MONTH IN REVIEW ~ NOVEMBER 2013

~ HAPPY HOLIDAYS ~ 

The year 2013 will soon be just a memory. 

I am two books away from reaching my goal of 200 books for the year. Some of my friends and family think this number is outrageous, but when I see what others have set over on Goodreads, I feel like I'm about average. 

What goals did you set with your reading? What were some of your favorite reads of the month? 

Here were my favorite reads for the month of November:

Hard As It Gets ~ Laura Kaye

Jake Undone ~ Penelope Ward

The Fifth Favor ~ Shelby Reed

The Curio Series ~ Cara Mckenna

Surprise Reads of the month were from Cara McKenna--Her Curio series is about a male prostitute who was simply delicious. Also, The Fifth Favor, by Shelby Reed. Her character, Adrian, was a very expensive male escort, who had become jaded with his life. Apparently, it was a month for men who liked to please the ladies.  

And now, for an update on my reading challenges:

~ 2013 Immortal Reading Challenge ~ 

Challenged: 20  Read: 38 

Hosted by UTC 

1. Vampires 
Challenged:  5  Read: 13 
Bonus reads: 13 

*Lover At Last ~ JR Ward
*Up From The Grave ~ Jeanine Frost
*A Kiss of Blood ~ Pamela Palmer
*Twice Tempted ~ Jeanine Frost
*Immortal Ever After ~ Lynsay Sands 

2. Angels/Demons
Challenged:  5   Read:5
Bonus Reads: 3
*Fifth Grave Past the Light ~ Darynda Jones
*Death, Doom, and Detention ~ Darynda Jones
*The Collector ~ Victoria Scott
*Forbidden ~ Syrie James
* Natural Born Angel ~ Scott Spear

3. Fae/Witches/Magic
Challenged:  5  Read:7 
Bonus Reads: 4

*Iced ~ Karen Marie Moning
*Glass Heart ~ Amy Garvey
*Shadow of Night ~ Deborah Harkness
*Winterblaze ~ Kristen Callihan
*Endure ~ Carrie Jones 

4. Shifters/Were
Challenged:  5  Read:11 
Bonus Reads:8

*MacReive ~ Kresley Cole
*Fury of Seduction ~ Coreene Callahan
*Fury of Desire ~ Coreene Callahan
*Black Moon ~ JD Tyler
*Hunter's Heart ~ JD Tyler

Men In Uniform Reading Challenge

Challenged: 13 (Captain)  Read: 21 

1.  Forged In Fire ~ Trish McCallan 

2. Hold 'Em ~ Katie Porter 

3. Shades of Gray ~ Maya Banks

4. Battered Not Broken ~ Ranae Rose

5. SEALed Forever Mary Margaret Daughtridge

6. Heat of the Moment ~ Elle Kennedy

7. Because of You ~ Jessica Scott

8. Love Irresistibly ~ Julie James

9. Bare It All ~ Lori Foster

10. One Sweet Ride ~ Jaci Burton

11. Taking A Shot ~ Jaci Burton

12. Thrown By A Curve ~ Jaci Burton

13. Hard Way ~ Katie Porter

Bonus Reads: 18

The 2013 Romantic Suspense Reading Challenge is hosted by The Book Vixen

The 2013 Romantic Suspense Reading Challenge is hosted by The Book Vixen

Romantic Suspense Reading Challenge

Challenged:  13    Read:18  

1. Scorched ~ Laura Griffin

2. The Heart of a Killer ~ Jaci Burton

3. Underground Guardians-Protector ~ Lisa Renee Jones

4. Fatal Destiny ~ Marie Force

5. Heart of Danger ~ Lisa Marie

 Rice

6. Mr. Real ~ Carolyn Crane

7. Mystery Man ~ Kristen Ashley

8. Because of You ~ Jessica Scott

9. Shades of Gray ~ Maya Banks

10. Crazy Hot ~ Tara Janzen

11.  ?

12.  ?

13.  

Bonus Reads: 16

Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge 

Challenged: 10  Read:  31

**NOTE--with so many books coming out and 

considered New Adult, I had to look at my books  

and take out those I consider New Adult Genre. 

1. Unbeautifully ~ Madeline Sheehan

2. It Had to Be You ~ Jill Shalvis

3. Kissing Under the Mistletoe ~ Marina Adair

4. Fall Into You ~ Roni Loren

5. Love Irresistibly ~ Julie James

6. Getting Rowdy ~ Lori Foster

7. Bare it All ~ Lori Foster

8. A Shot of Sultry ~ Macy Beckett

9. Caught Up In You ~ Roni Loren

10. One Sweet Ride ~ Jaci Burton 

*Bonus Reads: 24

TBR Reading Challenge 

Challenged:  12   Read: 10

Hosted by Fiktshun   

1. Scorched ~ Laura Griffin

2. Fatal Destiny ~ Marie Force

3. Because of You ~ Jessica Scott

4. Forbidden ~ Syrie James

5. Iced ~ Karen Marie Moning

6. Shadow of Night ~ Deborah Harkness

7. Endure ~ Carrie Jones

8. Fury of Seduction ~ Coreene Callahan

9. Black Moon ~ JD Tyler

10. Battered, Not Broken ~ Ranae Rose

11. Sealed Forever ~ Mary Margaret Daughtridge

12. Hold 'Em ~ Katie Porter

Bonus Reads:  6

I think for next year, I'm gonna have to put more thought 

into my selections, lol. I didn't read a lot of the books I 

thought I would. 

Are you doing any reading challenges? If so, what ones, 

and how are you doing in finishing them up? Leave me a 

comment, I'd love to hear from you. 

MONTH IN REVIEW ~ JULY 2013

Summer is almost over.

I am in the middle of moving, finishing my manuscript, starting my kids at a new school, and I need a vacation!
Or maybe a strong shot of whiskey.
Or both.

But I thought I'd post early my Month In Review, as I don't know when I'll have time again to get to this.

Hope everyone has had a kick-ass summer and read some really amazing books! 

My Reads For July

• How To Love ( San Amaro Singles, Book Two) ~ Kelly Jamieson
• Prey ~ Rachel Vincent (Shifers, Book Four)

• Breaking ~ Claire Kent
• Because of Low ~ Abbi Glines (Seabreeze, Book Two)
• Claimed (Club Sin, Book One) ~ Stacie Kennedy
• Wicked Beat (Sinners, Book Five) ~ Olivia Cunning
• Twisted Perfection (Perfection, Book One) ~ Abbi Glines
• One Sweet Ride (Play by Play, Book Six) ~ Jaci Burton 
• Indelible ~ Bethany Lopez
• A Kiss of Blood (Vamp City, Book Two) ~ Pamela Palmer
• Beneath The Surface (Reluctance, Book One) ~ M.A. Stacie 
• The Cowboy Takes A Bride ~ (Jubilee, Texas Series, Book One) ~ Lori Wilde
• MacRieve ~ (IAD, Book Thirteen) ~ Kresley Cole
• Lost & Found ~ Nicole Williams
• Black Heart (Cursed Hearts, Book One) ~ R. L. Mathewson
• Strong Enough ~ Alexis Alexander

Favorite Read of July ~ MacRieve by Kresley Cole

Surprise Read of July ~ Breaking by Claire Kent

Made Me Cry in July ~ Prey by Rachel Vincent

What were your favorites of July?

Here is an update of my Reading Challenges...*Note--I have decided not to post entire list, as there are just so damn many of them for my bonus reads. Also, a lot of them reappear on multiple categories. So, I'll just include only those I actually listed at the begining of the year. No Bonus Reads are listed. 

~ 2013 Immortal Reading Challenge ~ 

Challenged: 20  Read: 33 

Hosted by UTC 

1. Vampires 
Challenged:  5  Read: 12 
Bonus reads:8 

*Lover At Last ~ JR Ward
*Up From The Grave ~ Jeanine Frost
*A Kiss of Blood ~ Pamela Palmer
*Twice Tempted ~ Jeanine Frost
*Immortal Ever After ~ Lynsay Sands 

2. Angels/Demons
Challenged:  5   Read:5
Bonus Reads: 2

*Fifth Grave Past the Light ~ Darynda Jones
*Death, Doom, and Detention ~ Darynda Jones
*The Collector ~ Victoria Scott
*Forbidden ~ Syrie James
* Natural Born Angel ~ Scott Spear

3. Fae/Witches/Magic
Challenged:  5  Read:7 
Bonus Reads:4

*Iced ~ Karen Marie Moning
*Glass Heart ~ Amy Garvey
*Shadow of Night ~ Deborah Harkness
*Winterblaze ~ Kristen Callihan
*Endure ~ Carrie Jones 

4. Shifters/Were
Challenged:  5  Read:9 
Bonus Reads:6 

*MacReive ~ Kresley Cole
*Fury of Seduction ~ Coreene Callahan
*Fury of Desire ~ Coreene Callahan
*Black Moon ~ JD Tyler
*Hunter's Heart ~ JD Tyler

This reading challenge hosted by The Book Vixen

Men In Uniform Reading Challenge

Challenged: 13 (Captain)  Read: 13 

1.  Forged In Fire ~ Trish McCallan 

2. Hold 'Em ~ Katie Porter 

3. Shades of Gray ~ Maya Banks

4. Battered Not Broken ~ Ranae Rose

5. SEALed Forever Mary Margaret Daughtridge

6. Heat of the Moment ~ Elle Kennedy

7. Because of You ~ Jessica Scott

8. Love Irresistibly ~ Julie James

9. Bare It All ~ Lori Foster

10. One Sweet Ride ~ Jaci Burton

11. Taking A Shot ~ Jaci Burton

12. Thrown By A Curve ~ Jaci Burton

13. Hard Way ~ Katie Porter

Bonus Reads: 10

The 2013 Romantic Suspense Reading Challenge is hosted by The Book Vixen

Romantic Suspense Reading Challenge

Challenged:  13    Read:9   

1. Scorched ~ Laura Griffin

2. The Heart of a Killer ~ Jaci Burton

3. Underground Guardians-Protector ~ Lisa Renee Jones

4. Fatal Destiny ~ Marie Force

5. Heart of Danger ~ Lisa Marie Rice

6. Mr. Real ~ Carolyn Crane

7. Mystery Man ~ Kristen Ashley

8. Because of You ~ Jessica Scott

9. Shades of Gray ~ Maya Banks

10. Crazy Hot ~ Tara Janzen

11.  ?

12.  ?

13.  

Bonus Reads: 8

Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge 

Challenged: 10  Read:  19 

**NOTE--with so many books coming out and considered New Adult, I had to look at my books again and take out those I consider New Adult Genre. 

1. Unbeautifully ~ Madeline Sheehan

2. It Had to Be You ~ Jill Shalvis

3. Kissing Under the Mistletoe ~ Marina Adair

4. Fall Into You ~ Roni Loren

5. Love Irresistibly ~ Julie James

6. Getting Rowdy ~ Lori Foster

7. Bare it All ~ Lori Foster

8. A Shot of Sultry ~ Macy Beckett

9. Caught Up In You ~ Roni Loren

10. One Sweet Ride ~ Jaci Burton 

*Bonus Reads:  14

TBR Reading Challenge 

Challenged:  12   Read: 10

Hosted by Fiktshun   

1. Scorched ~ Laura Griffin

2. Fatal Destiny ~ Marie Force

3. Because of You ~ Jessica Scott

4. Forbidden ~ Syrie James

5. Iced ~ Karen Marie Moning

6. Shadow of Night ~ Deborah Harkness

7. Endure ~ Carrie Jones

8. Fury of Seduction ~ Coreene Callahan

9. Black Moon ~ JD Tyler

10. Battered, Not Broken ~ Ranae Rose

11. Sealed Forever ~ Mary Margaret Daughtridge

12. Hold 'Em ~ Katie Porter

Bonus Reads:  6

Are you participating in any reading challenges? Leave me a comment, I'd love to hear from you! 

The 2013 Romantic Suspense Reading Challenge is hosted by The Book Vixen

Click here for more information regarding this reading challenge

Romantic Suspense Reading Challenge

Challenged:  13    Read:  2 

1. Scorched ~ Laura Griffin

2. The Heart of a Killer ~ Jaci Burton

3. Underground Guardians-Protector ~ Lisa Renee Jones

4. Fatal Destiny ~ Marie Force

5. Heart of Danger ~ Lisa Marie Rice

6. Mr. Real ~ Carolyn Crane

7. Mystery Man ~ Kristen Ashley

8. Because of You ~ Jessica Scott

9. Shades of Gray ~ Maya Banks

10. Crazy Hot ~ Tara Janzen

11.  ?

12.  ?

13.  

I haven't done a lot of reading in this category this past February...

Thrill Ride ~ Julie Anne Walker

Hopefully, I'll be able to get in the swing of things for March. 
Until then ~ How was your reading for this challenge? Leave me a comment and let me know! 

BOOK REVIEW ~ SHADES OF GRAY BY MAYA BANKS

Title: Shades of Gray (KGI Series, Book Six )

Author: Maya Banks

Release Date: December 31, 2012

Reviewer bought own copy of paperback for review 

P.J. and Cole were sharpshooting rivals on the same KGI team and enjoyed a spirited, uncomplicated camaraderie. Until the night they gave in to their desires and suddenly took their relationship one step further. In the aftermath of their one night stand, they’re called up on a mission that goes terribly wrong, and P.J. walks away from KGI, determined not to drag her teammates into the murky shadows she’s poised to delve into.

Six months later, Cole hasn’t given up his search for P.J., and he’s determined to bring her back home where she belongs. Bent on vengeance, P.J. is on a mission that will plunge her into a serpentine game of payback and make her question everything she’s ever believed in. Cole—and the rest of their team—refuse to let her go it alone. Even if it means sacrificing their loyalty to KGI and their very lives…

Buy Links:

Amazon / B&N

Book Review

First off--this book has a rape scene. So if this is not your thing, you may want to skip over that part. It is brutally real and plays a vital role to P.J's characterization, and the story itself. 

Maya Banks has written a compelling and emotional series with her KGI men. I am a huge fan of this series and love the way she has expanded outside of the Kelly men and onto the other Alpha warriors of the different teams. 

P.J and Cole are members of Steele's elite warriors--each with their own specialties and kick-ass attitudes. P.J. and Cole are the sharp shooters, with P.J. being the best, natch. *wink*

Both have been fighting a growing attraction with neither of them aware how the other has been feeling. Acting on such sexual feelings could upset the team dynamics and neither have been willing to risk it.

Until now. 

After an intense mission, P.J. returns to Colorado and holes herself up in a bar for a bit of R&R. While there, an ex shows up and shows his asshat ways. They share a past as co-workers (S.W.A.T.)-- one that P.J.left when she discovered said ex was illegally taking drugs and money from busts. When he refuses to turn himself in, P.J. leaves disillusioned after her other teammates refuse to have her back. 

Cole has been fighting his attraction for P.J. since the beginning and when he shows up at the bar where P.J. is, things change in their relationship. One night of hot, explosive passion is then put on the back burner, however, when both are called to report to Tennessee to go undercover to nab a man responsible for selling children as sex slaves. 

P.J. becomes the "bait"--used to attract the scum bag and get information on where the next deal will be taking place. But things quickly go bad and P.J. is left alone--and the unthinkable happens. She is raped by two men whose perverse tastes leave P.J. helpless and utterly battered. 

The men on her team are left just as helpless as they fight their way to find her--all while listening to the brutal attack via radio communication. 

What I loved so much about this book was P.J. She was a great character to read as she went from being vulnerable to fighting her way back from her despair. She struggles to overcome her rape and her fears. And more importantly, she comes to realize her team has her back, 100%. -- something that she thought she could never count on again. 

Cole was also great as a character--he refuses to give up on P.J. and is determined to show her that he will always be there for her. The climax of the story was a nail-biter, as Cole was tied to a chair and had to watch P.J. fight off the men who had raped her. 

Again, parts of Shades of Gray are difficult to read-the subject matter heavy. But Banks does it brilliantly. 

2013 ROMANTIC SUSPENSE READING CHALLENGE

One of my favorite genres to read is Romantic Suspense. I love to try to figure out who the bad guy/woman is while reading. And I have a few favorite authors in this genre. But I am 3 books shy of the goal to read 13 books...so if anyone has any suggestions, that'd be great! Leave me a comment and let me know what book you think I need to add to my list. 

This reading challenge is also hosted by The Book Vixen ~ so if you want more deets, go to the blog site. And if you want to participate, add your name to the linky! 

Reading Challenge Details:

• Runs January 1, 2013 – December 31, 2013 (books read prior to 1/1/2013 do not count towards the challenge). You can join at anytime. Sign up on The Book Vixen’s blog.
• The goal is to read 13 romantic suspense novels in ‘13.
• Books can be any format (bound, ebook, audio).
• Novellas that are at least 100 pages in length, as well as full-length novels, will count for this reading challenge.
• Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed.
• Grab the reading challenge button and post this reading challenge on your blog to track your progress. Please include a link back to this sign-up post so others can join the reading challenge too. You do not have to be a book blogger to participate; you can track your progress on Goodreads or LibraryThing.

Here is my list of books that I'm going to attempt to read for this challenge:

1. Scorched ~ Laura Griffin

2. The Heart of a Killer ~ Jaci Burton

3. Underground Guardians-Protector ~ Lisa Renee Jones

4. Fatal Destiny ~ Marie Force

5. Heart of Danger ~ Lisa Marie Rice

6. Mr. Real ~ Carolyn Crane

7. Mystery Man ~ Kristen Ashley

8. Because of You ~ Jessica Scott

9. Shades of Gray ~ Maya Banks

10. Crazy Hot ~ Tara Janzen

11. ?

12. ?

13. ?

Who are your favorite authors of Romantic Suspense? I'd love to hear from you.