Book Swap

Before I get to the books, I just want to say that my kids are driving me crazy this week. Thank God it is Friday...oh wait, never mind, because JR is going to be out of town all weekend. Sucks to be me. Landry no longer even asks for things, she just immediately starts crying. It starts from the moment she wakes up until she goes to sleep. Just CONSTANT whining and crying. I have no patience left. AT ALL. Logan hasn't been going to bed at night when he is supposed to, which means he is CRANKY all the time. I have no patience for him either. It is seriously annoying.

My friend Erin and I have been book swapping quite a bit. I will loan her ebooks, which works great, and this week she has loaned me quite a few paperback books to read. I love that we read the same stuff. I am sad that her iCloud or whatever it is she has on her iPad doesn't have the loan option. :( Anyway, I have read some great books this week, so here they are...

Bared to You A Crossfire Novel by Sylvia Day - 352 pages
If you were a fan of the 50 Shades of Grey books...READ this book. It's a little darker in some aspects and less kinky in the sex department but still....ummm, orgasmic? for lack of a better description. This is the first book, where you learn about Eva, her background, and a glimpse into a truly disfunctional relationship with her best friend, her mother, and of course Gideon Cross.

Reflected in You A Crossfire Novel by Sylvia Day - 432 pages
Book 2 of the Eva and Gideon story. This is still told from Eva's view, you FINALLY learn a piece of Gideon's dark past. Yes, it was hinted throughout the first book, and through most of this one before you learn what happened, but I read from the Author's web site that book three will be written from Gideon's perspective. Anyway, more twists and turns and trials and tribulations in this book. My heart actually aches for this couple. Great books...book 3 comes out May 7! Can't wait!

The Marriage Bargain by Jennifer Probst - 336 pages
The story of Alexa and Nick - Alexa is one of those genuinely good caring people. The kind of person that gives without ever expecting anything in return. She forgives without holding it over your head, and she will do anything to save her family home...all she needs is $150,000.
Nick just happens to be her best friend, Maggie's, brother. They grew up together, but couldn't be more different. While Maggie and Alexa have stayed as close as sisters throughout their lives, Alexa and Nick haven't seen each other in years, which Alexa is happy for since he tortured her childhood. Turns out...Nick needs a wife, and FAST in order to get his inheritance and take over the company he has been running. There in lays the marriage bargain. She gets $150,000 and he gets a wife - for one year only. Can they make last the year or give in to the sexual tension and build something more?

The Marriage Trap by Jennifer Probst - 285 pages
Maggie and Michael's story - Welcome back to Maggie, Alexa's best friend. Maggie couldn't be more happy for her brother and her best friend, but she sees the way Michael, her brother's business partner and friend, looks at Alexa. She'll do anything to keep him from trying to break up their marriage.
Michael's chaotic life just got worse...his sister is ready to marry, but thanks to a death bed promise his mother made to his father...none of his sisters can marry until he does first. CRAZY ITALIANS!! So, he makes a deal with some one who there is no chance of having actual feelings for him...Maggie. They head to his hometown outside of Milan, and set out to convince his family that they are married and to please his mother they will have a wedding in Italy as well. The plan is simple...pretend to be married, and leave on an "emergency" before the REAL italian wedding takes place. Keep the charade going long enough for his sister to marry, and then they can break it off. How hard can it be? They live in New York, his family lives in Italy...it's only one week.

The Marriage Mistake by Jennifer Probst - 338 pages
Carina and Max's story - Carina is Michael's (from book 2) baby sister...Max is Micheal's best friend and business partner. Carina has just finished her MBA and goes to New York to learn management of the family business. She's been in love with Max her entire life, but she knows he will never look at her as anything but a little sister. She learned that painful lesson 3 years ago. Finally away from her family in Italy, she is ready to explore her sexuality and maybe FINALLY get to have some no holds barred S-E-X...at least she's going to try - but Max always seems to be in the way, and suddenly, he isn't looking at her like a little sister anymore. Book 4 comes out in July...so excited

Forget Me Knot by Sue Margolis -383 pages
This book is a funny, quirky romantic story. Here's the deal...Abby owns her own floral business, she's contantly being bullied by a florist down the street, who just happens to be her assistant, Martin's, ex boyfriend. Abby is engaged to Toby...but he has a problem getting it up. He says it's because he's over worked and tired...but could it be that he might be gay? How do you marry someone if you think they could be gay? Then there is the whole class factor..he's upper crust, nobility even, and she's just a regular girl from a middle class family. On her way to meet his mother for the first time, she gets stuck in an elevator where she meets Dan. There is an instant spark, but she's engaged. This is a cute book, there is a lot going on, but the relationships are great. Oh, by the way, it's a british humor thing - and yes, I read almost the whole thing in a British accent. Couldn't help it.

Anything He Wants -dominated by the billionaire by Sara Fawkes - 268 pages This isn't out on Amazon yet. Most of these books I read in paperback form, but I linked them for those of you wanting to read it on your e-reader.
This was another one of those 50 shades types of books. I mean, yeah - there is a billionaire... but instead of having a dark past like in 50 Shades, and the Crossfire series, there isn't anything horrifying-well not horrifying, but Jeremiah definitely has a screwed up past and terrible childhood. There is an element of mystery, and in all honesty complete make believe in this book. Whereas in 50 or the crossfire series, I can actually believe that those books could be true...could be real, this one is not like that - it is pure fiction. It's still a good book, just not really believeable, and yet I will still be reading book 2 when it comes out, because now I know the characters and I want to see what happens. I can't really explain this book because there is so much going on. The is a billionaire - Jeremiah Hamilton, who basically screws Lucy Delacourt into becoming his personal assisstant. She is required to give him ANYTHING he wants - they fly to Paris, where they attend a charity gala and she is manhandled by his brother Lucas who most likely stole 30 million dollars from Jeremiah's company. When they return to their suite, she gets poisoned and nearly dies...it was meant for Jeremiah, but now she's seen the hitman's face and she becomes a target. Then all hell breaks loose after being under house arrest for a few days...truths come out and everything becomes a cluster$*@&! Good book, but of all the dark, dangerous, erotic billionaire series I've read...this is probably in the middle to the bottom of the list, just on unbelievability factor alone.

Derailed (Clayton Falls) by Alyssa Rose Ivy - 260 pages
Molly's life is falling apart...or fell apart and she doesn't know what she wants out of life anymore. She quits law school and returns home to her childhood home. Of course, she didn't really think through that decision either, because now, instead of the new demons that have been haunting her, she gets some old ones as well. Somehow, even with all her crap, she still can't resist the one man she knows she should stay away from. Not that he gives her much choice. Can she keep herself from falling back in love with her highschool sweetheart, the man she nearly destroyed when she left the first time? And, will she be able to avoid destroying him again?

Veer (Clayton Falls) by Alyssa Rose Ivy - 287 pages
It's been a shit year for Becca. Needing a break from Boston, she takes a summer job in her best friend, Molly's home town. Of course, her car breaks down right outside of town - lucky for her an officer who know Molly gives her a ride to her friends house..well maybe not so lucky. Turns out, sparks fly every time Becca and Gavin are in newar proximity of each other...there's a strong attraction, but can they get past their own issues to see the attraction and set off a different type of sparks?

Okay, I think that is all I have read in the last 4 days - so NOW I have read 74 books...not too bad for one month! JR says I need therapy...he doesn't realize this IS my therapy! LOL