What I (Limecello) Read the First Half of 2019

Indicative of how things are going, for the year I first typed 2018, and then 2010 and … yeah. If you haven’t noticed we’ve mostly been on hiatus here at ALBTALBS, with only rockstar Babs being on point and writing all the reviews and such as expected. The Heritage Months … I so hate giving up but might be a bust. I joked about next year for APAHM and then Pride (being my birthday month) my “gift to myself” would be… totally taking both months off… BUT ANYWAY. You’re not here to listen to me whine. You’re here to see what I’ve been reading. And it didn’t seem like a lot but … I guess it has been! So whee! There have also been some gems in there that I really hope you’ll pick up!

The asterisk before means I’ve read the book in the past and re-read it this year. Or that I read it this year, and then have re-read it again since the first read. The asterisk after the author name means the book was new to me, but since reading it in 2019 I’ve re-read it. Close to one of those “I got to ‘the end’ and flipped the book around and started from page 1 and read it through all over again.” … Because yes some people do do that! … 😛 Generally not me but I’ve done something close! 😀

January
A Seduction in Winter by Carolyn Jewel, C+
Pathfinder’s Way by T.A. White, B
Mist’s Edge by T.A. White, B+
Wayfarer’s Keep by T.A. White, B-
Swim Deep by Beth Kery, B (reviewed here)
All that Glitters by Elizabeth McCoy, D+
I’ll Show You Mine by Lauren Gallagher, D+/C-
*The Satin Sash by Red Garnier, A-
The Date Dare by Tara Sue Me, C+ (reviewed here)
Inconveniently Wed by Yvonne Lindsay, D+
Butterface by Avery Flynn, C-
*Exorcising Sean’s Ghost by Beth Kery, B (reviewed here)
Obsidian Blade by Morgan Rhodes, D-
Wrapped in Love by Lexi Ryan, C
The Baby Deal by Jenika Snow, D+
Straight Up Love by Lexi Ryan, F
Crucible by Elizabeth McCoy
Prisoner of Night by J.R. Ward, D+
The Old-Fashioned Way by Cynthia Ayman, C—
The Scheme by Cynthia Ayman, C+
Insatiable by Opal Carew, D
Fit by Rebekah Weatherspoon, C
My Favorite Half-Night Stand by Christina Lauren, C-
*Devil in Spring by Lisa Kleypas, A (reviewed here)
Persephone Remembers the Pomegranates by Samantha MacLeod, C
His to Claim by Opal Carew, C-
The Best Laid Plans by Lauren Gallagher, D+
*Scandal Never Sleeps by Shayla Black and Lexi Blake, B-
Herb-Witch by Elizabeth McCoy, B-
Herb-Wife by Elizabeth McCoy, B
Dirty, Reckless Love by Lexi Ryan, D+
Tinsel in a Tangle by Ainslie Paton, D
Haunted Hearts by Kimberly Dead, C–
The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski, A
The Winner’s Crime by Marie Rutkoski, B++
The Winner’s Kiss by Marie Rutkoski, B+

February
Bridge of Snow by Marie Rutkoski, C-
Keturah and Lord Death by Martine Leavitt, B-
Devil’s Daughter by Lisa Kleypas, B- (reviewed here)
*Lord Ruin by Carolyn Jewel, A-
Tomboy by Avery Flynn, B
Scoring Off the Field by Naima Simone, B
Baking Lessons by Katie Allen, A-
Once Upon a Kiss by Yasmine Galenorn et al, D
The Millionaire Makeover by Naima Simone, D+
In the Duke’s Arms by Carolyn Jewel, C+
*An Unsuitable Duchess by Carolyn Jewel, B-
*Indiscreet by Carolyn Jewel, C+
*Scandal by Carolyn Jewel, B
Moonlight by Carolyn Jewel, B
Not Proper Enough by Carolyn Jewel, A
The Reunion by Sara Portman, D+
Can’t Buy Me Love by Molly O’Keefe, D++
Midnight Man by Lisa Marie Rice, C-
Midnight Fire by Lisa Marie Rice, C

March
*Lost in Your Arms by Christina Dodd, A-
*Made for You by Lauren Layne, B+
*Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas, A- (NB in my re-reads I skip to “Liberty is now an adult” to start reading)
Confessions of a Litigation God by Sawyer Bennett, D-
Dangerous Lover by Lisa Marie Rice, C-
Gunslinger by Lisa Lang Blakeney, D
Dangerous Secrets by Lisa Marie Rice, D+
Heart of Danger by Lisa Marie Rice
I Dream of Danger by Lisa Marie Rice
Breaking Danger by Lisa Marie Rice
Misadventures of a Curvy Girl by Sierra Simone, C-
*The Chocolate Temptation by Laura Florand, C-
*Satisfaction Guaranteed (although really I mostly just re-read Ex Marks the Spot) by Charlene Teglia,  B
We Shouldn’t by Vi Keeland, C–
Boyfriend for Hire by Kendall Ryan, D+
*Heart of Obsidian by Nalini Singh, A
A Lady Awakened by Cecilia Grant, C–
Say Yes by Lori Foster, B
The Decoy Date by Mira Lyn Kelly, C
Roomies by Christina Lauren, C
Wolf by Lisa Lang Blakeney, D+
London’s Best Kept Secret by Anabelle Bryant, D-
Oath of Destruction by Jennifer Anne Davis, D+

April
Entice by Stacey Lynn, C
The Savior by J.R. Ward
The Wedding Date Bargain by Mira Lyn Kelly, C–
Enflame by Stacey Lynn, D—–/  F+
Misadventures with My Ex by Shayla Black, C-
Their Virgin Concubine by Shayla Black and Lexi Blake, D+
A Navy Homecoming by Gail Chianese, C
*Shocking the Senator by Leanne Banks, A
Illicit Mate by Opal Carew, D
Love by Sawyer Bennett, C
Embrace by Stacey Lynn*, C-
Return to Forever by Roni Denholtz
Crazy Thing Called Love by Molly O’Keefe, D-
*One Wicked Night by Kelly Jamieson, D+
Slow Ride by Lori Foster, D+
At the Pleasure of the President by Shayla Black and Lexi Blake, D
Tied Score by Elia Winters, C+
Crazy for Your Love by Lexi Ryan, C–
Wicked Player by Stacey Lynn, C++
Protecting Piper by Cynthia Eden, B+

May
*When The Lights Go Down by Heidi Betts, C-
Dirty Player by Stacey Lynn, B+
Filthy Player by Stacey Lynn, C–
Gray’s Girl by Mina Carter, C–
Before Ben by Cynthia Eden, D+
Seasons of Sorcery by Amanda Bouchet et al, C+
Just One Week by Stacey Lynn, D-
Misadventures of a Backup Bride by Shayla Black, C+
Lexie by Kimberly Dean, B+
When I Need You by Lorelei James, B+
Playing Knotty by Elia Winters, C+
Enshrined by Chelle Bliss, C
I Want You Back by Lorelei James, C+
Rock with You by Rachel Lacey, D+
Cashmere and Camo by Erin Nicholas, C
Sweet Liar by Lauren Paige, C—
Secrets of Redemption by L. K. Shaw, D-
Chasing Bliss by Sophie Oak aka Lexi Blake, D+
Temporary to Tempted by Jessica Lemmon, C+
Evidence of Desire by Lexi Blake, C+
The Scandalous Diary of Lily Layton by Stacy Reid
Maxie by Kimberly Dean, C–
Stripped by Zoey Castile, C–
Their Virgin Secretary by Shayla Black and Lexi Blake, D
Remembering Us by Stacey Lynn
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
Best of Intentions by L.K. Farlow, C+
Fall by Kristen Callihan, B+
Easy with You by Kristen Proby, C—
Sweet Fate by Laurelin Paige, C
Spacer’s Cinderella by Adria Rose, C
Scandalous Ever After by Theresa Romain, C
Chosen by K.F. Breene, B+
Hunted by K.F. Breene, B-
Shadow Lands by K.F. Breene, B
Invasion by K.F. Breene, C+
Siege by K.F. Breene, B
Overtaken by K.F. Breene, A-
Undertow by Alessandra Torre, C+ [Also read as/originally Sex, Love, Repeat]
Guardian Queen by Dana Marton, C-
Mine by Tanya Chris, C

June
The Lady’s Will by Raquel Rivers, D+
The Lady’s Gift by Raquel Rivers, C–
The List by Tawna Fenske, A-
*The Fix Up by Tawna Fenske, C
Roxie by Kimberly Dean, D++
Bad Night Stand by Elise Faber, C+
The Billionaire’s Best Friend by Christina Tetreault, F
The Engagement Game by Jenny Holiday, C
Falling For The Billionaire by Christina Tetreault, D+
Bidding On The Billionaire by Christina Tetreault, C
The Billionaire’s Homecoming by Christina Tetreault, D+
More Than A Billionaire by Christina Tetreault, D+
With This Collar by Sierra Cartwright, D+
Since I Saw You by Beth Kery, A-
Their Virgin’s Secret by Shayla Black and Lexi Blake
On the Job by Beth Kery, C
The Kingmaker by Selena Laurence
Three By Three by Tanya Chris, C+
All’s Fair in Love and Mastery by Sparrow Beckett
Never Expected You by Jody Holford
The Last Wolf by Maria Vale*, C+
A Wolf Apart by Maria Vale, D
Forever Wolf by Maria Vale, D-
Friended by Kilby Blades
Murder, Curlers, and Cruises by Arlene McFarlane
*The Winter King by C.L. Wilson, B+
The Tycoon’s Outrageous Proposal by Miranda Lee, C
To Sin with the Tycoon by Cathy Williams, C
*The Unwanted Wife by Natasha Anders, B
The Playboy’s Ruthless Pursuit by Miranda Lee, C-
Not Just the Boss’s Plaything by Caitlin Crews, C–
A Devil in Disguise by Caitlin Crews, C+
Luring Lucy by Lori Foster, C+
*Give it Up by Lori Foster, C+ (I actually first read these three novellas when they were part of other anthologies)
Boone by Lori Foster, C–
Undone by the Billionaire Duke by Caitlin Crews, D+
The Guardian’s Virgin Ward by Caitlin Crews, D+
A Taste of the Forbidden by Carole Mortimer, D+
Screwed by Kelly Jamieson, C
Hottie Lumberjack by Tawna Fenske, C+
Chef Sugarlips by Tawna Fenske, C
Wolf Rain by Nalini Singh, B+
*Too Much Temptation by Lori Foster, B
*Managed by Kristen Callihan, B+
Their Virgin Mistress by Shayla Black and Lexi Blake, D+

If you’re wondering about the books with no grade … >.> this thing I started doing ~post op? Was read/skim a book and … I read enough of it/all of it to consider it as read, but didn’t feel I read it “closely enough? to rate it like other books. I’m probably not explaining it well – but anyway, I had thoughts on them and would be able to write a sufficient book report upon finishing it, but I didn’t feel it was the same as a read/rated thing. It’s different from a DNF though. I didn’t even bother listing my DNF books – although most of those I don’t rate on GR either.

(I first put this up on the 14th. Also – apologies for any typos in names; I used a word program that “autocorrects” as it sees fit, and I tried to catch them while typing but … human error and all.)

As usual I’m happy to answer any and all questions, provide spoilers etc. And … since I had Aidee do it… I supposed my standout of this bunch would be … The Warrior Chronicles (series) by K.F. Breene. Adult high fantasy romance. Heroine is in her mid 20s I believe, and the hero is in his early 30s. Book 6 was actually my favorite but… you know. This is one series I’d actually say you have to read in order. I also read all 6 books in about 3 days. So.

Chosen by K.F. Breene book cover It is said that when war threatens the world, one individual will be selected by prophecy to lead the Shadow Warriors out of the Land of Mist and reclaim the freedom which has been stolen.
~~
Shanti has grown up under the constant threat of war. Since she helped her people defeat a raiding party by using a special power, she’s been a hunted woman. Carrying rare abilities and an uncanny fighting aptitude, Shanti is the only hope of salvation for her people. The problem is, she doesn’t believe in her own divinity, and when she flounders, she nearly fails in the duty hanging so heavy on her shoulders.

It seems like any other day when Sanders and his band of misfit boys find a foreign woman clinging to life in the wastelands. Oblivious to the weapon they now have in their possession, they are content to harbor the mysterious woman until she is well enough to continue her journey.

But when the war spreads its arms and lands on her borrowed doorstep, Shanti has no choice but to reveal her secrets, plunging her saviors into danger. If they band with her, they will face certain death. But to trade her to Xandre, the warlord desperate to add her to his war machine, would be to give up their entire way of life.

War is coming. The only choice becomes: Which side do you choose?

What about you? Have you read any books on this list? Do you have any recommendations for you? You know I’m always on the hunt for [adult] high fantasy romance! <3

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