2019 Cruisin' Thru The Cozies Reading Challenge Goal Post

Host: ​ Socrates Book Reviews

Goal: Level two (Investigator) Option B 10 themed books, 10 of my choice

Books Read:

Themed

1. Culinary
2. Animal related
3. Craft
4. Paranormal
5. International
6. Career-based
7. Holiday--Deck The Hallways by Kate Carlisle (Fixer-Upper Mystery #4)
8. Travel
9. Historical
10. Freebie

My Choice

1.

2.

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7.

8.

9.

10.

2019 Blogger Shame

Yeah, blogger shame, I still have it—hangs head. My goal is to get through the books left on my NetGalley account. At the moment, I don’t have an exact number, but I’m aiming somewhere between 15-20 books.

Challenge: Blogger Shame

Host: Anna @ Herding Cats & Burning Soup
Goal: Clean up my NetGalley account (15-20 books)

 

Books Read

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15.

2019 Blog All About It

Challenge: Blog All About It! Take the prompt and blog it out!

Host Anna @ Herding Cats and Burning Soup

2019 Prompts

 Jan- First
 Feb- Pink
 Mar- Luck
 April- Sweet
 May- Bloom
 June- Risk
 July- Heat
 Aug- Sky
 Sept- Crunch
 Oct- Shiver
 Nov- Thankful
 Dec- Twinkle

2019 Bad Boys of Romance Reading Challenge Goal Post

I bombed at keeping track of this one last year, fingers crossed this one will be better!

Challenge: Bad Boys of Romance Reading Challenge

Host: Delighted Reader
Goal: Level Two 10-15 books – Engaged to the Bad Boy

 

Books Read

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15.

Literary Pickers Scavenger Hunt 2019 Goal Post

Literary Pickers Scavenger Hunt 2019

Hosted: Delighted Reader Blog

Goal: Level Three -Professional Picker- 50 items/50 places

 

This is such a fun challenge and I can’t wait to search out the items!

Challenge Tracker

Items Found

1. Throw Rug/Blanket: Day of the Dragon by Katie McAlister (Dragon Hunter #2)

2. Phone or device charger: Unzipped by Lauren Blakely

3. Photo Album: Meet Cute by Helena Hunting

4. Fireplace: Falling for the Billionaire Wolf by Sasha Summer (Blood Moon Brotherhood #1)

5. Doorbell/ knocker: Love in the Afternoon by Karen Hawkins (Dove Pond .5)

6. Oven: Cowboy Christmas Jubilee by Dylann Crush (Holiday, Texas #3)

7. Headboard (bed): Driving Mr. Dead by Molly Harper (Half-Moon Hollow #.5)

8. French doors/sliding glass door: The House Mate by Kendall Ryan (Roommates #3)

9. Flower pot/planter:  Even Tree Nymphs get the Blues by Molly Harper (Mystic Bayou #2.5)

10. Chandelier/ Candelabra: Romancing the Laird by Gerri Russell (All the King’s Men #3)

11. Wine glass: How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper (Naked Werewolf 31)

12. Horse-drawn cart: A Rogue by Night by Kelly Bowman (Devils of Dover #3)

13. Black coffee: Cowboy Rebel by Carolyn Brown (Longhorn Canyon #4)

14. Beer: Peachy Flippin’ Keen by Molly Harper (Southern Eclectic #)

15. Bakery goods: The Real Thing by Melissa Foster (Sugar Lake #1)

16. Soup: Justifiedby Jay Crownover (Loveless, Texas #1)

17. Picnic food: Hardwood by Lauren Blakely

18. Monitor/Screen: The Trouble with Christmas by Debbie Mason (Christmas, Colorado #1)

19. Handcuffs: Do or Die Cowboy by June Ferver (Dark Horse Cowboys #1)

20. Saddle: Getting Lucky by Carolyn Brown (Lucky #3)

21. Rifle: Nice Girls Don’t Have Fangs by Molly Harper (Jane Jameson #1)

22. Sports pads/protective gear (any sport): Most Valuable Playboy by Lauren Blakely

23. Belt buckle: Magnolia Mystic by Lisa Kessler (#1)
24.Toilet/commode/outhouse -Baby Daddy by Kendall Ryan
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.

Around the House

1. Coffee Table

2. Throw Rug/Blanket

3. Pet toys

4. Phone or device charger

5. Turn-style record player/stereo

6. Photo Album

7. Fireplace

8. China Hutch/cabinet

9. Toilet/commode/outhouse

10. Built in pool

11. Doorbell/ knocker

12. Oven

13. Headboard (bed)

14. French doors/sliding glass door

15. Flower pot/planter

16. Chandelier/ Candelabra

17. Tea tray/cart

18. Home security/alarm

19. Wine glass

20. Remote control/clicker

Around the World

21. Canada

22. South American Country

23. South Seas Island

24. African Country

25. Russia

It Goes Zoom Zoom

26. Power boat

27. Space cargo or transport ship

28. Ski lift/ascending mountain cable car

29. Motorcycle

30. Limousine

31. Steam Train

32. Horse-drawn cart

33. Segway/scooter

34. Navy ship

35. Rope swing/zipline

36. Brand new automobile

 

Elements to Factor

37. Enemies to Lovers

38. Threesome or Love Triangle

39. Sweet Romance (no more than kisses)

40. Dual or Multiple Narrators

41. First Person Point of View

42. Murder

43. End of the world/Disaster

44. Road Trip/ Personal Journey

45. Same Sex

46. A hated trope (DNF’d book ok)

47. Favorite trope

48. Over a Year on Your TBR

49. Borrowed/Loaned to you

50. Audio

51. Graphics or Illustrations

52. First time Author/Narrator

53. BDSM/Kink

54. Reunion/Second Chances

55. Arranged or Forced Marriage

56. Fake Mates

57. Fated Mates/Instalove

58. Known each other for years

59. Couple 40 years old or older

60. Alternate or fantasy world

All Terrain

61. On another planet

62. Desert

63. Big City

64. Small Town

65. Jungle

Bon Appetit

66. French cuisine

67. Indian cuisine

68. Black coffee

69. Beer

70. Bakery goods

71. Apples or oranges

72. Soup

73. Picnic food

74. Frozen Dinner/MREs/Food from a space ship galley

75. Four course (or more) meal

Tools of the Trade

76. Lock picks

77. White board/smart board

78. Monitor/Screen

79. Screwdriver

80. Handcuffs

81. Saddle

82. Emergency vehicle siren or lights

83. Diving suit/space suit

84. Rifle

Wear It

85. Raincoat/Slicker

86. Tiara/Crown

87. Socks

88. Piercing

89. Bullet-proof vest/tactical gear

90. Sports pads/protective gear (any sport)

91. Ball Gown

92. Tux/frock coat

93. Belt buckle

94. Bracelet

Cover Clues

95. Primarily yellow

96. Weather term mentioned in the title

97. One-word title

98. No people

99. Kiss or almost kiss

100. Favorite Author gave the cover quote

Their Lost Daughters by Joy Ellis

Deep in the muddy fields of Lincolnshire Fens, a teenage girl is found wandering, delirious, claiming to have been drugged at a party. Mere feet away, the drowned body of another girl turns up on an isolated beach. All this on a small stretch of land where, nearly 10 years ago, the shocking disappearance of a young girl remains an open case. Are the crimes linked? Who are these girls? Is a twisted predator living among the families on this secluded English coastal enclave? For detectives Rowan Jackman and Marie Evans, the pressure is on to unravel these unsettling crimes and bring the perpetrator to justice.

Series: Jackman & Evans (Published Order), Book 2, Jackman & Evans (Recommended Listening Order), Book 1: Publisher: Audible | Genre: Mystery/Thriller |  Narrator: Richard Armitage | Length:9 hours 46 mins | Source: Publisher | Rating: 4 Cups

I wasn’t sure what to expected when I started this one as Joy Ellis is a new-to-me author and, honestly, I’ve not really heard that much about her. Although I’m a massive fan of British suspense/crime drama (Blue Murder, Happy Valley, Unforgotten, DCI Banks, In The Dark) so I wanted to give this series a try and then when I found out that Richard Armitage was narrating, that sealed the deal. I’m so glad that I took a chance with this one because it’s just the type of mystery/suspense book that I enjoy.

 

Here’s what’s going on. When the body of a young girl is found on the beach, DI Jackman and DS Evans never expected that it would hit so close to home and are determined to discover just what happened. Their investigation takes a shocking turn when Toni, a teenage girl, is found drugged and wandering around in a muddy field. What makes things even more troubling is that she’s saying she saw her friend, Emily, being dragged from the party. Not only is the whereabouts of Emily a mystery, her identity is as well. These discoveries lead to Jackman and Evans wondering if they’re connected to an illegal underage drinking club that they’ve been trying to bring down. And just how is the disappearance of a little girl, a decade ago, connected to these new missing girls?

 

I’m not going to give too much away because this is one of those where the mystery could be if too much was revealed.

 

This one is rather intense and it took me down a rather twisted path as more information surfaces and sheds light on the who and why. It also left me on the edge of my seat and had me wracking my brain as I tried to piece together how the characters were connected to these hideous crimes. I was impressed that this one left me guessing until nearly the end and I have to say bravo to Ellis at how she worked this web of disturbed individuals together in a way that made me feel both horrified and sympathetic.

 

As for the main characters, I found that I liked both Rowan Jackman and Marie Evans. Not only did they work brilliantly together, I enjoyed their histories and I’m eager to learn more about them. They also have this slight flirtation about them and I’m eager to see how it plays out. I also found that I enjoyed the secondary characters as well. They were well-rounded and added such a nice touch to the story.

 

I really enjoyed the investigation in this one and watching the policing that was involved. It’s always interesting to see what’s involved in other countries policing.

 

Richard Armitage narrates this book beautifully. His voice is just suited for mysteries and his accents are spot on.

 

This is the second book in the series although this was the first one in the recommended listening order according to Audible so this is why I started with book two. As I’ve not read book one yet, I’m not sure if I’ve missed anything but if I have I’ll let you know when I come back and update this after reading book one.

 

Overall, this one was intense but engrossing. It had some gruesome bits but they weren’t overly explained so I wasn’t turned off of the book. I’m really interested in what comes next.

Jackman & Evans Series (recommended listening order)

Their Lost Daughters

The Murderer's Son

The Fourth Friend

The Guilty Ones

The Stolen Boys

Rocky Mountain Cowboy Christmas by Katie Ruggle

When firefighter and single dad Steve Springfield moved his four kids to a Colorado Christmas tree ranch, he intended for it to be a safe haven. But he never expected danger to follow them to his childhood home...

 

Or that he would come face-to-face with the one girl he could never forget.

 

Folk artist Camille Brandt lives a quiet life. As the town's resident eccentric, she's used to being lonely--until Steve freaking Springfield changes everything. Brave and kind, he's always had a piece of her heart, and it doesn't take long before she's in danger of falling for him and his rambunctious kids. But as mysterious fires break out across the sleepy Colorado town, Steve and Camille will have to fight if they want their happy family to survive until Christmas...

Series: Rocky Mountain Cowboys #1 | Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca | Genre: Romantic Suspense | Source: Publisher | Rating: 4 Cups

Challenges Read For: Literary Pickers: Fire Hose 

 

I’ve been wanting to try Katie Ruggle for a bit but I didn’t want to dive in during the middle of a series—and I’ve not had time to start from the beginning— so when Rocky Mountain Cowboy Christmas (book one in the new Rocky Mountain Cowboy series) showed up I was eager to dive in.

 

Here’s what’s going on. To keep his kids from harm, Steve has returned to his childhood home, which happens to be on a Christmas tree ranch. He never imagined that when he ‘rescued’ Camille, the girl he could never get out of his head, that he would truly have to rescue her from someone out to cause her harm. Now that she’s living with him and his family and feelings are developing, harm is still lingering around the corner and Steve will do everything in his power to keep them safe.

 

I could not put this book down. Steve and Camille were amazing together and kept me smiling until the end.

 

I really liked Camille. She’s quiet but fierce in her own away and definitely unique. She forages for scrap metal and makes these amazing metal sculptures. She’s also a bit awkward in public situations so that’s made her a bit of a recluse but when she encounters Steve and his kids she finds herself opening to them. Steve was such a great guy; he’s a protector and a bit assertive without being a typical alpha male. He takes great care of his children and is determined to do all he can to protect them and Camille.

 

The romance was cute. It wasn’t an in your face type of romance, it was more subtle as they figure out how to be in a relationship. They’re both awkward so they found themselves stumbling around the issue rather than just addressing it head on and I found that to be endearing.

 

I found Steve’s kids to be fun and entertaining. Each of them were so unique and knew what they wanted and were determined to get it. They were so accepting and welcoming of Camille.

 

Okay, so I liked the suspense/mystery aspect what I didn’t like was person behind it. Even though I had a feeling of who was behind everything, I wasn’t thrilled with the reasoning. I just didn’t feel like had enough substance.

 

Overall, I enjoyed this one. Not only was it such a charming Christmas story, it was such a great introduction to a new-to-me author and I look forward to reading more.  

What’s your favorite Christmas/Winter romance?