Cris' Reading Update

Hey people. I've been kind of missing from this blog, and for that I'm very very sorry. I think I mentioned in a previous post that I'm changing jobs inside my company, and I've been in a gruesome training for 6 weeks now. It's been amazing, but exhausting, and I haven't had much time to prepare any post. Again, sorry!

I thought about doing something different this time, and do a little update of what I've been reading this past month, and what I'll be reading during the month of October - kind of like a September wrap-up and an October TBR. Very original, I know... =P

During the month of September I heard a bunch of audiobooks, because of my commute to my training place (and the fact that for most of the month, I didn't have my car). I read some fantastic ones, and I was finally able to finish the Knitting in the City series by Penny Reid, and I LOVED the books, and they all work amazingly on audio. I also started the Spindle Cove series by Tessa Dare, also on audio, and I'm enjoying that so much too. I also read Professor Feelgood (Masters of Love, #2) by Leisa Rayven, and really liked it, though I need to write the review for the book ASAP.

I also read Once Upon a Real Good Time (Heartbreakers, #1) by Lauren Blakely, though I didn't love it as much as I thought I would. The writing somehow didn't quite feel like Blakely, but I still want to get my hands on the other 2 books of the series, but I might give them a try in audio format, because Lauren Blakely's books usually work wonderfully in audio.

Finally, I gave Let's Get Textual by Teagan Hunter a chance, and I absolutely loved it.

I didn't read as many books in September as I had on the previous month, but I was still happy with the ones I read.

Now, for October, I plan to continue my Tessa Dare saga, as soon as Scribd allows me to listen to her books again. Here's what I'm reading:

The first book I already read this month was Love Sincerely Yours by Meghan Quinn and Sara Ney, and I'm sorry to say that it didn't blow me away... but my review will be out on the 13th. Then I'm about to finish the Spindle Cove series by Tessa Dare, but I need to read the Castles Ever After series, because one book is related to both series.

Then, because Scribd was mean to mean and temporarily took out most of my saved list, I'm listening to Falling from the Sky by Sarina Bowen, let's see if I like this one better than the first book in the series. Afterwards, I'll probably read The Jerk Duet by Max Monroe, which will most likely be hilarious. And finally, I want to read I Wanna Text You Up by Teagan Hunter, and see if I like it as much as the first book, which I'm betting I will.

Have you guys read any of these books? Any thoughts?!

Girl Meets Duke... Again: The Governess Game by Tessa Dare

THE GOVERNESS GAME
by Tessa Dare
Series: Girl Meets Duke #2

Genres: Historical Romance
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: August 28th 2018
Source: eARC received through Edelweiss for an honest review
Rating: ★★★★1/2

Amazon | Google Books | B&N | Audible 

He’s been a bad, bad rake — and it takes a governess to teach him a lesson
The accidental governess.
After her livelihood slips through her fingers, Alexandra Mountbatten takes on an impossible post: transforming a pair of wild orphans into proper young ladies. However, the girls don’t need discipline. They need a loving home. Try telling that to their guardian, Chase Reynaud: duke’s heir in the streets and devil in the sheets. The ladies of London have tried — and failed — to make him settle down. Somehow, Alexandra must reach his heart... without risking her own.
The infamous rake.
Like any self-respecting libertine, Chase lives by one rule: no attachments. When a stubborn little governess tries to reform him, he decides to give her an education — in pleasure. That should prove he can’t be tamed. But Alexandra is more than he bargained for: clever, perceptive, passionate. She refuses to see him as a lost cause. Soon the walls around Chase’s heart are crumbling... and he’s in danger of falling, hard.

Another Amazing Series: Forbidden Hearts by Alisha Rai

Hey guys!

My last post was a bit different, but there I mentioned that I was going to read book 2 of the Forbidden Hearts series during my vacation, and I did, which means I finally finished the series. YAY!

Alisha Rai was an author recommended to me by Lisa and Nick when I first started blogging with them, so I thought it was only natural to give my take on the 3 books here.

Series I loved: Billionaire Bad Boys

Hey guys!

I've been missing for the last couple of weeks, and I'm sorry about that. I unexpectedly had a training at work for over a week, and it left me beat every single day. It was great, and it was a great opportunity. Not only great in terms of my work, but I also had the opportunity of meeting some amazing new people.

Because I've been away for so long, today I decided to talk about a series that has made me laugh like crazy this past month. Have you ever read Max Monroe? What about their Billionaire Bad Boys Series?! If you haven't, you should. Eheh. If you haven't figured out yet, that's the series I'm gonna talk about today.

London Celebrities by Lucy Parker

Hey guys! 

Today I'm doing 2 reviews in one post. I recently listened to the 2 first books of the London Celebrity series, in preparation for the ARC I have for book 3.

I absolutely loved these, and I'm so excited to finally be able to read Making Up. Also, I in no way can doubt Lisa and Nick's recommendations, they haven't let me down yet 😏.

Source: http://www.lucyparkerfiction.com/

My Month in Books (so far)

Hey guys!

Today I'm gonna talk about some of the books I've read lately :), because I've read some amazing ones, and I want to share them.

I'll do a small take on the books below, and if you'd like, you can check out my full reviews of the books, just follow the links.

Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas [«««««]

Yes, I did it, I read my second historical romance and I loved it. Lisa and Nick were right, and I definitely trust their opinions and recommendations.

I listened to this on audiobook, and it was the best decision ever. I loved the narrator, and I found that I really like historical and 3rd person on audio. The writing helped, of course, this book was funny and romantic, and so so great.

Loved the romance, and the friendships, and the storyline. The character growth was amazing too. I can't wait to get my hands on the other books in this series, and I'll want the audio version of those as well.

Goodreads | Amazon | Audible | Full Review

Getting Schooled by Emma Chase [«««««]

This is one of my favorite stories of this year. And I'm so happy that this one is included in the Romance Package on Audible, because I loved loved loved the narration, Andi Arndt is always spectacular, but Zachary Webber was the perfect Garrett.

This is a second chance romance, and I really liked the lack of conflict. Garrett and Callie were perfect and a match made in heaven. They complement each other so well, and I love a good story of first love, and real love, and that's what this book was. Two amazing people finding their way back to each other, and solving misunderstanding and being amazing.

Goodreads | Amazon | Audible | Full Review

Two Wedding Crashers by Meghan Quinn [«««««]

Another amazing read. Meghan Quinn is definitly amazing, and her books are always hilarious. You have read her books, right? You better have... Moving on, she's hilarious, and this one was no exception. I liked this book way better than her first book in the series - it had the serious advantage of only having 1 love interest, so...

This is a "summer fling" turned more, and the characters are fantastic. I wasn't expecting to like the hero as much as I did, but OMG, he was great. And the chemistry was off the charts. I also really liked that serious subjects have place in the book and in the romance. I liked that they were addressed and made part of the plot.

Goodreads | Amazon | Full Review

The Hook-Up Experiment by Emma Hart [«««««]

Emma Hart is a bit a hit or miss for me, but she writes some amazing single dads, and that is one of my favorite things in romances... *sigh*.

This is a mix of a lot of tropes, and it's very well done. We have a second chance romance, also a bit of enemies to lovers, casual to more, and a sexy single dad for whom his little girl is the center of his universe.

The book is hilarious, and the characters are fantastic and complex. I especially loved Peyton, and I have to say something about Emma Hart's books. She always highlights the girls on the covers, instead of the men. For some reason I find this amazing, maybe because it's not that common.

Goodreads | Amazon | Full Review

Other reads:

Tap That by R.C. Boldt and Jennifer Blackwood

[«««]

Virgin Territory (Hellions Angels #3) by Lia Riley

[«««]

The Knocked up Plan by Lauren Blakely

[«««««]

So... I loved most of these books, have you read any of them? 

What are your thoughts on them?

It's written in the (Hollywood) stars!

ACTING ON IMPULSE 

by Mia Sosa
Series: Love on Cue #1
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: September 19th 2017
Source: ARC received for review
Rating: ★★★★1/2
Amazon - Kobo

After a very public breakup with a media-hungry politician, fitness trainer Tori Alvarez escapes to Aruba for rest, relaxation, and copious amounts of sex on the beach—the cocktail, that is. She vows to keep her vacation a man-free zone but when a cute guy is seated next to her on the plane, Tori can’t resist a little harmless flirting.

Hollywood heartthrob Carter Stone underwent a dramatic physical transformation for his latest role and it’s clear his stunning seat mate doesn’t recognize the man beneath the shaggy beard and extra lean frame. Now Carter needs help rebuilding his buff physique and Tori is perfect for the job. It doesn’t hurt that she makes his pulse pound in more ways than one.

Sparks are flying, until a pesky paparazzo reveals Carter’s identity. Tori is hurt and pissed. She wants nothing to do with another man in the limelight, but she’s still got to whip him into shape. Can Carter convince Tori he’s worth the threat to her privacy that comes with dating a famous actor, or will Tori chisel him down to nothing before he even gets the chance?

Grab the popcorn...

I had so much fun reading this book! 

The story is fast paced, and yet the romance build-up is slow and steady. Tori and Carter both had my heart from the start. I love them as individual characters and together as a couple. They were so right for each other! There was so much chemistry between them that ending up together was inevitable. I love how easy their friendship, and then relationship, was. I also love how smitten Carter was with Tori—this dude saw Tori on the plane and be like, “Yep, that’s my future wife.” And he fell even harder for her as the story progressed and they got to know each other. Tori and Carter both had their own hang-ups, but they worked through their issues together. They also maintained honest communication with each other, which I appreciate that so much. I just hate when characters jumped to conclusions and did not talk to each other—I’m not about that drama.

Blog Tour Stop: For Better or Worse by Lauren Layne

FOR BETTER OR WORSE
by Lauren Layne
Series: The Wedding Belles #2
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Pocket Books
Publication Date: August 30th 2016
Source: ARC received for review
Rating: ★★★★1/2
Amazon - Barnes & Noble

Will a budding wedding planner and her bad boy neighbor stop banging heads and start hearing wedding bells in the sexy second novel in USA TODAY bestselling author Lauren Layne’s irresistible new series that marries Sex and the City with The Wedding Planner?

When small-town girl Heather Fowler finally gets promoted from assistant to actual wedding planner, she’s determined to make it as one of Manhattan’s elite Wedding Belles. Unfortunately, her first client demands an opulent black-tie affair at the Plaza…in five months’ time. Heather’s days quickly become a flurry of cake tastings, dress-fittings, RSVP cards, and bridal tantrums. But what she’s really losing sleep over is the live music blaring from her playboy neighbor’s apartment all night.

Five years ago, Josh Tanner was an up-and-comer on Wall Street, complete with the penthouse and the migraines. But a grim cancer diagnosis made him realize there is more to life than the corner office. If only he could convince his pretty, workaholic neighbor to let loose, too. As Heather lets down her guard, Josh is surprised when he starts falling for the sweet, vulnerable woman hiding beneath those power suits. Soon, it’s Heather’s turn to convince Josh to take the biggest risk of all: love.

Review: Rookie Move by Sarina Bowen

ROOKIE MOVE
by Sarina Bowen
Series: Brookly Bruisers #1
Genres: Contemporary
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: September 6th 2016
Source: ARC received for review
Rating: ★★★★1/2
Amazon - Barnes & Noble

In high school they were the perfect couple—until the day Georgia left Leo in the cold...

Hockey player Leo Trevi has spent the last six years trying to do two things: get over the girl who broke his heart, and succeed in the NHL. But on the first day he’s called up to the newly franchised Brooklyn Bruisers, Leo gets checked on both sides, first by the team’s coach—who has a long simmering grudge, and then by the Bruisers’ sexy, icy publicist—his former girlfriend Georgia Worthington.

Saying goodbye to Leo was one of the hardest things Georgia ever had to do—and saying hello again isn’t much easier. Georgia is determined to keep their relationship strictly professional, but when a press conference microphone catches Leo declaring his feelings for her, things get really personal, really fast....

Review: A Fine Mess by Kelly Siskind

A FINE MESS
by Kelly Siskind
Series: Over The Top #2
Genres: Contemporary
Publisher: Forever
Publication Date: August 2nd 2016
Source: ARC received for review
Rating: ★★★★1/2
Amazon - Barnes & Noble

Some guys should come with a warning label . . .

Sawyer West is Mr. One-Night Stand.

He doesn't do relationships or promises or feelings. He's never cared enough to get involved. Until Lily Roberts.

She's sweet and shy and sexy as sin, and resisting her is testing his self-control.

She believes Sawyer can be a better man, and for the first time in his life, he wants to be.

But change isn't easy, and Sawyer would do anything to protect Lily from his past self.

Even break his own heart . . .

Blog Tour Stop: To Have and To Hold by Lauren Layne

TO HAVE TO HOLD
by Lauren Layne
Series: The Wedding Belles #1
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Pocket Books
Publication Date: July 26th 2016
Source: ARC received for review
Rating: ★★★★
Amazon - Barnes & Noble

Discovering her fiance is an international con man just moments before they exchange vows devastates celebrity wedding planner Brooke Baldwin's business—and breaks her heart. Now a pariah in Los Angeles, she seeks a fresh start in New York City and thinks she’s found it with her first bridal client, a sweet—if slightly spoiled—hotel heiress. Then she meets the uptight businessman who’s holding the purse strings.

Seth Tyler wishes he could write a blank check and be done with his sister Maya's fancy-pants wedding. Unfortunately, micromanaging the event is his only chance at proving Maya’s fiance is a liar. Standing directly in his way is the stunning blonde wedding planner whose practiced smiles and sassy comebacks both irritate and arouse him. He needs Brooke’s help. But can he persuade a wedding planner on a comeback mission to unplan a wedding? And more importantly, how will he convince her that the wedding she should be planning... is theirs?

Review: Bittersweet by Sarina Bowen

BITTERSWEET
by Sarina Bowen
Series: True North #1
Genres: Contemporary
Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: June 14th 2016
Source: ARC received for review
Rating: ★★★★1/2
Amazon - Barnes & Noble

If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the orchard.

The last person Griffin Shipley expects to find stuck in a ditch on his Vermont country road is his ex-hookup. Five years ago they’d shared a couple of steamy nights together. But that was a lifetime ago.

At twenty-seven, Griff is now the accidental patriarch of his family farm. Even his enormous shoulders feel the strain of supporting his mother, three siblings and a dotty grandfather. He doesn’t have time for the sorority girl who’s shown up expecting to buy his harvest at half price.

Vermont was never in Audrey Kidder’s travel plans. Neither was Griff Shipley. But she needs a second chance with the restaurant conglomerate employing her. Okay—a fifth chance. And no self-righteous lumbersexual farmer will stand in her way.

They’re adversaries. They want entirely different things from life. Too bad their sexual chemistry is as hot as Audrey’s top secret enchilada sauce, and then some.

Blog Tour Review: Good Girl by Lauren Layne

GOOD GIRL
by Lauren Layne
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Loveswept
Publication Date: May 17th 2016
Source: ARC received for review
Rating: ★★★★1/2
Amazon - Barnes & Noble

Lauren Layne brings all the unpredictable heat of her USA Today bestseller Blurred Lines to an all-new cast of characters! Country music’s favorite good girl is hiding away from the world—only to find herself bunking with a guy who makes her want to be a little bad.

Jenny Dawson moved to Nashville to write music, not get famous. But when her latest record goes double platinum, Jenny’s suddenly one of the town’s biggest stars—and the center of a tabloid scandal connecting her with a pop star she’s barely even met. With paparazzi tracking her every move, Jenny flees to a remote mansion in Louisiana to write her next album. The only hiccup is the unexpected presence of a brooding young caretaker named Noah, whose foul mouth and snap judgments lead to constant bickering—and serious heat.

Noah really should tell Jenny that he’s Preston Noah Maxwell Walcott, the owner of the estate where the feisty country singer has made her spoiled self at home. But the charade gives Noah a much-needed break from his own troubles, and before long, their verbal sparring is indistinguishable from foreplay. But as sizzling nights give way to quiet pillow talk, Noah begins to realize that Jenny’s almost as complicated as he is. To fit into each other’s lives, they’ll need the courage to face their problems together—before the outside world catches up to them.

Review: Maybe In Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid

MAYBE IN ANOTHER LIFE
by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Genres: Contemporary, Women's Fiction
Publisher: Washington Square Press
Publication Date: July 7th 2015
Source: Library
Rating: ★★★★1/2
Amazon - Barnes & Noble

From the acclaimed author of Forever, Interrupted and After I Do comes a breathtaking new novel about a young woman whose fate hinges on the choice she makes after bumping into an old flame; in alternating chapters, we see two possible scenarios unfold—with stunningly different results.

At the age of twenty-nine, Hannah Martin still has no idea what she wants to do with her life. She has lived in six different cities and held countless meaningless jobs since graduating college. On the heels of leaving yet another city, Hannah moves back to her hometown of Los Angeles and takes up residence in her best friend Gabby’s guestroom. Shortly after getting back to town, Hannah goes out to a bar one night with Gabby and meets up with her high school boyfriend, Ethan.

Just after midnight, Gabby asks Hannah if she’s ready to go. A moment later, Ethan offers to give her a ride later if she wants to stay. Hannah hesitates. What happens if she leaves with Gabby? What happens if she leaves with Ethan?

In concurrent storylines, Hannah lives out the effects of each decision. Quickly, these parallel universes develop into radically different stories with large-scale consequences for Hannah, as well as the people around her. As the two alternate realities run their course, Maybe in Another Life raises questions about fate and true love: Is anything meant to be? How much in our life is determined by chance? And perhaps, most compellingly: Is there such a thing as a soul mate? Hannah believes there is. And, in both worlds, she believes she’s found him. 

Review: Undecided by Julianna Keyes

UNDECIDED
by Julianna Keyes
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult
Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: April 4th 2016
Source: ARC from author for review
Rating: ★★★★1/2
Amazon - Barnes & Nobles

Nora Kincaid has one goal for her second year of college: be invisible. Last year’s all-party-no-study strategy resulted in three failed classes and two criminal charges, and if she messes up again she’ll lose her scholarship. But there’s one problem with her plan for invisibility, and his name is Crosbie Lucas: infamous party king, general hellraiser…and her new roommate’s best friend.

Crosbie’s reckless reputation and well-known sexcapades aren’t part of Nora’s studious new strategy, but as she’s quickly learning, her new plan is also really boring. When Crosbie’s unexpected gestures of friendship pull her head out of her books long enough to see past his cocky veneer, she’s surprised to find a flawed and funny guy beneath it all. The muscles don’t hurt, either.

But as Nora starts to fall for Crosbie, the weight of one of last year’s bad decisions grows even heavier. Because three failing grades and two misdemeanors are nothing compared to the one big secret she’s hiding…