Date Published: May 13, 2016

Format: Kindle

Source: Personal copy

Date Read: February 6, 2018-January 6, 2019

Blurb:

Get revenge. Pay a debt. Save a soul. Lose your heart.Spanning centuries and continents, five brand-new novellas from beloved historical romance authors tell the stories of men and women who find themselves wagered in a game of chance and are forced to play for the highest stakes of all: love.

Review:

First, this anthology was a limited edition/release. That time limit has past, so if any of the stories appeal to you, you can buy them separately. 

Out of the five stories, I liked two of them on a 3 star level. I skipped reading one, but I knew going into this story I was going to do that because I don't like the author's writing. I ended up DNF'd the other story. So the odds were never in my favor as it turns out.

All or Nothing by Rose Lerner - 0 stars

Badly written script for a porno. The woman playing the role of heroine mocked, harassed, and fleeced the guy playing the part of the hero - then in the end fell in love with her mark (I mean hero) after getting dumped by her regular paramour. The guy was TSTL and I don't care if the heroine ends up making his life terrible. One bad sex scene after another with no plot development whatsoever and in the last five pages we get tragic back story of heroine so to understand why she is an emotionally, mentally, and financially abusive twat. Can you tell I was deeply disappointed in this story? Kind of set the tone for the rest of the book.

The Liar's Dice (Pinking Li Mystery Novella) by Jeannie Lin - 3 stars

This was a very good mystery and addition to the series. However, it was not a romance. There was barely a hint at one, and no HFN/HEA. It stated right on the cover of this book I was purchasing a historical romance anthology, and I didn't get a romance out of this story. Still I love the series and this was a nice way to end it - but don't read it for the romance.

Raising the Stakes by Isabel Cooper - DNF'd

I read the first two chapters and fell asleep. I just couldn't get the energy needed to deal with long passages that bored me. This story is a smash up of Old West romance and magical realism - it didn't work for me at all (hence the nap). After two chapters the heroine still hadn't met up with the hero, so I honestly can't say anything about the romance.

Redeemed by Molly O’Keefe - Skipped, but here's the blurb:
Denver, 1868 - After agonizing years in the Civil War’s surgical tents, Union doctor James Madison has nothing left to lose. But when beautiful, tortured Helen Winters is the prize in a high-stakes game of poker, he goes all in to save her—and maybe his own soul.

Gideon and the Den of Thieves by Joanna Bourne - 3 stars

This was a prequel to the Spymasters series. I have never read Bourne before, but I do have two Spymasters books on my NOOK for this summer's reading. There is a shit ton of dialog to get through in the first two or three chapters to slog through before the plot kicks in and things get fun. Gideon had major insta-lust, Aimee kept her head and it was a good time to read about their relationship journey as well as the gang's inner political turmoil. Aimee won additional points for not agreeing to marry Gideon after only knowing him two days, but willing to travel with him as a business partner and get to know him better. The HFN was the perfect way to end the story. I am looking forward to the other books in the series now. But all that dialog in the beginning of a novella was a drag. 

Getting back into my bookish memes, starting with Friday Reads.

This weekend I want to finish The Last of the President's Men by Bob Woodward, as that goes back to the library next week. I started The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean last night and continued this morning until my phone battery went low, so that is my doing chores/walking the dog soundtrack until I'm done with the book. Finally I want to read the last story, Gideon and the Den of Thieves by Joanna Bourne, from the anthology Gambled Away so I can be done with it and delete it from the Kindle (first story sucked, second story was good except for the ending, the third one put me to sleep so I DNF'd it, completely skipped the fourth story because I don't like the author's writing).

I don't care about either team, the half-time show, or the Super Bowl in general plus it comes on here in England at 1am Monday morning and I have got to wake up and get the kids to school on Monday. (Also, English commentary on American football is ridiculous on a level that is comical when it doesn't raise your blood pressure.) Needless to say, I am just going to read and cross stitch the weekend away, and may the team with the lesser obnoxious fans win.

First, working on finishing Gambled Away anthology by the end of next week (I have 3 stories left). Then finishing up A Bollywood Affair and moving on to The Bollywood Bride and A Change of Heart. Those covers are gorgeous!

This week coming up is the last week of the second phase of COYER Winter Switch; on February 10th, I am moving on to just reading print books. 

Final Update!

Time marker paused at 17:00:38. I am 28% into the Gambled Away anthology and on the second story. I am 18% into Something True, which I am liking due to the MCs, but some of the side characters are already annoying me. I also spent some time reading to the kids. Reviews to follow tomorrow.

I completed my basic goal of two books completed during the read-a-thon, plus I got a jump start on two other books. I exceeded my stretch goal of 16 hours, so I am very happy with my productivity levels for the read-a-thon, especially with this cold from hell I am dealing with. Now I am going to hit up a hot shower and some Nyquil and pass out for the night.

To those participating in the 24in48 - FINISH STRONG! You got this!

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Update #4

Time marker paused at 15:00:30. Spent most of the day reading, with one break to update my Litsy and IG. I finished The Jade Temptress and moved on to the first story in Gambled Away, which I am not liking at all. Once this story is done, I want to move on to Something True.

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Update #3

So I am at the 9:36:09 mark and calling it a night. I am 65% done with my second book, so I should easily meet my two goals tomorrow.

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Update #2

At the 5 hour and change mark I couldn't hold my head up or focus my eyes on reading due to this blasted cold (which may be a sinus infection since my cavities hurt and my head feels like a lead balloon). So I took a three and half hour nap/black out, then made dinner for me and the kids. I read a little during dinner, then I read to the kids before bedtime (see attached books - we are big fans of Mo Willems!). I am now at 36% read on The Jade Temptress and completed one challenge (the oldest book from childhood you still have challenge). I have the stopwatch paused at 7:18:13, so I am making good time on one of my goals. I still feel like death warmed over, but at least I am not in seizure territory anymore.

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Update #1

Got off to a late start; I started reading at 6am. My stopwatch is paused at the 3:54:57 mark. I have finished the first book, The Lotus Palace (4/5 stars). I've got The Jade Temptress cued up and ready. Needed more sustenance, so my breakfast of apple cinnamon rice cakes with peanut butter and cinnamon sugar topping and another mug of tea should do the trick. The cold is kicking my butt and making my reading slow going. Posted my progress on IG and Litsy.

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Original Post:

This will be my post for the read-a-thon this weekend. I will post updates at the top for easier reading.

My goals:

1. I am only going to do check-ins. I came down with a cold (AGAIN) and not really feeling up to taking time away from social engagement with fellow read-a-thoners or from my reading just to do challenges. I am so tired due to the cold I have to restrict my energy outputs to more important goals.

2. Check-ins about every two hours. I am starting the read-a-thon at the same time as the folks on the East Coast of the US is starting, so about 5 am. That will allow me to sleep a little.

3. My bare minimum goal is to get 2 books done; my stretch goal is 3 books plus at least 10% of a fourth. Time wise, I want to do bare minimum goal of 12 hours; my stretch goal is 16 hours. One hour will be devoted to reading to the kids (currently they love the Lego Chima and Ninjago series by various authors and the Elephant and Piggie series by Mo Willems).

4. Where I will be participating:

Here on BookLikes

IG at https://www.instagram.com/tearainbook/

Litsy @TeaRainBook

Opening Survey form completed.

This weekend is the 24 in 48 Read-a-thon, so I hope to devote most of my time to reading and participating online. I will post mainly here, Litsy, and IG.

My TBR for the read-a-thon: finish The Lotus Palace, read The Jade Temptress, and get at least two stories done in the anthology Gambled Away.

Next week I want to finish the anthology and get to Above All, Honor and Something True.

My goal is to start February with Sonali Dev and her Bollywood series.