Take Control of Your TBR Pile

It's March. And it's time for

Take Control of Your TBR Pile challenge!

It was hosted by Kimba the "Caffeinated Book Reviewer".

The rule's pretty simple: 

Beginning March 1st, 2013 and ending March 31, 2013 at midnight read books from your TBR pile ALL books must have been published before March 2013. 

That's totally helpful to reduce your TBR pile, isn't it?

Of course, I need to read books for another challenge. So I might books that cover all of them (of course, except for the ARCs from Net Galley)

So, I planned to read at least 7 books this month. There are some candidates:

1. The Lass Wore Black by Karen Ranney - DONE

2. Again the Magic by Lisa Kleypas

3. Private Arrangements by Sherry Thomas

4. Loving Evangeline by Linda Howard

5. Delicious by Sherry Thomas

6. Doukakis's Apprentice by Sarah Morgan

7. Reflected in You by Sylvia Day

8. The Serpent Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt

9. Lothaire by Kresley Cole

10. Heaven, Texas by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

11. The Revenge of Lord Eberlin by Julia London

12. When She Was Wicked by Anne Barton

13. Slightly Tempted by Mary Balogh

14. The Scoundrel Takes a Bride by Stefanie Sloane

15. Defiant Impostor by Miriam Minger

16. The Captain of All Pleasures by Kresley Cole

17. Werewolf in Denver by Vicki Lewis Thompson

18. Nerd who Loved Me by Vicki Lewis Thompson

19. Nerd Gone Wild by Vicki Lewis Thompson

20. Darker than Night by Kim Lenox

21. Leaping Hears - J.R. Ward

22. Shadow's Claim - Kresley Cole

23. Infinity - Sherrilyn Kenyon

24. Barbara Freety - The Way Back Home

25. Claimed by the Highlander by Julianne Maclean

26. Taken by Sin by Jaci Burton

27. Black City by Elizabeth Richards

28. Texas Rain by Jodi Thomas

29. The Near Witch by Victoria Schawb

30. Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Too many to chose? What do you think?

February Wrap-Up

Okay, this is absolutely one of my habits: being lazy to write down reviews.

My excuse would be because I have papers to work on. :p

So here's the list of books I read in February

1. Deck the Halls With Love: A Lost Lords of Pembrook Novella (The Lost Lords of Pembrook #2.5) by Lorraine Heath
2. Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
3. Hooked (Hooked #1) by Liz Fichera
4. My Cowboy Valentine: Be Mine, Cowboy\Hill Country Cupid (Hill Country Heroes #4) by Jane Porter, Tanya Michaels
5. A Werewolf in Manhattan (Wild About You #1) by Vicki Lewis Thompson
6. Werewolf in the North Woods (Wild About You #2) by Vicki Lewis Thompson
7. Mortal Seductions (Mortal #2) by Allyson James
8. Werewolf in Seattle (Wild About You #3) by Vicki Lewis Thompson
9. A Reputation For Revenge : The Greek Billionaire's Baby Revenge by Jennie Lucas

To fulfill my reading challenge(s) : 

- E-copy from Net Galley (My own challenge. I requested more than I could chew) : 2, 3, 4

- 2013 TBR Pile Challenge (Only books released in 2012 and earlier, no ARCs) : 1, 5, 6, 7, 8

- "Sports" Reading Challenge : 3 (It's about golf)

- 2013 Series Reading Challenge : 5,6,8 (Wild About You Series by Vicki Lewis Thompson, 1 book left)

- 2013 Reading Romances Challenge (February: Foreigners do it better!) : 8, 9 (Russian and Scottish)

Hmmm... I've just realized that I read about werewolves 4 books in a row. Ha! 

The only book I spent some times writing the review seriously was Eleanor and Park. As for the rest, it's just few sentences. Hopefully I can do better next month. Not for the reading, but for writing down the review. Although I doubt it. :p

Review: Werewolf in Manhattan by Vicki Lewis Thompson

Emma Gavin writes about werewolves, but that doesn't mean she believes in them-not until a pack of real-life New York weres decide to investigate the striking accuracy of her "fiction".

When Aiden Wallace, son and heir of the pack leader, tries to sniff out Emma's potential informant, he discovers something even more dangerous- an undeniable attraction to her.

Synopsis taken from GOODREADS
Buy book from The Book Depository or AMAZON

Publisher: Signet
Published: 04 January 2011
Format: Paperback 324 pages
Categories: Horror Romance (Adult/18+ only)
ISBN 13: 9780451232472

I must say, this was my very first reading about werewolf, a shifter. I mean, I did read once Wicked Woods where there were vampires and werewolf, but never specifically a shifter. I'm not really into paranormal genre. Still not, I guess. It's the Vicki Lewis Thompson that made my bought the whole series, even when I didn't really like paranormal. Besides, I kinda liked the kind of these covers.  I have them for months on my shelf and decided to read it in 2013 to fulfill the challenge on reading series I've been wanting for so long. 

Where to start? Hmm... I was pretty excited when I found out the heroine, Emma, is an author who wrote romance fiction about werewolf. And I loved Aidan. Well, maybe it's because the alpha thing, although I think there are so many heroes who's more alpha than Aidan, at least on the way he's described. I think Aidan is so sweet. And specifically, rich. One Aidan for me, please!

But ... I didn't really like Emma. At first I did. I mean, it's not like I hated her, it's just that she's not ... that lovable. Maybe she's realist, the kind who enjoying the moment while you still can. But I still didn't really think doing it while you know he belongs to someone else  is right. Of course, it's not official, the arrangement between Nadia and Aidan (You can see the arrangement right? That Nadia's name is mirrored to Aidan's), and he doesn't love her anyway. So maybe I can't say that he practically belongs to her. But still... I don't know. Maybe it's just my subjective feeling interfering.

I was curious and kept reading at first because I wondered how the moment when Emma found out about Aidan was going to be described. As it turned out, it's not that exciting. Her reaction was like a bit too flat for my taste. She must be one very brave woman. And the moment when Aidan came to realize that she's the one was also not that ... mmm, I can't find the exact words. The other disappointing part was ... at first you'd kept reading about the sexual tension and attraction between them. It was described pretty detail. But when it comes to the binding thing after Aidan confessed his love to Emma and Emma agreed to be his mate (or wife), it wasn't described at all. And I wanted details since it's been said that the werewolf have to do it in a certain position to create the binding thing with his mate! 

So I must say, I loved the beginning. But the end was like, that's it? 

So it's only 3.5 half stars from me. Mostly because I loved Aidan, the cover, and the author. Not very objective, huh? 

But I did start the next book of the series right away. I wanted to know about Roarke, Aidan's little brother. I'm still not really into this genre/theme, but I started to find another series/books about werewolf or shifter to read. Any recommendation perhaps? But I might want to avoid erotica, please. I'm definitely a vanilla type. :D

February New Release Giveaway Hop

The January New Release Giveaway Hop is hosted by Book Twirps & Refracted Light Reviews.

This is my very first joining the hop from Book Twirps. Just like you, I have so many books I've been waiting on. Last year, I read mostly historical romance or contemporary romance from Harlequin. This year, I promise myself to try to read from other genres, and to try different authors. But still, historical romance and any harlequin's type of book are still on my top list. So here are some of books I long to have and to read.

 

  

But of course I realize that those are my picks. I'm certainly you have your own choice. So, for the giveaway, there will be ONE winner and that winner can select books of their choice, worth up to $11 from The Book Depository. So you can choose one, two, or three, BUT... , it MUST be a book (or books) released in February. And yes, this is INTERNATIONAL as long as The Book Depository ships to your country (you can check it here)

To enter, just fill out the Rafflecopter. And remember to check out the other blogs on the hop as well!

Good luck! ^^

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Enter my other giveaway HERE

Review: My Cowboy Valentine

Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 05 February 2013
Format: Paperback 224 pages
ISBN 10: 0373754426

A kiss from a cowboy ...

Be Mine, Cowboy by Jane Porter

Years ago, Rachel James gave Cade King an ultimatum, and he walked. Heartbroken, Rachel moved on. Life is tough as a single mom, but Rachel is doing just fine.

Now Cade's back after burning up the rodeo circuit, and things are different. He's sober, but with one burning regret. He has some work to do to show Rachel he's changed—but he's up to the challenge.

Hill Country Cupid by Tanya Michaels

Tess knows what young Bailey Calhoun wants: a mom. So when she sees shy cowboy Nick Calhoun giving someone the eye, Tess goes into full matchmaking mode.

Nick is happy to have Tess's help…but her matchmaking backfires. How can he convince his cupid that she's the one he wants?

I received the e-ARC from Harlequin via Net Galley.

Add to: Goodreads
Buy from: The Book Depository or AMAZON

2 short stories from Jane Porter and Tanya Michaels

Be Mine, Cowboy - Jane Porter (4.5 stars)

I'm not really drawn to the story. But I just loved Rachel's character for her love and struggle to raise Tommy, her son with special needs, as a single mother. I could not hold back the tears when Rachel said her son never kissed her. How sad. I could feel the loneliness she felt for she had no one else at that time. Her grandmother had passed away for several years, no husband or boyfriend, no siblings. She struggled by herself and too proud to ask for help from others. I also loved the idea that most people needs most of the time was second chance, and that's what exactly Cade and Rachel both need.

Hill Country Cupid - Tanya Michaels (4.5 stars)

This was my very first with Tanya Michaels and I loved it. I smiled a lot while reading this one. I loved the idea when the matchmaker was actually the one who needed help. I also loved when Nick finally realized who he really wanted, how he smoothly trying to made allies with Tess' two best friends. I loved Nick! He's very nice and sweet. ^^

I really enjoyed reading these two stories. A very nice, sweet reads for your valentine.