Book Boyfriend List - Valentine's Book Blogging Mini Challenge

Day 1 – Let us have it. Your Book Boyfriend List.  (And I mean all of them!)

The Book Boyfriend LisT 1. Roarke from J.D. Robb’s In Death Series 2. Vlad Teplesh from Jeaniene Frost’s Night Prince Series 3. Bones from Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress Series 4. James Malory from Gentle Rogue by Johanna Lindsey 5. Adam Hauptman from Patricia Brigg’s Mercy Thompson Series 6. Cooper Cartwright from The Heather Wells Mysteries Series by Meg Cabot 7. Kev Merripen from Lisa Kleypas’s The Hathaways Series 8. Jamie Fraser from The Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon 9. Jericho Barrons from the Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning 10. Jace Lightwood from The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare (not the movie version!)

Romance is in the Air Giveaway Hop

Last month I wrote a review on the Heather Wells Mysteries by Meg Cabot. I raved and raved about the series and now I am giving you a chance to win your very own copy of Size 12 is Not Fat, the first in the Heather Wells Mysteries. You might be thinking, isn't this a romantic giveaway? Yes it is! I love Heather's relationship with Cooper. Though you only get the foundation of that relationship in Size 12, I think you will also find yourself falling for this couple. I hope you enjoy this series as much as I did. It is laugh out loud funny sprinkled with some heartfelt moments. Plus, who doesn't love a dashing private investigator? 

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Review: Heather Wells Mysteries by Meg Cabot

If you have been wondering what has happened to Project Read All The Books….well…I have lost count. Mainly because I went to the Magic City Luncheon in November. I picked up lots of great books and I can’t wait to read them. This plus the fact that I did buy a bunch of Harlequin Presents from my library booksale has resulted in more books. Too many for me to think about. So I am going to resume Project Read All The Books after the New Year. During that time I am going to become a reading demon! I’m hoping to make a slight dent in my TBR pile so when the project starts back up I won’t be so far behind. That is the plan anyways.

I do want to let y’all know about a great series I just finished up. For a long time, I have had Size 12 is Not Fat by Meg Cabot on my TBR list. I have read some of Meg Cabot, but I haven't found one that I loved. I liked the Princess Diaries but I thought the Abandon trilogy was decent (I'm biased because Persephone's story as always been a favorite). Anywho, I was looking for a light hearted ebook a few weeks back so I added my name to the holds queue for Size 12 is Not Fat.

I am not a mystery person. It isn’t a genre that I avoid, but I definitely don’t seek it out. Maybe I just haven’t read the right mystery yet. Feel free to recommend a title or series to me! I didn’t really didn't know what to expect from the first Heather Wells Mystery.

Size 12 is Not Fat introduces us to former teen pop star, Heather Wells. After losing her record deal, all her money (thanks Mom!), and her fiancé, Heather is the poster girl for “down on your luck.” Landing a job as an assistant director of the local college dorm residential hall isn’t exactly on Heather’s goal list, but a girl has to do what a girl as to do. But when the students start mysteriously dying, Heather gets way more than she bargained for. Now with the help of her dreamy landlord (also the brother of her ex-fiancee), Heather sets out to solve the recent mishaps at Death Dorm.

Heather Wells is a wonderful character filled with tons of sass and insecurities. She is real and I think that is why I connected with her so much. Also, the character of Cooper (landlord/brother of ex-fiance/private investigator/man of Heather’s dreams) is a delightful addition. I love the fact that he is so logical. Find a dead body? Hmmm, lets call the police! I read about plenty of big macho men, so Coop, who is logical (but deadly!) is definitely a refreshing change.

I ended up tearing through the whole series in a week. After reading the latest novel, The Bride Wore Size 12, I was scared that I reached the end of the series. Cabot was only contracted for 5 novels, but there is always a possibility that the Heather Wells Mysteries could continue. I loved the books. Each was witty, charming, and laugh out loud funny. As I tore through them, I couldn't wait to get my hands on the next one. I was filled with such sadness when I finally finished The Bride Wore Size 12, but at the same time Cabot wrapped up the story beautifully. I have read plenty of endings to series, but I have never read one that was as perfect as this one. Cabot gives her readers exactly what they want with a big bow on top.

If you have the time, I highly recommend this series. They are light enough you can probably knock them out in one day. Make sure you have the other ones around though! They aren’t cliff hangers, but you just don’t want them to end!

1. Size 12 is Not Fat

2. Size 14 is Not FatEither

3. Big Boned

4. Size 12 and Readyto Rock

5. The Bride Wore Size12

Bye Bye 2013!

2013 is out the door!

And I can’t say that I’m sad to see it go. 2013 has had its ups and downs for me. The lowest point was when my father died in March. Though this devastated my entire family, I am amazed at how close we have all become. We have always been a tight family (and large too – I have 10 cousins and 2 sisters), but we have definitely rallied together.

Best part of the year? My house! BF and I officially moved in together (It took me a year to realize that he had some how moved into my one bedroom apartment). Blue, the best dog ever, has become king of his massive yard and I learned how to cut grass for the first time in my life. I’m also a big fan of decorating my yard for any holiday I can.

Other highlights of 2013? I was able to attend Romance Writers of America’s Librarian Day in July with several great friends and had a blast! There was also the Southern Magic Romance Readers Luncheon in November where I got to meet Jeaniene Frost. I was also able to meet David Sedaris when he came to town for his book tour/talk and I had a delightful time hearing him speak.

I am also proud to say that I completed my 2013 Goodreads Challenge of 225 books. I made it…by the skin of my teeth…there might be one or two picture books in there. Don’t judge.

2013 Reading Challenge

JuJu has

completed her goal of reading 225 books in 2013!

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225 of 225 (100%)

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Another great highlight is this blog. I buckled down and really put some effort into making this blog better. I have been fortunate enough to have several best selling authors agree to my ridiculous interviews and I have also started doing more giveaways. The blog has really taken off and I want to say Thank You to all my followers. I have no idea why anyone wants to hear me ramble on, but if you will read it, I’ll keep rambling.

I had a lot of fun in 2013, but I am beyond excited for 2014! First off? A trip to the Bahamas with BF. We are hoping to plan a trip to Virginia in April. May? Me and my sister are New Orleans bound for the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention (She is tagging along so she can go to New Orleans and I’m just going for the massive author signing where I get to meet Lisa Kleypas!) Fast forward to November and my sister and I are headed on a cruise to Mexico. See, 2014 is going to be awesome!

But before I put 2013 in the past, I thought I would mention some great reads from 2013. I’m not the best at reading new books…I prefer to read older works…it really just takes me a while to get around to reading them. This list has a few new books, but mostly older works.

Fangirl and Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell – I can recommend these all day long.

Size 12 is Not Fat by Meg Cabot – Love the Heather Wells mysteries. I tore through the whole series in a week.

Naked in Death by J.D. Robb – In July a new friend recommended the In Death series. She said I wouldn’t be able to stop and she was right! I have read 5 of them this year and I only have 215 more to go…thanks Nora Roberts.

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline – A great book club pick!

My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business by Dick Van Dyke – A great audio book from a truly wonderful human being.

Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster – If you can find a copy of this epistolary title from 1912, you will love it…don’t watch the movie though.

A Parchment of Leaves by Silas House – Just beautiful.

Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers - This is the 2nd book in the His Fair Assassins series and just fantastic.

Where’d You Go, Bernadette? By Maria Semple – Very charming and impossible to put down. Another book club pick.

I feel like I have read tons of great books this year and this is just a sampling of the ones that have stuck with me. What have you read this year?