Kate's Book Life: C.J. Duggan

Showing posts with label C.J. Duggan. Show all posts

11 December 2016

Books of November

Another slow reading month but I did slightly better than last month. I've also been quite on my blog recently but I do hope that once Christmas and the New Year is over I will be able to put more time in reading as well as blogging.

Here's what I read in November:

The Accidental Engagement (Chance Romance, #1) by Maggie Dallen - 2.5/5
For Better or Worse (The Wedding Belles, #2) by Lauren Layne - 5/5
Royal Scandal (Royals in Exile, #1) by Marquita Valentine - 4/5

and the book of the month goes too...

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30173157-for-better-or-worse

For Better or Worse (The Wedding Belles, #2)

by Lauren Layne

Synopsis:

Sex and the City meets The Wedding Planner in For Better Or Worse, the second sexy contemporary romance in Lauren Layne's The Wedding Belles series. Will a budding wedding planner and her bad boy neighbor stop banging heads and start hearing wedding bells? For fans of Jill Shalvis, Julie James and Rachel Gibson.

When small-town girl Heather Fowler finally gets promoted from assistant to actual wedding planner, she's determined to make it as one of Manhattan's elite Wedding Belles. Unfortunately, her first client demands an opulent black-tie affair at the Plaza...in five months' time. Heather's days quickly become a flurry of cake tastings, dress-fittings, RSVP cards, and bridal tantrums. But what she's really losing sleep over is the live music blaring from her playboy neighbor's apartment all night.

Five years ago, Josh Tanner was an up-and-comer on Wall Street, complete with the penthouse and the migraines. But a grim cancer diagnosis made him realize there is more to life than the corner office. If only he could convince his pretty, workaholic neighbor to let loose, too. As Heather lets down her guard, Josh is surprised when he starts falling for the sweet, vulnerable woman hiding beneath those power suits. Soon, it's Heather's turn to convince Josh to take the biggest risk of all: love

Books Received in November

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31111139-the-chemist

I had to buy this in hardback as soon as I saw it as I have enjoyed Meyer's books in the past so I'm hoping this one will be just as good.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20740634-mortal-enchantment?ac=1&from_search=true

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28229319-no-pants-required?ac=1&from_search=true

Just a couple that I'd thought I would get whilst I had some vouchers left.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28450774-on-the-line?from_search=true

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30982432-paris-lights?ac=1&from_search=true

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30815112-balance?from_search=true

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30145135-hooked-on-trouble?ac=1&from_search=true

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30646352-roman?from_search=true

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32618150-frostblood

I hope these books are as good as they look!

What does your books of November look like?

3 May 2015

Blog Tour/Book Review: Paradise City (Paradise, #1) by C. J. Duggan

(Click image to take you to Goodreads)

Buy: Amazon UK | Amazon US |

Format: Kindle

Publishers: Hachette Australia

Published: 28th April 2015

Pages: 336

Genre: YA, Contemporary Romance,

Main Characters: Lexie, Luke
Date Read: 11th April - 16th April 2015

Rating Given:

Synopsis:
There's bound to be trouble in Paradise . . .
When her parents decide a change will be good for her, seventeen-year-old Lexie Atkinson never expected they'd send her all the way to Paradise City. Coming from a predictable life of home schooling on a rural Australian property, she's sure that Paradise will be amazing. But when she's thrust into a public school without a friendly face in sight, and forced to share a room with her insipid, hateful cousin Amanda, Lexie's not so sure.
Hanging out with the self-proclaimed beach bums of the city, sneaking out, late night parties and parking with boys are all things Lexie's never experienced, but all that's about to change. It's new, terrifying . . . and exciting. But when she meets Luke Ballantine, exciting doesn't even come close to describing her new life. Trouble with a capital T, Luke is impulsive, charming and answers to no one. The resident bad-boy leader of the group, he's sexier than any boy Lexie has ever known.
Amidst the stolen moments of knowing looks and heated touches, Lexie can't help but wonder if Luke is going to be good for her . . . or very, verybad?

I requested this from netgalley and was then asked by the publishers if I wanted to take part in a blog tour so I thought why not.

The cover I kind of like as I like the feel of it which reminds me of parts of the story which I always like in the covers. I love the brightness of the cover as I think it makes it look eye catching.

When I first started this book I just couldn't get into it as it wasn't capturing my interest so I would find myself easily distracted and kept having to go back to read sections that I had missed and because of that it felt like it was taking too long to read when in reality it only took me about five days. There was a lot of cringe worthy moments in this book especially near the beginning, which was mainly all those nightmares that we have as children attending a new school had happened to her, this would have been good if it didn't all happen to Lexie but it was too much to happen to her that I didn't find believable. Even though there was a lot of cringy moments it still felt like nothing of interest happened and I found myself disinterested. The romance side of the story was completely unbelievable as I didn't believe either of Lexie's or Luke's feelings where genuine. There was moments towards the end of the book that started to improve for me and it has made me want to read the next book just to find out what happens next.

I'm not 100% sure about most of the characters but there was a couple that I did like. Lexie started of as a likable character as she was sweet but she was very naïve to the point where I would think to myself she did not just believe that?! Luke I didn't like in the beginning as he was annoying but about halfway through I started to like him as he seemed sweet but then there was moments that I would not like him again towards the end. My favourite character had to be Boon as he was so funny I would have liked more from his character. Amanda had so many different personalities that it was hard to keep up with her.

Overall I wasn't a fan of this book but there was enough times that I liked to make me want to read the next book but I won't be in any rush to read it.

Author Bio

C.J. DUGGAN is an internationally bestselling author who lives with her husband in Mathoura, a rural border town of New South Wales. Her self-published Summer series has sold over 180,000 copies worldwide, and PARADISE CITY is her eighth book, and the first in a new series of New Adult romance. When she isn't writing books about swoony boys and 90s pop culture you will find her renovating her hundred-year-old Victorian homestead or annoying her local travel agent for a quote to escape the chaos.

2 May 2015

Book of the Month - April

I had an ok month of reading in April as there was quite a few great books but a couple books took a little while to warm up. Here's what I read in April:

The Impostor (The Alaskan Heart Saga, #1) by Tiffany Carmouche - 3.5/5
The Hook Up (Game On, #1) by Kristen Callihan - 4.5/5
The Closer You Come (The Original Heartbreakers, #1) by Gena Showalter - 5/5
Paradise City (Paradise, #1) C. J. Duggan - 2/5
The Duff by Kody Keplinger - 4/5
Inspire (The Muse, #1) by Cora Carmack - 4/5
Angelfall (Penryn & the End of Days, #1) by Susan Ee - 5/5
Under Different Stars (Kricket, #1) by Amy A. Bartol - 4/5

And the book of the month is...

I had two books that where 5/5 and normally I would just have them both as my botm but Angelfall was just too good to have it a joint favourite as this book as this book was faultless.

What was your book of the month?

1 March 2015

Showcase Sunday #112

Showcase Sunday is a weekly Meme that I am taking part of. This weekly meme is hosted by Vicky over at Book, Biscuits and Tea.

Click images to take you to Goodreads.

This may look like a lot of books for just one week but this is from the last few weeks.

Physical Books

The first two where surprise review books as I hadn't even requested them but I'm so happy that I have them as I have wanted to read them for awhile now so I'm very excited to read them. The las two books my mum brought them for me which I am so pleased about as I have loved both of these series and I can't wait to see how it ends especially The Ruby Circle.

Bought Kindle Books

I loved Lost & Found so when Finders Keepers was only 99p I had to get it. Although Near & Far wasn't as cheap I had to get it as I can't have book 3 without book 2.

Free Kindle Books

Free Samantha Young and Sawyer Bennett you can't go wrong!

Kindle Review Books

What did you receive this week?

30 December 2012

Showcase Sunday #24

Showcase Sunday is a new weekly Meme that I am taking part of. This weekly meme is hosted by Vicky over at Book, Biscuits and Tea and for more info click on the SS image which will take you straight to the blog. Click on the titles of the books to take you to Goodreads.