Wake Up Married serial, Episodes 1-3: Wake Up Married, Meet the Family, Do the Holidays by Leta Blake, Alice Griffiths

My Edition: Kindle (Owned)
Pages:324
Series: Wake Up Married
Rating: 4 stars
Synopsis:

Episode One: Will & Patrick Wake Up Married

After a drunken night of hot sex in Vegas, strangers Will Patterson and Dr. Patrick McCloud wake up married. A quickie divorce is the most obvious way out- unless you’re the heir of a staunchly Catholic mafia boss with a draconian position on the sanctity of marriage. Throw their simmering attraction into the mix and all bets are off!

Episode Two: Will & Patrick Meet the Family

Meeting the family is challenging for every new couple. But for Will and Patrick, the awkward family moments only grow more hilarious–and painful–when they must hide the truth of their predicament from the people they care about most. Throw in the sexual tension flaring between them and you’ve got a recipe for madcap laughs and surprisingly heartwarming feels.

Episode Three: Will & Patrick Do the Holidays

A couple’s first holiday season is always a special time. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve are magical when you’re in love. Too bad Will and Patrick’s marriage is a sham and they’re only faking their affection for each other. Or are they? Sparks fly in this episode of the Wake up Married serial. Will the sexual tension between Will and Patrick finally explode in a needy night of passion? Or will they continue to deny their feelings?

Review: I am rating these three all together. I don’t really feel like doing three small reviews in one. Call me lazy but to be honest I’m sick and I just want to get this done with so I can move on to the final three episodes. Let’s meet the cast of characters shall we…

Will- Such a sweetheart. How he can be in love with Ryan, I really don’t know. Will has diabetes and he’s an recovering alcoholic.

Patrick- Egotistical neurosurgeon who doesn’t like the commitment of marriage and wants a quick divorce but stays to help Will out.

Owen- Will’s sponsor and attorney for Good Works.

Jenny- Healing resident who loves Patrick’s directness

Kimberly- Will’s mother. Hypocritical bitch. (I hate her!)

Ryan- Will’s ex and main reason he got drunk in Vegas. Total Asshole.

Hartley- Man who Ryan left Will for. (I actually kind of like him even though I didn’t want to.)

Eleanora/Nonna- Will’s grandmother on his father’s side. (I like her.)

Kevin- Will’s gay uncle who still mourns the lost of his lover. (Don’t know how I feel about him.)

Tony- Will’s mob boss dad.

My overview:

I really love Will and Patrick together. Even though Patrick tries to act like he doesn’t care, he does. He makes sure Will eats and takes his insulin. He also found out that Will has signs when he is either low or high. Will didn’t even know he had these signs. Ryan is a complete and total ass. I am wondering what serious attracted Will to him. Anyone with eyes can see that Ryan is the main reason why Will keeps relapsing. Plus in the first episode you can clearly tell Patrick cares for Will so much more than Ryan ever did in the six years they were together. Also Ryan made it seem as if doing anything was horrible. Seriously he needed a shirt that said SEX IS A SIN! I really did not like Ryan. Actual that is really understated. I loathe Ryan.

Kimberly was another character I didn’t like. The moment she meet Patrick, she talked down to him. She acted as if Ryan was a saint and Patrick was the devil stealing Will’s soul. Plus I don’t know if she noticed but Ryan is very verbal abusive to Will. If any man talked to my son like that I would skin the motherf#cker.

Anydick I will be reading the final three episodes and dammit these two better have a cute and happy ending with Patrick punching Ryan in the face.

 

 

Challenge: Luck of the Irish Scavenger Hunt

I do love Scavenger hunts. I will be listing the rules, points, and then the words.

Rules:

1. Book must be read between March 1st-31st
2. Book must be 100 pages
3. Only five words per book
4. If all words are found list may be started again.

Points:

• One point for every book finished
• One point for every word found
• Five points for every 1000 pages
• Five points for list complete

Words: 

1. Irish
2. Ireland
3. Four-Leaf
4. Clover
5. Seventeen
6. Green
7. Leprechaun Dear Life 41%
8. Celtic
9. Saint
10. Patrick
11. Pot of Gold
12. Rainbow
13. Limerick
14. Celebrate
15. Booze
16. Beer  Dear Life 22%
17. Coins
18. Emerald
19. Luck
20. Magical
21. March
22. Potato
23. Tradition
24. Jig
25. Gold
26. Paddy
27. Parade
28. Music
29. Party Dear Life 22%
30. Stone Dear Life 28%
31. Shamrock
32. Necklace
33. Ring
34. Guinness
35. Snakes
36. Beard
37. Red
38. Dance
39. Cabbage
40. Harp
41. Legend
42. Pinch
43. Fiddle
44. Dublin
45. Bagpipe
46. Fortune
47. Gaelic
48. Mischief
49. Walking Stick
50. Patron

Points:

Book: 1
Word:4
Page:
__________
Total: 5

Pages:

353

 

I sort of lost track with this one. Actually to be truthfully honest I forgot about it.

Challenge: March 2017 Seasons

This is another team challenge that I will be participating in March.

Rules (Both mine and the groups:

• Books must be read and reviewed from March 1-31
• No DNFs
• No rereads
• Must be 100 pages long

Points:

• 1 point for every book read and reviewed
• 1 point for every buddy read
• 2 points for reading and participating in the group book of month- Caraval
• 5 points for every 1000 pages read
• the team earn 3 points for completing a season
• Categories may be repeated.

Seasons:

Winter

• a book with snow on cover
• a book over 500 pages
• a book with red on the cover- 
• a non-fiction book
• a book involving mythology

Spring

• a new release (2017)– Dear Life
• A debut novel (any year)– Dollhouse
• A book with plants on the cover- Dark Secrets
• the first book in a series– Rhaposdic
• a book recommended to you– The Palace Job

Summer:

• A book with sand on the cover- Meant to be
• a book about a journey/trip
• a book with less than 300 pages
• a contemporary novel
• a book with a buddy– Gilded Cage (reading with friends Bookbuyer and Jackie)

Fall

• A book read in school
• A book with orange or brown on the cover-Catcher in the Rye
• the final book in a series
• a horror/scary book-Frankenstein
• a classic novel-Dracula

Pages:

1959

Points:

Book:     6
Season:
Page:      5
Buddy:   1
_____________
Total:    12

 

Final total is in!

Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick

My edition: Hardcover (owned)
Pages: 392
Series: Stand alone
Rating: 4.5 stars
Synopsis:

Britt Pheiffer has trained to backpack the Teton Range, but she isn’t prepared when her ex-boyfriend, who still haunts her every thought, wants to join her. Before Britt can explore her feelings for Calvin, an unexpected blizzard forces her to seek shelter in a remote cabin, accepting the hospitality of its two very handsome occupants- but these men are fugitives, and they take her hostage.

Britt is forced to guide the men off the mountain, and knows she must stay alive long enough for Calvin to find her. The task is made even more complicated when Britt finds chilling evidence of series of murders that have taken place there… and in uncovering this, she may become the killer’s next target.

But nothing is as it seems, and everyone is keeping secrets, including Mason, one of her kidnappers. His kindness is confusing Britt. Is he an enemy? Or an ally?

Review: I have read two of the Hush, Hush books by Fitzpatrick before and loved them. (I have a weakness for angels and demons.) A friend of mine from back home in Colorado recommended this book to me about two years ago. I add this to my list and it stayed there for a while obviously. This Christmas I was assigned a book buddy in one of my groups. My buddy sent me this along with a cute bookmark. I decided since I have this now that I need to get to read it.

On the way to Wichita, KS. I brought this along for the hour drive to get started. At first it started out a little slow for me, but it soon picked up.

Britt wants to prove to her ex boyfriend that she can hike the Teton Range without help. She has been training for the last eight months. On her way up with her friend Korbie to Korbie’s parents mountain home, they get stuck in a freak blizzard. When they can’t drive any further and the storm not letting up, they hike an hour till they find a cabin.

Inside the cabin dwell two men, Mason and Shaun. (I can’t remember how she had it spelled his name.) Mason tries to turn the girls away but Shaun invites them in.

I loved the story. It flowed well. Yes it started out a little slow for me but it soon picked up. This is a little romance but it’s not till after halfway and doesn’t really play a big part. At first I thought I knew who the killer is but then after half way I had to start to rethink about who was the killer. Certain things weren’t adding up and I had to recheck things. I will definitely read another book by Fitzpatrick.

The Wedding Date by Sean Ashcroft

My edition: Kindle Unlimited
Pages:222
Series: Standalone
Rating:4 stars
Synopsis:

What could possibly go wrong with pretending to date your straight best friend?

As if walking in on his boyfriend cheating on him wasn’t bad enough, Caleb finds himself facing the prospect of attending his sister’s Hawaiian destination wedding alone– unless he accepts Ethan’s offer to go with him and pretend to be the boyfriend he deserves.

Ethan might be straight, but he’s charming, sensible, and looks good in a suit. Caleb knows that it’s the kind of plan that’s likely to come back and bite him, but it’s better than having to admit to his family that his love life is a disaster.

Besides, he can keep his secret crush on Ethan just as secret while they’re on vacation. Can’t he?

Things get complicated when Ethan realises he might not be as straight as he thought he was, and takes the opportunity to experiment with Caleb while they’re away– after all, they’re pretending to be dating anyway. Adding a few kisses and a little more affection into the mix can’t hurt.

It soon becomes obvious to both men that they want more from each other than they first thought– but actually admitting that and risking their friendship over it seems impossible.

Between the cold feet, wedding drama, fistfights, fear, and confusion, can Ethan and Caleb find a way to tell each other how they feel? Or will it really be over once they get home?

Review: This is my first book by Ashcroft. I loved it.

Ethan’s best friend is Caleb who he met at work. They hang out all the time even when Caleb has boyfriends. When hanging out one night Ethan notices that Caleb seems a little down. Caleb then tells him that he caught his boyfriend of several months cheating on him. Caleb is sadden not only with the cheating but now he has to go his little sister’s wedding alone. He doesn’t want to face his family with another yet failed relationship. Ethan comes up with an idea. Why doesn’t he go with Caleb and pretend to be the doting boyfriend?

While in Hawaii Ethan is noticing he is attracted to Caleb. So he thinks why not try and see if there is anything there or if it’s just a fluke.

These two are so adorable together. I think Ashcroft made the two most perfect men for each other. There was just natural chemistry. Nothing seemed as if it was forced. Totally sweet and adorable. I will be reading more of Ashcroft in the near future.

Fateful by Cheri Schmidt

My edition: Kindle (owned)
Pages: 307
Series: Fateful #1
Rating: 3 stars
Synopsis:

For Danielle Darcey when the sun sets in London the magic begins, but just as that magic begins her fairy tale romance ends…

A huge fan of Jane Austen, Danielle hopes to find her own Mr. Darcy when she leaves Colorado to attend art school in London. Of course she knows it’s silly to wish for that, naive even. But she’s met enough males who lacked respect for women, a growing trend it seemed. And at nineteen…well… However, on only her second night there she gets lost and is threatened by a stalker who proves to be immune to her martial arts training. Before she is completely overpowered, she is then saved by Ethan Deveroux.

While Danielle does find the romance she seeks in Ethan, he’s no Mr. Darcy. Her hero is held by a spell which fractures their chance at a happy ending. During the day Ethan is closer to mortal than immortal and can date her like any other man. Yet, as the sun sets, the powerful magic of an ancient curse returns and the evil of that spell is revealed. When that magic begins, Danielle’s fairytale romance ends because Ethan Deveroux is a vampire.

Fateful is a clean, coming of age vampire romance that blends fantasy and paranormal with a healthy dose of romance and a dash of humor.

Review: Well, this had a different tale to vampirism. While they are immortal, they can walk around during the day. A vampire is just weaker and they lose their power in the day while at night they are what we know vampires to be like.

Written for third person we follow Danielle who is attending an art college in London. She is living with her Uncle Nick, Aunt Charlotte and cousin Brianna. On the second night in the city Danielle comes out of the library seeing a guy leaning up against a car. He looked like a fallen angel. (Or so described by Danielle.) Though she tries to get away from him, he catches up with her. As soon as she is about to start running away, she collides into someone. (Again described as an angel) This is how she meets Lucas and Ethan.

Even though this feels like insta love, the characters don’t really say it. I also liked that Danielle likes the Mr. Darcy type of guy, old fashion and has manners. Ethan, well, Ethan is old fashion. Their first kiss isn’t until around 30% and even then they don’t use tongue. Like I said old fashion. It’s actually kind of cute. They actually only kiss and don’t go any further.

There is some kind of connection between Ethan and Danielle. They don’t know why but they seem familiar with each other even though they have never met.

Now while I’ve seen a lot of one or two star reviews I have to say I kind of liked this. It was sort of cute. A new twist to a subject that is written about a lot. The writing could have been a little bit better in some parts but I’m not too picky. I did like how the author kept true to the British language. I don’t understand much of British slang but luckily the MC is an American girl in London so some of the slang is explained.

One thing I didn’t like was how upset Danielle would get at small things. But then I have to remember she’s nineteen. I remember being nineteen and I can’t say much because I do have anger problems. Another was that there wasn’t much with Lucas. I was hoping for a little more with him.

By the way, that ending. Kind of disappointing. I was kind of hoping for a twist at the end. Don’t get me wrong it’s cute but lack luster.

I don’t know when I will start the second book. I’m just not having a sudden urge to read it even if the blurb says a civil war amongst vampires.

 

Preparing for March

Sorry I haven’t been all that active this month. I haven’t been fully motivated. I normally don’t like the month of February. I tend to get kind of cranky through out the month. But it is starting to look better for me.

I normally read New Adult (NA) and erotica. Lately I’ve been burning out on both genres, so I made the desicion to switch it up. I have been in a huge mood to read Young Adult (YA). Mostly fantasy but YA either way. I picked up an author I have read before and an author I have had on my TBR list for a while. It worked. I have been eating through the books like no other.

Since I got my grove back, I am planning challenges for March for myself to do. I do have a team challenge that I will be doing. I will have these challenges up probably on the 28th.

Other than the challenges I plan on reading 10 books in the month of March. It depends on how busy I get.

Have a wonderful rest of February.

Untouchable by Lindsay Delgair

My edition: Kindle Unlimited
Pages:308
Series: Untouchable #1
Rating: No rating DNF page 177
Synopsis:

Picking a boyfriend can be murder, but for Annalisa Winslett, it might end up being the literal death of her.

No one at Pensacola High School suspects the girl they know as Annalisa McKinnis to be a wealthy heiress in hiding, but things begin to unravel when two new guys enroll. Both guys are gorgeous, and both are trying to win her over. The only problem is that one of them has a million dollar contract to put a bullet in her.

When her pure and innocent heart is offered to him, will this cold and empty hitman fall, or will he remain untouchable?

Review: I normally don’t do love triangles but when one really isn’t after love but is after his million dollars and will most likely put a bullet in head, I wanted to know further.

This turned out way different than what I had expected to happen. This book had potential but it ended up lacking in places. I have a few problems with this book.

1. Annalisa was the perfect goody two shoes. She was good at everything. Especially driving. For a girl who has $100,000.00 credit card having to be taken away from her lavish lifestyle and put in to a world where she can’t drive her Porsche 911 and wear Wal-Mart brand clothes, she seemed way to okay with it. Just a shrug “my mom is kind of nuts and I can’t say who I really am but oh well. Life goes on.” It seemed a little too unreal for me. A little to “There could be a killer on the loose or my mom needs therapy but I’m okay with it.”

2. Insta love between her and Evan. Well her definitely had an insta love for Evan. Evan was just a weird character. He seemed to have more mood swings than a teenage girl PMSing for the first time. Annalisa was trying to change Evan into a good guy way to early in the book for me. She tried to make him see he does have a heart and that he’ll try to save her.

3. Ryan, enough said.

4. Annalisa figuring out everything way to early.

5. It wasn’t really a problem for me in a big way, but this should be tagged as a religious romance. Annalisa was kind of forceful with Evan to make him turn into a good guy.

6. Evan did not come across as a hitman. Actually a lot of stuff didn’t come across as it should have seemed.

This had an enormous amount of potential. I have never heard of something like this before and it would have been a good story if it was executed a little bit better. I just couldn’t take Annalisa anymore.

I was trying not to DNF but I wasn’t staying focused on the story. There were to many problems for me to deal with. This just wasn’t for me. Very sadly too. I was so looking forward to this book.

Reign by Roxie Noir

My edition: Kindle Unlimited
Pages:326
Series: Standalone
Rating: 2 stars
Synopsis:

Some fairy tales start after midnight.

The crown prince and I have nothing in common.

He’s a rugged, battle-hardened soldier who spent four years in the Royal Guard, an elite military unit. I met the King and Queen for the first time wearing leggings and a sweatshirt.

He’s the serious, quiet, straight-laced heir to the throne, and I accidentally got drunk at a formal dinner.

But there’s the way he looks at me, eyes blazing with hunger. Like he knows every dirty thought I’ve had about him- and he likes them. There’s the way my pulse skyrockets every time his hand brushes mine.

I’m the ambassador’s daughter. I know better than to mess around with a foreign head of state.

But I don’t know how long I can resist.

Not all princes are charming.

I spent years in the Royal Guard, our most elite military unit, fighting like hell so I could rule one day- not so I could give my father an heir with some well-bred rich girl.

I have a f*cking country to run. My love life can take a back seat.It’s not like I’ve ever met a girl I had to have.

Until her. The ambassador’s daughter. She’s so… American. Lowborn, brash, wildly unsuitable.. and gorgeous.

I’m disciplined, tough as hell, and I don’t f*ck around. But I can’t stop thinking about the way she laughs, about how she might taste. My father’s threatening to strip me of my title if I touch her, but she makes me want to break every one of my own rules.

F*ck titles. F*ck rules. F*ck my father’s threats. I want her. I need her.

She’s mine.

Review: I don’t know if it has to do with me not being in the mood for this book, or the fact I wasn’t really captivated. I was pretty much on auto pilot when reading. I didn’t have feels for either Kostya or Hazel. I was bored with the story. The only reason I even finished this was because I wanted to know how it ended. Well I also DNFed three books already and don’t want to add another. I’m trying not to DNF an abundance amount of books this year like I did last year.

Another thing I didn’t like was the thoughts of the American girl. We aren’t all that bad. I think. All I could think was sorry we don’t have a stick up our ass your royal bitchness. But then I think that really isn’t fair to say. Customs and cultures are very different. My ignorance showed a little. But hey can’t help it. I’m proud to be an American. (Damn now that song is stuck in my head.)

Anydick got off subject…

There were funny moments but I didn’t see much humor in this that I have read in other reviews. Maybe I am just spoiled by the teasings of Mariana Zapata’s characters. The teasing between the two MCs was cute but like standing at a perspective of a mom looking in on kids in junior high cute.

Again maybe I’m just spoiled. I couldn’t get into this at all. Not saying this is a horrible book or that there was not point in reading it, just saying it wasn’t for me. Maybe I just need a change in genre for a bit to get me out of this romance slump.

Crave Me by M. Robinson

My edition: Kindle Unlimited
Pages:325
Series: The Good Ol’ Boys #4
Rating: No rating DNF @ page 134
Synopsis:

They say in order to find yourself you have to go home.
What if home was what you’re running from?
Where did that leave you?

Always on the other side of the fence.
Always looking in.
Always wishing you were someone you couldn’t be.

Until one day you meet her.
The one.
She was my high, but she was also…
My demise.

Review: I just couldn’t get into this at all. I couldn’t care enough about Austin or Briggs. It really sucks because I was liking the series. This started out good and just went downhill for me. I might pick it up again later on but just can’t do it right now.