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Saturday, December 31, 2016

Books Read in 2016

Here is a recap of all of the books that I read in 2016. I discovered a lot of new authors this year and found some new favorites. In 2017, one of my goals is to read more books from my own shelves (this is a goal I have every year). 

And now for the breakdown:

The date listed is when I finished the book.
*Library Book
**Borrowed from a friend
***reread
+ e-book
# Advanced Reader Copy (ARC)


January
4: Hold Me Closer: The Tiny Cooper Story by David Levithan * 
5: Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver (audiobook) */***
12: The Air He Breathes by Brittainy C. Cherry +
14: Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs (audiobook)
20: Nowhere But Here by Katie McGarry
21: Never Never part 3 by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher +

February
2: Clear by Jessica Park (audiobook) ***
2: Kick Push by Jay McLean +
3: Forget February by Holly Schindler (short story) +
10: Chasing Impossible by Katie McGarry +
11: Loud Is How I Love You by Mercy Brown +
15: Cinder by Marissa Meyer (audiobook)
15: If You Ask Me by Betty White
18: Signs of Life by Selene Castrovilla #
20: Best Friends with Benefits by Candy Sloane #
22: You Shook Me All Night Long by Casey Bond +
23: Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover (audiobook)
23: Blurred Lines by Jen McLaughlin 

March
1: No Place to Fall by Jaye Robin Brown
10: The Lifeboat Clique by Kathy Parks #
24: Nuts by Alice Clayton +
30: Walk the Edge by Katie McGarry

April
1: On the Island by Tracey Garvis-Graves ***
5: Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (audiobook) *
5: The V-Word by Amber J. Keyser
7: Will's Story by Jaye Robin Brown +
9: Loud Is How I Love You by Mercy Brown +/***
10: Dirty by Kylie Scott (audiobook)
15: Signs of Life by Selene Castrovilla #/***
17: Pieces of You and Me by Erin Fletcher #
21: Romancing the Nerd by Leah Rae Miller #
23: Complicate Me by M. Robinson +
24: Ask Me How I Got Here by Christine Heppermann
24: First Kiss (Then Tell) ed. by Cylin Busby
25: Ask Me How I Got Here by Christine Heppermann ***
26: Forbid Me by M. Robinson +
27: Undo Me by M. Robinson +

May
3: Summer Skin by Kirsty Eagar **
5: Tapping the Billionaire by Max Monroe +
9: Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover ***
10: Big Girls Do It Running by Jasinda Wilder +
11: Delicate by C. K. Kelly Martin #
12: Crave Me by M. Robinson +
13: Smile by Raina Telgemeier *
15: How I Made It to Eighteen by Tracey White
17: The Lost Marble Notebook by Forgotten Girl and Random Boy by Marie Jaskulka *
20: Maybe Not by Colleen Hoover
22: The Darkest Lie by Pintip Dunn #
23: Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover
24: Beautiful Oblivion by Jamie McGuire
28: Gena/Finn by Hannah Moskowitz and Kat Helgeson
31: Trinkets by Kirsten Smith

June
3: Air by Ryan Gattis
6: Cress by Marissa Meyer
10: Invincible by Amy Reed ***
11: Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park (audiobook) ***
13: Watch Over Me by Tara Sivec (audiobook)
21: Dumplin' by Julie Murphy
22: Stay Until We Break by Mercy Brown +
26: Wrong Bed Reunion by Candy Sloane #
29: Girl Underwater by Claire Kells (audiobook)
30: Gridley Girls by Meredith First

July 
4: A Season for Fireflies by Rebecca Maizel
9: VIP by M. Robinson
16: Never Never, Part 1 by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher + ***
19: Never Never, Part 2 by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher + ***

20: Never Never, Part 3 by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher + ***
29: American Girls by Alison Umminger

August
3: You Before Anyone Else by Julie Cross and Mark Perini #
9: Firsts by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn
21: The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
23: The Bird and the Sword by Amy Harmon
25: Iggie's House by Judy Blume (audiobook) *
26: Blow by Heidi McLaughlin #
28: Tell Me Three Things by Julia Buxbaum
29: El Diablo by M. Robinson

September
1: Just Friends by Monica Murphy #
3: Saving Red by Sonya Sones #
5: The Protector by Jodi Ellen Malpas #
7: Keep Her by Leora Krygier #
10: The Night Sister by Jennifer McMahon
13: Slammed by Colleen Hoover
17: Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover
18: The One by Kiera Cass (audiobook) *
19: How to Hang a Witch by Adriana Mather *
20: My Everything by Heidi McLaughlin ***
22: Saving Sophie by Sam Carrington +
30: Furious Rush by S.C. Stephens #

October
4: The Heir by Kiera Cass
4: The Magic Finger by Roald Dahl
4: In Ruins by Danielle Pearl
7: Kiss of Broken Glass by Madeleine Kuderick
10: Outward Blonde by Trish Cook
18: The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer (audiobook) *
18: Kiss Cam by Kiara London #
20: Girl on the Brink by Christina Hoag
23: Swear on This Life by Renee Carlino
25: Saving Red by Sonya Sones ***
29: It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
31: Lucas by Jay McLean #

November  
8: Blow by Heidi McLaughlin #
13: The Girl in the Picture by Alexandra Monir #
15: More Than Friends by Monica Murphy #
16: One Night by Monica Murphy +
20: The Black Room (novella 1) by Jasinda Wilder +
26: Normal by Danielle Pearl +
27: Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
28: My Friends Are All Strange by M.C. Lesh #

December 
10: Road to Nowhere by M. Robinson +
11: Twelve Days of Dash and Lily by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
19: The Odds of Loving Grover Cleveland by Rebekah Crane
23: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas (audiobook)
26: Talking As Fast As I Can by Lauren Graham (audiobook) *
29: Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai
31: Okay by Danielle Pearl +
31: Love and Music (and Missing Ted Callahan) by Amy Spalding +

Mini-Reviews: Throne of Glass, Love and Music (and Missing Ted Callahan), and Okay

A collection of mini-reviews, quick thoughts, and books worth mentioning. 

Check them out!


THRONE OF GLASS by Sarah J. Mass
Publication Date: August 7, 2012
Pages: 404
Source: Purchased
Rating: 4 of 5
Date Read: 12/23/16





My Thoughts

I read Throne of Glass because so many readers love this book and the series and all things Sarah J. Maas, and I wanted to discover for myself what everyone else is talking about.

And I get it. The mystery, the history, the magic, the intrigue, and one bad-ass assassin. It's thrilling.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator told the story perfectly with the right amount of depth and emotion- this definitely added to my enjoyment of the story.

I'm not in a rush to finish the series, but I would happily pick up the next book in the series some day. 



LOVE AND MUSIC (and Missing Ted Callahan) by Amy Spalding
Publication Date: June 14, 2016
Pages: 52
Source: Purchased
Rating: 4.5 of 5
Date Read: 12/31/16






My Thoughts

I loved getting this small glimpse of Riley's humor as her band prepares to play an out-of-state festival. I wish there was more to the story of Riley and the band, and Ted Callahan, of course. A fun, short read.



OKAY by Danielle Pearl
Publication Date: February 24, 2015
Pages: 322
Source: review copy
Rating: 4 of 5
Date Read: 12/31/16






My Thoughts

Rory and Sam have both been through a lot. So much more than any young couple should ever have to as they find their way to loving each other. After finishing NORMAL, my emotions ran high and I needed some time before starting OKAY and getting more of their story. 

I loved when Sam and Rory found their way to each other after spending too much time separated by efforts to protect the other. There was a lot of angst in OKAY, and I love some good angst! I'm glad to know more of Rory's story and see her growth and the support she received. It's important to her story.

A great read.

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Midwinter's Eve Giveaway Hop: Love Between the Lines by Christina Collie


Thanks for stopping by for the Midwinter's Eve Giveaway Hop hosted by Bookhounds.

THIS is THE GIFT that I'm giving to my book loving friends and I'm giving away a copy to one lucky winner.


An Adult Coloring Book for Book Lovers

Fall in love all over again with this adult coloring book featuring 45 hand-drawn illustrations inspired by romance novels from bestselling writers Colleen Hoover, Anna Todd, S.C. Stephens, Abbi Glines, K. Bromberg, Jodi Ellen Malpas and more. Sit back, grab your pens and markers, and get ready to explore LOVE BETWEEN THE LINES.

In the pages of this book you will find:
· Designs to help you relax and reduce stress
· Hidden images and book quotes
· Each design printed on a separate page
· Elaborate drawings s as well as quickie pages for when you just have a few minutes to color

Illustrations inspired by the works of:
Anna Todd, Jodi Ellen Malpas, Colleen Hoover, S.C. Stephens, Abbi Glines, K. Bromberg, Claire Contreras, Jillian Dodd, Amy Harmon, Tiffany King, R.K. Lilley, Molly McAdams, Tara Sivec, Alessandra Torre, Mia Sheridan, J. Sterling, Katy Evans, Emma Chase, S.L. Jennings, K.A. Linde, Beth Ehemann, Tarryn Fisher, Karina Halle, Helena Hunting, Leisa Rayven, Madeline Sheehan, Harper Sloan, and K. A. Tucker


Giveaway Details
 Prize: 1 copy of Love Between the Lines
US Addresses Only
Must be 18 or older to enter

Enter by Rafflecopter
invalid entries will be disqualified


Friday, December 16, 2016

Holiday Gifts for your Bookish Friends

If you're still looking for some fun holiday gifts for your bookish friends,
here are just a few ideas. 


An Adult Coloring Book for Book Lovers
THIS is the gift to give to my romance loving, adult-coloring friends.





A Coloring and Activity Book for Grown-Ups


A Journal for Self Exploration





A brilliant collection of photographs that brings together two of the world's favorite things: hot men and cute kittens.

 and these fantastic holiday-themed young adult novels

 

by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan


And you can never go wrong with a gift card to a favorite bookstore!

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I'm Looking Forward To For The First Half Of 2017

Image credit: The Broke and the Bookish

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This meme was created because they are particularly fond of lists. I am too so that is why I am participating this week.

Top Ten Books I'm Looking Forward To For The First Half Of 2017


January 24, 2017


January 31, 2017


February 14, 2017


by April 4, 2017



April 25, 2017


April 25, 2017


May 1, 2017


May 30, 2017


June 6, 2017


June 27, 2017

Monday, December 12, 2016

ROAD TO NOWHERE by M. Robinson - Review and Giveaway






ROAD TO NOWHERE
A Good Ol' Boys Spin-off
by M. Robinson
Publication Date: December 6, 2016
Pages: 286
Source: Author | Purchase
Purchase Amazon | B&N | Kobo | i-Books










Synopsis


I once read that every warrior hoped an honorable death would find him. I always went looking for mine, but not even the Reaper wanted me.
I was trained to kill. I was trained to not ask why. To take orders and just march in line. Hooah motherf***er.
Life or death.
Ride or die.
And I’m not only talking about the military. I’m talking about the life that led me on the road to nowhere.
My life.
I fought for my brothers.
I fought for my family.
I fought for my country.
And I fought for her…

Never realizing I might die for them too.

My Thoughts

Sometimes I don't know how my tender-hearted soul can handle reading M. Robinson's books. They are intense and dramatic and I definitely have to take them in doses. I found that out that the hard way while reading the Good Ol' Boys series when I read them one right after the other. And ROAD TO NOWHERE falls in line with what I expect from a book by Robinson. 

I admit, I was worried where the story would go and as I started reading it, I went looking for specific spoilers. I was afraid of what would happen to characters from the Good Ol' Boys series who are embedded in my heart. 

Robinson is never scared to show the rougher sides of life.  -- Thank goodness this is a book and not what I know in real life. 

Creed is rough and tough and definitely that alpha male that I only want to meet in books. His father is reminiscent of Martinez aka El Diablo. Martinez was mean as hell and Creed's father is too. And Creed is on his way to reaching their level until some chance encounters with the precocious Mia. 

I loved reading Mia - her thoughts and her perspective. It brought back that feel of the Good Ol' Boys books that made me fall in love with Robinson's books. This really felt like Creed's book more than Mia's and I would love to have more of her perspective in a future book. 

I couldn't get enough of Mason and Giselle and how their lives combined with Creed's- give us more of them please!!

I did have some questions about the timelines in regards to the other books, and I do wish that there wasn't such a huge age difference between Creed and Mia. The age difference is addressed, briefly, but it did make me uncomfortable. But, again, M. isn't afraid to go there. She shows that Mia is her own person, making her own decisions.

I'm looking forward to reading more of Mia and Creed's story and discovering where M. Robinson will take her readers. It's sure to be a wild ride.



Disclaimer:  I received this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.  I was not compensated in any way other than the e-ARC provided. I have purchased a finished copy for my personal library. Thoughts and opinions are my own.

OTHER BOOKS BY M. ROBINSON

The Good Ol’ Boys are ALL FREE on Kindle Unlimited!
Complicate Me
Forbid Me
Undo Me
Crave Me


EL DIABLO (STANDALONE- GOOD OL’ BOYS SPIN-OFF)

AUTHOR BIO

USA Today Bestselling Author of Road to Nowhere, EL Diablo, The Good Ol' Boys Standalone Series, The VIP Trilogy, Tempting Bad, and Two Sides.

M. Robinson loves to read. She favors anything that has angst, romance, triangles, cheating, love, and of course sex! She has been reading since the Babysitters Club and R.L. Stine. 

She was born in New Jersey but was raised in Tampa Fl. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D in psychology, with two years left. 

She is married to an amazing man who she loves to pieces. They have two German Shepherd mixes and a Tabby cat. 


CONNECT WITH M. ROBINSON

Snapchat: AuthorMRobinson

GIVEAWAY




KINDLE FIRE
SIGNED COPY OF ROAD TO NOWHERE

ENTER HERE:
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