Category: Romance

adult, ARC, contemporary, Erotica, fantasy, Historical Fiction, retelling, Romance, Sci-Fi, thriller, ya

February 2020 TBR

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It is FINALLY February! I don’t know about you guys, but January seemed to drag on FOREVER! Especially this last week. But it’s a new month, and I’m going to try to hit it hard with my reading!

Below I’ll show you the 15 books I have on my TBR and the criteria I’m using them for! Book Battle stars anew today, and I’m hoping to lead my team to victory! Come join in the competitive reading fun here!

  1. Book by an Author Named Jane – Harmony by Addison Jane
  2. House on the Cover – The Girl’s Weekend by Jody Gehrman
  3. Book Set in England – We are Blood and Thunder by Kesia Lupo
  4. Retelling – Second Star by JM Sullivan
  5. Set in the Past – Chasing Starlight by Teri Bailey Black
  6. Club Read 1 – A Heart so Fierce and Broken by Brigid Kemmerer
  7. Club Read 2 – A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas
  8. Criteria Choice 1 – Book by Tricia Levenseller – The Shadows Between Us
  9. Criteria Choice 2 – Book With a Dress on the Cover – Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
  10. Female Author – A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
  11. Book That Has Been on Your TBR for Over a Year – Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen
  12. Book About Love – Together We Caught Fire by Eva V. Fibson
  13. Book You Keep Hearing About – Blood Countess by Lana Popovic
  14. Standalone – Burn Our Bodies Down by Rory Power
  15. Black MC – The Raven and the Dove by Kaitlyn Davis

So, eleven of my books are ARCs. I’d love to put a dent in my ARC pile! The club reads are sequels – we can read any books in the series! I received a lovely finished copy of Blood Countess so I’m excited to check that one out as well!

What’s on your TBR this month? Have any thoughts on mine? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…

adult, ARC, blog tour, contemporary, Erotica, Five Star Book, Four Star Book, Horror, ownvoices, Romance, three star book, thriller, ya

January 2020 Wrapup

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Yall, this was NOT my month. I said I wanted to read 15 books a month. Well. I only got to 9. I was in a super huge slump for a majority of the month and I’m not sure why.

Anyway, I’ll tell you what books I read, my monthly stats, and how my Goodreads goal is looking!

EBOOKS READ

  1. Grey by EL James – 3 stars. Not my favorite. Took me almost a week to read.
  2. The Center of the Universe by Ria Voros – 3.5 stars. Much better than Grey, but not my favorite book of the month.
  3. Don’t Read the Comments by Eric Smith – 5 stars. Favorite book of the month and maybe top 5 of the year?! Yes, it was THAT GOOD.
  4. Idol Thoughts by JS Lee – 4 stars. Cute, fun reverse harem featuring a K-Pop group. Great slump buster!
  5. The Wives by Tarryn Fisher – 4 stars. Had some great twists. The middle of the book had me so surprised.

AUDIOBOOKS READ

  1. I’m a Therapist and My Patient is Going to be the Next School Shooter by Dr. Harper – 3.5 stars. I thought these were real stories. They were not. Ending got kind of weird.
  2. Call Me God by Jim Clemente – 4 stars. Great book about the DC Sniper and how the FBI profiled them.
  3. Evil Has a Name by Paul Holes – 4 stars. Great follow up to I’ll Be Gone in the Dark about the Golden State Killer.
  4. Chase Darkness with Me by Billy Jensen – 4 Stars. It made me want to take up being an at-home detective! But really, he is doing great work.

Now for some stats!

First off, my Goodreads goal. 9/165. I’m 4 books behind schedule. I already have a plan for next month and I’m hoping to hit it!

I read 1697 pages and did 14 hours, 32 minutes of listening! My average rating was 3.88 stars.
I read three nonfic, two contemporary, two erotica, one horror, and one thriller. There were seven adult books and two YA. I only read one ARC this month. One of my books was #ownvoices!

What does your monthly wrap up look like? Did you read any of these books! Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…

adult, contemporary, Erotica, Four Star Book, Romance

Idol Thoughts Review

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  • Title: Idol Thoughts
  • Author: J. S. Lee
  • Publisher: Axellia Publishing
  • Publish Date: Dec 3, 2018
  • Pages: 256
  • Book Form: E-Book
  • Genre: Romance
  • Dates Read: Jan 23 – Jan 27
  • Rating: ★★★★

I was supposed to manage them. I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with them.

Six months ago, I discovered I was the illegitimate heir to one of the K-Pop industry’s biggest entertainment companies. I didn’t want anything to do with the empire I had the chance to inherit.

Then I discovered how my jerk of a half-brother was currently running things. I might not want the job, but I damn well deserve it just as much as him. All I need to do is prove my worth by managing a failing boy band, H3RO, back to stardom.

Easy, right?

Tae, Dante, Minhyuk, Nate, Kyun, and Jun are as talented as they are good looking. Abandoned by their company, they’ve lost faith in everything and themselves. It’s down to me to save their careers – and their dreams – by delivering a number one single.

And yet, somehow, the bigger miracle will be not falling in love with all of them…

– Goodreads

Idol Thoughts was originally recommended to my friend, Hannah. She is a huge K-Pop fan. However, when I saw this book in Words & Whimsy, I knew I had to give it a try. I’ve been in about a two week slump. Nothing was grabbing my attention. My usual slump busters are smutty books, and this is a reverse harem, so I was like, ok let’s try. I’m so glad I did.

Now, a K-Pop fan I am not. Not that I dislike it, I just don’t listen to it. I know one song by BTS. There were a lot of words used in the book that I wasn’t sure of the meaning, but I felt there was enough context that it didn’t take anything away.

Holly, the MC, finds out that her dad is a manager of a huge K-Pop empire. He wants her to come to Korea and join the family business. Her half-brother is none to thrilled and gives her a task to save a group’s career. She thinks it will be impossible, but she pulls out all the stops once she meets the band. And fools around. With all of them.

I’m all for the reverse harem. It’s one of my favorite smut genres. But I was never sure if all the guys knew what was going on or if she was sneaking around. I just wanted everyone to know and be ok with it, honestly. The sex scenes were nicely written, as well as the growth of feelings between Holly and all the members of H3R0.

Idol Thoughts was the first of a trilogy, and I will for sure be reading the next two. I have to see how things turn out with the members of H3R0 and Holly’s brother!

Do you have any other reverse harem recs? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…

adult, contemporary, Romance

First Impression Friday!

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Wow! I cannot believe it is already Friday! This last week has not been a good reading week for me AT ALL. I’m only about halfway done with The Wives. I’m in such a slump so I decided to pick a book I thought would be a good slump buster!

This meme is hosted by JW Martin! Here’s what ya do:

First Impression Friday is a meme where you talk about a book you just started! You can be just a chapter or two in, or a little more.
Based on the start of the book, give a few impressions and predict how you’ll feel about the end!

I saw this novel recommended over at Words & Whimsy and decided to give it a try. So far, so good! It’s Idol Thoughts by JS Lee!

Six months ago, I discovered I was the illegitimate heir to one of the K-Pop industry’s biggest entertainment companies. I didn’t want anything to do with the empire I had the chance to inherit.

Then I discovered how my jerk of a half-brother was currently running things. I might not want the job, but I damn well deserve it just as much as him. All I need to do is prove my worth by managing a failing boy band, H3RO, back to stardom.

Easy, right?

Tae, Dante, Minhyuk, Nate, Kyun, and Jun are as talented as they are good looking. Abandoned by their company, they’ve lost faith in everything and themselves. It’s down to me to save their careers – and their dreams – by delivering a number one single.

And yet, somehow, the bigger miracle will be not falling in love with all of them…

– Goodreads

Okay, when I’m in a slump, I usually turn to a good, dirty book. They’re usually fast reads. This is a reverse harem, which I’m becoming a fan of! I mean, who doesn’t want multiple guys fawning over them, amirite?

So. First chapter. You meet Holly. Her dad left when she was young and she never knew him. All of a sudden, he contacts her and her mom, saying he wants her in on the family business – managing K-Pop groups. She knows nothing about the music industry and nothing about managing a K-Pop Group. Her half brother doesn’t like that she is creeping in on the family business and gives her a group to manage that destined for failure. They have to release an album and have a comeback in seven weeks! Sounds impossible.

At the end of the chapter, she moves into their dorm and meets all the members. All the members who are super attractive.

So my thoughts so far. The first chapter was quick and fun! I enjoyed meeting all the men and seeing her reaction to them. I have never read a book with K-Pop boys, so it’s new! I’ll be thinking about my friend Hannah the whole time!

I think I will really enjoy this one. The first chapter kept me interested and I can’t wait to dive in! I’m excited for the romance aspect as well! I’m hoping there will be some steamy scenes.

Have you read Idol Thoughts before? What did you think? Let me know below!

Until next time…

adult, contemporary, Romance

Down the TBR Part 8!

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

I’m so excited to go through these next 10 books! At a quick glance, it looks like I might only keep one, so I feel like I’ll really dwindle it down this week! This may be the first 10 book delete!

I’m starting my tbr at 1962. I added two books this week. I’ve bought a ton so far this month – 18! So it may be some of them.

Let’s get to it!

Second Sight by Amanda Quick

  • Date Added: June 27, 2015
  • Thoughts: This is the one I thought I’d keep. Paranormal romance with fake death.
  • Keep or Delete: Keep

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

  • Date Added: June 27, 2015
  • Thoughts: Nonfic about a guy that leaves his life for Alaska and then is found dead. I’m not so sure about it.
  • Keep or Delete: Delete

Last to Die by Tess Gerritsen

  • Date Added: June 27, 2015
  • Thoughts: Adult mystery with PD and medical examiner. Just didn’t catch my attention.
  • Keep or Delete: Delete

Forget about It by Caprice Crane

  • Date Added: June 27, 2015
  • Thoughts: Girl is taken advantage of, runs into a car, fakes amnesia, gets to try a new way of living. Very chick lit.
  • Keep or Delete: Delete

The Return of Jonah Gray by Heather Cochran

  • Date Added: June 27, 2015
  • Thoughts: IRS Auditor falls for man because of what she sees on tax papers.
  • Keep or Delete: Delete

A Plain & Fancy Christmas by Cynthia Keller

  • Date Added: June 27, 2015
  • Thoughts: Amish girl and NYC girl switched at birth, find out, and see how they like the other life.
  • Keep or Delete: Delete

Christmas in Sugar Creek by Shelley Shepherd Gray

  • Date Added: June 27, 2015
  • Thoughts: Another Amish Christmas story.
  • Keep or Delete: Delete

Best Friends by Martha Moody

  • Date Added: June 27, 2015
  • Thoughts: First, this cover is great. I love the simplicity, but I didn’t think I would like the book. However, this one sounds great. About best friends and secrets.
  • Keep or Delete: Keep.

Happiness Sold Separately by Lolly Winston

  • Date Added: June 27, 2015
  • Thoughts: A very chick lit romance.
  • Keep or Delete: Delete

Seeds of Summer by Deborah Vogts

  • Date Added: June 27, 2015
  • Thoughts: Rodeo, country, ranch, pastor chick lit romance.
  • Keep or Delete: Delete

Okay! I was pleasantly surprised by Best Friends. Like I said, I was drawn to the cover but figured I’d let it go after the synopsis. But it sounds so good! I’m also keeping the PNR, which I thought I would at the beginning.

I’m still at a loss to why there are so many Christmas books – especially Amish ones. I guess in 2015 my book tastes were totally different. I do remember reading a lot of chick lit at the time. Now days, they usually don’t hold my interest.

I am ending my TBR at 1954. I can’t wait for the day I see it below 1900! Or even 1000! Ha, if that will ever happen.

Have you read any of these books? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…

adult, contemporary, Four Star Book, Romance

Reputation Review!

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  • Title: Reputation
  • Author: Dr. Rebecca Sharp
  • Publisher: Independently Published
  • Publish Date: July 27, 2018
  • Book Form: E-Book
  • Pages: 362
  • Genre: Romance, Contemporary
  • Dates Read: Dec 20, 2019 – Dec 21, 2019
  • Rating: ★★★★

Small-town girl. America’s Sweetheart.
The biggest popstar in the world.
It began with one guy and then the next.
Until my reputation preceded me.
Yes, I dated them – all of them.
Yes, I also broke up with them.. All of them.
Was it too much? The world said yes. Too many, too quickly.
And my star began to flicker.
The world knew nothing about my life and yet, their judgement weighed on me like stone.
My reputation was falling faster than a shooting star and the only way to save it was with the boy who never wanted me.

– Goodreads

Reputation was recommended to me by my friend Jayce. She raves about Dr. Rebecca Sharp. I saw this was based on Taylor Swift’s reputation era, and I was all in. I love Taylor. This book, I think, did her justice. It was fiction, of course, but I feel like Blake was just the right mix of Taylor and a made up pop star.

Throughout the book lyrics were woven in. They were amazing! I think Dr. Sharp has a future in songwriting, too! I loved how they were at the beginning of the chapters, then woven in seamlessly.

I loved the romance between Blake and Zach. You see moments of their past and present. I loved seeing the past and how they grew together. The relationship between Blake and Taylor, her best friend, was so cute! It reminded me of me and my best friends. Blake also has a protective brother, Ash, who is best friends with Zach, so you know that causes some issues in their love story!

This was a fun romance with an HEA. I recommend to anyone who loves a light-hearted romance or Taylor Swift!

Have you read Reputation? What’s your favorite Dr. Rebecca Sharp book? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…

adult, ARC, contemporary, Four Star Book, mystery, Romance, three star book, ya

WWW Wednesday!

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

What did I just finish reading?

Grey by EL James

My review is posted here. Safe to say the first book of 2020 was long and disappointing.

I’m a Therapist and my Patient is Going to be the Next School Shooter by Dr. Harper

The title is a mouthful but a much better book. I thought this was a true story – it isn’t – but it was so entertaining.

What am I currently reading?

The Center of the Universe by Ria Voros

This started off iffy, but once the mystery picked up I haven’t been able to put it down.

Call Me God by Jim Clemente

Trying out nonfic audios again this year and I’m really enjoying this one! It’s the story of the DC Sniper. I am loving all the FIB Profilers in this!

What am I reading next?

Don’t Read the Comments by Eric Smith

This is an ARC I received that is releasing on Jan 28! I love that it features an online game and streamers!

What is your WWW Wednesday? Have you read any of these? What were your thoughts? Let’s get to know each other in the comments!

Until next time…

adult, Erotica, Romance, three star book

Grey Review

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  • Title: Grey
  • Author: EL James
  • Publisher: Vintage
  • Publish Date: June 18, 2015
  • Book Form: Ebook
  • Pages: 576
  • Genre: Romance, Erotica
  • Dates Read: Dec 31, 2019 – Jan 5, 2020
  • Rating: ★★★

Christian Grey exercises control in all things; his world is neat, disciplined, and utterly empty—until the day that Anastasia Steele falls into his office, in a tangle of shapely limbs and tumbling brown hair. He tries to forget her, but instead is swept up in a storm of emotion he cannot comprehend and cannot resist. Unlike any woman he has known before, shy, unworldly Ana seems to see right through him—past the business prodigy and the penthouse lifestyle to Christian’s cold, wounded heart.  

Will being with Ana dispel the horrors of his childhood that haunt Christian every night? Or will his dark sexual desires, his compulsion to control, and the self-loathing that fills his soul drive this girl away and destroy the fragile hope she offers him?

– Goodreads

Grey was another book that I kept from my Down the TBR posts. It’s the second one I have read, and the second one I have not been impressed with. So right now I’m 0/2 and planning to read a third, Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen, this month. I hope that one will be better!

I kept Grey because when the 50 Shades books came out, I enjoyed them. I loved being part of the hype of a hot new series. I know everyone wanted to know what was going on in Grey’s mind. Now that I know, I wish I didn’t. However, this book may be fun to read alongside 50 Shades. I think it would be cool to compare scenes and see it from both Grey and Ana’s points of view.

So back in the day, I thought Grey was hot shit. I now see again that my tastes have changed. Physically, sure, he’s probably attractive. But personality wise? Nah fam. He’s so controlling and stalker-ish. A lot of the thoughts he had about Ana and their relationship had me cringing and thinking, ‘who is this guy?! Like, just because you have money doesn’t mean you can talk/think that way!’

The first half of this book seemed to drag on forever. It was like I couldn’t get into it and I was just mad at everything Grey was. After the 50% park it picked up and I enjoyed it a lot more. I loved the emails between Grey and Ana. Honestly, if the whole book was just that, I would have loved it. I also liked seeing the flashbacks from Grey’s childhood. They didn’t really make me realize why he is the way he is, I just thought they were interesting.

This was also my first book of 2020, and it’s safe to say I was disappointed. It took me forever to read – six days! I was mad at Grey for 80% of the book. I wanted to slap Ana – and not in the way Grey does – and ask her what she is thinking being with him?!

Unfortunately, I won’t be recommending this book. Even though I loved the emails and flashbacks, it just wasn’t enough to redeem it.

Have you read Grey? What were your thoughts? Let me know in the comments!

Until next time…

adult, contemporary, Erotica, Four Star Book, Romance

Dr. Dan Review

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  • Title: Dr. Dan
  • Author: K. Webster
  • Publisher: Independently Published
  • Publish Date: Sept 26, 2019
  • Book Form: Ebook
  • Pages: 251
  • Genre: Romance, adult, Erotica, Doctor
  • Dates Read: Dec 26 – Dec 28, 2019
  • Rating: ★★★★

Lauren will do anything besides face reality.
Her truth won’t set her free because it’s too busy hunting her.
It chases her into the ER more often than she can count.

Dr. Venable is hellbent on finding answers for his most frequent hospital visitor.
Even when his stunningly beautiful patient is difficult and resistant.
He’ll uncover her pain because he wants nothing more than to heal the sassy young woman.

Long nights.
Rising temperatures.
Feverish needs.
They spend more time than ethical on their quest for answers.
His position. Her age. Nothing will keep them apart.
Not until they get what they came for.

Love may not be a cure, but they’re going to test it anyway.vel! Blurb and cover coming soon!

– Goodreads

Oooooo-weeee. This was my first Taboo Treat. I picked this one because K. Webster had been recommended to me by my friend, Jayce. I saw this one on kindle unlimited, noticed there was a doctor in it and BAM! I got it and immediately started reading. Little did I know, this is actually the last of the Taboo Treats series. Luckily, they can all be read as stand-alones, but you get nifty little cameos from characters in the other books!

Another thing I thought of after learning this tid bit, was man. These people all live in the same town – this is one freaky place! haha, I kid. But it did make me giggle.

Now, on to the book review! I loved this book. It was a quick, steamy read. Dr. Venable – or Dr. Dan as Lauren calls him – keeps having Lauren come into the ER. She’ll get patched up and leave without a complete work up. Dr. Dan is concerned – but mostly cause he thinks Lauren is super attractive. Never mind the fact that she is 18 and he is in his 30s. There’s part of the taboo! Also, doctor-patient relationships of the physical kind are very frowned upon. But who hasn’t fantasized about a hot doctor they had?

So Dr. Dan tracks Lauren down. She finds reasons to go to the ER. Things progress and get physical. Then emotional. He loves her sass and she loves his body and the way he treats her.

Of course, this book has a HEA. You find out why Lauren keeps going to the ER. The ending was super sweet. I usually give romances a 3 star because they’re usually just -eh. Another romance. This was not the case. Dr. Dan got a whole 4 stars from me.

This was a great first endeavor into K. Webster’s world and I can’t wait to jump back in!

Have you read Dr. Dan or any of K. Webster’s other works? What would you recommend? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…

adult, contemporary, mystery, Romance

Down the TBR Part 6!

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

I cannot believe another week has gone by! My whole week was messed up. Honestly, it’s been that way for about 3 weeks thanks to the Holidays. But this week I will get back into the normal routine and start working toward all of the goals I have set!

We are starting the TBR off at 1959. I did the opposite of what I was supposed to do and added four books to my TBR this week.

Don’t Look Back by Amanda Quick

  • Date Added: June 27, 2015
  • Thoughts: Seems like a weird mix of paranormal and regency romance with crime involved? I don’t know. Seems like a lot.
  • Keep or Delete: Delete

The Calhouns by Nora Roberts

  • Date Added: June 27, 2015
  • Thoughts: A 3-in-1 book of romances about sisters who live in a mansion on top of a hill.
  • Keep or Delete: Delete. There wasn’t enough in any of the stories to keep me interested.

Chill Factor by Sandra Brown

  • Date Added: June 27, 2015
  • Thoughts: Someone is abducting women. MC may hit him with her car then be forced to ride out a blizzard with him. I’m into it.
  • Keep or Delete: Keep

Lethal by Sandra Brown

  • Date Added: June 27, 2015
  • Thoughts: Man accused of murder shows up on woman’s door step claiming she has something the FBI wants and they need to run. Eh. Not really my thing.
  • Keep or Delete: Delete

Where There’s Smoke by Sandra Brown

  • Date Added: June 27, 2015
  • Thoughts: I thought this would be a keep cause the MC is a doctor, but then she and this guy try to take down corruption in a small town and ehhhhh.
  • Keep or Delete: Delete

Smoke Screen by Sandra Brown

  • Date Added: June 27, 2015
  • Thoughts: Another book about small town power and corruption. That just isn’t my thing.
  • Keep or Delete: Delete

Johnny Angel by Danielle Steel

  • Date Added: June 27, 2015
  • Thoughts: Deals with the death of a son. I have a son and I know I personally wouldn’t be able to read this book.
  • Keep or Delete: Delete

H.R.H. by Danielle Steel

  • Date Added: June 27, 2015
  • Thoughts: A princess who is hiding her identity falls in love with a doctor in Africa. I think I would like this.
  • Keep or Delete: Keep

The Things We do for Love by Kristin Hannah

  • Date Added: June 27, 2015
  • Thoughts: Chick Lit about a mother and daughter’s love and bond. I think my mom would like it, but it’s too adult chick-y for me.
  • Keep or Delete: Delete

The Proposal by Mary Balogh

  • Date Added: June 27, 2015
  • Thoughts: Regency romance involving a widow and war hero. I can get behind that.
  • Keep or Delete: Keep

Wow! Okay, by TBR is ending at 1952! Getting so close to being under 1900! I deleted 7, which I think may be my most yet! All of my keeps honestly surprised me, especially the Danielle Steel. If it didn’t have a doctor as an MC, I probably would have deleted it. I’m a sucker for doctors and nurses in books! I had a lot of Sandra Brown, which I know my mom really likes. I feel like she would like all of these books. It’s so crazy to see how much my tastes have changed!

Have you read any of these? What did you think? Let me know in the comments!

Until next time…