Lisa's 2018 Bookish Goals

Hi, guys! How is your 2018 so far?

As for me, I’m already failing with my new year resolution to journal consistently. I missed four days now hahahaha trying to get in the habit is so hard, but I’m not giving up just yet.

Also, please welcome Nick back from her short hiatus! She reviewed Man Hands by Sarina Bowen and Tanya Eby in her Tuesday post (this book is hilarious so if you haven’t checked it out then this is your cue!) as well as Lauren Layne’s upcoming release.

I don’t have any reviews for today. Instead, I’m going to share with you 4 bookish goals or resolutions that I wish to accomplish this year.

TRACK MY BOOK PURCHASES

I’m so, so bad at managing my financials, honestly. Most of the time I get confused as to where all my money went (to books…to books, of course). Last year I bought less physicals; my purchases were usually YA books, and I read next to none in YA last year. But my e-book purchases? They were all over the place. The auto one-click setting is so dangerous, my friends. I plan to use Crini’s spreadsheet for this mission. Wish me luck!

DON’T SWEAT THE ARCS

My personal goal is not to focus too much on ARCs this year, but instead to read the hundreds of books I already have on my Kindle and Kobo apps. Yes, hundreds (okay maybe not hundreds, but still)—I love one-clicking free e-books and then forget all about them, and the number keeps piling up! It is going to be a challenge especially since book twitter always be hyping up the latest books, but I vow to be more zen with the ARC-requesting.

Also, less requesting means less rejection hahahahahahahah I’m still bitter about the Netgalley thing. I know it’s not Netgalley’s fault but still.

BLOG MORE

This year, I’m planning all my blog posts early so I will always be on time with my Thursday schedule posting. I realize I’m already a day late with this post but since I only just wrote this down today, this post doesn’t count (heh). I also planned to work on and finish all the half-written blog posts in my draft (I have so many ideas but uh, little motivation).

While we’re at it, I also plan to read more blogs this year as well as comment on the posts I read. I’ve always been more of a silent reader, but I plan to be more interactive this time around.

READ MORE DIVERSELY

I feel like I still haven’t reached a level I’m proud of when it comes to reading diversely, so this year I want to do better. Since my preference in romance is M/F pairing, I plan to be more inclusive with the books I read: more books with interracial relationships or those with people of colour, and more works by author of colour. I have quite a pile of books by AoCs already so time to make a dent on it.

Well, 4 goals won’t be as hard to achieve, I feel? Here’s to 2018!

What are your 2018 goals?

 Let me know in the comments!

Nick Is Back With A Romantic Comedy!

Hi everyone!

Happy New Year! I took an unexpected break from this blog, but I'm back to my weekly posting routine. So what have I been up to since my last post? Reading, of course, taking exams, visiting Colorado, bingeing TV, you know the usual! ;) I read some fantastic books that I'm excited to share with everyone. I only have 1 review for today, and that's Man Hands by Sarina Bowen and Tanya Enby, but I'll share some quick thoughts on some other brilliant reads I came across last month.

MAN HANDS by Sarina Bowen & Tanya Eby [★★★1/2] 

I am very determined to read everything and anything by Sarina Bowen, so when she announced this new surprise collaboration with Tanya Enby, I was very excited. Man Hands is definitely different from the usual Sarina Bowen book, and though it could be absolutely ridiculous at times, I had fun reading the book.

Man Hands is more of a romantic comedy, and I'll admit that there were quite a few moments when I found myself laughing out loud. I love a good romantic comedy, and the humor was definitely on point here. The one thing I could have done here without would be the talking penis. Yes you read that right! The hero's penis is a "talker", and he even ends with a chapter dedicated to him! I found that to be a bit too ridiculous for my tastes, and I'll admit it took away from some of my enjoyment of the story. So yes, even though this book as funny as hell, be warned that it's also quite ridiculous at times! 

I liked both of the main characters here. Tom and Brynn are pretty fun characters to be around. They are both coming off some serious relationships and are looking to get back in the scene. Their "meet-cute" was absolutely ridiculous and unrealistic, but it had me cracking up like everything else in the book. The chemistry between the two is steamy, and prevalent ALL THROUGHOUT the book. The banter is wonderful, and I loved how easy-going their relationship was for the most part. I liked Tom and Brynn a lot like a couple, as you can tell, but I also hoped to see more of the emotional stuff that Sarina Bowen is so good at! The other thing I really enjoyed about Man Hands is the friendship element. Brynn has some hilarious girlfriends, and honestly, they made this book for me. They were a blast to be around.

All in all, Man Hands was a funny book and had a lot going on for it, and I'd definitely recommend it if you're looking for something over-the-top, swoony and with a lot of humor.

OTHER NOTEWORTHY BOOKS I READ

So, I read some other fun books last month. I especially really enjoyed reading Do Over by Serena Bell. This was my first book by the author, but it certainly will not be my last. It was such a good second-chance romance between a couple who have a child together, and I can't wait to share my full-review with you guys, but let me just leave you with this: if you enjoy second chance romances, well-written male POVs, super sexy and swoony heroes, and heroines who do not let people walk over them, then Do Over absolutely needs to be in your list.

[★★★★]

Another book I surprisingly really enjoyed reading in December was Runaway Groom by Lauren Layne. I didn't like the first book in the series, so I was just a bit wary, but I still wanted to give it a try and I'm so happy I did, because it was wonderful. It has a The Bachelor setting, and the Bachelor here, Gage, really doesn't want to be on the show. Same with the heroine, Ellie. The only reason she agrees to be on the show is to promote her t-shirt company, so she has absolutely no plans of attracting Gage's attention, but we all know what happens. The plot was fun, the chemistry was delicious, and as always, Lauren Layne writes really fun banter and swoons between her couples. Runaway Groom definitely needs to be on your radar!

[★★★★]

**I received all books in this post as ARCs for review purposes. This does not affect my rating and review.**

Read any books featured in this post? Tell me all about your latest romance reads in the comments below!

Ten Books That Made My Year

Happy New Year’s Eve, everyone!

Honestly, I’m keen to start the new year. One of my new year’s resolutions is to start journaling more actively. I used to keep diaries when I was a teenager and I remember the content feeling of flipping through my old entries to see how much I’ve grown, and to look at past events with a new eye. I’ve been watching journal-related Youtube videos for the past few days to get inspirations for my own journal.

Most of my 2017 reads are rereads; I had a lot of reading slumps throughout the year, so I’ve been turning to my old favourites a lot. Since Goodreads has made it possible for rereads to count in the Reading Challenge, I took advantage of it.

Anyway, 2017 personally has been a big ball of suck, but these books have made my life a bit brighter:

A KISS IN LAVENDER BY LAURA FLORAND | GR | AMZ

I have so much love for Laura Florand and her books. While her Amour et Chocolat series made me crave for chocolates and macarons, Laura’s La Vie en Roses series made me wish I was made of money so that I could visit Provence and spend time in the rose, jasmine and lavender fields. A Kiss in Lavender has everything I love in a book: great banter, strong family relationships (the Rosiers are just family goals), slow romance build-up. I still haven’t reviewed this properly because I was so overwhelmed by it, but I’m going to do it sooner or later (maybe after my 15th reread so that I can be truly eloquent in expressing my feelings about this book).

ACT YOUR AGE BY EVE DANGERFIELD | GR | AMZ

So...I have a daddy kink. Well, in romance, at least; I’m turned off by real men and I’m perpetually single so I can’t confirm if it applies to real life… 

Eve Dangerfield has been on my radar ever since I finished Locked Box (hello hotness!) and I’m on a mission to read her backlist. Act Your Age checked all my boxes: great characters, age gap, and I’ve reread it probably 5 times since I finished it the first time. I also wrote a semi-lengthy review on my Goodreads (which is an accomplishment in itself because most of my five-star reviews are just I LOVE IT!!!!).

AMERICAN KING BY SIERRA SIMONE | GR | AMZ

Oh, I hate this book. 

It made me cry a lot, this book. 

It almost made me throw my phone against the wall, this book.

I couldn’t imagine a better ending for the love story between Greer, Ash, and Embry. I still haven’t written a review for it because I didn’t know how to express myself outside incoherent keyboard smashing.

BOUNTIFUL BY SARINA BOWEN | GR | AMZ

I love Sarina Bowen’s Brooklyn Bruisers (I binge-read the whole series in one night) and when I saw that Bountiful will be a crossover, I immediately jumped on this train. I still feel a little bad about not noticing Dave in BB, but anyway he’s my favourite Sarina Bowen hero now. I keep rereading my favourite scenes in this book from time to time—all of them involved Dave caring for his baby daughter (major swoons!). I also feel like this book is Sarina’s sexiest to date; the sexy times between Dave and Zara are A++.

My review for Bountiful

PRETTY FACE BY LUCY PARKER | GR | AMZ

The number of times I reread Pretty Face this year alone is borderline unhealthy but I can’t help it—it’s just so good! I’m not going to talk much about Luc Savage, our grumpy Gregory Peck-looking director hero, and how he’s basically everything I want in a man, or how we’re both deeply in love with Lily Lamprey, the ever wonderful, angel on earth. I just want to say that every time I finish this book, I sigh heavily because their romance is amazing and I’m going to die alone, unloved-

My review for Pretty Face

THE DAY OF THE DUCHESS BY SARAH MACLEAN | GR | AMZ

Here’s my secret: I reread The Day of the Duchess every time I need a good cry. I’m unafraid to say that this book is the best historical romance I’ve read so far; I was in a huge book hangover after I finished it, and I kept thinking about it for days. I love my second chance romance full of pain and grovelling, and this book has it in buckets. The grand gesture in the end is a shot through the heart. Sarah MacLean did amazingly with Malcolm’s redemption arc; I can’t believe I actually rooted for him. 

My review for The Day of the Duchess

THE DUCHESS DEAL BY TESSA DARE | GR | AMZ

Oh gosh, The Duchess Deal was a Delight to read. Tessa Dare is at her most excellent with the character banter in this book. I laughed out loud multiple times mostly at Ash because he was so ridiculous, and I love how Emma handled him and his grumpy ways. I highlighted so many scenes in this book. Ash would fit right in with the Lords of Perdition; I really want him to meet Colin Sandhurst because I think Colin would either annoy him to death or immediately click with him. Anyway, have you seen the blurb for the sequel? I’m praying for kinkiness-

My review for The Duchess Deal

THE RED BY TIFFANY REISZ | GR | AMZ

I’ve never read anything like The Red and I can’t say much without spoiling it but art is now ruined for me 

(but like, in the best way) 

(I see everything with a kink lens now) 

(which is AWESOME).

My review for The Red

UNDERCOVER ATTRACTION BY KATEE ROBERT | GR | AMZ

I’m still surprised by how much I love this book considering I didn’t really like Aiden until the end of book 4. I’ve been steadily rereading this book because I truly enjoyed seeing Aiden and Charlie fell in love with each other despite being from different worlds, and also because I’m hyping myself up for book #6 (February, come early please!).

My review for Undercover Attraction

WRONG TO NEED YOU BY ALISHA RAI  | GR | AMZ

To quote myself (haha), Wrong to Need You has everything I need in a book: great (and diverse!) characters, a boatload of angst, slow-burn romance, A+ sexy scenes.  This book is also in a couple of Top 2017 Romance articles I read and I agree wholeheartedly. I can’t wait for book 3 to see how Alisha Rai would top this one.

My dual review with Eri for Wrong to Need You

More books that made my year: Acting by Impulse by Mia Sosa, The Love Experiment by Ainslie Paton, Complicated by Kristen Ashley, What I Did For a Duke by Julie Anne Long, Devil in Spring by Lisa Kleypas, Dance with Me by Alexis Daria, and Hold Me by Courtney Milan.

Have a very happy New Year, everyone. See you in 2018!

Which books made your 2017 better?

 Let me know (or link me your Top 2017 Reads lists) in the comments!

Lisa's 10* Most Anticipated 2018 Releases

*eh. I did try to limit myself to just ten….

Hi, everyone! I was too busy to post anything earlier in the week, plus I haven’t been reading anything much (boo).

I’ve been seeing recap and ‘Best of 2017’ posts all over my Twitter timeline. It feels a little surreal to think that it’s almost the end of the year. I will be listing down my best books of 2017 soon and I plan to limit myself to just ten mentions…but as you can see in this list I’m about to share, I can never limit myself to a number.

Anyway, since my Best of 2017 is still in the works, I’m going the easy road and share with you the books I just can’t wait to read in 2018, in no particular order.

Let’s start!

THE YEAR OF MEADER

Undone By You (Chicago Rebels #3)

Hooked On You (Chicago Rebels #4)

Down with Love (Love Wars #1)

Kate Meader will be releasing three books next year! I don't know how to express my excitement eloquently, but I'm so very glad that we will get a new series right after the Chicago Rebels end. Kate's books always have the prettiest covers as well; I love the colours (and abs) in the first two, and the Down with Love cover reminds me of Lauren Layne's books which I love. The series will be about three hot-shot divorce lawyers "who think they know everything about marriage, relationships, and women will learn that, in fact, they know jack shit."

Yep, sold.

My review for Irresistible You (Chicago Rebels #1)
My review for So Over You (Chicago Rebels #2)

DUDES IN SUITS

Hot Asset (21 Wall Street #1) by Lauren Layne

Marriage of Inconvenience (Knitting in the City #7) by Penny Reid

The Bastard’s Bargain (The O’Malleys #6) by Katee Robert

I'm always here for Lauren Layne's dudes in suits. The blurb sounds like it's going to be a little bit of enemies-to-lovers, which is just my thing. I'm still wincing at the May release date, though (MAY???).

The awesome knitting gang from Penny Reid's KITC series is coming back, and this time it's Kat and Dan's story (FINALLY)! I've been ready for this book ever since I finished Dating-ish.

Dmitri Romanov *swoony sighs* and his own story is coming in February (also FINALLY). I hated him on first sight in O'Malleys #2 (he was muy terrible), but he turned out to be the most intriguing character in the series and believe it or not, I want him to have his HEA. Well played, Katee Robert.

My review for Dating-ish (Knitting in the City #6)

My and Eri's review for Forbidden Promises (O'Malley's #4)

My review for Undercover Attraction (O'Malley's #5)

MORE ROMANCES

Rough Ride (Chaos #4.5)

By the Book

Luck of the Draw (Chance of a Lifetime #2)

Hello Stranger (The Ravenels #4)

One day I shall write about my immense love for Kristen Ashley's stories and characters, how she fulfills every need that I have for romance (second chance love? alpha male bikers? hotshot PIs and commandos? men in uniforms? twenty year of separation and angst?) and how she manages to keep my single-dad shelf on Goodreads alive almost single-handedly, but today is not that day. 

Julia Sonneborn's By the Book has been pitched as a Jane Austen's Persuasion retelling and I, a Captain Wentworth stan, am very much looking forward to this story. 

I read the excerpt of Kate Clayborn's Luck of the Draw after I finished Beginner's Luck and hello, Aiden O'Leary! The story is going to have fake relationship in it and if that's not catnip then I don't know what it is. 

I still hate the dress on the cover of Hello Stranger but I'm so ready to read Dr. Garrett's story. Lisa Kleypas based her character on the real Dr. Garrett, or Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, the first female physician in England, and also the only female physician in England for some 20-30 years.

...AND SOME MORE

Told you I can't keep it to ten. 

These titles didn't have covers yet, but they're also in my list. 

The Governess Game (Girl Meets Duke #2) by Tessa Dare

The Other Miss Bridgerton (Rokesby #3) by Julia Quinn

Wicked and the Wallflower (Bareknuckle Bastard #1) by Sarah MacLean

Making Up (London Celebrities #3) by Lucy Parker

Lastly,

WHEN ARE YOU COMING HOME?

After the Wedding (The Worth Saga #2)

Just...don't get me started on this one. 

I've waited 84 years for this book and if it gets pushed back again I'm going to bloody cut somebody.

How many books are in YOUR 2018 anticipated lists?

 Let me know in the comments!