Be Good to Me: August 2013

R: Summer is almost over! *WAH* I'll be back in the U.S. by August 11th and then I start college two weeks later. I'm not that excited. I like having nothing to do besides read.

S: Summer is almost over! *CHEERS* Bring on the fall weather! It's going to be SO WEIRD not going back to college at the end of August, though.

Racquel read: 

1. One Good Earl Deserves a Lover by Sarah MacLean (C+)
2. A Gentleman Undone by Cecilia Grant (D)
3. The Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp (C)
4. The Story Guy by Mary Ann Rivers (A)
5. Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Echols (D)
6. Bloodlines by Richelle Mead (A-)
7. Untamed by Anna Cowan (????)
8.  (reread) About That Night by Julie James (A)
9. The Duchess War by Courtney Milan (C)
10. An Unexpected Gentleman by Alissa Johnson (C)
11. Secret for a Song by S.K. Falls (B)
12. Pride & Passion by Charlotte Featherstone (B)
13. Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume (B)
14. (reread) Morning Glory by LaVyrle Spencer (A)
15. Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster (B-) 

Racquel's July's  favorites: 
-The Story Guy by Mary Ann Rivers: This is only a novella but it has everything. I can't wait to see what Mary Ann rivers can do with a full length novel. It's going to be amazing, that's for sure.
-Bloodlines by Richelle Mead: The start of this spin off series reminded why I love Richhele Mead, why I love vampires and why I love this world. I can't wait to read the next two books and also add them to my favorites list!

Other things Racquel did:
Went scuba diving! I was taking a scuba diving course and and I got my license. Going scuba diving is like experiencing life on a whole other level. I dived 55 feet in Obhur (aka the Red Sea) and I can't wait to do it again when I come back during winter break. If you have the chance to take a course or you're fascinated by anything aquatic like I am, I can't urge you enough, DO IT! 

That's my younger brother behind me. Good thing I found a picture of me smiling because I was carrying an oxygen tank and added weights. Heavy stuffy!

Sharon read:
01. One Good Earl Deserves a Lover by Sarah MacLean
02. Some Like It Spicy by Robbie Terman
03. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
04. Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Echols
05. Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
06. How My Summer Went Up in Flames by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski
07. The Boyfriend App by Katie Sise
08. It Had to Be You by Jill Shalvis

Sharon's July favorites:
One Good Earl Deserves a Lover by Sarah MacLean. I loved the interactions between Pippa and Cross! Entertaining and sexy all at once. If you're looking for a good historical audiobook, I would recommend this one!
Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson. Road trips and music and swoons, oh my! I have epic amounts of love for this book! (See what I did there? Yeah. I'm cool like that.)
The Boyfriend App by Katie Sise. This book was all kinds of nerdy fun, and I felt like I was living in the book and interacting with the characters. So good!

Other Things Sharon Did
#01 Watched New Girl with my roommate! Shout out to Natalie at Books, Etc. for her encouragement to start the watching! Totally a good life decision. Jessica Day is basically my more awesome and adorable spirit animal.


#02 Had a short-term addiction to World of Warcraft

#03 Started a Doctor Who rewatch! We're watching 5 episodes a week, which should wind up with us finishing right before the Christmas special on November 23. How is it going, you ask?


August Releases We Want

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Be Good To Me: July 2013 Edition

So June has been a GREAT month. The best of the year for me. Blog wise, we teamed up with Alexa @Alexa Loves Books to a host a romance event, Sizzle & Swoon and it was a fun success. Score! And reading wise? Well, that rocked too! So check out what we read because you want to know these books!

Racquel read:

1. Making It Last by Ruthie Knox (A+)
2. Yours Until Dawn by Teresa Medeiros (A)
3. Love Irresistibly by Julie James (reread - A+)
4. Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas (reread - A) 
5. Anatomy of a Boyfriend by Daria Snadowsky (A-)
6. Nearly a Lady by Alissa Johnson (reread - A+)
7. Blue-Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas (reread - A+)
   
8. Anatomy of a Single Girl by Daria Snadowsky (A)
9. Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas (reread - A)
10. A Lady Awakened by Cecilia Grant (A+)
11. Annie's Song by Catherine Anderson (B-)
12. Where I End and You Begin by Andra Brynn (A)
    

Racquel's June favorites: 
Umm. Everything? Not including rereads, I read 6 books. 5 were A ratings and only 1 was a B rating. EVERYTHING IS A FAVORITE!

• Making It Last by Ruthie Knox: my new favorite Ruthie Knox book that explores Amber & Tony 14 years after we read about them in How to Misbehave when they fell in love. 10 years into their marriage and they hit a bump of sorts and need to evaluate things. Guh. So good. 
• Yours Until Dawn by Teresa Medeiros: thank god Sharon brought this book to my life because it was SO GOOD. 
• Anatomy of a Boyfriend & Anatomy of a Single Girl by Daria Snadowsky: these two are quick, funny reads but they're so honest and realistic. I love that combo. Realistic doesn't have to = sadness, death & grief. I cannot recommend these two books enough! 
• A Lady Awakened by Cecilia Grant: I read this based on Ruthie Knox's recommendation and guh. New favorite historical romance? YES. It's spectacular and rather different than most historical romances. Trust me and READ it.
•  Where I End and You Begin by Andra Brynn: this book took me surprised. I bought it on a whim when I couldn't fall asleep, I only read the summary and no reviews and it ended up blowing me away. Go ahead and but it. It's only 99cents right now. Do it. I'm telling you, it's worth it!    

Sharon read:

01. Never Seduce a Scot by Maya Banks
02. Dark Lover by J.R. Ward
03. Lover Eternal by J.R. Ward
04. Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward
05. Yours Until Dawn by Teresa Medeiros
06. The Art of Love by Anne Whitney
07. It Happened One Midnight by Julie Anne Long
08. Smooth Talking Stranger by Lisa Kleypas (reread)
08. Things I Can't Forget by Miranda Kenneally
10. Can't Buy Me Love by Molly O'Keefe

Sharon's June favorites:

• Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward. Although I enjoyed the first two books in the series, this one completely blew me away. I was waiting for Z's book from the moment we were introduced to him, and it most definitely did not disappoint!
  
• Yours Until Dawn by Teresa Medeiros. This book was so good! I loved so many things about it. You can see our thoughts in our group discussion with Alexa.
  
• It Happened One Midnight by Julie Anne Long. I have such a huge love affair going with this series. Unfortunately, Long has set the bar extremely high with her last two installments, especially. I try not to have high expectations, but I fail. Fortunately, Ms. Long has done it again. My review of this one goes live tomorrow, so I won't ramble too long. But it was stunning! If you love witty banter, pick this one up ASAP.
  

July releases we want:

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Be Good To Me: SUMMER!

May totally went by super slow for me (Racquel) because I was counting down to June 7th. Graduation! However I spend it by obsessing over TV. I'm slowly making my way and getting to the end of Merlin *sob* and I started Awkward. which is a hilarious show about a teen girl. Watch it. No really, watch it.

Racquel read:

1. The Program by Suzanne Young  B-
2. Golden by Jessi Kirby D
3. On Dublin Street by Samantha Young B-
4. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo B
5. Burning by Elana K. Arnold A++++++++
6. Selling Out by Amber Lin B

Racquel's May favorites: 
All of the books I've read this month are actually quite great (with the exception of one) but Burning by Elana K. Arnold stands out the most and it's definitely my favorite YA of the year so far. It's one of the best YA novels and I cannot wait to review it and reread it. 

June releases we want:

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Be Good To Me: Graduation is Upon Us Edition

May is the month of awesome. Sharon is graduating May 11th and while Racquel graduates June 7th, she'll be done with school by the end of May. VERY EXCITING. Plus Bout of Books is this month!

Racquel read:

1. Love Irresistibly by Julie James  A+
2. Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning C
3. Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare A
4. A Night to Surrender by Tessa Dare C
5. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon  B
6. Dark Triumph by R.L. LaFevers A

Yes six books are listed only BUT I don't care what anyone says, Outlander (870 pages!!!) counts as THREE books. I read the equivalent of NINE books this month, y'all. I didn't read very much because I spent April watching Lost Girl, a show about Fae and it's awesome.

The first two seasons are on Netflix for U.S. viewers and the third season just ended recently. The main character, Bo, is a bad ass and her side kick, Kenzi, is so amazing, I wish she had her own show. Definitely watch it. Anyways, after that, I started Merlin.

Merlin gives me A LOT of FEELS. It's a medieval fantasy about sorcerers and it's just great. 4 out of 5 seasons are on Netflix so get to it U.S. peeps. Lastly, I started watching Hannibal with my brother and wow.

Hannibal just started airing on NBC and this Thursday, episode 5 will air. It's about a cannibalistic serial killer and an FBI agent, Will Graham, who's hunting him down. The acting in this show is just phenomenal. Hugh Dancy as Will Graham and Mads Mikkelsen as Hannibal are just so darn perfect for their roles. I'm obsessed with these characters and what will happen to them.

I just wanted to share that because these 3 shows are worth your time but back to books!! 

Racquel's April favorites: 
Love Irresistibly by Julie James - I didn't think it could be done but Julie James did it. She topped her Love Irresistibly, I was chanting "this book perfect".
other 5 novels. The entire time I was reading
Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare - This series is just GREAT.  No second book syndrome with this book. It was even better than Clockwork Angel. This is a must read series.
Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers - This book gave me ALL. THE. FEELS. I dare say it's better than Grave Mercy and I LOVED Grave Mercy so I don't say that lightly! It's official-- Robin LaFevers is a fantastic writer.

Sharon read:
01. The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead
02. The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead
03. Beauty and the Blacksmith by Tessa Dare
04. Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning
05. Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning
06. Losing It by Cora Carmack
07. Faefever by Karen Marie Moning
08. Dreamfever by Karen Marie Moning
09. Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning
10. Once Upon a Tower by Eloisa James
11. Love Irresistibly by Julie James
12. Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers
13. Mine to Hold by Shayla Black

Sharon's April favorites:
So many! April was a GREAT book month. I LOVED experiencing the Fever series. They just got better at the series went on, and loved Jericho and Mac so much it is ridiculous. Love Irresistibly was fantastic! I will have to read both it and About That Night again to see which I love more! I also very much enjoyed Once Upon a Tower by Eloisa James. And, of course, freaking INDIGO SPELL made my life in a thousand ways. ♥

May releases we want:

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