Anyone who has followed my blog for any length of time will know I have a book buying problem. I just really like having plenty to read and I am a sucker for a good deal. I know plenty of bloggers who do features like this. In fact, I’ve attempted similar things a few times because I admit I have far too many books to read that will probably never be finished. I will essentially be doing what I should have done in the first place and reading a couple of chapters from each book (essentially the sample you can download for all Kindle books) and deciding should it stay or should it go? If you don’t have The Clash after reading that line I’m not sure we can be friends.

You might say how can you read just a chapter or two to decide if you should keep a book on your shelf? Well, it’s simple. I’m pretty brutal about DNFing a book anyway so declaring a book gone should be easy. You can normally tell if the writing is for you quite quickly and sometimes a character instantly doesn’t click and you just know. That’s the hope anyway.

Now, onto the books. I delved to some of the older books on my shelves and collected a few romance looking reads to see if I should keep them on my shelves.

The Law of Moses (The Law of Moses #1) – Amy Harmon

If I tell you right up front, right in the beginning that I lost him, it will be easier for you to bear. You will know it’s coming, and it will hurt. But you’ll be able to prepare.

Someone found him in a laundry basket at the Quick Wash, wrapped in a towel, a few hours old and close to death. They called him Baby Moses when they shared his story on the ten o’clock news – the little baby left in a basket at a dingy Laundromat, born to a crack addict and expected to have all sorts of problems. I imagined the crack baby, Moses, having a giant crack that ran down his body, like he’d been broken at birth. I knew that wasn’t what the term meant, but the image stuck in my mind. Maybe the fact that he was broken drew me to him from the start.

It all happened before I was born, and by the time I met Moses and my mom told me all about him, the story was old news and nobody wanted anything to do with him. People love babies, even sick babies. Even crack babies. But babies grow up to be kids, and kids grow up to be teenagers. Nobody wants a messed up teenager.

And Moses was messed up. Moses was a law unto himself. But he was also strange and exotic and beautiful. To be with him would change my life in ways I could never have imagined. Maybe I should have stayed away. Maybe I should have listened. My mother warned me. Even Moses warned me. But I didn’t stay away.

And so begins a story of pain and promise, of heartache and healing, of life and death. A story of before and after, of new beginnings and never-endings. But most of all...a love story.

I read the prologue and the first chapter of this book. I had originally intended to read just the first chapter but that would have just been the prologue and it was appropriately vague, which is typical of a lot a New Adult reads. I mean, it opens saying simply ‘I lost him’ if that isn’t suitably angsty then I don’t know what is. As I said, I’d intended to just read the first chapter but as the prologue was so vague I needed to read more, which I suppose is a positive sign. it means it hooked me in, right?

I don’t know about this one. I am intrigued by the story but I also think I definitely need to be in the right mood for it because otherwise it will just be a frustrating read for me. I have another book from this author on my TBR so I figure I need to give this one a shot first as I own a copy and then decide if I’ll read that other book.

Verdict

It can stay for now.

The Paper Swan – Leylah Attar

They say it takes 21 days to form a habit.
They lie.
For 21 days she held on.
But on Day 22, she would have given anything for the sweet slumber of death.
Because on Day 22, she realizes that her only way out means certain death for one of the two men she loves.

A haunting tale of passion, loss, and redemption, The Paper Swan is a darkly intense yet heartwarming love story, textured with grit, intrigue, and suspense. Please note: This is NOT a love triangle.

I read the book summary and saw this was captor/captive romance and wanted to slap.myself. That's a hard pass from me what was I thinking when I.bought this?

I read the first 2 chapters and let me tell you I am not there for it. I have to be recced a romance like this one because otherwise it just screams Stockholm syndrome and I will not be able to enjoy it. I need someone to vt it for me so I know the pay off is worth it. I mean the MC seems like I could likely her. Yes she's a rich heiress but I think I could put up with her privilege but the kidnapping storyline? Blergh. And then I went on Goodreads and no one I'm friends with has read it. Past Becky's impulse buy was not a winner. I mean, the writing wasn’t terrible but I just felt uncomfortable with our MC being kidnapped and transported into Mexico (I think that’s where they were going). Honestly, past Becky made poor life choices. Definitely need to learn from my mistakes.

Verdict

Hard pass, definitely going on the ‘never gonna read’ shelf (I just can’t quite bring myself to permanently delete books I paid for).

Under Her Skin (Blank Canvas #1) – Adriana Anders

Her Body is His Canvas

A darkly possessive relationship has left Uma alone and on the run. Beneath her drab clothing, she hides a terrible secret—proof of her abuse, tattooed onto her skin in a lurid reminder of everything she’s survived.

 

Caught between a brutal past and an uncertain future, Uma’s reluctant to bare herself to anyone…much less a rough ex-con whose rage drives him in ways she will never understand. But beneath his frightening exterior, Ivan is gentle. Warm. Compassionate. And just as determined to heal Uma’s broken heart as he is to destroy the monster who left his mark scrawled across the delicate tapestry of her skin.

This one has been on my kindle forever but the whole fleeing an abusive relationship thing is so not my usual jam. I actually got this after either reading about it on Smart Bitches or after hearing about it on their podcast (possibly both). It’s definitely a book I need to be in the right mood for. I think it'll be a great read and powerful. I'll be cheering the MC on for moving on and getting out but the emotional upheaval I'll go through reading it? I've put it off as I’ve just not felt ready for it.

After reading the first chapter I just know it'll be a good one and I kind of regret waiting to read. Uma seems strong she's panicking about how she'll manage to keep moving forward but she seems strong. Yes she panicked and has questionable coping mechanisms but who am I to judge? And Ivan? He seems like he's the potential to be a total softy considering he looks gruff as but has a totally lovely suburban looking home he must be a good guy. Especially as he's mowing his weird neighbours lawn.

Verdict

Definitely staying, and may even be my next read.

Easy Love (Boudreaux #1) – Kristen Proby

Eli Boudreaux’s family has built ships and boats in Louisiana for generations. He comes from a hard working, wealthy family and his empire is growing by leaps and bounds. At thirty, he is the youngest CEO to ever head Bayou Enterprises, co-chairing with his eldest brother. His head for business and his no-nonsense work ethic is also quickly making him the best the company has seen in generations. His staff admires him, women adore him and Eli’s family is solid. But he’s recently discovered that someone on the inside of his business is stealing from him and he’s determined to find out who.

Kate O’Shaughnessy is hired by companies all over the world to slip inside and investigate every member of the organization from the CEO down to the custodial staff to find the person or persons responsible for embezzling. She’s excellent at blending, becoming part of the team, and finding the weakest link. She’s smart, quick-witted, and she’s now been hired by Bayou Enterprises, specifically Eli Boudreaux. The attraction is immediate and the chemistry is off the charts, but Kate has heard all about Eli’s playboy past and she has a job to do. Sleeping with the boss isn’t a part of that job, even if just the sound of her name rolling off that Cajun tongue and the way he fills out a designer suit does make her sweat.

Eli’s southern charms surprise Kate. The man whose reputation labels him as a ruthless, callous womanizer is not the man she’s coming to know intimately. He’s generous, protective and makes her smile. Cracking through Kate’s cool, reserved demeanor and discovering her love of sexy, expensive lingerie is a challenge Eli can’t resist, but her sweet nature, love of family and sense of humor pull at him in ways no one else ever has.

But when the person responsible for trying to single-handedly dismantle Eli’s empire comes to light, and it’s time for Kate to move on, to what lengths will Eli go to keep the woman he’s fallen in love with by his side?

I know exactly why this is on my kindle. It was a freebie and it’s set in New Orleans. Both are things I love in a book. I am, and have always been, a sucker for a NOLA setting. I fully recognise it’s because I loved Gambit from X-Men when I was a kid and so it left me fascinated with that city. I then visited a few years ago and loved it there (the humidity is killer and those storms were insane) but it does mean many a bad book has landed in my shelves.

This wasn’t terrible, the writing was ok but we’ve got a man whore told to stay away from the woman brought in to identify who is embezzling from them. We all know where it’s going to go and the characters didn’t stand out enough to make me want to carry on. And I guess that’s the thing, I don’t mind an OK book now and again, but when it’s been sat on my Kindle for two or three years then I kind of want to be wowed by it. This didn’t stand out and so my motivation was low to keep on reading, the first chapter felt like a chore.

Verdict

It’s outta here.

Undecided (Burnham College) – Julianna Keyes

Nora Kincaid has one goal for her second year of college: be invisible. Last year’s all-party-no-study strategy resulted in three failed classes and two criminal charges, and if she messes up again she’ll lose her scholarship. But there’s one problem with her plan for invisibility, and his name is Crosbie Lucas: infamous party king, general hellraiser…and her new roommate’s best friend.

Crosbie’s reckless reputation and well-known sexcapades aren’t part of Nora’s studious new strategy, but as she’s quickly learning, her new plan is also really boring. When Crosbie’s unexpected gestures of friendship pull her head out of her books long enough to see past his cocky veneer, she’s surprised to find a flawed and funny guy beneath it all. The muscles don’t hurt, either.

But as Nora starts to fall for Crosbie, the weight of one of last year’s bad decisions grows even heavier. Because three failing grades and two misdemeanors are nothing compared to the one big secret she’s hiding…

I remember stumbling across this one a few years ago. All the bloggers I followed were talking about it and eventually I treated myself. Then this poor book sat on my shelf gathering dust because I just didn’t fancy reading it. i went off college sat books, NA became a genre I sort of avoided reading it. Also, I’d hyped it up in my head and I worried it wouldn’t meet expectations. Then it just becomes a thing doesn’t it? You avoid reading because that’s what you’ve always done.

Thankfully, hype didn’t kill this book, I read the first chapter and the writing style was fun. Nora sounds like a great MC and you know there’s gonna be some funny situations happening. I think my biggest issue with NA is the male MC is always the most alpha male ever and it gets annoying. I only got a glimpse of them but I don’t think that’s the case here. I want to know how Nora went so off of the rails and how exactly things will go this year. I just feel like this will be a really good chillout read.

Verdict

It’s staying and I can’t wait to read.

And there are a few books I’ve looked at on my shelves lately. Have you read any of these? And do you do this sometimes to try and clear up your shelves a bit or are you smart and just don’t impulse buy?