April Monthly Reads

Posted May 7, 2009 by Holly in Features, Giveaways | 50 Comments

Holly says:

April was a pretty sad reading month for me. I’m not sure how many of you are aware, but I lost my job last September. Since then I’ve been struggling to find another job while playing at being a stay-at-home-mom for the first time in almost 10 years. Naturally being off work also meant a lot of extra reading time.

At the beginning of this month I was offered a temp position and decided to take it. Since then I’ve had hardly any reading time. I’m hoping once things settle into a better schedule (and once baseball season ends..my son’s game/practice schedule is killing me!) I’ll have more reading time. Keep your fingers crossed for me, will you?

I read a total of 6 books this month, 1 of which was a re-read. That’s a sad, sorry number considering I read 14 last month and 28 the month before. Still, at least I did read, right?

April 02 – No Limits by Alison Kent – 4/5
April 12 – Drop Dead Gorgeous by Linda Howard (re-read) 4/5
April 23 – Storm Glass by Maria V. Snyder – 4.25/5
April 27 – Runaway Bride Returns by Christie Ridgway – 3.75/5
April 28 – Valentino’s Love-Child by Lucy Monroe – 4/5
April 29 – She’s Got It Bad by Sarah Mayberry – 4.25/5

My favorite reads of the month were Storm Glass by Maria V. Snyder and She’s Got It Bad by Sarah Mayberry. My least favorite was Runaway Bride Returns, which isn’t saying much since I enjoyed it. I just enjoyed it less than the others I read this month.

Rowena’s Turn:

I think I did a better job of reading last month than I did the month before. I haven’t read as much as I want to read each month but I think so far, I’m doing pretty good. I had a pretty decent reading month as well as I didn’t read any book that I absolutely hated, I even read a book that I absolutely adored so for me, all in all…I did good. I read quite a bit of historicals this month and found that I quite enjoyed them. Here are the books that I read this month:

  1. True Love and Other Disasters by Rachel Gibson– 4.5 out of 5
  2. Confessions of a Black Gown by Elizabeth Boyle– 4 out of 5
  3. Heating Up the Holidays by Jill Shalvis, Jacquie D’Alessandro and Jamie Sobrato– 4.25 out of 5
  4. Smooth Talking Stranger by Lisa Kleypas– 5 out of 5
  5. Hidden Riches by Nora Roberts– 4.5 out of 5
  6. Forbidden by Suzanne Brockmann– 4.5 out of 5
  7. A Year on Ladybug Farm by Donna Ball- 3.5 out of 5
  8. Packing Heat by Penny McCall– 3 out of 5
  9. Fragile Eternity by Melissa Marr …DNF (yet)
  10. Always a Scoundrel by Suzanne Enoch- 4.5 out of 5
  11. Tempted at Midnight by Jacquie D’Alessadro- 4.5 out of 5

My favorite read of the month is obviously SMOOTH TALKING STRANGER by Lisa Kleypas and books that I really enjoyed were ALWAYS A SCOUNDREL by Suzanne Enoch and TEMPTED AT MIDNIGHT by Jacquie D’Alessandro. Great reads for me.

Casee:

April was such a better reading month for me than March. I probably would have read more, but the third week in April, we went out of town for a wedding. As you can imagine, I had about zero time to read even though I took about ten books with me.

Bound by Your Touch by Meredith Duran
To Beguile a Beast by Elizabeth Hoyt: 4 out of 5.
Too Hot To Handle by Robyn Kaye
Atlantis Unleashed by Alyssa Day
Instant Gratification by Jill Shalvis
The Warrior by Sharon Sala: 4 out of 5.
Saddled by Delilah Devlin: 3.5 out of 5.
Double Play by Jill Shalvis
Wolfen by Madelaine Montague: DNF
Roane by Marie Harte
Knowing Caleb by Cameron Dane: 4 out of 5.
Hunt Her Down by Roxanne St. Claire
Branded by Fire by Nalini Singh
Passion Unleashed by Larissa Ione: 4.25 out of 5.
Defender by Catherine Mann
Seeing Red by Susan Crandall: 4 out of 5.
No Esacpe by Shannon K. Butcher

So my grand total for the month was 17. Lower than February (19), but waaaay higher than March (9). I had a lot of favorites this month, so I can’t choose only a few.

**Contest Alert** Leave a comment on this post telling us how many books you read in April and what your favorite was and you’ll be entered to win your choice of books from the list below!

She’s Got It Bad by Sarah Mayberry
Smooth Talking Stranger by Lisa Kleypas
Knowing Caleb by Cameron Dane

Please be sure to tell us what book you’d like to win in your comment. Contest ends at 11:59p.m. Sunday, May 10th by the timestamp on the blog.


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50 responses to “April Monthly Reads

  1. Wow, I’m first! So far the best book I have read (almost finished) is the Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley. I have read 3 books so far this month.

    If I win I would love to have Knowing Caleb by Cameron Dane.

  2. Um, I read 47 books in April. What can I say, I read fast! 🙂

    My favorites were Some Girls Bite by Chloe Neill and The Darkest Night (Lords of the Underworld, Book 1) by Gena Showalter.

  3. I read 27 books in April. My favorite was Temptation Ridge by Robyn Carr.
    I would love to win Knowing Caleb by Cameron Dane.

  4. I won last month so I am not entering the contest..
    Just wanted to say, I read 8 books this month and my two favorites were Moonstruck by Susan Grant and The Darkest Night by Gena Showalter. It was a good month for me.

  5. I’ve read 19 books this month, but this doesn’t count the books I read online. I’m not sure about them. If I had to chose one as by favorite, it would be “Blood Magic” by Jennifer Lyon. I chose “Smooth Talking Stranger” by Lisa Kleypas. Have a great day.

  6. maered

    I’ve read 12 books in April, including Murder Game by Beverly Barton and Moving Target by Elizabeth Lowell. My favourites would have to be “Simply Perfect” by Mary Balogh. I just love her writing. Also “He loves Lucy” by Susan Donovan was a great read.

    I would love to win Smooth Talking Stranger by Lisa Kleypas.

    Thanks for the great contests!!

  7. Hmm… I’ve done a terrible job of tracking this year. I think I’ve read 15 books in April, with a few of those being e-books. A favorite was Toni Anderson’s Her Sanctuary–I’m fairly new to reading romantic suspense and found her balance of romance and suspense extremely well done.

  8. Oh, and I’d love Sarah Mayberry’s She’s Got It Bad–I’ve loved all of her other titles; she’s an amazingly gifted storyteller!

  9. I read eleven books last month. My favorite was North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. (I figured it was time, after watching the miniseries 2353463456 times.)

    If I win, I’d like to try Knowing Caleb.

  10. I read 22 novels, 6 novellas and 2 shorts in April (wow, slow month for me! lol)

    My favorite is actually a 3 way tie:

    Novel – Smooth Talking Stranger by Lisa Kleypas
    Novella – The White Knight by Josh Lanyon
    Novella – Happy Ending by LB Gregg

    Oh and I would love the Sarah Mayberry. 🙂

  11. For the month of April, my number for read books is horrible!
    I didn’t know the number until I counted on my blog and my number is
    three books. I read Magic in the Blood by Devon Monk, Zen and the Art of Vampires by Katie MacAlister, and The Girl Most Likely To by Susan Donovan.

    I loved all three books so I guess
    April was a pretty good month for me in reading good books. I was finishing up working tax season
    and had no time at all to read so that is why my number is so bad. LOL

  12. I think of I’ve read around 8 books this month. I read 3 by Gena Showalter, Smooth Talking Stranger by Lisa Kleypas, Karen Marie Moning’s Fever series, and reread one of my comfort reads, A Hard Day’s Knight by Katie MacAlister. I actually loved all of these books so it’s hard to pick a favorite. I am totally addicted to the Fever series now though.
    I would love owning my own copy of Smooth Talking Stranger. Thank you!

  13. Maija P.

    I read 14 books (+ 4 short Harlequins). My favorites were Games of Command by Linnea Sinclair, Blue-Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas and Passions Unleashed by Larissa Ione.

    I would love to win Smooth Talking Stranger!

    chayanna82(at)hotmail(dot)com

  14. I read 14 books last month, and I think my fav was Broken by Megan Hart, followed very closely by Nauti Intentions by Lora Leigh. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Lora Leigh, so that is saying something about Broken that it edged out Nauti Intentions.

    I would love to win Smooth Talking Stranger by Lisa Kleypas. I have not read it yet, but have heard a lot of good things about it.

    cldivineATyahooDOTcom

  15. MJ

    My favorite was Absolutely Maybe.
    My niece was in a wreck in March and I’ve been helping out so it was a slow month for me. I only read 6 books.
    I’d like She’s Got It Bad.

    mj.coward[at]gmail.com

  16. I read 19 books. Here is the list of them.

    Sex Outlawed by Jan Springer
    Meltdown by Pepper Goodrich
    Saddled by Delilah Devlin
    Sugar and Spice by Mari Carr
    Hungry Like the Wolf by Violet Summers
    His Lying Eyes by Ava Rose Johnson
    Protective Custody by Paige Tyler
    Playing For Keeps by Shiloh Walker
    Taken by Anya Bast
    Male Me by Amarinda Jones
    Called by Blood by Evie Byrne
    Kiss and Tell by Sandy Lynn
    Steel Beauty by Dana Marie Bell
    Dirty Deeds by Lorelei James
    Nauti Intentions by Lora Leigh
    Patton’s Way by Jenny Penn
    Tempting Tori by NJ Walters
    Sweet and Sinful by Jodi Lynn Copeland
    Tooth and Claw by Annmarie McKenna

    My fave would have to be Nauti Intentions by Lora Leigh. It was so good!

  17. Not many books in April but the ones I did pick up were really great:
    To Beguile A Beast by Elizabeth Hoyt
    The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie by Jennifer Ashley
    Her Notorious Viscount by Jenna Peterson
    Seeking Persephone by Sarah M.Eden
    Pickpocket Countessby Bronwyn Scott

    I loved them all but it be a tie between Lord Ian,Seeking Persephone and Beguile and Beast that would be my top picks!

  18. For April it was 10 books and 2 audio books. My favorite was either Relentless by Lauren Dane or the re-read of Spell of the Highlander by KMM.

    If I won I’d like She’s Got It Bad. I’ve heard wonderful things about this author.

  19. Anonymous

    I read five books in April, and they were all by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. My favorites were This Heart of Mine and Match Me If You Can. I’d love to try Smooth Talking Stranger by Lisa Kleypas.

    Diana

  20. I didn’t have a lot of time to read last month…sadly. I only had time for five books. My favorite was Romeo, Romeo by Robin Kaye.

  21. Sadly, I only read two books in the month of April. I’ve been in a funk and have not been reading a lot in 2009. Of the 2 I only remember the PC & Kristin Cast YA novel.

  22. I read 5 books last month. My faves were Sugar Daddy and From Dead to Worse. I’d love Smooth talking stranger.

  23. I have the Kleypas and Enoch in my current TBR, Hoyt’s To Beguile a Beast very good, my favorite of this series so far. Two keepers for me read in April:

    The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley
    A Scotsman in Love by Karen Ranney

  24. I only read eight for the month of April. I read Larissa Ione’s Demonica series and I absolutely loved them all!!

    I would love to be entered to win Smooth Talking Stranger by Lisa Kleypas.

  25. I probably read 20 books in April. Most of them were re-reads though. Of the new books, An Indecent Proposal by Emma Wildes was the clear winner.

    I’d like Smooth Talking Stranger

    lynda98662 at yahoo dot com

  26. I read 22 last month, and my favorite(s) would be Natural Born Charmer by SEP, Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews, and Night’s Rose by Annaliese Evans.

    I’d love to read the Sarah Mayberry. 🙂

  27. Jane

    I only read eleven books in April. My favorite read was “Sudden Death” by Allison Brennan.

  28. Seneca

    Holly, looks like you liked the Lucy Monroe book. I plan to read that one next.

    My favourite read last month was butterfly Tattoo by Dierdre Knight.

    I forget how many books I read (It was a good number.) I’m too lazy to check to see what it was, lol.

  29. I read 32 books in April, some of them were re-reads. My favorites were Night’s Rose by Annaliese Evans and Yours Until Dawn by Teresa Medeiros.

    I’d love to win Smooth Talking Stranger.

  30. I read 6 books last month. My favorite was The Book of Scandal by Julia London.

    I would love to read Smooth Talking Stranger by Lisa Kleypas.

  31. That what happens when your routine get disrupted, Holly. However, 6 is a very respectable number 🙂

    Great list you too, Rowena 🙂 and you almost reviewed them all! 🙂 and you liked Tempted at Midnight a lot more than me ^_^;

    and I’m so jealous of Casee!! I see Branded by Fire!! I want that book!! LOL 🙂

  32. I read about 24 books in April. I had a slow start at the begin of the month, but since I’ve been put on bedrest and not working at the moment, I’ve been reading like crazy.

    I would have to say that my favorite book was kind of a toss up. There were so many good books that I read in April. But I would say that Jaci Burton’s Riding On Instinct was my fave. I love the Wild Riders. Lora Leigh’s Nauti Intentions was great too. MMmmm Alex…..so sexy.

  33. I read six books in April. My favorite was Blue Diablo by Ann Aguirre.

    I’m very jealous that Casee read Branded by Fire. I can’t wait to hear what she thinks!

    I’d love to win Smooth Talking Stranger.

  34. I read 16 books in April and I’m not sure what my favorite is. Toss up between Smooth Talking Stranger and the internet story ‘Wide Awake’ with Edward and Bella. I guess Wide Awake isn’t officially finished yet, and its not a published book… still. Freakin fabulous. 😉

  35. Anonymous

    39. A slow month for me (seriously!)

    I think I most liked A Rogue in Texas by Lorrraine Heath, but Glitter Baby by SEP really stuck in my memory and I suspect will get reread.

    I’m boringly like everyone else and would like Knowing Caleb. 🙂 — willaful

  36. I read 10 books in April – and to pick my favorites is really hard because I read some great stuff….

    Hard & Fast by Erin McCarthy was pretty steamy

    Just the Sexiest Man Alive by Julie James was great

    Everyone Is Beautiful by Katherine Center was beautiful

    And I can not Forget One Hot Mess by Lois Grieman- love Chrissy McMullen!

  37. I only read a few books in April since it was a busy month for me but I think my favorite was Flat-Out Sexy by Erin McCarthy.

  38. April was good month for me since it involved a vacation with some travel time (plus I get all jet-lagged and wake up early and get some reading in) – so 23.

  39. I read about 15 books this month while juggling school and exams which is awesome and my favorite read of the month is J.R. Ward’s Lover Avenged =)

  40. I read 6 books in April.

    My favorite was a toss up between Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr, Hunted by P.C & Kirstin Cast and The Mage by Jean Johnson. They were all delightful reads. 😀

  41. I read 15 books for April. My favorites was Cry For Passion by Robin Schone, and Nobody’s Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. I would like a chance to win “She’s Got It Bad”. Thanks so much.

  42. I’m lazy and my spreadsheet of books read happens to be open already, so I’m just going to copy and paste 🙂

    So, books read in April:

    1. Flowers from the storm, Laura Kinsale
    2. Mindjacker, Jonathan Asche
    3. Shall we tell the president?, Jeffrey Archer +
    4. Breath of Magic, Teresa Medeiros
    5. A Wallflower Christmas, Lisa Kleypas
    6. Ceremony in Death, J.D. Robb
    7. Contact, Susan Grant
    8. Victorious Star, Morgan Hawke
    9. All U can eat, Emma Holly
    10. Moondial, Helen Cresswell =
    11. Frost Fair, Erastes +
    12. Lessons in Love, Charlie Cochrane
    13. Lover Avenged, J.R. Ward

    I would say the best book out of those was probably Flowers from the Storm (I can see why it topped the AAR Best books list), but my favorite would probably be Ceremony in Death, as I’ve recently started that series and I’m head over heels in love with it. Each book seems to be as great as the previous one if not better, and that’s rare enough as it is. I also enjoyed All You Can Eat, Contact, Frost Fair, Lessons in Love and Lover Avenged.

    If I win, I’d like to have Knowing Caleb or Smooth-Talking Stranger.

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