The Marriage Bargain by Jennifer Probst ~ Review

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Source:  Purchased audio book

Book Description:

A marriage in name only...

To save her family home, impulsive bookstore owner, Alexa Maria McKenzie, casts a love spell. But she never planned on conjuring up her best friend's older brother—the powerful man who once shattered her heart.

Billionaire Nicholas Ryan doesn’t believe in marriage, but in order to inherit his father’s corporation, he needs a wife and needs one fast. When he discovers his sister’s childhood friend is in dire financial straits, he offers Alexa a bold proposition.

A marriage in name only with certain rules: avoid entanglement. Keep things all business. Do not fall in love. The arrangement is only for a year so the rules shouldn’t be that hard to follow, right?

Except fate has a way of upsetting the best-laid plans…

My Thoughts:


 
4 stars - A sexy battle between stubborn soul mates with some steamy chemistry!

I received this book for review a while back but finally got to it when it turned up on Audible.  I listened to it while I got mindless tasks done.  I love that.  I haven't done it for a while and it was nice.  I felt like this book came to me on my terms instead of a hurriedly read to complete a review request.  For that alone, I enjoyed it.  But that wasn't all.

Since this was an audio book, let me first comment on the narrator.  Coleen Mario reads this book and I will admit that she isn't my favorite but she didn't distract from the story.  

This story is a fun read that puts two people together who are incredibly attracted to each other but are trying to resist.  Totally fun.  I enjoyed the rotating POV and the growth that both characters found as they faced the struggles that forced them together.  

Nick is this hard private person who is convinced that marriage and family will never be for him.  The mistakes of his father were not going to be repeated by him only to be paid for by the children involved.  So the women in his life were held at bay and only enjoyed and released.  Alexa needed more and Nick would never be that.  That makes her the perfect person for him to ask to agree to the marriage bargain.  Well that and her need to help her family with the money Nick could provide.  It was all very fun.

This is the kind of book that you just enjoy.  I listened to it over one day while I got lots of mindless things done.  If you like a fun and sexy read, then this one is a great choice. 

Jennifer Probst | Goodreads | Twitter | FB | Audible | Amazon | B&N

 

November wrap-up

Yeah, so this is late.  It was supposed to be up yesterday.  BUT, I had this medical thing I had to ENDURE on Friday and it seems that I also had the pukefest that has been going around. Figured that out when other peeps in the family ended up with the same thing.  So not a lot got done at my house for 48 hours.  Starting to feel better now.

For 2012, I accepted 3 blogging challenges and am still participating in 2. 

Here's what I accomplished for November.

Audiobook Challenge hosted by Jen at A Book and a Latte 

Not so much...fail! BUT I am listening to one now! Yay me!

2012 TBR Challenge hosted by lots and lots of peeps

Alight by K.C. Neal

Other reviews:

Flukes by Nichol Chase

Dizzy by Nyrae Dawn & Jolene B Perry

The Unloved by Jennifer Snyder

Commencement by Paige Cuccaro

Conjure by Lea Nolan

Temptation by Jamie Canosa

Yes it is less than I normally read and on purpose.  In an effort to make sure I don't burn out and stop blogging, I've slowed my pace.  I've slowed the number of tours I accept and the number of review books I accept.  I've adopted the philosophy that if I want to read it, I will.  If I don't, then I'm not accepting it.

So with that in mine, I only read 7 books last month.  There actually were a couple more but the reviews don't post till this week, so I'll include them in December.

What about you?  How did yo do for December?

October Wrap-up

For 2012, I accepted 3 blogging challenges and am still participating in 2. 

Here's what I accomplished for October.

Audiobook Challenge hosted by Jen at A Book and a Latte 

None here. Totally lame but school has made me crazy.  I used to listen to books while I graded but I really haven't been able to do that this year.  Maybe after I get this new tech teacher gig down, I'll be able to go back to this.

2012 TBR Challenge hosted by lots and lots of peeps

Fragile by M. Leighton
Pyxis by K.C. Neal

Review books this month:

The Truth About Faking by Leigh T. Moore
Touching Smoke by Airicka Phonenix
The Color of Grace
Iridescent by Carol Oates
Not Your Average Fairy Tale by Chantele Segwick
Just for Now by Abbi Glines
Losing It by Cora Carmack
Tempting the Player by J. Lynn
Alight by K.C. Neal


That makes 11 books this month.  Not bad considering working full time and keeping up with this blog.  WISH it was more. 

I have so many books I WANT to read.  Thinking about going on a book accepting ban until I get caught up on some of the books I really want to read.  The problem with that idea is that there are some authors that I just want to read their books before I even know anything about the book - just because it's them! 

What about you?  How did your October go for reading?

September Wrap-up

For 2012, I accepted 3 blogging challenges and am still participating in 2. 

Here's what I accomplished for September.

Audiobook Challenge hosted by Jen at A Book and a Latte 

None this month.

2012 TBR Challenge hosted by lots and lots of peeps

None this month.

Books for review.

Measuring Up by Nyrae Dawn

Send by Patty Blount

Empty Net by Toni Aleo

Breaking Lauren by Jordan Deen

Spark by Bridget Kemmerer

Lucky Break by Kelley Vitollo

Better Than Chocolate by Sheila Roberts

Down To You by M. Leighton

Unlikely Allies by Tiffany King

I must admit that 9 is a low for me, but the start of the school year always slows me down as a blogger.  It is what it is.

What about you?  How did September go for you?

August Wrap-up

For 2012, I accepted 3 blogging challenges and am still participating in 2. 

Here's what I accomplished for August.

Audiobook Challenge hosted by Jen at A Book and a Latte 

Delirium 
The Fault In Our Stars

2012 TBR Challenge hosted by lots and lots of peeps

Delirium 
The Fault In Our Stars

Other reviews this month

Deep Autumn Heat
The Jelly Bean Crisis 
The Wild Ones
Ciao
Painted Blind
Inbetween
Fearless
Leif
Karma Bites

That makes 11 books this month despite starting back to school! Yay me!!

What about you? How'd you do in August.

Delirium by Lauren Oliver ~ audio book review

Source: Purchased audio book from audible

My Summary:

Love causes the sickness but Lena can't help falling in love.  She grew up excited to be cured when she turned eighteen.  She never saw it coming and now no one can know.  If they find out then she will be cured earlier.  She wants every second possible to stay in love with him.  But as the lies she has been told all of her life starts to unravel, can she really be happy being cured at all?


My Thoughts:




5 stars - A delicious love story set where love isn't allowed

I'll start with the narrator since I listened to this book. Sarah Drew narrates this book and I enjoyed her presentation.  She does a good job with the voices and doesn't distract from the book.  That's high praise as far as I'm concerned.

The world that Lauren Oliver creates for Delirium is unique and compelling.  I can totally see how an extremest group could create an attitude of fear strong enough to cause such a extreme result.  Then control the information to prevent people from realizing what had happened.  I wonder sometimes if we are not headed for something like this as we, as a society, turn over our individual rights for the sake of safety or other equally good concepts.  So this world was believable to me.  It was incredible how those who had been "cured" didn't even see the state they were in.  Again, I could draw parallels to social problems where the cure is far worse than the problem.  I enjoyed the world.

The characters were fabulous.  I loved Alex.  He has a fun personality with a very sweet side.  One of my very favorite scenes was when he explains the "why me" to Lena.  All I'll say is that it involved a crazy dance around a statue missing a hand.  Made me smile.  Of course I love Lena too.  She has been raised to believe lies her whole life.  She resists changing that mind set but her internal dialogue is fabulous.  So normal, really, but that's what makes it so good.  I could see myself clinging to what I had alway believed in the face of evidence to the contrary.  It's human nature.  Makes her more real to me.

The story line was fast pasted and sweet.  They certainly didn't have instant love but instead developed a great relationship.  I loved how the story turned when I was expecting it to twist and twisted when I thought is was going to turn.  I did guess a few things right but, really, I read so much that I can usually guess most of it right.  Not this time.  Though I did see the cliffhanger coming.

That cliff hanger ending was heart breaking.  I do have book two and want very much to dig in but my review schedule will not allow it.  So I'm gonna put it in the next available slot so I can know something VERY important.  Hmmm... wonder if I can sneak in one or two chapters just to know.  Better not risk it.  This is the kind of book that if you start it you are gonna be up all night!!

Anyone who loves dystopia with a heavy dose of romance should LOVE Delirium!  Pick it up for sure.

Lauren Oliver | Goodreads | Twitter | FB | Amazon | B&N | TBD | Audible

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green ~ Audio Book Review

Source: Purchased audio book from Audible

My summary:

Being diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at age 13 has brought Hazel to the edge of death.  But a experimental drug has kept her alive longer than anyone thought possible.  At age sixteen, she struggles with breathing and tries to live each day the best she can but it's a waiting game.  Then she meets Augustus Waters at a support group and Hazel has to re-think her waiting game.  Augustus is in remission, beautiful and interested in her.  What kind of relationship can anyone have when they could die at any time? How is that fair to him to get attached when you know you will break his heart? But it's hard not to love Augustus and the passion that he brings to her life.  His great desire is to have a legacy and to have Hazel as his girlfriend.  Will she let him in?

My thoughts:




5 stars - Unashamedly cried my way through the tender pages of this fabulous book.

There are books that help you run away from the stress of life with vampires, demons or angels.  There are stories that help you see the possibilities of life and pick you up to do better things.  There are real life stories that make you cry or laugh or scream.  There are all kinds of stories.  Then there is The Fault In Our Stars.  This book causes you to be a participate in the worst pain of life - dying.  It shows the strength of living each day, the love of family, the effort of struggle, the pain of loving, and the realization of death.  It is not a happy story but it was full of laughing and living by two fabulous characters who loved each other despite the cancer that ate at them.  It was not a happily ever after story but is was full of hope and love.  It was a life story.  A story that can and will help teens and adults alike understand that not everything is about being popular, pretty or athletic.  It's about true love - the kind that's for better or worse, good times and bad, and living or dead.  I loved this book.

I had decided to pass on this one.  Really, I'd read too many emotional reads lately and thought I couldn't handle another one.  Then my Daemon (Lux Series) faced Augustus in the #YACrushTourney.  There was so much passion on Augustus' side.  I was confused.  I had to meet this guy.  So the day of round one, I downloaded the audio book and started listening to it.  This is an emotional read but it didn't feel hard to read.  It felt real.  And Augustus was the most fabulous character.  He was happy and I loved how he always called Hazel, Hazel Grace - never just Hazel.  He supported her and cared for her even when she just wanted to be friends.  He loved her for who she was - which was this incredibly strong girl.  He had his own secrets and when they came out Hazel and him just grew together even more.  I think Daemon would be proud to know Augustus Water.  I'm glad I decided to read this book.

Since this was an audio book, let me say that the narrator did great job with this book.  I loved her voices.  Her Augustus fit him so well.  Her Hazel sounded winded as she should be.  Would definitely recommend the audio book.

Anyone who loves YA should consider this book.  It may be emotional but it's also fabulous.

John Green | Goodreads | Twitter | FB | Amazon | B&N | Audible | TBD

July wrap-up

For 2012, I accepted 3 blogging challenges and am still participating in 2. 

Here's what I accomplished for July.

Audiobook Challenge hosted by Jen at A Book and a Latte 

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

2012 TBR Challenge hosted by lots and lots of peeps

Unlovable by Sherry Gammon
Storm by Brigid Kemmerer

Other reviews from July

While It Lasts by Abbi Glines

Frost by Kate Avery Ellison
Freeing Carter by Nyrae Dawn
The Accidental Movie Star by Emily Evans
The One by Heather Self
Lonely Souls by Karice Bolton
Dante's Girl by Courtney Cole
Alibi by Annie Miles, John Byrne, Isabel Echersley, and Sorrel Provola
Pushing The Limits by Katie McGarry
Inhale by Kendall Grey

That makes 13 books in July. YAY me.

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare ~ Review

Source: Purchased audio book, narrated by Molly C. Quinn

My Summary:

With Jace gone and tracking him useless, Clary is desperate to save him.  Most don't believe he can be saved but Clary will try even it means going alone.  Finding him is only the first impossible thing she has to do.  How can she trust Jace as he is or that matter Sebastian?  Her brother tries to convince her his plan is good but can she really believe him?  What are his true motives? Then there is the clave - the law is hard but it is the law.  With them involved what chance does Jace really have?   Who will survive and who will never be the same? 

My Thoughts:

4 stars - Fabulous world & story

I'll start with the narrator since I listened to this book.  It was find, that's all.  I missed the voice of Ed Westwick that helped narrator the last book.  But Molly's voice didn't distract from the book at all.

So I love Cassandra Clare books.  Well, most of them.  I will admit that book 4 in this series, City of Fallen Angels, was very hard on me.  I get so personally involved with the characters in her books that I feel like I'm suffering right along with them.  With book 4, my heart was smashed beyond repair.  I had a hard time wanting to read this book.  I couldn't stand the thought of a Jace that wasn't Jace.  And I was right to be worried.  I struggled to read this one.  I've never taken so long to finish a book by Cassie ever.  I started this book on June 16th.  I JUST finished it last night.  I put it aside so many times to read other books.  Now don't get me wrong, it's still got Cassie's fabulous writing, world building and twisting story line - it's just that I couldn't bare to watch the characters going through what they did.  I think, too, that I've learned that more than two POVs is too much for me.

Yes I will be reading book 6 and I hope that Cassie brings all the pieces together with an ending that I can be happy with.  

Cassandra Clare | Goodreads | Twitter | FB | Amazon | B&N | Audible | The Book Depository   

May Wrap-up

For 2012, I accepted 3 blogging challenges and am still participating in 2. 

Here's what I accomplished for May.

Audiobook Challenge hosted by Jen at A Book and a Latte 

None

2012 TBR Challenge hosted by lots and lots of peeps

Queen of the Dead

2012 Debut Author - I've read

None

Yeah, I pretty much sucked this month, BUT I did read 11 books- just not ones that worked for the challenges.  AND it was the last month of school.  I have been pretty much useless.  Now that schools out, I plan to work more on the two challenges.  Just haven't been in the mood for aduiobooks - not sure why.

Anyways, how'd you do on your reading goals in May?

April Challenge Wrap-up

For 2012, I accepted 3 blogging challenges. 

There is some books that apply for more than one challenge.  Here's what I accomplished for April.

(Note:  After much thought, I've decided to remove myself from the Debut Author Challenge.  I will still report the debut books I read but I will not be part of the challenge.  The resent blog drama made this decision for me.)

Audiobook Challenge hosted by Jen at A Book and a Latte 

Juliette Immortal

2012 TBR Challenge hosted by lots and lots of peeps

Juliette Immortal

Debut Authors read - removed from challenge

Of Poseidon

Okay, I know it was a slow month for challenges but dang I had a lot going on!  I read nine books and finished out the Pure tour.  It was craziness! Don't know if May will be much better.  I'm doing some beta reading and a bunch of tour books.  But summer is coming and hopefully I can make a dent in the challenges then.

What about you?  What did you get done in May?

Juliette Immortal by Stacey Jay

Source: bought audiobook from audible
Length: 9 hours 20 minutes long
Narrator: Justine Eyre

My Summary:

That story Shakespeare wrote about that tragic young couple may not of been exactly accurate.  Romeo and Juliet didn't end in that tomb so long ago, no they are both here now fighting against each other in an eternal struggle for/against love.  Juliet died at the hand of her beloved Romeo but was granted immortality and joined the Ambassadors of Light to help protect the same tragic outcome from happening to other soul mates.  Romeo is trying to find her and kill her for good this time.  Or is he?  What could have caused Romeo to do such a thing in the first place?  And after 700 years of this battle, are both of them tired of the fight? 


My Thoughts:




3 1/2 stars - Lots to like in this one

So I'm starting with the narrator for this book since I listened to it.  I've listened to this narrator before.  She's not my favorite.  Narrators are such a personal thing that I always recommend you listen to the sample before you buy the book.  Of course I never follow that rule myself.  If I had, I probably would have read the book instead.  Not that she's a bad narrator, I just don't care for her voice.

Now the book.  I'm totally torn between 3 and 4 stars which means it's a solid 3 1/2! Let me explain why I'm torn.  First, I loved the idea of this story.  While Shakespeare has always intrigued me, I just couldn't get into the tragedy thing.  I'm more of a happily ever after or at least most people are still alive kind of girl.  But using that tragedy with a little paranormal thrown in the mix is an epic idea!  I may have struggled with Romeo doing what he did in this version to get them where they are but I guess I can sorta of understand why he did it.

I loved some of the characters a lot.  Especially Ben.  Adorable and totally misunderstood as a bad boy, Ben is the perfect guy to step in and help Juliet (playing Ariel).  Totally cute, Ben is Hispanic and  he sometimes throws in some Spanish which I loved.  He is protective and loyal to his friends and the stranger on the side of the road who's in trouble.  Love that about him.

The story has some twists and turns that make it interesting and had my total attention.  I figured out a few things, which is normal for me.  The ending was a little bit of a surprise.  Really wasn't expecting that's how it would end.  I like the ending.

Now, there was one thing that kept this book from being a 4 star book for me.  Juliet's internal banter with herself over the state of love in the world, or love in her life , or love from her mom, or love with Romeo, or love with Ben got a little old for me.  If I could have edited some of that out, this book would have rocked for me.  I choose to overlook it as much as I could and just keep going because I loved the story itself.

If you enjoy YA paranormal romance, then this book is a good one to pick up.   

Stacey Jay | Twitter | Goodreads 

Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

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