended things with him. So for him to take her back so fast after her not believing in him, doesn’t make much sense.    330 Pages

Rock the Band by Michelle A. Valentine
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I read this hoping that I would feel better about their story and would want to keep moving forward with the rest of the series. However, this didn’t go much better for me. So I won’t be moving forward with this series.   165 Pages

Heidi McLaughlin

Sexcation by Heidi McLaughlin (268 Pages) Two people on vacation in Bermuda, decide to play a little game and pretend that they are married. When the vacation is over they go there separate ways, than the wish they would have shared their real names.

Forever My Girl by Heidi McLaughlin (302 Pages) I was looking forward to reading this series, but once I finished book one I realized that I didn’t want to move onto anymore. I just felt like they left so many missing pieces of the story out of this book. A rock star that runs away from his life, comes back 10 years later and people in his past just forgive him like that. If they would have let more time pass or gave more of the story it may have kept me going.

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.

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. 

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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

Dirty Secret by Emma Hart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Conner and Sofie dated in high school. Then she just up and left one day without a word. Conner and his brothers where in a band getting ready to go on a tour. Two and half years later Sofie comes back into town after her father's death. Sofie has to face all the reasons why she left Conner in the first place. Cute little story and I can't wait to move forward with the other brothers stories. 

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276 Pages

Book 2: Dirty Past

I love Tate's relationship with his niece. She is a great edition to this series. She offers some added laughter. Ella's past is just awful and it's great to see that she was able to walk away and learn that she need to fight. The way Ella's parents treat her is just awful. 

264 Pages

Book 3: Dirty Lies

The Twins! I was happy to be moving onto the them. Jessie and Aidan have known each other since high school. Aidan starts things out by helping Jessie with an ex that comes around talking to her. I was glad to see that band decides to make some changes to manager since he doesn't really even care about the boys. 

239 Pages

Book 4: Dirty Tricks

Kye is the other twin and the one that I have been waiting to know more about since book one. Sofie and him where so close. So right away I knew that he was going to be the best of all the boys. If Chelsey even had any idea how really nice Kye is. I also understand that Chelsey's dad is the reason why she is so afriad to more forward with Kye. Chelsey's is also good friends with their sister and this makes me want to know more about her. 

259 Pages

I will have to wait for Book 5 to become available on audio. I can't wait to hear about their sister. 

Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli

Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This story is absolutely fabulous, and I would expect nothing less from Becky Albertalli. It's heartfelt and humorous, and it grabbed my attention right from the start. Simon makes appearances throughout the story, which I enjoyed, as he's so lovable and adorable. Leah is pretty different. She's not as cuddly as Simon, but I enjoy how raw and honest she is.

I want there to be so many books like this available that I don't feel the need to point out how great it is to have a well-written YA novel about an overweight girl who is bisexual. Currently, I feel like I still need to keep pointing it out and acknowledging how much I appreciate the diversity in YA novels these days, but I hope that one day, characters like Leah will be so common that all I do is focus my review on how amazing and sweet the story is, regardless of the appearance or sexuality of the MC.

Book 190 read in 2018

Pages: 339

Solo by Kwame Alexander

Solo by Kwame Alexander
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was another gorgeous novel by Kwame Alexander. My inner-musician enjoyed the musical components of this story, and the songs were performed in the audiobook, which was an excellent touch.

I enjoyed the story overall, and it had some good messages. Despite the beautiful phrases and sentences, something about the storyline just didn't quite ring as true for me as I hoped. It's not that it's not emotionally honest. It's more that it had these moments that felt too perfectly sculpted to be realistic, which of course, it's not. It's fiction, but in this genre, I expect moments to be honest and there was something here that seemed a bit inauthentic or forced.

I'm struggling to explain it, because there's honestly nothing wrong with this story, on a straightforward intellectual level. But I don't read with my brain. I read with my heart, so the 4 stars is because there was just a bit of something missing for me in this one. Not much, but enough that I don't feel the need to either hug the book or throw it at wall, which means it can't claim that 5th star from me.

All the same, it's an interesting read, and I especially recommend the audiobook.

Book 129 read in 2018

Pages: 320