
Just had cable tv installed and this is a blessing and a curse. Can now watch shows on 57″ tv rather than 13″ computer, but it really cuts into my reading time. Decisions, decisions. But, last night, no contest as my Milwaukee Brewers are crushing first place in their division and the season will be over too soon for me. So, for now, Brewers trump reading…or I could just stay up a little longer. Hmmm.
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joysann
Vowed in Shadows by Jessa Slade 
Blackstone Audio
Listened to by joysann
It’s been difficult for ex-missionary Jonah Walker since being possessed by a demon seeking redemption and fighting against other demons. Even more difficult has been finding his place in the League, convinced his combat days ended with the loss of his arm. Added to this, his demon has chosen an unlikely and disturbing mate…an exotic dance club stripper, Naughty Nymphette, whose surprising virtues include the determination and strength to fight at his side.
Always action-packed and exciting, this third in the creative Marked Souls series focuses on an intriguing character introduced in the earlier novels. The emotional vulnerability of this conflicted fighter made him a prime choice for a romantic story of his own. Vowed in Shadows does him justice, and I enjoyed the sexy sparring between the two characters, and poor Jonah’s reluctant surrender to the powers of love.

Heidi
A Summer Reunion by Kasey Michaels, Sarah Mayberry and Teresa Southwick
Read by Heidi
This anthology takes place in Cape May, New Jersey.
All our Yesterdays by Kasey Michaels features Victoria “Tory” Fuller who has just been reunited with her sister Margaret Mary “Peggy” Longwood after being separated since their childhood when their parents were tragically killed. Thanks to Tory’s daughter, there is more than one reunion to be had. Allie has found her birth father, Tory’s long lost love Sam McCormack. Sam gets the surprise of his life, with an instant family. But the biggest surprise is that Sam and Tory’s love for one another has never gone away.
All our Todays by Sarah Mayberry focuses on Peggy’s daughter Lauren Sutcliffe, who is a busy divorced mother of two and is planning her mother’s big family reunion. Adam Hunter is from Australia and the business partner to Peggy and Tory’s deceased baby brother Stephen. Adam has been invited to the family reunion to give insights on the brother they never knew. Sparks fly between Adam and Lauren in a way that scares them both since they live so far apart.
All our Tomorrows by Teresa Southwick continues the party theme with Peggy’s son David, an attorney who is all work and no play. The demons of his past seem to keep him from moving forward. Kinsey McKeever is Peggy’s physical therapist who lives on their property to help Peggy recover from her broken foot, in time for the big party. Kinsey has her own past to contend with but she is also determined to help David find some kind of fun, despite their growing attraction to each other.
I adored that the main theme of this anthology wove through this book flawlessly. It reminded me almost of a historical, when there is a matriarch character, and then there is bits and pieces of the rest of the family throughout. This book did that and more. There were no choppy bits, this book flowed together just like a river. What a wonderful satisfying read for my end of summer.
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Sophie
Queen of Shadows by Dianne Sylvan 
Read by Sophie
Miranda Grey, a musician and powerful empath whose abilities are taking over her entire life, had no idea that the man in line next to her would one day change her life completely, but when a small gang of men decides she’s just the kind of woman they’d like to control, she stops caring about everything—until David Solomon, the Prime of the Southwest vampires, steps in and takes her under his wing. David and his second in command, Faith, take it upon themselves to nurse Miranda back to health, teach her to shield her mind so she doesn’t have to handle everyone else’s emotions as well as her own, and even set her up with an expert fighter
brought over at age 15 named Sophie so she can learn to protect herself. The only thing that could make David stronger is a queen, which he does not have, and the Queen’s Signet, a stone almost as powerful as David’s Signet, gets to choose her, but it has to be a vampire, which Miranda is not—though for David, she would come over in a heartbeat.
Queen of Shadows opens with one simple sentence that promises nothing, but that sinks its claws into the reader instantly. This novel is like a recipe for success—suspense, fantasy, chilling reality, romance and a dash of humor all included on the list of ingredients. But clear your schedule for the morning after you begin reading—it’s a story to stay up all night with!
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Ashley
Just like Heaven by Julia Quinn
Read by Ashley
Honoria Smythe-Smith is the youngest daughter of the Smythe-Smith family, growing up she idolized her older brother Daniel and his best friend Marcus. They however nicknamed her “Bug” and didn’t want anything to do with her. Fifteen years later, Daniel must flee the country in a desperate attempt to save his life and Marcus promises to look after Honoria, especially to ensure that she doesn’t marry an idiot. Together with no big brother around, they begin to cross the lines between lovers and friends…
Just like Heaven is breathtaking novel of life-long friends becoming lovers. It’s a charming read that blends love, friendship, and duty together to make it unforgettable. One of my new favorite books!
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Stacey
One Summer by David Baldacci
Read by Stacey
After his miraculous recovery, Jack Armstrong must deal with his wife’s sudden death and pull his young family together. He hopes that one summer on the small island where his wife grew up will help him do just that.
A story about a widower, three children and a summer spent on an island is usually a recipe for a tearjerker. But in the hands of master storyteller David Baldacci, it becomes a story of triumph, of family and of happily ever afters. Kudos to thriller writer Baldacci for letting me see the light at the end of the tunnel.
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Sophie
River Marked by Patricia Briggs 
Read by Sophie
Everything is working out for newlyweds Mercedes Thompson (a coyote shapeshifter
and walker) and Adam (the alpha werewolf of the Columbia Basin Pack)—they’ve just had the
most wonderful surprise wedding and are now safely in a borrowed travel trailer (borrowed from
fae, which unsettles Mercy, for she knows the fae don’t do favors without expecting something
in return) in the middle of an RV campground for their honeymoon. But when they find a man alone in a boat who is named Benny, has nearly gone crazy, is missing the better part of his foot, and had begun the trip with his sister, Faith, Mercy and Adam have to put their relaxation on hold to save him.
Patricia Briggs has created a society within our own that contains all of the creatures we have wondered about and makes it entirely believable. Mercy Thompson, as well as many of the other characters, is dynamic, fun, and easy to relate to—
as well as fall in love with! The plot flows steadily, and is filled with action, history, and true love in many forms—even for those of us who haven’t read the first books of the series (which, because of how great this book was, I plan to do ASAP!).

Bottom Line: Upset that I missed Cupcake Day on Monday, but I’ve just declared it cupcake week, so enjoy!!