Category: Features

What Are You Reading? (658)

Posted September 22, 2023 by Casee in Features | 2 Comments

Casee

I am reading Pandemonium (World Fallen #1) by Susanna Strom. I’ve read one other book by this author, so I decided to try this one. It’s a dystopian/apocalypse book. It’s kind of creeping me out, to be honest. It’s still pretty good though.

I finished Maggie Moves On by Lucy Score. I loved it! I have Things We Left Behind (Knockemout #3) by Lucy Score.

Holly

I didn’t have a great reading week. I DNF’d a ton of books and read a lot of samples that didn’t work for me. Books I marked DNF after reading 30% or more: Draco by Hattie Jacks (uneven writing and TSTL characters), Redemption by Susannah Sandlin (TSTL Characters and the writing didn’t work for me), A Forest of Vanity and Valour by A.P. Beswick (A Dark Fantasy and I wasn’t in the mood for…I’ll probably come back to this one later or try another in the series) and Strands of Gold by Faith Gibson (the FMC accepted things a little too quickly and often had diarrhea of the mouth, which was annoying in context). I did read Shadowed by Isabel Wroth and Undying by Tiffany Roberts, which are stand-alone books as part of a multi-author series set on the same planet. I enjoyed both, though the Wroth was the better of the two, IMO.

I am currently listening to Thornyhold by Mary Stewart, which I found on a Reddit post with recommendations for people who enjoy the Innkeeper Chronicles by Ilona Andrews. So far I’m enjoying it, though the first part was a bit slow.

What are you reading this week? Any new favorites or books that drove you crazy? Share!


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What Are You Reading? (657)

Posted September 8, 2023 by Holly in Features | 2 Comments

Casee

I started the River Rain series by Kristen Ashley. I read After the Climb & am now reading Chasing Serenity. I’m really liking it so far. After the Climb was an interesting one insofar as the h/h were in their 50’s. I think I appreciated this much more now in my 40’s than I would have in my 20’s. It was a really sweet story. I also finally have Things We Left Behind by Lucy Score in my hot little hands. I can’t decide if I’m going to read it or listen to it on audio.

I’m still listening to Maggie Moves on by Lucy Score. It’s slow going because I haven’t had the time nor inclination to listen to audiobooks right now.

Holly

I finished Freeing Luka by Victoria Aveline, then went on to read the rest of the series; Saving Verakko, Tempting Auzed, Using Fejo, Releasing Maladek, Resisting Maxu and Ruling Sikthand. I enjoyed the series and look forward to more in the future. I read Sebastian’s Fate by Rebecca Hefner, a new-to-me author. It was a quick, light read. I might pick up the first book in the series next.

I’ve been listening to old Julie Garwood favorites: The Wedding, The Secret and Saving Grace. I love these books, but I’ll be honest, the narrator of Saving Grace and The Secret is not my favorite. I also listened to Night Unbound by Dianne Duvall, a personal favorite. I also re-read Alpha and Omega and Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs, The Hook Up by Kristen Callihan and Rock Addiction by Nalini Singh.

What are you reading this week? Any new favorites or books that drove you crazy? Share!


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Monthly Reads: August 2023

Posted September 2, 2023 by Casee in Features | 5 Comments

It’s a new month so we’re back with a list of our Monthly Reads to share with each of you. This is where you’ll see what each of us has read and what our favorite books and our least favorite books of the month are. Check it out.

Casee

I read A LOT of J.T. Geissinger this month. I love her Night Prowler series.

Reaper (Dark in You #8) by Suzanne Wright (reread)(audio) | 4 out of 5
Secrets of Shooting Star Lake (Black Rock Guardians #1) by Susanna Strom | 3 out of 5
Burn for You (Slow Burn #1) by J.T. Geissinger | 3.5 out of 5
Shadow’s Edge (Night Prowler #1) by J.T. Geissinger | 3.75 out of 5
Hunted (Dark in You #9) by Suzanne Wright (audio) | 4.25 out of 5
Edge of Oblivion (Night Prowler #2) by J.T. Geissinger | 4 out of 5
Rapture’s Edge (Night Prowler #3) by J.T. Geissinger | 4 out of 5
Edge of Darkness (Night Prowler #4) by J.T. Geissinger | 4 out of 5
Darkness Bound (Night Prowler #5) by J.T. Geissinger | 4.5 out of 5

My favorite books of the month were Hunted (Dark in You #9) by Suzanne Wright & Darkness Bound (Night Prowler #5) by J.T. Geissinger.

Holly

I did a lot of re-reading in August, though I did manage to squeeze in a few new series.

Burn (Dark in You #1) by Suzanne Wright (audio) (reread) | 3.5 out of 5
Blaze (Dark in You #2) by Suzanne Wright (audio) (reread) | 3.5 out of 5
Ashes (Dark in You #3) by Suzanne Wright (audio) (reread) | 3.5 out of 5
Embers (Dark in You #4) by Suzanne Wright (audio) (reread) | 3.5 out of 5
Shadows (Dark in You #5) by Suzanne Wright (audio) (reread) | 3.5 out of 5
Omens (Dark in You #6) by Suzanne Wright (audio) (reread) | 3.5 out of 5
Fallen (Dark in You #7) by Suzanne Wright (audio) (reread) | 3.5 out of 5
Reaper (Dark in You #8) by Suzanne Wright (audio) (reread) | 3.5 out of 5
Hunted (Dark in You #9) by Suzanne Wright (audio) (reread) | 3.5 out of 5
Choosing Theo (Clecanian #1) by Victoria Aveline (audio) | 3.5 out of 5
Freeing Luka (Clecanian #2) by Victoria Aveline (audio) | 3.5 out of 5
Saving Verakko (Clecanian #3) by Victoria Aveline (audio) | 3.5 out of 5
Tempting Auzed (Clecanian #4) by Victoria Aveline (audio) | 3.5 out of 5
Using Fejo (Clecanian #5) by Victoria Aveline (audio) | 3.5 out of 5
Bewicched (The Sea Wicche Chronicles #1) by Seana Kelly (audio) | 2.25 out of 5
Cold Hearted (Tooth & Claw #1) by Heather Guerre | 2.75 out of 5
Here Be Sexiest Vampires (Deep in Your Veins #1) by Suzanne Wright | 3 out of 5
Consumed (Deep in Your Veins #4) by Suzanne Wright | 3.5 out of 5
Fractured (Deep in Your Veins #5) by Suzanne Wright | 4 out of 5
Captivated (Deep in Your Veins #6) by Suzanne Wright | 3.5 out of 5
Dragon-Ridden (Dragon Ridden Chronicles #1) by T.A. White (audio) | 3.5 out of 5
Heart of Obsidian (Psy-Changeling #12) by Nalini Singh (reread) | 5 out of 5
The Hook Up (Game On #1) by Kristen Callihan (reread) | 4.5 out of 5
The Wedding (Lairds’ Fiancées #2) by Julie Garwood (audio) (reread) | 5 out of 5
Saving Grace by Julie Garwood (audio) (reread) | 5 out of 5
Alpha and Omega (Alpha & Omega #0.5) by Patricia Briggs (reread) | 5 out of 5
Cry Wolf (Alpha & Omega #1) by Patricia Briggs (reread) | 4 out of 5

My favorite new read of the month was Using Fejo by Victoria Aveline. My least favorite was Bewicched by Seana Kelly. The bones of the story were good, but the execution left a lot to be desired.

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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Books to Binge On: September 2023

Posted August 30, 2023 by Holly in Features | 1 Comment

Books to Binge On

Our Books to Binge On feature is pretty simple in its purpose. Every month, we put together a monthly new releases list of books that we’re all looking forward to. These are the books that we can’t wait to read and want everyone to add to their monthly binge-reading lists. Here are the books that we plan to binge on in September of 2023.


Things We Left Behind (Knockemout #3) by Lucy Score

There was only one woman who could set me free. But I would rather set myself on fire than ask Sloane Walton for anything.

Lucian Rollins is a lean, mean vengeance-seeking mogul. On a quest to erase his father’s mark on the family name, he spends every waking minute pulling strings and building an indestructible empire. The more money and power he amasses, the safer he is from threats.

Except when it comes to the feisty small-town librarian that keeps him up at night…

Sloane Walton is a spitfire determined to carry on her father’s quest for justice. She’ll do that just as soon as she figures out exactly what the man she hates did to—or for—her family. Bonded by an old, dark secret from the past and the dislike they now share for each other, Sloane trusts Lucian about as far as she can throw his designer-suited body.

When bickering accidentally turns to foreplay, these two find themselves not quite regretting their steamy one-night stand. Once those flames are fanned, it seems impossible to put them out again. But with Sloane ready to start a family and Lucian refusing to even consider the idea of marriage and kids, these enemies-to-lovers are stuck at an impasse.

Broken men break women. It’s what Lucian believes, what he’s witnessed, and he’s not going to take that chance with Sloane. He’d rather live a life of solitude than put her in danger. But he learns the hard way that leaving her means leaving her unprotected from other threats.

It’s the second time he’s ruthlessly cut her out of his life. There’s no way she’s going to give him a third chance. He’s just going to have to make one for himself.

Casee: I CANNOT WAIT FOR THIS BOOK. It seems like we’ve been waiting forever. I can’t wait for Lucien & Sloane!

Holly: Ahhh! GIMME.


Fall Into You (Morally Gray #2) by J.T. Geissinger

Ruthless. Arrogant. Ice cold.

That’s how everyone describes Cole McCord, billionaire CFO of McCord Media. As notorious for his bad attitude as he is for his good looks, he’s the one every girl’s mother warns her about.

We spend one passionate, unforgettable night together, two strangers who bond over neat whiskeys and messy confessions in a Beverly Hills bar. Then we go our separate ways in the morning, never expecting to see each other again.

We soon discover that some connections can’t be undone. Some bonds, once made, can’t be broken.

And some loves can be as deep as they are destructive…yet impossible to let go.

Casee: I have been reading a lot by this author. I liked the first book in the series & hope this one is as good.


The Brood (Calamity Montana #6) by Devney Perry

The last thing Wilder Abbott needs is a houseguest. Solitude has been his stoic companion for nearly a decade. He prefers to brood over his mistakes in seclusion. Besides, he gets enough social interaction as a high school science teacher in Calamity, Montana.

But when his oldest friend calls, begging for a favor, Wilder begrudgingly agrees. For the next two months, he’ll give up his guest room to his friend’s little sister.

Iris Monroe isn’t the girl Wilder remembers. Gone is the shy, quiet mouse ten years his junior who always had her nose in a book. Grown-up Iris talks too much and asks too many questions, especially about his past. And her bright smile and clear blue eyes are hard to ignore.

Two months. He just has to survive two months. Except Iris is as nosy as she is beautiful. And his secrets prove hard to hide when she’s living under his roof.

Casee: I think I’ve only read one book in this series. I need to do some serious catchup.


Fighting the Pull (River Rain #5) by Kristen Ashley

Hale Wheeler inherited billions from his father. He’s decided to take those resources and change the world for the better. He’s married to his mission, so he doesn’t have time for love.

There’s more lurking behind this decision. He hasn’t faced the tragic loss of his father, or the bitterness of his parents’ divorce. He doesn’t intend to follow in his father’s footsteps, breaking a woman’s heart in a way it will never mend. So he vows he’ll never marry.

But Hale is intrigued when he meets Elsa Cohen, the ambitious celebrity news journalist who has been reporting on his famous family. He warns her off, but she makes him a deal. She’ll pull back in exchange for an exclusive interview.

Elsa Cohen is married to her career, but she wants love, marriage, children. She also wants the impossibly handsome, fiercely loyal, tenderhearted Hale Wheeler.

They go head-to-head, both denying why there are fireworks every time they meet. But once they understand their undeniable attraction, Elsa can’t help but fall for the dynamic do-gooder.

As for Hale, he knows he needs to fight the pull of the beautiful, bold, loving Elsa Cohen, because breaking her would crush him.

Casee: I’m a diehard Kristen Ashley fan, but I have yet to read this series. Another one for the TBR.

Holly: Eh, I haven’t read a new KA in quite some time. I think I’ll add this to the “wait and see” list.

What books are you looking forward to reading this month? Share in the comments!


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What Are You Reading? (656)

Posted August 25, 2023 by Casee in Features | 2 Comments

Casee

I’m currently reading Edge of Darkness (Night Prowler #4) by J.T. Geissinger. This is a series about shapeshifters & how they try to protect themselves from humans. It’s very angsty, so it’s taking me a little time to read it because I keep having to put it down. It’s really annoying.

I’m listening to Maggie Moves On by Lucy Score. I just love this author & can’t wait to get further into the book.

Holly

I re-read Heart of Obsidian by Nalini Singh to get me out of my reading funk and then read The Hook Up by Kristen Callihan, just because. I read Bewicched by Seana Kelly, which was just okay. I liked the premise, but the lack of emotion in the writing kind of killed my enjoyment of it. Cold Hearted by Heather Guerre was another disappointing read. The first half was pretty good, but it went downhill quick in the second half. Choosing Theo by Victoria Aveline was an okay read. Some parts of it frustrated me, but I enjoyed it enough to start the second book, Freeing Luka.

I’m desperate for an amazing PNR or Fantasy romance. Any recommendations?

What are you reading this week? Any new favorites or books that drove you crazy? Share!


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