Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts #58

My pick this week is from:

Beauty from Pain by Georgia Cates

I escort her toward the back of the restaurant to our table. I pull out her chair and slide it under her when she sits. "Are you hungry?"
She smiles and I find myself wanting to know all the secrets she hides behind it. "Very. I'm not one of those girls who's scared to eat in front of a date. I hope you don't mind that."
"Not at all."
She's quiet as she reads the wine list and our server arrives to take our drink order. "I'll have a Sauvignon Blanc."
She lifts her eyes from the list. "I have no idea how to order wine. I'll have what you're having."
"Two Sauvignon Blancs."

She holds the menu in front of her and I can't see her face. She's studying it like there could be an exam later. "I don't know what I want. Everything looks good."
"My business associate recommended anything seafood."
A moment later she places her menu on the table. "Seafood sounds good. I'll have the stuffed prawns."



It must be said that I don't do seafood but the Sauvignon Blanc sounds good. :D

Release Day Review ~ With Ties That Bind #3 ~ Trisha Wolfe

With Ties That Bind by Trisha Wolfe
With Ties That Bind: Broken Bonds #3
Release Date: February 7, 2017
Genre: Adult, Dark Romantic Suspense
Source: I received an eARC from the author. I voluntarily provided a review.
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #2017NewRelease
Goodreads ~ Amazon

Synopsis
Third novel in the With Ties That Bind trilogy. Final novel in the Broken Bonds series.

To protect the woman he loves, Detective Ethan Quinn defied the law he's defended and upheld his entire career. He turned his back on his honor and ethics with only one objective in mind: protect Avery at all cost. Now he's tangled in a web of deceit and corruption, no better than the killer he's hunting.

As Quinn navigates a treacherous maze, he senses a rat amid his department. He suspects the perpetrator is hiding in plain sight, using their shield within the law to disguise them.

Who is the real Alpha?

Having been framed for murders and crimes they didn't commit, a suspect is under investigation by not only the ACPD, but the FBI, and lead medical examiner Avery Johnson feels pressure from all sides as she guards the secrets within her lab. Quinn went to great lengths to save her, to protect her...and now it's her turn to be the hero for the man she loves.

A showdown is looming, the Alpha is ready to strike. No one is safe as the clock ticks down to the final moments that will test every member of the task force, leaving only one side left standing.

TWolfe has really found her stride with this dark and twisty series. Hmm, what does that say about her? *wink* I've been anxiously awaiting this final installment - to have all my questions answered, to see how it all shakes out and who is left standing. TWolfe did not disappoint. Watching as Quinn tries to protect Avery, as Avery tries to protect Quinn and Sadie, seeing pieces fall into place - it was so exciting I was flipping through the pages as fast as I could. I even stuttered over a familiar name - my own - having forgotten I was making a cameo. And the reveal - damn, TWolfe. You are good! I'd like to say I had it figured out but I'd be lying.

My favorite elements in this installment and the series overall:

• Avery's strength and resilience. I loved seeing her embody the survivor she is and take a stand - fight back!
• Quinn realizing who he really is and what he's capable of. I didn't feel his actions ever compromised his integrity even though he did. I felt his actions proved something most of us will never know about ourselves - what we're willing to do to protect the one we love.
• The profiling/serial killer element. Whatever is says about me, I find it fascinating and TWolfe gave us insight not only into a serial killer but also into those who hunt them.
• The introspection the series sparked - what would I do? How far would I go? What is my breaking point - the line I'd be leery of crossing for fear of becoming a monster? Do we all have a little darkness in us?

This entire series has been riveting. If you like dark romantic suspense with a side of mind f#ck, this series is for you. PSA: With Visions of Red, the book that started it all and where you'll need to begin the journey, is FREE. Just click the title. You're welcome.

Review ~ Breathe into Me ~ Sara Fawkes #BloggerShame #COYER #ShelfLove

Breathe into Me by Sara Fawkes
Release Date: April 8, 2014
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via Netgalley
Rating: 3 Bookworms
Challenges: #BloggerShame, #BookishResolutions, #COYER, #ShelfLove
Goodreads

Synopsis
How did my life get so broken? It's a question Lacey St. James asks herself every day. Stuck raising her little brother in a trailer park while she works a dead end job at a grocery store, she has a stalker exboyfriend, a bad reputation, and no way out.

And then she meets Everett, whose presence changes her entire existence.

Everett is an outsider to her small community, in town for the summer housesitting one of the grand mansions off the Mississippi coast. When he saves her in a bar one night, she's grateful but wary of his intentions. Lacey doesn't trust most men in her life, but for reasons Lacey can't understand, Everett is completely captivated by her. He's determined to show her that life can offer more than she'd ever hoped for, if only she believes in herself. As she works with him to free herself, Lacey desperately yearns to trust him, to move on and perhaps start fresh.

But what happens when she finds out that everything he's told her about himself was a lie?

Breathe into Me is a story of a broken girls in need of a fresh start meeting a boy who makes all the difference until she realizes he's broken, too. Can they move beyond their pasts and make a future together?

Lacey is that girl. You know the one? The one everyone whispers about, spreads rumors about because of where she lives and what they think they know about her. But no one takes the time to get to know her. She's not the girl everyone thinks she is. She's loyal, hard-working, smart... She's looking to make a fresh start but it's hard when you live in a small town. And she feels like she can't leave her little brother because her mom is a drunk and her grandmother is abusive. Then she meets Everett. A boy more than willing to lend a helping hand with whatever she needs whether it's study help or rebuilding an engine. But can she trust his intentions? Everett seems like sweet guy and his intentions are above-board. He's smart and kind but he's a city boy only in town for the summer.

Breathe into Me had a lot of potential but didn't deliver on all of it, in my opinion. I think the writing could have been tighter - more focused - because the story meandered at times. Also there were some consistency issues - which may have been corrected in final edits - that bothered me. For instance, it's Sunday and Lacey and Everett are studying. He asks about her plans for later and she says she has to pick up her little brother from daycare. Um, it's Sunday. I also got frustrated with Lacey at times because although she wasn't necessarily one to whine about her situation, she made questionable decisions - ones that didn't help her situation. Of course, I do give her a little leeway because of her age, but still. One last gripe is that I didn't like one of the plot devices used to create extra angst. I didn't feel it was necessary with everything else these two had going on.

All that makes it sound like I didn't like the book but I did. Fawkes created characters I rooted for, wanted the best for. Lacey and Everett were surrounded by a realistic cast, both good and bad. And the overall story was good. I felt for both Lacey and Everett, understood what they were going through. I liked watching them become friends and the becoming more. It just felt like too many plot threads though and I think fewer would have made a tighter story.

Sunday Post #20 ~ Where Did the Time Go?

As y'all probably all know, the Sunday Post is hosted by Kimba @Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It's a chance to share my news from the week whether it be book, blog, or just life news. 

***

What?!? It's February??? How did that happen?
I have a newly minted driver! Yep. Berk is now an officially licensed driver. Having teen drivers is a blessing and a curse but she's a good driver and I'm proud of her. :) The college mail influx has begun and let me tell y'all, getting it all times TWO?? That's a lot of paper. Both Berk and Jax are enjoying comparing where their mail is coming from...some of the same, lots different. Sky is settling back into the college routine and she added a class this semester...biology. She's in heaven. Which is a good thing since she believes this is the field for her. :) James and Jax are in Phoenix this weekend for a drum corps camp, so Berk and I took advantage of having a weekend ourselves and went to see La La Land! It's a good movie - we both enjoyed it.

As for what I've read over the last few weeks, well I finished Fire Balls by Tara Lain as well as Breathe into Me by Sara Fawkes, The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin, and The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater. I also finished listening to Rule by CD Reiss and Until Harry by LA Casey. Currently, I'm reading Beauty from Pain by Georgia Cates. And in my ears is The Danger of Desire by Sabrina Jeffries.  

How are y'all feeling about it already being February?!? :) 

***

I'm continuing to do really well sticking to my No-Book-Buying-Ban...I've only acquired a couple of boxsets and a book and only because they were FREE and by authors I've been wanting to read. 

***

2017 Challenges

#COYER Blackout - 8 books

#2017NewRelease - 5 books

#2017HW - 1 (Red Rising is this month's assignment)

#Audiobook Challenge - 2 book
#authorluv - none yet

#BloggerShame - 2 book

Read All the Books - currently listening to The Danger of Desire

#ShelfLove - 7 books

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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#2017HW Review ~ The Scorpio Races ~ Maggie Stiefvater

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Release Date: October 18, 2011
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Source: Purchased in Hardcover
Rating: 4 Bookworms
Challenges: #2017HW, #ShelfLove
Goodreads 

Synopsis
It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn't given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition - the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

First things first - I love Maggie. I always have. Her writing is so lyrical and her stories so engrossing. So it pains me to say that The Scorpio Races didn't grab me immediately. I can't even tell you why but I kept putting it down. Maybe too much YA too close together? I'm not sure but by 100 pages in, I was hooked. And by the end my heart was galloping to the rhythm of the race.

The story revolves around Kate "Puck" Connolly and Sean Kendrick, two souls bound to the island by circumstance, participating in the Scorpio Races in an attempt at gaining freedom. These two are, to quote Mr. Malvern, "a strange pair." Puck describes Sean as having sharp edges and angles. Puck herself, in my opinion, is sharp edges and angles in personality. They're both unconcerned about what anyone else thinks and their closest friends are horses. They have much in common and when they meet each other, they're intrigued. I adore them both but Puck in particular as shes bucks island tradition by presuming to be the first girl in the races. It never occurred to her that she shouldn't be in them.

Some of the things I found so fascinating about The Scorpio Races are:

• freedom as a central theme, both for Puck, Sean, and Puck's brother, Gabe, as well as for the capall uisce, the water horses
• the mythology of the capall uisce and how Maggie made it her own
• the personification of Thisby island, where the story is set

The characters endeared themselves to me and the story was beautifully rendered. I'm so happy I pulled this one off the shelf!

Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts #57

My pick this week is from:

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

He inclines his head toward Finn and asks, "Now, what, exactly, is a November cake?"
He asks it with such genuine curiosity that of course Finn has to speak even more, describing the moist crumb, the nectar that seeps from the base of it, the icing that soaks into the cake before you can lick it off. It is probably the kindest thing I have ever seen in my life, George Holly asking my brother about baked goods.

Brandee's Bookish Babble #30 ~ Kindle vs Nook

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. :) 

***

While writing my post on Kindle vs Nook pricing, I got to thinking maybe those of you with only one or the other might like a comparison of the two. Now, I'm not doing a sales pitch for either - there won't be any technical specs here. This is more of an illustration of the differences in ease of use - in my opinion. If you have questions, please feel free to ask. I just thought this would be a fun thing to do.

My ereading journey began with a First Generation Nook. Sadly, the last working model in my household recently died. :( Anyway, don't laugh but I own 2 Nook Simple Touches (one with Glowlight, one without), a Kindle Paperwhite, and a Kindle Fire. But here I'm comparing my Kindle Paperwhite and my Nook Glowlight.

In my opinion, the Nook's design is more comfortable to hold. I don't use a cover so this is strictly about how the device feels in my hand. The Nook has some curves and indentations (well, it did - the new design does not) which makes it easier to grip.

The Lookup function on the Kindle is easier to use. All I have to do is touch the word (hold for a second or so) and the definition pops up. On the Nook it works similarly but it pops up a menu asking me what I want to do instead of just giving me the definition.

The Highlight function is world's better on the Kindle. I simply touch the screen where I want the highlight to start, drag my finger to where I want it to end, and then tap Highlight. I can even add notes. Nook has this functionality but it's much clumsier.

Nook makes organizing books easy with its Create Shelves feature. I have shelves for Netgalley, COYER, ARCs, etc. I love this feature. It is a little cumbersome having to go through the list of books in your library but worth it. Kindle allows you create Collections but the whole process is cumbersome. I have to go through my entire library and can only add one book at a time. And y'all, I have A LOT of books. Like A LOT!! ;)

Kindle makes reviewing ARCs easier in that I can send .doc files to my Kindle and then read. Nook can't convert. I can read PDF files on Nook but it's just an easier process on Kindle.

Kindle also wins when it comes to archiving or removing a book from your device. All I have to do it touch the cover and a menu pops up with the option to remove (or delete) the file from my device. The file stays in the cloud - it's just not hogging memory on my device. And yeah, I need the memory because I have A LOT of books. ;) With Nook, archiving is done through the website, so it's more work.

I've found the Search option within books to be better on Nook. They work similarly on both devices but Nook's result system seems to work better. On some Kindle books (in review copies I forgive this) I get a message that the file isn't set up for searching - not indexes. What?!?

I've found navigating within books similar on both devices.

Overall, it seems Kindle is easier to use but I really enjoy reading on both. And I adore having my digital library so handy!


What about y'all? What are your favorite features in your ereader? Which do you own?