July 2015 Wrap Up

 Recurve  by Shannon Mayer  3 Stars

My cousin recommended it to me & I thought I would check it out.

This book was a solid 3 stars for me.

This was a good fast paced book. I did find myself lost a few times with the world building, but since its a first in a series I expect it will be fleshed out more in the next books. I'm really looking forward to the next book. 

Second Chance Summer by Jill Shalvis. 3 Stars

Another solid 3 stars. This was a cute contemporary romance. I can't wait for the rest of the series. I really wanted to know more about some of the side characters, but I think that will come in time with future books.

Love in the Time of Dragons by Katie MacAlister 2.5 Stars

I felt like I was missing things throughout this whole book. I'd checked to make sure it was the first in a series before I bought it even! And it was and it wasn't. This was the first book in a second trilogy in a trilogy of trilogies. And I'm pretty sure you're supposed to read a different series before starting the trilogy of trilogies. Yeah. So now I'm trying to hunt down the other books.

It was cute but annoying since I felt like I was missing things. By the time I hit the middle I just wanted the story to be over. 

House of the Rising Sun by Kristen Painter 4 Stars

I really liked this book. It took awhile for me to get into it, I had to switch from the audiobook to a physical copy, but once I did I only put it down to eat! I can't wait until I can put my hands on the next book! I really want to find out what happens next!

The characters are great & I love the world that is being built. I did feel there were some things that could have been explained better, but I'm hoping as I read it will work itself out.

The Witness by Nora Roberts 3 Stars

This was a reread, or relisten as its an audiobook. Though parts of it I still find unrealistic, but it was still enjoyable.

Aisling Grey: Guardian Series by Katie MacAlister Series Review Overall: 4 Stars

So I got sick for a few days & spent the time reading. I picked up the four books in this series because I felt like I was missing stuff in Love in the Time of Dragons.

Book 1: You Slay Me  4 Stars

Book 2: Fire Me Up   4 Stars

Book 3: Light My Fire   4 Stars

Book 4: Holy Smokes    4 Stars

This series was fun! They were light fun reads, which is what I needed at that point in time. I loved the talking dog, demon thing. 

4 Iron Druid Short Stories/Novellas by Kevin Hearne

Three Slices #7.5             5 Stars

Kabib Unbound #0.6       5 Stars

Test of Mettle #3.5           4 Stars

The Chapel Perilous #4.6        5 Stars

I have all but The Chapel Perilous as audiobooks. I love how Luke Daniels portrays the characters in this series. The Iron Druid series is a solid favorite & I have read all but Shattered, book #7, at LEAST twice. I tend to reread/listen to them right before the next book is released. They really hold up to multiple readings, mostly because you keep finding things that you forgot or oh! I know what that is foreshadowing! Its really cool! There is also a talking dog in this series, Oberon, LOVE HIM! 

Audiobook Catalog

I stumbled across the Geeky Blogger and her Task It Tuesday series she's doing right now & it inspired me to start a catalog of all my books! So here goes:

Audiobooks Catalog!

This is what I've learned from cataloging all my audiobooks I've purchased since 2012.

2012

9 books purchased

5 books read

Total: $14.95

2013

38 books purchased

18 books read

Total: $135.91

2014

66 books purchased

26 books read

Total: $149.09

2015

12 books purchased

4 books read

Total: $45.41

Couple of things:

- all my audiobooks are on Audible

- I pay for 1 credit a month & the amount listed doesn't include the credits I've paid for

June 2015 Wrap Up

June Wrap Up & Mini Reviews 

Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews 

4 Stars

This was an awesome meld of fantasy & science fiction. I really enjoyed it & immediately read the second book Sweep In Peace on Ilona Andrew's blog. I can't wait to see what happens next & I know I've got a lot of time to wait until they start posting the third story. I can be patient because Magic Shifts comes out next month and White Hot comes out in 2016. 

Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews 

4 Stars*

I've been re-listening to the Kate Daniels Series in anticipation of Magic Shifts. 

There were several reasons for this. 

1- these are very entertaining audiobooks & keep me entertained during a lot of road trips

2- I read/listened to this series in a marathon over two months last fall

3- I wanted to make sure I remembered everything before the next book

Ok. So this is one of my favorites. It has the FINALLY moment in it & 

Kate finally left the Order! 

These books really do hold up to rereads! 

Royal Street by Suzanne Johnson 

4 Stars

This is a pretty quick read & I found it really enjoyable. 

It pulled at my emotions & I really enjoyed it. I can't wait to pick up the second book. 

Heart of Steel by Meljean Brook 

4 Stars

This is the second book in the Iron Seas series. Its a steampunk romance. I did find the conflict wrapped up a little easily but it was still a good read.

The Clockwork Dagger by Beth Cato 

5 Stars

I picked this book up on the recommendation of Kevin Hearne's blog. 

I really enjoyed it & read it in one sitting. This is a fun steampunk fantasy. 

I can't wait to pick up the second book!

The Gwendolyn Reading Method

I love watching YouTube videos, especially those on books or Booktube. One of my favorite Booktubers is Gwen from The Gwendolyn Reading Method. Go check her out! I'll wait....

You're back, she's got a lot of personality right! I love it. She reads so much and I'm finding myself picking up books she's talked about. This has helped me greatly this year, I found myself not wanting to read a lot & I LOVE to read. Now she isn't the only one I've picked up a book because they've recommended it, but she sure is one I have read more books from! 

So I decided to make a list! 

As I'm writing this list I'm finding its mostly series!

So I'm going to post books as series, but only the ones I've read though.

First up is the London Steampunk series by Bec McMaster

I bought My Lady Quicksilver awhile ago, but when I realized it was the third book in a series it was promptly placed at the bottom if my TBR pile. It was watching a video review from The Gwendolyn Reading Method which made me pick up this series & read it. Below are the first three books in the series, which I've read. I'm currently have Forged by Desire (book 4) in my TBR pile.

Kiss of Steel, Heart of Iron, & My Lady Quicksilver
(Books 1-3)

           

      

On Dublin Street Series by Samantha Young
I think this series is considered a New Adult series. I'm honestly not sure. I've read the first three books in the series, and I'm not sure if I will continue. Mostly due to the characters in the next books. I really liked these three books, they were really quick easy reads.

On Dublin Street, Down London Road, & Before Jamaica Lane
(Books 1-3)

   

The first three books in The Others series are the three BEST books I've read in 2015!

NOT KIDDING!

The Others Series by Anne Bishop

So far there are only three books in the series

 & I am waiting not so patiently for the next book!

I actually had the first two books in mass market paperbacks, but watching Gwen just rave about the series inspired me to pick them up. I stayed up way too late reading (finishing) Written in Red, then I picked up the audiobook of Murder of Crows so I could listen to it at work. And then it was the weekend and repeated the late night reading of Vision in Silver.

Written in Red, Murder of Crows, & Vision in Silver
(Books 1-3)

                  

There are probably a lot of other books I've read after 

watching Gwen talk about them on her youtube channel. 

Is there anyone who has a lot of influence on what you read

or you take a lot of recommendations from?

Spring Reading Bingo Update

Finally! An update on my Bingo Card!

So my reading binge really helped knock out a bunch of my squares!

Here are what I've read to complete all those squares:

1. TBR One Book: Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede

2. TBR Two Books: Cinder by Marissa Meyer; Murder of Crows by Anne Bishop

3. TBR Three Books: Burn for Me, Magic Break, On the Edge by Ilona Andrews

4. TBR Four Books: Rescue Me by Catherine Mann; Silver Borne, Iron Kissed, 

Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs

6. Romance: Instant Attraction by Jill Shalvis

7. Mystery: River Road by Jayne Ann Krentz

9. Contemporary: Shelter Me by Catherine Mann

11. New Release One Book: All Fall Down by Ally Carter

12. New Release Two Books: Vision in Silver by Anne Bishop; Still the One by Jill Shalvis

13. Free Space: Magic Gifts by Ilona Andrews

14. ReRead One Books: Black Hills by Nora Roberts         

15. ReRead Two Books: Magic Bites, Gunmetal Magic Ilona Andrews

17. Fantasy: Written in Red by Anne Bishop

19. Steampunk: Kraken King (Parts 1-8) by Meljean Brook

20. Graphic Novel: Hawkeye, My Life as a Weapon

21. Series One Book: Forever & a Day by Jill Shalvis

22. Series Two Books: Once in a Lifetime,  Always on my Mind by Jill Shalvis

23. Series Three Books: Head over Heels, Lucky in Love, 

It’s in His Kiss by Jill Shalvis

24. Series Four Books:  Once in a Million, He’s So Fine, At Last, 

Under the Mistletoe by Jill Shalvis

25. Series Five Books: The Sweetest Thing, Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis; Magic Rises by Ilona Andrews; Magic Steals (Night Shift) by Ilona Andrews; Rumor has It by Jill Shlavis

2015 Spring Wrap Up

So I went on a massive reading binge. Then became overwhelmed with how much I'd read & did NOT want to write about everything I'd read! So I'm going to do a quick update on what I've read since March.

March, April, & May 2015

3 Stars:

Rumor Has It by Jill Shalvis

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

River Road by Jayne Ann Krentz

Instant Attraction by Jill Shalvis

Instant Gratification by Jill Shalvis

Instant Temptation by Jill Shalvis

Dark Witch by Nora Roberts (reread)

On the Edge by Ilona Andrews

Double Play by Jill Shalvis

Slow Heat by Jill Shalvis

Shelter Me by Catherine Mann

Rescue Me by Catherine Mann

Four Stars:

Magic Gifts by Ilona Andrews

Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs

Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs

Kraken King (Parts 1-8) by Meljean Brook

Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs

Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs

River Marked by Patricia Briggs

Still the One by Jill Shalvis

Black Hills by Nora Roberts (reread)

Burn for Me by Ilona Andrews

Kiss of Steel by Bec McMaster (reread)

Five Stars:

Magic Breaks by Ilona Andrews

Gunmetal Magic by Ilona Andrews (reread)

Written in Red by Anne Bishop

Murder of Crows by Anne Bishop

Vision in Silver by Anne Bishop

February Wrap Up

Here’s all the books I finished in February:

Magic Rises by Ilona Andrews 4 stars

I read this as an audiobook. I love this series & recommend it to anyone who loves Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Magic Steals (Night Shift) by Ilona Andrews 4 stars

This is a novella about two side characters. All I have to say about it is: I want more!!

Lucky Charms (Night Shift) by Lisa Shearin 4 stars

This is the prequel novella to Lisa Shearin’s SPI series. Its a supernatural detective-ish series. The novella intrigued me I want to read the first book in the series.

The Job by Janet Evanovich 4 stars

This is the third book in the Fox & O’hare series. I’ve described this series as a combination of White Collar & Leverage. I love it & will keep reading them!

Animal Attraction by Jill Shalvis 3 stars

Animal Magnetism book two.

Rescue My Heart by Jill Shalvis 3 stars

Animal Magnetism book three

Animal Magnetism by Jill Shalvis 3 stars

Animal Magnetism book one

Kiss Me If You Can by Carly Phillips 3 stars

Contemporary romance. I found it unrealistic, even the subplot. I thought it was ok.

Then Came You by Jill Shalvis 3 stars

Animal Magnetism book five

Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede 5 stars

This is the first book in the middle grade series, Enchanted Forest Chronicles. I found this book very engaging & a bit silly. Its about a princess who runs away to live with dragons.

Night Diver by Elizabeth Lowell 3 stars

I found this story to be pretty predictable. Now I say that after having read almost all of Elizabeth Lowell’s romantic suspense novels since I was in high school.