Netgalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge 2016 Goals

If you wish to participate, you can sign up HERE.

These are the books I still have to read. I won't be getting as many in 2016 because I really do want to make in-roads on my prior years lists. My goal is the Silver tier (25 books).

Don't forget you can check out all my Netgalley reviews here.

Status of lists

Year	Total Requests	Completed	Still to read
2013	51	13	38
2014	57	5	52
2015	39	4	35

TBR 2013
A Shimmer of Angels - Lisa M. Basso
Broken Forest - Eliza Tilton
Compliance - Maureen McGowan
Defy
Dragonwitch - Ann Elisabeth Stengl
Dream Girl
Echo Prophecy
Elfin
Endless
Escaping Reality
External Forces
Forbidden to Love - D.A. Wills
Hereafter
Hero's Lot, The - Patrick W. Carr
King Hall
Mage Fire - C. Aubrey Hall
Mistress of the Solstice
Night Creatures
Rebels Divided
Rival
Safe in His Arms
Scrap - Emory Sharplin
Sekret
Shadow Allegiance
She Is Not Invisible
Spirit - Brigid Kemmerer
Stargazing from Nowhere
The Bane - Keary Taylor
The Dominant - Tara Sue Me
The Naturals
The Silver Chain
The Trials of the Core
The Waking Dreamer
Tin Star
Turned
Unspoken
Will in Scarlet - Matthew Cody
Winds of Purgatory

TBR 2014
A Curse Unbroken
Alex + Ada volume 1
A Secret Colton Baby
Black Rook
Blind Faith
Blood Assassin
Blood Orange Soda
Catch Me When I Fall
Clipped Wings
Dark Hope
Darkness
Dark Wolf Returning
Danny Dirks
Delucca's Marriage Contract
Desired
Divided
Don't Judge a Lizard by His Scales
Dragon Defender
Fire Heart
Forbidden
Freed
Iskida of the Land of Nurak
Jhanmar World Travellers
Lingering Echoes
Longing
Love's Paradox
One is Enough
On Her Watch
Outshine
Raytara - Judgement of the Stars
Seed
Shadow Heart
Since You've Been Gone
Star Trek: Khan
Stitching Snow
Stones of Power
Street Fighter Origins: Akuma
Tales from OZ
Tamed
The Amulet of Sleep
The Boy a Thousand Years Wide
The Circle
The Fifth Vertex
The Mark of the Dragonfly
The One
Sentinels
The Thirteenth Tower
Thirty Days to Win His Wife
Transformers Primacy
Waking up Pregnant
We are the Goldens
Worth the Fall
Wrecked

TBR 2015
Arivaca
Bound by Sin
Bound in Darkness
Commanded
Eden Vol 1
Emissary
Everywhere It's You
Imperfect Love
In Ark
In Search of Lost Dragons
King of the World
Monster Squad: The Iron Golem
Of Flame and Promise
On the Hunt
Rocco's Wings
Seeker Arwen (Elys Dayton)
Sentinels
Sneak Peek Soundless
Sneak Peek: Dove Arising
Sorcerer to the Crown
Tamed
The Battle for Darracia
The Golden Wizard
The Phantom of the Earth
The World of Evendaar Book Two
This Is Where It Ends
Witches Be Burned
Zack

Netgalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge November 2015 - Cursed by Ice by Jacquelyn Frank

About the Book

As punishment for plotting with his brothers to steal immortality, Garreth is suffering a freezing torment until the end of time. Again and again, his fierce fighter’s physique is frozen into a chiseled ice sculpture, his heart hardening like a diamond in his chest—only to thaw and resume the chilling torture. Until, like his older brother Dethan, he is offered a reprieve from a goddess—in exchange for his allegiance in a celestial civil war.

Garreth lives to fight and fights to live. But while laying siege to an embattled city, he finds another reason to go on—a beautiful warrior woman named Sarielle, who commands a mythic beast through a mysterious and powerful bond. Terrified of her strength, the city rulers have kept her captive, and now she refuses to submit to a new master. As Garreth seeks to unleash her passion and melt the icy resistance of her heart, will he become her ultimate salvation—or lead them both to greater destruction?

Buy the Book

AMAZON | ARE

Here's what I'm giving it:

Rating: 4 stars

Here's why:

Disclaimer: I received no compensation from the author, Netgalley or the publisher for this honest review.

This is the second book in this series. You can read my review of the first one here.

This story focuses on Garreth, the warrior cursed to freeze at night. He tries to have icy control over his heart and emotions but all that gets disrupted by innocent and vulnerable Sarielle whose heart is just as chilled and guarded as his.

The mix of jaded warrior (Garreth) versus innocent, yet stubborn protector (Sarielle) made the story a decent read. This one took me longer to read than the first one and I can't quite pinpoint why. Overall, so far, this series is pretty good.

Would I recommend this? This sequel keeps the pace set by the first. If you like to finish a series then yes, go for it.

Don't forget to get the first book in this series

For centuries, Dethan has been trapped in a fiery inferno for defying the gods and snatching the power of immortality. Condemned to have his battle-hardened body licked by flames only to regenerate and be consumed all over again, Dethan has lost all hope—until the Goddess of Conflict appears. She will release him from torment—if he’ll use his power and strength as a warrior to raise an army and defeat a fierce enemy faction of gods.

Free to live as a man once again, Dethan meets Selinda—heir to the throne of Hexis—and his thoughts quickly turn from the conquest of cities to the conquest of this headstrong beauty. Betrothed to a cruel, calculating powermonger, Selinda needs a champion, and so Dethan enters into another bargain: If she will share her bed—and her body—with him, Dethan will save her city from destructive forces within and without. As the lovers ignite a searing passion, Dethan will risk all—even the wrath of the Goddess of Conflict—for a chance to make Selinda his forever.

Buy the Book

AMAZON

Netgalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge 2015 - Fall Updates

If you wish to participate, you can sign up HERE.

These are the books I still have to read. My 2015 list has gotten slightly bigger. Don't forget you can check out all my Netgalley reviews here.

Status of lists

Year	Total Requests	Completed	Still to read
2013	51	13	38
2014	57	5	52
2015	29 (as of October 2015)	4	25

TBR 2013
A Shimmer of Angels - Lisa M. Basso
Broken Forest - Eliza Tilton
Compliance - Maureen McGowan
Defy
Dragonwitch - Ann Elisabeth Stengl
Dream Girl
Echo Prophecy
Elfin
Endless
Escaping Reality
External Forces
Forbidden to Love - D.A. Wills
Hereafter
Hero's Lot, The - Patrick W. Carr
King Hall
Mage Fire - C. Aubrey Hall
Mistress of the Solstice
Night Creatures
Rebels Divided
Rival
Safe in His Arms
Scrap - Emory Sharplin
Sekret
Shadow Allegiance
She Is Not Invisible
Spirit - Brigid Kemmerer
Stargazing from Nowhere
The Bane - Keary Taylor
The Dominant - Tara Sue Me
The Naturals
The Silver Chain
The Trials of the Core
The Waking Dreamer
Tin Star
Turned
Unspoken
Will in Scarlet - Matthew Cody
Winds of Purgatory

TBR 2014
A Curse Unbroken
Alex + Ada volume 1
A Secret Colton Baby
Black Rook
Blind Faith
Blood Assassin
Blood Orange Soda
Catch Me When I Fall
Clipped Wings
Dark Hope
Darkness
Dark Wolf Returning
Danny Dirks
Delucca's Marriage Contract
Desired
Divided
Don't Judge a Lizard by His Scales
Dragon Defender
Fire Heart
Forbidden
Freed
Iskida of the Land of Nurak
Jhanmar World Travellers
Lingering Echoes
Longing
Love's Paradox
One is Enough
On Her Watch
Outshine
Raytara - Judgement of the Stars
Seed
Shadow Heart
Since You've Been Gone
Star Trek: Khan
Stitching Snow
Stones of Power
Street Fighter Origins: Akuma
Tales from OZ
Tamed
The Amulet of Sleep
The Boy a Thousand Years Wide
The Circle
The Fifth Vertex
The Mark of the Dragonfly
The One
Sentinels
The Thirteenth Tower
Thirty Days to Win His Wife
Transformers Primacy
Waking up Pregnant
We are the Goldens
Worth the Fall
Wrecked

TBR 2015 (so far)
Arivaca
Bound by Sin
Bound in Darkness
Commanded
Cursed by Ice
Eden Vol 1
Emissary
Everywhere It's You
Imperfect Love
In Ark
In Search of Lost Dragons
King of the World
Monster Squad: The Iron Golem
Of Flame and Promise
On the Hunt
Rocco's Wings
Seeker Arwen (Elys Dayton)
Sentinels
Sneak Peek Soundless
Sneak Peek: Dove Arising
Sorcerer to the Crown
Tamed
The Battle for Darracia
The Golden Wizard
The Phantom of the Earth
The World of Evendaar Book Two
This Is Where It Ends
Witches Be Burned
Zack

Netgalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge 2015 - October #2 This Book Will Change Your Life

About the Book

Take a chance and change your life...

College is where Hannah Gregory plans to follow in her dad's footsteps as a chemistry prodigy-except she bombs her first test. And now her future isn't so certain. Worse, she's not sure she wants it anymore. Salvation comes from an unlikely place-a used bookstore and the sexy Ben Fisher, the passionate college senior who works there.

Ben is trapped in a life mapped out for him. Trapped in a future career as a lawyer to make his father happy. Trapped pursuing a girl he doesn't even like because she fits into a world he doesn't want but can't escape. But then he meets the beautiful and quirky Hannah. And for the first time, he knows what it means to truly want something.

So he gives in to being her friend. Then to wanting her. Then to kissing her. But freedom comes with a cost, and it isn't long before their carefully planned lives begin to fall apart...

Buy the Book

AMAZON | ARE

Here's what I'm giving it:

Rating: 4.5 stars

Here's why:

Disclaimer: I received no compensation from the author, Netgalley or the publisher for this honest review.

This one was really close to a 5-star for me but I felt some of the angst about telling the parents about their true career desires was a bit much.

Other than that, the romance which was well written kept me captivated as I watched a young woman blossom and a young man finally believe in his own worth.

The familial relationships were intricate but realistic and you couldn't help but sympathize with both characters as they tried to find the correct path they needed to take.

Would I recommend this? Yeppers! I'd even read a sequel.

Netgalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge 2015 - October #1 Under His Skin

About the Book

Earth girls are never easy. But they're worth it.

Bakery owner Annabelle Sparks' business is booming ever since she won reality TV's Cupcake Wars. The one thing deflating her happy soufflé? The extremely sexy Kaden Chance only sees her as a best friend-and Annabelle wants so much more. After waiting a year for him recognize their chemistry, she's giving up and dating other people.

What she doesn't know is Kaden's heart doesn't actually beat. He's not human. Heck, he's not even from Earth. To retain his intergalactic immunity, no one can ever know he is an extraterrestrial. But when Annabelle starts dating, something strange happens to Kaden's unmoved heart: it begins to beat. Now he faces an impossible choice-tell Annabelle the truth and be deported-or lose his last chance at love.

Buy the Book

AMAZON | ARE

Here's what I'm giving it:

Rating: 4 stars

Here's why:

Disclaimer: I received no compensation from the author, Netgalley or the publisher for this honest review.

This book took me a couple of days to read because of family distractions but, I'm sure if I had not been interrupted, I would have finished it in one sitting.

I've read some of Ms. O'Neale's other works and it was nice to see a science fiction romance one in the mix.

I like her treatment of female leads. They are not way over the top strong nor are they overly weak. Annabelle was a nice blend of strength and vulnerability. She knew when to stand her ground and when to bend.

My feelings toward Kaden were a little bit more ambivalent. There were moments that I liked him and moments when he irritated me to no end.

Overall the two leads played off each other well and the secondary characters contributed yet did not detract from the storyline.

Would I recommend this? Yes, I think this book is a good start for this series.

Netgalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge 2015 - Summer Updates

If you wish to participate, you can sign up HERE.

These are the books I still have to read. My 2015 list is definitely smaller. Don't forget you can check out all my Netgalley reviews here.

Status of lists

Year	Total TBR	Completed	Still to read
2013	51	13	38
2014	60	6	54
2015	21 (as of July 2015)	1	20

TBR 2013
A Shimmer of Angels - Lisa M. Basso
Broken Forest - Eliza Tilton
Compliance - Maureen McGowan
Defy
Dragonwitch - Ann Elisabeth Stengl
Dream Girl
Echo Prophecy
Elfin
Endless
Escaping Reality
External Forces
Forbidden to Love - D.A. Wills
Hereafter
Hero's Lot, The - Patrick W. Carr
King Hall
Mage Fire - C. Aubrey Hall
Mistress of the Solstice
Night Creatures
Rebels Divided
Rival
Safe in His Arms
Scrap - Emory Sharplin
Sekret
Shadow Allegiance
She Is Not Invisible
Spirit - Brigid Kemmerer
Stargazing from Nowhere
The Bane - Keary Taylor
The Dominant - Tara Sue Me
The Naturals
The Silver Chain
The Trials of the Core
The Waking Dreamer
Tin Star
Turned
Unspoken
Will in Scarlet - Matthew Cody
Winds of Purgatory

TBR 2014
A Curse Unbroken
A Secret Colton Baby
Alex + Ada volume 1
Black Rook
Blind Faith
Blood Assassin
Blood Orange Soda
Catch Me When I Fall
Clipped Wings
Danny Dirks and the Heir of Pendragon
Dark Hope
Dark Wolf Returning
Darkness
Delucca's Marriage Contract
Desired
Divided
Don't Judge a Lizard by His Scales
Dragon Defender
Fire Heart
Forbidden
Freed
Iskida of the Land of Nurak
Jhanmar World Travellers
Lingering Echoes
Longing
Love's Paradox
Luminae Vol 1
On Her Watch
One is Enough
Outshine
Raytara - Judgement of the Stars
Seed
Sentinels
Shadow Heart
Since You've Been Gone
Star Trek: Khan
Stitching Snow
Stones of Power
Street Fighter Origins: Akuma
Tales from OZ
Tamed
The Amulet of Sleep
The Boy a Thousand Years Wide
The Circle
The Fifth Vertex
The Mark of the Dragonfly
The One
The Thirteenth Tower
Thirty Days to Win His Wife
Transformers Primacy
Waking up Pregnant
We are the Goldens
Worth the Fall
Wrecked

TBR 2015 (so far)
Arivaca
Commanded
Cursed by Ice
Eden Vol 1
Emissary
Everywhere It's You
In Search of Lost Dragons
King of the World
Mine
Monster Squad: The Iron Golem
Rocco's Wings
Seeker Arwen (Elys Dayton)
Sentinels
Stones of Power
Tamed
Thirty Days to Win His Wife
Transformers Primacy
Witches Be Burned
Zack

Netgalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge 2015: July

Disclaimer: I received no compensation from the author, Netgalley or the publisher for this honest review.

About the Book

Join Blue Ocean Bob on his journey to protect all life in the Sea of Kerchoo
Blue Ocean Bob loves the sea and wants to dedicate his life to protecting it. He begins a new job as assistant to Mary Marine, the Island of Roses's leading marine biologist, and with his hummingbird guardian, Xena, by his side, works hard to carry out his duties to the sea creatures both on and off the shore.

When the challenges mount, Bob seeks advice from Doc the turtle, Earl the clam, and Wallace the walrus, who each help him to develop the positive attitude he needs to succeed.

The Adventures of Blue Ocean Bob: A Challenging Job is the second installment in this colorful and inspiring early chapter book series that provides young readers with an introduction to timeless principles of achievement.

Buy the Book

AMAZON

Here's what I'm giving it:

Rating: 4 stars

Here's why:

The illustrations in this book were stunning. I got this one to read with my science-obsessed youngster who loved it. It also was easy to read and kept my child engaged for the entire length of the story.

Would I recommend this? Yes. It is a good book for children.

Netgalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge 2015: April

Disclaimer: I received no compensation from the author, Netgalley or the publisher for this honest review.

About the Book

Ruled by duty…driven by desire!

A king amongst men, Sheikh Zafir cannot allow emotion or feelings to colour his judgement.  His carnal desires must be curbed for the sake of peace in his kingdom.  But his control is tested by the feisty Fern Davenport; Zafir must have her.  

Innocent Fern Davenport tries to resist the Sheikh’s skilful seduction – she knows that he could never marry her. But under the blistering sun an incendiary thirst awakes and one incredible night results in a very lasting consequence.

Now this Sheikh must claim his heir and his bride!

Buy the Book

AMAZON  |  All Romance EBooks

Here's what I'm giving it:

Rating: 3.5 stars

Here's why:

There were some hot moments and there were some okay moments. Zafir definitely was very alpha male and Fern was meek but not so meek that she wasn't able to stand up for herself and the things she believed were right.

I did feel that the more worldly Zafir took advantage of Fern just a little bit because of her innocence but other than that one moment, I thought the story was fine.

Would I recommend this? Yes, it's a nice read.

Netgalley/Review Tour: Cursed by Fire by Jacquelyn Frank

Disclaimer: I received no compensation from the author, Netgalley or the publisher for this honest review.

About the Book

For centuries, Dethan has been trapped in a fiery inferno for defying the gods and snatching the power of immortality. Condemned to have his battle-hardened body licked by flames only to regenerate and be consumed all over again, Dethan has lost all hope—until the Goddess of Conflict appears. She will release him from torment—if he’ll use his power and strength as a warrior to raise an army and defeat a fierce enemy faction of gods.

Free to live as a man once again, Dethan meets Selinda—heir to the throne of Hexis—and his thoughts quickly turn from the conquest of cities to the conquest of this headstrong beauty. Betrothed to a cruel, calculating powermonger, Selinda needs a champion, and so Dethan enters into another bargain: If she will share her bed—and her body—with him, Dethan will save her city from destructive forces within and without. As the lovers ignite a searing passion, Dethan will risk all—even the wrath of the Goddess of Conflict—for a chance to make Selinda his forever.

Buy the Book

AMAZON

Here's what I'm giving it:

Rating: 4.5 stars

Here's why:

I am in love with this couple. Dethan and Selinda make up one of the best pairings I've read in a while.

Scarred, yet beautiful and with a innate fierceness and love for her people made Selinda one of the most believable characters I've read about in a while. Dethan was no slouch either in that department.

Intelligence, flaws, redemption, treachery, I read this book in one day and can't wait to read the next one in the series.

Well done, Ms. Frank, well done.

Would I recommend this? That's a resounding YES!

Free ebooks Review: Runes by Ednah Walters

Disclaimer: I received no compensation from the author, publisher, Free Ebooks for an Honest Review, or Netgalley for this honest review.

About the Book

Seventeen-year-old Raine Cooper has enough on her plate dealing with her father’s disappearance, her mother’s erratic behavior and the possibility of her boyfriend relocating. The last thing she needs is Torin St. James—a mysterious new neighbor with a wicked smile and uncanny way of reading her. 

Raine is drawn to Torin’s dark sexiness against her better judgment, until he saves her life with weird marks and she realizes he is different. But by healing her, Torin changes something inside Raine. Now she can’t stop thinking about him. Half the time, she’s not sure whether to fall into his arms or run. 

Scared, she sets out to find out what Torin is. But the closer she gets to the truth the more she uncovers something sinister about him. What Torin is goes back to an ancient mythology and Raine is somehow part of it. Not only is she and her friends in danger, she must choose a side, but the wrong choice will cost Raine her life 

Buy the Book

AMAZON

Book #2 Amazon

Book #2.5 Amazon

Book #3 Amazon

Book #3.5 Amazon

Book #4 Amazon

Here's what I'm giving it:

Rating: 3.5  stars

Here's why:

This is the first of two reviews that I'm doing for Ebooks For Reviews. Also, I originally received Runes via Netgalley back in 2013.

What I like about this first book is the fact that Norse mythology is used. I'm a huge fan of mythology (no matter the country) and especially of the pantheons that aren't often covered in fiction.

With that being said, I'd like to dive in to some of the good moments of this book. The main character, Rain with an E, is of the sassy breed of heroine that I like to dive into. The way she sparred with Torin St. James (her male counterpart) was refreshing.

She wasn't intimidated by him at all. If anything, her emotional response to him scared her more than his bad boy demeanor.

The secondary characters, Cora & Eirick, were well-fleshed out and were great foils to Raine.

Some of the other characters were not as developed which leads me to one of my peeves about stories. If you're going to use characters, please have them be more than a token drop in the bucket. The "baddies" were not very threatening and then some of them appeared and were going in the blink of the eye.

Also the romantic parts for certain characters felt rushed and awkward. Other than that, this was a good solid read.

Would I recommend this book? Yes, I'm reading the second one as we speak.

Netgalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge 2015

If you wish to participate, you can sign up HERE.

I'm proud to say that I'm going for round 2 after having done this during 2014. I chose the Gold Level  (50 books) and fell a little short so I'm going to go for it again in 2015. I'm ambitious, what can I say.

Here are the 2 TBR lists from Netgalley that I'm working through.

TBR 2013
A Shimmer of Angels - Lisa M. Basso
Broken Forest - Eliza Tilton
Compliance - Maureen McGowan
Defy
Dragonwitch - Ann Elisabeth Stengl
Dream Girl
Echo Prophecy
Elfin
Endless
Escaping Reality
External Forces
Forbidden to Love - D.A. Wills
Hereafter
Hero's Lot, The - Patrick W. Carr
King Hall
Mage Fire - C. Aubrey Hall
Mistress of the Solstice
Night Creatures
Rebels Divided
Rival
Runes (book one) - Ednah Walters
Safe in His Arms
Scrap - Emory Sharplin
Sekret
Shadow Allegiance
She Is Not Invisible
Spirit - Brigid Kemmerer
Stargazing from Nowhere
The Bane - Keary Taylor
The Dominant - Tara Sue Me
The Naturals
The Professional
The Silver Chain
The Trials of the Core
The Waking Dreamer
Tin Star
Turned
Unspoken
Will in Scarlet - Matthew Cody
Winds of Purgatory

TBR 2014
Alex + Ada volume 1
A Secret Colton Baby
Black Rook
Blind Faith
Blood Assassin
Blood Orange Soda
Catch Me When I Fall
Clipped Wings
Cursed by Fire
Dark Hope
Darkness
Dark Wolf Returning
Danny Dirks
Desired
Divided
Don't Judge a Lizard by His Scales
Dragon Defender
Fire Heart
Forbidden
Freed
Jhanmar World Travellers
Lingering Echoes
Longing
Love's Paradox
One is Enough
On Her Watch
Outshine
Raytara - Judgement of the Stars
Seed
Shadow Heart
Since You've Been Gone
Star Trek: Khan
Stitching Snow
Street Fighter Origins: Akuma
Tales from OZ
The Amulet of Sleep
The Boy a Thousand Years Wide
The Circle
The Fifth Vertex
The Mark of the Dragonfly
The One
The Professional
The Thirteenth Tower
Waking up Pregnant
We are the Goldens
Worth the Fall
Wrecked

Netgalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge 2014: Status Update

When I saw this challenge back in December I decideed to enroll in it. The other day I went back and re-read the rules and realized that I could include books I added in 2014 as well. To, I've updated my lists with everything that is in my TBR pilesit was one I was glad to take. I decided to go for the Gold challenge (50 Books). 

To read the reviews for the books I've conquered so far, please visit here. Occasionally, I don't post reviews to my blog but I do post them to Amazon, LibraryThing, Smashwords, Shelfari and Goodreads.

2013 Netgalley TBR list:

1. Dead Sexy Dragon
2. Expecting a Bolton Baby
3. Vampires Need Not...Apply
4. Mistress of the Solstice
5. A Shimmer of Angels
6. Awakening the Warriors
7. Broken Forest
8. Compliance
9. Dark Wolf Running
10. Dead Beautiful
11. Defy
12. Dragonwitch
13. Dream Girl
14. Echo Prophecy
15. Endless
16. Escaping Reality
17. External Forces
18. Forbidden to Love
19. Hereafter
20. Hero's Lot, The - Patrick W. Carr
21. King Hall
22. Mage Fire - C. Aubrey Hall
23. Mind Bond
24. Night Creatures
25. Rebels Divided
26. Rival
27. Runes (book one) - Ednah Walters
28. Safe in His Arms
29. Scrap - Emory Sharplin
30. Sekret
31. Shadow Allegiance
32. She Is Not Invisible
33. Spirit - Brigid Kemmerer
34. Stargazing from Nowhere
35. The Bane - Keary Taylor
36. The Dominant - Tara Sue Me
37. The Naturals
38. The Silver Chain
39. The Trials of the Core
40. The Waking Dreamer
41. Tin Star
42. Turned
43. Unspoken
44. Will in Scarlet - Matthew Cody
45. Winds of Purgatory
46. A December Bride
47. A January Bride
48. A February Bride
49. Elfin

2014 Netgalley TBR List

1. The Millionaire Affair
2. Sheikh's Scandal
3. The Billion Dollar Bachelor
4. Only With You
5. Alex + Ada volume 1
6. Waking up Pregnant
7. Wrecked
8. Catch Me When I Fall
9. A Secret Colton Baby
10. Black Rook
11. Blind Faith
12. Blood Orange Soda
13. Clipped Wings
14. Darkness
15. Dark Wolf Returning
16. Desired
17. Divided
18. Don't Judge a Lizard by His Scales
19. Dragon Defender
20. Fire Heart
21. Forbidden
22. Freed
23. Lingering Echoes
24. Longing
25. Love's Paradox
26. One is Enough
27. On Her Watch
28. Outshine
29. Raytara - Judgement of the Stars
30. Shadow Heart
31. Star Trek: Khan
32. Stitching Snow
33. Street Fighter Origins: Akuma
34. Tales from OZ
35. The Circle
36. The Fifth Vertex
37. The Mark of the Dragonfly
38. The One
39. The Professional
40. The Thirteenth Tower
41. We are the Goldens
42. Worth the Fall

Books that have been completed and/or reviewed

15/50 goal

35 to reach goal

1. The Millionaire Affair
2. Sheikh's Scandal
3. The Billion Dollar Bachelor
4. Only With You
5. Dead Sexy Dragon
6. A December Bride
7. A January Bride
8. A February Bride
9. Expecting a Bolton Baby
10. Vampires Need Not...Apply
11. Dark Wolf Running
12. Awakening the Warriors
13. Dead Beautiful
14. Mind Bond
15. Sheikh's Scandal

Netgalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge 2014: Oct part 2

Disclaimer: I received no compensation from the author, Netgalley or the publisher for this honest review.

About the Book

Love is the Biggest Gamble of All . . . 

Cocktail waitress Sophie Dalton doesn't exactly have a life plan. She's perfectly happy being everyone's favorite party girl. But when a Las Vegas bachelorette party goes awry and an uptight businessman mistakes Sophie for a prostitute . . . well, Sophie wonders if it's time to reevaluate her priorities. Swearing off her thigh-high boots for good, Sophie slinks back home with damaged pride-and a jackpot of a hangover.

Yet what happens in Vegas doesn't always stay there. On a trip to Seattle to open a new office, Grayson Wyatt meets his latest employee-who turns out to be the same woman he recently called a hooker. Wealthy and gorgeous, Gray is a man used to getting what he wants. And it doesn't take long to figure out that smart, sassy, sexy Sophie is everything he's been looking for. As their late nights at the office turn into hot morning-afters, they realize their Vegas misunderstanding may lead to the real thing . . .

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Here's what I'm giving it:

Rating: 4.5 stars

Here's why:

I was expecting a little of the same-old song and dance when it came to this but I got a fireworks show instead and loved every minute of it.

Sophie is the kind of character that you don't see every day in stories. She has issues and yet, she is very sensitive to those around her to point of not taking care of her own emotional needs. She has spunk, yet a vulnerability that kept me glued to my seat as eagerly read through the story.

Gray drove me bonkers because I've met people like him and the urge to shake some emotion into him made me scream in frustration on more than one occasion. At the end of the day, you find out some surprising things about Gray and sympathy as well as a reluctant cheering him on develops.

The two were fantastic as a couple and the humor as well as snappy dialogue between the two was well-written.

The secondary characters were no slouches either. Overall, everything from the plot to the characters to the scenery were awesome and I would willing come back for more.

Would I recommend this? That's a resounding YES!

Netgalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge 2014: Oct part 1

Disclaimer: I received no compensation from the author, Netgalley or publisher for this honest review.

About the Book

Jax Morrow is a dangerously handsome, spectacularly wealthy entrepreneur whose world is turned upside down when Pandora Garret walks into a dark, smoky bar one night—a stunning combination of sex and innocence. He knows she’s trouble at first sight, but Jax can’t let her leave…unless she’s leaving with him.
　
Pandora has had enough. Kept under lock and key by her powerful, controlling father, she aches for freedom. When she briefly escapes and meets Jax she knows he is just what she has been looking for: forbidden, unforgettable passion. After one night in Jax’s arms, Pandora knows she can never go back to living under one man’s domination. Determined to control her own life she tries to resist Jax, but a dangerous desire rises between them—one that threatens to destroy them. But both Pandora and Jax discover that they just can’t be pulled away… in The Billion Dollar Bachelor.

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AMAZON

Here's what I'm giving it:

Rating: 4 stars

Here's why:

I truly enjoyed this story and the pairing of Pandora with Jax was well done. You really feel for Pandora who has been raised in a rather uncaring environment. The same goes for Jax who comes from a family with lots of secrets to hide.

The romance was believable and the character development and plot were well done.

I really did despise Pandora's father and felt that the ending of this novel was great. I would definitely read more by this author.

Netgalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge 2014: Sept part 3

Disclaimer: I received no compensation from Netgalley, the author or publisher for this honest review.

About the Book

"The year I turned sixteen, the media featured reports of a worldwide phenomenon – the emergence of Interspecies Telepaths, or ISTs." 

When Christa Wilder mind-bonds with Magnus, a wolf pup, on a camping trip in Sakima National Park, her life changes forever. As the bond between Christa and Magnus grows stronger, other ISTs befriend them, including teenage Romy and her mountain lion, and Karl, a famous wildlife artist, and his golden eagle.

But not everyone is happy that ISTs exist or that wolves have been successfully reintroduced to Sakima, especially when wolves begin killing livestock on nearby ranches. Suddenly, with the first wolf hunting season about to open just beyond the park's boundaries, Magnus's pack is placed in jeopardy.

Even inside the park there is danger because a lunatic is slaughtering animals while staying one step ahead of the authorities. Next on the hit list: a wolf.

And, unbeknown to Christa, her brother, Josh, who went missing on his fifth birthday, has reappeared, but what sort of man is he? Why is he keeping his identity a secret?

Soon Christa is forced to commit to a new life full of challenges, friendships, learning, love and loss. With her psychic grandmother and her best friend, Ava, Christa will explore her spiritual beliefs, discovering a deep connection with nature and Spirit. But, most importantly, Christa will discover the sheer joy of the Mind Bond.

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AMAZON

Here's what I'm giving it:

Rating: 1/DNF stars

Here's why:

I want to start off by mentioning the things that attracted me to this book. I'm a big fan of mental abilities, especially telepathy. The concept of an interspecies bond caught my eye. The fact that the bond wasn't with aliens but with animals here on earth was also a perk.

The descriptions of the surroundings, people and animals were top-notch and gave me a good grasp on what things/places/animals/people looked like which made it very distinct in my mind's eye.

The characters, except those who were supposed to be shallow, were well-rounded with both good and bad points being exposed as I read along.

However, these three things were not enough to keep me hooked. I got 40% of the way through and stopped reading. The main reason is the pacing was so slow. I don't always have to have things move at lightning speed but when it drags on and on, I tend to get bored or annoyed.

The second thing that kept knocking my interest away was deep/detailed discussions about spiritually. Again, information about other cultures, beliefs, spirituality and other topics related to a person's heritage don't bother me. But when it overloads my mind and/or bogs the story down for me, I lose interest.

Would I recommend this book? I'm on the fence, so I will leave it up to you to decide.

Netgalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge 2014: Sept part 2

Disclaimer: I received no compensation from the author or publisher for this honest review.

About the Book

When the Sheikh comes to town… 

Sheikh Sayed of Zeena Sarha and his harem of beautiful women are staying at the exclusive, opulent Chatsfield Hotel, London, for the last stop on his worldwide tour before his wedding. But when his engagement is unceremoniously broken, Sayed sets his sights on his sexy chambermaid!

Liyah Amari only took the position as chambermaid to find the truth about her birth father. But her search ends in heartache, leaving Liyah vulnerable to this powerful Sheikh's desires. Now their one night of passion could result in a scandalous consequence for the proud Sheikh!

Welcome to The Chatsfield, London!

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AMAZON

Here's what I'm giving it:

Rating: 4.5 stars

Here's why:

This one I couldn't put down and read it in about 2 hours. I absolutely loved Liyah Amari. She was spunky, intelligent and didn't swoon often. She gave as good as she got while still showing her vulnerable side. I truly believed this character and was rooting for her to find the happiness that she sought and deserved.

Sheikh Sayed bin Falah was all prince - arrogant, in control and in some moments, a little too stuck in the past. However, the times when he seemed human and not some larger than life royalty were my favorite parts of the story.

I didn't give this one a full 5 stars because the way they fell in love so quickly (everything happened in like 2 weeks or less) made the story feel a little rushed. Also, some of the male reactions to Liyah's decisions grated me with their domineering and in one case very aggressive approach to handle the situation.

Would I recommend this one? Absolutely!

Netgalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge 2014: Sept part 1

Disclaimer: I received no compensation from the author or publisher for this honest review.

About the Book

A haunting love story about desire, danger, and destiny. After Renee Winters discovers her parents lying dead in California's Redwood Forest in what appears to be a strange double murder, her grandfather sends her off to Gottfried Academy in Maine, a remote and mysterious high school dedicated to philosophy, "crude sciences," and Latin: the Language of the Dead. It's here she meets Dante, a dark and elusive student to whom she feels inexplicably drawn. As they get to know each other better, Dante can't seem to control his attraction either, and their desires gradually deepen into a complex and dangerous romance. Dangerous because Dante is hiding a frightening secret. A secret so terrible, it has him fearing for Renee's life. Dante's not the only one with secrets, though. Turns out Gottfried Academy has a few of its own… Like, how come students keep disappearing? Why are the prefect-like Monitors creeping around campus during the night? And what exactly are the Headmistress and Professors really up to? Renee is determined to find out why. Dead Beautiful is both a compelling romance and thought-provoking read, bringing shocking new meaning to life, death, love, and the nature of the soul. 

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AMAZON

Here's what I'm giving it:

Rating:  1 star/DNF

Here's why:

I want to start off by saying that I don't usually give a DNF (do not finish) tag to a novel. With that being said, I do want to point out why I took a chance on this novel.

1) The cover. There's something about people wearing cloaks that suggests mystery to me. And the fact that the girl is standing in an archway of some type piqued my curiosity as to why she was there.

2) The title. I thought that the book might be about some type of paranormal creature, more specifically vampires or zombies, and since I'm always on the lookout for new authors in that genre, I was intrigued.

Reading the blurb made me revise my opinion somewhat and I dove into the novel, ready to see where the author was going to go with the story.

That's when I ran into problems. The "mystery" about her parents' death didn't capture me the way I thought it would. Maybe it's because of the way the set of events leading up to the discovery of her parents felt disjointed and a tad bit unbelievable. I can understand her going into shock when she discovered the bodies but not the stuff that happened before that.

I didn't warm up to the main character, Renee, at all. She irked me from the moment I met her until the point where I stopped reading. Her attitude was grating and I felt, entirely ungrateful for someone of her age. I know she suffered a double loss. I know she was grieving, but at the age she is, she should have behaved better. I felt like I was watching a five-year-old throw a tantrum because they couldn't have their way.

The grandfather felt flat to me and beyond cold. I know that he hasn't had anything to do with her but his reactions toward her were beyond aloof.

I couldn't muster up the energy to care that she was leaving behind friends and having to move. That's when I stopped reading. When I'm that irritated with a character and the plot which didn't pull me in, I quit. I know, bad thing to do but I decided not to continue.

Would I recommend? No, but if it's your cup of tea, feel free to try it out.

Netgalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge 2014: July part 2

Disclaimer: I received no compensation from the author or publisher or Netgalley for this honest review.

About the Book

In Rhyannon Byrd's latest Bloodrunners romance, passion and secrets collide and only their love will save two werewolves and their pack.

With his sharp gaze locked on the most magnificent female he'd ever seen, Wyatt Pallaton did his best to hold himself back. Of course, Elise Drake was hardly just any female. Fiery and cool, strong, yet at the same time achingly vulnerable, she'd turned his entire world on its head.

No matter how bloody difficult it proved to be, he was done letting her pretend he didn't even exist. Done with letting her fight her own battles. Done driving himself slowly into this maddening state of frustrated desire. One way or another, things were about to change.

Come hell or high water, she was done running…

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AMAZON

Here's what I'm giving it:

Rating:  3.5 stars

Here's why:

Again, I've run into the problem of reading a book out of sequence that was/is part of a series. That's why the back story, when there was some, didn't make much sense to me. The characters were okay and the plot wasn't too complex which made for a fast read. I thought the relationship between Wyatt and Elise was strange and sometimes a little weird. And, their pasts, which I would like to have known a little bit more about, were skimmed over and used only to point out their individual relationship issue hang-ups.

Would I recommend this book? Possibly. I would highly suggest that readers begin with book 1 in the series.

Netgalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge 2014: July part 1

Disclaimer: I received no compensation from the author or publisher or Netgalley for this honest review.

About the Book

LOVE IS A DEAL BREAKER . . . 

Millionaire ad executive Landon Downey has a policy: no romantic relationships allowed. So when he's saddled with his six-year-old nephew for a week, he doesn't think twice about asking Kimber Reynolds to act as live-in nanny. What he doesn't expect is the undeniable attraction to the woman he hasn't seen since they were kids. And not only does she like him back-she suggests they work their way down a list of extracurricular activities in the bedroom. How can he resist?

Kimber wants to prove once and for all that she can love 'em and leave 'em with the best of them. All she has to do is keep her sixteen-year crush on Landon out of the equation. No problem . . . until she realizes she may not be the only one whose heart has gotten completely tangled up in their no-strings agreement.

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AMAZON

Here's what I'm giving it:

Rating: 4 stars

Here's why:

I've been on a romance kick lately and reading books in the genre has been an interesting experience in variety. Some books I've enjoyed more than others and, since I'm venturing outside of just the paranormal/urban fantasy sub-genres of romance, I've found great little gems.

This story is one of them. Landon and Kimber are two very real and very vulnerable characters for different reasons. What they do have in common are pasts that continuously haunt their present and makes them both guarded and unsure of their futures.

Watching the two of them work through various small (and some major) issues kept me glued to this book which I finished in one sitting. I like this author and will gladly read other books in the "Love in the Balance" series.

Would I recommend? Yes!

Netgalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge 2014: June part 2

Disclaimer: I received no compensation from the author or publisher or Netgalley for this honest review.

About the Book

In this Bolton Brothers book, first comes the baby…and maybe then comes marriage? 

He'd never expected to see Stella Caine again. After one wild night, she'd walked away—right after revealing that her father was the one man who could threaten the biggest business deal of Bobby Bolton's career. So Bobby left her alone.

Until now.

Now Stella is pregnant and staying in his condo. This is a complication that can be solved only one way: marriage. Bobby wants to do the right thing. Hell, he wants her—has never stopped wanting her. Surely he can convince her to say yes, even without those three little words….

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AMAZON

Here's what I'm giving it:

Rating:  4 stars

Here's why:

I've done very little reading this year because I've been so busy but when I find a quick, yet very enjoyable read, it always makes my day.

This is the only book I've read in the Boltons' series and it will not be the last.

The main characters, as well as the secondary characters, kept me entertained and invested in the story of Bolton brother, Bobby, and the one who got away, Stella.

There are several roadblocks to this couple's happiness as well as, you guessed it, a baby.

The emotions and actions of the characters were believable and even had me yelling at them a couple of times to get it together.

I would definitely recommend this book to others.