Stacking The Shelves (2019) #14: The NetGalley Edition

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! If you want to find out more about Stacking The Shelves, please visit the official launch page! Stacking The Shelves now has a new host and check out that new image!!

Hi my loves, I'm here to share with you all the books I've gotten from NetGalley since January of this year. Here we go

The first few I'm sharing are READ NOW, which are all the ones that anyone can get without the publishers accepting you personally. 

Her Defiant Heart by Monica Murphy. It's Monica so of course, I snagged this. 

Tangled Threat by Heather Graham

Lost In Me Lexi Ryan

Summer Heat by Rachel Van Dyken

I Don't Want To Be An Empath Anymore by Ora North

The Sheikh's Surprise Heir (The Karawi Sheikh's Series Book 1) by Leslie North

One Night of Passion (Wicked Dukes Club) by Erica Ridley

Approved by Publishers

The Long Call by Ann Cleeves

Good Juju by Najah Lightfoot. I received this because I saw the author on instagram and I just wanted to read this so badly. I have also pre-ordered this already. 

Kingdom of Exiles by Maxym Marineau

No Other Duke But You by Valerie Bowman. I love her historical romances. 

Unbroken Jay Crownover. because y'all know I'm a Crownover Crowd girl.

Color Me In  by Natasha Diaz

The Perfect Date by Evelyn Lozada & Holly Lorincz

Purchased Ebooks

Amazon was having a spend $20 get a $5 credit sale on ebooks so of course, I used this time to pick up titles I've wanted for a while and new to me series as well.  

Madison's Quest Crime Tells (Book 6) by Jory Strong. One of my favorite erotica authors. I need some menage stories in my life so I grabbed this one. 

Come to Me (Hawkeye Book 1) by Sierra Cartwright. Another favorite erotica author. Had to grab this one as well

Too Many by Alexa Riley

Theirs To Keep (Tangled Hearts Book 1) by Maya Banks

Fever by Maya Banks Book 2 in the Breathless series.

And yes, I still have more to share with you. I love getting books and each time I move 1 to the read shelf I grab 3 more.  What'd you get in your haul this week?? Share in the comments down below and I'll see you next week.

Happy Reading & Haulin' my loves

Can't Wait Wednesdays (7): Good JuJu by Najah Lightfoot #GoodJuju #NetGalley

Originally hosted by: Jill over at Breaking The Spines.  However, the Breaking The Spines blog is no longer hosting the prompt, there is a new one called Can't Wait Wednesdays hosted by Wishful Endings. Same premise of sharing books we can't wait to get our hands on. This is a weekly book lust prompt, asking for us to share our absolute can't wait to get our hands on a copy books. Swing on over to find out how to participate and to see what others are sharing. 

Religious Non-Fiction 

Good JuJu (Mojos, Rites & Practices for the Magical Soul)  by Najah Lightfoot

Spiritual Rites, Spell Work, and Folk Practices to Enhance Your Well-Being and Personal Power

Learn to better express your spirituality and build up your magical practice with this book's powerful spells, rituals, and tools. Designed to help you navigate whatever ups and downs life throws your way, Good Juju is your perfect choice for learning to embrace nature, the old ways, and the magick all around you.

Using simple practices that don't interfere with any religions, Good Juju helps you lay a foundation for daily ritual work. You'll also learn how to craft mojos, create and work with altars, tune in to your intuition, and much more. Author Najah Lightfoot guides you in keeping your mind, body, and spirit strong as you discover your magical work and align with your higher power.Due Date: June 08, 2019

Print: Trade Paperback

Pages: 216

Publisher:  Llewellyn Worldwide
Status:  Purchased (Originally received a copy as a galley from NetGalley)
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Why I'm Excited:
It's a book about magic from the perspective of a black woman. Let that sink in, there are so many books about Ancestral magic and religious practices but Black and Brown voices are hidden by so many other voices. I love her from her social media and I was super excited to see this so of course, I had to support.

What's on your book lust list?? Share in the comments down below!!

Happy Lusting

Book #Review: The Durango Affair (The Westmorelands 8 by Brenda Jackson .@AuthorBJackson .@HarlequinBooks

Book Title: The Durango Affair (The Westmorelands 8 )
Author:  Brenda Jackson| Website| Twitter| Facebook
Publisher: Harlequin Desire

Genre: Romance, African American Romance
Series/Standalone: Book 8
Format: Mass Market, ebook

Cost: $5.99

Pages: 186

How I got it: Purchased

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound
Publication Date: May 09, 2006
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Synopsis:

"I'M HAVING YOUR BABY."

Savannah Claiborne's simple statement set off an avalanche in Montana ranger Durango Westmoreland's carefully ordered life. Suddenly, an unforgettable night of passion with the hazel-eyed beauty had turned into a lifetime of obligation for the confirmed bachelor.

But Westmoreland men always honored their responsibilities, and leaving Savannah to raise his baby on her own was not an option. So he proposed and she accepted...with one condition: Theirs would be an in-name-only marriage.

Durango agreed. For now.

This is another of my favorite tropes in romance, the pretend relationship that has the potential to become more.  Durango Westmoreland was seriously attracted to his cousin's new sister in law Savannah, but everything about the sophisticated woman put her in the 'city woman' category and he's never going there again, but a steamy one-night affair with Savannah at Chase's wedding has him reconsidering that position. When Savannah shows up unexpectedly at his door a few months later he can't believe the woman who has been haunting his dreams is carrying his child. What will this confirmed bachelor do???

Savannah grew up with parents that were together due to obligation and she doesn't want that kind of relationship for herself. She refuses to become her mother, so she's here to let Durango know they created a child because she wants to be a great mother without the guilt that would come if she denied her child his/her father.  She's unprepared for Durango's reaction to the news and slightly overwhelmed by his proposition on how they should raise their child.

I absolutely love that they were both confident and well-accomplished individuals who had great lives before they met, they just have this one place in their lives that isn't complete due to their pasts. When their attraction and their new circumstances throw them back together they try to learn more about each other and try to decide what would be best not just for them temporarily but for their child in the long run. I love Savannah and Jessica's relationship and how close they were. I loved that they were able to be truthful with each other and that Jessica wasn't afraid to point out the flaws in Savannah's plan.  I loved how their families were so strong and loving, that they called BS when they thought they needed to and that certain family members were their confidants.

As always the plans don't work the way they think it will and they have moments of clarity and moments of doubt. They both grew and worked on their fears as the story progressed.  Their chemistry is off the charts and they can't help but indulge in it ( and I for one can say I've very glad they did because hawt damn!!).  As time advances and circumstances change can they have room in their hearts for a new love?? Or will their pasts prevent them from seeing what their future could hold??

 ★★★★☆

Books In Series

• Delaney's Desert Sheikh (1)
• A Little Dare (2)
• Thorn's Challenge (3)
• Stone Cole Surrender (4)
• Riding The Storm (5)
• Jared's Counterfeit Fiancee (6)
• The Chase Is On (7) 
• Quade's Babies (14)

And now we're getting deep into the series my loves and I can't wait to see so many of the men we've read about become lovers and husbands.

Happy Reading my loves, 

YA Book #Review: Last Summer With Maizon (Maizon 1) by Jacqueline Woodson

Book Title: Last Summer with Maizon (Maizon 1)
Author: Jacqueline Woodson  |Website| Twitter| Facebook| Instagram

Publisher:  Puffin Books
Genre: Young Adult, Social Situations
Series/Standalone: Book 1
Format: Trade paperback, Trade Hardcover

Cost: $7.99

Pages: 144

How I got it: Purchased

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound
Publication Date: May 27, 2002
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Synopsis:

Margaret loves her parents and hanging out with her best friend, Maizon. Then it happens, like a one-two punch, during the summer she turns eleven: first, Margaret's father dies of a heart attack, and then Maizon is accepted at an expensive boarding school, far away from the city they call home. For the first time in her life, Margaret has to turn to someone who isn't Maizon, who doesn't know her heart and her dreams. . . .

Whew Chile, I was not prepared for this very emotional story and considering its size it packs quite a punch. I can totally see why Jacqueline Woodson has so many awards because she conveyed so much in so few pages and made it all relatable.  This is the story of two young girls who are in the summer right before 6th grade, and the changes their lives are about to face. Can they survive with their friendship intact or will the coming changes push them too far apart??

I do wish we had gotten more though but my gosh this was impactful. I felt Margaret's hurt about the changes in her life and the upheaval it caused.  After reading this I learned that the book is actually part of a series so I will be picking those up as well

Maizon's changes as well hurt my heart because I knew it was coming. She was so happy and hopeful and I knew the world is cruel to little black girls so I knew especially here in CT where I'm from that this wasn't going to end well for her. Even if it was an amazing opportunity. The world isn't the kindest to young smart black girls.

Margeret is an extremely inciteful child to be able to see what some adults would have missed. I'm glad Margeret and Marizon had each other for these changes and could rely on each other.

I loved the portrayal of friendships in this story. All the different friendships the girls experience and how they help them get through all the changes that happen.  I loved the glimpses of grief and how each person deals with it. A great read for any grade level to be sure.

 ★★★★★

Be prepared for some tough questions if you read this to the kiddos. And bring tissues. 
Happy Reading my loves, 

Stacking The Shelves (2019) #13: The Ebook Edition

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! If you want to find out more about Stacking The Shelves, please visit the official launch page! Stacking The Shelves now has a new host and check out that new image!!

Amazon Purchased & Freebies

Pre-Ordered Items:

Shadow Warrior by Christine Feehan. I love this series so far, I was hoping this would be the sisters' story but it isn't. I'll take what I can get. This is a great series, strong family dynamic, great erotica romance, and even better paranormal elements.

The Billionaire's Bargain by Naima Simone. Never read her before, started following her on facebook after she made a post an author I loved boosted and have stopped following her since. She shared this was coming out and I pre-ordered.

Enamoured by Giana Darling I read the first one in this duet and it was amazing. I highly recommend and I can't wait to get this one in my hands.

I got some of these on serious sale and I'm so excited to try these.

The Evolution of Sin Trilogy by Giana Darling This is the sister of the protag in Enamoured and Enthralled so I figured why not.

Fighting for Flight  J.B Salsbury. One of my booktube buddies shared that she loved this and I decided to snag it as well since our reading tastes are so similar.

Summer Romance Box Set Kandi Steiner. I got this box set for 0.99cents yes you read that right a three book box set for 0.99

For Dark Mafia Romance I grabbed these:

Enthralled  Giana Darling (READ). This is the beginning of that mafia duet that was darkly sensual and very effing crazy. It had murder, mayhem, and of course the mafia with a darkly erotic twist.

 Monster In His Eyes  J.M. Darkhower

Hawaii Magic Beverly Jenkins

The Chalet (Submissive Series) by Tara Sue Me (READ) Grabbed this so I could read the series completely, and this was kind of necessary even though it's a novella.

Freebies:

Renee Rose's series had a few freebies. Hot aliens' in a menage or more romance?? Sign me up.

Their Zandavian Mate (READ)

His Human Slave  (READ)

Rocky Mountain Heat Vivian Arend

The Time Machine HG Wells

Rush Maya Banks.(READ)I wanted to get this read especially when I was at work and couldn't exactly whip out a huge book so I snagged an ebook copy on sale.

Captivated by You  Sylvia Day. Crossfire 4, (READ) apparently I didn't pre-order the ebook with the physical copy I also received.

Llewellyn's 2019 Witches Companion Guide to Contemporary Living. This is a monthly/ yearly almanac that I like to read.

I have finally hauled all the things before my paperbackswap items come in. What'd you get in your haul this week?? Share in the comments down below and I'll see you next week.

Happy Reading & Haulin' my loves