Publisher: Harper Collins

The Weekly Recap (120)

Posted February 4, 2019 by Rowena in Features | 6 Comments

It was another quiet week for me. Just basketball and nerdy reading tracker things that I’m doing because my freaking friend Holly drives me crazy (Love you, bitch). Now that I’ve started trying to bring this reading tracker to life, I don’t want to do much else until it is complete and functioning the way that Holly and I envisioned.

Brenna and Kenna won both of their games this week and Meghan’s team split their two games. They won the game they were supposed to win but they lost the game that they needed to win. Oh well. Brenna was one of the top leading scorers for her last game and that’s always nice. Kenna led in assists on Friday and that’s pretty dope too because a lot of her dimes were so nice looking.

Now, onto the books…

What I’m Currently Reading
The Weekly Recap (120)Devil's Daughter
by Lisa Kleypas
Series: The Ravenels #5
Also in this series: Marrying Winterborne
Published by Harper Collins, Avon on February 19, 2019
Genres: Historical, Romance
Point of View:Alternating Third Person
Pages: 384
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher, Edelweiss
Add It: Goodreads
Reading Challenges:2019 GoodReads Challenge

New York Times bestselling author Lisa Kleypas delivers a scintillating tale of a beautiful, young widow who finds passion with the one man she shouldn't...

Although beautiful young widow Phoebe, Lady Clare, has never met West Ravenel, she knows one thing for certain: he's a mean, rotten bully. Back in boarding school, he made her late husband's life a misery, and she'll never forgive him for it. But when Phoebe attends a family wedding, she encounters a dashing and impossibly charming stranger who sends a fire-and-ice jolt of attraction through her. And then he introduces himself...as none other than West Ravenel.

West is a man with a tarnished past. No apologies, no excuses. However, from the moment he meets Phoebe, West is consumed by irresistible desire...not to mention the bitter awareness that a woman like her is far out of his reach. What West doesn't bargain on is that Phoebe is no straitlaced aristocratic lady. She's the daughter of a strong-willed wallflower who long ago eloped with Sebastian, Lord St. Vincent—the most devilishly wicked rake in England.

Before long, Phoebe sets out to seduce the man who has awakened her fiery nature and shown her unimaginable pleasure. Will their overwhelming passion be enough to overcome the obstacles of the past?

Only the devil's daughter knows...

I meant to start this over the weekend but like all of the plans I make, this one fell through. I didn’t read much of anything over the weekend but I’m hoping to change that tonight because it’s West and Phoebe. I need to read their romance pronto!

What I Read

Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss by Kasie West | 3.75 out of 5
The Scoundrel in Her Bed (Sins for All Season #3) by Lorraine Heath | 4.5 out of 5

What I Reviewed

Blood Kiss (Black Dagger Legacy #1) by J.R. Ward | 4 out of 5
The Wrong Game by Kandi Steiner | 2.5 out of 5
Governess Gone Rogue (Dear Lady Truelove #3) by Laura Lee Guhrke | 4 out of 5

What I Posted

The Weekly Recap (119)
The Wednesday Post (5)
My TBR Pile: February 2019

What I Got

Free (Chaos #7) by Kristen Ashley

What I Got for Review

Nothing new this week.

What Made Me Laugh

There you have it, my week in review. How was your week?

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The Weekly Recap (119)

Posted January 28, 2019 by Rowena in Features | 6 Comments

You guys, Brenna got her first start of this season (she was hurt in pre-season so the coaches were treating her with baby gloves when she got back) and…SHE WAS LEADING SCORER OF THE GAME!! I so happy for her because she’s got such a nice shot and she was finally able to let her shot fly on Friday against a pretty decent team in our conference and Kenna tied for second-leading scorer in the game so woo hoo for my girls! Meghan played in San Diego and then against a really trash team at home this week so I didn’t go to either of her games. She played well and was featured in her school’s article on the games so yay Meg!

I didn’t do much but read and watch basketball games this week so that’s all I got for you guys on the real-life front of this post.

Now, onto the books…

What I’m Currently Reading
The Weekly Recap (119)Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss
by Kasie West
Published by Harper Collins, Harper Teen on February 5, 2019
Genres: Young Adult
Point of View:First Person
Pages: 384
Format: eARC
Source: Edelweiss
Add It: Goodreads
Reading Challenges:2019 GoodReads Challenge

Lacey Barnes has dreamt of being in a movie for as long as she can remember. However, while her dream did include working alongside the hottest actor in Hollywood, it didn’t involve having to finish up her senior year of high school at the same time she was getting her big break. Although that is nothing compared to Donavan, the straight-laced student her father hires to tutor her, who is a full-on nightmare.

As Lacey struggles to juggle her burgeoning career, some on-set sabotage, and an off-screen romance with the unlikeliest of leading men, she quickly learns that sometimes the best stories happen when you go off script.

I have two more books to read from my January TBR pile and this is the first book of the double feature for this week. So far, I’m not really feeling it but I’m going to push through this beginning hump and hopefully, the story will pick up and I’ll enjoy it. Wish me luck!

I am really looking forward to the next book on my TBR list though…The Scoundrel in Her Bed by Lorraine Heath. FINN!! LAVINIA!! I CAN’T WAIT!!

What I Read

One and Only (Bridesmaids Behaving Badly #1) by Jenny Holiday (eBook) | 4.5 out of 5
It Takes Two (Bridesmaids Behaving Badly #2) by Jenny Holiday (eBook) | 4.75 out of 5
Merrily Ever After (Bridesmaids Behaving Badly #2.5) by Jenny Holiday (eBook) | 4.75 out of 5
Three Little Words (Bridesmaids Behaving Badly #3) by Jenny Holiday (eARC) | 4.5 out of 5
From Lukov with Love by Mariana Zapata (Audiobook) | 4.25 out of 5
Thirty Day Boyfriend by Whitney G. (Audiobook) | 3.5 out of 5

I listened to my first two audiobooks of the year (finally) and I have another one lined up for this week so that I can make my goal of at least 3 audiobooks a month.

I read the entire Bridesmaids Behaving Badly series last week and that was such a wonderful reading experience. I loved every single book and was so sad when I finished Gia’s book. What a great group of lady friends who were serious squad goals. Jenny Holiday is a new to me author, my favorite of the year so far and I cannot wait to continue reading through her book log. I just adored every single book.

My favorite read of the week is It Takes Two by Jenny Holiday. Wendy is my favorite gal from the Bridesmaid gang. I adored and connected with her so much. Her romance with Noah was such a good one, I loved it so much.

My least favorite read of the week goes to Thirty Day Boyfriend by Whitney G. I liked it but the asshole boss thing that’s been featured in books lately just isn’t my favorite. The hero in this book does shit that pissed me off and the heroine kind of fell in line with his shit and while she does let her petty flag fly, I was still annoyed. Still, the ending was cute and I didn’t hate it when all was said and done.

Eye Candy Friday

Dr. Conrad Hawkins
The Resident on FOX

What I Reviewed

Right Where I Want You by Jessica Hawkins | 3.5 & 4 out of 5
Playing for Keeps (Heartbreaker Bay #7) by Jill Shalvis | 4 out of 5
99 Percent Mine by Sally Thorne | 4 out of 5

What I Posted

The Weekly Recap (118)
The Wednesday Post (4)
Eye Candy Friday: Conrad Hawkins from The Resident

What I Got

The Secret (Highland Lairds #1) by Julie Garwood
Overnight Sensation (Brooklyn Bruisers #5) by Sarina Bowen
Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton

What I Got for Review

When We Left Cuba by Chanel Cleeton
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
Hot to the Touch (Brotherhood by Fire #1) by Jaci Burton
Eyes on Me by Rachel Harris

What Made Me Laugh

There you have it, my week in review. How was your week?

6 Comments
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The Weekly Recap (116)

Posted January 7, 2019 by Rowena in Features | 8 Comments

It’s been a few weeks since I’ve updated this feature on the blog so I figured, it was time to get back to it. In the time since I last updated, Christmas came and went, New Years came and went and Caiden came and went. The BYU kids came home for the holidays (well after Christmas but before New Years) but they’re back at school and our days have gotten back to normal.

My car was in the shop for a little bit because I needed to replace my power steering pump and hose and also my alternator and then my battery because my power steering pump was leaking directly onto my alternator and messed everything all up so I had to pay to get that fixed so my car is back and everything is a lot better. I think. I’m broke as shit but everything is fixed so thank goodness.

Now, onto the books…

What I’m Currently Reading
The Weekly Recap (116)Governess Gone Rogue
by Laura Lee Guhrke
Series: Dear Lady Truelove #3
Published by Harper Collins, Avon on January 29, 2019
Genres: Historical, Romance
Point of View:Alternating Third Person
Pages: 384
Format: eARC
Source: Edelweiss
Add It: Goodreads
Reading Challenges:2019 GoodReads Challenge

Dear Lady Truelove...

My twin brother and I need a new mother, though Papa insists he'll never marry again. Must be nice, brainy, and fond of cats...

Lady Truelove may be London's most famous advice columnist, but James St. Clair, the Earl of Kenyon, knows his wild young sons need a tutor, not a new mother. They need a man tough enough to make his hellions tow the line, and James is determined to find one.

Miss Amanda Leighton, former schoolteacher and governess, knows she has all the qualifications to be a tutor. And while female tutors are unheard of, Amanda isn't about to lose the chance at her dream job because of pesky details like that. If Lord Kenyon insists on hiring a man, then she has only one option.

Jamie isn't sure what to make of his new employee, until he realizes the shocking truth—beneath the ill-fitting suits, his boys' tutor is a woman. An unconventional, outspoken, thoroughly intriguing woman. Despite Amanda's deception, he can't dismiss her when his boys are learning so much. Yet Jamie, too, is learning surprising lessons—about desire, seduction, and passionate second chances.

I really, really need to get a jump start on my reading for this year but I blame Game of Thrones. I’m reading this book but I’m mostly watching season 3 of Game of Thrones. I had forgotten how much rage I felt every time Joffrey was on the screen. As for the book, I’m enjoying it so far. The heroine is pretending to be a boy to be a tutor for a set of boy twins…and the back and forth between her and the hero is fun.

What I Read

The One You Fight For (The Ones that Got Away #3) by Roni Loren | 4 out of 5
Famous in a Small Town by Emma Mills | 4 out of 5
Illegally Yours (Laws of Attraction #2) by Kate Meader | 4 out of 5
Playing for Keeps (Heartbreaker Bay #7) by Jill Shalvis | 4 out of 5
99 Percent Mine by Sally Thorne | 4 out of 5

I enjoyed all of the books that I read in the last couple of weeks. I think my favorite of the bunch though would probably be The One You Fight For by Roni Loren. It was hard to get through but I enjoyed it and I cried a lot. I thought Loren handled that romance so well. I don’t have a least favorite, not this week anyway.

Book Boyfriend

Jax Blackwood
Fall by Kristen Callihan

What I Reviewed

My Favorite Half Night Stand by Christina Lauren | 4 out of 5

What I Posted

The Weekly Recap (115)
Christmas Movie Round Up
Can’t Wait Wednesday: The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai
Bookish Naughty or Nice Tag
Book Boyfriend: Dallas Walker from Wait for It by Mariana Zapata
Happy New Year!
The Wednesday Post (1)
My TBR Pile: January 2019
Eye Candy Friday: Jax Blackwood from Fall by Kristen Callihan

What I Got

The Deal (Off Campus #1) by Elle Kennedy (Audiobook)

What I Got for Review

Only a Breath Away by Katie McGarry

What Made Me Laugh

There you have it, my week in review. How was your week?

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Can’t Wait Wednesday: The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai

Posted December 19, 2018 by Rowena in Features | 2 Comments

Can’t Wait Wednesday is hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings and it was based on the meme Waiting on Wednesday that was hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Can’t Wait Wednesday: The Right Swipe by Alisha RaiThe Right Swipe
by Alisha Rai
Series: Modern Love #1
Published by Harper Collins, Avon on July 2, 2019
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 384
Add It: Goodreads

Alisha Rai returns with the first book in her sizzling new Modern Love series, in which two rival dating app creators find themselves at odds in the boardroom but in sync in the bedroom.

Rhiannon Hunter may have revolutionized romance in the digital world, but in real life she only swipes right on her career—and the occasional hookup. The cynical dating app creator controls her love life with a few key rules:

- Nude pics are by invitation only
- If someone stands you up, block them with extreme prejudice
- Protect your heart

Only there aren't any rules to govern her attraction to her newest match, former pro-football player Samson Lima. The sexy and seemingly sweet hunk woos her one magical night... and disappears.

Rhi thought she'd buried her hurt over Samson ghosting her, until he suddenly surfaces months later, still big, still beautiful—and in league with a business rival. He says he won't fumble their second chance, but she's wary. A temporary physical partnership is one thing, but a merger of hearts? Surely that’s too high a risk…

I discovered Alisha Rai’s writing not too long ago and I really liked everything that I’ve read from her so far so when this book came onto my radar, I immediately put it on my wishlist because yes, I want to read this damn book. The blurb is a good one and I’m all about reading about this modern love with ghosting and hot matches. Add to that, this adorable cover and I’m completely in. Sign me up!

Pre-Order the Book

The Right Swipe (Modern Love #1) by Alisha Rai
Releases on July 2, 2019
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Google Books

Are you looking forward to more goodness from Alisha Rai in 2019? Did The Right Swipe make it onto your TBR list for next year? Share your excitement with me in the comments!

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Can’t Wait Wednesday: On the Come Up by Angie Thomas

Posted December 5, 2018 by Rowena in Features | 0 Comments

Can’t Wait Wednesday is hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings and it was based on the meme Waiting on Wednesday that was hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Can’t Wait Wednesday: On the Come Up by Angie ThomasOn the Come Up
by Angie Thomas
Published by Harper Collins, Balzer + Bray on February 5, 2019
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult
Pages: 320
Add It: Goodreads

Sixteen-year-old Bri wants to be one of the greatest rappers of all time. Or at least make it out of her neighborhood one day. As the daughter of an underground rap legend who died before he hit big, Bri’s got big shoes to fill. But now that her mom has unexpectedly lost her job, food banks and shutoff notices are as much a part of Bri’s life as beats and rhymes. With bills piling up and homelessness staring her family down, Bri no longer just wants to make it—she has to make it.

On the Come Up is Angie Thomas’s homage to hip-hop, the art that sparked her passion for storytelling and continues to inspire her to this day. It is the story of fighting for your dreams, even as the odds are stacked against you; of the struggle to become who you are and not who everyone expects you to be; and of the desperate realities of poor and working-class black families.

The Hate U Give was one of the first audiobooks that I listened to this year and I was gripped from beginning to end so I knew that I was going to watch the movie as soon as it came out. It was a compelling story about what it’s like to grow up being black in these modern times. You’d think that the race issue would be something of the past, that we’ve grown as a society but there are a lot of things that still go on today that disappoints me.

I wouldn’t say that I enjoyed The Hate U Give because my heart broke for all of the characters involved (except Starr’s white bestie from school) but I was invested in everything that was going on and I thought Angie Thomas wrote a fabulous story to shed some light on what it’s like to not have white privilege.

That being said, I’m really looking forward to reading this book when it comes out. It looks like another engaging story and I’m so here for it. I think Angie Thomas has a compelling writing style and I have every confidence that I’ll be invested in everything that goes down in On the Come Up so sign me up!

Pre-Order the Book

On the Come Up by Angie Thomas
Releases on February 5, 2019
AMAZON || BARNES & NOBLE || GOOGLE BOOKS || KOBO

Are you planning on getting On the Come Up by Angie Thomas? What are some of the books you’re looking forward to releasing in the next few months?

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