My Monday Musings: First weekend of the Arc challenge...

Musing Mondays asks you to muse about one of the following each week…

• Describe one of your reading habits.
• Tell us what book(s) you recently bought for yourself or someone else, and why you chose that/those book(s).
• What book are you currently desperate to get your hands on? Tell us about it! 
• Tell us what you’re reading right now — what you think of it, so far; why you chose it; what you are (or, aren’t) enjoying it.
• Do you have a bookish rant? Something about books or reading (or the industry) that gets your ire up? Share it with us!
• Instead of the above questions, maybe you just want to ramble on about something else pertaining to books — let’s hear it, then!

Oh I was totally excited to start this May ARC Challenge... even added some book to my already crazy full ARC Library... and what did I read this weekend.. Not a Damn darn thing. Well that's not true I was re reading the 50 shades series and finished "Fifty Shades Freed" at 2am Sunday Morning. But that was not an ARC so that doesn't count. But in reality I had a blast this weekend. Hung out with an old friend and played video games. Yep I'm a nerd and I know it. But if it makes the blogosphere feel better I did read a short story this morning that was on my ARC list. It might make you feel better... but it did not make me feel better. But that might be because I re read the " Fifty Shades Series" and all other of that genre need not apply. So go see my one and only sex story erotic short story... because you might never see another... because next time I'm at Net Galley I will pay more attention to what I have to read=)

Claiming Lauren: A Review

From Good Reads: 

**Erotic romance short story, 10,000 words**

One night should have been enough.

Twenty-seven-year-old Lauren Brant is the perfect society wife. She hosts dinners for her husband's colleagues. She attends charity functions. She's entirely appropriate...except for her clawing need to submit to a man she knows only as Master.

Unable to deny her cravings, she arranges to meet Master. No names, no faces, nothing but submission and sensation. Except it isn't enough. Even before the night ends, Lauren needs more.

But "more" isn't part of the arrangement and she returns to her polished life only to discover her estranged husband has come home. After five years of being invisible to Jacob Brant, Lauren doesn't know what to do with him. He, however, knows exactly what to do with her...

Okay I might have gotten a little click happy on Net Galley... But I was auto approved by a publisher and was super duper excited. So when I saw this cover I was overly excited and either didn't read the synopisis or just went click happy and didn't care. This is not the usual book I review. Don't get me wrong I was just as big a fan of Fifty Shades as everyone else... but that doesn't mean I am going to review it where my mother can see it. One of my friends says its my Christian Upbringing that keeps me away from doing things like that... I think its because I want to be able to look my mother in the eye when I see her.

But anyways on to the review:

Like I said before I am just as big a fan of a little S&M fiction as the next gal...but this left me with a bad taste in my mouth. I felt like I was in the middle of this huge story even though I had just started. It was very predictable and even more boring. The steamiest thing about this book is the cover. So I give this one star and next time I will read through the net galley synopsis more vigilantly. 

My Favorite Friday Meme is back again!!!

Q: Give us a sneak! What are you reading? Tell us about a fun or fail scene in your current read.

Right now I am reading Aberrant by Ruth Silver. I can tell its getting to a good part. A lot has happened and I am only at chapter 15... its a lot to take in but I am loving the characters. Here's a little Sneaky Peak =)

First Sentence in Chapter 15:

"Morning came far to quickly and my stomach lurched with every passing moment, knowing they'd come for us."

I know what your thinking... how can you leave us with a sentence like that... I guess you'll just have to grab a copy and see. And at the beginning of next month I am a part Ms Silver's book tour...so keep looking for more sneak peak fun=)

What are you reading right now?

May ARC Challenge

So I have totally been off my game=)

And seeing I have challenged my self with this handy dandy ARC Challenge... I am going to push myself with this one










So my Goal this month is to read all the Arc's I have waiting on my kindle which is alot books... some of which I am doing book tours for in the coming months... and I have been totally reading and reviewing books that I was not given to review... shame on me=)

So these are the books I plan on Reading this month:

Aberrant  (Review Scheduled for June 2nd)
Gameboard Of The Gods
Ripped
A Shimmer of Angels
Pretty Dark Nothing
Found
A Moment
Escape From Eden
Savin' Me
One Night Of Misbehavior
Claiming Lauren
Head Over Heels
Chaotic  (Review Scheduled For May 26th)
Dragonfly


As I finish reading them I will cross them out and change my link from the Good Reads Synopsis to my Review. Happy May Reading Everyone=)
And of course any and all ARCs I find and read will be added to the list as well=)

Beautiful Series: A Review

From Good Reads:

Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn’t drink or swear, and she has the appropriate number of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance from the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University’s Walking One-Night Stand.

Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby wants—and needs—to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the ultimate college campus charmer. Intrigued by Abby’s resistance to his appeal, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis’s apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match.Finally, the highly anticipated follow-up to the New York Times bestseller Beautiful Disaster. 

Can you love someone too much?

Travis Maddox learned two things from his mother before she died: Love hard. Fight harder.

In Walking Disaster, the life of Travis is full of fast women, underground gambling, and violence. But just when he thinks he is invincible, Abby Abernathy brings him to his knees.

Every story has two sides. In Beautiful Disaster, Abby had her say. Now it’s time to see the story through Travis’s eyes.

I really don't think you can review one book without the other. Honestly I think this series would have been better as one book. I would have liked it a lot better that way. Don't get me wrong I read this book like it was water and I was alone in the desert but here are my reviews.

Beautiful Disaster:
Travis is a violent, man whore...who falls in love. Abby is a girl hardened by life experiences...who knows boys just like Travis...and isn't interested in being one of the many. There is so many reasons for it not to work out... but what if it could?


This was a really good book...most of the time. I think most people will love this book...and I think if this and walking disaster were one book I would have loved it as well. This is not about two hurting people that find each other in chaos. This is about an unhealthy relationship at its worst. It was beautifully written but it was not something I liked. I found it disturbing on so many levels. If only because I have been there myself and have watched so many of my friends go through relationships just like this one... but lets just talk about the book itself.

Characters:
I am a glutton for punishment... because I know so many men just like Travis... yet I fell in love with this character. I wanted to hold him when he was grabbing for what sanity he had left. I was angry with Abby much of this book... but I think I just thought like most women do when they see something that is bad for them... I thought yep... I need that. Abby was clawing for a way out the whole time in this book. always mad, always hurting. Yet always going back... she made me mad...probably because I saw a little bit of myself in her.

Plot:
The plot was very interesting something I read through rather quickly. This wasn't a bad book... it just had me angry by the end. I wanted the ending to be better... I wanted to see them better themselves...not jump into something that might ultimately hurt the progress they were making.


Walking Disaster:

He grew up fighting and screwing. That's what he did... he liked it... Until he met Abby... she was his pigeon...

I wish I had read this one before I read Beautiful Disaster. I think I wouldn't have been so frustrated. I think I needed to read Travis' part first because when you don't he seems like an emotionally abusive butt head... and don't get me wrong their are times he is... but you understand more. I loved this book. I think Jamie took a broken love story and made it beautiful. I liked the ending much better on this one.... I needed their to be a happy ending... or at least some closure to the couple I had come to lovingly hate. Now on to the series stuff.

Characters: My favorite Character in this book is Sheply... oh how I loved him.. He cared so much about America he was going to make darn sure... Travis handled his crap right. He was so in love with America I think he was braver had he not been. And America... ha!!! she made me laugh... I have a friend just like her.

Plot: I honestly think I understood the plot alot more with Travis as the narrator. He tended to lay it down straight and not bounce around... he knew what he wanted... he just didn't know how to go about it... so he screwed up... Alot!!!

I think if you didn't finish this book because it seemed like the same book as the first... try again... it deserves your notice... trust me...

The Hallowed Ones: A Review

From Good Reads:

Katie is on the verge of her Rumspringa, the time in Amish life when teenagers can get a taste of the real world. But the real world comes to her in this dystopian tale with a philosophical bent. Rumors of massive unrest on the “Outside” abound. Something murderous is out there. Amish elders make a rule: No one goes outside, and no outsiders come in. But when Katie finds a gravely injured young man, she can’t leave him to die. She smuggles him into her family’s barn—at what cost to her community? The suspense of this vividly told, truly horrific thriller will keep the pages turning.


Katie was just weeks away from her Rumspringa. The excitement of exploring the world that has always been denied to her is all most more than she can bear. And with Elijah by her side...nothing can stop them... until something does. 

I have always had what some might say is an unhealthy curiosity when it comes to the amish. I have read both fiction and non fiction books about them and their culture. That being said most books I have read have been from a Christian perspective so I went into this book thinking I would not like this book... because I knew that it would be totally different. I have never been more wrong..

Now onto the nitty gritty.

Characters: I found Katie's coming of age character to be totally believable. She wanted so much to please her people, but at the same time had to do what she believed was right. Alex was by far my most favorite Character in the book. He came into the book about half way through but I think out of all the characters in this book he is the one that made me want to keep reading. I found the hexenmeister to be interesting as well. As I said before the only Amish fiction I have read has been Christian based, and they never mentioned that part of the amish culture... I had to research it myself. Which in itself was interesting to read about. But he was brave... in every since of the word... at the end of the book he was an inspiration.

Plot: Now when this book first started I didn't think I was going to like this plot... and it was slow going at first. But after Elijah and Katie went to town in search of his brothers I was hooked. This was some scary stuff. There were several places where I had to put the book down and walk away because a scene in the book freaked me out... and I most definitely could not read this book in the dark by myself. 

I was pleasantly surprised with this book and it deserves all its four star. I personally can't wait for the next book in the series to come out!!! 

Waiting on Wednesday: Entwined With You

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Entwined With You

By Sylvia Day

Release Date: June 4th 2013

From Amazon:

The worldwide phenomenon continues as Eva and Gideon face the demons of their pasts, and accept the consequences of their obsessive desires... 

From the moment I first met Gideon Cross, I recognized something in him that I needed. Something I couldn't resist. I saw the dangerous and damaged soul inside--so much like my own. I was drawn to it. I needed him as surely as I needed my heart to beat. 

No one knows how much he risked for me. How much I'd been threatened, or just how dark and desperate the shadow of our pasts would become. 

Entwined by our secrets, we tried to defy the odds. We made our own rules and surrendered completely to the exquisite power of possession...

I actually just finished the first book yesterday and was very excited to get my hands on the second one. And when I heard the third one was coming out in June... I was giddy.

So what fabulous book are you waiting on this week?