Stacking the Shelves #45

 

Stacking the Shelves is a *new* weekly meme to feature all the books that have made their way into our homes this week!

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

Bought:

            

NetGalley:

That’s all for this week. What you got to show? Leave me a link and I’ll come to visit.

Romance Review: Chasing Perfect by Susan Mallery

Welcome to Fool's Gold, California, a charming community in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. There's lots to do and plenty of people to meet, especially women. Because there's just one tiny problem in Fool's Gold: the men don't seem to stick around. Maybe it's the lure of big-city life, or maybe it's plain old bad luck, but regardless of the reason, the problem has to be fixed, fast. And Charity Jones may be just the city planner to do it.Charity's nomadic childhood has left her itching to settle down, and she immediately falls in love with all the storybook town has to offer—everything, that is, except its sexiest and most famous resident, former world-class cyclist Josh Golden. With her long list of romantic disasters, she's not about to take a chance on another bad boy, even if everyone else thinks he's perfect just the way he is. But maybe that's just what he needs—someone who knows the value of his flaws. Someone who knows that he's just chasing perfect.

Title: Chasing Perfect

Author: Susan Mallery

Series: Fools Gold

Publisher: HQN

Format: ebook

ISBN: 0373774524

Genre: Romance
Release date: April 27th 2010

Number of pages: 376

I have this series on the TBR for so long and have no idea why I keep postponing. I love romances and Susan Mallery makes the best of them, but Fool Gold has some books released that I was a little lazy to start. Don’t get me wrong there’s nothing wrong with the book or anything it was just me and starting a new series dilemma.

Onto the best part we have a town with fewer males every year and a population very small. But it’s such a quaint little town in the mountains with great outdoors activity and some very nice weather. So what's wrong, right? Nothing just better opportunities elsewhere, but the town great guy is back to stay and try to settle down after his career came to an end. Josh is everything good and he’s hiding his secrets and his fear, but he’s such a nice guy that it’s a little difficult to find bad things about him to say.

The girl was actually the mayor granddaughter and came to town after getting a job offer. You see she never knew her mother had left this town and it’s was quite a surprise to discover this little gem, but Charity made such a nice couple with Josh. They are truly meant to be because we can see friendship and love more than anything else. I liked this first book and it was nice meeting everyone, but my hopes are high for the rest of the series.

Series in Order

#1 – Chasing Perfect
#2 – Almost Perfect
#2.5 – Sister of the Bride #3 – Finding Perfect
#4 – Only Mine
#5 – Only Yours
#6 – Only His
#6.1 – Only Us
#6.2 – Almost Summer
#7 – Summer Days
#8 – Summer Nights
#9 – All Summer Long
#10 – A Fool Gold's Christmas
#10.5 – Halfway There
#11 – Just One Kiss
#12 – Two Of a Kind
#13 – Three Little Words
#13.5 – Christmas on 4th Street

Mystery Review: Portrait in Death by JD Robb

After a tip from a reporter, Eve Dallas finds the body of a young woman in a Delancey Street dumpster. Just hours before, the news station had mysteriously received a portfolio of professional portraits of the woman. The photos seemed to be nothing out of the ordinary for any pretty young woman starting a modeling career. Except that she wasn't a model. And that these photos were taken after she had been murdered. Now Dallas is on the trail of a killer who's a perfectionist and an artist. He carefully observes and records his victim's every move. And he has a mission: to own every beautiful young woman's innocence, to capture her youth and vitality - in one fateful shot...

Title: Portrait in Death

Author: JD Robb

Series: In Death

Publisher:  Brilliance Audio

Format: audiobook

ISBN: 142331753X

Genre: Mystery
Release date: November 1st 2007

Number of pages: An unabridged production (11 hours, 33 minutes).

 

 

This book was a little more emotional than the previous because we can finally see more of Roarke past and he discovered a few stories about his mother and how bad his father actually was, but I liked him finding hew things and for the first time looking for his family, it was really nice and touching, but the way he acted with Eve was really bad, because he’s always in her face to say something about her dreams, but when he has something bothering he just lash out.

 

I liked the investigation and how seeing how much Peabody has grow in her investigative skill. We can see this is a difficult case, but Eve is handling everything by the book. Plus deaths of young adults is always really difficult. But I liked the directions this book decided to lead us. Another great thing is seeing Eve trying to understand her relationship with Nadine. She’s never sure what to do or say behind cameras.

 

Series in Order:

#1 – Naked in death
#2 – Glory in death
#3 – Immortal in death
#4 – Rapture in death
#5 – Ceremony in death
#6 – Vengeance in death
#7 – Holiday in death
#7.5 – Midnight in death
#8 – Conspiracy in death
#9 – Loyalty in death
#10 – Witness in death
#11 – Judgment in death
#12 – Betrayal in death
#12.5 – Interlude in death
#13 – Seduction in death
#14 – Reunion in death
#15 – Purity in death
#16 – Portrait in death
#17 – Imitation in death
#17.5 – Big Jack
#18 – Divided in death
#19 – Visions in death
#20 – Survivor in death
#21 – Origin in death
#22 – Memory in death
#22.5 – Haunted in death
#23 – Born in death
#24 – Innocent in death
#24.5 – Eternity in death
#25 – Creation in death
#26 – Strangers in death
#27 – Salvation in death
#27.5 – Ritual in death
#28 – Promises in death
#29 – Kindred in death
#29.5 – Missing in death
#30 – Fantasy in death
#31 – Indulgence in death
#31.5 – Possession in death
#32 – Treachery in death
#33 – New York to Dallas
#33.5 – Chaos in death
#34 – Celebrity in death
#35 – Delusion in death
#36 – Calculated in death
#37 – Thankless in death (Expected publication: September 2013)
#37.5 – Mirror, Mirror (Expected publication: September 24th 2013)

Romance Review: When We Touch by Brenda Novak

You're invited to a wedding in Whiskey Creek, Heart of the Gold Country
Unfortunately, it's the wrong wedding. Olivia Arnold is arranging the festivities—and it's the hardest thing she's ever done. Because she should be marrying Kyle Houseman. They were together for more than a year…. But her jealous sister, Noelle, stole him away—and now she's pregnant.
All their friends in Whiskey Creek know as well as Olivia does that Kyle's making a mistake. His stepbrother, Brandon, knows it, too. But Kyle's determined to go through with it, for his child's sake.
Olivia's devastated, but surprisingly Brandon—the black sheep of the family--is there to provide comfort and consolation. The intensity between them, both physical and emotional, shows Olivia that maybe Kyle wasn't the right man for her….
But is Brandon?

Title: When We Touch

Author: Brenda Novak

Series: Whiskey Creek

Publisher:  Harlequin

Format: free ebook from Amazon

ISBN: B008JI9EHU

Genre: Romance
Release date: August 1st 2012

Number of pages: 102

 

This was actually a longer novella, from my standards, but I read after the first book, because it’s usually better to understand the town and the people with a longer book. So I already knew the characters and it was nice meeting them again, but this one it’s set before book one.

 

Olivia was such a nice girl, and she deserves a better family, because everyone treats her so bad and believe she’s just jealous half the time, plus she has to do everything for her spoiled sister. When you take a look in the reason she is back in town it’s extremely wrong the way her mother and sister treats her, but she actually got better with this dose of reality and Brandon was a great change for her.

 

She needed a change and Brandon was perfect with his bad boy attitude, but full of good intentions. The wedding weekend was a nightmare, but Olivia learned to trust herself and survived just fine with a new love.

Series in Order

#0.5 – When We Touch
#1 – When Lightning Strikes
#2 – When Snow Falls
#3 – When Summer Comes
#4 – Home to Whiskey Creek
#5 – Take Me Home for Christmas (Expected publication: October 29th 2013)

Top Off Tuesday #65

What better way than to top off a good book than with a GREAT Cover!

Amanda from On a Book Bender, Christi from Smitten with Reading, and Felicia from Geeky Blogger's Book Blog want to see the covers that made you swoon!  Feel free to play along and show us your favorite covers. Button made by Missie.

New Year and I decided to continue with my harlequin books. I think they deserve to be exposed, now look if those abs could ever be hidden.

In Hawaii for her birthday, Manhattan restaurateur Deirdre Smallwood has one mission to accomplish. She's going to shed her humdrum image and do something totally out of character: seduce Thelonius Stokes, the gorgeous ex-linebacker for the New York Sabers.
Theo is shocked by the sensual, uninhibited lover warming his bed. The pro-footballer-turned-TV-sports-analyst had Deirdre pegged for a girl-next-door type of woman. But she's making his blood run hot and giving him a rush of pleasure he's never felt before. This time around, Theo vows to score a touchdown on the only playing field that counts: the arena of love.

Romance Review: When Lightning Strikes by Brenda Novak

Simon O'Neal's causing trouble again. And it's up to Gail DeMarco to stop him.Gail DeMarco left Whiskey Creek, California, to make a name for herself in Los Angeles. Her PR firm has accumulated a roster of A-list clients, including the biggest box office hit of all—sexy and unpredictable Simon O'Neal. But Simon, who's just been through a turbulent divorce, is so busy self-destructing he won't listen to anything she says. She drops him from her list—and he retaliates by taking the rest of her clients with him.
Desperate to save her company, Gail has to humble herself by making a deal with Simon. The one thing he wants is custody of his son, but that's going to require a whole new image. He needs to marry some squeaky-clean girl who'll drag him off to some small, obscure place like Whiskey Creek….
Gail's the only one he can trust. She agrees to become his wife—reluctantly. But she isn't reluctant because he's too hard to like. It's because he's too hard not to love!

Title: When Lightning Strikes

Author: Brenda Novak

Series: Whiskey Creek

Publisher:  Harlequin MIRA

Format: eBook from NetGalley

ISBN: 0778313514

Genre: Romance
Release date: August 28th 2012

Number of pages: 448

 

 

I had this book on my TBR for a very long time, but never actually read mostly because of the number of pages and you can see it’s actually huge, but this month I had a plan to read some NetGalley gems and this series was a must.

 

But I have to say it was even better than what I hoped for and I dived into this story, not even the pages keep me away. I loved Gail and Simon for very different reasons. He’s trying to be bad, but at the heart we can clearly see he’s just hurt. And Gail it’s such a good person, but also have some dark spots on her life.

 

These two as a couple was perfect, because we can see the connection since the start. Gail is public relations and they were supposed to get married for only two years, enough time to get the media off his back and believing he changed and became the good guy, all this because he wanted some visitation rights with his kid from a previous marriage, but everything turned better than I even expected because Gail is such a nice girl, but she can put a guy to his place without a problem.

 

There’s all the right thing in this story. Little town, friends meddling and a perfect couple with some issues from the past. loved this book and will dive into the rest of the series ASAP.

Series in Order

#0.5 – When We Touch
#1 – When Lightning Strikes
#2 – When Snow Falls
#3 – When Summer Comes
#4 – Home to Whiskey Creek
#5 – Take Me Home for Christmas (Expected publication: October 29th 2013)

Young Adult Review: Fall of Night by Rachel Caine

Claire never thought she’d leave Morganville, but when she gets accepted into the graduate program at MIT, she can’t pass up the opportunity. Saying good-bye to her friends is bittersweet, especially since things are still raw and unsettled between Claire and her boyfriend, Shane.
Her new life at MIT is scary and exciting, but Morganville is never really far from Claire’s mind. Enrolled in a special advanced study program with Professor Irene Anderson, a former Morganville native, Claire is able to work on her machine, which is designed to cancel the mental abilities of vampires.
But when she begins testing her machine on live subjects, things quickly spiral out of control, and Claire starts to wonder whether leaving Morganville was the last mistake she’ll ever make...

Title: Fall of Night

Author:  Rachel Caine

Series: Morganville Vampires

Publisher:  New American Library

Format: ebook

ISBN: 045141425X

Genre: Young Adult
Release date: May 7th 2013

Number of pages: 352

 

 

I love this series and already thinking about saying goodbye is really sad, but Claire must face reality some day and I believe the vampires need to learn how to live alongside the humans and not just bossing them around.

 

I got the feeling this book was a little different than what I expected, but after the draug everything is strange in Morganville and now we also have Claire finally going to MIT. I never really thought this would happen but it was a nice change of scene, plus I think she need a time for herself and put her feelings in perspective.

 

Of course trouble found her and vampires were involved, but the best part for me about this book was the friendship. We can see Myrnin missing her and going to save Claire is the best part of them all. Oliver is back and the rest of the gang are also going to show up.

 

I liked the different town and the change some characters showed, Claire is missing Morganville and her friends, but she discovered that in town she already knew the danger and facing enemies know is way better.

 

I liked this book, it wasn't my favorite in this series, but a nice change and a very dramatic ending. Can’t wait for the finale.

Series in Order

#1 – Glass Houses
#2 – The Dead’s Girl Dance
#2.6 – Grudge
#3 – Midnight Alley
#4 – Feast of Fools
#4.5 – Dead Man Stalking
#5 – Lord of Misrule
#6 – Carpe Corpus
#7 – Fade Out
#8 – Kiss of Death
#9 – Ghost Town
#10 – Bite Club
#10.5 – Anger Management
#11 – Last Breath
#12 – Black Dawn
#13 – Bitter Blood
#14 – Fall of Night 
#15 – Daylighters (Expected publication: November 5th 2013)

Stacking the Shelves #44

 

Stacking the Shelves is a *new* weekly meme to feature all the books that have made their way into our homes this week!

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

Bought:

  

NetGalley:

        

Edelweiss:

That’s all for this week. What you got to show? Leave me a link and I’ll come to visit.

Romance Review: Famously Engaged by Robyn Thomas

A chef and a rock star. They couldn’t be from more different worlds…
Rock star royalty’s favorite son, Jake Olsen, couldn’t help but interfere after listening to his future brother-in-law talk non-stop about his ex-wife, Beth Carlisle. Jake decides that the only way to get the groom’s mind off his ex-wife is to give her a fake fiancé.
Before Jake can convince Beth of his plan, he's forced to move in with her to avoid the paparazzi. Their instant attraction makes for a sizzling "first date", but soon Jake’s fame gets in the way and Beth wants out. Too bad Jake's figured out just why her ex is so obsessed with her, and he's afraid he's not going to be able to give her up either.
Now it's up to Jake to convince this chef together they make the perfect recipe.

Title: Famously Engaged

Author: Robyn Thomas

Publisher:  Entangled: Indulgence

Format: ebook from NetGalley

ISBN: 1622660684

Genre: Romance
Release date: May 13th 2013

Number of pages: 187

 

I feel like I’m the only one who loved this book and was kinda hoping we could have a series with the rest of the band, but people really hated the plot.

 

I liked Jake, but I really loved Beth. She’s caring and have been throught so much in this past two years, but handled everything so weel, even after the entire band moved to her house. This story is actually set in Australia and I love to travel in the romances and met different countries, but this book was more like a one scenerio theme.

 

Everything is handled from inside Beth house after Jake made it look like they are secretly engaged, just because he’s jeaulous off Beth relationhip with her ex, strange right and now you are wondering what he has to do with those two?

 

Beth’s ex is now marrying Jake’s half-sister, but the problem is more than just that because his sister has no idea about the family link and thinks his just the boss. Crazy story, but I loved the romance and Jake is just a great guy that sufered a lot, so he deserved a nice girl.

Romance Review: The Goddess by Robyn Grady

After college graduation, Helene Masters is excited to land a job in a picturesque Aegean kingdom. Tasked with sprucing up the Prince's villa, she inadvertently finds herself trapped on the  island with the sexiest man alive. Of course she has to fall for a man who is destined to only marry royalty. 
Darius Vasily, Prince of Teirenias, can't figure out what pretty, but accident-prone, Helene is doing at his private estate. After dousing him in paint, she disappears inside the secret cave holding the royal family treasure—a fertility statue, but a cave-in traps them both. Now Darius has to figure out how to save them before he kills her for getting them into this mess in the first place—or gives into their amazing chemistry.

Title: The Goddess

Author: Robyn Grady

Series: Idol

Publisher:  Entangled: Indulgence

Format: ebook from NetGalley

ISBN: 162266115X

Genre: Romance
Release date: May 13th 2013

Number of pages: 250

 

I do love these romances connected with mythology and The Goddess is a good example of a great journey. I liked Darius and he seams like a complete normal guy trying to handle his family and the country, but the best part is Helene, she’s so full of life and makes sure Darius can enjoy a few days without the worry and the regulamentations.

Their relationship is kinda difficult, because she’s a commoner, but Darius is a nice guy and after having sex and facing the consequences of a goddess hoping for the next generation we can clearly see, his life has completely changed, but he still tries to make the right thing.

He could be a little more romantic, but he’s royal and things are different for them growing up, so he’s as good as they come. But he showed a very nurturing side when faced with his sister love affairs, and I really liked him giving up power for a chance.

Top Off Tuesday #64

What better way than to top off a good book than with a GREAT Cover!

Amanda from On a Book Bender, Christi from Smitten with Reading, and Felicia from Geeky Blogger's Book Blog want to see the covers that made you swoon!  Feel free to play along and show us your favorite covers. Button made by Missie.

New Year and I decided to continue with my harlequin books. I think they deserve to be exposed, now look if those abs could ever be hidden.

Prima ballerina Belana Whitaker knows exactly why she hasn't found her soul mate. Her whole life has been about practice and the pursuit of perfection. Now, though, she has to admit: her jeweled tutus aren't keeping her warm at night. But when a devastating surprise sidelines Belana, a partner from her past tempts her with a whirlwind seduction.Gorgeous, wildly successful sports agent Nicolas isn't used to waiting in the wings. He's entranced by Belana's commitment to her craft and her graceful beauty. But how can he convince the reserved ballet star that they should share the sweetest dance of all? He's determined to show her step by passionate step, kiss by irresistible kiss.

No String Attached Giveaway

No Strings Attached Giveaway Hop

May 21st – 27th

For this month I chose a favorite series of mine that without a doubt is perfect for teenagers and adult just looking for a good time while reading.

   

The winner will get one epub copy of each book in this series and they are so cute and fun.

• Open International
• Just fill out the Rafflecopter bellow and hop along the other entries.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

Now hop along to the next blog.....

Romance Review: His Southern Temptation by Robin Covington

Some women are bad. Some women are a bad idea. The best ones are both...
A former Black Ops assassin, “Lucky” Landon has had more near-misses than a man should ever have. Now he’s out of that business and settling into the simple life in his small hometown. So the last thing he ever expected was to end up at gunpoint. Or that the woman holding the gun would be his best friend’s little sister and Lucky’s on-again/off-again lover.
Taylor Elliott is Trouble, and she likes it that way. And seeing Lucky again? Well, he’s been her dirty little secret for the past few years and everyone knows that secrets in a small town are almost impossible to keep. But Taylor has bigger problems on her plate. Like the local mob boss who wants her dead.
And right now the only thing standing between Trouble and disaster is a hottie named Lucky...

Title: His Southern Temptation

Author: Robin Covington

Series: The Boys are Back in Town

Publisher:  Entangled Publishing

Format: ebook

ISBN: 622667042

Genre: Romance
Release date: April 1st 2013

Number of pages: 192

 

This is actually the second book in the series, but I found it okay to read without reading the first one. The story is not really related, but the boys are present in this story, plus we see a bit of the couple from the first book and it’s explained a bit about their relationship, nothing to extensive.

 

Lucky is actually a really nice guy and I liked the way he decided to change his life and enjoy more the country life after fighting in war and being a marine, but is definitely a change that he welcomed. His family is having some problems with money and he can help, so it’s nothing surreal for him to return home, but the best parrt is meeting Taylor again. He’s kinda in love with her for awhile, but their realtionship never worked and they are better as friends with benefits since Lucky is best friends with her brother.

 

I liked Taylor and completely understood her reasons for fighting and breaking chains. Her family is a bit too much and she just wanted freedom and being herself. But she’s so good with Lucky, plus she’s had a crush on him since forever.

 

I liked these two as a couple and she's very adventurous so that makes her perfect for Lucky. Really nice book and I’ll read the first one very soon.

Series in Order

#1 – A Night if Southern Confort
#2 – His Southern Temptation