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R7: SS "Seriously Challenged" (12)

Space: 22

Book: Drop Dead Gorgeous
How it fits: Blair Mallory #2
Read: 4/2
Rating: 3,5 stars
Review: Blair Mallory is prefect when you're looking for something light-hearted and fun to read. Somehow she always manages to end up in the middle of trouble. This time when planning her wedding. - what can go wrong there?
This was a highly entertaining and fun read.

I rolled a 5+3=8
We are now on spot 30
You can read a book that...
♦is 3rd in series
♦is a Standalone
♦is 30th in series
♦has water on the cover

Week 4
Space: 30
Book Title: Tempest
Page Count: 226pgs
Qualification: Series #3


Space 30 (book 3, 30, standalone or water on cover)

Qualification: The Finn Factor #3
Date Read: 6 February
Rating: 3 stars
I evjoyed the previous two books, but I was a big disappointed I'm this one. Ken is a rope Dom and Brady is not into BDSM. I think they avoided talking about that for too long. I also didn't think the mystery was really necessary. So while Ken and Brady had good chemistry together, there was just something about this one that didn't connect. I did however like the bonus story at the end with Owen and Jeremy from book one. I will give the next one a read at some point.

Danielle ~ Dangerous by RG Alexander (2/6) ~ 3rd in series
Jennifer ~ Looking for Alaska by John Green (2/6) ~ Standalone
Shannon ~ (Watch Me) Unmask You by Avril Ashton (2/6) ~ 3rd in series
Shelby ~ Tempest by Lisa Henry (2/5) ~ 3rd in series
K-Terror ~ Scoring Wilder by RS Grey (2/5) ~ Standalone
Annika ~ Lonely Hearts by Heidi Cullinan (2/11) ~ 3rd in series
Sunshine ~ Big Rock by Lauren Blakely (2/6) ~ Standalone


Looking for Alaska by John Green
How it fits: Standalone
Finished: 2/6/16
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥
I really didn't know what to expect of this book and that blindness made me enjoy it so very much. I'm not a good reviewer but I can tell you that this is a great book, a page turner that can be easily be read only in one day because you just don't want to stop reading. Most girls have some Alaska in them and the story and its feelings are told in a way that you can't help to relate.

Week 4
Space: 30
(Watch Me) Unmask You
Pages: 253
Qualifies: Book 3 of "Run This Town"

Space: 30

(Watch Me) Unmask You
Pages: 253
Qualifies: Book 3 of "Run This Town"
Read: 2/6/16
Rating: ★★★★
Okay, so Book 1 was a solid 5 stars, Book 2 4 stars, This one 4.5 stars. I must say that once Lucky and Elias finally got together, I just knew the ball was gonna drop sooner or later so I got frustrated with the hot smexing. What?!? How does that even happen? After waiting so many years, Lucky finally got his perfect life only to have it all shattered. Poor thing. I just loved him so much. And Elias, giving up everything just to keep his person safe. Now that's true love. This book had it all. An interesting plot, great chemistry, hot smexing, babies, bad guys....wow, just a lot. I cannot wait to dig into Tek, that is one messed up Mo-fo.

Tempest by Lisa Henry

Qualification: Series #3
Read: (2/5)
Rating: ★★★★½
This was a very satisfying ending to this story even if there were a few elements that were a bit over the top. I still loved Henry/Sebastian and Mac together. I still keep giggling at Henry's inability to shut up, well ever. His love and angst over his sister was lovely. I enjoyed being in her head as well as she struggled to be an adult trapped in her own head, knowing that there's damage done to the way she thinks, but still trying to help and be more than her limitations.
It was fun seeing Mac's family in this one as well. Nice to see his family's not so goody-goody for a couple of FBI parents. Heck their grandfather had an illegal still. ;) All of the good guy side characters in this story were really fun, and there's one moment in this for Henry that just damn near breaks your heart. You wanted it to result differently somehow no matter how unlikely that seemed.
Having Henry and Mac's past come back to haunt them in this manner is where things went a little over the top, but ultimately it just made for a fun ride as these two intrepid heroes worked to make the world a safer place and clear their, ok well Mac's good name. Really fun little series. I really enjoyed it. I'd give this one 4.5 stars that I'm rounding up for overall enjoyment purposes.

===================================

Book: Scoring Wilder by R.S. Grey
How it Fits: Standalone Book
Read: 2/5/2016
Rating: 4*s
------------------------------------
This is the second book I've read by R. S. Grey and the second book I've really enjoyed by this author. Scoring Wilder grabbed me from the start with spunky soccer player, Kinsley, and her hot, charming coach, Liam Wilder. Although fairly predictable, it's definitely a book that would be perfect for a summer beach read - a light-hearted quick read with lots of feels. Once I picked it up, I wasn't able to put it down because I kept having to know what was going to happen "next". Grey has a way of making me care about the main characters ~ and even the other not-so-main characters and when it comes to reading, connecting with the characters is important to me.

Spot: 30

Lonely Hearts
How it fits: #3 in series
Read: 11/2
Rating: 4 stars
Review
I loved both Baz and Elijah, and my heart was breaking for both of them, they'd both gone through a lot in the past and some of it comes around again. I just want to give them both a big hug. It was a highly emotional read, and it got to be a bit too much at times. But it was still a very nice read.

Spot #30
COMPLETION POST
===================================

Book: Big Rock by Lauren Blakely
How it Fits: Standalone Book
Read: 2/6/2016
Rating: 4*s
Review: Nice HEA
... the book started off a bit slow for me and had a few eye rolling moments. THEN, at about 38% the book flew. It got all of my attention and then some. Lots of nice dirty talk.
This is a stand alone, but there is another book coming out about Harper and Nick. My first read from this author.
...loved it

Space: 30

(Watch Me) Unmask You..."
I've been meaning to give book one a try.

Spot #30
COMPLETION POST
===================================

I've been debating if to put this one on tbr, but I think I might now

===================================

I've been debating if to put this one on tbr, but I think I might
now"
Loved it. It a bit like


Space: 30

(Watch Me) Unmask You..."
I've been meaning to give book one a try."
I liked it better than #2 but not quite as much as #1. :)

===================================

Book: Scoring Wilder by R.S. Grey
..."
I bumped this up on my tbr. :)

I rolled 1+1=2 (sorry for the crappy roll)
We are now on Spot 32
You can read a book that is...
♦3rd in series
♦2nd in series
♦32nd in series
♦on the Mental Illness shelf

Spot: 30

I love this series!"
Me too it's a great one! I have to stock up on some Disney whenever Kelly is around ;)

=========================

Book: Restless Waters by Jessica Park
How it Fits: #2 in Series
-----------------------------
This was a tough week to narrow down to just one book!

LOL I have a second book in a series that I can read. Really :)

Book: Slade by Laurann Dohner
How it Fits: #2 in Series

Full Domain by Kindle Alexander

Qualification: Series #3
Read: (2/12)
Rating: ★★★★★
I do really enjoy this series. It's just kinda a happy place for me. It's hot and sexy, there's tattoo's! And in this book we finally get the ultimate completion of the mystery started in book one. This book is a very fitting conclusion to this series even as it left me wanting more with these characters.
Mitch and Cody are still recuperating from the effects of the last attack. With his partner now too visible a target Kreed's on his own to pull together the FBI and Marshall's office's resources to find the one's pulling the strings. But they've got to keep it contained because there's no telling who else could be involved. Dragging Mitch's IT specialist friend Aaron up to DC to keep helping to dig into the case may not have pleased Aaron, but it carries some amusement from Kreed. That is until he gets a good look at Aaron in person and then all bets are off.
Aaron's got a ton going on in his life, his hacker background may have gotten him into the NSA originally, but there's a lot more to his life than most people have any clue of. Getting dragged personally into this case is more than irking. He's perfectly capable of helping from the comfort of his own home, he has no need to be in the heart of the FBI. That is until he gets a good look at Kreed. That sexiness certainly peaks his interest. Of course going undercover himself is the last thing Aaron wants to do.
I do see why some reviews seem to feel this book was too long, but for me I just love Aaron and Kreed so much it was all awesome to me. I do love my smexy tattoo'd and pierced seeming bad boys all hot and bothered for some good old fashioned law and order. Of course Aaron skirts such a lovely fine line with his skills. So the mystery here is pretty much just the culmination of all the work the team'd started in the previous books. Busting the big boss calling the plays though perfectly throws Aaron and Kreed together and boy are they HOT!
I was just a ball of happy reading this story. :)

Shelby ~ Full Domain by Kindle Alexander (2/12) ~ 3rd in series
Jennifer ~ All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven (2/13) ~ Mental Illness
K-Terror ~ Restless Waters by Jessica Parks (2/13) ~ 2nd in series
Shannon ~ Shifting Gears by Riley Hart (2/16) ~ 2nd in series
Annika ~ Glitterland by Alexis Hall (2/17) ~ Mental Illness
Danielle ~ Back to You by Lauren Dane (2/17) ~ 3rd in series
Sunshine ~ Facade by DH Sidebottom (2/17) ~ Mental Illness


All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
Listed 294 times on the Mental Illness shelf
Finished: 2/13/16
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥
Written in alternating chapters, All the Bright Places follows Theodore Finch and Violet Markey from the day that they meet on the ledge of the bell tower. This poignant story deals with the real issues of mental illness and teen suicide. Definitely not a happy book to read, it shows how a person living with bipolar disorder might try to cope with the alternating cycles of manic and depression. All the Bright Places was slow to start, but it did not take long for Violet and Finch to bring me into their world. Well written with realistic characters, I highly recommend this book to both teenage and adult readers.

==================================

Book: Restless Waters by Jessica Park
How it Fits: #2 in Series
Read: 2/13/2016
Rating: ☆☆☆
-----------------------------
I usually enjoy Jessica Park's books ~ even Clear (which I think no one but me loved!). This one was enjoyable but it wasn't one of my favorites. Although the story was a continuation of the first book (Left Drowning) about broken healing broken. Blythe, the MC, was a bit fickle for my taste and had trouble following some of her actions. Other than that, it was an easy read and Jessica Park's writing flowed fabulously.

Space: 32

Shifting Gears by Riley Hart
Pages: 270
Qualifies: "Crossroads" #2
Read: 2/16/16
Rating: ★★★★
I actually loved these two a whole lot but kept getting their names mixed up. For some reason it seemed to me like Rod should have been the motorcycle guy and Landon should have been the smaller, sex shop guy so for the entire book I was confusing myself. Very frustrated with my brain! Anyhow, I did not expect Landon to be the more stable of the two but he was and he was trying so freaking hard. Rod was just so broken that my heart hurt for him. Together they were a hot mess and I do mean HOT. Wow, they were the dirty-talking type of couple I adore. I didn't love this as much as the first one but still a very, very good read.


Glitterland by Alexis Hall
How it fits: Shelved as mental illness 16 times
Read: 17/2
Rating: 4 stars
I loved this book - Darian especially. I have noticed that mentally challenged people have this wonderful ability to cut trough all the BS and go straight to the heart of matters (much like children). Darian was no exception to this. Now don't go and think that just because he was challenged, that he was in shape way or form, stupid. He was easily the smartest person in the book.
The author did a wonderful job descripting the various mental illnesses in the book and the challenges and struggles that comes along with them, both internally but also the social aspect. And it was all delivered in a cleverly and humorous way that does not ridicule the people or the illnesses themselves.
I highly recommend reading this book!

Space 32 (book 3, 2, 32, or mental illness)

Qualification: Hurley Boys #3
Date Read: 17 February
Rating: 4 stars
Lauren Dane is an author that before I start any book by her I know I'm just going to love. This book is no exception. Loved the Hurley brothers and I loved Vaughan's book. This was a second chance romance and it was done well and I enjoyed reading Vaughn and Kelly find happiness.


Glitterland by Alexis Hall
How it fits: Shelved as mental illness 16 times
Read: 17/2
Rating: 4 stars
I loved th..."
OMG! OMG! OMG!
I love Alexis Hall and just finish For Real.

Bumped up on my TBR


Facade by D.H. Sidebottom
Qualifies: Popular Mental Illness Books Shelf - Page 54
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
Read: 2/17
Rating: 4 stars
Review: I loved this twisted dark story. This book had great tension, suspense, and craziness up to the end. Although the last chapter was a bit confusing and mushy, this was a fast read. A good page turner. Beware this is a cliffhanger. Be warned

I rolled a 3+1=4
We are now on Spot 36
You can read a book that is...
♦3rd in series
♦6th in series
♦36th in series
♦on the Audiobooks shelf

Space 36 (book 3, 6, 36, or audiobook shelf)

Qualification: Audiobook shelf
Date Read: 20 February
Rating: 4 stars
I really enjoyed this one. I think the series is getting better as it goes along. I liked Marz and Emilie together. Mars was so sweet. Looking forward to the next book.

Danielle ~ Hard to Let Go by Laura Kaye (2/20) ~ Audiobooks
Jennifer ~ Breathe by Abbi Glines (2/20) ~ Audiobooks
Shannon ~ Flying Solo by Susan Mac Nichol (2/20) ~ 6th in series
Sunshine ~ The Chalet by Tara Sue Me (2/22) ~ 3.5 in series
Shelby ~ The Art of Seducing a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper (2/22) ~ Audiobooks
K-Terror ~ Emblaze by Jessica Shirvington (2/21) ~ 3rd in series
Annika ~ Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things by Jenny Lawson (2/23) ~ Audiobooks

Space: 36
Book Title: The Art of Seducing a Naked Werewolf
Page Count: 336pgs
Qualification: Audiobooks Shelf



Breathe by Abbi Glines
Listed on the Audiobooks shelf 20 times
Finished: 2/20/16
Rating: ♥♥♥♥
This was a cute story. My heart broke for Sadie as a teenager who was forced to be the parent in her family. She worked and took on all of the responsibilities that should have belonged to her mother. I am a sucker for stories about musicians, and I really liked Jax. He was genuinely a good guy, and I had no doubt that he truly cared about Sadie. His actions were very sweet. Sadie was definitely deserving of some happiness in her life and Jax was just what she needed. I also liked the secondary characters that were introduced. Breathe was an enjoyably sweet story and a good start to this series. I am definitely looking forward to reading the subsequent books.


Flying Solo by Susan Mac Nichol
Pages: 172
Qualifies: "Men of London" #6
Read: 2/20/16
Rating: ★★★★
A book that makes me cry right off the bat...kind of scary but thankfully it didn't last throughout the entire book. Whew. We met Max in a previous book as the flirty flight attendant and hook-up of one of the other MCs so I was happy to get his story. As Mooch, he slayed me. As Maxwell, he charmed me. I just loved him. And Gibson was just the cutest thing. So caught up in his computer coding he doesn't see anything around him. Geek to the core. A hot, twinky geek but still.... I loved every character in this book. The sexual teasing of Gibson's bff, hilarious. I got sad and mad and happy and was all over the place. Great addition to the series.


The Chalet by Tara Sue Me
Pages: 127
Qualifies: 3.5 in the series
Read: 2/22
Rating: ★★★
Review: Meh...
I expected a bit more. All the words were there, but it felt a bit vanilla to me.
There is still something about the writing that I still enjoy.

The Art of Seducing a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper

Qualification: Audiobooks Shelf
Read: (2/22)
Rating: ★★★
Dagnabit GR glitched and erased my first review so here goes again...
I enjoyed the humor and the characters in this story, even Maggie grew on me and she had a lot of catching up to do after being such a twat in book one. So why the lower rating...there were too many inconsistencies to ignore. They kept throwing me out of the enjoyment of the story. Half the time I couldn't figure out whether Maggie was doing something as a wolf or as a human, it wasn't very clear. And then you'd have moments that were completely unacknowledged or contradicted something previously stated. Like Maggie showing up at Nick's place, turning human and being completely naked, but neither of them noticing it or acknowledging the awkward. The man's supposed to be crazy about her, and yet he has no problems with her standing in front of him naked. Huh... Or when Maggie finally caves and tells him all about who and what she is, but reminds him that they have to pretend he knows nothing about the werewolf thing. And yet shortly thereafter, with no other proceeding conversation he's talking to Maggie as if everyone knows that he knows. Those sorts of things drive me batty and throw me out of the story.
And yet, the story itself was sweet and fun. The humor was very good and Amanda Ronconi does a wonderful job in reading the story. Her characters were always clear and concise and she enriches the story with her reading. She makes is vibrant and full. I really enjoyed listening to her. The characters grew on me and the mystery was simple but worked well. I liked the book despite the inconsistencies, they just bugged me while I was reading.

====================================

Book: Emblaze by Jessica Shirvington
Read: 02/21/2016
Rating: ★★★
Pages: 415
How it Fits: 3rd in Series
-----------------------------------------------
It had been awhile since I'd read the first 2 books in this series so I'm not sure if the first half was slow -- or if it just took that long for me to figure out what was going on and care about it. The last half moved a lot quicker and enjoyed the characters and the unappreciated attraction of Violet to Phoenix (the exiled angel). I'm still not sure what all of Violet's special abilities are but will likely continue on to the next book to learn more about what's in store.
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Authors mentioned in this topic
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Barbara Elsborg (other topics)
D. Nichole King (other topics)
Emma Chase (other topics)
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Rolled: 6
Space: 22
Book: The Young and the Submissive
Qualifies: 2nd in the series
Read: 2/4/16
Rating: 4 stars
Review: I have been trying to get back to this series for a while. I love Liam, Scottish accent and all. I loved how Hammer and Liam loved Raine and put aside their differences. Raine was a bit winey. Although a bit slow, this story had everything I loved, nice and spicy.