Stacking the Shelves - Episode 4, 2015

Stacking the Shelves is an awesome meme hosted by Tynga's Review.

Bloggers share the books they've received, bought, borrowed - and I collect more and more books for my 'must acquire' list.

This week I apparently binged on freebies from Amazon, plus a few extra paperbacks and maybe one or two more books for review....

The Basics:

Never Surrender to a Scoundrel by Lily Dalton

Forever
Book Three in the One Scandalous Season series
Historical Romance
Published January 27, 2015
Source: Received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Amazon Kobo Goodreads

Why I picked up this book:

Something about the cover told me I needed

Bringing Home the Bad Boy by Jessica Lemmon

The Basics:

Bringing the Bad Boy Home by Jessica Lemmon

Forever
Book One in the Second Chance series
Contemporary Romance
Published January 27, 2015
Source: Received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Amazon Kobo Goodreads

Why I picked up this book:

There have been quite a few tattooed/tattoo artist bad boy contemporary romances showing up on my feeds lately and I have a hard time resisting them. Plus, the guy on the cover? Man oh man... I had to 'bring him home.' 

Blog Tour: Blood Assassin by Alexandra Ivy

Alexandra Ivy's Blood Assassin book tour is stopping here today with an excerpt! Blood Assassin is the second book in the Sentinels series, published by Zebra at the end of December 2014. It's an action-oriented paranormal romance that I thoroughly enjoyed! 

For other stops on the tour, check out Tasty Book Tours.

Blitz: Blind Faith by Rebecca Zanetti

In May of 2014, I wrote a 4-star review for Blind Faith by Rebecca Zanetti. 

The publisher is now releasing a mass market edition of the book, and I wanted to participate in the blitz day for it. This is a really good action-romance novel from Forever. If you like covert operations, genetically superior men and steamy sex scenes, I think Blind Faith deserves a spot on your bookshelf!

Top Ten Tuesday - Issue 3, 2015

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme from The Broke and the Bookish in which they post a book-related top ten every - you guessed it! - Tuesday.

This week the theme is Ten Books I'd Love to Read With My Book Club If I Had A Book Club .

The Basics:

Against the Sky by Kat Martin

Zebra
Book Two in the Brodies of Alaska series
Romantic Suspense
Published January 27, 2015
Source: Received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Amazon Kobo Goodreads

Why I picked up this book:

I'm a Kat Martin fan - I've read a few of the Raines of Wind Canyon series and really enjoyed them.

Stacking the Shelves - Episode 3, 2015

Stacking the Shelves is an awesome meme hosted by Tynga's Review.

Bloggers share the books they've received, bought, borrowed - and I collect more and more books for my 'must acquire' list.

I grabbed a few books for March/April, and *bought* a couple. Whoa!

The Basics:

The Missing Alchemist by Caldric Blackwell

Icasm Press 
Book One in the Young Alchemist series
Children's, Fantasy
Published January 20, 2015
Source: Received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Amazon Kobo Goodreads

Why I picked up this book:

I haven't read anything middle grade in a while, and I thought the premise was appealing. Plus I recently acknowledged the lack of fantasy books in my life, and that this was probably due to fantasy books generally taking longer to read. I tried to hack this by reading a middle-grade fantasy novel (much shorter than the adult version!)

The Basics:

Veronica Mars: Mr. Kiss and Tell by Rob Thomas and Jennifer Graham

Vintage
Book Two in the Veronica Mars series
Mystery
Published January 20, 2015
Source: Received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Amazon Kobo Goodreads

Why I picked up this book:

I'm a huge Veronica Mars the television series fan.

Blog Tour: Grave Vengeance by Lori Sjoberg

Today I'm hosting a stop on Lori Sjoberg's Grave Vengeance book tour. I'm very excited to participate in this paranormal romance's tour - the blurb really appealed to me! Paranormal in the 'death walks among us' vein, former spies, romance despite a past full of conflict - it all sounds like a recipe for a fun and exciting book!

For other stops on the tour, check out Tasty Book Tours.

Top Ten Tuesday, Issue 2, 2015

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme from The Broke and the Bookish in which they post a book-related top ten every - you guessed it! - Tuesday.

This week the theme is Freebie. I've decided to go with Top Six Ways Reviewing Books Has Changed How I Read Books.

Blog Tour: The Wicked Awakening of Anne Merchant

Today I'm hosting a stop on The Wicked Awakening of Anne Merchant blog tour. Written by Joanna Wiebe and published by BenBella books, The Wicked Awakening is the second book in the paranormal V trilogy. I reviewed the first book in the series, The Unseemly Education of Anne Merchant in March of last year and I quite enjoyed it so I'm excited to share this book with you all today!

Even more so, I am thrilled to reveal my first guest post with you guys! Joanna Wiebe has very kindly written a lovely post about the significance of setting - trust me, you do not want to miss this one!

For additional stops on The Wicked Awakening tour, check out the tour page, brought to you by Kismet Book touring!

Stacking the Shelves - Episode 2, 2015

Stacking the Shelves is an awesome meme hosted by Tynga's Review.

Bloggers share the books they've received, bought, borrowed - and I collect more and more books for my 'must acquire' list.

I was pretty responsible this week and showed restraint in my book acquisitions. 

The Catching Kind by Catie Quinn

The Basics:
The Catching Kind by Catie Quinn
All Night Reads
Book Three in the Brew Ha Ha series
Contemporary Romance
Published January 13, 2015
Source: Received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Amazon Goodreads

Why I picked up this book:

A shy writer who gets the attention of a playboy baseball player in need of a reputation overhaul? I'm in. Also, I think the cover's really sweet.

His Saving Grace by Sharon Cullen

The Basics:
His Saving Grace by Sharon Cullen
Loveswept
Book Four in the Secrets & Seductions series
Historical Romance
Published December 23, 2014
Source: Received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Amazon Kobo Goodreads

Why I picked up this book:

I don't often see historical romances that address men returning from war with head injuries, so I was intrigued by the blurb.

The Other Duke by Jess Michaels

The Basics:
The Other Duke by Jess Michaels
The Passionate Pen
Book One in The Notorious Flynns
Historical Romance
Published January 13, 2015
Source: Received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Amazon Kobo Goodreads

Why I picked up this book:

I was intrigued by the blurb, and I love a good historical romance. My fingers were crossed for this one!

Blog Tour: Fifteen by Jen Estes

It's been ages since I've hosted a YA book tour - so let's change that today! I'm happy to be hosting a stop on Jen Estes' Fifteen tour. This science fiction - YA - urban fantasy story will be released on January 15, 2015 by Curiosity Quills Press.

Top Ten Tuesday - Issue 1, 2015

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme from The Broke and the Bookish in which they post a book-related top ten every - you guessed it! - Tuesday.

This week the theme is Top Ten 2014 Releases I Meant to Read But Didn't Get To

Loving You Is Easy by Wendy S. Marcus

The Basics:
Loving You Is Easy by Wendy S. Marcus
Loveswept
Romance
Published December 9, 2014
Source: Received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Amazon Kobo Goodreads

Why I picked up this book:

I really liked the blurb and the premise of a quiet, respectable, good girl type going for it with the soldier she's met by being pen pals.

Stacking the Shelves - Episode 1, 2015

Stacking the Shelves is an awesome meme hosted by Tynga's Review.

Bloggers share the books they've received, bought, borrowed - and I collect more and more books for my 'must acquire' list.

I told myself I'd resist picking up books for review... and then I grabbed some anyways. Because I'm like that. This week I received 7 books via Netgalley, 1 through Edelweiss and 1 direct from an author.

Blog Tour: How to Plan a Wedding for a Royal Spy by Vanessa Kelly

Today I am hosting a stop on Vanessa Kelly's How to Plan a Wedding for a Royal Spy book blog tour! This is the third book in the Renegade Royals series - I reviewed the second book, Secrets for Seducing a Royal Bodyguard, in January 2014, and quite liked it. I had high hopes for this one! Released on January 6th by Zebra, How to Plan a Wedding for a Royal Spy features an all-new hero, with a few familiar supporting characters. Check out more information about the book, an excerpt, my review, an author bio and a giveaway below!

For the rest of the stops on the tour (including additional excerpts!), check out Tasty Book Tours.

Ticker by Lisa Mantchev

The Basics:
Ticker by Lisa Mantchev
Skyscape
YA, Steampunk
Published December 1, 2014
Source: Received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Amazon Goodreads

Why I picked up this book:

I loved that cover and 'steampunk YA' had me on board.

2015 Challenges

I love a good challenge!

Last week I was thinking I'd sign up for a solid half dozen or more challenges to really give myself a kick in the butt. Then I reflected on how much time it was going to take to organize all of that, time I could better spend reading and reviewing the HUGE NUMBER of books I've requested for review in January and February (seriously, I have a ton of reviews coming up guys!).

I've decided to stick with just a few challenges right now, and if I stay on top of them, and find other challenges that appeal, I'll add them as I go.

Inside Out by Lia Riley

The Basics:
Inside Out by Lia Riley
Forever
Book Three in the Off the Map series
New Adult
Published December 2, 2014
Source: Received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Amazon Kobo

Why I picked up this book:

I loved the first book in the series (review here) and the second book in the series (review here) and needed to know how it all ended.

Nero's Fiddle by A.W. Exley

The Basics:
Nero's Fiddle by A.W. Exley
Curiosity Quills
Book Three in the Artifact Hunters series
Steampunk Romance
Published October 9, 2014
Source: Purchased an e-copy
Amazon Goodreads

** The first two books in this series, Nefertiti's Heart and Hatshepsut's Collar are priced at 99 cents until January 3rd, and the short story The Unicorn's Tail is free. Check them out *now*!

Why I picked up this book:

I'm a *huge* fan of the first two books, and had to know what happened next for Cara and Nate.

Reflections on 2014, Resolutions for 2015

With the year coming to a close, I'm taking a moment this morning to think about 2014 and blogging.

I learned a lot about blogging this year - about what my weaknesses are, about what I need to improve and about what I really care about in relation to it.