Let's Talk: Finding My Pack & Keeping My Pack

I've never done one of these before, but I'm doing a SERIES review of the first two books in the "My Pack" series by Lane Whitt. 

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Book 1:

Title: Finding My Pack

Author: Lane Whitt

Series: "My Pack" #1

Genre: NA Paranormal Reverse-Harem

Page Length: 430 pages

Publication Date: February 25, 2016

Date Started: November 3, 2016

Date Finished: November 4, 2016

Rating: 5/5 stars

I loved this book. I read through it so fast. I could not put it down. Lately that's been a problem for me: I haven't been able to get into books. But this book pulled me in from the first sentence. I was enraptured, I was enthralled, I was in love. 

I love Kitten, and I love all 8 of her boys: Remy, Ash, Jace, Kellan, Finn, Reed, Tristan, and Logan. They are all amazing. I love the dynamics between them and I especially love how things played out in this first book. I was so excited halfway through that I had already bought the next book by the time I had finished this one. 

There were times when I was smiling, times when my chest was hurting, and times when I was yelling at the book (in a good way). All the adventures that Kitten went on with her boys were so heartwarming and just raised the boyfriend bar even higher. I love how the boys are always there to support her. And I especially love the character development that happens with a lot of them (*cough* Jace *cough*). 

The ending slayed me and if I hadn't been at school then I would have been crying openly. I loved it, but it made my feels hurt so bad. I was so lucky that the second book was already out and I could go straight into it. 

All in all: this book was flipping amazing! 

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Book 2:

Title: Keeping My Pack

Author: Lane Whitt

Series: "My Pack" #2

Genre: NA Paranormal Reverse-Harem

Page Length: 196 pages

Publication Date: June 24, 2016

Date Started: November 5, 2016

Date Finished: November 6, 2016

Rating: 5/5 stars

Oh lord. I loved this book just as much as the first. The beginning started where the first left off and it was so sad and killed me. Everything Kitten has gone through has just brought me heart-wrenching pain. Her guys are always there for her, and I love them to death. At a certain level I want them to be mine but I also ship them and Kitten so hard and I don't want to take away from her. If that makes sense, seeing as these are fictional characters that I could never be with anyway.

But man, this book was a lot steamier than the first. I loved it (especially when it was two of the guys at once). The scenes didn't feel overdone or forced like some scenes in other books that I've read. These felt right. I am so excited for more scenes like these in the next book.

I love how Kitten has started taking charge in this book. In the last book she was a little shy and in this book she's fighting a lot more for what she cares about and what is right. I love her character development and I can't wait to see what she does in the next book.

This book also ended on a cliffhanger, but a different kind. However, I am left needing the next book just as much as I was the first time, if not more. I am so excited for the next and I am religiously following any news about this series through Facebook and Twitter. 

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Both Books:

I loved both of these books to no end. In fact, I bought these on Kindle, but I love them so much that I will be buying both books in paperback. I can't wait to buy them and I can't wait to have them sitting on myself with the rest of my favorite books. 

Kitten and the guys are some of my favorite characters/romances I've ever read. It's cute, steamy, and overall amazing. I love what the author has done with the romance and I am so freaking excited for the next one. Hopefully it will come out soon (or at least a title?). 

P.S. These covers are GORGEOUS! I'm in love!

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Thanks for reading my first ever series review. If you liked, please comment down below :)

Another thing I am going to start adding is a "Related Books" option at the bottom of my reviews. 

xoxo

Lauren

Related:

"The Ghost Bird Series" by C.L. Stone

*Book 1 always free on Amazon*

A New Obsession

So about a year ago, I stumbled across The Ghost Bird series by C.L. Stone. I binge-read the whole thing in about a week and I eagerly anticipate the releases in the series. One of the unique things about this author's books is that they all have Reverse Harem in them. It took me a little bit to understand what Reverse Harem was, but I have come to find out that I love it.

Essentially, Reverse Harem is exactly that. Harems are technically a part of Muslim households for wives, concubines, and female servants of a man. Many people nowadays talk about Harems as a bunch of females to one man. Reverse Harem is the opposite. It is a group of men and one female.

Now, some novels, like The Ghost Bird series, do not have sex involved but still have Reverse Harem. In these cases, the main character (usually these are told from a female's point of view) still forms an emotional connection to each male. Some novels do have sex involved. I won't go into details, but generally the males in these stories are also described as sexy and powerful.

Don't get the wrong idea from this. Some people immediately think bad things about reverse harem novels because many societies focus on monogamy. Some people even insult readers of these stories. This is not okay. There are people who actually live like the characters in these stories. There are people who want this. There are certain societies where this is okay. This is not a radical idea. It is normal in many places. I think that needed to be established before this went any farther.

But why am I talking about this? Well, I became obsessed with the Ghost Bird series (still am) and stumbled across a Facebook group for the series. I joined it, and that led me to another FB group for Reverse Harem stories. And I have found a lot of stories that sound AMAZING through this group.

Also, it made me realize that I'm kind of writing a story like this. Now, it's not 8 guys and 1 girl. It's only 2 guys and a girl. But finding this group made me feel even more comfortable writing what I want to write. For this story, having just one guy did not seem right. There needed to be another guy involved. And I kind of love my story right now.

I am currently obsessing over this genre (theme? trope?). I've bought three kindle books and searched Amazon high and low for more to add to my wish list. This is such a unique idea, reverse harem, and I am so excited to continue reading more and more books.

I think I just needed to write this discussion for myself, even if nobody else cares. I did want to talk about it, and maybe help others discover RH.

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Thanks for reading

xoxo

Lauren

October 2016 Wrap-Up & Haul

Okay, so October wasn't the best reading month for me. But every book I did read was a high rating book. I don't have reviews for all of these, but I will say a sentence or two about my thoughts if I don't.

1. Title: Stalking Jack the Ripper
    Author: Kerri Maniscalco
    Rating: 5/5 stars

This is one of my absolute favorite books of this year. It had my attention since I first heard the title of it and I sped through reading this. I loved the characters, I loved the setting, and I loved the mystery. I'm so excited this is a trilogy so that I can have more of these characters.

2. Title: Keleana: L'assassineuse

    Author: Sarah J. Maas

    Rating: Infinity Stars

I read ToG in French for my AP French class and absolutely enjoyed it. I love seeing my favorite book series in a language I'm trying to learn. And just rereading this book was fun in itself.

3. Title: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

    Author: Ransom Riggs

    Rating: 4/5 stars

I buddy read this with one of my teachers in preparation for the upcoming movie. I really enjoyed this book, but I did think that some things could have been different. I am planning on seeing the movie and reading the rest of the trilogy.

4. Title: Gemina

    Author: Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

    Rating: Infinity Stars

    Review: http://laurensboookshelf.blogspot.com/2016/08/lets-talk-gemina-post-on-october-18.html

I did really enjoy the books I read this month. I wish that I had been able to read more, but my life is so busy and I'm lucky to have had time to read these. But anyways, now onto all the books I hauled this month...

I only bought 3, and they were all preordered. I'm pretty proud of myself, but at the same time, I know it was because I don't have a new job yet and I only budgeted up to this week. I have to save my money until I get another job. So for now, I'm only buying preorders until Christmas or I have a new job. 

The first book I bought this month was Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: Illustrated by J.K. Rowling and Jim Kay. 

It's absolutely gorgeous. I don't know if I like the first or second illustrated edition better, but I love them both. I am so excited to reread HP through these illustrated editions every year.

The next book I bought was Midnight Hour by C.C. Hunter. 

This is the last book to be released in the Shadow Falls world. I am so excited to finish reading all the books in this world and the cover for this one is stunning!

The last book I bought was Gemina by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff.

This was my book of the month for October and I loved it. I had actually read from an ARC that I got at BookCon, but of course I had to have the finished edition with all the completed art. This book killed my feels and I am so excited for the next one. All the art in it was amazing! 

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Thanks for reading

xoxo

Lauren