Tag: Holly’s Monthly Reads

Monthly Reads: December 2019

Posted January 3, 2020 by Rowena in Features | 7 Comments

Casee: I doesn’t come as a surprise to me that December was incredibly busy. I read four books, one was a reread and one was a DNF. Pretty sad overall.

Hero’s Haven by Rebecca Zanetti | 4 out of 5
Archangel’s Kiss by Nalini Singh (audio)(reread) | 4.5 out of 5
Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik | 2 out of 5
Love Drunk by T.L. Smith (audio) | DNF

Although Love Drunk was a DNF for me, my least favorite book of the month was Spinning Silver. It was a book club book and just not for me. My favorite was my Nalini Singh reread of Archangel’s Kiss.

Holly: December was a pretty crazy month for me both personally and professionally, so my reading time was basically nil. What little time I did have, I wasn’t able to focus much. I ended up doing a lot of re-reading and not much else. I finished 9 books in December.

Repeat by Kylie Scott (reread) | 5 out of 5
Golden Trail by Kristen Ashley (reread) | 3.25 out of 5
Complicated by Kristen Ashley (reread) | 4.25 out of 5
Fairytale Come Alive by Kristen Ashley (reread) | 4 out of 5
Wildfire by Ilona Andrews (reread) | 4.5 out of 5
Sweep of the Blade by Ilona Andrews (reread) | 4.25 out of 5
The Fate of Mercy Alban by Wendy Webb (audio) | 3.5 out of 5
The Highlander’s Bride by Michele Sinclair (audio) | DNF
The Wallflower Wager by Tessa Dare (audio) | 3.5 out of 5

Honestly, I’m not even going to bother with favorite/least favorite. I read two new-to-me books and neither blew my socks off. Here’s hoping January is better.

Rowena: I read three books in December. Three. That is all I read. It was an extremely busy month for me. At home. At work. There wasn’t a lot of time left over to read. That makes me sad but it also really drives me to read more in January. Here’s my sad reading list for the month that was December 2019.

1. Lady Derring Takes a Lover (The Palace of Rogues #1) by Julie Anne Long (eBook) | 4.75 out of 5
2. The A.I. Who Loved Me by Alyssa Cole (Audiobook) | 4 out of 5
3. The Kingmaker (All the King’s Men #1) by Kennedy Ryan (eBook) | 4.75 out of 5

I enjoyed every book that I read in December. I cried buckets reading the first and third read and I was completely charmed with the second read. So while I didn’t read a lot of books, I read some quality books and I’ll take that. I ended the year on a really high note and even though the ending ripped me up (because WTF???), The Kingmaker was a damn good way to end 2019.

Giveaway Alert

Three lucky winners will choose their prize (one book) from any of the books we logged this month. If you want to be entered to win, leave a comment on this post telling us what your favorite – and least favorite – reads of the month were.

So…what was your favorite read of the month? And your least favorite? Use the Gleam Widget to enter! Good luck!

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Tagged: Casee's Monthly Reads, Holly's Monthly Reads, Monthly Reads, Rowena's Monthly Reads

Monthly Reads: November 2019

Posted December 3, 2019 by Casee in Features | 8 Comments

Casee: I didn’t read much in November. Only seven books. I was really hoping that I would have time to read over the Thanksgiving week, but that ended up not being so.

My favorite read was Into the Dark by KR. I just adore her. Least favorite was Wait by A.L. Jackson. I didn’t hate the book by any means, but I didn’t love it like I’ve loved all the books in her Bleeding Stars series.

Holly: November was a tough month for me. I had a lot going on and not a lot of brain power to focus on reading. I managed to read 25 books, but the majority were re-reads.

Silence for the Dead by Simone St. James (audio) | 4.5 out of 5
The Beautiful Ashes by Jeaniene Frost (audio) | DNF
How to Run with a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper (audio) | 4 out of 5
Switch Hitter by Sara Ney (audio) | 3 out of 5
Not So Nice Guy by R.S. Grey (audio) | 3 out of 5
The Governess Game by Tessa Dare (audio) | 4 out of 5
An Inquiry into Love and Death by Simone St. James (audio) | 4 out of 5
Smitten by the Brit by Melonie Johnson | 3 out of 5
Repeat by Kylie Scott (reread) | 5 out of 5
Complicated by Kristen Ashley (reread) | 4 out of 5
Good Boy by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy (reread) (audio) | 4.5 out of 5
Guardian Angel by Julie Garwood (reread) | 3.75 out of 5
The Lion’s Lady by Julie Garwood (reread) | 4.75 out of 5
The Time in Between by Kristen Ashley (reread) | 3.5 out of 5
Hold On by Kristen Ashley (reread) | 3.25 out of 5
Laird Wolf by Vivan Arend (audio) | 4 out of 5
Soaring by Kristen Ashley (reread) | 3.75 out of 5
Fairytale Come Alive by Kristen Ashley (reread) | 4.25 out of 5
Own the Wind by Kristen Ashley (reread) | 4 out of 5
For You by Kristen Ashley (reread) | 3.5 out of 5
Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs (reread) | 4.25 out of 5
Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs (reread) | 4 out of 5
Fair Game by Patricia Briggs (reread) | 4.25 out of 5
Alpha and Omega by Patricia Briggs (reread) | 4.5 out of 5
Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison (reread) | 5 out of 5

My favorite new read of the month was The Governess Game by Tessa Dare. I didn’t love the main conflict, but I adored the characters on their own. My least favorite was The Beautiful Ashes by Jeaniene Frost. The main characters were ridiculous and acted very immature. I couldn’t even finish the book.

Rowena: I had a lot of stuff going on in November so by mid-month, I still had only read 2 books but then Holly and Casee told me to start re-reading old favorites and so I jumped on that. I read 4 more books and then called it quits on the month of November. I read the following books.

Open House (Uptown #2) by Ruby Lang (eARC) | 3.5 out of 5
Goddess of Spring (Goddess Summoning #2) by P.C. Cast (eBook) | 3 out of 5
The Lion’s Lady (Crown’s Spies #1) by Julie Garwood (eBook) (re-read) | 4.25 out of 5
Guardian Angel (Crown’s Spies #2) by Julie Garwood (eBook) (re-read) | 4.5 out of 5
The Gift (Crown’s Spies #3) by Julie Garwood (eBook) (re-read) | 4 out of 5
Castles (Crown’s Spies #4) by Julie Garwood (eBook) (re-read) | 4.75 out of 5

Of the two new to me reads, my favorite read for the month of December is Open House by Ruby Lang. It was a cute romance between two charming characters. I adored Ty Yang and loved seeing him try to muddle through his growing feelings for Magda and I just enjoyed being a part of their romance. My least favorite read of the two is Goddess of Spring by P.C. Cast.

Giveaway Alert

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Tagged: Casee's Monthly Reads, Giveaways, Holly's Monthly Reads, Monthly Reads, Rowena's Monthly Reads

Monthly Reads: October 2019

Posted November 5, 2019 by Holly in Features, Giveaways | 9 Comments

Casee: October was a pretty pathetic month for me. I only read five books and that included one reread. Here’s hoping that November is a better reading month for me.

Live For You by Michele Mills | 2.5 out of 5
Drowning to Breathe by A.L. Jackson (audio) | 4.5 out of 5
Where Lightning Strikes by A.L. Jackson (audio) | 4 out of 5
Hold on to Hope by A.L. Jackson | 4.5 out of 5
Saving Grace by Julie Garwood (reread) | 5 out of 5 (every day, all day)

My favorite read of the month, hands down was Hold on to Hope. I adore that book. I couldn’t get enough of Evan and Frankie Leigh. My least favorite was Live For You by Michele Mills. It was just over the top, even for a dystopian. Like way over.

Holly: I had intended to read a lot more than I did, but the month kind of got away from me. I finished 18 books.

Silence for the Dead by Simone St. James (audio) | 4.5 out of 5
The Other Side of Midnight by Simone St. James (audio) | 4 out of 5
Shopping for a Billionaire by Julia Kent (audio) | DNF
Heartbreaker by Linda Howard (reread) | 3.5 out of 5
The Vine Witch by Luanne G. Smith (audio) | 4.25 out of 5
Saving Grace by Julie Garwood (reread) | 5 out of 5
Heart Thief by Robin D. Owens (audio) (reread) | 4.25 out of 5
Heart Fate by Robin D. Owens (audio) (reread) | 4 out of 5
Heart Change by Robin D. Owens (audio) (reread) | 3.75 out of 5
Heart Choice by Robin D. Owens (audio) (reread) | 3.75 out of 5
Angel in a Devil’s Arms by Julie Anne Long | 4 out of 5
Quiet Man by Kristen Ashley | 4 out of 5
Heart Sight by Robin D. Owens (audio) (reread) | 3.5 out of 5
Fairytale Come Alive by Kristen Ashley (reread) | 3.75 out of 5
Warrior Fae Trapped by K.F. Breene (audio) | 4 out of 5
Warrior Fae Princess by K.F. Breene (audio) | 3.5 out of 5
The Gamble by Kristen Ashley (reread) | 3.25 out of 5
The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare (audio) | 4.25 out of 5

My favorite read of the month was Silence for the Dead by Simone St. James. It was just the book I was looking for. Honorable mentions go to The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare and The Vine Witch by Luanne G. Smith. I enjoyed both (and the narrators, as well). My least favorite was Warrior Fae Princess by K.F. Breene. It wasn’t a bad book, but it didn’t compare to the other books in the series.

Rowena: October was a busy month for me at work and at home but I still managed to get some reading done. I read 13 books and I counted Saving Grace twice because I read it twice. I love that book so much that I read it at the beginning of the month and at the end of the month to prepare for our team review. Man, I love that book.

Saving Grace by Julie Garwood (eBook) (Re-read) | 5 out of 5
The Wedding (Laird’s Fiancees #2) by Julie Garwood (eBook) (Re-read) | 5 out of 5
Moonlighter (The Company #1) by Sarina Bowen (eARC) | 4.25 out of 5
Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren (eARC) | 3.75 out of 5
The Bride (Laird’s Fiancees #1) by Julie Garwood (eBook) (Re-read) | 4 out of 5
The Bromance Book Club (The Bromance Book Club #1) by Lyssa Kay Adams (eARC) | 4 out of 5
Huge Deal (21 Wall Street #3) by Lauren Layne (Re-Read) (Audiobook) | 4.5 out of 5
Marriage on Madison Avenue (The Central Park Pact #3) by Lauren Layne (eARC) | 3.75 out of 5
Blitzed (The Play Book #3) by Alexa Martin (eARC) | 3 out of 5
Four Days of You and Me by Miranda Kenneally (eARC) | 4 out of 5
Saving Grace by Julie Garwood (eBook) | 5 out of 5
Getting Played (Getting Some #2) by Emma Chase (Audiobook) | 4.25 out of 5
A Madness of Sunshine by Nalini Singh (eARC) | 3.75 out of 5

My favorite read of the month goes to Moonlighter by Sarina Bowen and Getting Played by Emma Chase. Honorable mentions go out to The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams and Four Days of You and Me by Miranda Kenneally. All of these books were fabulous reads and I can’t wait for everyone to read them. My least favorite read of the month goes to Blitzed by Alexa Martin. I wanted to love it but it was too slow in parts and I wasn’t as connected to Brynn and Maxwell the way that I was with TK and Poppy and that bummed me out.

Giveaway Alert

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Tagged: Casee's Monthly Reads, Giveaways, Holly's Monthly Reads, Monthly Reads, Rowena's Monthly Reads

Monthly Reads: September 2019

Posted October 2, 2019 by Holly in Features, Giveaways | 9 Comments

Casee: After a really great reading month August was for me, I had high hopes for myself for September. Alas, it wasn’t to be. I read/listened to nine book in September.

Follow Me Back by A.L. Jackson (audio) | 3.5 out of 5
Lead Me Home by A.L. Jackson (audio) | 4 out of 5
Lost to You by A.L. Jackson (audio) | 4 out of 5
Lethal Nights by Lora Leigh | 4 out of 5
Take This Regret by A.L. Jackson (audio) | 4.25 out of 5
If Forever Comes by A.L. Jackson (audio) | 4.5 out of 5
Die For You by Michele Mills | 4 out of 5
Kill For You by Michele Mills | 4.25 out of 5
A Stone in the Sea by A.L. Jackson (audio) | 4 out of 5

As you can see, I listened to a lot of A.L. Jackson. My favorite book of the month was If Forever Comes by A.L. Jackson, followed closely by Kill For You by Michele Mills.

Holly: September was a sad, sad reading month for me. I had so many things going on I just couldn’t concentrate. I finished 9 books, and the majority were re-reads.

The Secret by Julie Garwood (reread) (audio) | 4.5 out of 5
Ransom by Julie Garwood (reread) (audio) | 2.75 out of 5
The Wedding by Julie Garwood (reread) (audio) | 4.25 out of 5
Honor’s Splendour by Julie Garwood (reread) (audio)| 4 out of 5
Now You See Her by Linda Howard (reread) | 3.75 out of 5
Selkies are a Girl’s Best Friend by Molly Harper (audio) | 3.75 out of 5
Death Knell by Hailey Edwards (audio) | 3.5 out of 5
Don’t You Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarlane (audio) | 4 out of 5
First Contact by Kat Green (audio) | 1.5 out of 5

My favorite new book of the month was Selkies Are a Girl’s Best Friend by Molly Harper, with an honorable mention to Don’t You Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarlane. My least favorite was First Contact by Kat Green.

Rowena: It’s been an okay reading month for me, considering all of the personal stuff that went down in the last couple of months in my family. My Dad is finally out of the hospital and whatever has been bugging him the last few months seems to be doing a lot better so I’m not so worried all the time about him and that’s a good thing. I managed to get some reading in while taking my turn at the hospital, while sitting with him at follow up appointments and just on my own so that makes me happy.

Here’s what I read last month:

Heidi’s Guide to Four Letter Words by Tara Sivec & Andi Arndt (Audiobook) | 1.5 out of 5
Don’t You Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarlane (eARC) | 4.5 out of 5
Love on Lexington Avenue (The Central Park Pact #2) by Lauren Layne (eARC) | 4.25 out of 5
No Judgments (Little Bridge Island #1) by Meg Cabot (eARC) | 3.25 out of 5
Heiress Gone Wild (Dear Lady Truelove #4) by Laura Lee Guhrke (eARC) | 4 out of 5
Bringing Down the Duke (A League of Extraordinary Women #1) by Evie Dunmore (eBook) | 4 out of 5
Shadow Music (Highland Lairds #3) by Julie Garwood (eBook) | 4 out of 5
We Met in December by Rosie Curtis (eARC) | 3.75 out of 5
The Secret (Highland Lairds #1) by Julie Garwood (eBook) (Re-read) | 4.25 out of 5
Ransom (Highland Lairds #2) by Julie Garwood (eBook) (Re-read) | 4.5 out of 5
The Play (Briar U #3) by Elle Kennedy (eARC) | 4.25 out of 5
The Prize by Julie Garwood (eBook) (Re-read) | 4.25 out of 5
10 Blind Dates by Ashley Elston (eARC) | 4 out of 5

My favorite reads of the month go to Don’t You Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarlane and The Play (Briar U #3) by Elle Kennedy. Both books were fantastic and I cried during Don’t You Forget About Me and swooned at every turn in The Play. Great reads!

My least favorite read of the month goes to Heidi’s Guide to Four Letter Words by Tara Sivec and Andi Arndt. The heroine got on my nerves. I think her quirkiness was supposed to be cute and funny but I didn’t get it. She was too old to be that naive and I rolled my eyes all the way to San Diego with every chapter. I’m not the audience for that one and it bummed me out because I thought it would be super cute. Oh well.

Giveaway Alert

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Tagged: Casee's Monthly Reads, Giveaways, Holly's Monthly Reads, Monthly Reads, Rowena's Monthly Reads

Monthly Reads: August 2019

Posted September 3, 2019 by Holly in Features, Giveaways | 7 Comments

Casee: Holy crap. I read 21 books in August. I blame Meghan March and A.L. Jackson. I listened to quite a few audiobooks. 15 to be exact. That definitely upped my read count.

More of You by A.L. Jackson (audio) | 3.75 out of 5
Diamond Fire by Ilona Andrews | 3.75 out of 5
Natural Witch by K.F. Breene (audio) | 4 out of 5
White Knight by Meghan March (audio) | 4 out of 5
Dirty Billionaire by Megan March (audio) | 3.75 out of 5
All of Me by A.L. Jackson | 4 out of 5
Dirty Pleasures by Meghan March (audio) | 3.75 out of 5
Dirty Together by Meghan March (audio) | 3.75 out of 5
Cold-Hearted Rake by Lisa Kleypas (audio)
Lies by Kylie Scott | DNF
Real Dirty by Meghan March (audio) | 4 out of 5
Blood Truth by J.R. Ward | 4 out of 5
Ruthless King by Meghan March (audio) | 3.5 out of 5
Real Sexy by Meghan March (audio) | 4 out of 5
Defiant Queen by Meghan March (audio) | 4 out of 5
Beyond Scandal and Desire by Lorraine Heath (audio) | 3.5 out of 5
Sinful Empire by Meghan March (audio) | 4 out of 5
The Whole30 by Melissa Hartwig | 5 out of 5
Dark Illusion by Christine Feehan | 4.25 out of 5
Pieces of Us by A.L. Jackson (audio) | 4 out of 5
Show Me the Way by A.L. Jackson (audio) | 4.25 out of 5.

I was really disappointed that I had to DNF Lies by Kylie Scott. I had high hopes for that book. That was my least favorite of the month for sure. Show Me the Way by A.L. Jackson was my favorite book in August. I really, really liked that one a lot. Close second is Dark Illusion by Christine Feehan.

Holly: I really wanted August to be a better month than July, but life got in the way (as it tends to do). I didn’t read nearly as much as I wanted to. I managed to read 25 books, but 2 were DNF’s, 1 I read twice and most of the rest were read toward the latter part of the month.

Bayou Born by Hailey Edwards | 4.25 out of 5
Bone Driven by Hailey Edwards | 3.75 out of 5
Kill the Queen by Jennifer Estep | 4.25 out of 5
Sweet Heat by Zuri Day | 3.25 out of 5
Marry Me by Jo Goodman | 3.5 out of 5
Royally Yours by Emma Chase (audio) | 4 out of 5
The Governess Affair by Courtney Milan | 3.75 out of 5
The Darkling Bride by Laura Andersen (audio) | DNF
Never Have I Ever by Lauren Blakely (audio) | 4.5 out of 5
Good Girl by Lauren Layne (audio) | 1 out of 5
Hot as Puck by Lili Valente (audio) | 3.5 out of 5
Trade Me by Courtney Milan (audio) | 3.75 out of 5
The Cursed by Alyssa Day (audio)| 3 out of 5
The Witch of Willow Hall by Hester Fox | DNF
Repeat by Kylie Scott (audio) (reread) | 5 out of 5
Quiet Man by Kristen Ashley | 4 out of 5
The Will by Kristen Ashley (reread) | 4 out of 5
Soaring by Kristen Ashley (reread) | 4 out of 5
Mystery Man by Kristen Ashley (reread) | 3 out of 5
Broken Dove by Kristen Ashley (reread) | 3.5 out of 5
Complicated by Kristen Ashley (reread) | 4 out of 5
The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook (audio) (reread) | 4.5 out of 5
Down London Road by Samantha Young (reread) | 4.5 out of 5
Castle Hill by Samantha Young (reread) | 4 out of 5
Repeat by Kylie Scott (reread) | 5 out of 5

My favorite read of the month was Never Have I Ever by Lauren Blakely, one of the best contemporary romances I’ve read this year. Honorable mentions go to Bayou Born by Hailey Edwards (I really enjoyed the fresh take on UF and I’m really looking forward to the rest of the series) and Kill the Queen by Jennifer Estep.

My least favorite was Good Girl by Lauren Layne. If I could set that book on fire without melting my Kindle, I totally would.

Rowena: August was a really busy month for me. I got a promotion at work and I’m still working through trying to figure out a system for me to juggle work stuff and personal/blog stuff since I usually blog from work. I haven’t quite managed to figure it out but I’m sure I will soon, I’m close. My Dad was also admitted for emergency surgery for his dialysis port last week so I’ve been juggling a new position at work and being at the hospital to deal with my Dad’s medical issues since our US Healthcare system is a total piece of shit. I didn’t read loads this month because I’ve been emotionally exhausted for most of the month.

Here’s what I read in August:

The Wallflower Wager (Girl Meets Duke #3) by Tessa Dare (eARC) | 4.25 out of 5
Never Have I Ever by Lauren Blakely (Audiobook) | 4.5 out of 5
The Kingpin of Camelot (A Kinda Fairytale #3) by Cassandra Gannon (Audiobook) | 4.25 out of 5
The Duchess in His Bed (Sins for All Seasons #5) by Lorraine Heath (eARC) | 4.25 out of 5
The Iron Duke (Iron Seas #1) by Meljean Brook (eBook) | 4 out of 5
Coming Up Roses by Staci Hart (eBook) | 3.75 out of 5
Sapphire Flames (Hidden Legacy #4) by Ilona Andrews (eARC) | 4.25 out of 5
Kill the Queen (Crown of Shards #1) by Jennifer Estep (eBook) | 4.25 out of 5

My favorite read of the month goes to Never Have I Ever by Lauren Blakely. That book was so good. I adored the romance, the hero, the heroine and her relationship with the hero’s kids. This was the single Dad romance that I’ve been wanting for a long time now.

My least favorite read of the month goes to Coming Up Roses by Staci Hart and it’s not because I didn’t enjoy the book. I just enjoyed it less than the other books that I read.

Giveaway Alert

So…what was your favorite read of the month? And your least favorite? Use the Gleam Widget to enter! Good luck!

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Tagged: Casee's Monthly Reads, Giveaways, Holly's Monthly Reads, Monthly Reads, Rowena's Monthly Reads