Review: True Love

True Love by Jude Deveraux

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I needed to read a Jude Deveraux book for a Goodreads challenge. The paranormal aspects of the book were a bit strange and maybe a bit contrived. Although, Caleb was one of my favorite characters. This is one of those books where you read (and read and read...it is 466 pages) and as you are doing it you are wondering when it is going to end. But once you are at the end...you wonder what is next for the characters.

Favorite line in the book: "I encourage you to expand your horizons. That doesn’t count as bossing." Wonder if the kids would accept that argument.




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Review: True Love

True Love by Jude Deveraux

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I needed to read a Jude Deveraux book for a Goodreads challenge. The paranormal aspects of the book were a bit strange and maybe a bit contrived. Although, Jared was one of my favorite characters. This is one of those books where you read (and read and read...it is 466 pages) and as you are doing it you are wondering when it is going to end. But once you are at the end...you wonder what is next for the characters.

Favorite line in the book: "I encourage you to expand your horizons. That doesn’t count as bossing." Wonder if the kids would accept that argument.




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Review: Time For Love

Time For Love by Marie Force

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I can't say enough positive things about Force's Gansett Island and the characters who live there. While personally I can't imagine living on a small island where everyone knows your business, I love this series.

Time For Love pulls from many of the previous stories. I suggest reading the earlier books in the series before reading this one.



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Review: Singed

Singed by Kaylea Cross

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I somehow missed the first book in Cross's Titanium Security romantic suspense series. Just like in the Bagram Special Ops series, the characters are entertaining and real; the story is multidimensional and engaging; and there is plenty of action.




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Review: Informed Risk & A Hero for Sophie Jones

Informed Risk & A Hero for Sophie Jones by Robyn Carr

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Informed Risk by Robyn Carr
I always enjoy Carr's books. Embedded in this story is a glimpse of how close any of us are to being homeless. "The press indicated the homeless situation was getting worse every year. The reported living conditions were terrifying. Hopeless and vile. The one common link among these people seemed to be aloneness, lack of family." And I think it is easy to see how giving a little can make differences for others.

I'm not sure this is an "easy" read but it is definitely worth it.

A Hero for Sophie Jones by Christine Rimmer
I haven't read any Rimmer's Jones books and Sophie's story didn't have me rushing out to read them. Oggie was my favorite character in the book which probably explains it. I just couldn't find myself caring all that much about Sophie or Sinclair. And "Sin" just seems like a ridicules name.




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Review: Lasting Pride

Lasting Pride by Jill Sanders

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Although I was looking forward to Ric's story, this was my least favorite of the series. I think it was because I had different expectations for the book. This book appears to be trying to bridge between the characters in the first three books and the new Secret series which I assume will continue the story of the Derby family. Characters are important to me and are largely a factor in how well I enjoy a book. I'm looking forward to seeing where the Secret series goes.



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2013 Noumena12 Mid-Year Update

The good news is that I’ve finally found a way to write book reviews. Thanks to highlighting and notes on my Kindle, I’m writing a lot more reviews now. (Yes, I know…those features have been there for a long time…I’m just now taking true advantage of them.)

2013 Reading Challenge Books Read
184 of 365 (50%)
I am 7 books (2%) behind.

2013 Books I Read For A Challenge CHALLENGE: 102 of 200
These are books that I’ve read that satisfy the requirements of one or more challenges I am participating in.

2013 Goodreads Monthly Reading Challenge

	Books Read	Book Goal	% Completed
January	10	10	100%
February	10	10	100%
March	10	10	100%
April	10	10	100%
May	8	10	80%
June	10	10	100%

2013 Goodreads Featured Author Challenge
I’m afraid I dropped out of this challenge. I just couldn’t get into the authors that were being selected. Most were paranormal/urban fantasy/sci fi authors which is just not my thing.

2013 WorkadayReads Self-Publshed Reading Challenge
I read and written reviews for 9 Indie books. That makes me 1 book short of Level 2 – Paragraph. On toward Level 3 – Page at 25 books.

2013 RT Booklovers Convention Challenge
This is one of the more complicated challenges that I have done. I’ve completed Levels 1 and 2. I’ve read 4 of the 21 Pioneer Authors (Level 3).

2013 Climb the Stair Challenge
I just added this one that runs from July 15 to December 15. Each level coincides with the number of books that must be read to complete the level. Each participant gets to assign the category they will use to complete the level. 

Level 1 (1 book): Chunky Book (More than 400pages)
Level 2 (2 books): Different Genres
Level 3 (3 books): Favorite Author
Level 4 (4 books): Novella (Less than 250pages)
Level 5 (5 books): Different Authors (or new to you authors)
Level 6 (6 books): Favorite Genre (or favorite sub-genre of romance)
Level 7 (7 books): New 2013 release

Review: Heavy Issues

Heavy Issues by Elle Aycart

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I love the Bowen Brothers and their friends. Definitely recommend reading the series in order. Great character depth in Aycart, Elle's very steamy stories.

Favorite Line: "I want them housebroken; absolutely no beginners. Either they know what they’re doing, and I mean really know, or they can hit the door."



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Review: The Bowen brothers and Valentine's Day

The Bowen brothers and Valentine's Day by Elle Aycart

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Cute very short story...but left me wanting so much more!!!



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Review: Epilogue Inked Ever After

Epilogue Inked Ever After by Elle Aycart

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Great follow-up to Tate and James story from More than Meets the Ink(Bowen, #1). I would also suggest reading Cole's story Heavy Issues (Bowen, #2) before this. I am looking forward to reading Elle's and Max's stories as well.

Aycart, Elle writes steamy romances with intriguing characters and storylines.

Favorite quote: "she only regretted the time wasted, what was left unsaid. Undone. That if she’d learned something from what had happened, it was that you needed to live life to the fullest. Every day. Balls to the wall. Afraid of nothing. Much less of possible pain to come. Giving yourself unconditionally."



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Review: The Sassy Belles

The Sassy Belles by Beth Albright

My rating: 1 of 5 stars



I tried reading this book but just couldn't get past the sample. The characters just seemed so inane.



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Review: Sexy Berkeley

Sexy Berkeley by Dani Lovell

My rating: 1 of 5 stars



Not everything that is free is worth the time. I found the dialogue in this book to be so annoying that it overshadowed what I thought could be an interesting story. Bea is so negative about everything and Daniel needed to learn her name and stop calling her "baby."

Oddly enough, I want to read Tilly and Luke's story in Sexy Summers. I'm just afraid it will be more of the same dialogue.



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Review: From This Moment On

From This Moment On by Addison Fox

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Glad to be back in Alaska. Fox has created fun characters in this series. This novella was a fun glimpse into Kate's life in the Big Apple.



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Review: Hot Summer Nights

Hot Summer Nights by Jaci Burton

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



A great beach or lazy summer day read. Includes the stories HOPE SMOLDERS by JACI BURTON; PERFECT STRANGER A Serendipity Novella by CARLY PHLLIPS; THE LEGEND OF JANE by JESSICA CLARE; and ICE PRINCESS by ERIN McCARTHY.

I always enjoy a Serendipity story so I was thrilled to find a Carly Phillip's story in this anthology. Having learned to ski as an adult, I found ICE PRINCESS hysterical. It also contained by favorite line of the book: "wondered, not for the first time, how exactly Snow White had managed to live with seven men without murdering at least one of them." I also enjoyed HOPE SMOLDERS and the quirkiness of THE LEGEND OF JANE.



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Review: SEAL of Honor

SEAL of Honor by Tonya Burrows

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Picked this up because I saw TheBookVixen was reading it and it looked interesting. I wasn't disappointed. This is a ragtag group of characters that I am looking forward to seeing development. Can't wait for the next book in the series.



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Review: Dire Distraction

Dire Distraction by Dee Davis

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



So excited we finally got to Avery's story. but does this mean the end of the Consortium and the series? Yikes! I'm not sure I'm ready for it to end.

Favorite Line: He’d arrived in the Golden Triangle looking for one woman, and in the process, fallen in love with another.



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Review: More than Meets the Ink

More than Meets the Ink by Elle Aycart

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



This book showed up on my recommendations and I thought I'd give it a shot. Aycart has created an interesting set of characters that leave me wanting to come back for more.

Favorite Line: I haven’t had any action since the late seventies, so don’t make me jealous. I don’t think my heart can handle an erection.



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Review: One Night Standoff

One Night Standoff by Delores Fossen

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Definitely want to read The Marshal's of Maverick County in order. This story was interesting enough to keep me coming back again.



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Review: Outlaw Lawman

Outlaw Lawman by Delores Fossen

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



This was probably my least favorite of the The Marshals of Maverick County series. I keep reading because I really want to find out what happened. But this one left me we a hanging question that left a gap in the story that is annoying. Like anyone reading the book would think any of the Marshals would forget about someone.



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Review: He's the One

He's the One by Linda Lael Miller

My rating: 0 of 5 stars



I hate when books are released under a different name. Turns out this anthology is a mix from other anthologies ([b:Beach Blanket Bad Boys|39913|Beach Blanket Bad Boys|Linda Lael Miller|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347447727s/39913.jpg|39615])....which I had already read.



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Review: Defy the World Tomatoes

Defy the World Tomatoes by Phoebe Conn

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



I picked this book to read because of a Goodreads challenge. I had a hard time getting into this book. I found both Darcy and Griffin to be passive-aggressive. The whole story seemed a little ridicules...James Bond-esque set in a nursery that depends on tourist traffic. Most nurseries I know depend on locals to purchase plants for their yards and gardens...I've never purchased something at a nursery while on vacation. I don't even think I've visited one on vacation. Darcy and Griffin go from not really communicating at all to everything being neatly resolved. The story has some gaps that just don't fit.



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Review: The Way You Look Tonight

The Way You Look Tonight by Bella Andre

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This book branches away from the original Sullivan clan to the cousins. We all made stupid mistakes as teenagers and Andre kept me waiting a long time to find out what Brooke's "stupid mistake" was. Fortunately, my guesses were all wrong. Looking forward to reading more about the Sullivan cousins.



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Review: Always on My Mind

Always on My Mind by Bella Andre

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I love all of the Sullivans! In Lori's case, I love the depth of character that she has. Willing t do what it takes to put her life back together including working as a farm hand. And what a farmer she finds. And she helps Grayson put his life back together as well.

While the series doesn't need to be read it order, I think that it helps see the character development that Andre uses throughout the series.

Favorite Quote: "His heart broke as he finally lost the furry friend who had been with him every step of the way" - my heart breaks every time I lose a furry friend.



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Review: A Change of Fortune

A Change of Fortune by Crystal Green

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



The Fortune invasion of Red Rock continues. Nothing earth shattering but still an entertaining series made even more entertaining by the characters and the underlying story of the Fortunes.



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Review: Two of a Kind

Two of a Kind by Susan Mallery

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I love Fool's Gold and Susan Mallery's writing. I always find myself highlighting passages from her books that convey lessons we should all learn. I'm so glad that we finally got to Gideon's story.
Favorite Passage: "You need to learn to accept your flaws and forgive yourself."



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Review: The Newcomer

The Newcomer by Robyn Carr

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This is the second book in Carr's Thunder Point series and it isn't your standard series. The lives of the people mix and carry over throughout the series making it one that definitely needs to be read in order. Once you start, you will be caught up in the lives of the Thunder Point community and will keep coming back for more.



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Review: Married by Monday

Married by Monday by Catherine Bybee

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I stumbled on this author and series thanks to a Goodreads challenge. I enjoy Bybee's characters and storyline. This is a series that I would recommend reading in order.



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Review: All Out of Love

All Out of Love by Lori Wilde

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



The local geeky girl who was humiliated in high school returns home to do good and gets her high school crush. I'm not in love with this series but I do keep coming back for more. While I love the main characters in the story, I'm not that enthralled with the supporting characters.



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Review: Forged in Steele

Forged in Steele by Maya Banks

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I am a big fan of Banks KGI series. I struggled getting into this Forged in Steele and I'm not sure why. I think it was the gushy language that distracted me from entertaining characters and storyline. Maybe Banks intended that to highlight the changes in Steele but it missed the mark for me. Still, I am looking forward to the next installment and hope that there will soon be a story about Hancock.



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Review: Wild at Heart

Wild at Heart by Vicki Lewis Thompson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



The Last Chance Ranch is definitely a place that changes lives for the better. Set outside Jackson Hole Wyoming, Thompson delivers entertaining characters in a beautiful setting. No need to read the series in order, but anticipate going back to read the earlier stories. And you will be looking forward to the next installment at Last Chance Ranch just like me.



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