Well it was a pretty quiet week until Wednesday when I was standing up from my chair at work and my back kind of hurt. Huh? I ignored it but when I went to stand up again it hurt even worse and just kept getting worse. On Thursday I finally went to the doctor and it turns out I sprained my back! I know, how is that even possible? I have no idea, but apparently I did it. So I’m in a back brace (which isn’t too bad actually as it keeps me from moving strangely), on meds and am loopy. lol Ok, not loopy all the time but a lot of it. 🙂
I met Nikki and Lori for lunch yesterday in Northridge and that was quite fun. We checked out Borders (cuz the great used bookstore that used be close to there closed down waaaaaah!) and had lunch at Wood Ranch – yum. We had a great time. I love getting together and talking about books and life.
Anyway, on to what I read this week:
My first book was a read for The Book Binge called Whisper Kiss by Deborah Cooke. This is book 5 in her Dragonfire series and like the others it was pretty darned good. This was straight-laced Niall’s story and he was matched up with Rox, a tattoo artist and the farthest thing from straight-laced there is. But despite how they look on the outside they have a lot in common. I’ll let you know when my review posts. 4 out of 5
Next was the book that was chosen for my pick-it-for-me challenge on Goodreads, Wishbone by Lauren P. Burka. This was a story that was both fantasy and historical. The story of Wishbone, a male prostitute who is picked up by a man who’s not human. Many things happen and Wishbone ends up working for the “man”. I couldn’t get a connection with the characters and then bdsm scenes that were quite bloody started I just couldn’t read any longer. I got about 140 pages in (of 233) and had to call it quits. DNF
Next up was If I Must by Amy Lane. A cute novella about Joel who becomes roommates with a genius, Ian. Joel takes care of Ian, as he’s not sure how the man survived with him before. When Joel is off visiting his mom he realizes his true feelings for Ian…and the fact that he’s gay. 3.75 out of 5
Wolf Games by Vivian Arend (Granite Lake Wolves book 3) is the novella I read after that and it was a good one. A woman who hadn’t shifted to her wolf form in 7 years because of trauma with her previous pack visits her sister and meets her mate, who is an incredibly understanding guy. They get to know each other during the Arctic Wolf Games and love blossoms. 4 out of 5
My next read was a short 30 page book called Cade’s Thanksgiving by Cia Leah. I can’t remember when I got this book but I think it’s been sitting there for a while. Anyway, it was 30 pages of sappy sweetness. A widower gets a mail order bride to take care of him and his twin sons. She gets off the train and is beautiful and the perfect woman and they all live happily ever after. I think I got a cavity while reading. 2 out of 5
My Tracy’s TBR Challenge book for the week was Highland Knight by Cindy Miles. This is the story of an author with writers block. Her assistant decides to send her off to the serenity of the Highlands of Scotland. In her rented castle she meets some highlanders that aren’t all there. Not that they’re stupid, they just literally are not physically there except for one hour a day. They were enchanted and have lived like this for hundreds of years. Amelia of course falls in love with the Laird, Ethan, and tries to help the 6 men return to their medieval lives. Darned cute book. I very much enjoyed the writing as well as the humor. 4 out of 5
Fair Game by Josh Lanyon was next and it was a good one! It comes out tomorrow, August 2, and I’ll be reviewing in on Thursday.
Next up was Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn. I have to say I just love Quinn’s writing. She’s got a great sense of humor and her stories are always just sweet romances – but not to the point of sappiness. I read her books so quickly because I just don’t want to put them down once I start. This was the story of Annabel who is basically a poor relation and her aristocrat grandparents are trying to marry her off to a man, the Earl of Newbury, who is 3 times her age and just wants an heir. He’s a disgusting man and Annabel is torn. She wants to save her family who is quickly running out of money but she truly doesn’t want to marry this loathsome man. Then there’s Sebastian who has no attachments and lives on charm – oh, and the money he makes from writing novels. He is Newbury’s heir and though he doesn’t care about that, the Earl hates him and does not want him to inherit – thus the desire for the heir. And of course you guessed it – Sebastian and Annabel fall in love. Just a very good book that I really enjoyed. 4 .25 out of 5
And last but not least another book for The Book Binge called Devil’s Highlander by Veronica Wolff. This is the first in a series about the MacAlpin family. Marjorie and Cromac have always felt that they would be together – even as children. Cormac’s brother, Aidan, is kidnapped and Cormac feels responsible and undeserving of Marjorie. Marjorie feels that Cormac blames her for the kidnapping. When another child that Marjorie knows goes missing she seeks out Cormac’s help. I’ll let you know when my review posts. 3.5 out of 5
My Book Binge reviews that posted this week:
Happy Reading!
Quite a mix bag as usual – I will be coming back to read your thoughts on the Lanyon book – I have that one up to read soon…
That Quinn book – it is really a book that divides readers – I read another reviewers thoughts today that gave it 2 stars..
I am up to book three on the Cooke series – it is a good series – I must catch up…
Pity about the DNF – Hopefully this month you will get something that you will work for you more….
Happy week hon..
E.H>
I had a great time yesterday!
I adore Cindy Miles' books! So glad you liked it!!
Nice selection of reads as usual Tracy! Sorry your back is giving you grief! That is so painful and makes it hard to get around. I do hope you feel better soon.
I like the sound of "Whisper Kiss" I will have to check it out.
You take care and thanks for sharing.
Eh – I try to mix up my reads every week so I'm not reading the same sub-genre. 🙂
Lanyon=good stuff!
Quinn book – I've seen some varied reviews on it as well but I really liked ti.
Cooke series – always pretty good.
My August pick-it-for-me sounds good so hopefully…*crosses fingers*
Lori – I had a great time too! So much fun.
I got that Miles book from you in a book swap! lol Thank you! I have McGowan's Ghost by her too, I think. I'll need to read that one too.
Lea – Thanks. Hopefully it will feel better soon.
Have you read any of the dragon shifter books by Cooke? I like that fact that she's very consistent and I've liked all of the books so far.
OMG that sucks about your back! I hope you get better soon!!!!
Wow you do manage to read a lot… I really should pick it up a little LOL since I've only read like 30 out of 100 books for the year… LOL oh well one day
I hate hate hate being injured and having no idea how it happened!
And ouch for cavity-inducing reads. You know how I feel about them. 🙂
So sorry to hear about your poor back Tracy – I hope you're feeling better soon!
I think I got a cavity while reading.
*snort* Am currently wondering if I need to take out dental insurance before picking up the next Robyn Carr Virgin River book… *grin*
Hmm. I saw your GoodReads comment about Wishbone and was intrigued, so I bought it over the weekend. I haven't read it yet, but I was flicking and it sounds…intriguing. I wonder if the author is writing more in the series as the world-building is rather fascinating.
I so need to clear the library books and get reading some eBooks!
Back pain totally sucks, hope you get better soon!!
Sarai – Thanks – it feels better daily. 🙂
It's amazing how much I read now that I don't watch tv! 🙂
Chris – I know! What's up with that. It's like when I have a giant bruise and have no clue how I got it. If it's that big you'd think I'd remember hurting myself! lol
Those cavity inducing reads must go! lol
Orannia – Thanks!
What VR book by Robyn Carr are you on now? I keep putting off reading the two I have now.
The put off reading Wishbone for some reason but once I started I was a bit intrigued. I love prostitute stories. But this one with the pretty hard core bdsm just wasn't for me. I'd love to know your thoughts after you read it.
Thanks Lily!
That happens to me re: bruises ALL THE TIME.
Ohhh! I hope it's getting better!
Like I told Lori, fun that you got to hang out with Nikki and Lori 😀 Too bad for the UBS though 🙁 Did you buy anything at Borders?
I'm glad you enjoyed the Cindy Miles… whenever I'm browsing the bookstores, I always stop by her books and wonder if I should or not LOL.
Chris – Do you feel uber stupid that you can't figure out where the hell you came up with a bruise so large? I know I do! lol
Nath – Nope, nothing purchased at Borders. I was going to buy The Raven Prince by Hoyt but they didn't have a copy (even though their computers said they did).
This is the first book by Miles I've read. I did read a novella by her and liked it but this was even better. 🙂