Trust No One by Jayne Ann Krentz

                                                                     Trust No One by Jayne Ann Krentz

It's no coincidence when Grace Elland finds a vodka bottle next to the lifeless body of her boss, motivational speaker Sprague Witherspoon.  The bottle is a terrifying--and deliberate--reminder of the horrors of her past.  Grace retreats to her hometown to regroup and tries to put everything she's learned about positive thinking into practice--a process seriously challenged by the world's worst blind date.  Awkward doesn't begin to describe her evening with venture capitalist Julius Arkwright.

She has nothing in common with a man who lives to make money, but the intense ex-marine does have some skills that Grace can use--and he's the perfect man to help her when it becomes clear she is being stalked.

As Witherspoon's financial empire continues to crumble around them, taking a deadly toll, Julius will help Grace step into her past to uncover a devious plan to destroy not only Grace, but everyone around her...

Petite, brunette heroine with amber colored eyes? Check.
Wealthy, mysterious hero with dark hair and a black vehicle? Check.
Afraid of the dark?  Venture capitalist?  Older secondary characters who are mentors to the younger set?  Check, check and check.  It must be a JAK novel!! CHECK!!  

While there were many of Jayne Ann Krentz's classic touches (peanut butter on toast!) this was an altogether enjoyable edition to her extensive backlist.  However, while the title tells you clearly to trust no one, if you have read JAK before, it is pretty easy to see who is actually exempt from that title's direction and who to take it to heart with.  While I didn't figure everything out by the end, I unraveled more than was left to be unveiled by the author.  Since this is a romantic suspense, I want to be spoiler free so I will leave it there.  It was not my favorite JAK, but it was a solid, comfortable read, and that is enough for me.

Reading Challenges
I Love Library Books

I borrowed this book from my local public library.

Bite Me by Shelly Laurenston

Bite Me by Shelly Laurenston

Livy Kowalski has no time for idiots.  When you shapeshift into a honey badger, getting through life's irritants is a finely honed skill.  Until she gets stuck housing her nutso cousin an dealing with her Dad's untimely and unexpected demise.

That's where Vic Barinov comes in--or his house does.  Vic can't step outside without coming back to find Livy devouring his honey stash and getting the TV remote sticky.  It gets his animal instincts all riled up.  But he'll have to woo her at high speed: all hell is breaking loose, and Livy is leading the charge...

I have to admit, the beginning of this book led me to believe that I might not like this entry in the Pride series, but after giving it a bit, it became one of my favorites in the series to date.  Livy's dad has died, she has lost her artistic muse and is only using her camera to take pictures of the shifter sports teams, and her apartment has been taken over by her sociopathic cousin Melly.  

Vic made this book for me.  He is completely wonderful.  I loved his reactions to finding Livy curled up naked in his kitchen cabinets eating his honey.  I loved his relationship with his partner (or non-partner) Shen, with his sister, with his parents.  At one point, Vic takes Livy out to relax and they end up at a bear-run town holding a festival during which Livy jousts.  She beats all the felines (much to the bears' delight) but loses to the first bear she goes up against.  Good thing honey badgers are REALLY tough to kill.  How can you not love that?  Plus, he has a prehensile tail...which has a mind of its own.  So much fun.  

Unfortunately, Livy has a lot of trouble coming her way with Russian shifter mobsters, a really bad guy who catches shifters and then lets humans hunt them for fun, and her mother's impending visit.  There is a LOT going on in this book and if you haven't read the previous books in the series, there will be a lot that could be confusing.  However, if you have read the previous entries, this book is so worth reading!!  Livy is great but Vic is hands-down amazing, although after meeting Vic's father, it is very easy to see why Vic is as wonderful as he is.    

Lots of previous characters make appearances in this one and it is like one big happy family reunion.  I very much enjoy how the characters stay true to themselves while still growing throughout each book and the series overall.  I can't wait to see glimpses of Livy and Vic in future installments of the Pride series.

Reading Challenges
Literary Pickers
I Love Library Books
What An Animal
Prequels and Sequels

I borrowed this book from my local public library.

The Beast in Him by Shelly Laurenston (Re-read #15)

                                                         The Beast In Him by Shelly Laurenston

Some things are so worth waiting for.  Like the moment when Jessica Ward "accidentally" bumps into Bobby Ray Smith and shows him just how far she's come since high school.  Back then, Jess's gangly limbs and bruised heart turned to jelly any time Smitty's "all the better to ravish you with" body came near her.  So, some things haven't changed.  Except now Jess is a success on her own terms.  And she can enjoy a romp--or twenty--with a big, bad wolf and walk away.  Easy.

The sexy, polished CEO who hires Smitty's security firm might be a million miles from the lovable geek he knew, but her kiss, her touch, is every bit as hot as he imagined.  Jess was never the kind to ask for help, and she doesn't want it now, not even with someone targeting her Pack.  But Smitty's not going to turn tail and run.  Not before proving that their sheet-scorching animal lust is only the start of something even wilder...

Jess was the target of some pretty brutal bullying throughout high school and while she got good at hiding under bleachers, climbing trees, and occasionally getting revenge on the bullies, more often than not she wasn't in a good place when Smitty would come across her.  He saved her multiple times and Jess wished that he didn't always see her as weak and in need of rescue.  Before she can figure out how to make that happen, Smitty is off to the Army and she is left behind in Tennessee.

Smitty is happy owing a security firm with his best friend, Mace.  He knows he needs to keep his clients happy and one with a lot of money requires his personal efforts.  Even though the geeky tech event isn't his cup of tea, he is thrilled, and floored, to see Jessica Ward, the CEO of the company throwing the event.  How did his little, bruised Jessie Ann become this polished, strong woman wearing fuck-me heels?  Smitty is determined to find the answer to that question.

Jessica and Smitty embark on a fairly hilarious relationship in which Jessica enjoys finally having the control and boy does she make Smitty work to get to her!  Smitty is not without his resources and the back-and-forth was a very enjoyable part of this book.  Jessica is determined to get Smitty to realize she is no longer a victim, no longer in need of his coddling, while Smitty is determined that this time he will get it right and save Jessica from any hardships she might encounter.  With these two at crossroads, watching them try to get it figured out was a hoot as Shelly Laurenston is a master of comedic writing and often does the unexpected breaking molds with everything she writes.

There are a ton of secondary characters in this book but the vast majority of them are fledged out and three dimensional.  Jess's wolf-dog pack is wonderful and Smitty's family is delightfully intrusive and generally unhelpful while his interactions with his best friend Mace and his wife Dez were always entertaining.  I enjoyed this book just as much as I did the first time I read it. 

Reading Challenges
Hard Core Rereading
Literary Pickers
I Love Library Books

I borrowed this book from my local public library.

What I Read, Week of February 5-11

What I Read, Week of February 5-11

1. Go Fetch by Shelly Laurenston
2. Embrace the Darkness by Alexandra Ivy
3. All Kinds of Tied Down by Mary Calmes
4. No Ifs, Ands or Bears About It by Celia Kyle
5. Sheltered by Charlotte Stein
6. Primal Law by J D Tyler
7. Ensnare: The Librarian's Lover by Mac Flynn
8. The Billionaires' Executive Sweet by Alexis Adaire
9. Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn
10. Strange Addiction by Sandrine Gasq Dion
11. The Earl Who Loved Me by Bethany Sefchick
12. For Him by Chad Lane
13. Maverick's Mate by Lynn Hagen
14. Hawk's Pretty Baby by Lynn Hagen
15. Sunshine's Savior by Lynn Hagen
16. Remi's Pup by Lynn Hagen
17. Stormy Eyes by Lynn Hagen
18. Oliver's Heart by Lynn Hagen
19. Keata's Promise by Lynn Hagen
20. George's Turn by Lynn Hagen
21. Loco's Love by Lynn Hagen
22. Lewis's Dream by Lynn Hagen
23. Mark's Not Gay by Lynn Hagen
24. Nutter Nero by Lynn Hagen
25. Heaven's Hell by Lynn Hagen
26. Nicholas's Wolf by Lynn Hagen

TBR Reduction Extreme: January Update

TBR Reduction Extreme: January Update

I challenged myself to reduce my overall TBR piles by 2 books per month.  Knowing my book-buying habits (I don't like to wait when my fave authors put out new books--I need them NOW) coupled with my love for free Kindle downloads and I knew that 2 books would be a challenge.


Let's see how I did: 

January 1
Total Kindle Items: 2013
Samples: 95
Collections: 51
Library e-books: 7
Items Not Counted: 2 (both dictionaries)
What's Left: 1858 
Already Read: 598 (not 100% accurate but close enough)
TBR: 1260

Physical Books: 401

January 31
Total Kindle Items: 2162
Samples: 143
Collections: 57
Library e-books: 4
Items Not Counted: 2
What's Left: 1956
Already Read: 627
TBR: 1329

Physical Books: 381 

So, I increased by a lot on my Kindle (almost all free downloads although about 5 books I paid for) and decreased by physical books by more than expected.  Of the physical books, I completed 8 and DNF'd 12.  

All in all, I failed to decrease my overall books by two...

2015 New Release Challenge

(un)Conventional Bookviews and Books! Movies! Reviews! Oh My! are hosting the 2015 New Release Challenge in which you read and review books released in 2015.  I like that this challenge is not limited to debuts but is open to any books released this year.  I am going to begin at the lowest level, New Release Newbie 1-15 books and work my way up if/when applicable.  

2015 Audiobook Challenge

The Book Nympho and Hot Listens are hosting the 2015 Audiobooks Challenge.  I often listen to audiobooks on my daily commute so I thought this would be a fun challenge to join.  I have found that if I don't enjoy a book the first time I try it, that oftentimes, getting the audiobook and listening gets me to enjoy it.  This happens a lot with middle grade books that I want to read for my job but for whatever reason the print version just doesn't do it for me.  Listening to someone else's voice often allows me to get past whatever hang ups I had.  Not always, but often enough to give it a chance.  I also enjoy "rereading" favorite adult books with audiobooks as well.  There is something so comforting about enjoying a book I have already read, but with the added "newness" that the narrator provides with their take on how the story should sound.  I will start with the lowest level, Newbie 1-5 and work my way up from there.

All Kinds of Tied Down by Mary Calmes

                                                          All Kinds of Tied Down by Mary Calmes

Deputy US Marshal Miro Jones has a reputation for being calm and collected under fire. These traits serve him well with his hotshot partner, Ian Doyle, the kind of guy who can start a fight in an empty room.  In the past three years of their life-and-death job, they've gone from strangers to professional coworkers to devoted teammates and best friends.  Miro's cultivated blind faith in the man who has his back...faith and something more.

As a marshal and a soldier, Ian's expected to lead.  But the power and control that brings Ian success and fulfillment in the field isn't working anywhere else.  Ian's always resisted all kinds of tied down, but having no home--and no one to come home to--is slowly eating him up inside.  Over time, Ian has grudgingly accepted that going anywhere without his partner simply doesn't work.  Now Miro has to convince him that getting tangled up in heartstrings isn't being tied down at all.

Miro has been Ian's partner for three years and gets asked regularly if he would like a different one.  After all, Ian is the go-get-em type who always seems to be dragging Miro into scrapes in order to bag the bad guys.  Ian doesn't want a new partner, though.  He is happy to have Ian (even if he insists on driving and then proceeds to only go at one speed: bat-out-of-hell) as his partner, although if he is honest with himself, and Miro always is, he wants far more than to just be Ian's partner.  Fear of rocking the boat and losing his best friend has kept Miro's mouth shut and his behavior circumspect around Ian.

We don't get as much info from Ian as this book is from Miro's POV, but Ian's actions say a lot.  He gets all kinds of upset when Miro ends up in a dangerous situation, gives him a hard time for wearing his nice clothes to work when Miro knows they will get scuffed up while chasing (and wrestling with) the bad guys, and often crashes at Miro's place as it feels more like home for him than any place ever has.  

The first half of this book features Miro and Ian together both on and off the job and I truly loved their interactions with each other.  They truly love each other, even if they aren't in-love with each other at this point.  The next fourth has them separated as Ian is a Green Beret in the reserves and he gets called up to do an extraction.  Miro is left behind to worry and carry on their work with the US Marshals.  I enjoyed this section more than I first thought I would because it gave me the chance to realize how rich Miro's life is without Ian.  I know this sounds weird, but I loved that Miro had a full life outside of Ian, he had a great support network with some AMAZING women friends and got along great with the other Marshals in his unit.  Ian simply makes Miro's life better; he provides that special someone that Miro loves to share his entire life with, not just bits and pieces.  

Ian, on the other hand, is commented upon as being quiet, withdrawn, and surly when Miro is not around.  Ian is an extremely strong, capable man but he also makes no bones about the fact that Miro brings out something in him that no one else does.  Ian struggles to re-enter his life after his reserve missions but Miro pulls him back out of himself and allows him to settle back into a life that he enjoys living.  While the blurb implies that Miro is the one to seek out the relationship, I felt that it was more Ian's doing.  Miro was scared to take the step and ruin what he has with Ian, but Ian was the one who kept pushing until Miro finally noticed that Ian was also ready and willing to try a relationship.  

The last fourth is when Miro and Ian begin their relationship and it is also when they are put on a case to extract a federal witness in a pick-up that quickly goes south.  The two find themselves in a fight for their lives while trying to save a couple of young, gay men who are in a relationship. These two, Drake and Cabot, are wonderful and I hope that we get more of their story from Mary Calmes in a later book.  Drake and Cabot are both relieved to meet Miro and Ian, not only because they are kept safe, but because Miro and Ian are the first gay men they have met and they are desperate for healthy male role models who understand them.  Miro and Ian both step up to mentor these young men and I loved that aspect to their personalities as well.  

Overall, this book is delightful and I already want to reread it.  I can say with certainty that this book will be one of my top reads of 2015.  I just loved everything about it.  

Reading Challenges
Literary Pickers
105 Challenge
Men in Uniform
Full House
I Love Library Books
New to You

I borrowed this book from my local public library. 

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt

Doomed to--or blessed with--eternal life after drinking from a magic spring, the Tuck family wanders about trying to live as inconspicuously and comfortably as they can.  When ten-year-old Winnie Foster stumbles on this secret, the Tucks take her home and explain why living forever at one age is less a blessing than it might seem.  Complications arise when Winnie is followed by a stranger who wants to market the spring water for a fortune.

Ugh.  This book.  This hugely disappointing book.  I read a LOT of middle grade fiction for my job so I know how many amazing books are out there written for children.  Unfortunately this book is not one of them.  I cannot understand why this book is considered a classic.  If you read the blurb above then you have read the book; NOTHING else is added except a lot of rambling, southern-speak that adds words but not plot.  This book is one I have wanted to read for a long time as there are many people out there who have really enjoyed it;  however, I am not among them.  About the only good thing that came out of reading this book is being able to check it off my mental list of books "I should have read by now..."

Reading Challenges
Monthly Motif
I Love Library Books

I borrowed this book from the library.

Sci Fi Experience Recap

                                          Sci Fi Experience Recap

I was excited to discover the Sci-Fi Experience hosted by Stainless Steel Droppings, as I have always thought that I should love science fiction and yet I have never really done much in the way of trying to read it.  My mom reads quite a bit of it and is always ready with a recommendation when I think about taking the dive into the genre but for whatever reasons, I never follow through. I think I worry that I won't like it and then I will officially not be part of the "cool kids club" but if I don't read it, the possibility that I will love it still exists.  So it was no surprise that I waited until only a couple of days remained in January before reading anything science fiction.  (I did watch a lot of Big Bang Theory, which while not sci-fi,  is about guys who love sci-fi, so it might count.) Then I picked up The Martian by Andy Weir from my public library and devoured it in one night.  While it read like an adventure story that just happened to take place in space, I do feel it was a great intro as it was very accessible for me as a reader.  My next step will be to read something slightly more "hard-core" sci-fi.  Any suggestions for a sci-fi newbie?  

The Martian by Andy Weir

The Martian by Andy Weir

A MISSION TO MARS. 
A FREAK ACCIDENT.
ONE MAN'S STRUGGLE TO SURVIVE.

Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars.  Now he's sure he'll be the first person to die there.  

After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate the planet while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded on Mars' surface, completely alone, with no way to signal Earth that he's alive.  And even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone years before a rescue could arrive.

Chances are, though, Mark won't have time to starve to death.  The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment, or plain-old "human error" are much more likely to kill him first.

But Mark's not ready to quit.  Armed with nothing but his ingenuity and his engineering skills--and a gallows sense of humor--he embarks on a dogged quest to stay alive, using his botany expertise to grow food and even hatching a mad plan to contact NASA back on Earth.

As he overcomes one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next, Mark begins to let himself believe he might make it off the planet alive.

But Mars has plenty of surprises in store for him yet.

I LOVED this book!  I was looking for a science fiction book of some sort to read for the Sci Fi Experience and read a review for this book on a blog (I wish I could remember which one so I could thank them for turning me on to this book!) and it sounded pretty good.  Sadly, it isn't pretty good.  Happily, it is beyond excellent!!  

Mark Watney and a team of astronauts from NASA are on a mission on Mars when a sandstorm with winds of 175 mph arises and lasts for over an hour.  The spaceship that will be used for the team to leave MARS isn't made to withstand sustained winds over 150 mph so word comes from NASA to abort the mission...on the sixth day.  But who can take the chance that they might all be stranded on another planet?  With no other missions scheduled for at least four years?  The team heads out and a series of events causes Mark's suit to be breached and his team to believe that due to this he is dead.  However, he isn't and now he is stranded on Mars and has to figure out how to survive.  He has limited food supplies but he figures he can stretch out the supplies for a good long while and he is a botanist and is able to create a potato farm which I thought was pretty ingenious.  

In fact, many of the things that Mark is able to do I felt were ingenious.  He is also a mechanical engineer and this comes in handy MANY times.  The science in this book was often beyond what I personally know about science so I was not able to make judgment calls on whether it was "sound" or not, but I understood just enough not to feel stupid while reading the book.  Mark, our narrator is also so down to earth (ha ha) that he helped keep me grounded in the book even when the science went way over my head.  This book's single greatest strength is Mark's voice.  He is smart but also very funny in a sarcastic-y, I-want-to-hang-out-and-drink-beers-with-this-guy kind of way.  Mark used this humor to keep himself going and the author used it to keep me reading.  I don't quote books in my reviews, but there were many awesome lines in this story that made me think about it!  

Just when things would start humming along for Mark, something would happen to set him back, a kind of one-step-forward-two-steps-back timing that kept the suspense ramped up.   There were also chapters from the POV of NASA bigwigs when they realize that Mark may still be alive and then they are working to figure out how to bring Mark home while he continues to work on surviving as well.  This is a fast paced book and I read it in one sitting--I just could not bear to put it down!  Whether this is your usual type of book or not, do yourself a favor and try it...I can virtually guarantee that you will not be disappointed!

Reading Challenges
A to Z Authors
105 Challenge
Full House
I Love Library Books
New to You

I borrowed this book from my local public library. 

Literary Pickers January Challenge Status Update

The Literary Pickers Challenge hosted by A Delighted Reader is a scavenger hunt for readers and is a lot of fun!  Only one item per book/novella, though!  Here is what I have found in January: 



January Finds: 

1. Rose: Love Under Two Benedicts by Cara Covington (Lusty, Texas #3) 
2. Frying Pan: Sam by Sean Michael (Shibari Auction House #7)
3. Lamp: The Lady and the Lion by Cynthia Kirk
4. Picture: Capturing Peace by Molly McAdams (Sharing You #0.5)
5. Painting: Connor's Journey by Sean Michael (part of the Velvet Glove series)
6. Eye Glasses: Three to Heal by Sean Michael (part of the Velvet Glove series)
7. Child's Toy: The Hot Zone by Jayne Castle (Arcane #11)
8. Lipstick: Bear's Pup by Bellann Summer (Rescue for Hire #1)
9. CD: The Mane Squeeze by Shelly Laurenston (Pride #4)
10. Coffee Maker: Stone Creek Christmas by Linda Lael Miller (Stone Creek #4)
11. Map: Mariana by Susanna Kearsley
12. Fireplace: At Home in Stone Creek by Linda Lael Miller (Stone Creek #6)
13. Toothbrush: Against the Wall by Alexa Land (Firsts and Forevers #7)
14. Microwave: Paulie's Protector by Bellann Summer (The Men of Crazy Angle Ranch #4)
15. Tea Cart: The Desperate Game by Jayne Castle (Guinevere Jones #1)
16. Whip: Anything for a Byline by Sean Michael (part of the Velvet Glove series)
17. King Sized Bed: With Love by J L Langley (With or Without #0.5)
18. Kiss: Rock Stars and Size Queens by Sean Michael (part of the Velvet Glove series)
19. Sports Equipment: With Caution by J L Langley (With or Without #2)
20. Window: Attitude on Wheels by Sean Michael (part of the Velvet Glove series)
21. Shovel: Love Under Two Wildcatters by Cara Covington (Lusty, Texas #4)
22. Bar Stool: Falling for the Groomsman by Diane Alberts (Wedding Dare #1)
23. Hair Dryer: Caught Up in Here by Lauren Blakely (Caught Up in Love #0.5)
24. Condom: Bonded by Sara York
25. Barn Door: The Mane Attraction by Shelly Laurenston (Pride #3)
26. Card Game: All In by Alexa Land (Firsts and Forevers #2)
27. Couch: Velvet Need by Sean Michael (part of the Velvet Glove series)
28. Handcuffs: First Night by Lauren Blakely (Seductive Nights #0.5)
29. Shopping Basket: Healing Her Heart by Laura Scott (Crystal Lake #1)
30. Rope: Love Under Two Lawmen by Cara Covington (Lusty, Texas #2)
31. Wallet: One Night With Her by Lauren Blakely (Seductive Nights #3.5)
32. Pool Table: Commander's Spitfire by Bellann Summer (Rescue for Hire #5)
33. Laptop Computer: Robin by Sean Michael (Shibari Auction House #6)
34. Pencil: Xavi's Wild Ride by Bellann Summer (The Men of Crazy Angle Ranch #2)
35. Mirror: Untouchable by Alexis Blake (Untouchable #1)
36. Saddle: Love Under Two Gunslingers by Cara Covington (Lusty, Texas #1)
37. Airplane: Tyler's Transformation by Bellann Summer (The Men of Crazy Angle Ranch #1)
38. Boat: The Chilling Deception by Jayne Castle (Guinevere Jones #2)
39. Spaceship: The Martian by Andy Weir
40. Truck: Without Reservation by J L Langley (With or Without #1)
41. Skates: Beast Behaving Badly by Shelly Laurenston (Pride #5)
42. Balcony: Knight by Kristen Ashley (Unfinished Hero #1)
43. Tent: Boy Princess Vol. 1 by Seyoung Kim 
44. Garden: Salvation by Alexa Land (Firsts and Forevers #5)
45. Swimming Pool: Puppy Love by Sean Michael (part of the Velvet Glove series)
46. Mall: Way Off Plan by Alexa Land (Firsts and Forevers #1)
47. Mansion/Estate: With Abandon by J L Langley (With or Without #3)
48. Another Planet/Dimension: Soaring with Hawk by Sean Michael (part of the Velvet Glove series)
49. Bird: Velvet Blade by Sean Michael (part of the Velvet Glove series)
50. Secretary: Maybe This Time by Jennifer Crusie
51. Cop: Candy Cane Kisses by Elle Rush (Forever Christmas #4)
52. Neighbors: Skye Blue by Alexa Land (Firsts and Forevers #6)
53. Firefighter: The Farmer Takes the Cook and the Foreman by Bellann Summer (The Men of Crazy Angle Ranch #3)
54. Doctor/nurse: Ghost by Sean Michael (part of the Velvet Glove series)
55. Military Personnel: Gathering Storm by Alexa Land (Firsts and Forevers #4)
56. Big Cat: The Mane Event by Shelly Laurenston (Pride #1)
57. Jeans: Tin Star by J L Langley (Ranch Series #1)
58. Uniform: Velvet Song by Sean Michael (part of the Velvet Glove series)
59. Beard: Gabriel's Pretty by Bellann Summer (Rescue for Hire #6)
60. High Heels: Creed by Kristen Ashley (Unfinished Hero #2)
61. Body Piercing: Braided by Sean Michael (part of the Velvet Glove series)
62. Lingerie: Omorphi by C. Kennedy 
63. Ball Cap: Shocking Behavior by Jennifer Archer 
64. Tattoo: Jack's Sweets by Bellann Summer (Rescue for Hire #2)
65. Fangs: When Darkness Comes by Alexandra Ivy (Guardians of Eternity #1)
66. Mittens or Gloves: Two Men for Two Twins by Sean Michael (part of the Velvet Glove series)
67. Claws: Visions of Night by Nalini Singh (Psy-Changling #2)
68. Gown: Big Bad Beast by Shelly Laurenston (Pride #6)
69. Chocolate: The Beast in Him by Shelly Laurenston (Pride #2)
70. Omelet or Quiche: Feral by Alexa Land
71. Popcorn: Leo's Pet by Bellann Summer (Rescue for Hire #4)
72. Sushi: Damian's Treble by Bellann Summer (Rescue for Hire #3)

Wow, I am already a professional picker with 50+ books and items.  My goal now is to complete the list...

All books read were either purchased using my own funds or borrowed from my local public library.

What I Read, Week of January 29 - February 4

What I Read, Week of January 29 - February 4

1. Beneath by Roland Smith
2. Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
3. Maybe This Time by Jennifer Crusie 
4. Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh
5. The Martian by Andy Weir
6. Visions of Heat by Nalini Singh
7. The Mane Attraction by Shelly Laurenston
8. Bear Meets Girl by Shelly Laurenston
9. The Sinister Touch by Jayne Castle
10. The Fatal Fortune by Jayne Castle
11. Wolf With Benefits by Shelly Laurenston
12. Once Perfect by Cecy Robson
13. Bite Me by Shelly Laurenston
14. Pack Challenge by Shelly Laurenston

January Month in Review and Pages Read Challenge Update

January Month in Review and Pages Read Challenge Update

I have had an amazing beginning to my 2015 reading year.  I enjoyed rereads of a few of my favorite series, caught up (or almost, I finished the last few right at the beginning of February) on another series which I have wanted to get back to for a while now and read some amazing new titles and stretched outside of my normal reading comfort zone with a phenomenal science fiction title.  I am also in great shape on most of my challenges which is a great feeling as well. 

Here is what I read in January:                                                   (page #s)

Puppy Love by Sean Michael                                                      85

Anything for a Byline by Sean Michael                                    228                                                        

Two Men for Two Brothers by Sean Michael                            132        

Three to Heal by Sean Michael                                                   43

Ghost by Sean Michael                                                                46

Connor’s Journey by Sean Michael                                           134

Soaring with Hawk by Sean Michael                                         125

Attitude on Wheels by Sean Michael                                         113

Braided by Sean Michael                                                           220

Velvet Blade by Sean Michael                                                   180

Velvet Song by Sean Michael                                                    68

Velvet Need by Sean Michael                                                    246

The Lady and the Lion by Cynthia Kirk                                      305

Rock Stars and Size Queens by Sean Michael                       165        

Bonded by Sara York                                                                   50

Three Strikes by Piper Vaughn                                                   23

Healing Her Heart by Laura Scott                                               70

Candy Cane Kisses by Elle Rush                                               45

Dirty Cop by Kyle Adams                                                            10

Falling for the Groomsman by Diane Alberts                            157

The Book of Prime by Katy Baker                                               46

Untouchable by Alexis Blake                                                       29

One Night with Her by Lauren Blakely                                        49                          

Caught Up in Her by Lauren Blakely

First Night by Lauren Blakely                                                     53

The Gallos: The Beginning by Chelle Bliss                              56          

The Hot Zone by Jayne Castle                                                   338

A Stone Creek Christmas by Linda Lael Miller                       204

At Home in Stone Creek by Linda Lael Miller                         204

The Mane Event by Shelly Laurenston                                     420

Boy Princess Vol. 1 by Seyoung Kim                                      187

When Darkness Comes by Alexandra Ivy                                355

Capturing Peace by Molly McAdams                                       235

Knight by Kristen Ashley                                                            285

Shocking Behavior by Jennifer Archer                                     298

Creed by Kristen Ashley                                                            360

Omorphi by C. Kennedy                                                             480

Way Off Plan by Alexa Land                                                        

All In by Alexa Land

Gathering Storm by Alexa Land                                               328

Salvation by Alexa Land                                                            284

Skye Blue by Alexa Land

Against the Wall by Alexa Land                                               320

Feral by Alexa Land                                                                  242

Robin by Sean Michael                                                             56

Sam by Sean Michael                                                               44

Mariana by Susanna Kearsley                                                364        

Without Reservations by J L Langley                                     268

With Caution by J L Langley                                                   288

With Abandon by J L Langley                                                  264

With Love by J L Langley                                                         107

Tin Star by J L Langley                                                            300

Love Under Two Gunslingers by Cara Covington                 192

Love Under Two Lawmen by Cara Covington                       244

Love Under Two Benedicts by Cara Covington                    212

Love Under Two Wildcatters by Cara Covington                 192

Bear’s Pup by Bellann Summer                                               59

Jack’s Sweets by Bellann Summer                                         83

Damian’s Treble by Bellann Summer                                      59

Leo’s Pet by Bellann Summer                                                  58

Commander’s Spitfire by Bellann Summer                             78

Gabriel’s Pretty by Bellann Summer                                      103

Tyler’s Transformation by Bellann Summer                           76

Xavi’s Wild Ride by Bellann Summer                                       

The Farmer Takes the Cook and the Foreman by Bellann Summer   86

Paulie’s Protector by Bellann Summer                                                    94

Blackmailed by Annmarie McKenna                                         210

The Desperate Game by Jayne Castle                                     184

The Chilling Deception by Jayne Castle                                   161

The Beast in Him by Shelly Laurenston                                   325

The Mane Squeeze by Shelly Laurenston                               380

Beast Behaving Badly by Shelly Laurenston                          379

Big Bad Beast by Shelly Laurenston                                       307

Beneath by Roland Smith                                                         264

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt                                        137

Maybe This Time by Jennifer Crusie                                      374

Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh                                        334

The Martian by Andy Weir                                                       369

Visions of Heat by Nalini Singh                                               332

The Mane Attraction by Shelly Laurenston                            332

Total # of Pages Read: 14,533

I passed level 1 (13,000 pages) and am headed towards level 2 (26,000 pages).  My personal goal was 75,000 pages and I think I will be able to do that pretty easily.  

Note: I am very particular about physical book pages; if it starts on page 8, I subtract 7 from the total page count.  For e-books, I checked goodreads and amazon.  If two different page numbers were given, I went with the smaller number.  I could not find page numbers for all of my books but I am not overly worried.  I would rather skew against my favor to make up for any incorrect e-book page numbers.  Also, all books were either purchased with my own funds or borrowed from my local public library.