e-ARC Review: TRADE ME by Courtney Milan

 

Title: Trade Me (Cyclone #1)
Author: Courtney Milan
Publishing Date: January 19, 2015
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, New Adult
Source: e-ARC from publisher
Buy Links: amazon | amazon uk | apple | nook | kobo | google | all romance | smashwords

Tina Chen just wants a degree and a job, so her parents never have to worry about making rent again. She has no time for Blake Reynolds, the sexy billionaire who stands to inherit Cyclone Technology. But when he makes an off-hand comment about what it means to be poor, she loses her cool and tells him he couldn’t last a month living her life.

To her shock, Blake offers her a trade: She’ll get his income, his house, his car. In exchange, he’ll work her hours and send money home to her family. No expectations; no future obligations.

But before long, they’re trading not just lives, but secrets, kisses, and heated nights together. No expectations might break Tina’s heart…but Blake’s secrets could ruin her life.

 

“Waiting On” Wednesday (75): ONCE UPON A MARQUESS by Courtney Milan

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights eagerly anticipated upcoming releases.

This week’s spotlight is on:

ONCE UPON A MARQUESS (The Worth Saga #1)

by Courtney Milan

Release Date: May 2015

The last man Judith Worth wants to see again is Charles Trent, the Marquess of Ashford—the man who spent summers at her family home, who kissed her one magical night…and then heartlessly ruined her father. But when a tricky business matter arises, he’s the only one she can ask for help. With any luck, he’ll engage a servant to take care of the matter, and she won’t even have to talk with him.

But Ashford has never forgotten Judith. He knows she will never forgive him for what he’s done, but when offered the chance to assist her, he arrives in person. His memory of Judith may have haunted him, but it pales in comparison to the reality of the vivacious, beautiful woman he rediscovers. Throughout his life, he has always done what is correct. But now, he finds himself doing something utterly wrong…falling in love with the one woman he can never have.

Top Ten Tuesday (42): Top Ten Books on my Spring TBR List

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the gals at The Broke and the Bookish. 

 

Top Ten Books on my Spring TBR List…

 

 

FLIRTING WITH FIRE by Kate Meader

I received my ARC last week and I’m so excited to read this one. It’s book 1 in Kate Meader’s new series.

 

 

DARK TRIUMPH by Robin LaFevers

I loved Book 1 so I can’t wait to read the second book featuring Sybella. And Beast.

 

 

 

 OF SILK AND STEAM by Bec McMaster

I admit that I have had the eARC of this since late last year and I really, really wanted to read it since it’s finally Leo’s story. Unfortunately, real life can get in the way of reading sometimes. I hope this spring would change that a bit.

 

 

SILVER BASTARD by Joanna Wylde

It’s a brand-new series from Joanna Wylde but it features a character we’ve already been introduced to in the previous book. Oh, Puck! I can’t wait to finish his story (since I already started reading my e-ARC).

 

CHASE ME by Tessa Bailey

Tessa Bailey’s New Adult series kicks off with Chase Me. Woohoo!

 

 

Audiobook Review: A KISS FOR MIDWINTER by Courtney Milan

 

Title: A Kiss for Midwinter (The Brothers Sinister #1.5)
Author: Courtney Milan
Narrated by: Rosalyn Landor
Source: bought audiobook via Audible
Genre: Historical, Romance, Novella
Buy Links: Amazon | B & N | iTunes | Google Play | Smashwords | All Romance | Audible

Miss Lydia Charingford is always cheerful, and never more so than at Christmas time. But no matter how hard she smiles, she can’t forget the youthful mistake that could have ruined her reputation. Even though the worst of her indiscretion was kept secret, one other person knows the truth of those dark days: the sarcastic Doctor Jonas Grantham. She wants nothing to do with him…or the butterflies that take flight in her stomach every time he looks her way.

Jonas Grantham has a secret, too: He’s been in love with Lydia for more than a year. This winter, he’s determined to conquer her dislike and win her for his own. It all starts with a wager and a kiss…

A Kiss for Midwinter is a novella (38,000 words) in the Brothers Sinister series. It follows The Duchess War. Each book stands on its own, but those who prefer to read in order might want to read that book first.

 

Top Ten of 2014: Day 5 – Books I’m Looking Forward to in 2015

Top Ten of 2014: A Week of Looking Back is a year-end meme hosted by Jamie @ Two Chicks On Books, Rachel @ Fiktshun, Mindy @ Magical Urban Fantasy Reads, and Nancy @ Tales of a Ravenous Reader. 

It’s Day 5, the last day of this awesome week talking about the best of the best, and I’m counting down the Top Ten Books I’m Looking Forward to in 2015. I’ve actually done this list earlier this month as part of a weekly meme and you can check out my list HERE. But I’m tweaking that list a bit for this post and included even the books I’ve already received the eARCs of.

There are so many good books to look forward to in 2015. It’s going to be another amazing year for reading!

 

 

The Winner’s Crime by Marie Rutkoksi

I have the eARC of this one and I can’t wait to find out about the next chapter in Arin’s and Kestrel’s lives.

 

 

 

 

Vision in Silver by Anne Bishop

I really liked Written in Red, though it took a while before I got into the story. But by Murder of Crows, I was in love with all these characters that I can’t wait to find out what happens to them next. And, Simon and Meg, of course.

 

 

 

Of Silk and Steam by Bec McMaster

I also have an eARC of this one and I’ve been waiting for Leo’s story since the second book, I think, so I cannot wait to read this one. Plus, hello there enemies-to-lovers trope.

 

 

 

 

Once Upon A Rose by Laura Florand

I need me some new Laura Florand every year (or twice a year, or thrice a year!). If she writes it, I’ll read it. It’s as simple as that.

 

 

 

 

Flirting With Fire by Kate Meader

I’ve been without a full-length Kate Meader read for far too long. I can’t wait for this first book of a brand new series. I’ve read the novella that serves as a prologue to this series and I really loved it.

 

 

 

 

Shards of Hope by Nalini Singh

Oh my, we’re now on Book #14 of her Psy-Changeling series and it’s poised to be the ending of this particular story arc. I can’t wait to read it! It’s Aden and it’s a Psy-Psy pairing, or more specifically, an Arrow-Arrow pairing. I really can’t wait!

 

 

 

Once Upon A Marquess by Courtney Milan

A brand new series from one of my favorite HR authors. I am excited about this one. I know she’ll give her readers unconventional and yet achingly beautiful stories and lovely characters again.

 

 

 

I’ll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios

I’m so excited to read a Heather Demetrios book. I’ve heard great things about this one and her other book. I hope I’ll love it.

 

 

 

 

Crushed by Lauren Layne

I so want to read Michael’s story already. He’s been breaking my heart since Isn’t She Lovely and even more so in Broken. I want him to get his own HEA.

 

 

 

 

Chase Me by Tessa Bailey

I need more Tessa Bailey stories in my life. Seriously. The premise of this book sounds so hilarious and sexy, I can’t wait to read it.

 

 

 

 

Honorable Mentions:

Anticipation by Sarah Mayberry
Rock Hard by Nalini Singh
Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare
P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han
The Friend Zone by Kristen Callihan
Trade Me by Courtney Milan

 

There you go, the top 10 (++) books I’m looking forward to in 2015. Do we have the same books to look forward to? How excited (or impatient like me) are you to read these books? What would you have in your list?

 

Top Ten of 2014: Best Book Boyfriends of 2014

Top Ten of 2014: A Week of Looking Back is a year-end meme hosted by Jamie @ Two Chicks On Books, Rachel @ Fiktshun, Mindy @ Magical Urban Fantasy Reads, and Nancy @ Tales of a Ravenous Reader. 

It’s Day 4 and I’m counting down my top ten Best Book Boyfriends of 2014. This list includes characters from books I’ve read this year and were published this year.

There were so many to choose from that I can definitely say that 2014 has been a great year for falling in love with fictional characters. lol 🙂

 

from The Chocolate Temptation by Laura Florand: Passionate, sexy, and so emotionally reachable. (My review)

“I should never have recommended you for this job,” Patrick said. “But… you did deserve it. And I had only met you for the length of one workshop, when I was pretty busy helping all kinds of students besides just you. I knew I was attracted to you, but I had no idea what working in close quarters with you was going to be like.”

“What has it been like?” she asked, puzzled.

A rough laugh. “You can’t even imagine it. You can pull into yourself and shut me out, and I can’t do that, Sarah. You drive me crazy every single second of every day.”

 

from The Suffragette Scandal by Courtney Milan: honorable, loyal, and gosh, how he loved Free and her mind. (My review)

“Everything about you matters to me.” He leaned in. “It shouldn’t. I keep telling myself it shouldn’t, that it’s only the lust talking. But every time we talk, you turn my world upside down.”

 

Top Ten of 2014: Best Couples of 2014

Top Ten of 2014: A Week of Looking Back is a year-end meme hosted by Jamie @ Two Chicks On Books, Rachel @ Fiktshun, Mindy @ Magical Urban Fantasy Reads, and Nancy @ Tales of a Ravenous Reader. 

It’s Day 3 and it’s Blogger’s Choice! For my post, I am counting down my top ten best couples of 2014. This list includes couples from books I’ve read this year regardless of publication dates.

I’m a romance junkie, no doubt about that. It’s rare for me to read anything that has no romance in it so I’m pretty familiar with all kinds of couples. I’ve ‘met’ a lot of them over the years and here are just some of the best from the bunch this year.

 

  

from the Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi. Easily one of the best this year. This pairing felt like one of those things that I’ve dreamed about for so long since I started reading. I know not everybody agrees and I respect that. But I’m just so glad Tahereh Mafi decided to make this happen.  (My review of Ignite Me)

 

from the Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta. The connection between these two, it will blow your mind. I’m not just talking about chemistry, though these two definitely have that. I’m talking about how their lives are so intertwined, there’s just no running away from each other. (My review)

Top Ten of 2014: Best Books I’ve Read in 2014

Top Ten of 2014: A Week of Looking Back is a year-end meme hosted by Jamie @ Two Chicks On Books, Rachel @ Fiktshun, Mindy @ Magical Urban Fantasy Reads, and Nancy @ Tales of a Ravenous Reader. 

 

Today, I’m going to feature the Ten Best Books I’ve Read in 2014…

 

JELLICOE ROAD by Melina Marchetta. One of the most poignant and heartbreaking books I’ve enjoyed reading. This has earned its place in my Hall of Fame of Favorites.

 

THE PIPER’S SON by Melina Marchetta. Oh, Thomas McKee. This was another powerful story from Melina Marchetta and another Hall of Fame-r if you ask me.

 

IGNITE ME by Tahereh Mafi. I’ll forever be grateful to Tahereh Mafi for writing one of the types of characters that I wanted most to see written into a book. Warner was everything I hope he  would be and more. Add to this, Tahereh’s wonderful prose and gosh, another winner of course.

Top Ten Tuesday (37): Top Ten Books I Want to Re-read

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the gals at The Broke and the Bookish. 

 

Top Ten Books I Want to Re-read…

 

JELLICOE ROAD by Melina Marchetta. This is one of the greatest stories I have ever read and I can’t believe I haven’t re-read it at least once since the first time I’ve read it.

 

 

THE QUEEN OF ATTOLIA by Megan Whalen Turner. Gosh, thinking back on the first time I’ve read it… I have zero doubts that I’ll feel exactly the same about this book. In awe.

 

IGNITE ME by Tahereh Mafi. I want to re-read all those lines and all those scenes. I want to relive all. those. FEELS.

 

 

HOSTAGE TO PLEASURE by Nalini Singh. Even though I’ve already re-read this one twice this year, I’ll probably be able to squeeze in time for a third re-read before the year ends. That’s how much I love this book.

 

  

ROMANCING MISTER BRIDGERTON by Julia Quinn. This is another of my go-to re-reads. When I’m craving for a well-loved, familiar, and light romance with humor, this is the book I turn to over and over again. It never gets old.

 

Review: THE SUFFRAGETTE SCANDAL by Courtney Milan

Title: The Suffragette Scandal (Brothers Sinister #4)
Author: Courtney Milan
Release Date: July 15, 2014
Buy Links: amazon | amazon uk | nook | iBooks | kobo | google play | all romance | smashwords

An idealistic suffragette…

Miss Frederica “Free” Marshall has put her heart and soul into her newspaper, known for its outspoken support of women’s rights. Naturally, her enemies are intent on destroying her business and silencing her for good. Free refuses to be at the end of her rope…but she needs more rope, and she needs it now.

…a jaded scoundrel…

Edward Clark’s aristocratic family abandoned him to die in a war-torn land, so he survived the only way he could: by becoming a rogue and a first-class forger. When the same family that left him for dead vows to ruin Miss Marshall, he offers his help. So what if he has to lie to her? She’s only a pawn to use in his revenge.

…and a scandal seven years in the making.

But the irrepressible Miss Marshall soon enchants Edward. By the time he realizes that his cynical heart is hers, it’s too late. The only way to thwart her enemies is to reveal his scandalous past…and once the woman he loves realizes how much he’s lied to her, he’ll lose her forever.