Showing posts with label It's Monday What Are You Reading. Show all posts
Showing posts with label It's Monday What Are You Reading. Show all posts

Monday, 7 January 2019

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?



It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week.  It's a great post to organise yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever-growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date. And here we are!

Life right now!
It's snowing as I speak, but shouldn't be too much. We are already snow covered and thanks to some unseasonably mild temperatures, the level had dropped considerably. It's nearly a week since the new year but today feels like the beginning. So, I'm getting back on track and organised...no it isn't a resolution, so no promises it will last!

What am I currently reading? Unusual for me, I'm reading two novels. I started The Secret (arc) by Katharine Johnson, which I'm enjoying so far and then downloaded 99 Percent Mine (arc) by Sally Thorne and promptly read the first chapter after seeing it on Edelweiss+.
Thoughts so far...
Both have begun favourably so I'm estimating a 4-5star review for both. The Secret is a duel point of view spanning different time-lines. 99 Percent Mine is a contemporary romance, with plenty of comedic banter.









Book(s) I've read this past week?

The Paris Seamstress by Natasha Lester
The Uncompromising Lord Flint (arc) by Virginia Heath

What's next on my reading list?
The Huntress (arc) by Kate Quinn



Monday, 30 April 2018

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?


It's Monday! What Are You Reading? This book blog meme has had a few hosts in its past but is now in the capable hands of Kathryn at The Book Date. It's a place where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It's a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and to put new titles on your reading list.






Life right now!



I'm glad a new month begins tomorrow as it feels like a clean slate. The past two months have been a challenge but I'm hoping May brings some positivity which we need.
The weather has been settled although it's raining like mad today but the end of the week should hopefully bring some sunshine.
Reading wise, I was productive last week by not only catching up on outstanding reviews but the number of books read. Like many readers I have a large amount of unread novels downloaded to my Kindle, so apart from the arc's, I've been making an effort to read some of them rather than 1-clicking and buying more.

What am I currently reading?


Nora has always been the sister who binds the O'Bannons together. No matter what crisis hits, smart, dependable Nora knows how to fix it. But for Nora, the pressure of perfection is taking its toll.

Nora's marriage is in trouble, and she has been reluctant to worry her sisters with just how dire her situation is. Now though, faced with losing her husband, her home, and the life she's worked so hard to build, Nora can no longer pretend.

As the O'Bannon women rally around her, Nora begins to see that failure is nothing to fear. It's like they say in the bakery: if you want to make something good, you can't be afraid to get messy. When her husband returns, asking Nora to give their family a second chance, Nora must decide if their relationship can be saved-or if it's time to throw out the old recipe and start from scratch.


Thoughts so far...


It's book two in the series and I've not read the previous one and the author is new to me too. I don't feel I've missed anything by jumping into the series, so it works as a standalone. A little different from what I'm used to, but as I vowed to broaden my reading preferences beyond romance at the beginning of the year, this title fits in nicely. I'm at the half way point and enjoying the narrative and the writing style so far. It's a solid read with likeable characters trying to work through their many issues. Apart from the protagonists, there are a couple of sub plots that I'm guessing will follow through into future instalments.

Book(s) I've read this past week?

I Think I Love You, Oxford #5 by Lauren Layne (arc)

Brit Robbins knows that dating in New York City is hard—she just hoped to have it mastered by age thirty. But after yet another promising suitor says they have no sparks, Brit decides it’s time to torch her dating game and try a new plan. And who better to coach Brit through the art of seduction than the guy who first gave her the “let’s be friends” card?
 
Hunter Cross has always figured there’s nothing his best friend Brit can do to surprise him. But Brit’s request is a surprise he doesn’t see coming—and one he’s definitely not prepared for. Hunter and Brit have always been careful to keep things perfectly platonic, but the fake dates and faux flirting are starting to feel like the real deal. And soon Hunter realizes he has taught Brit too well. Not only has she become an expert at seduction, the man becoming thoroughly seduced is him.




The Heat Is On By Poppy J. Anderson

When Hayden's fiancĂ© breaks off their engagement, Hayden’s whole world falls apart. After all, she has loved Heath Fitzpatrick since they were children. Though she can hardly believe he really wants the breakup, she picks up the pieces of her life and tries to accept the new situation.
But her efforts are thwarted time and again by the rest of the Fitzpatrick clan, who have always been part of her life—and who are notorious for being outspoken, persistent, and downright meddlesome. None of Heath's siblings are above adding their own two cents. Or twenty.
Even Heath himself, a daring firefighter, seems to be having trouble adjusting to his new single life. So how in the world is Hayden supposed to move on, forget the plans they made for the future, and get Heath off her mind? And even more difficult—she'll need to banish him from her heart, forever.




here I Belong by Claudia Connor

An unexpected meeting at the beach and a young nephew who won't take no for an answer, has Owen falling hard and fast.

Charlotte feels something too, but violently losing her mother at a young age has her afraid to take a chance.

With only five days, Owen will have to work fast if he has any hope of winning Charlotte's heart.

This is a stand alone contemporary romance with characters related to the NYT Bestselling Titan series by Cristin Harber. Owen is the cousin of Mia Winters from WINTERS HEAT.
Lexi by T. Gephart

The ending of an unhealthy relationship leaves Lexi Reed damaged, broken and alone. Fighting against self-doubt and an unsupportive family she runs away to Europe in an effort to not only heal but to discover who she is.

Settling in Rome had never been the plan but when the opportunity presented itself Lexi rolled with the punches. Lexi doesn't believe in a happily-ever-after, instead she enjoys the spoils of the majestic city and the many men that crossed her path, vowing to never again give away her heart.

When Lexi flirts with Riccardo Cassius, a good-looking stranger, she has no idea that he is the youngest son of one of the wealthiest and most influential families in all of Rome. The knowledge that he was “off-limits” inciting her desire for him further. Just one night, that’s all she asked. What Lexi hadn’t counted on was Riccardo’s unwillingness to let her walk away.
Rebelling against his conservative upper class family and the crazy relationship rules she has imposed, Riccardo fights to keep Lexi in his life and defy the odds. How far will each of them go? Will Lexi allow Riccardo into her heart or is she destined to break his?

What are you reading?



Monday, 23 April 2018

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?


It's Monday! What Are You Reading? This book blog meme has had a few hosts in its past but is now in the capable hands of Kathryn at The Book Date. It's a place where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It's a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and to put new titles on your reading list.

Life right now!


This is the first morning I haven't coughed or had to blow my nose for weeks. My son had a relapse but is getting better and is back at school. The warm temperatures these past few days has accelerated the snow melting, the crocuses are finished and the daffodils should be in flower within the coming days. Reading wise, I'm still only managing two books a week and my writing has taken a backseat too as I've begun to catch up with everything that has been neglected around the house these past weeks whilst we've all been ill. Now that Winter feels truly behind us, I'm beginning to feel more energised, so I should become more productive...I hope ;-)

What am I currently reading?

Lennon Reborn by Scarlett Cole

Lennon McCartney is not a broken man. Because being broken implies being whole once. When a horrific accident deprives him of the one thing he loves—his talent as a fierce and explosive drummer—Lennon is left with a life chained by an abusive mother, by crushing guilt over a tragic past. A life he doesn’t want.

Dr. Georgia Starr is a legend. She’s one of the most successful neurosurgeons in the world, coming from a long-line of respected New York doctors. Her life is built around solving complex medical cases in order to bring relief and hope to sick children. But the one problem she can’t solve is how to live her life. How to be shake loose the burden of being her elitist, arrogant father’s daughter. How to be free.

Can a man who despises his life and a woman who desperately needs to live find the answers, and love, with each other?

Thoughts so far...

This is book four in the Preload series and although I've only read one previous novel in the series, Lennon is definitely the character who stands out and I've been anticipating his story ever since. So far (at 40% on Kindle), the book is exceeding my expectations. Whilst Lennon is a complex character, Dr. Georgia Starr is an interesting match for him. The plot is flowing effortlessly and I can't wait to continue reading it. It's definitely a great reading start to my week.

Book(s) I've read this past week?

Broken Promise by Tara Thomas

In the sultry streets of Charleston, one family, ruled by its powerful, take-no-prisoners sons, has risen to the top. But a merciless enemy is out to destroy them…and everyone they hold close…

SHE SWORE TO KEEP HER PROMISES.
BUT CAN SHE KEEP THEM SAFE…AND PROTECT HER HEART?


Charleston Police Officer Alyssa Adams made a promise years ago to protect innocent women from harm. Now, she won’t rest until she can reunite every lost daughter with her family. Bring closure to every grieving husband. And, most of all, find out what happened the night her own sister disappeared, more than ten years ago…

As the eldest of the Benedict brothers, Kipling will stop at nothing to protect his family from a threat that aims to destroy them once and for all. But when a long-lost sibling is kidnapped by a powerful adversary, Alyssa is the only one he can turn to to get her back.

As Alyssa and Kipling band together to find their lost siblings, a powerful attraction builds between them that they can’t ignore. As the truth comes to light, will one broken promise tear them apart?

*****
Deadly Summer by Denise Grover Swank

(from Goodreads) Ten years ago, Summer Butler was television’s most popular teenage sleuth. Since then, she’s hit—what gossip sites just loveto call—the gutter. Nearly bankrupt, betrayed, estranged from her greedy mother, and just about unemployable, she’s coaxed into that desperate haven for has-beens: reality TV.

Winging it as a faux PI, she’ll solve off-the-cuff mysteries in her hometown of Sweet Briar, Alabama. For added drama, there’s police chief Luke Montgomery, inconveniently Summer’s first and only love.

It’s when Summer stumbles upon a very real corpse that Darling Investigations takes an unexpected twist. The growing list of suspects is a big draw to viewers, but the reality is that Summer doesn’t know whom she can trust. Someone has written this killer new scene especially for her, and unless Summer gives the role everything she’s got, it could be her last…

What are you reading?


Monday, 16 April 2018

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?


It's Monday! What Are You Reading? This book blog meme has had a few hosts in its past but is now in the capable hands of Kathryn at The Book Date. It's a place where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It's a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and to put new titles on your reading list.

Life right now!


The snow is melting and it's starting to feel slightly like Spring! Crocuses are already in flower even though 90% of the garden is still covered in snow. The daffodils are beginning to grow too. On that positive note, everyone in this household including me needs to get fit and well again. Over Easter, we all had flu and no sooner had we begun to recover, we got colds. We're all fed up! We thought after having a relatively sickness free Winter, we could forget about seasonal illnesses. The unseasonably cold weather snap in March brought unwelcome coughs and fevers. Life can only improve from now onwards can't it?

What am I currently reading?


Broken Promise, Sons of Broad #3 by Tara Thomas

In the sultry streets of Charleston, one family, ruled by its powerful, take-no-prisoners sons, has risen to the top. But a merciless enemy is out to destroy them…and everyone they hold close…

SHE SWORE TO KEEP HER PROMISES.
BUT CAN SHE KEEP THEM SAFE…AND PROTECT HER HEART?

Charleston Police Officer Alyssa Adams made a promise years ago to protect innocent women from harm. Now, she won’t rest until she can reunite every lost daughter with her family. Bring closure to every grieving husband. And, most of all, find out what happened the night her own sister disappeared, more than ten years ago…

As the eldest of the Benedict brothers, Kipling will stop at nothing to protect his family from a threat that aims to destroy them once and for all. But when a long-lost sibling is kidnapped by a powerful adversary, Alyssa is the only one he can turn to to get her back.

As Alyssa and Kipling band together to find their lost siblings, a powerful attraction builds between them that they can’t ignore. As the truth comes to light, will one broken promise tear them apart?


Thoughts so far...

This is the third and final book in the series and the one where the villain is discovered. Not surprisingly, I moved this book up to the top of my reading list as soon as I downloaded it. I've managed to get to 22% on my Kindle and loving it so far. The protagonists are familiar and already known to me as they were secondary characters in earlier instalments. Therefore I'm enjoying getting reconnected to the whole cast again as they work towards solving the crimes. Before beginning this book, I've always had a pretty clear view on who I think the bad guy is...in this case, discovering the identity of The Gentleman. However, I'm beginning to rethink my choice and I can't wait to plough through the remaining pages to find the answer. 

Book(s) I've read this past week?

Unmasked by the Marquess by Cat Sebastian
The one you love…
Robert Selby is determined to see his sister make an advantageous match. But he has two problems: the Selbys have no connections or money and Robert is really a housemaid named Charity Church. She’s enjoyed every minute of her masquerade over the past six years, but she knows her pretense is nearing an end. Charity needs to see her beloved friend married well and then Robert Selby will disappear…forever.
May not be who you think…
Alistair, Marquess of Pembroke, has spent years repairing the estate ruined by his wastrel father, and nothing is more important than protecting his fortune and name. He shouldn’t be so beguiled by the charming young man who shows up on his doorstep asking for favors. And he certainly shouldn’t be thinking of all the disreputable things he’d like to do to the impertinent scamp.
But is who you need…
When Charity’s true nature is revealed, Alistair knows he can’t marry a scandalous woman in breeches, and Charity isn’t about to lace herself into a corset and play a respectable miss. Can these stubborn souls learn to sacrifice what they’ve always wanted for a love that is more than they could have imagined?


My Oxford Year by Julie Whelan
American Ella Durran has had the same plan for her life since she was thirteen: Study at Oxford. At 24, she’s finally made it to England on a Rhodes Scholarship when she’s offered an unbelievable position in a rising political star’s presidential campaign. With the promise that she’ll work remotely and return to DC at the end of her Oxford year, she’s free to enjoy her Once in a Lifetime Experience. That is, until a smart-mouthed local who is too quick with his tongue and his car ruins her shirt and her first day.
When Ella discovers that her English literature course will be taught by none other than that same local, Jamie Davenport, she thinks for the first time that Oxford might not be all she’s envisioned. But a late-night drink reveals a connection she wasn’t anticipating finding and what begins as a casual fling soon develops into something much more when Ella learns Jamie has a life-changing secret. As the end of her year in Oxford rapidly approaches, Ella must decide if the dreams she’s always wanted are the same ones she’s now yearning for.


What are you reading?


Monday, 19 March 2018

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?


It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week.  It's a great post to organise yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog   and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date. And here we are!
Life right now!

Fingers crossed, yesterday was the last really cold day as temperatures are due to begin rising slightly this coming week. With above freezing temperatures forecast, the thaw will begin, although it will be mid-late April before we are completely snow-free. However, the current weather front is bringing lots of sunshine, so that is good for the soul. It's the last week of school for my son before the Easter break and with a school play running this week, our days will be less stressful as there is no homework. The garden is only accessible on skis, so it was a creative trip to feed the birds. Reading is a little slow right now, but I've managed two books this week. 



What am I currently reading?

Murder Notes (arc) by Lisa Renee Jones

New York Times bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones’s heart-pounding thriller of a woman’s secrets—and a past that’s about to come out of hiding…

As an FBI profiler, it’s Lilah Love’s job to think like a killer. And she is very good at her job. When a series of murders surface—the victims all stripped naked and shot in the head—Lilah’s instincts tell her it’s the work of an assassin, not a serial killer. But when the case takes her back to her hometown in the Hamptons and a mysterious but unmistakable connection to her own life, all her assumptions are shaken to the core.

Thrust into a troubled past she’s tried to shut the door on, Lilah’s back in the town where her father is mayor, her brother is police chief, and she has an intimate history with the local crime lord’s son, Kane Mendez. The two share a devastating secret, and only Kane understands Lilah’s own darkest impulses. As more corpses surface, so does a series of anonymous notes to Lilah, threatening to expose her. Is the killer someone in her own circle? And is she the next target?

Thoughts so far...

I've fallen into a trap where I finish a book on a Sunday and barely past the first chapter on a Monday morning. Today is one of those days! So far, I'm drawn into the narrative and as I've read books by this author before, I feel confident this will fall into a 4-5 star category. 
The majority of books I've read this year have been Romantic Suspense and I'm loving the diversity of this genre. Each one has felt very different from the last, unlike many contemporary romances I've read. 

What's next on my reading list?


by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie


by Emily Neville


Monday, 12 March 2018

It's Monday! What are you reading?



It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week.  It's a great post to organise yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog   and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date. And here we are!


Life right now!
We survived the “Beast from the East” freezing weather front from Siberia and now that the temperature has risen again (compared to -22C average it was during that weather front) it's snowing again...not that we need any more snow. It is perfect weather for reading and writing, so that's what I've been up to.














What am I currently reading?

A Scot's Surrender by Lily Maxton

When his brother leaves him in charge of Llynmore Castle, Robert Townsend is determined to make everything go smoothly. What does it matter if he’s inexplicably drawn to Ian Cameron, the estate’s stoic steward? Robert is sure he can ignore the way the Highlander’s apparent dislike of him gets under his skin. They’ll muddle along just fine so long as they avoid one another. An excellent plan…until a fire forces Ian into the castle—and Robert’s personal space.

Ian Cameron has worked for everything he owns, unlike spoiled Robert Townsend. And he may not have friends, but he has the Highlands and the stars, and what more could he really need? But when a guest’s stolen possession appears in his room, he doesn’t have much choice but to admit to the handsome and aggravatingly charming Townsend brother that he needs help. To solve this mystery, they’ll have to put aside their differences. And as Ian learns more about Robert, he’ll have to guard his heart…or it may be the next thing stolen.


Thoughts so far...

Currently at 21% on my Kindle and I need to finish this book today as I'm scheduled to publish my review tomorrow. It's an M/M historical romance and the third book in the series, although the other novels in The Townsends series are M/F. The author is new to me, and so far I am impressed how she's drawn me into the narrative.
With a Scottish Highlands backdrop, I'm enjoying the current interactions between the protagonists, as circumstances have thrown them together and neither seem to pleased with the arrangement. Subtle hints of attraction by one of them has been eluded to but so far, the scene is still very much being set. There are an interesting mix of secondary characters including a few English travellers that are taking refuge from a storm. Throw in a mystery and I'm sure this is going to receive a high review rating upon conclusion.

Book(s) I've read this past week?

Brett, Bad Boys After Dark (arc) by Melissa Foster

Save Me (arc) by Tiffany Snow

Bend by Kivrin Wilson

What are you reading?