The Earl's Christmas Colt by Rebecca Thomas Review

The Earl’s Christmas Colt

By Rebecca Thomas

Publication Date: December 30, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-62266-439-9
Reviewed from: eARC provided by Publisher—Thank You Entangled Publishing!

2014 TBR Pile Reading Challenge

Hosted at Bookish

I am sitting here in my office and I have noticed that I have certainly managed to accumulated quite a few books during 2013--both physical and eBooks. So this challenge is just the incentive I need to get moving on getting these books read during 2014. 

Details:

Link ups will be posted at Bookish on the 20th of each month, and will feature an unique theme, mini-challenge, giveaway and more! 

2014 Book Bingo Reading Challenge

2014 Book Bingo Reading Challenge Information and Sign Up Page

So I am bound and determine to complete the 2014 Bingo Challenge hosted by Kristilyn from Reading in Winter and Anne from Creativity's Corner. 

They have made some changes to the challenge and I am really looking forward to going for a blackout. 

End of the Year Book Survey Responses

One of my favorite blogs to read is The Perpetual Page Turner. Are you familiar with Jamie's blog? She is also one of the fabulous co-bloggers of The Broke and The Bookish--the blog that brings the ever popular Top Ten Tuesday.

This is my first year being able to participate in Jamie's end of the year survey. This is my first foray into posting a summary of my year--and what a crazy year this has been!

2014 Standalone Reading Challenge

Hosted by Hafash from Icey Books and Lisa from Dizneeee's World of Books

The Details:

The lovely SAC hosts have challenged us to read 15 MG or YA books published in 2014. I personally love standalone titles as much as series. They can get lost in the shuffle of all the series and duos so this challenge is perfect reason to keep up with all those fabulous standalone books being published in 2014.

2014 Prequel & Sequel Challenge

Hosted by Novel Heartbeat and Writer Grrl Reads

I have a whole lot of series that I have been wanting to read and needing to finish. I am using the Prequels and Sequels Reading Challenge as the encouragement to tackle that ever growing niche on my massive TBR to make 2014 the year to carve out the time to make that happen. 

"The President Has Been Shot" by James Swanson Review

The President Has Been Shot
By James Swanson
ISBN: 9780545490078
Publication Date: September 24, 2013
Reviewed from: copy provided by publisher--Thank you Scholastic!!

Purchase Notes:

• I have purchased a copy for my library's collection 

2014 Rewind Challenge

Hosted by Coffee Been Bookshelf

It happens to all us book addicts, I mean fans--we are constantly on the lookout for great reads. I am personally surrounded by books on a daily basis--call it an occupational hazard if you want but, it is heaven on earth personally that I get to connect readers with books as a librarian on a daily basis. BUT truth be told, it wrecks havoc on my TBR list. LOL 

Bout of Books 9.0

It is that time again! Bout of Books is having one their read-a-thons. I am really looking forward to digging in and tackling my ever growing TBR list and getting the year off to a great start.

Feature & Follow: Holiday Book Haul

Feature & Follow is put on by the lovely from Parajunkee & Alison Can Read and in order to participate, you must follow them, answer their prompt and link up to their linky. What also sets this apart is we also hop around discovering new blogs to follow as well. So if you are new to Love. Life. Read--welcome!! Follow with me by subscribing via Bloglovin', Feedly (or other RSS feed reader of your choice) or email. You can also join me on Twitter, Pinterst and Instagram for even more fun. :-)

Meet Samantha Sutton!! Character Interview

Here at Love. Life. Read. today I am thrilled to be hosting Samantha Sutton. We first meet her in Samantha Sutton and the Labyrinth of Lies, an archaeological action adventure mystery set in South America. She is back in Samantha Sutton and the Winter of the Warrior Queen. This time we are off with her to England—a dream location of mine!

Welcome Samantha! 

You dream of being an archaeologist. Can you tell my readers what has drawn you to this career path?

My uncle Jay is an archaeology professor at a university a couple hours from my house. Sometimes, on weekends, my parents drop me off at his office and he tells me stories about his excavations. He especially likes to tell me about all the adventures he’s had--like the accidents he's gotten into, or the trouble he's had with looters or wild animals. But I’m much more interested in his research. Archaeology is like a puzzle, and I low hearing about how he puts all the pieces together to figure out how people in the past used to live.

Incarnate Read-a-Thon

I am so excited to be starting the new year off with the Incarnate Read-a-Thon!!

Hosted by Kat from A Backwards Story and Alexa from Alexa Loves Books AND they will be working with the lovely Jodi Meadows and Epic Reads to bring an amazing Read-a-Thon. What are you waiting for? Join us!!

Dreamy December Days Read-a-Thon Day 6 Updates

For more about Dreamy December Days, click on the banner. 

Dreamy December Days Participation Post Update for Day 6:

Yesterday was a crazy day (as the whole week as seemed to be). I had to work yesterday and last night was a huge event for the city. So I continued to listen to my audiobook, Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell which I am really enjoying. 

Today's plan is to knock out The Queen's Choice and to participate in the Twitter chat later this evening with Francine. Will you be able to join us?

Racing Savannah by Miranda Kenneally Review

Racing Savannah
By Miranda Kenneally
Publication Date: December 3, 2013
ISBN: 9781402284762
Reviewed from: an ARC provided by Sourcebooks Fire—Thank You!! 

Purchase Notes:

• I purchased a copy for myself
• I purchased a copy for my library's collection

Story Synopsis from GoodReads:

They’re from two different worlds.

He lives in the estate house, and she spends most of her time in the stables helping her father train horses. In fact, Savannah has always been much more comfortable around horses than boys. Especially boys like Jack Goodwin—cocky, popular and completely out of her league. She knows the rules: no mixing between the staff and the Goodwin family. But Jack has no such boundaries.

With her dream of becoming a horse jockey, Savannah isn’t exactly one to follow the rules either. She’s not going to let someone tell her a girl isn’t tough enough to race. Sure, it’s dangerous. Then again, so is dating Jack…

Dreamy December Days Read-a-Thon Day 5 Update

For on Dreamy December Days, click on the banner above. :-)

Dreamy December Days Participation Post #5:

Today I did not get much physical reading done today. :( So sad!! I really dislike days like this when my schedule does not permit me much in the way of reading time. 

I did start Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell yesterday as an audiobook, maximizing my time as I drove to and from work. I am loving it so far! I am three chapters into it. 

So I am working on two books right now:  

• The Queen's Choice by Cayla Kluver
• Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

 

Dreamy December Days Read-a-Thon Day 4 Updates!

To learn more about Dreamy December Days, click on the banner above. 

Dreamy December Day 4 Participation Post Update:

Well today has not gone near as well as I hoped. I was able to chat with Francine for a bit on Twitter during the Twitter Chat so YAY for that. :-D BUT I have not gotten much read at all. My work meeting and errands too much longer than anticipated. Then this evening, we started to decorate our home for the holidays. Here's hoping I get more done tomorrow. :-)

Dreamy December Days--Participation and Challenge Updates!

To Learn more about Dream December Days, click on the banner

Dreamy December Day Three Participation Update:

 

• Mary Balogh's The Arrangement, which I have been listening to do a review for a journal. 

• I have also started an ARC of The Queen's Choice by Cayla Kluver, which releases at the end of January. 

Celebrating FOOLISH GAMES by Tracy Solheim--Happy Release Day Tracy!!

Keep reading for your chance to learn more about Foolish Games, Tracy and how to win a $25 Amazon gift card!!

About Foolish Games:

SOMETIMES THE BEST DEFENSE IS A STRONG OFFENSE….

Bridal gown designer, Julianne Marchione knows better than to lose her head at a client’s wedding. But much to her embarrassment, a mix of migraine medication and a smoking hot football player lead to a steamy one night stand resulting in a surprise pregnancy. Julianne has every intention of leaving her NFL hookup far in the past until her son, Owen, is born with a life-threatening blood disorder that requires a transfusion—and Julianne is not a match.

Will “William the Conqueror” Connelly grew up tough shouldering the stigma of being a bastard child born on the wrong side of the tracks. He refuses to let any child face the same discrimination. When he finds out about Owen, he’s furious that Julianne kept his son a secret. But when he sees her again at the hospital, he realizes that his feelings for her go far beyond anger.

Dreamy December Days Read-a-Thon Updates 1 & 2

Dreamy December Day One Participation Post #1: Goals and Expectations

This is a busy week at work but I am hoping I can use this read-a-thon as enticement to keep up on my reading for enjoyment during this busy time of year as well. I have many books piled high on bookshelves staring longingly waiting to be picked up to be read. With this in mind, here is what my tentative goals and expectations are:

• Read 2 to 3 books this week
• Write notes about the books I do read (for those I intend on reviewing)
• Write 2 to 3 reviews on books I have waiting to be finished up