4th Annual OctobeRec Fest ~ A Month of Recommendations! #OctobeRecFest

Welcome to my Fourth Annual OctobeRec Fest. 

FOURTH, y'all! I can't believe I've been doing this for four years now. Anyway, I started this as a nod to Oktoberfest and I'm once again spending a month dedicated to reading the many, many books on my ereaders and bookshelves thanks to you, my blogging friends. (and a few beers will probably be added into the mix! ;) This year, I'm switching it up just a tad. I'll be reading books from series that I started thanks to y'all and in doing so, I'm showing my digital and physical shelves love as well as moving towards finishing up those series! 

Here are a few of the books I'm hoping to get to this month. I'm sure you'll recognize your recommendations but I'll try to make sure to call you out in my reviews. ;)



Thank you all so much for sharing book love! And hopefully I can get a few of you interested in some new books to try. 

My TBR List ~ February ~ Polling is Open!

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?!?

***

I'm continuing my quest, and working at one of my Bookish Resolutions to catch up on series (since I'm behind in 148 series) I'm once again having y'all decide which series I'm going to work at catching up on this month! :D

FYI, this will be my theme all year. And since I'm letting random.org choose from the list of series I'm behind in, you might see books show up more than once. ;)

Your Choices Are:


Charade
Games #1
(I started this series out of order with #2)

Synopsis
Nineteen-year-old Cheyenne tries to portray the perfect life to mask the memories of her past. Walking in on her boyfriend with another woman her freshman year in college threatens that picture of perfection.

Twenty-one-year-old Colt never wanted college and never expected to amount to anything, but when his mom's dying wish is for him to get his degree, he has no choice but to pretend it's what he wants too.

Cheyenne needs a fake boyfriend to get back at her ex and Colt needs cash to take care of his mom, so they strike a deal that helps them both. But what if Cheyenne's past isn't what she thought? Soon they're trading one charade for another--losing themselves in each other to forget about their pain. The more they play their game, the more it becomes the only thing they have that feels real.

Both Cheyenne and Colt know life is never easy, but neither of them expect the tragedy that threatens to end their charade and rip them apart forever.



Breakable
Contours of the Heart #2

Synopsis
He was lost and alone. Then he found her.
And the future seemed more fragile than ever.

As a child, Landon Lucas Maxfield believed his life was perfect and looked forward to a future filled with promise - until tragedy tore his family apart and made him doubt everything he ever believed.

All he wanted was to leave the past behind. When he Jacqueline Wallace, his desire to be everything she needed came so easy...

As easy as it could be for a man who learned that the soul is breakable and that everything you hoped for could be ripped away in a heartbeat.




Six Brothers
Gypsy Brothers #2

Synopsis
I have lied.

I have cheated.

I have given my body and my life to the man who destroyed my family and left me for dead.

I have killed, I have sinned, and worst of all, I have enjoyed the misery of others.

I have licked the salty tears of a father mourning his firstborn son, and nothing has ever tasted so sweet.

I have died, and I have been resurrected, a phoenix from the ashes.

I know I'm going to hell. I'll burn in the fiery pits alongside Dornan and his sons for the things I've done, and for the things I'm about to do.

But I don't care. It will be worth every lick of the devils flames on my guilty flesh to destroy Dornan Ross.

One down, six to go.



Okay, now vote! And thanks! :D


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#OctobeRecFest Review #6 ~ Easy ~ Tammara Webber

Easy by Tammara Webber
Contours of the Heart #1
Release Date: November 6, 2012
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: Purchased paperback
Rating: 5 Bookworms
Goodreads
Recommended by: Girls @Chapter Break, Naomi @Naomi's Reading Palace, Marilyn @Marilyn's Mystery Blog, Sharrice @Reese's Reviews, Ali @Black Heart Reviews, Robyn @Robgirlbooks, & Andrea (formerly The Bookish Babe)

Synopsis
When Jacqueline follows her longtime boyfriend to the college of his choice, the last thing she expects is a breakup two months into sophomore year. After two weeks in shock, she wakes up to her new reality: she's single, attending a state university instead of a music conservatory, ignored by her former circle of friends, and failing a class for the first time in her life.

Leaving a party alone, Jacqueline is assaulted by her ex's frat brother. Rescued by a stranger who seems to be in the right place at the right time, she wants nothing more than to forget the attack and that night - but her savior, Lucas, sits on the back row of her econ class, sketching in a notebook and staring at her. Her friends nominate him to be the perfect rebound.

When her attacker turns stalker, Jacqueline has a choice: crumple in defeat or learn to fight back. Lucas remains protective, but he's hiding secrets of his own. Suddenly appearances are everything, and knowing who to trust is anything but easy.

**This book was recommended by EVERYONE! (see above)**

To all my blogging friends who threatened to unfriend me for not having read this book sooner: I get it now. :) I'm sorry it took me so long but I'm on board with y'all now. Easy rocked!

It's easy to see why Easy is such a beloved story. It was an early entry in the New Adult market and it delivered beautifully on all the elements I've come to love in NA. And it did it with little angst.

I'm not going to rehash the entire book as I'm sure you've allread your fair share of reviews and/or have read the book yourselves. I'm going to highlight positives and negatives from my perspective.

+ Jacqueline - she's a great heroine. Sure she made mistakes but she proved her intelligence by not only learning from them but also creating something positive from the negatives. I enjoyed seeing her grow, stand up for herself, and show her inner strength.

+ Erin - she proved to be more than a one-dimensional secondary character. I adored her support of Jacqueline and championing of girl solidarity in general. She showed me not all Greek girls fit their stereotype.

+ Lucas - this boy broke my heart, made me smile, and cheer. He was proof looks can be deceiving. The depth contained in this guy...whoa!

+ Webber's realistic portrayal of college students dealing with relationships ending and beginning.

+ Webber's realistic portrayal of dealing with the fallout from sexual assault.

+ Dr. Heller - if only more professors were as compassionate as him.

- Absentee parents - okay, so both Jacqueline's and Lucas' parents were absentee but Lucas' had grounds. I didn't appreciate that Jacqueline's, particularly her mom, were more concerned with their own lives than their daughter's.

Yeah, I really think there was only the one negative.

Easy is compelling and well-written. I understand it's legions of fans. I'm now part of it and can't wait for more!

That's What HE Said #40 ~ Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts #19

That's What He Said is a weekly meme hosted by the lovely ladies @Chapter Break. Here's the deal: every Thursday, post a line from your book boyfriend to his heroine. Keep in mind, these are direct quotes from dialog in the books. The quote doesn't have to be romantic - just something our hunky hero said to his lucky lady. Be sure to link up over at Chapter Break as well.

My pick this week for That's What He Said is from:

Easy by Tammara Webber

***

"Choosing to be with you isn't a difficult decision, Jacqueline," he breathed, pulling back one final time to stare into my eyes. "It's easy. Incredibly easy."

*~*~*~*~*~*

A guy who can cook AND shares with his cat?!? *swoon* Lucas is the complete package. ;)

"The meal he'd prepared was enclosed in individual foil packets--veggies, baked potatoes, and red snapper he'd caught two days ago. Francis meowed like a fire alarm until given his own portion of the latter."