I have a few busy days ahead, so I figured I would start this now. What did you read in July? How did you like it?

I pledged 15, but only read 11.

1. Big Jack by JD Robb - 4
Good to visit Eve and Roarke again. The story was good, but the main appeal of this one for me is to revisit the characters again.

2. Changes by Jim Butcher - 5+
Can't wait for the next one!!! Jim Butcher can't write fast enough for me. And listening to the audio book versions with James Marsters brings the series to life even more than my imagination can.

3. Trust Me by Jayne Ann Krentz - 4
Vintage JAK. Really liked Sam. Enjoyed seeing him grow and realize his love for Desdemona.

4. The Search by Nora Roberts - 5
Loved Simon and Jaws. I really enjoyed this book.

5. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - DNF
I absolutely hated this book. My first DNF of the year. I know other people have enjoyed it, but I didn't.

6. The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen - 2
Read because of the tv show, didn't like Rizzoli at all.

7. The Apprentice by Tess Gerritsen - 4
Liked this one better, characters weren't as self-absorbed

8. The Sinner by Tess Gerritsen - 4
Series seems to be getting better, don't know if I prefer the books or the show.

9. Magic Bites - 5
10. Magic Burns - 5
11. Magic Strikes - 5
Ilona Andrews is an amazing writer. I have not been this excited for an author in a while. Ranks up there, to me, with Jim Butcher, Sherrilyn Kenyon, JD Robb and Jeaniene Frost.

I did pretty good in July - so here they are.....

01. Raising Kane - Lorelei James 3.5 stars
#9 in the series but the first I have read and I enjoyed it for the most part - just didn't care for the way the author tried to "write" a good 'ole boy accent for the hero - prefer to do that myself.

02. Fired Up - Jayne Ann Krentz 5 stars
First in the Dreamlight trilogy and is a great book in the Contemporary portion of the Arcane Society books.

03. The Burning Lamp - Amanda Quick 4.5 stars
Book #2 in the Dreamlight trilogy and it was very good - all Amanda Quick books are but I would not recommend reading this book back to back with Fired Up because too much of the feel of the book is the same - to me it got a little repetative on the details.

04. Shattered - Karen Robards 5+ stars
This book is Ms. Robards at her finest. This one is a keeper.

05. The Secret - Julie Garwood 5 stars
A reread for me but one of my favorite Julie Garwood - how I wish she would write more historicals! This one is set in the highlands with all the wonderful characters she puts into each of her historical novels.

06. Gentle Warrior - Julie Garwood 5 stars
Another Julie book - another historical - another great book!! This one is set in medieval England and is a great read, again and again.

07. Night of the Wolves - Heather Graham 1 star
A big disappointment from Ms. Graham - I usually love her books but this heroine was just STSL and by the middle of the book I wanted a gun so I could shoot her - but I finished the book only because I needed an "N" book for my A-Z Challenge - otherwise this one would have ended up on my DNF list.

08. Prisoner of My Desire - Johanna Lindsey 5 stars
Another awesome historical from JL - a tale of desperation and revenge with a hard won HEA.

09. Undercover - Lauren Dane 4 stars
Very good futuristic romance from LD - warning though - this one has a M/F/M story throughout the book. Smokin' hot between the sheets.

10. Relentless - Lauren Dane 4 stars
This one follows in the same series as Undercover and is also a good read with a single H/h story - again this one is a scortcher!!

11. Bait - Karen Robards 4.5 stars
One of my favorite KR romantic suspense books with a surprising twist at the end - it keeps you guessing.

12. Masked By Moonlight - Nancy Gideon 5 stars
This is my first book by this author but it certainly won't be the last - I loved this shifter book and have already purchase the other two in the trilogy.

13. Say You Love Me - Johanna Lindsey 5 stars
I'm on a JL reading splurge! This is a Malory tale and I just love how gentle and loving the heroine - Kelsey - is with the hero throughout the book.

14. In Bed With The Devil - Lorraine Heath 4 stars
This was my first Lorraine Heath book and it won't be my last. I really enjoyed the story and I'm looking forward to reading the other books in this series.


If I finish anymore I will add them on....

Well 14 was as far as I got with this challenge. I am working on Archangel's Kiss by Nalini Singh but I had some issues on Saturday so I didn't get it finished. My glasses fell apart around 3pm so I had to run out to Lense Crafters to get them repaired and then it was my turn to cook dinner and I fell asleep really early - so I will finish it up today and count it towards August.

I pledged 8 books for July and finished 9!!!

Triptych - Karen Slaughter (5 Stars)
Personal Demon - Kelley Armstrong (4 Stars)
The Bride and the Beast - Teresa Medeiros (4.5 Stars)
From Dead to Worse - Charlaine Harris (4 Stars)
The Secret Ingredient - Jane Heller (4 Stars)
Scandalous Again - Christina Dodd (3 Stars)
Home Again - Kristin Hannah (4 Stars)
A Touch of Dead - Charlaine Harris (4 Stars)
Double Cross - James Patterson (3.5 Stars)

Waaaa! I pledged 12 and only read 7! How disappointing!

1. Ruthless Heart - Emma Lang 4 stars
2. Cherokee Storm - Janelle Taylor 4 stars
3. Hell, Yeah - Carolyn Brown 1 star
4. Body Masters - C.J. Barry 4 stars
5. The Darkest Passion - Gena Showalter 5 stars
6. Born to Bite - Lynsay Sands 4 stars
7. The Summer of You - Kate Nobel 5 stars

Actually, I'm going to blame it all on the book Hell, Yeah! That book was so bad, but I just refused to let it go...so it took FOREVER to read!

Lisa

I pledged 25 but only managed 23...a few I was ambivalent about and my month ender was a DNF....feh....


01. COPPERMAN, E. J. NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEED A
02. Y’BARBO, KATHLEEN ANNA FINCH AND THE HIRED GUN B
03. HALL, LINDA ON THIN ICE A
04. COPELAND, LORI MAVERICK A
05. GIST, DEEANNE COURTING TROUBLE A
06. MACLEAN, JULIANNE MY OWN PRIVATE HERO A
07. COYLE, CLEO DECAFFEINATED CORPSE A
08. MORTIMER, CAROLE RAKE’S WICKED PROPOSAL A
09. HANNA, JANICE LOVE FINDS YOU IN POETRY TEXAS A
10. CONNEALY, MARY MONTANA ROSE A
11. CAMP, CANDACE GENTLEMAN ALWAYS REMEMBERS A
12. THAYER, TERRI OLD MAID’S PUZZLE A
13. COPELAND, LORI YELLOW ROSE BRIDE A
14. THAYER, TERRI OCEAN WAVES A
15. GIDEON, NANCY MASKED BY MOONLIGHT A++
16. JAMES, CARA LYNN LOVE ON A DIME B
17. SANDS, LYNSAY LOVING DAYLIGHTS A
18. KENNEDY, KATHRYNE FIRE LORD’S LOVER A
19. COPELAND, LORI BLUEBONNET BELLE A
20. TRENT, LOUISA THYME C
21. GIDEON, NACY CHASED BY MOONLIGHT A
22. COYLE, CLEO FRENCH PRESSED A
23. COPELAND, LORI PLAINSMAN A

I read 7 books this month,
1. The Senators' Wife by Sue Miller c (Hated this one)
2. Pgh. Golden age of Radio by Salaman Hist of radio in Pgh. A
3. Eight Days to Live by Iris Johanssen A+
4. Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah A++
5. Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanavich A
6. Mama does Time by deborah Sharp A+
7. He's No Prince Charming by LuAnn McLane A

I pledged 10 books and read 11.

I pledged 10 and read 11.

Fire and Ice (re-release) by Sherrilyn Kenyon - A+
300 by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley - A+
Knightly Dreams (re-release) by Sherrilyn Kenyon - A+
The Mysterious Twin by Leona Karr - B+
Wonderland 1: King of Hearts by Cheyenne McCray (re-read) - A-
Wonderland 2: King of Spades by Cheyenne McCray (re-read) - A-
Wonderland 3: King of Diamonds by Cheyenne McCray (re-read) - A-
Wonderland 4: King of Clubs by Cheyenne McCray (re-read) - A-
The Dead & The Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer - B+
Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton - C+
First Draft in 30 Days by Karen Wiesner (re-read) - A+

Holli

Well I pledged 14 but read 17 Fun

Sherrilyn Kenyon
Infinity ~ C
Silent Truth ~ D

Ann Marie McKenna
Seeing Eye Mate ~ C
Checkmate ~ C
Finding Strength ~ B-

Colters Woman by Maya Banks ~ B
Demonkeepers by Jessica Anderson ~ B-
Burned by PC Cast ~ C
Dreamveil by Lynn Viehl ~ B
My Soul to Save by Rachel Vincent ~ B+
Tall Dark & Hungry by Lynsay Sands ~ reread
Sizzling 16 by Janet Evanovich ~ C+
That Perfect Someone by Johanna Lindsey ~ C
Short 2nd Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer ~ A
Darkness Unleashed by Alexandra Ivy ~ B
Wolf Tales 10 by Kate Douglas ~ B-
Men of Danger Anthology ~ B-