Ultramarine

Both January and February have been a surprise to me on the amount of books I read. On both months I actually read more than I thought I would so instead of the 140 books I planned to read on 2014, I updated my yearly goal to 200. 

I started re-listening to the Black Dagger Brotherhood this month to prepare myself to the 12th book in the series which will be out on about a month. I didn't realize it's going to be a problem but as it seems I can't really monitor re-reads in a good way here. On GoodReads I just added a different addition (I read the ebook, not I'm listening to the audio book version) so it's like separate books. But here if I mark a read book as to read when I finish it I"m left with the exact same number of books read as before.. I can't wait for BL to change the book database. No matter how much I LOVE BL platform I always look for review and series on GR making it impossible to leave GR and just be here which I hope I will be able to.. right now, I'm dealing with the mess of updating everything both here and there. 

Though I had 14 books (some of them short novellas) to read on February Goals I ended up reading 5 more! (see what I mean about raising the bar to 200 books a year?):

Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood #1) - J.R. Ward (Audio Book)
Southern Winterland (By Degrees #0.5) - Taylor V. Donovan
The Reader - Bernhard Schlink
The Backup Boyfriend (The Boyfriend Chronicles, #1) - River Jaymes
Rescue Me - Serena Bell (a free novella for valentine's day)

I thought it would be nice. like last month, doing a recap of the highlights of the previous month:

Author of the month: (Deeper) Robin York (Ruthie Knox):

I'll start by saying Ruthie is probably my favorite author so it was no surprise I loved her also by the pen name Robin York (for New Adult books). I have my issues with Young Adult books as you may already know, so I'm glad that the "New Adult" section was sort of re-invented. I guess it was always there, just not with this label. I'm loving this genre! and since we are talking about Robin in particular - I loved this book and the issue it addressed - revenge porn. This topic has a lot of heads lately and I didn't hear of any book relating to this subject. As I wrote in the review, I loved how real it felt, how the characters felt genuine. It's not a surprise, that's the magic work of Robin being able to write characters you feel you might stumble across in real life. They are never perfect, they are just so true. and that's exactly how both Caroline and West felt like. I HIGHLY recommend this book - and you should keep in mind that the second (and last) book in the series - Harder - will be out on 1st July. I also recommend everything by Ruthie Knox. Right now "About Last Night" is 0.99 $ on Amazon which is one of my absolute favorites books!  

Favorite book of the month: Before You Break (Between Breaths #2) by Christina Lee:

Where to begin... Here we have another author I'm in love with. After reading "All of You" I was hocked! I knew I'll reading anything by Christina. So when I heard 2 more coming in the series I was jumping up and down. Second one in the series is this one and the third one - Whisper to Me - will be out on the 20th of May. I loved both Ella and Quinn. Both of them went through their own personal hell and each coped differently. They both keep their sadness to themselves, both in a way put people in a length away because of what they have been through and it was utterly beautiful seeing them come together. Why do girls love to hear the guys broken and teary eyed? I really don't know. but Quinn being shattered speaking to Ella on the suicide hot line made him even more lovable for me. I'm not the sucker for the tough douche, I rather read of these types of guys, introverts who have a dark past. I feel as though Quinn was made especially for me.  READ IT! even if you haven't read "All of You", both of them can be read as a stand alone. 

Disappointment of the month: Up From the Grave (Night Huntress #7) - Jeaniene Frost:

You know what is really really sad? from the 19 books I read this month I actually have 3 books that felt like utter disappointment for me. and I really had a hard time choosing between them. I settled with this one since I loved this series so much, getting the last one to be so heart breaking (in it's disappointment not in the plot itself) made it THE disappointment of the month. Reading one book and being disappointed, yeah, that happens, but being utterly inlove with a series then having it crushed in front of your eyes is something different entirely. I don't want to write it all again, you can read it in my review. I just felt that the overly cheerful note this book got was exaggerated and felt wrong, not to mention I felt the book was predictable and well, unoriginal. This book won't discourage me from reading anything and everything by Jeanine since she is (also) one of my favorite authors. I can't wait for her new series and naturally can't wait for the next Night Huntress World book as well as the third and last in the Night Prince which is my absolute favorite series. 

Discovery of the month: Hopeless by Colleen Hoover:

If you've read my review of the Slammed series or if you just read my January Recap you know that after all the recommendations I got to Colleen Hoover's book I was SO disappointed with those books. The first I kinda liked but after that.. I was mainly pissed off. But for some reason I was determined to read this one - Hopeless - as well as the next ones in the series. and boy oh boy am I happy I did THAT. this book is simply a master piece. I feel bad writing how much I enjoyed it thinking of all the heart break that went for Sky throughout the book. I'll summarize it by saying it was heart breakingly beautiful. Again we are in the New Adult genre, probably on the lower age - about 17 - but all the characters felt so mature. I loved Holder, I don't think any woman in her right mind wouldn't. He is simply irresistible with how amazing he is. In a way I loved his book - Losing Her - even more. Yet again, Hopeless IS a master piece and Losing Her was mostly the cherry on top of the cream. Read it. It's really a must! But notice Slammed is totally different in right about everything from this one. I loved how Colleen changed from her first books to these ones. 

Fun Break of the month: The Backup Boyfriend (The Boyfriend Chronicles, #1) - River Jaymes

I almost feel like a cheat ;) I added this section only for this particular book :) I knew I HAVE TO mention this one and wasn't sure where exactly since I really wanted to give the podium for the others as well. But this one, well, it was just a book I added, and just decided to read it outside the schedule for no real reason, I just felt like reading MM after not reading the genre for a while. Well, I guess I read SE Jakes recently and actually I was sure I'm going to read 2 of her books but then I just decided on this one. So you get how random this one have been. and HO BOY what a joy this one have been! most of the book is just FUN. no real angst and no real heart shattering moments just two guys you utterly fall inlove with, together as a couple and alone as they are crush worthy men. The story was great, written in a smart and funny way. I loved that even the "bad guy" isn't a really bad guy, and that even the dark places the book went (and they were dark) just made you appreciate the fun parts even more. I loved the ending. I was overly content with the last chapter then there was the epilogue who gave people who are "mushier" that me what they wanted.  Alec is so sweet and Dylan is mouth watering and not just because he is sexy as hell but because for me he was an interesting person with a lot of hidden paths. HIGHLY recommended and i can't wait for the next in the series. I feel like crying I don't even know when it's going to happen. This author only released this title and another short novella. I feel like I "have no choice" but to delve in it as well until Taylor's book is out.  

Well, That's it for my February Recap. 

I feel like adding up more since I really had good books on my menu this month even though I had my disappointments. 

Hope you enjoyed! 

March Goals are in a bit! :)