I read 22 books last month with an average score of 3.96. 9 books were YA and 2 were graphic novels. Snakes and Ladders really helped increase my numbers this month. I reached the end of the board right at the end of the month. My 1st book for April will be the book to finish the game.

My favorite read was Little White Lies - Jennifer Lynn Barnes. I love the author's books, and she did not disappoint. My least favorite book was A Night to Surrender - Tessa Dare. Let's just say I really did not like the male love interest. But overall, it was a really good month of books.

5 Stars

4.5 Stars

4 Stars

3.5 Stars

3 Stars

2.5 Stars

2 Stars

Hello and welcome everyone to April. We are so much closer to Summer :D

I always hope to get more reading in Summer with the kids home but that never happens. So this year I'm not even hoping and just see how it goes lol.

But we still have a while anyway. 

March was busy reading wise, I got a lot more done than I reviewed .... so far. I'm a bit behind on reviews, but what else is new lol .

Though I got a lot of my review copies done which was my main goal, but just as I got them done I received a few more. So, I'm back to square one when it comes to review copies lol. But that is okay.

Here are some of releases to look forward to in April

Defy Me by Tahereh Mafi

Gimme Some Sugar by Molly Harper

The Savior by J.R. Ward

The Red Scrolls of Magic by Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu

Little Darlings by Melanie Golding

I just finished Crimson Lake by Candice Fox yesterday.

How do you move on when the world won’t let you?

12:46: Claire Bingley stands alone at a bus stop 12:47: Ted Conkaffey parks his car beside her 12:52: The girl is missing . . .

Six minutes in the wrong place at the wrong time—that’s all it took to ruin Sydney detective Ted Conkaffey’s life. Accused but not convicted of a brutal abduction,Ted is now a free man—and public enemy number one. Maintaining his innocence, he flees north to keep a low profile amidst the steamy, croc-infested wetlands of Crimson Lake.

There, Ted’s lawyer introduces him to eccentric private investigator Amanda Pharrell, herself a convicted murderer. Not entirely convinced Amanda is a cold-blooded killer, Ted agrees to help with her investigation, a case full of deception and obsession, while secretly digging into her troubled past. The residents of Crimson Lake are watching the pair's every move... and the town offers no place to hide.

So hopefully today I will start Redemption Point by Candice Fox, which I both received through BookishFirst .

#1 New York Times bestselling author Candice Fox delivers a compulsive new crime thriller in Redemption Point.

When former police detective Ted Conkaffey was wrongly accused of abducting Claire Bingley, he hoped the Queensland rainforest town of Crimson Lake would be a good place to disappear. But nowhere is safe from Claire's devastated father.

Dale Bingley has a brutal revenge plan all worked out - and if Ted doesn't help find the real abductor, he'll be its first casualty.

Meanwhile, in a dark roadside hovel called the Barking Frog Inn, the bodies of two young bartenders lie on the beer-sodden floor. It's Detective Inspector Pip Sweeney's first homicide investigation - complicated by the arrival of private detective Amanda Pharrell to 'assist' on the case. Amanda's conviction for murder a decade ago has left her with some odd behavioural traits, top-to-toe tatts - and a keen eye for killers . . .

For Ted and Amanda, the hunt for the truth will draw them into a violent dance with evil. Redemption is certainly on the cards - but it may well cost them their lives ...

On audio I'm also listing to Storm Front by Jim Butcher. I'm so mad at myself that I have not started this series before. But oh well, at least now I have many great books ahead of me lol. I should be done with this today, if all goes well.

HARRY DRESDEN — WIZARD

Lost Items Found. Paranormal Investigations. Consulting. Advice. Reasonable Rates. No Love Potions, Endless Purses, or Other Entertainment.

Harry Dresden is the best at what he does. Well, technically, he's the only at what he does. So when the Chicago P.D. has a case that transcends mortal creativity or capability, they come to him for answers. For the "everyday" world is actually full of strange and magical things—and most don't play well with humans. That's where Harry comes in. Takes a wizard to catch a—well, whatever. There's just one problem. Business, to put it mildly, stinks.

So when the police bring him in to consult on a grisly double murder committed with black magic, Harry's seeing dollar signs. But where there's black magic, there's a black mage behind it. And now that mage knows Harry's name. And that's when things start to get interesting.

Magic - it can get a guy killed.

When I'm with Redemption Point I'm planning to start Storm Cursed by Patricia Briggs

In this new instalment in the No. 1 New York Times bestselling series, Mercy Thompson must face a deadly enemy to defend all she loves . . .

My name is Mercedes Athena Thompson Hauptman, and I am a car mechanic.

And a coyote shapeshifter . . . And the mate of the Alpha of the Columbia Basin werewolf pack.

Even so, none of that would have gotten me into trouble if, a few months ago, I hadn't stood upon a bridge and taken responsibility for the safety of the citizens who lived in our territory. It seemed like the thing to do at the time. It should have only involved hunting down killer goblins, zombie goats, and an occasional troll. Instead, our home was viewed as neutral ground, a place where humans would feel safe to come and treat with the fae.

The reality is that nothing and no one is safe. As generals and politicians face off with the Gray Lords of the fae, a storm is coming and her name is Death.

But we are pack, and we have given our word. We will die to keep it.

 I will have a new giveaway going live sometime this month. So be on the lookout for that ;)  As always all the buy links for the books will be in the reviews that are linked. I hope everyone will have a fantastic April. 

Here are my March reads :)

Hall of Souls & the Book of the Fairies by M.D. Fryson

In a panic, the spirit guides seek an ally with the Fairy Queen who has her own agenda. With empty promises and tricks Meridian, her father and her best friend Relic go to the witch city of Salem in search of the Fairy Quartz on Halloween kept by a local witch coven in Salem. The last but most dangerous quest is the voyage to the dark realm alongside the fallen spirit guide Talon. There Meridian must answer the demon’s riddle, save her best friend and escape the demon realm. With the help of a once spirit guide cast away as a fallen, she finds an ironic refuge in his help and escapes with the Fairy Book only to see through the fairy tricks.

With her own love triangle surrounding her as she endures her quests for their existence, she finds herself pulling from her best friend Relic who is in love with her and hanging onto Kieren her new crush who is in a Fairy induced slumber. She can’t quite let her thoughts steer away from the human boy, Aiden who she discovers is the son of the very fallen spirit guide accompanies her on her journey.

With the council trial and Warrick’s undoubted hatred, Meridian is stifled by sadness for her father after he is cast in the hall of souls. She flees for Earth in search for Aiden breaking Warrick’s law at the cost of being cast to Earth as a demon. Warrick’s curse takes an unexpected turn when Meridian isn’t quite what he intended for her to emerge as. With the off-chance encounter with Aiden after months of his absence and her new identity she is faced with her curse and her desire to be with Aiden.

4 ★

Little Darlings by Melanie Golding

“Mother knows best” takes on a sinister new meaning in this unsettling thriller perfect for fans of Neil Gaiman and Grimms’ Fairy Tales.

Everyone says Lauren Tranter is exhausted, that she needs rest. And they’re right; with newborn twins, Morgan and Riley, she’s never been more tired in her life. But she knows what she saw: that night, in her hospital room, a woman tried to take her babies and replace them with her own…creatures. Yet when the police arrived, they saw no one. Everyone, from her doctor to her husband, thinks she’s imagining things.

A month passes. And one bright summer morning, the babies disappear from Lauren’s side in a park. But when they’re found, something is different about them. The infants look like Morgan and Riley―to everyone else. But to Lauren, something is off. As everyone around her celebrates their return, Lauren begins to scream, These are not my babies.

Determined to bring her true infant sons home, Lauren will risk the unthinkable. But if she’s wrong about what she saw…she’ll be making the biggest mistake of her life.

Compulsive, creepy, and inspired by some our darkest fairy tales, Little Darlings will have you checking―and rechecking―your own little ones. Just to be sure. Just to be safe.

4 ★

The Everlasting Rose by Dhonielle Clayton

In this sequel to the instant New York Times bestseller, Camille, her sister Edel, and her guard and new love Remy must race against time to find Princess Charlotte. Sophia’s Imperial forces will stop at nothing to keep the rebels from returning Charlotte to the castle and her rightful place as queen. With the help of an underground resistance movement called The Iron Ladies-a society that rejects beauty treatments entirely-and the backing of alternative newspaper The Spider’s Web, Camille uses her powers, her connections and her cunning to outwit her greatest nemesis, Sophia, and restore peace to Orleans.

4 ★

The Wedding Deal by Cindi Madsen

Former quarterback Lance Quaid just inherited the most losing team in the NFL. He’s got only a few weeks until draft day to turn things around, and after firing more than half his staff, he can’t do it alone. Thankfully, his HR manager is more than capable, if only she’d stop focusing on “due diligence” and stop looking so sexy while she’s yelling at him.

Charlotte James has made a life out of following the rules. But nothing could have prepared her for Lance Quaid––he’s a human resources nightmare. The man is brash, has no filter, and, as her new boss, is constantly relying on her to cover his ass. Which is admittedly quite nice.

When Lance begs her to join him on a trip down the coast for his brother’s wedding so they can finalize details––on a strictly business basis––she agrees…after they fill out the necessary forms, of course. Away from the office, though, sparks start flying as the team starts coming together. But both of them know anything more than the weekend would be a colossally bad idea––after all, the extra paperwork would be a nightmare.

5★

Almost Home by Valerie Fraser Luesse

With America’s entrance into the Second World War, the town of Blackberry Springs, Alabama, has exploded virtually overnight. Workers from all over are coming south for jobs in Uncle Sam’s munitions plants–and they’re bringing their pasts with them, right into Dolly Chandler’s grand but fading family home turned boardinghouse.

An estranged young couple from the Midwest, unemployed professors from Chicago, a widower from Mississippi, a shattered young veteran struggling to heal from the war–they’re all hoping Dolly’s house will help them find their way back to the lives they left behind. But the house has a past of its own.

When tragedy strikes, Dolly’s only hope will be the circle of friends under her roof and their ability to discover the truth about what happened to a young bride who lived there a century before.

Award-winning and bestselling author Valerie Fraser Luesse breathes life into a cast of unforgettable characters in this complex and compassionate story of hurt and healing.

3.5★

We're nearing the end of March and I have one last book to read for my Reading Assignment Challenge.  Which pretty much means that I mean to get my last Amanda Quick book read for the month no matter the prompt for my next Snakes and Ladders roll.

Meanwhile, the dreaded cold seems to have made its round to my household, and everyone around me is getting sick, myself included.  Though, fortunately, I seem to be recovering quite nicely.  Nonetheless, I shall take advantage of this time to lay back on my couch with a comfy microfiber throw, a cup of honeyed tea, and a few snacks, as I finish reading my book.

Onward to the next dice roll!

Is this not just THE luckiest roll ever!  With a roll of 4 + 6 = 10, I landed on Square 79: 'Main character is a woman.'  This square is a guaranteed two dice roll just because of all the romance books I read.  Even the historical mysteries I've been reading are mainly female protagonists!

Of course, the book has two main characters as a romance novel, one male and one female, but I'm still going to count it.  After all, it's not like they aren't allowed to share, right?  With this, I'm a little further up the board, and slowly making my way to the end.  With a new month around the corner, I'll have more options open to me without feeling like I'm running out of time to meet reading obligations.

So off we go!  Wee!

Currently Reading

Books Read Pending Square Selection

Nothing here!

My Progress

Dino Baby Snakes and Ladders Marker "I 'Rawr', but I do it my way."

Dates for each dice roll corresponds with respective update post.
Book titles link to reviews if written.
Completed books' covers (read and used for squares) following table.

I'm continuing to make steady, if slow, progress up the S&L board.  The ladders have been elusive, but luckily I haven't tangled with a snake, either. My seventh roll using two dice gave me a nine and took me to space #55. I'm going to pass on the prompt for this square which says to read a book that is more than 500 pages long. Instead I decided to dip back into the urban fantasy genre and listen to the second entry in Seanan McGuire's October Day series, "A Local Habitation".  I found a lot to like in book one, including the SF Bay Area setting, so I'm looking forward to seeing what's in store for Toby and the Fae this time round.

Progress to Date:

 1. Author is a woman / start: Their Lost Daughters by Joy Ellis

     Roll #1 - Two Dice Roll:  3 + 3 = 6

     Timestamp: 2019-02-24 21:59:09 UTC (working on the screen shot thing) 

 7. Author's last name begins with the letters A, B, C, or D: The Mysterious Affair

     At Styles by Agatha Christie 

     Roll #2 - Two Dice Roll:  5 + 5 = 10

     Timestamp: 2019-02-26 07:26:51 UTC

17. Genre - horror: The Mummy Case by Elizabeth Peters (skipping horror)

       Roll #3

21. Set in Europe: My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell

       Roll #4

32. Genre: thriller: The Dry by Jane Harper

      Roll #5

40. Characters involved in the entertainment industry: Queen of Hearts by Rhys 

      Bowen.

      Roll #6 

46. A book that has been on your tbr for more than two years: The Devil's Novice

      by Ellis Peters

      Roll #7

55. Is more than 500 pages long: A Local Habitation by Seanan McGuire (skipping

      500 pg. book)

The Dragon and the Pearl

by Jeannie Lin
Book 2 of Tang Dynasty

I want to say that I think this book suffers from pacing.  And maybe the romance was a little hard for me to root for at the beginning.  And also, the ending felt a bit rushed.

But otherwise, I DID find myself enjoying a good third of the story, specifically the middle third of it, after both Suyin and Li Tao kind of let their guards down around each other and become intimately involved.  The beginning had a fairly decent start up until the mind games between Suyin and Li Tao dragged on a bit longer than I would have liked.  Then the story picks up slightly when the romance starts... and then tapers off again as that part of the story dragged on for a while.  And then the last third of the book inserted a lot of action that felt slightly out of place and rushed, bringing about an ending that felt a little off kilter.

In a way, I kind of enjoyed the quiet, banal happenings during the beginning of the book that had been used to show the relationship between our main couple changing day by day.  But I also felt a bit squicky about how their sexual relationship starts off, and didn't really care for the fact that Suyin felt more like an accessory to Li Tao's story than actually being part of the story herself.  Especially considering the significance Suyin's flashbacks, contemplating her role throughout her life.  After all of that--the fact that she'd spent her life being used and owned by men--I would have liked to have seen more for Suyin.

If anything, I kind of wish we could have developed Suyin's character a bit more, instead of just having her be the "One True Love Cure All for Li Tao's Darkness and Problems."  Ling Suyin has a lot of history and complexity all on her own that I wished had been explored more.

My final complaint would be the loose ends and random tangential story lines that felt inconclusive.

Otherwise, the writing is just as beautiful as I remember Jeannie Lin's writing being.  And even in spite of Suyin's underdeveloped character, I really, really liked her a lot.  Given more substance, I think she would have been a wonderful character with a wonderful story to tell, not shadowed by the main male character in this book.