On My Shelf: Beauty Awakened by: Gena Showalter

On My Shelf is a feature I started here on the blog and I'm sure there are a ton of similar ones out there, but basically I just wanted to start spotlighting some of the MANY backlist titles I have accumulated on my shelf and kindle. The idea is to spotlight an older book I have on my massive TBR. I also thought it would be a fun way to discuss these books with my fellow bloggers, get some of your thoughts and figure out which ones I need to read ASAP and which ones can wait a bit more. And if you want to join in too, I would love to see what is on your shelf! Just leave me a link in the comments.

I read the first book in this series ages ago and really enjoyed it, but for some reason I never got around to this one. I really need to rectify that soon because this one sounds awesome and my shallow side really loved that cover.

So tell me. Have you read it? Did you love it? Hate it? Was it meh?

Book Review: Outtakes From The Grave (Night Huntress #7.5) by: Jeaniene Frost

Release Date: December 8, 2015
Goodreads | Amazon

"Cat and Bones fans, sink your teeth into this new outtakes compilation from New York Times
bestselling author Jeaniene Frost!

Indulge your love of paranormal super couple Cat and Bones with this ultimate “director’s cut” collection of deleted scenes and alternate versions from the first four novels in the Night Huntress series, complete with author commentary on each selection. Includes: the original beginnings of Halfway to the Grave, One Foot in the Grave, At Grave’s End, and Destined for an Early Grave: a chapter written in Bones’s point of view; alternate versions of sections of Halfway to the Grave, One Foot in the Grave, and Destined for an Early Grave; the “white wedding” scene between Cat and Bones that never made it into the final books…and much more!"

My Thoughts:

I recently finished all of the currently published Night Huntress Universe books. So naturally the only thing left for me to do was read this collection of deleted scenes. This was a super fun way to spend some more time with Cat and Bones.

I really loved the way Jeaniene put this together. Not only was it a compilation of deleted scenes but she gave commentary on each of the scenes and some behind the scenes look as to why it was removed. Obviously I loved some scenes more than others but as a whole I really enjoyed it. I will say though, there were some scenes I was really glad didn’t make it into the final cut. They were fun to experience but I much prefer the way they tuned out in the final cut. My favorite scene was probably the wedding scene. I understand why it was cut, but I did love seeing it. And I also loved the snippet where Bones talks to Cat at the very end of At Graves End (if you read the books, it takes place when he finds out she almost did a very bad thing). What he tells her in this scene is beautiful. I rewound and listened to it a few times.

All in all, Outtakes From The Grave is a fun read for any Night Huntress fan and it’s interesting to see how it evolved. And if you’ve been missing Cat and Bones, this is a great way to spend some more time with them.

Waiting On Wednesday #189: Unknown by Wendy Higgins

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine. 
It spotlilghts upcoming releases that we are dying to read.

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"Amber Tate believes the worst thing she’ll suffer in life is dealing with the unrequited love she feels for her brother’s best friend, Rylen Fite. She also believes war is something unfortunate that happens places far, far away from her rural Nevada town. She’s wrong on both counts.

When an unknown organization meticulously bombs major cities in the United States and across the globe, a trickle-down effect spreads to remaining towns at an alarming speed—everything from food and water sources to technological communications are compromised. Without leadership, the nation is split between paralysis and panic, but Amber isn’t one to hide or watch helplessly. She’s determined to put her nursing skills to use, despite the danger, even if it means working alongside the man she can never have. 

In this first installment of NY Times bestselling author, Wendy Higgins’s debut New Adult series, a frighteningly realistic apocalyptic America is brought to life, entwined with searing romantic tension that will leave you eager for more." 

New Adult apocalyptic sci-fi?!?! YES PLEASE!

Unknown will be released in September, 2016.

What are you waiting on?

The Monday Musts 4/25/2016

The Monday Musts is a weekly feature hosted by the awesome Jessica at Lovin Los Libros. This is a fun way to share a must read book, a must listen to song/album/artist, and a must see (can be anything). I'm really excited to be taking part in this feature and I'm sure it will be a ton of fun.

Must Read:

I want everyone in the world to read this book! It is Michelle's best book yet and I cannot even begin to explain how much I loved it. It absolutely gutted me but I loved it so so much. Easily one of my favorite reads this year if not of all time.

Must Listen:

I am slightly obsessed with this song.

Must See:

Calling all Hamilton fans! This was a FANTASTIC mini-series. I watched it when it first released and then I recently watched it again and remembered how much I absolutely loved it. Also Ben Barnes... RAWR.

Weekly Recap 4/24/2016

It's been a few weeks since I have done a recap so I have a good amount of books to discuss this week. I didn't realize how many books I've grabbed in the last few weeks until I was putting this together, but there have been a lot of great ebook sales lately. So first up I got Leveling The Field for review. Thanks Brazen! I've already read this one and adored it! Such a good series. Next I got The Problem With Forever which I am ridiculously excited for. I love all things JLA. Thanks Inkslinger and Harlequin! I also got Addicted by Elle Kennedy which I cannot wait to dive into! Elle Kennedy writes the best schmexy books. Thanks so much Signet Eclipse! I also got a finished copy of Everland; this sounds like a really cool Neverland story. Thanks Scholastic! I also got an ARC of Crows Mountain, thanks again Scholastic! Then I got Carter Reed as my Romance Book of the Month freebie. I also grabbed Beauty and the Beast series and Confessions of an Alli Cat as freebies (I think they are still free). Then I grabbed a bunch of books on sale: The Fifteenth Minute, Red's Untold Tale, Love In The Light, King (that cover NOMS), Broken Juliet, Scoring Wilder, Say Yes To The Marquess, The Cuckoo's Calling, and The Silkworm. And last but not least I got my gorgeous hardcover of Walk The Edge and I couldn't love it any more.

Goodreads Links:

Leveling The Field by: Megan Erickson

The Problem With Forever by: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Addicted by: Elle Kennedy

Everland by: Wendy Spinale

Crow Mountain by: Lucy Inglis

Carter Reed by: Tijan

Beauty and the Beast Boxed Set by: Skye Warren

Confessions Of An Alli Cat by: Courtney Cole

The Fifteenth Minute by: Sarina Bowen

Red's Untold Tale by: Wendy Toliver

Love In The Light by: Laura Kaye

King by: TM Frazier

Broken Juliet by: Leisa Rayven

Scoring Wilder by: RS Grey

Say Yes To The Marquess by: Tessa Dare

The Cuckoo's Calling by: Robert Galbraith

The Silkworm by: Robert Galbraith

Walk The Edge by: Katie McGarry

Reviews:

Tied To Trouble by: Megan Erickson

Sweet Temptation by: Wendy Higgins

Other Fun:

Monday Musts: Tied To Trouble, Led Zeppelin, & Crafty Picture Frame

Top Ten Tuesday: Books That Will Make You Laugh

Waiting On Wednesday: The Black Key by: Amy Ewing

Cover Reveal: The Empty Jar by: M. Leighton

On My Shelf: Unearthly by: Cynthia Hand

On My Shelf: Unearthly by: Cynthia Hand

On My Shelf is a feature I started here on the blog and I'm sure there are a ton of similar ones out there, but basically I just wanted to start spotlighting some of the MANY backlist titles I have accumulated on my shelf and kindle. The idea is to spotlight an older book I have on my massive TBR. I also thought it would be a fun way to discuss these books with my fellow bloggers, get some of your thoughts and figure out which ones I need to read ASAP and which ones can wait a bit more. And if you want to join in too, I would love to see what is on your shelf! Just leave me a link in the comments.

I have had this book for the longest time now! I actually have two copies, kindle and paperback, and still have not gotten to it. This sounds like something I would love and it has been the longest time since I have read an angel book. I'm also curious to see if I'd be a Christian or Tucker kind of gal.

So tell me. Have you read it? Did you love it? Hate it? Was it meh?

Book Review: Sweet Temptation (Sweet #4) by: Wendy Higgins

Release Date: September 8, 2015
from Harper TEEN
Goodreads | Amazon

"Bad boy Kaidan Rowe has never wanted for anything—money, popularity, musical talent…hot girls
—but seducing them is part of his duty as a Nephilim, slave to the demon Dukes. As the son of the Duke of Lust, Kaidan has learned his father’s ways, becoming a master of passion, a manipulator of chemistry. Disobeying his father would mean certain death. Thankfully for Kaidan, he’s good at his job. And he enjoys it.

Until he meets Anna Whitt—smart, feisty, and inexplicably good—the one girl seemingly immune to his charms. The daughter of a guardian angel and a fallen one, she makes him wish for more than he could ever deserve.

Determined to save all the Neph from their dark lives, Anna joins forces with Kaidan to overcome the Dukes’ oppressive ways. In the light of her affections, Kaidan must undergo his toughest test of all, a battle of the heart.

Sensual and swoonworthy, this companion volume to the Sweet Evil series, told from the perspective of the mysterious Kaidan Rowe, gives readers revealing insights into the true emotions that drive him."

My Thoughts:

I always have trepidation when it comes to alternate POV books. They can be very hit or miss. So naturally I was worried about Sweet Temptation. I love Kai and Anna and I was excited for more, but I worried if I would be bored reliving the story. I shouldn’t have worried though because I genuinely enjoyed Kai’s perspective.

I didn’t think it was possible, but I somehow came to love Kai even more after reading this one. Being able to see how he truly felt about Anna was eye opening. He fell quicker than any of us thought and everything he did was done with Anna in mind. It was incredibly swoony seeing how Kai felt first hand. I felt my heart melting.

Naturally Sweet Temptation was a bit darker and sexier than the first three books. We are in Kai’s head after all. We are dealing with a son of lust and anything less would not have been believable. And not gonna lie, I ate up the darker and sexier feel.

What I really liked about Sweet Temptation though was that it was a great way to relive the series without actually re-reading it. I got to relive my favorite parts all over again and it was glorious. The freckles, the cold water, a certain night at the Grand Canyon. It was all there and it was all wonderful.

Oh and also, loved the audio for this one. It was like Kai was reading the story to me and I was a swoony fangirl.

All in all, Sweet Temptation is a great read for fans of the series. It was so fun going back to this world and I swooned hard over Kai. Definitely a fun read.

Cover Reveal: The Empty Jar by: M. Leighton

Cover Reveal
The Empty Jar
by: M. Leighton
Releasing May 8, 2016

Today is cover reveal day for M. Leighton's upcoming release entitled The Empty Jar.  She wanted to say a little something about the cover before we reveal it and the description, so here she is.

"First of all, a huge, heartfelt THANK YOU to all of you amazing women who are helping me reveal this cover today. I appreciate everything you do for me, for authors in general and for this community.  As a reader, I love you, too:)

Secondly...

OMG OMG OMG!  IT'S FINALLY TIME TO REVEAL!

I feel like I've been waiting AGES to share this with you!

This cover... GAH!  Y'all, it took me forEVER to get it just right. There was a certain "feel" that I wanted to achieve with it and I wasn't happy until I felt that "feel" jumped right out when I looked at it. I wanted the cover to speak of the book. I wanted it to show the highs and lows, the sweet and the poignant, the depth of it, if you will.  And finally...finally, I feel like it does:)  You might not realize just how much NOW, but once you read this story, you'll be like, "Yeah.  That cover is perfect for this book!"

When I got the paperback proof in the other day, I held it in my hands and I just stared at it.  Not only is this story extremely special to me, but this is probably my favorite cover of all my books.  Ever.  When I look at it, I see so much more than just a picture.  I see all the things that I find in life, as well as what I put into the story that is The Empty Jar.  It's a blend of happy pinks and brooding blues. It's light and it's dark.  There are highs and there are lows.  There is morning and there is night.   But if you notice the sky on this cover, there are little flickers of brightness in the bodies of the lightning bugs. Life is that way, too. Even in the darkest part of the night, there is a spark of hope.  There is beauty.  There is the romantic glow of a full moon, the silvery face of your mate, the delicate twinkle of fireflies. It's all there if we look closely enough—that balance of beauty and tragedy.

And love.

Always love.

Below is a little more about the book. It's hard to tell you much without spoiling anything, but I think you can get a feel for it.  It's such a special story.  So raw, so real. I honestly can't wait for y'all to read it! I hope you love IT and the cover as much as I do:)

If you want to know more about how it came about, you can read my blog post about it here.

But before I get to that...THE COVER!"

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Waiting On Wednesday #188: The Black Key by: Amy Ewing

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine. 
It spotlilghts upcoming releases that we are dying to read.

"For too long, Violet and the people of the outer circles of the Lone City have lived in service to the royalty of the Jewel. But now the secret society known as the Black Key is preparing to seize power.

And while Violet knows she is at the center of this rebellion, she has a more personal stake in it—her sister, Hazel, has been taken by the Duchess of the Lake. Now, after fighting so hard to escape the Jewel, Violet must do everything in her power to return to save not only Hazel, but the future of the Lone City." 

I am so excited for this one! I cannot wait to see how this series wraps up.

The Black Key will be released on October 4, 2016.

What are you waiting on?

Top Ten Tuesday: Books That Will Make You Laugh

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke And The Bookish.

Okay so quick disclaimer... I don't read many books that one would consider comedy so this list is books that had funny moments throughout, but I wouldn't consider them strictly comedy, so if that's your thing too here are some recs.