Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Shon's Monthly Wrap-Up & Book Haul | June 2020


Happy Tuesday, Bookworms!  I hope you’re well & safe!  June was another great month for books!  I read 10 books, and added 11 eBooks to my collection.  I'm at the 51% mark on my Goodreads reading challenge for this year.  I've read 77 books so far, and I'm 4 books ahead of schedule.  Here's to another great month of books in July.

eBook Haul
Love in Lockdown by Tracy Lorraine, Angel Devlin, L A Cotton, Khardine Gray, Jade West, Marley Valentine, Nina Levine, Frankie Love, Cora Reilly, Kimberly Knight, Hope Ford, Shaw Hart, Ker Dukey, Haley Jenner
Home for a Cowboy (Windsor, Wyoming #1) by Amy Aislin
The Year We Fell Down (The Ivy Years Book 1) Sarina Bowen
Rivals (Dragon Reign Book 1) Kit Bladegrave
The President Is Missing James Patterson, Bill Clinton
Introductions (The Ghost Bird #1) by C.L. Stone
Rafe: A Buff Male Nanny (Loose Ends #1) by Rebekah Weatherspoon
The Werewolf Queen (Wheel of Crowns Book 1) Brandi Elledge
Kade's Dark Embrace (Immortals of New Orleans Book 1) Kym Grosso
Becoming Alpha (Alpha Girl Book 1) Aileen Erin
Ahsoka (Star Wars Disney Canon Novel) by E.K. Johnston

Wrap-Up
NoX by Adrienne Wilder (Rating: 4/5 stars)
Off Plan by May Archer  (Rating: 2/5 stars)
Marriage Contract by A.J. Sherwood, Katie Griffin (Rating: 4/5 stars)
Falling for the Geek by R. Cayden (Rating: 4/5 stars)
Project Hero by Briar Prescott (Rating: 4/5 stars)
Cronin's Key by N.R. Walker (Rating: 4/5 stars)
Cronin's Key II by N.R. Walker (Rating: 4/5 stars)
Cronin's Key III by N.R. Walker (Rating: 3.75/5 stars)
Classified by Brooke Blaine, Ella Frank (Rating: 2.5/5 stars)
Up for Heir (Rosavia Royals #1) by Stella Starling (Rating: 3.75/5 stars)

DNF
Theirs for the Night by Katee Robert
Becoming Alpha by Aileen Erin 

Format break-down
  • 0 Physical books (Purchased)
  • 0 Audiobooks (via Audible)
  • 10 eBooks
    • 0 (Purchased)
    • 10 (Kindle Unlimited)
How was your month? What was your favorite book you read in June? What books did you add to your collection?  Let me know in the comments!

xoxo,
Shon


Monday, June 29, 2020

Mid-Year Freak Out Tag


I seen this tag going around BookTube, it look like fun.  Let's get started!

1. Best book you’ve read so far in 2020
Virgin Flyer by Lucy Lennox; Without You by Marley Valentine; Pop Star by Eden Finley; NoX by Adrienne Wilder & Project Hero by Briar Prescott

2. Best sequel you've read so far in 2020
I have not read an sequel this year, to busy staring new series. 

3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to. 
Home for a Cowboy (Windsor, Wyoming #1) by Amy Aislin 

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year.
Breaking News & Headlines (Prime Time #2 & #3) by Ella Frank

5. Biggest disappointment.
The Elite Series by Brooke Blaine & Ella Frank

6. Biggest surprise.
Cronin's Key (Cronin's Key #1) by N.R. Walker

7. Favorite new author. (Debut or new to you)
Briar Prescott

8. Newest fictional crush.


9. Newest favorite character.
Royal Librarian Edvin Blom from Up for Heir (Rosavia Royals #1) by Stella Starling

10. Book that made you cry.
Without You by Marley Valentine

11. Book that made you happy.
Project Hero by Briar Prescott

12. Most beautiful book you've bought so far this year (or received)
Have not bought any books, reading everything on Kindle Unlimited.

13. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?
The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle #1) by Patrick Rothfuss, I started this book in March.

xoxo,
Shon


Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Can't-Wait Wednesday / Waiting on Wednesday #114

Title: Boyfriend Material
Author: Alexis Hall
Expected Publication: July 7th 2020
Genres: M M Romance

Wanted:
One (fake) boyfriend
Practically perfect in every way


Luc O'Donnell is tangentially--and reluctantly--famous. His rock star parents split when he was young, and the father he's never met spent the next twenty years cruising in and out of rehab. Now that his dad's making a comeback, Luc's back in the public eye, and one compromising photo is enough to ruin everything.

To clean up his image, Luc has to find a nice, normal relationship...and Oliver Blackwood is as nice and normal as they come. He's a barrister, an ethical vegetarian, and he's never inspired a moment of scandal in his life. In other words: perfect boyfriend material. Unfortunately apart from being gay, single, and really, really in need of a date for a big event, Luc and Oliver have nothing in common. So they strike a deal to be publicity-friendly (fake) boyfriends until the dust has settled. Then they can go their separate ways and pretend it never happened.

But the thing about fake-dating is that it can feel a lot like real-dating. And that's when you get used to someone. Start falling for them. Don't ever want to let them go. (less)


What are you waiting for this Wednesday? Let us know in the comment section below.

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking The Spine.

Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Can't-Wait Wednesday / Waiting on Wednesday #113



Title: Just Like That (Albin Academy #1)
Author: Cole McCade
Expected Publication: June 30th 2020
Genres: M/M Romance

Carina Adores is home to highly romantic contemporary love stories featuring beloved romance tropes, where LGBTQ+ characters find their happily-ever-afters.

Summer Hemlock never meant to come back to Omen, Massachusetts.

But with his mother in need of help, Summer has no choice but to return to his hometown, take up a teaching residency at the Albin Academy boarding school—and work directly under the man who made his teenage years miserable.

Professor Fox Iseya.

Forbidding, aloof, commanding: psychology instructor Iseya is a cipher who’s always fascinated and intimidated shy, anxious Summer. But that fascination turns into something more when the older man challenges Summer to be brave. What starts as a daily game to reward Summer with a kiss for every obstacle overcome turns passionate, and a professional relationship turns quickly personal.

Yet Iseya’s walls of grief may be too high for someone like Summer to climb…until Summer’s infectious warmth shows Fox everything he’s been missing in life.

Now both men must be brave enough to trust each other, to take that leap.

To find the love they’ve always needed…

Just like that.


What are you waiting for this Wednesday? Let us know in the comment section below.

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking The Spine.

Monday, June 15, 2020

Manic Monday #19: Mid-Year Check In


Happy Monday, Bookworms!  I hope this post find you all well & safe!  It's June so I thought I would do a mid-year check in.  Back in January I posted my 2020 Goals & Resolutions.  Let's take a look to see where I'm at.

Read 150 Books - I have currently read 67 book this year. 45% done with my 2020 reading challenge and 1 books ahead of schedule.

More Catching up on Series - Instead of catching up or finishing a series I'm already reading. I started 9 new series this year.

Expand My Horizons - I wanted to read at least five fantasy books and three non-fiction books this year. So far I have read one fantasy book.

Book Unhaul - In January I donate over 90 books to my local library.

Get back into Blogging - I'm trying to posted weekly.  Keyword is trying.

Watch More Movies and TV Shows - I want to watch a book-to-movie adaptations so I could feature it on the blog this year.  So far have watch zero.

So that it for now, how is your year going?  

xoxo,
Shon



Wednesday, June 10, 2020

Can't-Wait Wednesday / Waiting on Wednesday #112


Title:
Classified (The Elite #3)
Author: Brooke Blaine, Ella Frank
Expected Publication: June 23, 2020.
Genres: M/M Romance

Classified is the final book of the Elite Series and should only be read after book one, Danger Zone, and book two, Need for Speed.

They train to serve their country.
They strive to be the best.
But only a select few can be...
The Elite

* * *

MATEO MORGAN
CALL SIGN: SOLO

Reckless, arrogant, and bold, Solo is as known in the U.S. Navy for his bad-boy reputation as he is for his skills as a fighter pilot. It’s a surprise to his peers, then, when he’s chosen to train and compete at the most prestigious naval aviation academy in the world.

MISSION RULES:
1.Kick everyone’s ass.
2.Do whatever it takes to win.
3.Do your best to distract the competition.
4.Especially when that competition is a gorgeous blue-eyed perfectionist who makes your blood run hot.

* * *

GRANT HUGHES
CALL SIGN: PANTHER

Disciplined, smart, and confident, Panther can’t afford not to play by the rules. As the son of a top Navy commander, all eyes are on him, and being anything less than number one is unacceptable.

MISSION RULES:
1.Keep it safe in the air.
2.Prove you’re more than Commander Hughes’s son.
3.No distractions. Stay focused.
4.Don’t fall for your competition—especially not the rebellious heartbreaker with lips made for sinning.

In the heat of the hot California sun, tempers flare and desires ignite as Solo and Panther try to resist their attraction while fighting to be number one.
With passion this intense, the question remains:
Who’s gonna come out on top?


What are you waiting for this Wednesday? Let us know in the comment section below.

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking The Spine.

Monday, June 8, 2020

Manic Monday #18: Series I’ve Been Meaning to Start!


Happy Monday Bookworms!   I hope you’re well & safe!  I am sharing series I’ve been meaning to start but haven’t!   I am only doing completed series though because if I did uncompleted ones the list would be never ending!

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
Yes, I want to see what all the fuss is about this series! I hear so many good things about it (and some bad).

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
This is just another great fantasy series that I've heard great things about and I would really like to start.

The Infernal Devices Series by Cassandra Clare
I think that at some point I will have to give this series a chance. I mean, everybody seems to love it.

The Shadow and Bone Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo
I'm almost ashamed to admit that I haven't started this series. I've honestly been meaning to for years now, but for some reason I just haven't.

The Gold Seer Trilogy by Rae Carson
I must have read the first two or three chapters of the first book but just wasn’t very appealing to me at the time.

The Queen of the Tearling Series by Erika Johans
One day I will start this series, I'm 99.99% sure I have all of the books in the series.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
The sad part is I own five of the books.

The Abhorsen Series by Garth Nix
Another one that I'm embarrassed to say I've never started on.

I know, some of you are probably reeling over the fact that I haven’t already started some of these series.  The older series have mostly all been on my TBR for years, but I somehow just haven’t gotten around to them. I'm sure there are other series but these are the ones that first jumped to mind when I started working on the post.

Have you read any of these or do you want to read any of these?

xoxo,
Shon


Wednesday, June 3, 2020

Can't-Wait Wednesday / Waiting on Wednesday #111

Title: Home for a Cowboy (Windsor, Wyoming #1)
Author: Amy Aislin
Expected Publication: June 9th 2020
Genres: M/M Romance

Las doesn't date seasonal workers. Marco's on a three-month contract.

Lassiter Windsor-March has been planning for his future for as along as he can remember and he knows exactly where that future lies: at his family's ranch in Wyoming. What doesn't lie in his future is a summer fling with one of the seasonal workers—they never stick around.

Even if one of those workers is the college crush he's invited to work a summer job at the ranch.

Marco Terlizzese is as laissez-faire as Marco isn't. He might not know where he'll be once his contract with Windsor Ranch is up, but he knows three months is plenty of time to get his long-time crush to agree to go out with him.

Amid a starry summer sky, their chemistry ignites as feelings deepen, forcing Las and Marco to decide where they truly belong. (less)

What are you waiting for this Wednesday? Let us know in the comment section below.

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking The Spine.

Monday, June 1, 2020

Shon's June 2020 TBR & Most Anticipated Releases


Happy June Bookworms!  I hope you’re well & safe!  Today I’m here with another shortish post which is my June 2020 TBR and Most Anticipated Releases.  I honestly don’t have too much currently on my June TBR.  I might take it easy this month and just read whatever I feel like at the time.  Anyway, let’s get into it….

The first books on my TBR are the books that I'm currently reading Slow Pitch by Amy Lane & The Play of His Life by Amy Aislin.  From there, I plan on reading the following:  NoX by Adrienne Wilder, The Dancer & the Bear by Quin and How to Steal a Thief (Unholy Trifecta #2) by A.J. Sherwood.

Most Anticipated Releases
I also hope to read the following once they are release this month. Messy Ink (Get Ink'd #2) by Ali Lyda, Home for a Cowboy (Windsor, Wyoming #1) by Amy Aislin, Classified (The Elite #3) by Brooke Blaine & Ella Frank and Just Like That (Albin Academy #1) by Cole McCade.

Those are all of the books I hope to read and enjoy this month! Have you read any of these books? What are you planning on reading this month?

xoxo,
Shon