Well is was another quiet week at Casa Tracy. For some reason this time change has been kicking my butt and I can’t seem to get my ass out of bed in the morning. Other than that not much to report. 🙂 On to the reading…
First up was Angel’s Evolution by
T.A. Chase. This was a book that I read for both my m/m challenge and my DIK challenge as it was one of Kris’s picks. I’ll post my review on Wednesday.
Next up was a yaoi manga called
Chocolate Surprise by Lily Hoshino. I didn’t really care for this one at all. The graphics were just ok for me and the stories, well, were kind of frenetic.
2 out of 5
My next read was A Certain Wolfish Charm by
Lydia Dare. I read this one for
The Book Binge. It was a historical paranormal book about a Duke who is a shapeshifter and the woman that he ends up marrying – his young cousins aunt. I had a few issues with the book but overall I liked it. I’ll let you know when my review posts.
3.75 out of 5
I read Downtime by
Tamara Allen because I’m in the m/m romance group on goodreads and this was their book of the month. I am so damned glad I read it. Downtime tells the story of Morgan Nash who is an FBI agent in the middle of a stakeout when he gets transported to the 19th century – 1888 to be exact. Ezra and his friends Henry and Derry were playing around with a book and instead of summoning a demon – which they really didn’t think they’d do – they got Morgan. It takes Morgan some time to figure out that he’s no longer in the 21st century and he’s determined to get back to his time now. But the next day when they all return to the museum to send him back the book of incantations is missing. Morgan ends up spending 2-3 weeks in 1888 looking for the book, trying to discover the identity of Jack the Ripper and falling in love. He and Ezra are amazing together and I adored watching them fall for each other. The other thing I liked about the book is its consistency. There were no great highs and lows but a constant flow of a wonderful story. I never wanted to put the book down and was even crying by the end. So good! I’m so glad that this book was chosen for the monthly read as I probably wouldn’t have picked it up otherwise. (The cover doesn’t appeal to me at all as the characters look much older than they are in the book)
5 out of 5
Next was a story by
Savanna Stuart called Unleashed Temptation – book 1 in the Miami Scorcher series. Another shifter story about a woman, Carly, who has moved to Miami to have a change of pace and get away from her cheating ex-boyfriend. She takes a job as an accountant at an auto shop and falls hard for the owner, Nick. Of course the owner is a shifter and knows that she’s his mate but he tries to go slowly so that she doesn’t get scared off. But there is an Immortal who wants her for his own and Nick’s not about to let Carly get harmed. A cute story with shifters, a possessive alpha male and a woman who knows what she wants. Very nice.
4 out of 5
Last but not least was To Wed A Wicked Earl by
Olivia Parker. This covered my Tracy’s TBR challenge read for the week and probably my FTSP too (although there’s only 2 books in the series so far). This is Charlotte’s story. She befriends a total rake, the Earl of Rothbury, so that they can help each other. But Rothbury has been in love with Charlotte for years and feels that he’s too soiled for her. He really believes he’s not good enough because of his family background. It’s a light read and a cute one. I did have some issues with Rothbury’s character and his self-esteem issues that he only seemed to have with Charlotte. I really would have liked to have delved further into his past and childhood to get a better view of who he was but it seemed that part was skimmed over. I thought that Charlotte and Rothbury were very cute together though and it definitely made me laugh in a few places.
3.75 out of 5
I am such a doob! I completely forgot to put in her the other yaoi manga that I read this week. Duh. And I just did it last night. lol I swear my mind is going fast. Anyway…I read volumes 3, 4 & 5 of Totally Captivated by Hajin Yoo and loved them. I was disappointed that I didn’t have volumes 5 & 6 handy but I ordered them today so I’ll get to read them in a couple of days. The story follows Ewon who is working for a very young and handsome loan shark. Mookyul has got his eye on Ewon though and wants him for himself – but Ewon isn’t really into Mookyul…but he could be talked into it. 🙂 All volumes 4 to 4.5 out of 5 Oh – and I would swear on a stack of Bibles that my volume 4 doesn’t have that cover but that’s the only one I could find so maybe I’m delirious! lol I’ll have to double check when I get home tonight.
UPDATE: I was totally correct! My volume 4 has a completely different cover – here – I took a picture:
Isn’t that freaky? Why couldn’t I find this cover anywhere on the web – including Amazon where I bought it? Twilight Zone shit, right there.
I’m sorry I haven’t been good about letting you all know when my Book Binge reviews post. Here, I’ll play catch up:
Happy Reading!
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I must get Downtime. Everyone says such good things. I've never read that book of TA's but everyone says it's great, but it's historical. LOL I'll be interested to see what you think of it.
Hope there was at least some chocolate near by to soothe you after a less than pleasant surprise. 🙂
Hmm, must get Downtime if I don't already have it. That's the only one that tempts me. 🙂
Frenetic pace – more so than usual in yaoi?!? Oh, DEAR.
Yeah, I must get Downtime too. I didn't pay attention what the March books of the Goodread group were. Thanks for pointing that out to me 🙂
Tam – Downtime was excellent – and I found it in ebook at Smashwords.
*snort* chocolate. lol
Chris – YES! More frenetic than in other yaoi – at least for me. lol
Downtime – you must get and cry. lol
Janna – My pleasure. Anything to get my fellow readers buying more books. lol
I have Downtime! Now must actually read it.
Hmm. I don't think I need to be on the rotation for that particular yaoi…
Chris – Good for you! Enjoy Downtime.
Ok – I checked the spreadsheet and you hadn't signed up for Chocolate Surprise so you're safe. lol
Oh and I added books people! I'm such a dork how could I forget my yaoi manga that I loved? IDK
Angel's Evolution was the first TA Chase book I read a couple of years ago. If I recall correctly I liked it.
Right now I'm reading Downtime and really enjoying it. I'm only on about his 4th or 5th day in 1888.
For the Olivia Parker, which one did you like better? The Bride Hunt Ball (not sure about the title) or this one? I bought this one, but I'm really not sure… I didn't really like Charlotte in the first one. (Why did I buy it then – alzheimer :P)
I'm glad you're enjoying the mangas. I haven't heard of the Totally Capivated series… but I'm wondering if the author is not Korean, which would explain why.
All in all, not a bad week, right?
Lily – I'm glad you're liking Downtime. It's just a wonderful read.
Angel's Evolution – I didn't like it as much as Kris did but still very good.
Nath – Hmmm…Which Parker book did I like better? I think I liked At The Bride Hunt Ball better. I think because I liked Madelyn so much.
The Totally Captivated series is great so far. Although the first book had graphics the story was just kind of odd. It made much more sense as I read the subsequent volumes. I know that TC is considered manwha and Yoo's birthplace is Korea so they go hand in hand. 🙂
Yes, a very good reading week.
OK, so Downtime seems like the winner this week! lol. I'll also be adding that to my tbb.
DST has kicked my butt on the other end. I'm still getting surprised that it's so late, and bedtime for the kid winds up being a bit of a circus.
Have a great week, Tracy! 🙂
I love the quiet week at casa Tracy, what a great haul you got through this past week..
I am adding those Yaoi to my list – I only a few left to read in my stash…
I do like the concept of Downtime – reminds somehow of the show life on Mars…
Love TA work… never lets me down…
Happy reading week this week..
E.H>
Google alerts is really slacking. Glad you like Unleashed Temptation, Tracy and thanks for the mention 😉
Renee – I know what you mean about the circus bedtime thing. My kids just don't believe that it's time to go to bed because it still seems so early! lol
You'll definitely like Downtime!
EH – The Totally Captivated manga's are great. I'd skip the Chocolate Surprise if I were you! lol
Savannah – Sorry it failed! It was good! I'll be reading Worth the Risk soon and I'm looking forward to it!
Oh, I enjoyed the first volume in Totally Captivated, good to know as you move through the series they are good 🙂
Downtime…it has time travel, and I'm just not a time travel fan, which is a shame as it sounds good.