Current Reads

Dark Challenge by Christine Feehan- one I haven't read before

Julian Savage was golden. Powerful. But tormented. For the brooding hunter walked alone, always alone, far from his Carpathian kind, alien to even his twin. Like his name, his existence was savage. Until he met the woman he was sworn to protect... When Julian heard Desari sing, rainbows swamped his starving senses. Emotions bombarded his hardened heart. And a dark hunger to possess her flooded his loins, blinding him to the danger stalking him. And even as Desari enflamed him, she dared to defy him with mysterious, unparalleled feminine powers. Was Desari more than his perfect mate? Julian had met his match in this woman, but would she drive him to madness... or save his soul?

This one is a good one, don't usually have an issue with this series. This is the 5th one in the series and all books can be read as standalones. I have to say the first one in the series is the hardest to get through. So if you are like me who prefers to read in order anyway, don't get discouraged by the first book which is called Dark Prince.

Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K Hamilton- A reread for me

Anita Blake is small, dark, and dangerous. Her turf is the city of St. Louis. Her job: re-animating the dead and killing the undead who take things too far. But when the city’s most powerful vampire asks her to solve a series of vicious slayings, Anita must confront her greatest fear—her undeniable attraction to master vampire Jean-Claude, one of the creatures she is sworn to destroy...

This author is by far my favorite. This series is better when read in order. I feel that you would be lost if you read them out of order. Guilty Pleasures is the first book in the series.

Beneath a Rising Moon- one I haven't read before (Though I am having a sense of deja vu)
There’s no turning back for Neva Grant. To find a killer, she must seduce the boldest male in the Sinclair pack. Her twin sister lies in a hospital bed, fighting for her life, the fourth and only surviving victim of a vicious attacker. The werewolf rangers suspect the Sinclair pack, and the only way Neva can infiltrate their close-knit ranks is to unleash the wildness within and offer herself to Duncan Sinclair. Duncan’s appetite for women is legendary on the reservation. But when this new woman stirs his hunger, he finds his desire for her goes deeper than anything he’s ever felt before. When he realizes that she’s playing a game and he’s taken the bait, he is determined to push her to the breaking point. As Duncan and Neva engage in a dangerous dance, they must somehow find a way to join forces—before a cornered killer bites back.


This is a good book and the first in the series. I can't tell you as of yet whether or not this series needs to be read in order. As I haven't read any books of this series before.

Awakening by Catrina Burgess- one I haven't read before

Seventeen-year-old Colina was born a healer. But after a horrific event forces her to leave her clan, she becomes desperate to learn the dark magic of the death dealers, mages who draw their power from the spirits of the dead. Colina was taught to fear and hate death dealers, but becoming one of them is the only way for her to get the revenge she seeks—and the only way for her to survive. Colina asks a young death dealer named Luke to help her, but he’s reluctant to train her in the Death Arts. Little does she know convincing him to teach her will be the easiest part of her journey. To become a death dealer, Colina will need to undergo three dark rituals, each more terrifying than the last. At the same time, she’ll have to deal with her growing feelings for her mentor. Too bad the first ritual involves him strangling her to death. As Colina undergoes the trials, she discovers an untapped darkness within herself. If she survives the horrific rituals and gains dark power, what will she become?

This book pulled me in immediately. Not sure if this is a series that can be read out of order or not.

Temp Me by Nina West- one I haven't read before

I ran to Alaska to escape heartbreak, only to deliver myself into the jaws of a wolf.
Henry Wolf, that is. Owner of the luxury hotel chain, and an undeniably beautiful but cold, hard man who is quick with demands, slow with apologies.
And is my new boss. Worse? I think he’s toying with me. He enjoys watching me squirm beneath his penetrating gaze. He relishes in messing with my mind. He seems to know that my body betrays me when he’s near. And I’m beginning to think it’s only a matter of time before my job description expands to include tasks I can never talk about.
Tempt Me is the first book in The Wolf Hotel series. Henry and Abbi's story continues with Break Me, Teach Me, and Surrender To Me.

This book I am unsure about as of yet. My preferred genre is paranormal romance which this doesn't seem to be.

Reading slump

Been kinda in a reading slump for the past week, have been having a lot going on with a death in the family. I don't know how I am gonna fix this reading slump. Especially when reading is usually a great escape for me. New title or Author suggestions would be awesome <3

Pure Healing (Pure ones #1) by Aja James

                                                 

In the world of Pure Ones, where sexual intercourse with anyone other than one’s Eternal Mate leads to a slow, painful death within thirty days, love comes with the warning label “fall at your own peril”…

Rain: the Healer

From the first time she beheld him, she yearned to sooth his pain and torment and nurtured a secret, selfish desire – to have him for her very own…

Valerius: the Protector

Despite their instant attraction, he has staunchly avoided applying to be the Healer’s Consort, haunted by the brutality and violence of his past…

As the decadal Phoenix Rite draws near, as threats from their vampire nemesis intensify, Rain and Valerius must decide whether they let their histories and duties dictate their destiny or whether they risk all for a chance at everlasting love. 

I honestly tried, I gave this book longer than I have given any other book. Usually give it 60 pages and done. Got over half way through the book before I gave up this is going in the dnf (did not finish) pile unfortunately. Which gives this a 1* for me. Other people have told me the series gets better after the first book. So I am going to do what I usually don't do for a 1 * book and try the next book in the series. Will post that when I get it done. Won't read that one right away. I don't want my judgement of the first book to cloud my judgement of the second bood,

2018 good reads challenge

So I am finally about done with that after pushing it to higher numbers multiple times.
My challenge started at 125 and I have since then pushed it to 150. I have 1 more book to finish my challenge for the year. Looking forward to the year 2019, hoping for another good year of many books.

Edited to update: I read 160 books for the year.

Maze Runner (Maze Runner #1) by James Dashner

If you ain’t scared, you ain’t human.

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He’s surrounded by strangers—boys whose memories are also gone.

Nice to meet ya, shank. Welcome to the Glade.

Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It’s the only way out—and no one’s ever made it through alive.

Everything is going to change.

Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying.

Remember. Survive. Run.

Way too slow starting for me and reading some reviews (which I don't normally do) and found out I was not the only one with that problem. Rates a 1* for me simply because of how slow to start it was.

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

The greatest haunted house story ever written, soon to be a 10-part Netflix series directed by Mike Flanagan and starring Michiel Huisman, Carla Gugino, and Timothy Hutton

First published in 1959, Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House has been hailed as a perfect work of unnerving terror. It is the story of four seekers who

arrive at a notoriously unfriendly pile called Hill House: Dr. Montague, an occult

scholar looking for solid evidence of a "haunting"; Theodora, his lighthearted

assistant; Eleanor, a friendless, fragile young woman well acquainted with

poltergeists; and Luke, the future heir of Hill House. At first, their stay seems

destined to be merely a spooky encounter with inexplicable phenomena. But Hill

House is gathering its powers--and soon it will choose one of them to make its

own.

Think I am finally gonna throw in the towel and accept that I am not a fan of horror books. Which saddens me as I absolutely love horror films and t.v shows. Each horror book I have attempted to try has just been too slow starting for my liking. This book rates a 2 ** for me.

Tempting the Beast (Breeds #1) by Lora Leigh

Callan Lyons is a genetic experiment. One of six fighting for freedom and the survival of their Pride. Merinus Tyler is the reporter who will tempt him, draw him, until the fury of the "mating frenzy" locks them into a battle of sexual heat there is no escape from.

Deception, blood, and the evil Genetics Council are hot on their trail. Callan will use his strength to try and save them both...and do all in his power to keep his woman in the process.

This book was a page turner I had trouble putting down. It has been a while since I have felt that with a new author. One thing I gotta say about this book though is in my opinion this book is for those readers who are 18 or older. Also those who don't mind intimate details on sex between couples. This book rates a 5 ***** for me and I will continue with the series. The one thing I am not sure about is whether or not I will like that this series seems to follow a different couple each book. Look forward to continue the series and find out if it keeps me as enthralled.

Once Dead, Twice Shy by Kim Harrison & The Batman Adventures: Mad Love Paul Dini & Pat Cadigan

My name is Madison Avery, and I'm here to tell you that there's more out there than you can see, hear, or touch. Because I'm there. Seeing it. Touching it. Living it.

Madison's prom was killer—literally. For some reason she's been targeted by a dark reaper—yeah, that kind of reaper—intent on getting rid of her, body and soul. But before the reaper could finish the job, Madison was able to snag his strange, glowing amulet and get away.

Now she's stuck on Earth—dead but not gone. Somehow the amulet gives her the illusion of a body, allowing her to toe the line between life and death. She still doesn't know why the dark reaper is after her, but she's not about to just sit around and let fate take its course.

With a little ingenuity, some light-bending, and the help of a light reaper (one of the good guys! Maybe . . . ), her cute crush, and oh yeah, her guardian angel, Madison's ready to take control of her own destiny once and for all, before it takes control of her.

Well, if she believed in that stuff.

The trend in superheroes of the late 1980s was dark, grim, gritty, and not very kid friendly. Then along came the animated Batman series. The visual style was totally unique: clean, sharp, and bold. Batman Adventures: Mad Love is an original comics story drawn in the style of the popular animated series. It's even put together by Paul Dini, a major force behind the animated show. This particular story involves Batman's old foe, the Joker, and Joker's cute but deadly sidekick, Harley Quinn. Actor Mark Hamill of Star Wars fame, who plays the voice of the Joker in the animated series, claims that this is one of his all-time favorite comics, calling it "bold, lusty, gleefully demented."

Now I decided to do a 2 for one in this post because I have the same 2 ** star rating for both of them. As I found myself putting the books down more than actually wanting to put them back up. Side note: Usually a fan of Kim Harrison. Love her Hollows series.

Vampires Like it Hot (Argeneau #28) by Lynsay Sands

http://goforparttime.com/account.php

“Vampires...”

When Raffaele Notte pulls a barely dressed, disoriented woman from the ocean, the last thing he expects is for her to utter that word. The immortal has come to the island resort to help his cousin, but now, it seems, there are rogue vampires dining on unsuspecting tourists. And he soon realizes that not only is Jess a target, she’s also the life mate he’s been waiting for…

Vampires are real. Jess would’ve never believed it until she saw them with her own eyes. She knows she has to get off the island, and her gallant rescuer has offered to help. There’s something about Raffaele that’s unlike any man she has ever met, and his touch sends pleasure through her that is beyond all imagining. But when Jess discovers who he really is, will she risk life as she knows it for a chance of forever by his side?

*****There is a bit of a spoiler beyond this sentence*****

This was an interesting read. Could hardly put it down when I had the time to read. Don't remember there being a book where someone had 2 possible life mates. Can't wait to see what the next book is about. Side note, wonder if there will ever be a book for Vasco. That would be interesting to read if you could get past all that pirate talk or what ever you wanted to call it.