Lori L. Clark's Blog, page 166

Book Review: Rebel

Rebel (Renegades #2) by Skye Jordan: Sassy, smart, and sexy, former supermodel-turned-tech guru Rubi Russo has it all—looks, money, confidence and freedom. Her life is a whirlwind of fast cars and fleeting affairs—and she likes it that way. With a past like Rubi’s, forever isn’t part of her vocabulary. So when studly Renegade stuntman Wes Lawson wants to take their friendship to the next level, she’s all out.

Raised a simple country-boy, Wes knows the brazen Rubi isn’t his type. But after spending time with her, he discovers she’s everything he’s ever wanted in a woman. To win her wild rebel heart, he’ll have to prove he sees behind her smokescreen to all the goodness she tries to hide. Then it’s just a matter of crushing her fears, shattering her barriers, and convincing her that loving him is everything she’s been missing in her life, too.

Piece of cake.
TeriLyn's thoughts: **ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

Well, I found a new book boyfriend and his name is Wes Lawson. He is pretty perfect. Even with his limited faults. Seriously. Rebel blew Reckless out the water. Wes and Rubi's story is so good. Passionate, funny, witty, real; you will devour Rebel. Ms. Jordan just comes barreling at you all the force of a tornado with Rebel, knocking you flat on your behind, leaving you breathless; just like Wes does to Rubi. Rebel is a story about a passionate friendship that knocks two people completely off balance and straight to each other.

Rubi Russo is a complicated, beautiful mess. I have read a few reviews where readers are frustrated with her. I didn't get that AT ALL. I envy Rubi in many ways. She's a stoic, independent, fierce woman. Rubi conquers life at full force living for her with such intensity and passion it’s remarkable especially given her background. Rubi is a poster child for female independence. She's also severely stunted emotionally. Conditioned from a very young age to take of herself and protect herself from love and stability, only associating these feelings with abandonment. Yet through that hell she's still grown into a stoic, independent, fierce woman. Who's also witty, brilliant, gorgeous, and fun. She's protective, sweet, and loyal to those that she allows to get close to her. I don't fault her for how she is or hold it against her. I have no idea how she managed to evade Wes's charm for two months, seems impossible. But I understand why she did it. Totally. She has never had someone step up to protect her; the emotions tied with such protection are completely foreign. As brilliant as Rubi is, emotionally she’s a wreck and has no idea how to navigate her feelings. I adore Rubi; feeling everything for her that Ms. Jordan intended for me to feel thanks to her colorful writing. Ms. Jordan flawlessly made me believe in Rubi; every beautiful, broken part of her.

Wes Lawson. I could seriously go on and on and on. He was the perfect hero. Literally sweeps you off your feet. It’s really interesting to me that Ms. Jordan created the perfect non-alpha. Wes is not constantly intense. He’s fun and carefree. Don’t get me wrong, Wes is all man. But he has this reserved confidence about him that makes him that much more alluring. Wes unnerves Rubi, unravels her in such a passionate way that I felt unnerved and unraveled myself. Wes comes at Rubi full force, crashing into her walls with every intent to completely obliterate them. Even though a few times he messes up doing it, he never stops trying. From the first time he speaks in the story telling Rubi "you're perfect" I was hooked. Wes is hot, passionate, and fun. He can make you forget what ails you, immediately flooding you with good, protective vibes. He is challenged by Rubi in the best of ways and he quietly begins challenging her in the most life-altering way. In his own way, Wes is unnerved by Rubi too. They start off as friends with the sexual tension growing tight between them. When he tells her she's his best friend, I melted. Wes tells her how beautiful and brilliant she is at the most opportune moments. Simply, just how Ms. Jordan describes his mannerisms or how his face changes when he sees Rubi ... seriously I just melted, that's the best way to describe the feelings Ms. Jordan is able to evoke. And seriously, the intimate scenes. Geesh, Wes does not mess around in the bedroom ... or the club ... or the kitchen ... or the car ... yeah you get it.

Jax and Lexi are present here too and it was fun to see where the two are headed. But Wes and Rubi are definitely the show stoppers. I love their story. The plot of their relationship is perfectly executed providing equal parts angst and passion in the hottest of ways. The passion they feel for each other is never put in question or jeopardy. Ms. Jordan's writing leaps off the pages and into your chest where you feel every scene, every emotion. I think Reckless is really good with Jax and Lexi, they just don't compare to Wes and Rubi. Rebel is one of those rare books that you love so much you just want to go right back to the beginning and start it all over again.









 

Amazon Top 10 New Adult Books: January 5, 2014

Amazon Top 10 New Adult Books: January 5, 2014. These are the top 10 bestselling New Adult books as listed on Amazon.com at the time of posting! (Single titles only - No box sets.)


1. Bitter Pill by Stacey Kade
Rennie Harlow is having a bad year. She had a handsome husband, a good job, and a renovated condo in Chicago. Now, thanks to one "exotically beautiful" paralegal, she’s divorced, faking her way through a writing career, and living above her hypochondriac mother's garage. And she’s back in Morrisville, the small town she couldn't leave fast enough at eighteen. On top of all of that, she just found Doc Hallacy, the local pharmacist, dead behind his counter. The worst part is, he's the third body she’s stumbled across this year.

Jake Bristol has lived in Morrisville his whole life. A former bad boy turned sheriff, he doesn’t believe Rennie just has bad luck or bad timing. He thinks she’s too nosy for her own good. The last thing he needs is her messing around with his murder investigation so that she can freelance for the Morrisville Gazette. But as they both delve deeper into Doc's death, they find things don't add up. This isn't a robbery gone wrong or the work of a desperate junkie. Someone has a secret they're killing to keep. The only question is—who's next?


2. Wait for You by J. Lynn
Some things are worth waiting for . . .

Traveling thousands of miles from home to enter college is the only way nineteen-year-old Avery Morgansten can escape what happened at that fateful Halloween party five years ago—an event that forever changed her life. What she never planned on was capturing the attention of the one guy who could shatter the precarious future she's building for herself.

Some things are worth experiencing . . .

Cameron Hamilton is six feet, three inches of swoon-worthy hotness, com-plete with a pair of striking blue eyes and a remarkable ability to make Avery want things she believed had been irrevocably stolen from her. Getting involved with him is dangerous. Yet ignoring the simmering tension that sparks between them—and brings out a side of her she never knew existed—is impossible.


3. Destined for Love (Love in Bloom: The Bradens, book 2 by Melissa Foster
Rex Braden is wealthy, hard working, and fiercely loyal. Sweat at his brow, he works the family ranch by day, then kicks back at night with part time lovers who require nothing more than his physical presence a few times each week. But that was before. Before Jade Johnson, the daughter of the man his father has been feuding with for over forty years, moves back into town.

After ditching a horrific relationship--and her veterinary practice in the process--Jade Johnson returns to the safety of her small hometown and finally finds her footing. That is...until her horse is injured and Rex Braden comes to her rescue. The last thing she needs is a bull-headed, too-handsome-for-his-own-good Braden complicating her life.


4. An Imperfect Witch (Witch Central Series: Book 1 by Debora Geary
Two years ago, Lizard Monroe was Berkeley's newest delinquent on parole. Now she's a hot young realtor with a great life, an awesome guy, and enough friends to chase away the ghosts of her past.

Almost.

The crystal ball has spoken - life isn't done messing with her yet. And neither is the need brewing in the eyes of the man she loves.

The eve of Halloween approaches. And whatever the sexy poet realtor wants to believe, moving beyond your past isn't the same as facing the future.


5. Holding Out (Hawks Motorcycle Club Series, #1) by Lila Rose
Zara Edgingway is a twenty-six-year-old secretary. She has a daughter that apparently knows-it-all and a best friend that could possibly have the mouth of Satan, but she's been with her through hell and back. Then there's the hunk'a'licious biker neighbor finally showing interest in her.
If only she isn't about to face her next obstacle in life, the one she ran from six years ago: her ex husband.

Talon Marcus is the president of the Hawks Motorcycle Club. For two years, he's had his eye on the quiet, reclusive, yet sassy, neighbor Zara. Finally, he has the chance to claim her as his woman. Just when her past catches up with her, she'll need, not only his protection, but the help from his biker brothers.
Now, if only she'd stop fighting him along the way.


6. Beautiful Disaster: A Novel by Jamie McGuire
The new Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn’t drink or swear, and she has the appropriate number of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance from the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University’s Walking One-Night Stand.

Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby wants—and needs—to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the ultimate college campus charmer. Intrigued by Abby’s resistance to his appeal, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis’s apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match.


7. Sea of Love (Love in Bloom: The Bradens, Book 4) by Melissa Foster
Lacy Snow wasn't looking for love when she met strikingly handsome and seductive Dane Braden. But how could she ignore the six-foot-three darkly handsome god who tagged and researched sharks for a living--and made every nerve in her body tangle into an overly sensitive knot? Even her fear of sharks could not suppress their intense attraction.

As founder of the Brave Foundation, Dane Braden travels from port to port, educating and advocating on behalf of the mammals he adores--and spends his nights finding solace in the arms of strangers. The last thing Dane was looking for when he met Lacy Snow was a relationship, and the last thing he expected was to fall in love.


8. Infinite Possibilities (The Secret Life of Amy Bensen, Book #2) by Lisa Renee Jones
Secrets and lies. They are everywhere: haunting her, tormenting her. In the midst of it all, he'd been her escape, her passion. The only person she'd trusted in six years. And then he'd made her doubt that trust, cutting her deeply. But as she'd once told him, she was damaged, not broken. She is ready to fight and not just for survival. She is fighting for the truth and she won't stop until she has it, not even for...him.





9. Sisters in Bloom (Love in Bloom: Snow Sisters, #2) by Melissa Foster
Kaylie Snow has always been the fun, flirty, pretty sister. Now her burgeoning baby bump, hormone-infused emotions, and faltering singing career are sending her into an unexpected identity crisis. Watching her older sister, Danica, glide through a major career change and a new relationship with the grace of a ballerina, Kaylie's insecurities rise to the forefront--and her relationship with fiancé Chaz Crew is caught in the crossfire.

Chaz Crew has everything he's ever wanted: a lovely fiancée, a baby on the way, and soon, the film festival he owns will host its biggest event ever. When he's called away to woo the festival's largest sponsor--and the lover he's never admitted to having--secrets from his past turn his new life upside down.


10. The Perfect Game: A Novel (The Game Series, Book #1) by J. Sterling
He's a game she never intended to play.
And she's the game changer he never knew he needed.
The Perfect Game tells the story of college juniors, Cassie Andrews and Jack Carter. When Cassie meets rising baseball hopeful Jack, she is determined to steer clear of him and his typical cocky attitude. But Jack has other things on his mind...like getting Cassie to give him the time of day.
They are damaged, filled with mistrust and guarded before they find one another (and themselves) in this emotional journey about love and forgiveness. Strap yourselves for a ride that will not only break your heart, but put it back together.
Sometimes life gets ugly before it gets beautiful...

Book Review: Lila and Ethan: Forever & Always

Lila and Ethan: Forever and Always (The Secret #4.5) by Jessica Sorensen: Lila Summers just wants to know one thing for certain: that Ethan Gregory will be with her always. Once her friend, he's become so much more, melting the pain of her past away with each kiss. Now Lila is on a road trip with Ethan, in the wilderness under the stars, and she can't imagine her life without him. But when she talks about the future, something in Ethan changes . . .

Ethan has no doubts about his feelings for Lila. His life with her gets better every day-and that's the scary part. How can he walk into a future where he has everything to lose? With Lila, his whole heart is on the line for the very first time. But if Ethan can't give her the promise she needs, his greatest fear might come true: he'll lose Lila for good.
TeriLyn's thoughts: **ARC kindly provided by Grand Central Forever publishing via NetGalley in exchange for honest review**

I really like Lila and Ethan. They've worked through a lot of issues in their first book and Forever & Always wraps up their relationship beautifully. They're fulfilling the dream they set out for themselves. Lila's concerns are honest and the vulnerability that stems from her concerns is real. Ethan is equally as vulnerable and vulnerability is not an emotion he's comfortable having. How he works through that is beautiful especially the way he opens up to Lila. Ethan is just as sensitive as he is tough and he brings that toughness out in Lila. I've enjoyed these characters just as much as I've enjoyed Ella and Micha. Lila and Ethan: Forever and Always is a short story and I wish it could have been a bit longer however the way Jessica Sorensen brings closure to the reader on these characters left me feeling happy and satisfied.

Book Review: What You Leave Behind

What You Leave Behind by Jessica Katoff: "Ten years is a long time and even though I love you, I don’t think this is best for us anymore." Those are the words that fall from Liam Barnes' lips and leave Harper Reed's heart in ruins on the side of Interstate 5. He's lost and he thinks leaving her and all of Oregon in his rear-view is what he needs to find himself, dragging her heart right along with him as he goes.

Blindsided and devastated by the loss, Harper's life crumbles around her, but she's not the only one rocked by the news of Liam's departure. Austin Hayward, Liam's best friend and her long-time admirer, handles it about as well as Harper—not well at all. He is the only other person who understands the abandonment and helplessness she feels, and she finds comfort in their common sorrow and, unexpectedly, in his arms.

It's where Austin has always wanted her and where neither of them predicted she would end up. But is it where she'll stay? Is a new spark enough, when compared to an old flame, like the one Austin can see still flickering in her eyes?

Toward the end of a downward spiral lie the answers. What You Leave Behind is a story of anxious hearts, the deceitful self, and what it means to be lost and found again.
TeriLyn's thoughts: **ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review**
I finished this book last night and have been sitting on my thoughts since. This is a hard book for me to review. I usually don't like love triangles so I try to avoid reading a book based on a love triangle all together. The synopsis of What You Leave Behind wasn't completely indicative of this being a love triangle. 

 Often, I find myself rating books on the feeling I get when I read them more so than the plot, writing, themes, etc. This is especially true if something in the book I've experienced or can envision myself experiencing. With that said, I have nothing in common with Harper, the heroine. Except that we both have in common a deceased parent who died of cancer. Harper is lost in love, drowning it it. The love of her life that spanned a decade leaves her and the hollow that is left is lost. She finds comfort in his best friend. I found Harper a bit naive. She's 26 and it felt like I should be reading about am 18/19 year old girl. 

 What You Leave Behind is about the after math of her great love leaving her and what happens when he returns. It's about finding friendship in unlikely places. It's about finding yourself in the rubble that's been left. I really did like the story. The writing is descriptive and forthcoming. The story is engaging to the point that I wanted to know what happens and who she would choose. It provoked feeling in me even though it wasn't all positive. For that, it's worth reading. I just didn't love it. I found myself having a hard time connecting with Harper. She is so confused and back & forth that I found nothing relatable. 

 The story is angsty, which I don't mind. But the main character herself is a constant state of angst, which I did mind. That's where experience comes into play. I've never been in Harper's situation and without that experience it's harder for me to understand her. I loved Austin's character, a lot. He's a broken man who has lost his support system. He's found his great love and wants to commit to it. Liam is a train wreck. Not even he understand why he let go of the love he held in the palm of his hand. Although his story is a bit under developed, it's tragic. My heart broke for him. I wish we would have gotten a little bit more of his story when he left because it seemed as though there was so much more to him than what we got. All three, Harper, Liam, and Austin have been each other's support for most of their adolescent lives. When one third of their whole disappears, emotional chaos ensues. 

Harper's mom, Hilary, was a breath of fresh air. She's spunky, honest, and real. I'd love to read her story of healing. Personally, I was disappointed in the ending. I thought it would go a totally different way but again, it provoked feeling from me so for that alone I have to say I liked the book. Overall, it's a good read and I'd suggest it. It's just not the type of story I'd read all the time.

Book Review: For All You Have Left

For All You Have Left by Laura Miller: Logan Cross married her high school sweetheart when she was eighteen. But life had different plans for Logan, and now, at twenty-two, she is in the midst of starting over when Jorgen Ryker moves in next door. Jorgen suspects that Logan might be hiding a few secrets, but neither he nor Logan is ready when she reveals her biggest secret from her past—a secret that neither of them realizes they share.

Set in small-town Missouri, For All You Have Left is a love story with an unexpected twist centering around three lives, two great loves and one epic journey in learning to love again.
***ARC received in exchange for an honest review***
This book really made me smile. It takes you back to the innocence and joy of falling in love and all the fun and crazy things that go with it. This book was written by fellow MO native, and the book is set in a small town in MO. Laura's writing is beautiful and it's no wonder she's earned the bestselling author title. You won't actually be able to purchase the book until February of 2014, but be sure to add it to your Goodreads shelf today!

Book Review: Wake For Me

Wake for Me (Life or Death #1) by Isobel Irons: When Viola Bellerose breaks up with her “up and coming” Irish rock star boyfriend, the feisty winery heiress takes it in stride—by making out with a hot stranger and accidentally crashing her Mercedes into the East River. Whoops.

Somewhat unfairly, in her opinion, Viola now spends her days in a coma, trapped inside the prison of her own body. With each passing day, she finds herself becoming more lost in a world of vivid and terrifying dreams, in which a tall and tortured doctor often appears in a romantic role.

First year intern Sam Philips is barely surviving his complicated life, dealing with his older brother’s death, avoiding scary charge nurses and working endless hours--all while competing against his fellow interns. His solace is the time he spends with his favorite patient, the girl he’s nicknamed Sleeping Beauty. Convinced that her coma can’t last forever, Sam spends hours at her bedside, spilling his secrets to the unconscious girl.

But what the outwardly shy Sam could never guess, is that his Sleeping Beauty is actually aware. That she's secretly hanging on his every word, and falling head over heels in love with him. That even as Sam tries to save her, someone else might be trying to kill her.
Flash Review: This book keeps you entertained from beginning to end. Loved all of the characters and the story line. A book you wont want put down. It will be interesting to see what the author has in store for us with the rest of her series. Surprisingly good, you'd never know it is from a debut author!

Book Review: Choosing You

Choosing You (Jade #1) by Allie Everhart: When Jade is given a scholarship to an elite private college in Connecticut, she sees it as a chance to finally escape her painful past and get a fresh start. She’s determined to succeed and that means keeping her focus on school and not guys. But her plan falls apart her first day on campus when Garret, a rich prep school boy with swimmer abs and a perfect smile, offers to help her move in.

Jade tries to push him away, but she can’t deny her attraction to him and Garret won’t let her. Things quickly heat up between them, but then come to a sudden halt when reality hits and Jade realizes that a relationship with Garret may never be possible. He comes from a world of wealth where there are rules, including rules about who he can date. And not following those rules has consequences.

As the two of them try to overcome the obstacles working to keep them apart, Jade is confronted with another challenge. On her 19th birthday, she receives a letter that her now deceased mother wrote years ago. In it are revelations that explain her traumatic childhood but also make her question the past she’s been running from.
Flash Review: I like how this book isn't just a typical girl meets boy book and they are instantly in love and the girl has no self esteem. It makes you think and I enjoyed the progression of the book and characters...but man what a cliffhanger. I'm very glad that the next two books are out in the series so I don't have to wait to read and find out what happens!

Book Review: The Sweetest Game

The Sweetest Game (The Perfect Game #3) by J. Sterling: This is the third (and final) installment in Jack & Cassie's story!

“It’s one hell of a sledgehammer to the chest when your baseball career comes to an end. It’s like you finally realize that baseball never loved you back. All the sleepless nights, the hours spent at the gym trying to stay fit, the conditioning, the training, the mental preparation, the holiday’s missed, the birthday’s passed, the memories you didn't get to make with your family…all for what? It’s not like baseball lost any sleep over you. She didn't stay awake for nights on end trying to figure out how to make you a better player. She didn't care. Baseball’s a business. A sport. A game. And as much as my entire life has been wrapped up in it, it’s time to let it go.”
- Jack Carter

TeriLyn's thoughts: I'm so happy J. Sterling gave us The Sweetest Game. After being disappointed with book 2 in this series, I was cautious about getting my hopes up for book 3. The Sweetest Game is absolutely worth reading if you're a fan of Jack and Cassie. The story allows us to experience Jack and Cassie's marriage, baseball, and subsequent events. I loved The Perfect Game so reading this made it all that much better for me. I honestly could skip right over book 2 if I ever wanted a Jack and Cassie re-read. If you felt like me after book 2, don't give up, The Sweetest Game is perfectly sweet.

They're the same two characters I fell in love in TPG but they're growing up together. They've finally fully embraced one another and the trust they have in their feelings and their relationship. They were strong, Cassie especially. There were times when I thought "Jack is such a fool for his behavior" but Cassie changed that perception. That's Jack; protective, loyal, and fierce. Those qualities are a recipe for a total hot head who doesn't navigate feelings well. Cassie realizes this and does exactly what she knows Jack needs. I finally caught on that Cassie is protective, loyal, and fierce too. Just in a much more reserved, quiet way. Melissa and Dean are back to their story is weaved through Jack and Cassie's. It's really sweet. The whole book is heartwarming and about growing up, realizing what is most important in your life and working to maintain that peace that you've found with your partner. I loved it. The epilogue was fantastic too. The Sweetest Game is an outstanding ending to Jack and Cassie's journey.

Release Blitz & Giveaway: Raw

Title: RawAuthor: Belle AuroraGenre: New Adult Dark RomanceRelease Date: January 3, 2014Hosted by: Love Between the Sheets Promotions

Synopsis*Author Note: This is not a love story. This is a story of love gone wrong.*

Growing up the way I did, you’d think I’d be more screwed up than what I actually am.

Soon as I turned sixteen, I left that bump in the road I called home and took my chances on the street.

Best decision I ever made.

Now, at the age of twenty six, I’m educated, employed and damn good at my job.

My friends have become my family. Like me, they know what it’s like to grow up unloved.

But the saying is true.

The world makes way for those who know where they are going.

That’s me.

I know where I’m going and I’ll get there eventually. On my own terms and at my own pace.

But then there’s him.

I feel his eyes on me. I see him hiding in plain sight. He watches me.

He makes me feel.

It’s unconventional.

But it’s real.

I’m sure you’re wondering how a person falls in love with their stalker.

So am I.

This isn’t a story.

This is my life.

Buy the BookAmazon Amazon UK

About the Author

Belle Aurora is twenty six years old and was born in the land down under.
At an early age she fell in love with reading. Boredom one summer had her scouring the bookshelves at home. She stumbled across Sandra Brown’s Breath of Scandal and fell in love with romance.
Having been brought up in a loud and boisterous family of Croatian descent, she developed a natural love for dramatics and humor. Only some years ago had she discovered a new love.
Humorous romance novels.
Kristen Ashley and R.L. Mathewson had opened a brand new world where she could lose herself yet feel safe and at home in their stories. Belle has been known to become a screeching banshee while anxiously awaiting their newest titles.
Belle never thought she would write. It had never interested her until recently. Friend-Zoned began to form and in February this year Belle typed the words Chapter One. And she fell in love.
With words.
With writing.
With a creative imagination she never knew she harbored.
Facebook | Goodreads | TwitterYou can find teasers of Belle's books here - https://www.goodreads.com/story/list/18164357



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Cover Reveal: Beautiful Dreams

Title: Beautiful Dreams (The Beautiful Series #3)Author: Alicia RaeGenre: Contemporary Romance 18+Publication Date: January 21, 2014Cover Design: Okay CreationsEvent Organized by: Literati Author Services, Inc.
SynopsisKyle has mended Lily’s broken heart, and as they have fallen in love, all she dreams of is finally having her happily ever after.But as time goes on, Lily can no longer ignore the desire to know more about Kyle's past. When she learns more, she will discover if she can heal Kyle’s heartache as he has done for her.Will his secrets break them apart? Or will their love be enough to strengthen their bonds? Add to Goodreads



About the AuthorAlicia Rae is a Contemporary Romance Author who lives in Dekalb, Illinois, with her husband and three beautiful boys. Alicia has a passion for reading all types of romance, writing to bring a story to life, and photography.Thank you to my dear sister, Kels, who showed me a few years ago how much I truly missed reading. And to my loving husband, for not throwing away my Nook, and planting the seed of writing into my mind. I am forever grateful. XoReaders, words cannot thank you enough for supporting me along this incredible journey. I hope you enjoy my novels as much as I do writing them. I thank each and every one of you. Believe in yourself and follow your dreams...Connect with the Author: Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads