In My Mailbox: Volume 1 Issue 25

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren. Every week I'll post what books I've received either by mailbox/library/store.

I'll try to post an entry of IMM every Sunday that I receive books by mail of that week.

Listed below are the books I received this week.

Books via Paperback Swap

The Night She Got Lucky by Susan Donovan

Coming Undone by Lauren Dane

Books via Reader Service 

One Wicked Sin by Nicola Cornick

Invincible by Joan Johnston

Home in Time for Christmas by Heather Graham

Christmas in Cedar Cove by Debbie Macomber

Books via Public Library

Never Too Hot by Bella Andre

Hell Yeah by Carolyn Brown

Books via Borders

Four Play by Maya Banks & Shayla Black

Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-Thon

Number of books read since you started:

1. Through the Montana Mist by Carol Lynne
2. Hidden Hands by Shayla Kersten

I've been taking a couple of breaks to watch a little a lot of tv. :) But I'm soo trying.

A Bit of Me(Me): To Read & Read & Read

We all leave our “footprint” on the world, in one way or another. We each, individually, do something or are someone that makes the world a little better just by being here.

This is a weekly meme to get to know the blogging community a bit better. To know what makes them tick, outside of books, that is. This meme is hosted by the1stdaugter @ There's a Book each Saturday.

This Week's Question:

How many books have you read in a single sitting? Or, how long have you stayed up reading a book, which one, and why?

 

I have difficulty sitting still for extended periods of time without thinking of something I need to do. So with that being said, I think the most I've read in a single sitting would be about two books, three at most. I have a short attention span when it comes to some things. I could be reading, and think of fifty other things I need to be doing with that time.



As for staying up reading, I can recall staying up until the 3AM reading Heaven, Texas when I knew I had to be up at 6AM the following morning for work. But the weekends, staying up 'til 3AM reading is a norm for me. Those late hours are when I can truly devote time to reading, and not dwell on the fifty other things I could be doing.

Review: Sugar Creek by Toni Blake

Sugar Creek
Toni Blake
Series: Destiny, #2
Publisher: Avon
Published: May 10, 2010
Format: Mass Market Paperback {372 pages}
Source: Public Library
Genre: Contemporary
Characters: Rachel Farris, Mike Romo
My Rating:

Heat Level: 4/5
Synopsis:

Welcome to Destiny, Ohio—where two families have been at odds as long as anyone in town can remember.

Rachel Farris returned to her childhood home with one mission in mind: get Mike Romo out of her family’s apple orchard business and out of their lives. But hard-nosed and totally hot Mike, who happens to be the law in Destiny, is convinced the Farris clan stole the land from his family fifty years ago and he’s not backing down. Even when shapely trouble shows up in a pair of designer blue jeans. However, neither the hunky cop nor the sexy prodigal hometown girl can anticipate the electricity that heats things up whenever they’re together—adding new sizzle to an ongoing feud that’s raged for generations, and soon putting both their hearts at risk.

Rachel Farris came speeding down the dusky two-lane highway toward Destiny just as fast as she'd left town almost fifteen years ago.

Rachel returns to Destiny to help her grandmother Edna with the family apple orchard. While there, she becomes involved with Mike Romo, a member of her family's rival family.

From first meeting each other they did nothing but argue. With the life-long rivalry between their families it was to be expected. The back and forth banter with Rachel and Officer "Romeo" provided for some great entertainment.

Things started to shift between them while they were stuck together working the concession stand at the local high school. The two of them end up having sex on the concession stand floor! HOT!!

As their relationship progressed it became more than just sex, even though that is all Rachel would admit to it being. As the reader, you could see Mike falling for her, and Rachel being a little more hesitant. Rachel felt that her success and achievement came from leaving Destiny, and she was unsure about giving that up to return there. Even for Mike. I enjoyed Mike trying to provide her with the romance she asked for. Especially when he played "Fade Into You" while they made love. I had to get my ipod and listen to it myself while I read that scene.

I loved Rachel's smart-assed comments and the relationship she had with her grandmother. Edna also had a story within a story, about her past and how the feud between the two families came about. From the start of her story, I felt sorry for her and her lost love. But then at the end of her story, I was just pissed for Edna.

Overall it was a great book that kept me laughing along the way. I look forward to reading more of the Destiny novels.

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Review: Mad, Bad, and Blonde by Cathie Linz

Mad, Bad, and Blonde
Cathie Linz
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Published: March 2, 2010
Format: Mass Market Paperback {275 pages}
Source: Public Library
Genre: Contemporary
Characters: Faith West,Caine Hunter
My Rating:

Heat Level: 4/5
Synopsis:

After being jilted at the altar, librarian Faith West goes on her Italian honeymoon solo, but doesn't stay that way too long. And though her sexy rebound man has ulterior motives, feelings surface that neither of them are prepared for.

It was the perfect day for a wedding.

Faith is left at the altar by her fiance, who thinks she's boring and leaves for Bali to "find himself." Determined not to let this ruin her, Faith goes on her honeymoon alone. While on her honeymoon, she meets hunky former Marine, Caine Hunter. What she doesn't know is that he has his own agenda when it comes to her.

Faith is smart and witty, and she was able to push forward after a situation that would have broken most people. I truly liked how she kept thinking and regarding life in terms of "what would Jane Austen do." The chemistry between Faith and Caine was smoking hot and more than just sexually charged. The two of them had this dry, witty back and forth interactions with each that was hilarious at times. Especially while working together.

I loved these two together from the start. Caine was the perfect fit for Faith. Someone who could go toe-to-toe with her and still let her be herself.

Another interesting thing about Faith, not only did she think in terms of Jane Austen, but in music as well. She had a soundtrack for every aspect of her life. Every mood had a song. There were references for every song you could imagine. I Hate Everything About You, Don't Speak, A Life Less Ordinary, Jump, Irreplaceable, You Give Love a Bad Name, Don't Stop Believin', just to name a few. Maybe I need to get a playlist for my life.

I'm definitely looking forward to reading the follow up to this one, Luck Be a Lady.

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Waiting on Wednesday: Volume 1 Issue 21

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine. It is showcases upcoming releases of books that I'm looking forward to. It is somewhat similar to one of my previous posts, Anxiously Awaiting.

Hidden Away

Maya Banks
March 1, 2011

A man who shoots first and asks questions later…

Most people would take an all-expenses-paid trip to the beach in a heartbeat. Garrett Kelly only accepts to keep tabs on Sarah Daniels, who’s in hiding after witnessing a murder by Marcus Lattimer, her half-brother—and a personal enemy of KGI. This gig may be beneath a disciplined soldier like Garrett, but if he gets a shot at Lattimer, it will all be worth it…

…and the ultimate moving target.

But Garrett hadn’t counted on falling for Sarah. He’d considered seduction as a tactical maneuver, but when he glimpses Sarah’s dark past, he feels an urgent desire to keep her safe—even after she disappears on him. Garrett doesn’t know exactly who, or what, Sarah’s running from, but whatever it is, she’s running for her life…