Review ~ Bounty ~ Kristen Ashley #COYER #ShelfLove

Bounty by Kristen Ashley
Colorado Mountain Series #7
Release Date: April 18, 2016
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: Gifted paperback
Rating: 5 Bookworms
Challenges: #COYER, #ShelfLove, #TravelingtotheTerminus
Goodreads

Synopsis
Justice Lonesome has enjoyed a life of bounty.

Even so, she's inherited the curse of the Lonesome. A poet's soul. Which means she's still searching for something. Searching for peace. Searching for the less...that's more.

And when the foundation of her life is pulled out from under her, grieving, she goes to the mountains to find her oasis. She hits Carnal, Colorado and decides to stay.

Deke Hightower lost everything at the age of two. He lost it again at fifteen. His life has not been about bounty. It's been about learning to live with less, because there's no way to get more.

Deke's also watched all his friends go down to the women wh ogave them what they needed. He wants that for himself. But he knows that search isn't going to be easy because he's a rider. His home is the road. That's the only place he can breathe. And the woman who takes her place at his side has to do it sitting on the back of his bike.

When Deke meets Justice, he knows she's not that woman. She's cute. She's sweet. And she's into him, but she's got it all and Deke knows he won't fit into that. So he holds her at arm's length. Establishes boundaries. And Justice will take it because she wants Deke any way he'll let her have him.

But when Justice finds herself a pawn in a dangerous game, Deke makes a decision.

When he does, he has no idea he's just opened himself up to bounty.

As per usual with anything from KA, I have myriad reasons to love it. Here are a few of the myriad as pertains to Bounty.

• Deke had certain preconceived notions of what people with money were like and he had solid reasons for these notions but I love how KA gave him Justice and therefore reason to change those preconceived notions...to realize not all people fit under one definition. And then gave him the bounty for being willing to change.
• I loved that despite the fact Justice had everything and the money to buy what she didn't, she was always looking for the less that was more. That's what she needed - less - and with Deke that's what she found... a less that was so much more.
• Justice and Deke were truly made for one another. They fit, even if Deke took a little convincing, and i was so completely natural. They were just together, even before they were, and it was easy.
• KA always but always makes the most important things in life important for her characters: family and friends. With family, it's not always smooth sailing, there are bumps in the road and both Justice and Deke had and were experiencing those bumps. But they both understood loss and that family - even when you might wish they weren't your family - comes first. As for friends - with KA, female solidarity is always a focal point and in Bounty, we got that when the women of Carnal, Gnaw Bone, and Chantalle, rallied around Justice - became her posse and enfolded her into the tribe. And Justice made that easy. But I think the even stronger expression of friendship came with the camaraderie among the mountain men. We've seen them all have each others' backs but this time there was a little something stronger in the dynamics which illustrated just how tight these guys are.
• Bounty - as a title punches you with what this story is all about. KA typically shares life lessons as a thread in her stories - at least it's one thing I always get out of one of her stories - and Bounty was no different...except it was. I loved that in changing Deke's perceptions, Justice's were altered and it all equaled a shift in perspective. At least in mine...how they looked at life - how I look at life - what it means to be happy. What do we really need to achieve it?

"Best anyone can hope for. Either the contentment of knowin' they're right where they need to be, doin' what they should be doin' among the fold they should be with or takin' a path that, least it could be is interesting, best it's a god-damned kick in the ass." -Deke

"I was grateful for thermostats and a new deck and creamy foam in my walls. I was grateful for Jim-Billy. I was grateful for fate setting my feet on that sidewalk so I could be there for a woman I barely knew, but she was a woman that needed me. I was just grateful that the life I'd been born into already giving me so much, continued to offer me bounty." -Justice

"That's it, Deke. I'm a lucky girl. Blessed. Given so much bounty, it's almost embarrassing how much God likes me. But He must really like me because I have all I have and He also gave me you." -Justice 

• KA wove in some suspense as well and she gives good suspense. I actually feared she was going to take us somewhere I didn't want to go. I shouldn't have feared but I did.

All these things combined for a deep, powerful, and compelling story with all the complexities in the characters that draw me to KA. Y'all know I love her and she's not let me down yet. Hopefully, if I talk about her enough, y'all will eventually cave - if only to see what all my gushing is about!

2017 #BookishResolutions Challenge Update ~ March

I'm once again participating in the Bookish Resolutions Challenge. This challenge is hosted by Michelle @Because Reading and Laura @ Trips Down Imagination Road. For complete details and to sign up, click the graphic above or here. 

**MY GOALS FOR 2017**

I've been moderately successful with the challenge the past 2 years but I think I've come up with some tweaks so that I'll be even more so in 2017. Mostly I'm making my goals more specific and therefore more quantifiable. :)

• Blogging Goals
• Comment back THREE times a week
• Visit TEN blogs a day
• Interact with 3 blog Facebook pages a day
• Link up my challenge posts on the last day of each month (or last day of month quarterly for those updating quarterly)
• Keep track of my progress on my calendar
• Reading Goals
• NO BOOK BUYING without a gift card (that was gifted!)
• Read TWO Netgalley reads per month
• Read (at least) TWO books I already own per month
• Read ONE book from a series I'm behind in per month
• Listen to TWO review books per month
• Read books my kids *need* me to read
• Born to Run (Jax)
• Death with Interruptions (Jax)
• Everything is Illuminated (Sky)
• The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Jax)
• School of Good and Evil (Berk)
• The Book Thief (Sky)
• The Lightning Thief (Berk)
• Keep track of my progress on my calendar and in my book journal
• Personal Goals
• Exercise FIVE days a week
• Keep a food/exercise journal
• Spend an hour daily writing/editing
• Clean up my Goodreads Shelves!
• Spend ONE day a month on a different hobby - paper crafting or knitting
• Keep track of my progress with writing/editing and crafting on my calendar

***Update***

• Blogging Goals
  I've done okay with my blogging goals this month. I've kept up with commenting back and that makes me incredibly happy! I have *not* done well with visiting 10 blogs a day but y'all, March has been hard. I had Sky home and my mother-in-law visiting, James was home some, and this week Berk & Jax are home. They're all messing with my schedule. LOL But seriously, y'all know my family comes first so... I'm working at catching up though. If I haven't comment bombed you yet, your time is coming. You've been warned. ;)  I also failed at interacting on Facebook, obviously. I did keep up with linking reviews for challenges as well as keeping track of things in my planner. So I think that means I'm batting .500.

• Reading Goals
  Woot! THREE MONTHS and I haven't one-clicked a book! I did, of course, add a few *freebies* to my library but I've really been selective, only choosing those books and/or authors I've wanted to read for awhile. I also read (am reading) four more Netgalley reads this month, Dare You To by Katie McGarry, Cupcakes and Ink by Helena Hunting, Ten Reasons to Stay by Sabrina Jeffries, and I'm almost done with Mystery Man by Kristen Ashley. I read a book from a series I am behind in - My TBR read for March, Crash into You by Katie McGarry. I have to say I'm loving using series I'm behind in for my TBR picks. :) I managed to complete four audio review books and am working on a fifth, so I crushed this goal. (It's amazing how much listening you can do while running errands, cleaning, and cooking! ;) I finished Shifting Gears by Riley Hart, and Your Irresistible Love, Your Captivating Love, Your Forever Love, and I'm almost finished with Your Inescapable Love by Layla Hagen - yep, I'm binging on this series.) I started reading Born to Run from Jax's request list. Yay me! And I'm continuing to use my planner to keep track of these goals and it makes it easier to see what I have on tap. Again, overall I ROCKED March reading-wise.
• Personal Goals
  I'm continuing to do well with some of my personal goals. I've managed to exercise at least 5 days a week and I'm using my fitbit to keep track of food and exercise. That's enormously helpful since it's essentially done for me. I do add in my food during the day to keep track of calories. And I'm rather proud to say I've lost almost 12.4 pounds! I did spend some more time working at cleaning up my Goodreads shelves, but not enough. I did make some strides in writing/editing - setting a goal for myself has helped. Writing does take time away from blogging but if I want to finish my book, things have to be shifted. I also spent some time knitting this month - working on a project that's been getting the best of me but I think I've finally figured it out now. Woohoo!  

So that's my update. How are y'all doing with your challenges?

Brandee's Bookish Babble #31 ~ Goodreads & Comments

Welcome to Brandee's Bookish Babble. There are many, many similar posts to this one - but basically I wanted a place to discuss bookish and/or blogging stuff and I needed a title. :) 

***

I have a rather embarrassing confession. For as much as I love and use Goodreads, I'm not very social on it. And - this is the confession part - I was recently trying to "clean up" and discovered I had lots of messages. Unread messages! Some of which were over 3 years old! Gah! And while most were about things it didn't matter I'd missed, there were a few personal ones. Eep! A few were from people who'd started following me because they found my blog (one through Berls)...one was from a neighbor friend. Needless to say, I was mortified. And so very embarrassed. Embarrassed by the lack of attention I gave to this functionality on Goodreads. And even more embarrassed by the perception I'd probably given - that of my indifference. Neither was intentional. I've been on Goodreads for years but no one really interacted with me until I began blogging. So it wasn't that I didn't care - it was simply that it hadn't become a habit to pay attention to these notifications.

I have learned a valuable lesson though. I will be more attuned to people reaching out to me - in all the various way available. I feel terribly that I may have lost a follower or two - maybe even someone who would have been a great book friend - because of this oversight but if you were one that messaged me way back then, please know I wasn't intentionally ignoring you. Each and every one of you is important to me! And I promise I'm paying attention now. :D

What about y'all? Any faux pas perpetrated via Goodreads or other social media outlet? Any valuable lessons you've learned you'd like to share?

Audio Review ~ Highland Spy ~ Madeline Martin #AudioChallenge

Highland Spy by Madeline Martin
Narrated by: Dave Gillies
Release Date: January 10, 2017
Genre: Adult, Historical Romance
Source: I received a complimentary copy from Tantor Media
Rating: 4 Bookworms
Challenges: Audio Challenge, #2017NewRelease, #ShelfLove
Goodreads

Synopsis
Ariana Fitzroy has lost her family and her fortune. The fight for survival leads her to the shadowed card games of court, where she discovers she has quite a talent for slipping cards into her favor. While the winnings are enough to sustain her at present, they will not last forever...Connor Grant, trainer of the fallen women from the English court and personal assassin to the king, is just as broken as the women he trains. After losing his own land and all his people in a brutal attack from a trusted friend, he has no choice but to rebuild any way he sees possible-even if it means going against everything he's ever believed in. After catching Ariana cheating at cards, Connor has a new trainee to instruct at one of the king's many confiscated castles. In the dilapidated ruins, he discovers Ariana is more than she appears and falls in love with her incredible tenacity and dedication-a love that is challenged by Connor's chance at reclaiming the inheritance he once last and has sought so desperately to regain.

Highland Spy was a thrilling listen! It's set against the backdrop of King James' reign and his attempts to keep the Scots under his rule. He's using Scots as spies to keep tabs on the powerful, even creating a spy/assassin ring of women!

Connor Grant is the ring leader of this group and takes great pains in choosing the women he takes under his wing. He trains them well but keeps their souls clean by never pushing them too far. He's close to his girls, caring and loyal. But he's kept his distance for obvious reasons. Until Ariana.

Ariana Fitzroy, a young woman from a once noble family, has resorted to being a card cheat in order to pay her few remaining staff. One night, she's caught and has to choose between going to work for Connor or being turned over to the authorities. The choice is simple.

Watching as these two fall for one another was at times gut-wrenching and at others heartwarming. Connor, having lost his clan and lands (his father was laird) on top of the sins he's committed for the crown, feels he has nothing to offer Ariana. Ariana, having lost her family before she could ever know any sort of love, simply wants her feelings for Connor reciprocated. These two had an uphill battle, not only in their profession, but also in an attempt to be together.

The politics and court intrigue added this whole other layer to the story that only amplified my enjoyment. Really, it was more central to the story than the romance! *gasp* King James was a crafty bugger and when the reveals came about I felt for Connor to have had his loyalty repaid - even bought - in such a way. The secondary characters - particularly the other maidens - were fairly well fleshed out. They're all unique and have their own stories - stories I'm eager to learn.

Dave Gillies' narration was well-done. He's Scottish, so of course his accents were impeccable. He also did a fine job of not only conveying proper emotions but also in keeping the pacing smooth. His cadence took a bit of getting used to but his delivery held my interest.

This was my first read from Martin and my first listen with Gillies. I intend to continue this series, especially if Gillies narrates, as well as look for more from Gillies.

My TBR List Review ~ March ~ Crash Into You ~ Katie McGarry

My To-Be Read List is a meme hosted by Michelle @Because Reading. I think it's a fabulous idea because it gets y'all in the game and it helps me knock off some of the many, many books on my TBR list. You're more than welcome to join in the fun! I've included the basic rules below but you can click on the graphic above to hop over to Michelle's site where you can find all the details. 


Crash into You by Katie McGarry
Pushing the Limits #3
Release Date: November 26, 2013
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: Borrowed from Library
Rating: 5 Bookworms
Challenges: #TakeControlTBR
Goodreads

Synopsis
The girl with straight A's and the perfect life--that's who people expect Rachel Young to be. So the private school junior keeps secrets from her wealthy family...and she's just added two more to the list. One involves racing strangers down dark country roads in her Mustang GT. The other? Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Walker - a guy she has no business even talking to. But after the foster kid with the tattoos and intense gray eyes comes to her rescue, she can't get him out of her mind.

The last thing Isaiah needs is to get tangled up with a rich girl who wants to slum it on the south side for kicks. But when their shared love of street racing puts their lives in jeopardy, Isaiah and Rachel will have six weeks to come up with a way out. Six weeks to discover just how far they'll go to save each other.

This book.... THIS. BOOK. I. LOVED. IT! The end. :D

Caution: Gushing ahead...

Really I could just say that I love everything about it and be done. But I didn't love everything because I hate thinking about a system that creates situations like those Isaiah and Noah lived in. I hate thinking about there being families like Rachel's - seemingly having it all and yet being so inherently broken. However, McGarry's writing, her storytelling skill, wrapped both these things into a story around Isaiah and Rachel that was riveting. I didn't want to put it down!

Isaiah...to say this guy just can't catch a break would be an understatement. He's been in the foster system since he was 6, bouncing from home to home, suffering both physically and emotionally. He's learned in 11 years that nothing stays constant and he's beginning to believe his own hype - that hs'e someone to steer clear of, never risking his heart. Then he meets Rachel. This girl after his own heart - one who's into cars and sees past his facade to the real guy he is.

Rachel...oh man. This poor girl. I can't imagine living a life knowing you're a replacement for a child who didn't live, feeling like you'll never measure up, having to who you really are so everyone else will be happy. Gah! I wanted to shake every single family member. On the surface, her life looks perfect, but all she wants is to be able to be validated for who she is, what she likes...and to work on her car. Then she meets Isaiah, a guy who's a little rough around the edges, but one who, upon closer inspection, is so much more. He takes the time to look, really look, at Rachel.

These two together make little sense and at the same time, they're perfect together. They both have lessons to learn - Isaiah to figure out that not everything is in his control and Rachel to stop hiding who she is - and they stand by one another on this journey. There were hiccups, of course. An edge of danger. Together though, they could weather anything.

Besides Isaiah and Rachel, what I enjoyed most was the huge cast of characters in Crash Into You. Not only do we spend time with Noah and Echo, Beth and Ryan, but Logan is features, as well as Abby and Rachel's brothers, West and Ethan. I felt the cast added that much more depth to the story. And I hope to get more from more than a few of them.

So yeah, the story was excellent...realistic, gritty, exciting, and heartbreaking at times. I can't wait to see what McGarry has on tap next!

Audio Review ~ The Playboy Pilot ~ Penelope Ward & Vi Keeland

Playboy Pilot by Penelope Ward & Vi Keeland
Narrated by: Andi Arndt and Sebastian York
Release Date: September 21, 2016 (audio)
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: I received a complimentary copy from Tantor Media
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Challenges: Audio Challenge, #ShelfLove
Goodreads

Synopsis
Money or love? Which would you choose?

You probably just answered the question in your head thinking it's an easy decision.

For, it's not. Did I mention it's a lot of money? A hell of a lot.

I needed to go far away to think it through.

As I embarked on an impulsive trip, I hit a detour when I met sexy Carter in the airport lounge. We struck up a heated conversation.

Then, he left.

I thought I'd never see him again.

But fate had other plans.

Surprise! He was the pilot of my flight.

The bigger surprise was the adventure that followed after the plane landed.

Carter was dangerous and always on the move.

Even though our connection was magnetic, I knew it was only temporary.

He would give me tickets, and I would follow him around the world to exotic places.

A bevvy of flight attendant exes and rumors about Cater's reputation were never far behind.

I didn't know what to believe.

But I was addicted. Nothing else mattered anymore. And I was going to get hurt. Because a part of me wanted to be the one to finally ground the playboy pilot.

At the very least, he was taking me on a thrilling ride.

All good things must come to an end, right?

Except our ending was one I didn't see coming.

This writing duo is the bomb! Their stories are riveting and along with the spectacular narrating, I was loathe to remove my earbuds.

Kendall and Cater meet in an airport bar. She's trying to decide on a place to travel to where she can make an important decision about her life. Carter, well I think he was mostly playing at scoring with Kendall. Their meeting was life changing for them both.

Kendall ends up deciding on a locale at Carter's suggestion. It's only later she finds out he's a pilot. Thus begins their adventure together - getting to know each other as well as themselves.

I enjoyed watching as they evolved both as individuals and as a couple. Kendall is at a crossroads in her life, needing to make a decision that will impact her life in a huge way. I liked her spunk and it said a lot about her that she was considering the decision - it wasn't an easy one. Carter has spent his professional life being a playboy pilot - moving through women and never getting close to anyone. He experienced something in his youth - teen years - that had a profound impact and he's kept himself distant from anything deep. Until Kendall.

I liked how Keeland and Ward had these two find one another an I enjoy how they always surprise me with the conflict - the bump in the road - their couples encounter. I also like where these two end up and how they get there. It's not pretty or clean but it felt authentic.

Andi Arndt and Sebastian York embodied Kendall and Carter - made me feel everything they each were going through. They make a phenomenal narrating duo, not only fleshing out the characters but also keeping the pacing perfect.

Keeland and Ward delivered another entertaining story that was deeper than I anticipated. At this point, I'll read/listen to anything these two create!

New Release Review ~ Finding Our Forever ~ Brenda Novak #2017NewRelease

Finding Our Forever by Brenda Novak
Silver Springs #1
Release Date: March 21, 2017
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: I received an eARC from the author. This did not affect my rating and I voluntarily provided a review.
Rating: 3.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #2017NewRelease
Goodreads

Synopsis
The search for her birth mother brought Cora Kelly to the New Horizons Boys Ranch. Getting a job there was easy enough, but confiding in Aiyana, the ranch's owner, that she's really her daughter? Cora's not sure she can do that, not unless she's confident the news will be welcomed. And once she gets to know Elijah Turner, Aiyana's adopted son and ranch manager, that decision becomes even more difficult.

Although Elijah can't deny his deep attraction to Cora, he's always struggled with trust. Anyone with his past would, and there's something about the ranch's newest employee that isn't exactly as it seems. But if the feelings she awakes in his guarded heart are any indication, she might be just what he's long been waiting for.

The premise of Finding Our Forever really appealed to me - I mean, finally finding your birth mother only to fall for her adopted son? Good stuff, right? And for the most part, it was.

Cora has always felt not quite whole having been adopted and not knowing anything about her birth mother. She's finally found her - she founded and runs a school for troubled teen boys - and she's accepted a job working as an art teacher. This will, hopefully, enable Cora to get to know her birth mother and then she can decide whether or not to tell her who she is. But she didn't count on Eli.

Elijah "Eli" Turner is the adopted son of Aiyana - a boy rescued from a terribly abusive home. He's become an incredible man, working at the school, giving to the boys there...but he doesn't trust easily. There's something about Cora, though. He's enamored.

And then there's Aiyana - this compassionate, giving woman who works tirelessly to help these boys who wouldn't have a chance otherwise. Why would she have given up her own child?

I really enjoyed my introduction to this new series and the characters of Silver Springs. The romance between Cora and Eli was heartwarming to watch develop even if I was upset with Cora for keeping her secret. I did feel the story could've had more depth if Eli's story had been explored a little more. For someone who claimed he wasn't to be trusted with Cora's heart, he certainly showed no real signs of not wanting it. I suppose when it's the one there's no stopping the heart, but still...

I also felt the reveal was a little easy and therefore anticlimactic. The emotion I was expecting would be there wasn't. But overall, the story was pleasant and compelling. I look forward to spending more time in Silver Springs, getting acquainted with the town and its inhabitants.

New Release Review ~ Anarchy Missing ~ JA Huss (@JAHuss) #2017NewRelease

Anarchy Missing by JA Huss
SuperAlpha #2
Release Date: March 14, 2017
Genre: Adult, Superhero/SuperVillain Romance
Source: I received an eARC from the author. This did not affect my rating and I voluntarily provided a review.
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #2017NewRelease
Goodreads

Synopsis
Everyone wants justice.
That's what Assistant DA, Lulu Lightly, tells me.
"Cathedral City needs you to set things right," she says. "To rid this place of corruption once and for all."
I'd like to rid Lulu Lightly of her clothes. And maybe her moral superiority. But mostly her clothes.
"I want you to fight the good fight with me," she says.
Hell, yeah. I'm always up for a fight.
"We should stand up and be the voice of the people," she says.
Sur, I hear voices. Sometimes I even listen to them.
"Figure out what's good for the City and put it first," she says.
Oh, honey...what's good for the City is bad for the people. Trust me, I know. I'm Case Reider - insane Alpha, nerfarious inventor, and I understand this town better than anyone.
Cathedral City needs me all right. Just not the way you think.
I'm not the justice you're looking for, Lulu Lightly.
I'm still the same villain you left behind.
Only now... there's something very, very wrong with me.

It's been awhile since I visited Cathedral City with its mountains and spires and corruption and... superheroes. Or are they supervillains? Whichever category they fall into, Huss had me falling for this next Alpha almost immediately - despite his valid concerns about his sanity.

Reading Anarchy Missing is akin to watching a Marvel movie - riveting and exciting from the get-go. I was immersed in this world from page one where we're able to see how our Alphas attain their uniqueness, watch them acquire their girl, and deal with a crisis... all they while planning for the thing that they're really intent on accomplishing. In Anarchy Missing we meet Lulu (I LOVE her name!!), someone Case was involved with years ago. She comes back to town with a purpose - that being Lady Justice. I adored Lulu. She's intelligent and strong, and even though she wants to serve up justice, she's not so hellbent on it that she can't look deeper - consider all sides. Case is this super-talented high-tech designer/developer. He's the same loyal guy we met in Anarchy Found, yet different. He still has strong feelings for Lulu but believes he isn't good for her - especially since he keeps having this feeling...that something is wrong with him. And there just might be.

All the Alphas are very present in this installment - banding together to figure out what the latest evil invading their city is. They can't be villains, can they?!? Molly and Sheila are also present which makes the story that much more gripping because the entire cast is well-developed - even AI Sheila - and that development along with the dynamics between them all gives the story more depth.

This world Huss has created with all its unique high-tech gadgetry and medicine, its evil villains and superheroes who might be supervillains is so entertaining and fascinating. Huss is still in the building phase and I'm hopefuly we get another Alpha book this year so we can get a better idea of where the Alphas are leading Cathedral City. Plus, I want to see Thomas get his girl. *wink*

Only Huss could take me out of my comfort zone genre-wise and make me grateful for the experience. I haven't gotten my paperback yet (book buying ban) but I'm hoping it has all the hand-drawn art to complete the comic book feel. The art was a real bonus in the first installment so I hope it's carried throughout. As for the story, there are questions, of course, but I know in the end all will be answered. And so I'll anxiously await my next trip to Cathedral City.

Review ~ Rises the Night ~ Colleen Gleason #TakeControlTBR #ShelfLove

Rises the Night by Colleen Gleason
Gardella Vampire Hunters #2
Release Date: June 5, 2007
Genre: Adult, Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased on Kindle
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #ShelfLove, #TakeControl, #TravelingtotheTerminus
Goodreads

Synopsis
The saga of Victoria Gardella continues as the glorious nineteenth-century city of Rome gives rise to a new threat from the immortal undead...

Lady Victoria Gardella Grantworth de Lacy has been a vampire slayer for just over a year, balancing her life as a peer of Soceity with the dangerous role that takes her out on moonlit streets, stake in hand. She has learned brutal and heartbreaking lessons about the sacrifices that must be made in order to save humanity from the evil that secretly preys upon it, but she has not wavered in her vow to fight on.

Now, in Italy, a powerful vampire is amassing the power to control the souls of the dead. As Victoria races across Europe to stop what could be the most deadly army the Gardellas have ever faced, her unlikely companion is Sebastian Vioget--a man as tempting as he is untrustworthy.

But when Victoria discovers she has been betrayed by one of her most trusted allies, the truth will challenge all her powers as a Venator...and as a woman.

I was an instant fan of this series following the stellar first installment. Vampire hunters in Regency-era England? Yes, please. Rises the Night picks up almost a year after the end of book 1 - that heartbreaking ending. Rises the Night is every bit as exciting and fascinating, with intrigue, a new evil on the rise, and questionable loyalties.

This installment finds Victoria investigating and attempting to locate a new threat to humanity. No one has heard from Max in almost a year so Victoria relies on aid from Sebastian despite not knowing for certain if he's trustworthy.

There is danger almost at every turn - the introduction of new characters for whom it was thrilling to try to determine their allegiance, and the simmering sexual tension between Victoria and Sebastian hit the boiling point. There were also more than a few surprises, some of which left me bereft. Actually, I'm still feeling that way and am quite certain that I'll continue this series soon as I'm more that eager to know what is lying in wait for our heroine next.

As long as I'm rambling, I appreciated the change in locale for this installment. Rome and Venice allowed Victoria even more freedom as a woman and I also liked the description of the cities. Victoria also learns more about the Venators, which provided a little more history about the venerable group of hunters she's a part of. I also liked the lore used regarding this newest evil.

Overall, I'm simply enthralled. I'm anxious to learn, experience, immerse myself even more in this series!

Beyond the Books ~ Ten Things You Always Wanted to Know About Me...

Welcome to Bookworm Brandee Beyond the Books. This post was inspired by Lexxie @Unconventional Bookviews' Up Close and (Un)conventional, who was inspired by Cuddlebuggery. It's meant to be a way for y'all to get to know me better on a personal level ~ Beyond the Books. ;)

*************

...and were too afraid to ask. ;)

• I have a degree in English Literature...and in Economics. I'd planned on going to law school but changed my mind. 
• I'm an accomplished procrastinator. I come from a long line of procrastinators and I've ensured my legacy having progeny who also procrastinate exceedingly well.
• I'm particular about my pens. Since I hand write my reviews as well as discussion posts, it's of special importance I have my favorite pens on hand. My favorite brand? Uniball Signo. I have them in every color.
• Before I got married, I'd never:
• owned a CD
• owned a computer
• traveled much outside the state of Texas
• I became a coffee addict at the ripe old age of 40! I started drinking coffee in my hot chocolate, then moved to flavored creamer. Now I drink it black.
• I'm originally from Texas (I've lived in Colorado for 18 years). I grew up with grandparents who farmed and spent a great deal of time around mud, animals, gardens, and snakes. And yet, I'd never owned a pair of cowboy boots until two years ago.
• My grandma, mom, and I are all spaced 20 years apart, meaning my grandma is 86, my mom is 66, and I'll be 46 next month. I, however, broke the streak!
• In my family, I've managed to get the 1/4 genetic possibilities (using simple Punnet squares)
• green eyes - everyone else has blue or brown
• poor eyesight - I was legally blind before I had Lasik
• low blood pressure - they worry because it's so low
• O Negative blood type
• although not genetic, I'm the oddball liberal in a family full of conservatives
• I talk to my cats...and myself. A lot. Especially myself. My kids laugh at me but, as I've told them repeatedly, sometimes I'm the only one who listens to me!
• At one time I kept my hardback books pristine, never wanting to crease the spine, damage the dust jacket, fold a page... Now I've decided that having sticky tabs, notes in the margins, and *gasp* dog-eared pages is my way of showing my love for the book.

There you have it! Ten things you've always wanted to know...okay, maybe you didn't really know you wanted to know these things about me. But now you do. Thanks for listening reading!

Review ~ Ten Reasons to Stay ~ Sabrina Jeffries #BloggerShame #COYER #ShelfLove

Ten Reasons to Stay by Sabrina Jeffries
Release Date: May 6, 2013
Genre: Adult, Historical Romance
Source: I received an eARC from the publisher via Netgalley. This in no way affected my rating and I voluntarily provided a review.
Rating: 3.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #BloggerShame, #COYER, #ReadAlltheBooks, #ShelfLove, #TakeControlTBR
Goodreads

Synopsis
In "Ten Reasons to Stay," previously published in the anthology The School for Heiresses, lessons go far beyond etiquette and needlepoint. Eliza Crenshawe's lesson is to look before she leaps. But when she discovers that her new guardian plans to marry her off without so much as a Season, she forgets all that. She flees--on a horse she unwittingly steals (oops!)--from Colin Hunt, a newly minted earl who wants nothing more than for her to go home...or stay forever.

What a delightful read this was! I'm a sucker for both a feisty historical heroine and a broody hero - Ten Reasons to Stay delivered both! Even though things moved at lightning speed, I still fell for both Eliza and Colin.

These two meet under conspicuous circumstances. Eliza was intending to borrow a horse when Colin catches her. He was confounded by her appearance - she was dressed as a man - and even more so when she refused to tell him anything regarding who she was or her reasons for needing his horse. Oh but he has his ways of getting information.

Both Eliza and Colin have suffered losses. Colin has come to England from India, where he grew up. He's looking for peace. Eliza's looking for escape. But they might need one another to find what they're looking for.

I would have liked more time with these two. Time for me to get better acquainted with them and for them to become better acquainted with each other. But I did like them both. They're very spirited and fell hard and fast. The reason behind Eliza's escape attempt was solved a bit too easily for my tastes but this is a novella. And despite wanting more, I still had a good time with the story. Jeffries deftly creates engaging characters I adore spending time with as well as watching them get themselves out of situations...and always to find their HEA.

My TBR List ~ March ~ And the Winner is...

My To-Be Read List is a meme hosted by Michelle @Because Reading. I think it's a fabulous idea because it gets y'all in the game and it helps me knock off some of the many, many books on my TBR list. You're more than welcome to join in the fun! I've included the basic rules below but you can click on the graphic above to hop over to Michelle's site where you can find all the details. 

Here's how it works:
On the first Saturday of each month, I will make a post with three books from my TBR List (these books can be already on your ereader or bookshelf OR books you might want to purchase) and add your link on the linky that will be provided on Michelle's post. Y'ALL will help me choose which book I will read next. The following Saturday, I will announce which book won. Then the last Saturday of the month, I'll post my review.

Fun, right?!?

***

The votes are in, and the winner is.......


Crash into You
Pushing the Limits #3

Synopsis
The girl with straight A's and the perfect life--that's who people expect Rachel Young to be. So the private school junior keeps secrets from her wealthy family...and she's just added two more to the list. One involves racing strangers down dark country roads in her Mustang GT. The other? Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Walker - a guy she has no business even talking to. But after the foster kid with the tattoos and intense gray eyes comes to her rescue, she can't get him out of her mind.

The last thing Isaiah needs is to get tangled up with a rich girl who wants to slum it on the south side for kicks. But when their shared love of street racing puts their lives in jeopardy, Isaiah and Rachel will have six weeks to come up with a way out. Six weeks to discover just how far they'll go to save each other.



Thanks for voting and check back on March 25th for my review!

Review ~ The Wright Brother ~ Marie Hall #COYER #ShelfLove

The Wright Brother by Marie Hall
Release Date: September 19, 2014
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: Gifted
Rating: 4 Bookworms
Challenges: #COYER, #ShelfLove
Goodreads

Synopsis
From the moment I opened my eyes I could only see the world in shades of gray. There was no noise, no sound, nothing. Deaf and colorblind, I was a loner. My world was bleak, silent and empty, until her. Until I met my neighbor, Elisa Jane Adrian. I want her. I need her. The fractured part of me feels whole when she's around. Like the world isn't so dark, isn't so blea, and so still. I know it's impossible, but when I look at Elisa I swear I can see color, can hear the gentle inhalations of her breath. I know she feels it too, this magic, this desperate desire...

I first saw him when I was three. Julian Wright was different than any other guy I'd ever known. He sees the world in a way I know I never will. But he intrigues me. The way he looks at me with his sea green eyes, how he hypnotizes me with his smile.

It's dangerous these feelings I have for him. Reckless and stupid. I'm so much older than him, I know better. And I'll fight these desires, no one will ever know how I feel. I'll even pretend to myself that I'm not as hooked on him as he is on me.

I'll move away to Ireland, I'll forget him, but that's the thing about the Wrights, they have a way of getting under your skin, into your soul, and no matter the time or distance, once a Wright sets their eyes on you, there's no going back...ever.

Whoa! Elisa and Julian's story kept me tied in knots. But y'all know I'm a believer in things working out the way they're meant to - just like Elisa's mom - so despite having my doubts at several points, I was ecstatic at where Elisa and Julian ended up.

Elisa and Julian have known each other almost their whole lives. Well, at least Julian's since he's 2 years and 5 months younger than Elisa. Julian, one of a set of triplets, is different though. He's deaf. And colorblind. But that doesn't keep he and Elisa from being close. They develop their own way of communicating and are together a lot. An event takes Julian and his family away for awhile but the return and it's then Elisa begins to question her feelings for Julian. She can't feel an attraction to him, can she? He's younger. And - well his brothers, at least, are like her brothers. Thus begins the back and forth, push and pull relationship between them.

Elisa, although I liked her and understood her reservations about Julian, she made me want to smack her on the back of her head. She was so clueless sometimes, not taking into consideration Julian's feelings or how her action would affect him. Julian I loved. He's broody, artistic, but considerate and romantic. And no matter what he held out hope for he and Elisa.

The journey for these two was rocky and full of angst. Thee were missteps on both sides but usually Elisa's. But I enjoyed witnessing them grow and mature - and realize what they had together was special and worth fighting for.

Thanks to Berls for this special read! I'm sorry it took me so long but it was worth the wait. :)

On a side note - as I typed the synopsis I realized it made it seem like maybe part of this story is from Julian's POV. It's not but his feelings are clear. :)

#ShelfLove Discussion ~ Books Languishing the Longest...

This quarter's #ShelfLove discussion is about books that have been languishing on my shelves the longest. Honestly, I have so many choices! But I decided to pick one from my physical shelf, and two from my virtual shelves - one from my nook and one from my kindle.

The Good German by Joseph Kanon has been on my physical shelf FOREVER. I can't explain why. I've had this book since 2001 and I was so excited to receive a copy from the publisher. I ran a book club at the time and somehow got a copy - the publisher hoping I'd pick it for book club, I'm sure. Anyway, it's still sitting on my TBR shelf.










A Hidden Fire by Elizabeth Hunter has been on my Nook since 2012. I heard about The First Ever Indie Convention, hosted by authors including Colleen Hoover and Jillian Dodd, held in Chicago back in 2012. I couldn't attend but decided to read a book from each of the authors attending. I *know* I'm going to love this but for some reason, this is one I've never gotten around to reading. :(








Overwhelm Me by A.C. Marchman has been on my Kindle since 2013. Heck, I *bought* my Kindle in order to read this book and several others that I'd found were only available on Kindle. And again, I cannot tell you why I haven't gotten around to reading it, but I haven't. It's another one I'm certain I'm going to love but... *sigh* I'll get around to reading it eventually.









So what about y'all? Are there books you've had lying around FOREVER?? Why is it you haven't read it/them yet?? Is it just a matter of time?!? Or you just not interested anymore?? Why have you let them languish?

Review ~ Red Rising ~ Pierce Brown #2017HW #ShelfLove

Red Rising by Pierce Brown
Red Rising #1
Release Date: January 28, 2014
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy
Source: Purchased hardcover
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #2017HW, #ShelfLove
Goodreads

Synopsis
"I live for the dream that my children will be born free," she says. "That they will be what they like. That they will own the land their father gave them."

"I live for you," I say sadly.

Eo kisses my cheek. "Then you must live for more."

Darrow is a Red, a member of the lowest caste in the color-coded society of the future. Like his fellow Reds, he works all day, believing that he and his people are making the surface of Mars livable for future generations.

Yet he spends his life willingly, knowing that his blood and sweat will one day result in a better world for his children.

But Darrow and his kind have been betrayed. Soon he discovers that humanity already reached the surface generations ago. Vast cities and sprawling parks spread across the planet. Darrow--and Reds like him--are nothing more than slaves to a decadent ruling class.

Inspired by a longing for justice, and driven by the memory of lost love, Darrow sacrifices everything to infiltrate the legendary Institute, a proving ground for the dominant Gold caste, where the next generation of humanity's overlords struggle for power. He will be forced to compete for his life and the very future of civilization against the best and most brutal of Society's ruling class. There, he will stop at nothing to bring down his enemies... even if it means he has to become one of them to do so.

Since I'm late to the party - story of my life - I'm not going to recount all that went down in Red Rising... because y'all probably already know. I'm only going to explain why, even though there was a point where the story dragged a bit for me, I still loved the heck out of Darrow and this story!

• the setup for the story. I was immediately gripped by the world Darrow inhabited, his clan, his being a HellDiver, Eo. Especially Eo. She served as the catalyst for all that came after and even though what she did was shocking, it had to be done. The shock is what set the wheels in motion.
• the detail and world building. We've colonized the moon and Mars?!? The detail of the tunnels and homes as well as the jobs of Darrow's people had me feeling the heat and the sandy grit from deep within Mars. The world on the surface, the Institute, the castles, the woods, the animals - Brown did an incredible job at drawing all the images in my mind. He also realistically portrayed not only the conditions the kids had to live and fight in - the lack of food, the lack of water, the stench of unwashed bodies and human waste - but also the emotions they felt. The things these kids were asked to do in order to survive caused fear, loathing, hate, but also camaraderie, loyalty, and love. I felt it all.
• Greek and Roman names, deities used. I found it ironic that Society would use these names - herald them - when those societies failed...especially since that was the objective.
• the colors - highColors, lowColors - this is how classes are created and distinguished. Society created a complex hierarchy and despite the elevation, the evolution, of the Golds, not much has changed in the future.
• the parallels I could draw between our world and Darrow's. It speaks to the problems of our current political climate and makes me sad to think humanity hasn't evolved...at least in fiction.
• the atmosphere. Even though the characters are primarily teens (late teens), the feel of the story is mature. The politics, the tactics of war employed, the subterfuge...it all lent to a sophistication not typically found in young adult literature. Watching as these kids adapt to the world they've been thrown into, strategizing for battle and survival, deciding how to best motivate your troops, etc., was fascinating.
• the characters. They're all very well developed. I loved and/or hated them all. All is fair in love and war as the old adage goes and these kids certainly learn that lesson. But Darrow sits atop the heap as my favorite. He's sacrificed much for a dream that wasn't even his. He felt denigrated. He felt rage and the need for vengeance. He felt pain and betrayal He felt exalted. But I think as he continues his mission he may learn that things aren't always simple. Black and white. Or Gold and Red in this case. And I'm eager to be a part of his learning, his continued evolution.

The only reason this isn't a 5 Bookworm read is that the middle dragged a bit. It fit in the story, of course, but it didn't hold me hostage to turning the pages like the rest did. I very much look forward to continuing Darrow's story though.