NetGalley

When I was young and got in trouble, my mom would make me stay in my room for the day. It was my favorite punishment because it meant I could stay in my jammies all day and read. I've always been a reader. From the pages of a book, I could explore the world, learn random stuff and escape the confines of my mundane existence. Those are still the reasons I read although at this time in my life, escapism and entertainment are a huge component of my reading choices.

Several years ago, my dear husband gave me a Kindle as a gift. He'd seen me reading on my iPod and decided I really needed one. He was so excited that he gave me my Christmas gift in November because he couldn't wait to see my reaction. The Kindle was a thoughtful gift but I had told him never to buy me one because I would get lost in words and never surface. That pretty much happened and it has been a battle for several years to step out of imaginary worlds.

I'm now on Kindle #3 and working to overcome my addiction.

At first I would buy free books on the Kindle. Over the years I've found a few gems and discovered great new authors and their works. But mostly, I've read poorly written, self published trash. It was easy. It was mindless. And at a very busy time of my life, I didn't care if I couldn't read or I was interrupted because I wasn't really engaged in the story.

Then, I registered for BookBub because I figured it would direct me to better quality books at a discount price. Nope. It seemed the suggestions made for me were more of the same and I continued to find less than elevating choices. Keep in mind I do work in a library. I can bring home any book I want, whenever I want. I can even buy books I want to read and put them on hold for myself. But the lure of the back light is strong -- it lets me read in bed, in the dark, under the covers.

Two things have happened to change my pattern.

Last year I signed up for NetGalley in an effort to encourage myself to look for better things to read. NetGalley is a professional reader service. They provide ARCs (or advanced reading copy) from publishers to folks who read for a living. Bloggers, book sellers, reviewers and librarians. Yeah, me. A librarian. I read a few items but I'm not much of a writer or reviewer. And I was super busy so writing a review was stressful and I mothballed my account.

This year, one of the librarians retired and I was given her collection development assignment. For years I bought for the non fiction collection. I enjoyed it quite a bit but my heart belongs to fiction. But the retirement opened up a spot. In Romance. I'm jokingly called the Trashy Romance Novel Queen of the Orem Public Library so this is a good fit. The fantasy aspect of Romance has always appealed to me. Romance is the ultimate escapist read and I am having a great time buying books across the depth and breadth of the romance genre.

Which has brought me back to NetGalley. In my quest to buy something for everyone, I feel I need to try a lot of new authors and sample new books so I can decide it if it right for my collection. I am now reading many ARCs. Mostly romance titles but also paranormal and fantasy and any other thing that may catch my eye. If I can enjoy it and recommend it, then I'll read it.

So, this blog serves many purposes.

• I can post my NetGalley reviews here.
• I can be honest with myself about what I am reading and hopefully avoid the items that are less than worthwhile. (Sort of like logging your food. If you have to admit you ate it, you'll think twice about it.)
• As a member of CLAU-- the Children's Literature Association of Utah, I sit on the YA committee that helps to choose YA books for the contest. This blog will also provide a place to review those books as well. Hopefully reviewing will help me to do a more thorough job of reading these books.
• And, I can try --at age 52-- to develop new skills. Thinking, writing, creativity. Because that is good for your brain.

So. Thank you NetGalley. Thanks for the many ARCs!

Next time: My review for EXO by Fonda Lee

A blank page is daunting

So it seems like I should put something here.

In being true to myself, I decided to set this up spur of the moment right before I need to be at work. So I've created this page but don't want to leave it naked and don't really have time to write anything.

I'm going to put the reviews for the last few books I've read from netgalley.com. I'll explain netgalley and give my opinions of Exo by Fonda Lee next time.

In the meantime, the reviews. 

A small disclaimer. Please keep in mind I enjoy mindless reading. I also do a fair amount of reading for my collection, which is romance. I buy all kinds of romance not all of which personally appeals to me but I read it for review. Everything that is reviewed here might not be to your taste. Judge a book by it's summary and make decisions based on your personal preferences.

Read on, my friends.

Two Man Station by Lisa Henry

Gio Valeri is a big-city cop, with a reputation in tatters, who has been transferred to a small outback town. Jason Quinn, a single dad struggling to balance work and life, is in the officer in charge of the station in the outback town of Richmond. Gio wants to keep his head down and stay out of trouble but Jason is very hesitant to trust his new officer. This romance plays out amidst the drama of a small-town police department and while Jason is a warm and loveable character, Gio is moody, broody and a little hard to love. The first half of the book is a bit slow moving and full of angst from both main characters and it took a little while for me to invest in them and the story. The second half had more action and emotion with a darker sub-plot involving domestic abuse that may be a little much for readers just looking for a romantic story.

While I eventually enjoyed the novel, the rich use of Australian jargon was a little confusing and interfered with the narrative for me. I would try another novel by this author. 3.5 stars.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Burn Bright by Patricia Briggs

Burn Bright is the fifth Alpha and Omega book and while it can be read as a stand-alone, it’s best to start at the beginning of the series for maximum enjoyment.

In this outing, werewolf Anna and her mate Charles are minding the Marrok’s pack in Aspen Creek, Montana while the uber-werewolf is traveling. After a call from one of Bran’s very special, very dangerous, nearly wild wolves, Charles and Anna rush off to investigate and find themselves in the middle of a perplexing mystery.

Danger, intrigue and betrayal run deep in this installment and there are some surprising twists. The novel reaches a satisfying conclusion and while I was left puzzled by a few threads left hanging, this story introduces a whole new conflict and exciting possibilities for future stories. A must read for fans of Patricia Briggs, the Alpha and Omega series and Urban Fantasy lovers. 4.5 stars.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Last Wolf by Maria Vale

I’ve read many werewolf stories but this one was intriguing. As a young, female wolf at the bottom of her pack’s pecking order, Silver has no chance for a better life. But when a stranger stumbles into their midst, she decides to risk everything on a chance to truly belong.

The story is dark and unique with solid writing and storytelling. I was fascinated by the world building and the way the wolves ordered their pack and their lives. It’s very unusual to have a shifter story where the where the characters seem to really understand their animal counterpart. The romantic element enhances the story without overwhelming it and the conclusion was suspenseful. An enjoyable read. I will purchase this book for my collection and look forward to reading the sequel. 4 stars.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

New Heights by Quinn Anderson

So, the premise sounded intriguing. Two guys with very different temperaments get stuck at the airport on a horrible layover. They drive each other crazy but sparks fly and romance ensues. It had the potential to be a cute, sweet read.

What we got was pages upon pages of junior high school boy sniping and pranks. The characters where not likeable or believable and when we arrived at the inevitable conclusion, I had a hard time believing it.

Worst of all, we never got to see their romance develop. It all happened off the page and was alluded to in a wrap it up quick epilogue.

I had hard time finishing this one. 1 star.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Little Library by Kim Fielding

Elliot Thompson is an academic. A historian. But his promising career has been compromised by a scandal. He has retreated home to rural California to nurse his broken heart. He spends his days teaching online classes, buying books and fretting about his future.

In an effort to manage some of his book hoard, he builds a little library on his property and this act puts him in greater contact with his neighbors including handsome Simon Oshido. Simon has lost his job in law enforcement when a bullet shattered his knee. He’s now in recovery and the books in Elliot’s library help him to explore his sexuality and find the courage to come out of the closet.

This is a sweet, gentle romance of discovery. The pace is slow and easy. The characters are likeable and believable. And the little library as a way to heal and connect with the neighbors is delightful. There are not many surprises or anything earth shattering but it was fun to read and see Elliot and Simon work out their relationship. I enjoyed their romance and found this a very satisfying read. 3.5 stars.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Lady Vanishes by Joanna Davidson Politano

A very interesting story within a story. Very intriguing and a solid first novel from this author.

I enjoyed the atmospheric writing and the idea. Despite a few writing and style quirks, I would read future novels by this author. 3.5 stars

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.