Connect Five

This will be the last post of the year for Connect Five connections as well as the last for this challenge. Kathryn at Book Date has changed the format for 2020, encouraging us to connect on Fridays. (Check here for more info)
This month I finally completed several more Connect Five connections. Some it took me all year to complete. The fun is in finding the books that fit the chosen connection.
Here are the groupings (as there are so many books this time, I’ll just post the book cover of the book I enjoyed the most from each group):

Date or Dating in the Title

Deja Date by Susan Hatler

Dating-ish by Penny Reid

Save the Date by Jenny B. Jones

Decoy Date by Mira Lyn Kelly

The Wedding Date by Zara Stoneley

 

Wild in the Title

Wild Country by Anne Bishop

The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker

How to Catch a Wild Viscount by Tessa Dare

Running Wild by Linda Howard

Heiress Gone Wild by Laura Lee Guhrke

 

Wicked in the Title

Wicked and the Wallflower by Sarah MacLean (This was a tough choice as I actually enjoyed them all!)

Slightly Wicked by Mary Balogh

Tall Dark and Wicked by Madeline Hunter

Wicked Highland Ways by Mary Wine

A Week to Be Wicked by Tessa Dare

 

Kisses in the Title

Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs

Sandcastle Kisses by Krista lakes

White Hot Kiss by Jennifer Armentrout

His Haunting Kiss by Heather Marie Adkins

A Mistletoe Kiss by Jennifer Faye

Connect Five – 3 Sets of Connections

The Connect 5 reading challenge hosted at “The Book Date” urges us to connect five books in some way. There are now two more months to finish up any connections – do take part!
I am working on several connections now and finished three recently:

Books about Wallflowers – with Wallflower in the title
Here are the books read for this connection, mostly historical romance, all enjoyable reads.

The Wallflower Wager by Tessa Dare

 

A Wallflower Christmas by Lisa Kleypas

 

Diary of an Accidental Wallflower by Jennifer McQuiston

 

The Earl’s Defiant Wallflower by Erica Ridley

 

Wallflower in Bloom by Claire Cook
Using Emotions in the Title
These books range from mystery to non-fiction to historical and contemporary romance. An interesting mixture of genres and very enjoyable reads, especially the first.

 

Madwoman Upstairs by Catherine Lowell

 

Cold-Hearted Rake by Lisa Kleypas

 

Notes on a Nervous Planet by Matt Haig

 

Garden of Happy Endings by Barbara O’Neal

 

Joyfully Yours by Amy Lamont

 

Books About Wolf Shifters – With Wolf in the Title
These paranormal books were fun reads.

Cowboy Wolf Trouble by Kait Ballenger

 

Indecent Werewolf Exposure by Eve Langlois

 

Werewolves of New York: Nathaniel by Faleena Hopkins

 

Of Witches and Wolves by Elinor Lawson

 

The Artist Cries Wolf by Heather Horrocks

 

 

Linking as well with:

Friendship Friday at Create With Joy

Connect Five – Summer

The Connect 5 reading challenge hosted at “The Book Date” urges us to connect five books in some way.
This has become my favourite challenge – as I read a book I look for other connecting books – checking at the library, my ebooks or my own TBR books. It really helps that I am retired and usually read a book a day.

I am working on several connections now and have finished another this past week:

Books About Summer, with “Summer” in the title

The first three are all women’s fiction, all excellent 5* reads.

One Summer in Paris by Sarah Morgan

The Summer Guests by Mary Alice Monroe

 

The Book of Summer by Michelle Gable

 

A sweet contemporary romance

Summer Harbor by Susan Wilson

 

An enjoyable, historical romance

Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas

 

Connect 5 – Brides and British Nobility

The Connect 5 reading challenge hosted at “The Book Date” urges us to connect five books in some way.

I am working on several connections now and  finished two this week:

Books about Brides – with Bride in the title

Here are the books read for this connection, all of them ebooks, all enjoyable romances – from historical to contemporary to scifi..

An Unexpected Bride by Ashtyn Newwbold

 

The Beast’s Bride by Jayne Castel

 

Seal’s Bride by Vivian Wood

 

Philomena – Unwanted Bride by Misty Shae

 

Alien Architect’s Bride by Scarlett Grove

 

 

Books About British Nobility

Here are the books I read for this connection, by 2 of my favourite historical romance writers:

No Good Duke Goes Unpunished by Sarah MacLean

One God Earl Deserves a Lover by Sarah MacLean

Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover by Sarah MacLean

 

 

Romancing the Duke by Tessa Dare

Say Yes to the Marquess by Tessa Dare

 

Linking as well with

 

Book Nook  Blog party at Create With Joy

 

 

 

 

 

Connect Five – 4 Letter Titles

The Connect 5 reading challenge hosted at “The Book Date” urges us to connect five books in some way.

I am working on several connections now and finally finished one tonight –

Books that have 4 letter titles.

 

Here are the books read for this connection:

3 romances:

Tara by Ginny Baird
A sweet romance, where love blossoms after a note in a bottle is discovered, my favourite of the group.

 

Tank by M. Malone

 

Stay by Allie Larkin

 

 

2 Science Fictions (sexy, mail-order brides for aliens :

Kash by Susan Hayes

 

Axen by Arcadia Shield

Connect 5 – Books by Sarah MacLean

The Connect 5 reading challenge hosted at “The Book Date” urges us to connect five books in some way.

I had seen a recommendation for Sarah MacLean’s historical romances and so I ordered a couple from the library – the first of two series. Well, I read the first at the end of August and was hooked. I quickly read through one series and have started work on the second series. I’d forgotten how much I enjoyed a good historical romance.

The first series, “Scandal and Scoundrel”, follows the scandals of the Talbot sisters and the men they become involved with.

 

The Rogue Not Taken

A Scot in the Dark

The Day of the Duchess

 

I have read one of the Bareknuckle Bastards and thoroughly enjoyed it

Brazen and the Beast

 

I am now working on the “Rules of Scoundrels” series, about the men who run “The Fallen Angel” and the women who get involved with them. I just finished:

A Rogue by Any Other Name

 

I

Connect Five – Anne Bishop – The Others series

The Connect 5 reading challenge hosted at “The Book Date” urges us to connect five books in some way.

Several bloggers had recommended The Others series by Anne Bishop, so I read the first at the beginning of August and was hooked. The library had the first two and the fifth, so I had to go out and buy 3 and 4.

What an amazing dark fantasy series. Loved the created world, the characters, but especially loved Meg, the blood prophet and Simon, The Wolf. Trouble is – now the series is finished and I want more about these two!

Here are the books:

Written in Red

 

Murder of Crows

Vision in Silver

Marked in Flesh

Etched in Bone

 

5 Books – Time Travel, with Highlanders

I have been working on several connect 5 sets of books and have just finished my fifth book – with the theme of time travel, involving highlanders. There is something about Scotland and highlanders – just look at the success of Outlander by  Diana Gabaldon.

Each of these books was an ebook, several by the same author, in a series. They were quick, fun reads, all with swoon-worthy heroes and feisty heroines.

Arch Through Time series by Katy Baker:

   Dreams of a Highlander

 

  Touch of a Highlander

 

  Echoes of a Highlander

 

also,

by Stella Knight

  Eadon’s Vow 

 

 

  Her Highlander Fate

 

Still lots of time to join in the Connect 5 fun. I love the challenge of connecting 5 books – by theme, author, word in title – whatever you can find to connect the books.

 

 

Connect Five

In the past week I have completed two more “Connect Fives”. This challenge has definitely become my favourite reading challenge. As I read a book, I try to find a connection that I can link to other books. Often, I do a search of a theme to see what books would work. (Goodreads is good for this – check their lists).
Then I check at the library to see if any of these books are available – and most times I am lucky. I also check through my Kindle books – and usually find some there as well.
Then I get to read these books, many of which I might not have read otherwise.

Connection 1: Books by Patricia Briggs
Her Mercy Thompson paranormal series had been recommended on many different reading/book sites. I finally decided to read at least one. Just to see what the fuss or the hype was about.
Well, I was hooked and now I have devoured 10 books and am on my eleventh. The next in the series (book 12- although not sure if it will be the last) won’t be out til next year (!)
The series highlights walker Mercy Thompson, a coyote shapeshifter raised by werewolves. Each book focuses on a myth or legend, with lots of twists and turns. Mercy sides with honour, loyalty, love, friendships, bravery and draw many to her side – from werewolves, especially the Alpha Adam. Vampires, fae and others. They fight hate, revenge, dishonour, lies, death.

 

Moon Called (Book 1)
(Blood Bound – BK. 2 – but am using for my next connect 5)
(Iron Kissed (Book 3 – using this for another connect 5 as well)
Bone Crossed (Book 4)
Silver Borne (Book 5)
River Marked (Book 6)

Frost Burned (Book 7)

Connection 2: Alliterative Titles
This was a fun one and it wasn’t until I had read a couple of books that I realized the connection. (The last book was Book 2 of Patricia Briggs’ series.) So this connection included: 1 classic, 3 romances and 1 paranormal

 

Decoy Date by Mira Lyn Kelly

Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs

Sweet Suzie Sweet by Katie Graykowski

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Deja Date by Susan Hatler

 

Connect Five

The past two months I have been trying to connect some of my reading choices and have completed another Connect Five for that challenge at Book Date..

These books all involve following a list and have “List“ in the title.

The Birthday List by Devney Perry

Women’s fiction, where a widow decides to fulfill her husband’s birthday list – my favourite of these books

The List by Patricia Forde

 

A Fantasy/dystopian YA novel.

 

Love, Life and the List by Kasie West

a YA romance, another favourite – Abby tries to improve her art by making a list

 

The Wish List App by Sylvia Tara Dyer

A comedic Romance

 

Let Me List the Ways by Sarah White

 

YA romance, with a diabetic main character.

 

I am enjoying this challenge. As I chose books for other challenges, I try to make connections with others I have read. Then I usually have to research other books on that theme and try to find them. I find I am reading books I probably wouldn’t have, as the books are by authors I don’t know. And many books end up earning 5 stars on Goodreads.