Quotes (#171)

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Morning Swooners, 
I swear this will be me today. I have laser focus... oh, who am I kidding. It's Monday and I'll be lucky if I survive the day! I'm so excited because I broke a two month reading slump this past weekend!!! I had started three books in the course of the last few months and I finally finished one of them! I'm so happy that I finally got lost in the pages of a good story again that I could hardly sleep last night. On to our quotes.

“Sometimes I felt like I was waiting for my life to begin and more than anything, in that moment, I wanted to force some kind of beginning. I wanted things to be different than usual. I wanted to bend reality.”
~Holly BlackMy True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories

“People treat you with as much, or as little respect as you allow them to.”
~ Rachel Hollis, Party Girl

“Maybe the hardest part of life is just having the courage to try.”

~ Rachel Hollis, Party Girl

“Your integrity is the only thing they can't take away from you.”

Rachel Hollis, Party Girl

“Maturity isn’t something you wrap around you like a coat. Maturity is like the T-shirt you get for walking in a 5K: you can only put it on if you go through the experience first.”

~ Rachel Hollis, Smart Girl

“I used to read those bits about finding your other half, and I totally bought into it. But that's not the way it works. Two half people don't make a whole. You've got to be completely whole on your own before you can be one half of anything.”

~Rachel Hollis, Smart Girl

“You don’t share me. You own me.”

~ Gayle Forman, Where She Went

Have a fantastic week!

Let's Chat: Reading Slumps


According to my Goodreads profile, I am currently reading six books. Two of those books, I haven’t picked up in almost four years and the other four, I’ve haven’t picked up in over a month. I certainly read plenty of books throughout all of those years and I’ve read two books last month so it not like I haven’t read. Now, the two books I haven’t picked up in almost four years, I haven’t “officially” given up on them if because I hope to return to them one day. So I’m not really going to talk about that right now. That’s a different subject for a different day.

The four books that I am reading but haven’t picked up in over a month, I WANT to read them. Like, all them. The problem is that I start them and get hooked but then I put it down and get busy with something and when I go to read, I pick up a different book. And started the whole process all over again.

At first, I know I put them down in order to study for an important test I had. Also, I am dealing with some continuous family health emergency. Now, I’m free of the exam and I’m free from the constant hospital visits but still dealing with family stuff but I still haven’t picked up any of my books. I guess my attention is not on them but I’ve never been in reading slumps like this before. After thinking about it, I know there are several reasons why this reading slump is persisting.

One, since I moved back home in mid-August, I’ve been busy dealing with family issues which may have helped me in reading at first as a distraction but now I can no longer use that excuse. Since things are returning to normal, I’m just so busy in the transition of helping out, that there is no time to read.

Second, since said move, I’ve been living at parents' home and there is always people stopping by so there’s no real quiet time or alone time unless I’m going to bed. These are the times when I miss my small apartment that my husband and I were living in.

And third, I’ve got a really long list of reviews that I need to do. At the end of August, I had 30 reviews that I needed to write. THIRTY. Yes, you read that right. In that hiatus that Nahomi and I took back in May and June, instead of writing reviews, I was reading like a fiend. So, I never did get caught up. I’m glad to say that the number has gone down to 21 but it’s still a lot to write.

So while this reading slump is not necessarily to blame on the books themselves being boring or not what I’m looking for, I can only blame real life and myself for this slump. I hope to get myself sorted on the reviews front and hope life becomes kind to me and get back to normal as much as it can. I really want to get back and finish these novels because I know they’ll be exactly the kind of read I’d enjoy.

How about you, what kind of reading slump have you gotten in? What do you do to get out of said slump? Let’s chat, comment down below!

Swoony Boy of the Month: Rowan Whitehorn from Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Swoony Boy of the Month is our feature where we spotlight a favorite and/or swoony boy from the books we have read.

Hello October, I can't believe this year is going by so fast! We are currently swooning over Rowan Whitehorn from the Throne of Glass Series by Sarah J. Maas. This Fae Prince warrior slowly wormed his way into our hearts. He is not one for many words but when he does speak Holy Cannoli I get weak in the knees. 

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“I kept thinking about how you might never know that I missed you with only
an ocean between us. But if it was death separating us … I would find you. I don’t care how many
rules it would break. Even if I had to get all three keys myself and open a gate, I would find you
again. Always.” 

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“I claim you, Aelin. To whatever end.”


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“Tell me that even if I lead us all to ruin, we’ll burn in hell together.'

'We’re not going to hell, Aelin,' he said. 'But wherever we go, we’ll go together.” 


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“I spent centuries wandering the world, from empires to kingdoms to wastelands, never settling, never stopping—not for one moment. I was always looking toward the horizon, always wondering what waited across the next ocean, over the next mountain. But I think … I think that whole time, all those centuries, I was just looking for you.” 


For more Rowan read the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas.

Review: Rookie Move by Sarina Bowen



Rookie Move (The Brooklyn Bruisers #1)
Author: Sarina Bowen
Release Date: September 6, 2016
Publisher: Berkley
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Source: Berkley
Review by: Jenn
In high school they were the perfect couple—until the day Georgia left Leo in the cold...

Hockey player Leo Trevi has spent the last six years trying to do two things: get over the girl who broke his heart, and succeed in the NHL. But on the first day he’s called up to the newly franchised Brooklyn Bruisers, Leo gets checked on both sides, first by the team’s coach—who has a long simmering grudge, and then by the Bruisers’ sexy, icy publicist—his former girlfriend Georgia Worthington.

Saying goodbye to Leo was one of the hardest things Georgia ever had to do—and saying hello again isn’t much easier. Georgia is determined to keep their relationship strictly professional, but when a press conference microphone catches Leo declaring his feelings for her, things get really personal, really fast....

4 stars out of 5 stars
*I received an early copy of this title from the publisher, however, my review is not influenced by it in any way.*

When I first read the synopsis of Rookie Move, it captured my attention and I had to get my hands on this book ASAP. So when Berkley sent it to me, I managed to read it in two days. As my first Sarina Bowen's book, I am definitely interesting in following how the rest of the series goes and maybe check out her previous novels as well.

Georgia and Leo were interesting in getting to know. I really liked Georgia's character and how strong and determine she is. She's been through a lot but I like how she isn't closed off to life. Yes, she is in a love rut but she has friends, a job she love, and a dad who is slightly closer than she would like. Most New Adult books have main characters go through something extremely traumatic and most have buried their head in the sand and not deal with the emotional trauma. However, Georgia dealt with her issues and has fought to get back some semblance of control of life and I love how well done it was portrayed.

And I couldn't help but love Leo. He is so sweet and patient, both with his job and when it comes to Georgia. I really couldn't find a flaw that bothered me about him. Even his interactions with the other team members, you could see how he was trying to be respectful to everyone but still hold his ground. Sarina could have written him off as the cocky new player who thinks he deserves to be front and center and cause a lot of conflict but Leo is not that guy and I love that even more.

The plot follows along at a steady pace and it was so quick and easy to get through. Sarina manage to make 360+ pages go by so fast that I simply couldn't put the book down for any long period of time. The sexy times in the book were certainly hot so I can't complain on that front.

I read the first chapter for the next book, Hard Hitter, and I'm can't wait for it be released. I'm already hooked on it! So this new series is definitely one that needs to everyone's list because Sarina did not disappoint me in hooking me in with her storytelling.

Quotes (#170)

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Morning Swooners,
I am feeling very grateful this morning. A very scary storm was coming our way, but in the end it didn't hit us as hard as they were predicting. Although I am relieved and grateful the storm took another path; my heart goes out to all of the families affected by the storm. So, it's Monday definitely not my favorite day of the week, but I feel ready to take on this new week! On to today's quotes hope you enjoy!

“Once you've chosen a man, don't try to change him', I wrote with more confidence. 'It can't be done. More important-don't let him try to change you.”
~Diana Gabaldon, Voyager

"Judging by the state of your hair, Sassenach, I should say that it's going to rain verra soon now.”
~Diana GabaldonVoyager

“The greatest burden lies in caring for those we cannot help.”
~Diana GabaldonVoyager

“Faith is as powerful a force as science-- but far more dangerous”

~Diana GabaldonVoyager

“Damn ye, woman! Will ye never do as you’re told?” “Probably not,” I said meekly.”
~Diana GabaldonVoyager

“To know that you cannot give them happiness, not through any fault of yours or theirs, but only because you were not born the right person for them?”
~Diana GabaldonVoyager

Well, that's all for today, I wish you a happy and productive week!

Review: How to Lose a Bachelor by Anna Banks



How to Lose a Bachelor
Author: Anna Banks
Release Date: November 9, 2015
Publisher: Entangled Bliss
Format: ebook
Source: Personal Copy
Review by: Jenn
Revenge was never this much fun...

When Rochelle Ransom auditioned for the dating show Luring Love, she had big plans for winning the prize money to help her favorite charity-and if she won the hot bachelor’s heart, even better. But at the last minute she finds out the hot bachelor is her ex-boyfriend, Grant Drake. Desperate to keep her distance from him, she’ll do anything-and everything-to get voted off.

Years ago, Rochelle broke Grant’s heart, and he’s out for revenge. There’s no way he’ll vote her off.

After all, vengeance is a dish best served red-hot…and on live television.

When her hilarious antics to get kicked off the show escalate, Grant’s reminded why he fell in love with her the first time. Now he isn’t sure which might be more fun… Seeing how far Rochelle is willing to go to get away or how far he will to keep her forever.

1 stars out of 5 stars

I was super excited about starting this book. The premise sounded like it would be a sweet and funny book where I could just breeze through it. However, I ended up having a huge dislike towards the heroine, Rochelle. I thought she was crazy throughout the book. She didn't need to act the way she did even if the bachelor was her ex-boyfriend from college who broke her heart. I understand she wanted to get voted off but the way she acted wasn't funny, which is what I'm guessing the author was trying to portray. It was just horrendous to read because her antics were over the top and unnecessary. Especially, for a woman on a mission to get the prized money and donate it to her favorite charity. She's supposed to be a lawyer, for godsakes. She can act professionally and still try to get voted off. I feel like her being a lawyer was only because she likes to argue and is very stubborn.

Her actions towards Grant, our bachelor, I never fully understood. She didn't fully trust him, which I get but why would she say she forgives him and then run like hell from him when one of the other contestants throws everyone for the loop with her explosive "confession"? I don't understand how she didn't pick up on how it seemed awfully convenient what this particular contestant was saying at that particular time.

This book left a lot to be desired. In theory, the premise of this book would have been right up alley, but unfortunately, it fell flat.

Review + Giveaway: Beautiful by Christina Lauren


Beautiful (Beautiful Bastard #10)
Author: Christina Lauren
Release Date: October 4, 2016
Publisher: Gallery Books
Format: Paperback
Source: Gallery Books
Review by: Jenn

One free spirited Brit. One man weighed down by responsibility . . . (Also, a disorientingly sweet Chloe, confused Bennett, grumpy Sara, Max as you know and love him, travel planner Hanna, chef Will, drunk Ruby, content Niall, George–oh, George–a rented van)
. . . and a whole lot of wine.

The final novel in the Internationally Bestselling Beautiful series.

4 stars out of 5 stars
*I received an early copy of this title from the publisher, however, my review is not influenced by that in any way.* 

I'm super sad that I had to say goodbye to some of my favorite characters in a romance series. Christina and Lauren have written some of my favorite men along with some badass ladies. Beautiful featured everything I love about series ending. It had all of the characters I've grown attached to, the hot sexy times I've grown accustomed to expecting from CLo, the best of banter between the guys, and as well as two new characters whose story I was completely hooked on from the first thrusting bum Pippa, our heroine, saw. Yes, you'll learn what that means as soon as you pick up this book!

The story follows Jensen and Pippa (Jensen is Hanna's older brother and Will's best friend from Beautiful Player and Pippa is Ruby's best friend from Beautiful Secret) as they decide to join their friends of a wine road trip tour. Since they are the only two single people on the trip, they naturally end up spending time together. This is something I really love about Christina and Lauren's writing; in other stories, the two of them getting together can seem contrived and forced but here everything flowed naturally between Jensen and Pippa. I couldn't help but become hooked on wanting to see how their story played out.

Pippa was hilarious and most of my laugh out loud moments were courtesy of her and her antics. Since she is so outgoing and loud, Jensen is the perfect balance to Pippa. He's considered uptight and quiet and introspective but I love how well they both complement each other and I just plain love Jensen. I loved seeing these two blossoms and how they finally came together. The story flowed very naturally, and even though this is the longest book of the series, it was such a fast and easy read.

As I worked to disentangle us, she gazed at me, bemused. "This makes me wary of ever dabbling in bondage with you."
Silence greeted us, and I unlooped the seatbelt from her neck before looking up and around us at the other passengers.
"We're not alone, are we?" she playfully stage-hissed.
"There are others," I confirmed. "They're regarding you with curiosity."
"And mild horror," Niall added.

Player Will has and will forever be my favorite of the boys but Jensen might be a close second. I became a little defensive for him when Hanna was overbearing and wanting him to do as she said. Like, give him some space and time Hanna and kindly back off. So it's safe to Hanna better be careful with my two boys.

I loved getting a chance to see some all of the couples from the previous books. It was interesting to see where each couple is in their relationship and what is ahead of them. My only complaint was that there were one too many babies in this book for my tastes. I think this why I couldn't love the epilogues as much as wanted to. I've mentioned before that I don't really like babies in my books so don't hate me!

Like I said before, I'm super sad to say goodbye to these characters but Christina and Lauren gave them such a wonderful send off that I'm okay with that. I am looking forward to seeing what this duo have in store and how many more character of theirs I will fall for as well.



So the wonderful people at Gallery have offered to give away a copy of Beautiful to one lucky winner. All you have to do is enter the information required down below on the rafflecopter. My rule to enter the contest is that you have to be 13 years or older and Gallery request is that you must be a US resident. Giveaway will run from today all the way to the 14th of this month. Good luck to all!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Quotes (#169)

Morning Swooners,
This gif is so accurate! I feel like Rory on a daily basis. I have so many things I have to do, and things I want to do, that most days I find myself feeling overwhelmed. However, the show must go on. Here are today's quotes.

“You cannot pick and choose what parts of her to love.”
~Sarah J. Maas, Heir of Fire

“I claim you, Rowan Whitethorn. I don't care what you say and how much you protest. I claim you as my friend.”
~ Sarah J. Maas, Heir of Fire

“And then I am going to rattle the stars.”
~Sarah J. Maas, Heir of Fire
“The people you love are just weapons that will be used against you.”
~ Sarah J. Maas, Heir of Fire

“All she knew was that whatever and whoever climbed out of that abyss of despair and grief would not be the same person who had plummeted in.”
~ Sarah J. Maas, Heir of Fire

"She was not becoming anything different from what she always was and always had the capacity to be. You just finally saw everything. And once you saw that other part of her… You cannot pick and choose what parts of her to love. Just as you cannot pick which parts of me you accept.”
~ Sarah J. Maas, Heir of Fire

“She would remake the world - remake it for them, those she had loved with this glorious, burning heart;”
~ Sarah J. Maas, Heir of Fire

May you have a wonderful week!

Review: Our Love Unhinged by Brighton Walsh


Our Love Unhinged
(Reluctant Hearts #3.5)
Author: Brighton Walsh
Release Date: August 20, 2016
Publisher: Bright Publishing, LLC
Format: ebook
Source: Personal Copy
Review by: Jenn

Despite everything she thought she knew, Winter fell in love, and she fell hard. Living with the security of Cade’s unconditional devotion for the past two years has been a welcome reprieve from the decades of loneliness that came before him.

So when he pops the question, she says yes. Of course she does. But two years isn’t long in the grand scheme of things, and certainly not enough time to erase the memories of the past.

Sometimes, even the greatest love can’t silence fears.

Our Love Unhinged is the final novella in the Reluctant Hearts series, and is best enjoyed after reading books 1-3 in the series.

3.5 stars out of 5 stars

Our Love Unhinged was a sweet, hot, and perfect ending to this series. Every character I came to love in the Reluctant Hearts series, we saw one more time and I was able to seem them get their happy ending.

It was so sweet how Cade finally proposed to Winter. How nervous he was and how he just HAD to ask her. And I loved how the boys reacted to Tessa and Paige spotting Winter's ring. It was HILARIOUS how Jason didn't really acknowledge it at first because he wasn't asked for ring shopping help. God I love him. My only problem is that in my romance books, I don't really care for couples having babies, it just something I don't want to read about. So I didn't really love how it was included in two ways in the book.

I am going to miss this gang. The boys shenanigans are always fun and the girl talk, especially with Paige around, will be missed. I might have to go reread now.



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