2020 Reading Challenge

2020 Reading Challenge
Ang -PNR Book Lover Reviews has read 0 books toward her goal of 150 books.
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Sunday, March 31, 2019

The Obsession by Nora Roberts



Hello, Hello, Hi *waves*
Pull up a chair, welcome to my little slice of the bookish community.


Nora Roberts Book of the Month Book Club!
 If you would like to join me on my Nora book of month please email me or even comment below. You now join the good reads group I have created.


MARCH 2019
The Obsession


BLURB

The riveting novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Liar.
 
“She stood in the deep, dark woods, breath shallow and cold prickling over her skin despite the hot, heavy air. She took a step back, then two, as the urge to run fell over her.” 
 
Naomi Bowes lost her innocence the night she followed her father into the woods. In freeing the girl trapped in the root cellar, Naomi revealed the horrible extent of her father’s crimes and made him infamous. No matter how close she gets to happiness, she can’t outrun the sins of Thomas David Bowes.
 
Now a successful photographer living under the name Naomi Carson, she has found a place that calls to her, a rambling old house in need of repair, thousands of miles away from everything she’s ever known. Naomi wants to embrace the solitude, but the kindly residents of Sunrise Cove keep forcing her to open up—especially the determined Xander Keaton. 
 
Naomi can feel her defenses failing, and knows that the connection her new life offers is something she’s always secretly craved. But the sins of her father can become an obsession, and, as she’s learned time and again, her past is never more than a nightmare away.


MY REVIEW


Hot damn, this book was phenomenal.
A very compelling story, right from the first page.

"They're not so different, words and pictures. Both freeze moments, both stay with you long after the moment's over"

For our book club, we read this in 4 parts over the course of the Month, I struggled putting it down. I wanted to read it all with in the first couple of days.

The beginning of this book is very dark, and chilling. Naomi Bowes finds out her father is a serial killer. Thomas David Bowes. When she was 11-12 she followed him into the woods one night and its awful what she discovers. She rescues they only surviour Ashley.  Her father is a sick,sexual, sadist a narcissist psycho who preys on women and rapes, beats and holds them hostage in a stellar. He killed 26 women that he admitted to, but because he enjoys the attention he gives the FBI trickles of information over the years. He manipulated his wife, Naomi and her brother Mason. ( who I adored) He literally brain washed there Mum, When they were young he scared them.

This is one thing you will never get over, even when you move away and change your last name. Her Uncle and his partner come to the kids rescue and raise them as there own. I loved them and there bond. There Mum was hopeless, she does try to get better but she is a lost course.

"You put something behind you Nome, it's got its eyes on you back. I'd rather keep it in front of me, so I can see where it's going"

I really enjoyed this story, getting to know Naomi, and Xander. Their relationship is very slow building and I did not mind one bit, because once they get together it is H O T.

I have become to love Nora Roberts romantic thrillers or romantic suspense novels and The Obsession is easily 5/5 stars for me. 
I found the plot, moved quickly. It had me hooked, I loved how much she loved her brother and Uncles, and when she finally decides to buy a home, and not a simple little home a big gigantic house that needed to be guttered and renovated. Set some roots, finds a stray dog, and Xander it becomes all very interesting. It was just so well written IMO. The first part of the book is of her, finding out about her serial killer father, and we go threw the motions with her as she grows into a teenager and then we get to the present time.

Yes, things get more exciting when we do catch up to the present time, but I think it needs all the emotion of the first part, you see her struggles brought to light and how she deals with it all. I love her job, she is a photographer, a very loved one, that and talented. I love all the details in photos, and especially doing up her new home. I maybe in the minority, but I loved all the details. I loved how it came through, you could close your eyes and see it all.

Xander Keaton *swoon* I adored this sexy man.
He literally blew me away, he is probably one of my new favourite Nora Roberts men. Xander, he was confidence and he was total alpha, he didn't over do it, he was just everything I looked for a main man in a novel. He knew what he wanted, and he wanted Naomi. The romance between these to was hot, steamy and all sorts of perfect.

"Sunlight in your hair, Morning light. You standing there, working on a piece of plywood, sunlight all over you, and I feel like someone kicked me of a damn cliff."~ Xander 

The ending made me cry, it truly touched my heart. 
When the newer bad guy becomes part of the story, With missing women and dead bodies found, I could not pick it. right to the end, I was like who the heck is the killer, but then there was this part it hit me and I knew without a doubt who it was, and I was correct. Man I loved the twist and turns in this well written story. 
I can also recommend the audio as well, as I read half of the book I was also listening to it while I was busy too.

We also get a great cast of characters, from Kevin and his wife Jenny who become her best-friends, the guys from Xanders band. Everyone who she meet from town was lovable. I really enjoyed this one guys, I can not praise it enough.


"You don't always know what lives with you"

Ang

March Wrap Up



Hey, Hello, Hi *waves*

Welcome to my newest blog entry.


March Wrap Up

What a month.

My MARCH 2019 Monthly STATS

In a nut shell. I have done really well with my reading this month. I did not expect my Audio intake to be so high, but hey I got so much things done around the house. I did read a couple other things but one Is for the #owlsreadathon that I am participating in and will let that one add to Aprils.
.
*1. Immortal In Death by J. D. Robb - 5/5
*2. Make Me Bad by R.S Grey - 5/5 
*3. This Fallen Prey by Kelley Armstrong - 5/5
*4. The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook - 1/5
*5.  The Wild Light by Marjorie Liu - 3.5/5
*6. In a Badger Way by Shelly Laurenston - 5/5
*7. Watcher in the Woods by Kelley Armstrong - 5/5
*8. A Dark Lure by Loreth Anne White - 5/5
*9. Protecting Caroline by Susan Stoker -1/5
*10. Forgotten Secrets by Robin Perini - 5/5
11. The Dark Bones by Loreth Anne White (review coming soon)
*12. In The Barren Ground by Loreth Anne White
13. Warrior of The Wild by Tricia Levenseller - 5/5
*14. The Obsession by Nora Roberts - 5/5
15. The Drowned Girls by Loreth Anne White - 3.5/5 (review to come)
.

Longest BookThe Drowned Girls by Loreth Anne White.

Shortest Book - Protecting Caroline.

Audio Books - This Fallen Prey, A Watcher in the Woods, A Dark Lure, Forgotten Secrets, In The Barren Ground, Warrior of the Wild, The Drowned Girls.

E-books- Make Me Bad, In A Badger Way, Protecting Caroline, The Dark Bones.

Paperbacks- Immortal In Death, The Iron Duke, The Wild Light, The Obsession.

How many books did you read this month?

All the * has a review done and you can check them out if you would likes too.



Overall the books I rated 5 were the most stand out books for me this month,I really enjoyed my audio listens, and will carry on into next month listening to more.




I read 3 ROMANCE-OPOLY reads in March

1. MILITARY MEWS (Romantic Suspense) 1/5

2. LONDON STREET (Steampunk) 1/5

3. KICK ASS LANE (Urban Fantasy) 3.5/5

The Month of March brought us the first Nora Roberts Book Of The Month

  The Obsession.


I really enjoyed this story, It was so good and creepy. And swoon worthy, check out my review on the blog.
(click on the image)



I think that brings it to a end, if you got this far I thank you.



Happy Reading

Ang







Sunday, March 24, 2019

We Are Okay by Nina LaCour Book Tour



Hi, Hello, Welcome to my little slice of the bookish community.


Today's post is all about the book called


Book Review Tour






Review Time!


Synopsis: Marin hasn’t spoken to anyone from her old life since the day she left everything behind. No one knows the truth about those final weeks. Not even her best friend, Mabel. But even far away from the California coast, at college in New York, Marin still feels the pull of the life and tragedy she’s tried to outrun. Now, months later, alone in an emptied dorm for winter break, Marin waits. Mabel is coming to visit and Marin will be forced to face everything that’s been left unsaid and finally confront the loneliness that has made a home in her heart. 

An intimate whisper that packs an indelible punchWe Are Okay is Nina LaCour at her finest. This gorgeously crafted and achingly honest portrayal of grief will leave you urgent to reach across any distance to reconnect with the people you love.  

My Thoughts.

So that above is about the book, and here is where it get's awkward. I personally can see where this story has mixed reviews, I fall into the category of it was good, but not Amazing. Though I think its all about each to there own and what you prefer in a story. I love books with character driven arcs. When I went into this story, I never actually read the blurb I really just wanted to help with the blog tour. I love being able to help promote, and jump on blog tours where I can.

The plot to this story was pretty easy to follow, no action and a lot of present and past scenes. I am not a big lover on past scenarios, I understand why they were part of this story.

Marin's head space was not some where wanted to be long, I am thankful that it wasn't a fairly long story. She was very melodramatic, slightly annoying. I understand she has been through some intense trauma.

I wanted to really love this book so much, I was so excited to have receive the paperback, because that cover is LUSH. I am 100% in love with the cover art for this book.

 I think personally, I couldn't relate to the character in any way so I struggled caring.

People are going to, if not already LOVE this story. I think it will impact each reader differently.

Trigger warnings: Grief, loneliness and the need for support.

Overall 3 solid stars.

WARRIOR OF THE WILD by Tricia Levenseller


Hello, Hello. Welcome.


BLURB

An 18-year-old chieftain's daughter must find a way to kill her village's oppressive deity if she ever wants to return home in Warrior of the Wild, the Viking-inspired YA standalone fantasy from Tricia Levenseller, author of Daughter of the Pirate King.
How do you kill a god?  
As her father's chosen heir, 18-year-old Rasmira has trained her whole life to become a warrior and lead her village. But when her coming-of-age trial is sabotaged and she fails the test, her father banishes her to the monster-filled wilderness with an impossible quest: To win back her honor, she must kill the oppressive god who claims tribute from the villages each year or die trying.



My Review
WARRIOR OF THE WILD by Tricia Levenseller


"Each scar marks me as a survivor."

This is my very first book by this author, I on a whim grabbed the audio book, really enjoying the premises of the blurb and the cover.

I adored the way Tricia wrote this story, her female lead is strong,intelligent and someone who you will really come to love. This story is "Viking" inspired, Rasmira our girl,has been banished to the Wild, after failing to pass her trail to join the warrior ranks.

Rasmira, is the daughter of the leader and the others are very jealous of her and don't like that she gets special treatment, I wont tell you how she gets banished but it really sucks, my heart ached for her and the new life she has to go and live.

If  you get banished the only way to gain access back into your village, is to complete a impossible task called a matugar. Her is to kill a God, that has been terrorising the villages for years and years. When she is banished into the wild lands, she meets two boys who have also have been sent here after failing to join the warrior ranks.

How do you kill a god?

Soren & Iric.
 Soren's  matugar is to get a feather from a mythical bird, who everyone believes does not exists. Then Iric has to kill this water beast thing. Soren is so verly lovely and sweet, so loyal and lost his trial on purpose so he could follow his brother into the wild. Iric he is so annoying, but so annoying that you will adore. He is a genius, and his sarcasm is funny as.

Overall this is a quick, wonderful journey with lots of heart and a fantastic cast of characters, witty lines and a sweet romance. 

I love that they all join forces to help each other to complete there matugar's. I really appreciate the twist and turns that they all go through, I really enjoyed listening to this story the lady who narrative's has a beautiful voice.

That last hour of the novel,was fast paced well heck the whole book is written fast paced. I loved it, but yeah, that last hour was so darn good. I will highly recommend this book, & I look forward to checking out the authors other duo-logy Daughter of the Pirate King. 



Ang







In The Barren Ground by Loreth Anne White Review




A Daphne du Maurier Award Winner.
In the Barrens, a vast wilderness in northern Canada bordering the Arctic Circle, night consumes every hour of the winter. Humans are scarce; ferocious predators roam freely. Locals say spirits do, too.
Rookie cop Tana Larsson doesn’t mind the dark and quiet. Five months pregnant and hoping to escape the mistakes of her past, she takes a post in Twin Rivers, population 320. Maybe here she can find peace and community for her child.
But with her superior out of commission, Tana becomes the sole police officer in 17,500 square miles. One bitter night, she gets a call about the fatal wolf mauling of two students, and the only way to reach the remote scene is to enlist the help of the arrogant, irritatingly handsome Cameron “Crash” O’Halloran, a local bush pilot with a shady reputation for smuggling and a past cloaked in shadow.
When the macabre scene they uncover suggests violence much more sinister than animal, Tana must trust Crash if she wants to protect the town—and herself—from the evil that lurks in the frozen dark.


MY REVIEW
I am quickly becoming a massive fan of Loreth Anne White, I was really unsure when i started listening to this one, because it was way out of my normal read. This story has really gruesome, creepy and I was constantly jumping at the small things. I am so happy I took a chance a listened to this story, I believe it is a hard one to get through, the author really knows how to describe the killings.

A police rookie cop, Tana Larsson, 5 months pregnant and has been assigned to Twin Rivers, a very small town in Northern Canada. I don't know what it is with me reading books recently based in Canada, they have been all very good and so damn creepy.

Tana gets a call out to a horrible crime, but to get there she needs help. Crash is familiar to the area, and hes a pilot. This investigation she beings take so many twist and turns I did not see any of it coming. This really is not for the faint- hearted, it is very dark, disturbing and brutal. I found myself so invested and transported into this weird bizarre town.

I love the way Loreth can weave together her stories, they always have real and believable characters that you enjoy to read about, characters who you start caring for. This story has so much going for it, I missed the romance though, there was some but not enough. but even then it was little bread crumbs. There is no sex, not even kissing. I enjoyed trying to figure out the crime she has discovered, and along with her, we come across so many surprising revels.

"In the barrens of the soul, monsters take tol, they come with hunger and ice in their heart."

Ang






Friday, March 22, 2019

ANOTHER READATHON ANNOUNCEMENT AND MY TBR


ANOTHER READATHON ANNOUNCEMENT AND my tBR



WHILE I WILL BE IN THE MIDDLE OF MY O.W.L'S READATHON I AM GOING TO TACKLE #ROMANCEOPOLYATHON


 THE PROMPTS

  1. Read a book with red on the cover
  2. Read a book with abs on the cover
  3. Read a book with an illustrated cover
  4. Read a book with a one word title
  5. Read a new to you author
  6. Read any book on the UTC/PLB recommendation lists
  7. Read a book you already own
Also along with the fun and games there will be a Instagram challenge too.


WHAT I AM PLANING TO READ...
-
Prompts 3,4,5 & 7
Illustrated Cover, One Word Title, New To You Author & All Ready Own.
Romanceopoly Challenge: 
Read a PNR where the hero or heroine can wield magic.


-

Prompts 2,5 & 7
ABS On Cover, New To You Author & All Ready Own
Romanceopoly Challenge: Bus
Read a book where the character (s) have to go on a journey which involves travel, this includes fantasy.


-

Prompt 7
All Ready Own
Romanceopoly Challenge: LGBT Lane
Read a New Adult LGBT Romance


-

Extra Books I am reading that fit into some of the prompts.Or Back ups if I am not feeling or getting into the books above...

Red On The Cover
My Copy is Black with a RED Rose. Will insert picture soon.

-

New To You Author & All Ready Own
Romanceopoly Challenge: Bus
Read a book where the character (s) have to go on a journey which involves travel, this includes fantasy.

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All Ready Own, Red On Cover
Romanceopoly Challenge: Bus
Read a book where the character (s) have to go on a journey which involves travel, this includes fantasy.

-
Illustrated Cover, New To You Author & All Ready Own.
Romanceopoly Challenge: Magic Row
Read a PNR where the hero or heroine can wield magic.
-
Romanceopoly Challenge: Bus
Read a book where the character (s) have to go on a journey which involves travel, this includes fantasy.



I think that covers it all, honestly I am not even sure what I will be able to get to April is already a big month. I most likely going to do a lot of these in audio. Are you participating? Let me know in the comments, link me to your own TBRs. 

Romanceopoly Challenge: Magic Row
Read a PNR where the hero or heroine can wield magic.

If anything this one, I am not 100% sure. I have a few other books I wouldn't find trying out for this one, but we will see.
I have plenty to pick from.

Happy reading Ang

Wednesday, March 20, 2019

FORGOTTEN SECRETS by Robin Perini



Hello, Hi & Welcome to my little slice of the bookish community



BLURB
At age ten, Riley Lambert watched helplessly as her sister was abducted from her bedroom. Fifteen years later, she’s channeled the pain of her past into a career as an FBI profiler. Riley devotes her life to bringing violent criminals to justice…and secretly uses government resources to search for her sister, who was never found.
When Riley gets a call from the only man who’s ever swept her off her feet with a killer two-step and dangerous smile—ex-Navy SEAL Thayne Blackwood of Singing River, Wyoming—it stirs up dark memories. Thayne’s sister, Cheyenne, has been kidnapped. There are no leads, and the only witness is the victim’s Alzheimer’s-afflicted grandmother.
Desperate to find Cheyenne, Thayne needs Riley’s expertise. With time running short, they delve into dangerous small-town secrets while fighting against an increasingly ruthless adversary. But when her past and his present collide in a shocking revelation, can they overcome the secrets that have kept them apart?

MY REVIEW
FORGOTTEN SECRETS
Damn, this book was so good. When I first opened it, I wasn't to sure what the story was about, I didn't really read the blurb. It was a cover buy, and also a genre buy too. I am 100%  glad I started listening to this one.
My feelings were so invested with this phenomenal story, I was all over the place. Our Nan, is also suffers from Alzheimer's and to hear about the characters Nan going through the same thing was excruciating hard to hear I wept at parts because the disease is so awful.
Thayne and his family were everything. Thayne is on leave from the SEALS and is acting as a Deputy. I enjoyed Riley she appears to be fearless, strong and she is this amazing FBI profiler who is really good at her job. But underneath her walls she has up, Riley is very lonely vulnerable lady, she has never forgiven herself when her sister was stolen right before her one late night almost 15 years ago. 
Thayne, and Riley meet almost a year ago and they have had this long distance relationship. That is how they meet, when she discovered a lead that took her to Singing River. You see she has been doing her best to discover what happened to her sister, and made a promise to herself that she will bring her sister home dead or alive.
Now she is being forced to take a break from her job, and thats when Thayne rings her with news that his own sister has been kidnapped, and asks her for help.
The Small town of Singing River have many secrets, and they are going to be brought to light in this story.
Forgotten Secrets, is a mystery, crime romance with heart pounding action that I am here for. The author handles so many difficult topics professionally and heart warming. This story is packed with a lot of heart and a lot of action.
I look forward to book 2, to see where this new series will take us. I cant wait to return to this town, the characters were all so lovable and there is something about small town suspense novels that I really enjoy.
The Kidnapper in the story was a really interesting and unique spin on things, I was really glad it was not an easy one to figure out, the plot is that over the course of 15 years there are been a plethora of missing children taken from there family's. I loved the twist and turns the author took us on. It was creepy, fast paced.
5 Stars
Ang

Protecting Caroline by Susan Stroker Review



Hello, Hi & Welcome to my little slice of the 
bookish community.




BLURB
**Protecting Caroline is a stand-alone love story. It’s Book 1 in the SEAL of Protection Series.** 

Matthew “Wolf” Steel hated flying commercial. Luckily his job as a Navy SEAL meant he didn’t have to do it very often. He’d been unlucky enough to be assigned a middle seat on the cramped jet, but fortunately for him, the woman next to him was willing to switch seats with him. Hoping for a relaxing flight, Wolf was pleasantly surprised at the good conversation and sense of humor the woman had as they flew 36,000 feet over the countryside. 

When Caroline boarded the plane to Virginia to move across the country for her new job she never expected to be seated next to the hottest guy she’d ever seen. She also never expected he’d be so easy to talk to. She knew he’d never be interested in talking to her if he hadn’t been trapped in the seat next to her, but it was a nice way to spend a long plane ride. 

Neither Wolf nor Caroline were prepared for a terrorist hijacking of their plane, but if Caroline thought that would be the last time she’d see, or need, Wolf, she’d be sorely mistaken. 

Start the SEAL of Protection Series with Caroline and Wolf's story


MY REVIEW
Protecting Caroline by Susan Stroker
 This was my #romanceopoly Military Mews read.

I have to admit I was expecting better, really I was expecting to enjoy this so much than what I have. Firstly the romance was to me slightly weird, there was like no sex, there was some heavy kissing. You would get more sex in a Nora Roberts book, 100%

This was a quick action romance, it was the first book in a series, that I can see her fans would enjoy. Unfortunately I personally didn't enjoy, I found the main character Caroline annoying, her lack of self confidence made me itchy.

Its another sloppy put together romance novel that had a lot of potential but it was over before it started. it had no drive. Its full on, whip lash bouncing from ting to another. I love me some insta-love, but come on at least some insta love with some hot sexy smutty times. This was a disappointing read, I did like the team of SEALS.

 I just felt like I have read it before but better, and longer, and with more to it.

1 star

Ang