2017 Reads

2017 Reads

January
1. On Broken Wings(Wild Aces #3) by Chanel Cleeton = 336 pages
2. Hard Hitter(Brooklyn Bruisers #2) by Sarina Bowen = 336 pages
3. The Summer Palace(Captive Prince #3.6) by C.S. Pacat = 30 pages
4. Without BordersWanderlove #1) by Amanda Heger = 242 pages
5. Rat Queens Vol 3 by Kurtis J Wiebe = 160 pages
6. Amour Amour(Aerial Ethereal #1) by Krista & Becca Ritchie = 396 pages(reread)
7.The Hating Game by Sally Thorne = 384 pages(reread)
8. The Lie by Karina Halle = 292 pages
9. Caraval(Caraval #1) by Stephanie Garber = 407 pages
10. The Debt by Karina Halle = 264 pages
11. Velvet(Velvet #1) by Temple West = 417 pages
12. Forever Geek(Geek Girl #6) by Holly Smale = 412 pages
13. Cashmere(Velvet #2) by TempleWest = 460 pages
14. A Tragic Kind of Wonderful by Eric Lindstrom = 288 pages
15. Good Boy(WAGs #1) by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy = 269 pages
Total = 4693

February
16. Infini(AE #2) by Krista & Becca Ritchie = 465 pages
17. Anything You Can Do by R.S. Grey = 247 pages
18. Wires & Nerves Vol 1 by Marissa Meyer = 240 pages
19. Daughter of the Pirate King(Daughter of the Pirate King #1) by Tricia Levenseller = 320 pages
20. Strong Signal(Cyberlove #1) by Megan Erickson & Santino Hassell = 229 pages
21. Letters to the Lost be Brigid Kemmerer = 400 pages
22. Obsidian(Lux #1) by JLA = 360 pages(reread)
23. Onyx(Lux #2) by JLA = 366 pages(reread)
24. Undeclared(Burham College #2) by Julianna Keyes = 276 pages
25. Pucked Off(Pucked #5) by Helena Hunting = 278 pages
26. Opal(Lux #3) by JLA = 382 pages(reread)
27. Status Update(Gaymers #1) by Annabeth Albert = 189 pages
28. Origin(Lux #4) by JLA = 364 pages(reread)
Total = 4116

March
29. Opposition(Lux #5) by JLA = 352 pages(reread)
30. Royally Matched(Royally #2) by Emma Chase = 276 pages
31. At the Edge of the Universe by Shaun David Hutchinson = 485 pages
32. A Conjuring of Light(Shades of Magic #3) by V.E. Schwab = 624 pages
33. Buns(Hudson Valley #3) by Alice Clayton = 320 pages
34. Twist(Dive Bar #2) by Kylie Scott = 288 pages
35. Third Base(The Boys of Summer #1) by Heidi McLaughlin = 316 pages
36. The Power(Titans #2) by JLA = 344 pages(reread)
37. A Place in the Sun by R.S. Grey = 274 pages
38. Upside Down(Off the Map #1) by Lia Riley = 246 pages
39. Sideswiped(Off the Map #2) by Lia Riley = 384 pages
40. Inside Out(Off the Map #3) by Lia Riley = 244 pages
41. The Struggle(Titans #3) by JLA = 370 pages
42. Goodbye Paradise(Hello, Goodbye #1) by Sarina Bowen = 276 pages
43. Fast Connection(Cyberlove #2) by Megan Erickson & Santino Hassell = 260 pages
44. Hard Wired(Cyberlove #3) by Megan Erickson & Santino Hassell = 260 pages
45. Sutphin Boulevard(Five Boroughs #1) by Santino Hassell = 264 pages
46. Bittersweet(True North #1) by Sarina Bowen = 293 pages
47. Steadfast(True North #2) by Sarina Bowen = 313 pages
48. Keepsake(True North #3) by Sarina Bowen = 326 pages
Total = 6515

April
49. Idol(VIP#1) by Kristen Callihan = 339 pages
50. Saga Vol 7 = 152 pages
51. Heat Wave by Karina Halle = 307 pages
52. The Truth About Happily Ever After by Karole Cozzo = 320 pages
53. Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett = 391 pages
54. Geekerella by Ashley Poston = 320 pages
55. It Happened on Love Street(Everland, Georgia #1) by Lia Riley = 368 pages
56. Bang by Barry Lyga = 304 pages
57. All Lined Up(Rusk University #1) by Cora Carmack = 305 pages(reread)
58. All Broke Down(Rusk University #2) by Cora Carmack = 368 pages(reread)
59. All Played Out(Rusk University #3) by Cora Carmack = 321 pages(reread)
60. Something Real by Heather Demetrios = 406 pages(reread)
61. The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli = 336 pages(reread)
62. Finding You(Destination Love #3) by Jo Watson = 368 pages
Total = 4605

May
63. A Court of Mist and Fury(ACOTAR #2) by Sarah J Maas = 624 pages(reread)
64. A Court of Wings and Ruin(ACOTAR #3) by Sarah J Maas = 705 pages
65. Always and Forever, Lara Jean(Lara Jean #3) by Jenny Han = 336 pages
66. The Names They Gave Us by Emery Lord = 384 pages
67. The Love Interest by Cale Dietrich = 384 pages
68. How to Make A Wish by Ashley Herring Blake = 336 pages
69. Every Little Thing(Harts Boardwalk #2) by Samantha Young = 352 pages
70. Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia = 400 pages
71. Windfall by Jennifer E Smith = 418 pages
72. Queens of Geen by Jen Wilde = 288 pages
73. The Only Thing Worse Than Me is You by Lily Anderson = 352 pages
74. Giant Days Vol. 3 = 112 pages
75. Dating You Hating You by Christina Lauren = 320 pages
76. Hometown Cowboy(Rocky Mountain Riders #1) by Sara Richardson = 368 pages
Total = 5379

June
77. Shacking Up by Helena Hunting = 480 pages
78. The Foxe and the Hound by R.S. Grey = 385 pages
79. The Last Thing You Said by Sara Biren = 320 pages
80. The Unlikelies by Carrie Firestone = 336 pages
81. Score(San Francisco Thunder #1) by Victoria Denault = 368 pages
82. Him(Him #1) by Ellen Kennedy & Sarina Bowen = 360 pages(reread)
83. Us(Him #2) by Elle Kennedy & Sarina Bowen = 328 pages(reread)
84. Good Boy(WAGS #1) by Elle Kennedy & Sarina Bowen = 282 pages(reread)
85. Managed(VIP #2) by Kristen Callihan = 321 pages
86. Big Rock by Lauren Blakely = 247 pages
87. Worth Any Cost(Gaming the System #6) by Brenna Aubrey = 348 pages
88. Burning Moon(Destination Love #1) by Jo Watson = 304 pages
89. Stay(WAGS #2) by Elle Kennedy & Sarina Bowen = 295 pages
90. Almost a Bride(Destination Love #2) by Jo Watson = 384 pages
91. Until it Fades by K.A. Tucker = 356 pages
92. The Best Thing That Never Happened to Me by Laura Tait & Jimmy Rice = 357 pages
93. Damaged Like Us(Like Us #1) by Krista & Becca Ritchie = 400 pages
94. Internet Famous by Danika Stone = 320 pages
Total = 6191

July
95. The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee = 513 pages
96. The Fallen Kingdom(The Falconer #3) by Elizabeth May = 389 pages
97. Before Jamaica Lane(On Dublin Street #3) by Samantha Young = 417 pages(reread)
98. Fall From India Place(On Dublin Street #4) by Samantha Young = 294 pages(reread)
99. Echoes of Scotland Street(On Dublin Street #5) by Samantha Young = 331 pages(reread)
100. Moonlight on Nightengale Way(On Dublin Street #6) by Samantha Young = 334 pages(reread)
101. Down London Road(On Dublin Street #2) by Samantha Young = 373 pages(reread)
102. Long Way Down(Calloway Sisters #4;Addicted #3.2 ) by Krista & Becca Ritchie = 640 pages(reread)
103. Hunting Prince Dracula(Stalking Jack the Ripper #2) by Kerri Maniscalco = 448 pages
104. Night of Cake and Puppets by Laini Taylor = 256 pages
105. Dreams of Gods and Monsters(Daughter of Smoke and Bone #3) by Laini Taylor = 613 pages
106. Frost Blood(Frost Blood # 1) by Elly Blake = 376 pages(reread)
Total = 4984

August
107. Fire Blood(Frost Blood #2) by Elly Blake = 416 pages
108. Devils & Thieves(Devils & Thieves #1) by Jennifer Rush = 336 pages
109. The Dark Prophecy(Trials of Apollo #2) by Rick Riordan = 414 pages
110. The Young Elites(The Young Elites #1) by Marie Lu = 355 pages
111. The Rose Society(The Young Elites #2) by Marie Lu = 398 pages
112. The Midnight Star(The Young Elites #3) by Marie Lu = 316 pages
113. Bad Romeo Christmas(Starcrossed #4) by Leisa Rayven = 252 pages
114. Extreme Honor(True Heroes #1) by Piper J Drake = 384 pages
115. Exit, Pursued by A Bear by E.K. Johnston = 248 pages
116. Foolish Hearts by Emma Mills = 320 pages
117. Shuffle, Repeat by Jen Klein = 327 pages
118. The Hogwarts Collection by J.K. Rowling = 224 pages
Total = 3990

September
119. Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli = 320 pages(reread)
120. Spinning Out(The Blackhawk Boys #1) by Lexi Ryan = 462 pages
121. After We Fall by Melanie Harlow = 270 pages
122. Alex(Cold Fury Hockey #1) by Sawyer Bennett = 434 pages
123. Royally Endowed(Royally #3) by Emma Chase = 275 pages
124. Fraternize(Players Game #1) by Rachel Van Dyken = 307 pages
125. North to You(Journey to the Heart #1) by Tif Marcelo = 315 pages
126. Play On(Play On #1) by Samantha Young = 426 pages
127. Easy(Contours of the Heart #1) by Tammara Webber = 336 pages(reread)
128. Without Merit by Colleen Hoover = 384 pages
129. To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo = 384 pages
Total = 3913

October
130. Bountiful(True North #4) by Sarina Bowen = 315 pages
131. The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert = 368 pages
132. Anything You Can Do by R.S. Grey = 247 pages(reread)
133. Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover = 324 pages(reread)
134. Shameless by Lex Martin = 394 pages(reread)
135. Sweet Filthy Boy(Wild Seasons #1) by Christina Lauren = 385 pages(reread)
136. Dirty Rowdy Thing(Wild Seasons #2) by Christina Lauren = 352 pages(reread)
137. Dark Wild Night(Wild Seasons #3) by Christina Lauren = 341 pages(reread)
138. Wicked Sexy Liar(Wild Seasons #4) by Christina Lauren = 384 pages(reread)
139. Beautiful Bastard(Beautiful #1) by Christina Lauren = 305 pages(reread)
140. Beautiful Bitch(Beautiful #1.5) by Christina Lauren = 160 pages(reread)
141. Beautiful Stranger(Beautiful #2) by Christina Lauren = 345 pages(reread)
142. Beautiful Bombshell(Beautiful #2.5) by Christina Lauren = 160 pages(reread)
Total = 4080

November
143. Lovers Like Us(Like Us #2) by Krista & Becca Ritchie = 462 pages
144. Beautiful Player(Beautiful #3) by Christina Lauren = 432 pages(reread)
145. Beautiful Beginning(Beautiful #3.5) by Christina Lauren = 208 pages(reread)
146. Beautiful Beloved(Beautiful #3.6) by Christina Lauren = 80 pages(reread)
147. Beautiful Secret(Beautiful #4) by Christina Lauren = 401 pages(reread)
148. Beautiful Boss(Beautiful #4.5) by Christina Lauren = 144 pages(reread)
149. Beautiful(Beautiful #5) by Christina Lauren = 416 pages(reread)
150. The Fortunate Ones by R.S. Grey = 336 pages
151. Hero by Samantha Young = 410 pages(reread)
152. Hooking Up(Shacking Up #2) by Helena Hunting = 444 pages
153. Here We Are Now by Jasime Warga = 304 pages
154. Twelve(The Naturals #4.5) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes = 128 pages
155. Wild Card(North Ridge #1) by Karina Halle = 273 pages
156. Love, Life and the List by Kasie West = 384 pages
157. If There's No Tomorrow by Jennifer L Armentrout = 376 pages
158. Till Death by Jennifer L Armentrout = 384 pages
159. Roomies by Christina Lauren = 368 pages
160. The Problem with Forever by Jennifer L Armentrout = 474 pages
Total = 6024

December
161. Wicked(Wicked #1) by Jennifer L Armentrout = 375 pages(reread)
162. Paris For One by Jojo Moyes = 336 pages
163. Torn(Wicked #2) by Jennifer L Armentrout = 369 pages(reread)
164. Infraction(Players Game #2) by Rachel Van Dyken = 278 pages
165. Slammed(San Francisco Thunder #2) by Victoria Denault = 336 pages
166. Brave(Wicked #3) by Jennifer L Armentrout = 362 pages
167. Holiday Spice(The Shaughnessy Brothers #6) by Samantha Chase = 384 pages
168. Instructions for A Second Hand Heart by Tamsyn Murray = 313 pages
169. Lovers Like Us(Like Us #2) by Krista & Becca Ritchie = 462 pages(reread)
170. Illegal Contact(The Barons #1) by Santino Hassell = 251 pages
171. Sunset Park(Five Boroughs #2) by Santino Hassell = 246 pages
172. Corrupting Chris(Five Boroughs #2.5) by Santino Hassell = 24 pages
173. Third Rail(Five Boroughs #5.5) by Santino Hassell = 87 pages
174. First & First(Five Boroughs #3) by Santino Hassell = 244 pages
175. Interborough(Five Boroughs #4) by Santino Hassell = 249 pages
176. Concourse(Five Boroughs #5) by Santino Hassell = 366 pages
177. Citywide(Five Boroughs #6) by Santino Hassell = 370 pages
Total = 5052

Grand Total = 59,542

DNF
1. By Your Side by Kasie West @ 31%
2. Hard Rhythm by Cecilia Tan @ 95 pages
3. The Cottage at Firefly Lake by Jen Gilroy @ 100 pages
4. Riveted by Jay Crownover @ 17%
5. Romeo and What's Her Name by Shani Petroff @ 23 pages
6. For the Win by Sara Rider @ 12%
7. Openly Straight by Bill Konigsberg @ 25%
8. Mature Content by Santino Hassell & Megan Erickson @ 14%
9. Home Run by Heidi McLaughlin @ 50 pages
10. Bombshell by C.D. Reiss @ 51%

Favourite Reads of 2017

Hey. Hi. Hello. Yes, I still hang around my blog sometimes. Like 90% of the world, I felt the effects of 2017. It was a trash fire and I'm extremely happy to see it end. My blogging and reading were not at it's best. I'm just going to skip over the blog though(I hope to get a burst of motivation and inspiration to start posting much more regularly).
I read in 2017. That wasn't the problem. The issue was the books I read. I seemed to not be able to catch a break. And could be why I reread a hell of a lot more than usual. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed a bunch of the books. It's just my average rating really dropped. I'm sure it had to do with me just not being able to deal with a lot of the smaller issues that pop up in romance books(and YA). I don't think I necessarily read more critically; or as much as I want to be. I just didn't want to deal with mediocre. Which bleed over into some of my favourite authors. Some of their books my biggest disappointments of the year. If you know me, you'll definitely notice their absences from the list.
I had planned on making the usual 17 of 2017 post... but I found I would just be lying. Of the 20 5 stars, most were rereads. So you know what, that sums up my year. I had some new 5 star reads but nothing became an all-time favourite stand out.
With all that shit being said, don't get me wrong, these books being mentioned today were wonderful for many different reasons. That's why I choose them as my favourites of 2017.
Friends, I hope you had a wonderful 2017. I want to make time to see you guys around here more in 2018. Let's get this started.


10. Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller


9. Night of Cake and Puppets by Laini Taylor


8. Play On by Samantha Young

7. Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett


6. Damaged Like Us by Krista & Becca Ritchie


5. The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee


4. Pucked Off by Helena Hunting


3. Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia


2. Good Boy by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy


1. Letters to the Lost by Brigid Kemmerer

Let me know what your favourite read of 2017 was.

Happy reading!

Brittany

Villain by Samantha Young Blog Tour: Review + Excerpt

About the Author

Samantha Young is the New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of adult contemporary romances, including the On Dublin Street series and Hero, as well as the New Adult duology Into the Deep and Out of the Shallows. Every Little Thing, the second book in her new Hart’s Boardwalk series, will be published by Berkley in March 2017. Before turning to contemporary fiction, she wrote several young adult paranormal and fantasy series, including the amazon bestselling Tale of Lunarmorte trilogy. Samantha’s debut YA contemporary novel The Impossible Vastness of Us was published by Harlequin TEEN in ebook & hardback June 2017. Play On is an adult contemporary romance and the first in a brand new series set in Scotland. Villain is a companion novella to the New York Times bestselling romance HERO.

Samantha has been nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award 2012 for Best Author and Best Romance for On Dublin Street, Best Romance 2014 for Before Jamaica Lane, and Best Romance 2015 for Hero. On Dublin Street, a #1 bestseller in Germany, was the Bronze Award Winner in the LeserPreis German Readers Choice Awards for Best Romance 2013, Before Jamaica Lane the Gold Medal Winner for the LeserPreis German Readers Choice Awards for Best Romance 2014 and Echoes of Scotland Street the Bronze Medal Winner for the LeserPreis German Readers Choice Awards for Best Romance 2015.

Samantha is currently published in 30 countries and is a #1 international bestselling author.

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About Villain

Cover Design by Samantha Young

The sexy and emotional companion novella to the New York Times bestselling romance HERO.

Nadia Ray is not just a broadcast meteorologist. She’s Boston’s morning television It Girl. Successful and independent, she’s put a past she’s ashamed of behind her and is forging a future she can be proud of. However, when her new boss discovers her secret he blackmails her, intent on using Nadia’s popularity to make them the number one morning show in Massachusetts. He wants her to be part of uncovering the city’s biggest scandal – a secret billionaire Caine Carraway is hiding.

Soon Nadia is thrown into the path of Caine’s best friend: sexy, wealthy bachelor Henry Lexington. But she doesn’t encounter the dashing high society gentleman Henry is purported to be. Instead, she’s faced with an insulting and defensive villain who misjudges her at every turn.

When Henry finally realizes the truth and decides to make amends, Nadia wants nothing to do with him. But she underestimates his determination and charm and soon they find themselves embroiled in an intense, passionate affair.

An affair Nadia knows must come to an end before their feelings grow any deeper and he discovers her secrets.

After all, Henry Lexington isn’t the only one who played the part of a villain once…

Out December 5th in digital edition. amazon.com| amazon.com| amazon.co.uk| kobo

Excerpt

Maybe he really did feel bad for the way he’d treated me.

Yeah, maybe he did.

But did that change anything?

He’d still treated me poorly and who was to say he wouldn’t again?

Just because people felt awful for doing something didn’t mean they wouldn’t repeat the crime.

The real problem was my attraction to him.

I could admit it.

I was attracted to the son of a bitch.

There was something deeply wrong with me that I could be attracted to a man I didn’t even like.

Turned out that lunch with my colleagues was a terrible distraction idea. Because Henry was dining at The Bristol Lounge with none other than Caine Carraway.

“Maybe we should go somewhere else,” I said as we stood in the lobby outside the restaurant. Henry hadn’t spotted us yet.

Barbara frowned. “This is your favorite place. You love the Bristol Burger.”

I did love the Bristol Burger.

And for the first time in weeks, I was hungry.

Dammit.

No man was chasing me away from my goddamn burger.

“You’re right.” I nodded, sounding more assured than I actually felt. “But I’ll walk on your left side.”

My friend eyed me in confusion as I huddled at her side, trying to hide behind her as the host led us up the few stairs onto the main floor of the restaurant and right past Henry and Carraway’s table near the bar area, to a larger table at the back of the restaurant. As far as I

could tell, he hadn’t spotted me and there were now pillars between us that I could hide behind.

Relieved, I slid into my chair beside Barbara.

“Drinks?” the waiter asked.

We’d finished giving him our orders when the sight of Henry Lexington walking into view around one of those aforementioned pillars and toward our table made my pulse skitter.

He gave me a soft smile as if we hadn’t been enemies up until twenty-four hours ago. “Miss Ray, what a pleasant surprise.” That soft smile grew into a roguish grin. “Are you stalking me?”

I arched an eyebrow, wondering what the hell kind of game he was playing now. “A burger. I’m stalking a burger.”

“The burgers are very good here.”

“Mr. Lexington,” Barbara said beside me, sounding delighted to see him, and awfully familiar. “What a pleasure to see you.”

“You too, Barbara. And please, I’ve told you before—smart, beautiful women should call me Henry.”

I didn’t know what to do first: be surprised they knew each other or gag at his flirting with her.

“You know each other?”

“I know everyone worth knowing.” He winked at Barbara and she tittered like a schoolgirl.

Dear God.

And then I was the focus of his attention. He leaned against Andrew’s chair who was, as always, oblivious to anything but himself. “So this burger … will it put you in a good mood?”

“Excuse me?”

Those blue eyes were too intense, much too intense. “A good enough mood to agree to have lunch with me tomorrow?”

I was going to kill him.

How dare he put me on the spot in front of my colleagues, in front of Barbara! What? Did he think I’d be civil to him because we had an audience? I scowled. “No.”

“Are you seeing someone?” he persisted.

“No, she’s not,” Barbara interjected, giving me an “Are you crazy?” look. “And yes, she’s free for lunch tomorrow. You can pick her up from the station at one.”

“Fantastic.” Henry gave her a grateful, gorgeous smile before turning it on me. “See you tomorrow.”

He was gone before I could even get past the shock that had sealed my lips.

Review

Villain by Samantha Young
Published: December 5th, 2017
Publisher: Samantha Young
Series: Hero #1.5

Add to Goodreads

I really, really liked Henry in Hero. He was a fun, cheeky flirt. The total opposite of Caine; which in hindsight he needed to be easy going to have uptight, broody Caine as a best friend. So well we got a good sense of Henry in Hero, Nadia was a little more unknown. We just knew she finally stole Henry's elusive bachelor heart.

I feel like Villain was written for the fans. I'm pretty sure all of us wanted more of Henry and to get the real story of his and Nadia's romance. And here we are. Like most of Samantha's romance stories, it's messy at times. There's some sort of redemption. A misunderstanding. A hot alpha male type. Villain definitely fits the mold. There was certainly more to Nadia than most of us guessed in Hero. She's taken the on air news world by storm. Risen in popularity has clearly made her uncomfortable. Nadia's boss is a pig that wants her keep on moving up. She's put in a really tough position. Which leads to her and Henry not meeting on the best of terms. Trust is an issue there.

Like all tragic romances there's a past and secrets that can get in the way. But hey, if you've read Hero(which why haven't you?), there's no surprise to their future. Like mentioned, Villain is most definitely a story for the fans that wanted just a little more of Henry and Nadia. I think it does the job well enough. Hero just holds that different more emotional spot in my heart. 

Happy reading!

Brittany

2017 Favourites Part 3

Part 1 here
Part 2 here


Oh hey. I'm still kinda hanging around here. Think about my blog sometimes. Like when I realize we're 10 days into October and I'm late doing this post. I leave for vacation early tomorrow morning, so this is going to be a rush job. But I want to get it done and out.
Yesterday was Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving to me fellow Canadians! If you're anything like my house, there are now two weeks worth of turkey leftovers.
The 2017 trend continues; my reading is going alright. I've yet to discover that stand out read for my reading year. I've read a lot of blahs. Done a lot of rereads. And read some pretty good books. But in all honesty, I had to refresh myself on the past three months because nothing stood out. Which means this list doesn't even have ten books on it. What even. The rest of the year better give me some spectacular books!



July 1st-September 30th stats:
Read: 35
Reread: 9/35
DNFs: 1
Total Read So Far: 129
Most Read Genre: Romance
Total Pages Read(of finished books): 44,386

A super gay tour of Europe. Some of my favourite cinnamon roll characters of 2017.


A really solid ending to what I believe is an underrated trilogy. Historical Scotland + fae + broody princes + banter = a good time.


Gothic Europe at its best. Flirty banter(400 pages of sexual tension). Mystery. These books are bloody fantastic.


Zuzana's and Mik's first date with spectacular illustrations. This book is everything.


Emma Mills adds another adorable read to her repertoire. Clueless Claudia makes me a little frustrated. But in a good way. Family, friends, a little romance and perfect dialogue.


Cute! June is super pretentious(above high school). But that's what made her growth and realizations so spot on.


One of Young's best books to date. Broody Scotish men, self-growth, sexy moments and a bunch of emotions.


A very different CoHo book. This family needs a fuck ton of therapy.


Keep this one on your radar for early 2018. A dark and twisty Little Mermaid retelling. A bloody good time.

What's been your most favourite recent read?

Happy reading!

Brittany

Fraternize Blog Tour: Review + Excerpt + Giveaway

Hi friends. Thanks for stopping by for my stop on the Fraternize Blog Tour. Fun times are being had, thanks to Thomas Allen. Continue reading for my thoughts on a Fraternize, an excerpt, and a giveaway!

About the Author

Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she's not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor.

She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband, adorable son, and two snoring boxers! She loves to hear from readers!
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About the Book

Fraternize by Rachel Van Dyken

Publication Date: Sept.12th, 2017

Publisher: Skyscape

Series: Players Game #1

Pages: 320

Add to Goodreads

New York Times bestselling author Rachel Van Dyken kicks off a brand-new series in which romance is a game and love is a touchdown. 

Emerson just made her dream come true as a professional cheerleader for her favorite pro football team. But even though the plus-size athlete is breaking down boundaries, she still has to contend with the massive rulebook. Carbs? Nope. Chocolate? Definitely not. Still, Emerson loves her curves, and she’ll rock the hell out of this job even if it kills her. Except for one mandate that is easier read than done… 

No fraternizing with the players. 

Problem one is Miller Quinton: Emerson’s first love, first sex, and the guy who still ignites her daydreams and R-rated fantasies. Thrown back together, Miller and Emerson feel the undeniable pull of passion again, even if the conflict that tore them apart seems insurmountable. Then there’s way-too-sexy Grant Sanchez. He has a serious reputation with the ladies, and when it comes to winning someone he wants, he doesn’t let anyone stand in his way. 

Now Emerson is breaking every rule in the manual. But what she doesn’t know is that she’s part of a wicked little game—one that could steal both her dream and her heart.
indigo| amazon.ca| amazon.com| book depository

Excerpt

Haven’t read part 1 of the chapter one excerpt yet? Check out yesterday post to find out how this flashback fits in!

CHAPTER NINE EXCERPT – Part 1 of 2

Emerson

“Are you sure this is okay?” I glanced around the empty locker room and shivered. My body ached in all the wrong places, places I didn’t even know existed. Practice had ended a half hour ago, and even though I’d rolled out my muscles and nearly cried from the impact of the foam roller, I still hurt.

“Sure.” Kinsey shrugged. “I use it all the time. Just make sure to lock up when you’re done. It’s one of the perks of being a Bucks Girl.” She dumped the last bag of ice in the tub and pointed. “Ten minutes, no complaining. No tears. Buck up, Bucks Girl.”

I shivered/ “I hate ice baths.”

“Everyone hates ice baths, psycho.” She patted me on the back and then gave me a friendly shove toward the tin tub. “Keep your sports bra and underwear on just in case one of the night janitors walks by or, you know, a player.”

I glared. “A football player?”

“No worries. It’s preseason, and practice is at the ass-crack of dawn tomorrow. It’s too late for them to be out, the big babies.”

“Okay.” I sighed, buying myself more time before Kinsey crossed her arms and waited. “You’re not leaving until I’m in the tub, huh?”

“I’m not leaving until your ass is in the tub.”

“I take back what I said about you being nice.”

Laughter burst out of her. “I don’t give a rat’s ass. Now get in the tub, Em.”

With jerky movements, I pulled my tank over my head, tossed it on the floor, and jerked down my black leggings.

“Get in.” Kinsey pointed.

“I am!” I snapped. “I just…was thinking.”

“You were stalling.”

“You’re a bitch.

“Name calling? Really?”

I gripped the sides of the tub and slowly lowered my sore body. A rush of cold stole the breath from my lungs as tiny needles started jamming into my skin.

“S-so cold.” I hated Kinsey. “I hate you, I hate you.”

Her answer was to shrug then grab a red kitchen timer and crank it up to ten. “Alright, see you tomorrow morning, friend!”

“I have no friends!!” I yelled back at her. I heard her laugh as the locker room door closed.

Teeth chattering, I tried to think of something to distract myself with while I was blanketed by chilly silence and an insane amount of pain. But the agony was intense, and my muscles seized with every breath I tried to suck in.

The locker room door opened again.

“We still aren’t friends!” I yelled as my body convulsed beneath the icy water.

“Well, that’s disappointing,” came a dark, sexy voice. “I could have sworn we made a pact of sorts this morning.”

I glanced up through frozen eyelashes to see Sanchez towering over my icy hell with a grin on his smug face.

End of Excerpt…want to find out what happens between Sanchez and Emerson next? Check out tomorrow’s tour post to find out!

Review

So, I know I claim to be this huge romance reader. Which yea, super true. But this was my first foray into a Rachel Van Dyken book. A little ashamed there. Now that's been remedied, and I can say I liked what I read we can move on. 

Fraternize surprised me. Which is a not thing that happens in a straight up romance. I 100% assumed this was going to be a cookie cutter romance. I don't really like to be wrong, but I do like being surprised. So there's that.

I liked Emerson well enough. She's got a lot going on in her personal life. Add in that her love of cheerleading doesn't look kindly on curvy girls. Emerson has to work twice as hard for her talent to be seen just because of her body. I have no doubt that the girl has a killer, strong body. Of course, she makes the squad and in enters Sanchez; cocky, big talker, determined to make Emerson his best friend/more. Sanchez is so obviously fronting with all his over the top dramatics, that it's really hard to not like the guy. 

Emerson still misses her childhood best friend, Miller. It's a thing she constantly thinks about even though he hurt her. Well, hey, guess what? Miller just happens to be traded and apparently, he hate misses Emerson too. Fraternize also gives us alternating chapters from Miller's POV. It was a most excellent way to see Miller and their shared pass in two different lights. Because clearly, Emerson doesn't know the whole story. And vice versa. 

I want to say that yea, Fraternize has that love triangle thing going on. But at the end of the day, all there are in their early twenties. Emerson is leading neither of them on. And things might just surprise you. Feelings and emotions get confused and messy. Just maybe the past should stay in the past. Who knows what the future really holds. 

Fraternize is a super light and fun sports-centered romance. It gets silly and cheesy at many a times. But that's what I was expecting. I wanted a good time. Emerson has to put up with caddy cheerleaders who hide their jealousy through mean comments. Sanchez offers her an escape. Well, Miller offers her the truth. It's not all about boys and love. Emerson makes a few strong friendships along the way. Body image is a talking point. But these boys are great about hyping her up.
I thoroughly enjoyed Fraternize; my first Rachel Van Dyken read. I am so looking forward to the next book in this companion series. 

Giveaway
The winner will receive 1 copy of Fraternize by Rachel Van Dyken! Giveaway Details:
- Canada Only (full rules found in the T&C on Rafflecopter)
- Giveaway ends on September 28th at 11:59 am EST
- Winner will be drawn randomly through Rafflecopter, contacted via email & will have 48 hours to claim their prize

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks again to Ambur and Thomas Allen for setting up this blog tour. I hope you guys will check out Fraternize.

Happy reading!

Brittany

Mid-Year Book Freak Out TAG

Full credit to A Book So Fathomless for coming up with these questions. Find their post here.



I've done this post/TAG for the past two years, so I figured might as well keep it going.





1. Best book you've read so far in 2017?
You know what? I've yet to read a book that I want to scream and yell about being an instant favourite forever and ever. But I do have some excellent reads. I think because it's the freshest in my mind, The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue. A romping good time!

2. Best sequel you've read so far in 2017?
Two parter;
Companion sequel; Pucked Off. Surprisingly heartwarming and wrenching, different tone from the other books. But in a very good way.
Sequel in a series; Cashmere. This book is hilarious and different, well being a bit meta. I know the vampire craze is long over, and this series knows it by making fun of it.

3. New release you haven't read yet but want to?
I'm pretty much caught up on the releases I was most anticipating in the first half of the year. I do really want to read Flame in the Mist. But there's a good chance I'll wait till the sequel releases next year so I can do a binge.

4. Most anticipated release for the second part of the year?
Honestly, nothing I NEED right this minute. The Language of Thorns, Renegades and Hunting Prince Dracula are all highly anticipated though.

5. Biggest disappointment?
The disappointment of the century you mean. A Court of Wings and Ruin let me down in a lot of ways. After the gift that was ACOMAF I may have expected too much. Either way, ACOWAR barely delivered. I'm still not over this disappointment... Back to the ice cream I go.

6. Biggest surprise?
Eliza and Her Monsters; it wasn't even on my radar till about a week before its release and a whole bunch of reviewers were raving about it. So I downloaded an e-ARC and found myself fully invested within the first page. It's the perfect book for us that find homes in fandoms.

7. Favourite new to you author?
Jo Watson; I read her Destination Love series(or what's out so far in it) and thoroughly enjoyed her sense of humour.

8. Newest fictional crush?
I'm one to hoard book boyfriends like a squirrel hiding nuts. But 2017 you haven't been super kind to my shipper heart. Pucked Off finally gave me the chance to get to know Lance. And my perception of him definitely changed for the better. So feel in love with him.

9. Newest favourite character?
Monty, you flirt. He is a literal character. Gets himself into situations and the plans he comes up with to get out of them, zounds. I saw a post on Tumblr say(perfectly sums up The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue):
Everybody: Monty, no!
Monty: Monty, yes!

10. Book that made you cry?
Letters to the Lost caused plenty of tears. Not necessarily sad tears. The feels sure piled up and overflowed well reading that spectacular book.


11. Book that made you happy?
Damaged Like Us made me happy in the way that I was so damn happy to be back in this world. Back with some of my most beloved characters. Getting to know a new generation of Calloway's.

12. Favourite book to movie/T.V. show adaptation?
I really, really liked Netflix's adaptation of Thirteen Reasons Why. But because it was a book long before Disney got its hands on it, Beauty and the Beast(2017) wins. AMAZING! LOVED!

13. Favourite review you've written this year?
What reviews? Haha. Let's go with A Court of Wings and Ruin because I put a good effort into my ranting and disappointment.

14. Most beautiful book you've received so far this year?
This(>>) BEAUTIFULLY STUNNING edition of The Beauty and the Beast. The perfect birthday gift from my cousin and aunt.


15. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?
As I always say, any review books I acquire(or have already acquired).

Did you guys do this TAG? Hook me up if you did!

Happy reading!

Brittany

2017 Favourites Part 2

Find Part 1 here.

Happy Canada Day! #Canada150 (or if this post goes up late Happy Canada Day Weekend).
These past three months have been decent. I've lacked on the posting and keeping the blog consistent; again. But I've done a good amount of reading. So close to the hundred mark. I honestly don't have any major standouts. I've had a few 5* reads, but mostly 4 and under. One massive disappointment; which if you know me you will see missing from this list. I need to try a little harder at choosing my reads. I need some books to make me super excited(like Belle >>) and get me back to being a reading machine.
As expected/assumed, romance has been my go to. Also, read some great YA contemps. Check the stats below:


April 1st to June 30th stats:
Read: 46
Reread: 9/46
DNFs: 1
Total read so far in 2017: 94
Most Read Genre: Romance
Total Pages Read(of finished books): 31,499

Adorable, frustrating, sex positive, movie buff awesomeness.

Sweet f/f romance with a few harder hitting moments.

Fandom, fame and mental health was written(and illustrated) perfectly. READ THIS BOOK. 

What happens when an 18 year old wins the lottery? A little bit of fun and chaos. Jen Smith is one of my fave authors. She's so dependable. 

Three days at a con with three awesome friends. Absolutely fun and perfect. Super positive rep for autism, mental health and LGTBQI+.

Smart, nerdy kids. There are some pretty big nerd-offs. With a hate to love manipulated romance. It's pure fun.

Hunting always knows how to deliver a great romcom. The relationship is a slow burn that borders more towards the sweet side. 100% approve.

Fun. Hilarious. A raging good time. 

Quirky and darkly funny. Friendship to the max. I mean, mature friend group. 

Oh Erickson.  I LOVE this author duo. Trust me when I say they create swoony romcom gold together.

I feel like I've been waiting a lifetime for this book. Moffy is everything I needed him to be. Loved Farrow. LOVED being back in the Calloway world!

What's been your favourite book this past quarter?

Happy reading!

Brittany