Saturday, December 31, 2011

2011 Wrap Up and Things to Look forward to in 2012!

This was a great year with great books.

The top 11 books I read in 2011 are:

I'll begin with my top two with both were series enders.

Last Sacrifice (Vampire Academy, #6)Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



1. This is probably my favorite series of all time. The series ender was satisfying but I still wish for more.

Succubus Revealed (Georgina Kincaid, #6)Succubus Revealed by Richelle Mead

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



2. I will miss this series. Of course the first two series I loved are from Richelle Mead. This has to be the best series ender I've ever read.

Divergent (Divergent, #1)Divergent by Veronica Roth

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



3. This book was beyond good. I thoroughly enjoyed it! I can't wait for the next book in the series.

The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



4. I just found this series this year and read all of them back to back. This series was engaging and I can't wait for the movies.

V is for Vengeance (Kinsey Millhone, #22)V is for Vengeance by Sue Grafton

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



5. The Queen of Suspense is back with her 22nd installment of the Kinsey Millhone series and it didn't disappoint.

New York to Dallas (In Death, #33)New York to Dallas by J.D. Robb

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



6. J.D. Robb aka Nora Roberts rocked my world with her 33rd installment of the in Death series. This book takes us back to the roots with Dallas and Rourke which made me fall in love the first time.

HushedHushed by Kelley York

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



7. This book was beyond amazing. It was different and a fresh look into a world I could have never dreamed of. This debut author will be a go to author for me in the future.

The Reluctant DomThe Reluctant Dom by Tymber Dalton

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



8. Be ready with a box of tissues for this one. It is so good, but I guarantee you will cry.

Eden (Eden, #1)Eden by Janelle Stalder

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



9. Probably my favorite indie young adult book of the year. I love this story, the series and the author is great too!

Beg for Mercy (Cambion, #1)Beg for Mercy by Shannon Dermott

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



10. This book takes twist and love triangles to a new level. Loved how I never expected what was to happen with each turn of the page.

Winter's Awakening: The Metahumans Emerge (Winter's Saga, #1)Winter's Awakening: The Metahumans Emerge by Karen Luellen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



11. Another amazing indie young adult series whose greatness will rival that of James Patterson's Maximum Ride series.


What's to come in 2012. I can't possible list every great book I want to read. So I'll list what books I'm reading and those for me to read really soon.

So I'm reading:

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In 2012, I looking forward to reading these books!

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Indie Spotlight - Survival, a YA paranormal romance (Book 1 of The Guardians of Vesturon Series) - by A.M. Hargrove

Survival, a YA paranormal romance (Book 1 of The Guardians of Vesturon Series)Survival, a YA paranormal romance by A.M. Hargrove

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This is a young adult paranormal/sci-fi novel.

Book Summary

While on a backpacking trip in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, nineteen-year-old Maddie Pearce finds her world has been thrown into a vortex and is madly spinning toward the impossible. Abducted by a mad psychopath, Maddie narrowly escapes with her life. But that is only the beginning. Her mysterious rescuer introduces her to a world that Maddie has difficulty accepting as reality. Will this strikingly gorgeous stranger be the key to her future or will she return to her mundane world, scarred from her experience? Follow Maddie as she is forced to make difficult decisions that carry her to mysterious places only to find that perhaps it was all for nothing.

My Review

Oh how did I like this book, let me count the ways. Well, first off it had a sci-fi element which is always a plus in my book. But Rayn and his brothers, *swoon-worthy*. Then of course, Maddie had me in tears with her antics towards the end of the book. I kept dying laughing.

I loved this writer’s style and it’s hard to write three different POVs. But I was enthusiastically reading this book. I wanted to pick it up when I had to put it down to do other things.

The only thing that bothered me was that I felt in the beginning of the book, I was on fast forward. I was led down the story timeline until before it finally hit its stride. But boy when it did, I was there.

And I did have one question.
Do the alien's eat human like food on their planet?

This book was certainly different than anything I’ve read recently, which made it a joy. The romance was touch and go. The author sure did straddle the edge of believability there, but in the end, it all worked. I can’t wait to read the next one. The cliffhanger left me wanting more.

For those who liked the Host, you should enjoy this one. But I would recommend to all readers. Nothing really needed to be censored in this book. In fact the message sent was a good one. Enjoy.


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Thursday, December 22, 2011

Indie Spotlight - The Ylem (The Ylem Trilogy #1) by Tatiana Vila

The Ylem (The Ylem Trilogy, #1)The Ylem by Tatiana Vila

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This is a young adult paranormal romance novel.

Book Summary

An ancient book, a seventeen-year-old girl and an exotic boy from a supernatural world hold the key to freedom for a long-oppressed race, but that freedom could come at the cost of the human world.

Seventeen-year-old Kalista is suffering from a broken heart, so when her playwright father proposes they move their lives from New York to New Mexico because he is in need of inspiration Kalista is 100% on-board with him. New Mexico proves to be the perfect balm for her wounds and she is just starting to feel some of her old spunk when Tristan Winfield comes into her life and pulls all of her barriers down. Kalista is captivated by Tristan's unusual silver eyes and feels an inexplicable connection to him, which begins to manifest itself in her dreams with bizarre images of a waterfall and an orb.

While searching for an explanation for her troubling dreams, Kalista discovers an ancient book which holds the secrets of a supernatural race of creatures. But when Killings hit town, she realizes her finding has come at a high price. She's in the middle of a power struggle now, and a secret seems to be wrapped within the pages of that book. A secret she and Tristan are part of...

My Review

Overall this was an excellent read. This is one you should definitely pick up. There were a couple of storylines intermingled and the author does a wonderful job at doing just that. I was captivated, intrigued, and sucked into this story. I was falling madly in love with Tristan although I would say I loved Dean too! But for those with a hate for love triangles, there really wasn’t one here. Kalista knew who she wanted and never wavered. The other guy who didn’t receive her affections didn’t pursue her in a mad dash to win her over either. So have no fear.

But about 65% of the way through, I hit that stumbling block that was the killer of most YA books these days.

**** spoiler alert **** Instant Love! And it bothered me more than I hoped.
My other huge problem was that Kalista for being a hypocrite and just a big contraction. I also found Kalista a bit heartless. She didn't seem to care about anyone's feelings but her own. All in all, I don’t know how much I liked Kalista for lying and not caring about her friends.

But I must say, I really liked this book despite my problems with it. I find myself in need of the next in the series and hope there is one available like now. I would have given it five stars if not for my spoiler comments. Again, everyone has their pet peeves and mine might not be yours. So give this one a try. I bet you will enjoy.

I recommend for older young adults. Although nothing explicit happens in the book. Certain subjects or hints at such caution me to say that.


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The Reluctant Dom by Tymber Dalton

The Reluctant DomThe Reluctant Dom by Tymber Dalton

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



This is an adult romance novel.

Book Summary

Sometimes, love hurts...if you’re lucky.

How can you refuse when a dying friend asks you for the biggest favor of all? Kaden and Seth have been best friends for over forty years. So when Kaden confesses not only that he’s dying, but that he wants Seth to take over as his wife’s Dom in their BDSM relationship, it rocks his world.

Seth has always seen himself as the perpetual screw-up and Kaden as the strong and steady one. To find out he is the only one Kaden trusts to protect and care for his wife, Leah, is a shock.

Now Seth finds himself immersed in a role he’s far from comfortable with—inflicting pain to provide emotional comfort for the woman he’s secretly loved for years. Can he deal with his crushing grief and learn the skills he must master in time to become THE RELUCTANT DOM?

My Review

I feel numb after reading this book. I freely admit I am an emotional sap. I’m the kind of girl that can cry over the right commercial. But it’s been a while since a book has made me feel this way. Still I continue to reflect over these characters. I rarely re-read entire books. But I find myself considering re-reading this one and I’ve only just put it down.

In simple terms, this book is about three friends that have to deal with the loss of one of them. This story shows how they cope and plan, laugh and cry, and then move on when tragedy strikes.

This book’s title may deceive you like another book. This book is more than the BDSM title suggest. Yes, there is sex in this book and plenty of it. But there is meaning behind each act. There is a point to everything that goes on. This book differs from the other book that many talk about. There isn’t a bad boy that needs to be saved. But there is someone or more than one that need to be healed in this story.

I find myself very much in love with the martyr of the story. How can you not love someone who is so selfless to give up everything for your happiness? I think I may have found my book husband. His name is Kaden.

This author has succeeded on so many levels. I don’t know that I would have ever thought to mix BDSM with personal tragedy in such a way and succeed. Who would think a book about this subject would have you in tears to the point you finish a box of tissues? Certainly not me. For the most part, I was unable to put this book down and finished in one day. I have to give my hand to this author and will look for more books by her.

I recommend this book to mature audiences. Those who love Fifty Shades of Grey will love this book. It’s is very different than that one though.


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Sunday, December 18, 2011

Indie Spotlight - Adventures in Funeral Crashing (Funeral Crashing #1) by Milda Harris

Adventures in Funeral Crashing (Funeral Crashing #1)Adventures in Funeral Crashing by Milda Harris

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



This is a young adult romance/mystery novel.

Book Summary

Sixteen year old Kait Lenox has a reputation as the weird girl in her high school, mostly because of her ex-best friend turned mean popular girl, Ariel, but maybe it has a little to do with the fact that Kait has a hobby crashing funerals. At one of these, Kait is outted by the most popular guy in school, Ethan Ripley. Yet, instead of humiliating her for all the world to see, he asks for her help, and Kait finds herself entangled in a murder mystery. Not only is the thrill of the mystery exciting, but more importantly Ethan knows her name! A little sleuthing is well worth that!

My Review

I loved this story. I mean it was super cute. For those that have attended a recent funeral for a loved one may not want to read this story. But in no way does this book make light of funerals or the loss of a loved one. I enjoyed the writer’s style and found this to be a super fast read because I liked it so much.

I rate this book 4.5 stars because my only problem was the over the top use of pop culture references that not everyone would get and would lose that bit of the story because of it. And honestly, I wish it was a bit longer because Ethan is so swoon-worthy. Kait was a really great female lead. She wasn’t the most popular girl and made no bones about it. No whining, she was just comfortable in her own skin. Additionally and most important, the budding relationship moved at a believable pace. I thought all the characters were sell developed.

I would recommend for all audiences. I am so happy I was privilege to have the opportunity to review this book I might not have otherwise found. I look forward to reading more from this author.


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Airel (The Airel Saga, #1) - Aaron Patterson and Chris White

Airel (The Airel Saga, #1)Airel by Aaron Patterson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This is a young adult paranormal romance novel.


Book Summary

All Airel ever wanted was to be normal, to disappear into the crowd. But bloodlines can produce surprises, like an incredible ability to heal. Then there’s Michael Alexander, the new guy in school, who is impossibly gorgeous…and captivated by her. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she can hear the sound of pages turning, and another, older story being written. It is the story of an ancient family, of great warriors, of the Sword of Light, and the struggle against an evil so terrible, so far-reaching, that it threatens everything. Airel knew change would be an inevitable part of life. But can she hold on when murder and darkness begin to close in and take away everything she loves? Will she have what it takes when the truth is finally revealed?

My Review

Isn't the cover to die for? If nothing else, the cover makes you want to pick the book up to see what's behind it.

I really wanted to love this book. In fact, when I started I really thought I did. I glossed over a few minor plot holes along the way. I really connected with the author’s writing style and found myself caught up his world. Only to hit a major stumbling block, one that really killed the book for me.

That was the relationship between Airel and Micheal. I couldn't follow the pacing behind it and a lot of the book relies on your belief in said relationship. But don't get me wrong, I still adored this book

A shining point in this book is Kreios. His story was solid and I could understand what he was going through. Despite the plot ravine, overall I liked this book. It would have been five stars for me if not for that problem mentioned above. But don't take my word for it. You might enjoy it and not notice. So go for and give it a read.


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Thursday, December 15, 2011

Indie Spotlight - Bridger (Bridger #1) by Megan Curd

Bridger (Bridger, #1)Bridger by Megan Curd

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Book Summary

Ashlyn McVean doesn't believe in fairy tales. That is, until Ashlyn is thrown into the crosshairs of grudges her grandmother created long ago. After finding out she is one of two people able to cross between faerie realms, Ashlyn is faced with trying to understand her abilities, along with navigating a new relationship with her boyfriend, Liam. As if being on a centuries old hit list and dealing with crazed pixies isn't enough, her new abilities mean trouble for Liam. Knowing her new life puts everyone she loves in danger, Ashlyn must decide what's most important in her life between friends, family, love, and ultimately, realms.

My Review

Overall, I really liked this book. The author has an amazing imagination which made for an enjoyable read. I haven’t read a ton of fairy books, but this was certainly very different from anything I’ve read and that’s a good thing.

I enjoyed the romance in this book and at first I thought it was going to happen to fast, but then it blossomed the way it should have. There were twists I didn’t expect, but at the same time it added to the realism.

I just had a few questions that were left once I finished reading the book. One in particualar is about the loss of Ashlyn's father. I have a few other questions that I won't mention here as they are spoilers.

But in end, I overlooked all of my questions and enjoyed the book. I would give it 3.5 stars and look forward to reading the next book in the series.

I would recommend to all readers. I truly think they will enjoy this book.


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Quinn's Need (Whispering Pines Ranch, #2) by S.J.D. Peterson

Quinn's Need (Whispering Pines Ranch, #2)Quinn's Need by S.J.D. Peterson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This book is m/m romance novel.

Book Summary

It's been a year since Lorcan James left Whispering Pines Ranch, and Quinn Taylor has barely recovered. Only two things keep him from falling into the abyss of despair: his work at the ranch and his escape into the world of BDSM at a club called The Push. At The Push, the sound of men begging him helps drown out the bitter memory of his own voice begging Lorcan to stay.

When Lorcan comes back to Pegasus, the same blistering heat simmers between them, but almost nothing has changed. Lorcan is still with Jess, the man he left the ranch with, and Quinn has captured the attention of Ty Callahan, a man who will beg Quinn for anything, anytime, and any way Quinn wants it. Despite how much he wants Lorcan, Quinn swears he'll never beg a man again. If there's one thing Quinn has learned the hard way, it's that not even begging can fill love's aching need.

My Review
I really fell for this book. I enjoyed the romance and how the author let us feel what the characters were feeling. And hey, who wouldn’t love a book with hot cowboys. Now for those of you not into m/m romance, this book is sooo not for you. But all others, I really enjoyed it.

Unfortunately, I hadn’t read the first book. But I knew that when I decided to read it. So I immediately fell for Quinn and his side of things. While reading it, I felt like had I read the first one, I would have been a Lorcan fan. But that wasn’t the case. So I was rooting for Quinn like there was no tomorrow. I felt his pain and anguish and wanted him to find happiness. I must say, I wasn’t a big fan of Ty. In the end, my heart was reeling for him, but still there was something I didn’t like about the guy.

Lorcan and Jess were a perfect couple. And even though I wanted Quinn and Lorcan to be together, I think I felt much like Lorcan. You’ll have to read to understand what I mean about that. But Jess really pissed me off with how badly he handled things with Lorcan. I wasn’t sure though how he knew what Quinn was up to. He spelled things out in his letter as if he’d been a fly on the wall. I think that bothered me a bit in terms of the writing.

I really like this one enough to try to get my hands on book 1 and read it even though I know how things are going to turn out. I will also be looking forward to book 3 and other books by this author.


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Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Why I love Lauren Oliver

Lauren Oliver caught my attention earlier this year with Before I Fall. What can I say, but I really loved this book. Everything about it was authentic well except for the Ground Hog day element. I really just loved how Sam grew and learned from her experiences. This book had me on an emotional rollercoaster that started with I really hate this girl and she should get what she deserves, to sadness, to funny as all heck, to rooting for her, to anger, to acceptance. I’m sure somewhere in there I followed the patterns of grief. I gave this book 5 stars. I really loved the cover too!
Before I FallBefore I Fall by Lauren Oliver

My rating: 5 of 5 stars




So naturally when her next book came out, I was all over it. I loved the cover and the mystic about it. Although this book was in a different genre, dystopian, I was sure to love it. For me this book moved at a snail’s pace in the beginning. I know she was setting the scene and possibly because it is a part of a series she felt she had time. But I expected to hit the road running like her first book. So I continued to read on as I didn’t hate it. The theory in this society about love made it destine to be a romance story. But it took us quite a while to get there. Heck, I guess it wouldn’t have been realistic if it had moved faster based on the society Lena lived in. But gosh, this slow moving train wrecked ended in a way that had me in tears just like the end of Before I Fall. I can’t imagine how the sequel will turn out if somehow Delirium’s ending doesn’t turn around. But in the end, I gave this book its due of 5 stars.
Delirium (Delirium, #1)Delirium by Lauren Oliver

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


If you haven’t yet read any of her books, it is a must. Start with Before I Fall. At least that’s my suggestion. Let me know what you think.

Monday, December 12, 2011

LIEBSTER AWARD

Today I received the Liebster Award from Tana Rae Reads. Thank You!




Tana has an awesome blog. Check it our along with her great reviews: the link is http://tana-someofmyfavoritebooks.blogspot.com/


So, as per rules for this award (copied from Tana):

In accepting the Liebster Blog Award, the recipient agrees to:

· Thank the person who gave them the award and link back to that person's blog

· Copy and paste the award to their blog

· Reveal the 5 blogs they have chosen to award, commenting on their blog to break the news!

· Hope those people in turn pay it forward by accepting and awarding "The Liebster Blog Award" to bloggers they would like to honour.


My chosen blogs are:

· Kay - http://k-booksxo.blogspot.com/

· Ananda - http://books-to-remember.blogspot.com/

· Maghon - http://magluvsya03.wordpress.com/

· Nicole - http://sharearead.com/?cat=6

· Oh Paper Pages - http://www.ohpaperpages.blogspot.com/

Another amazing blog is Karla's @ http://karlacc-bookaddict.blogspot.com/. I would have given her the award but she has already received it.

I have chosen these blogs because these girls do fantastic jobs of writing great reviews. They've helped me find books I wouldn't have read. They are also active on goodreads and welcome everyone. They are always friendly and they are all just overall a great bunch of people.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Hushed by Kelley York

HushedHushed by Kelley York

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



This is an adult paranomal thiller.

Book Summary

He’s saved her. He’s loved her. He’s killed for her.

Eighteen-year-old Archer couldn’t protect his best friend, Vivian, from what happened when they were kids, so he’s never stopped trying to protect her from everything else. It doesn’t matter that Vivian only uses him when hopping from one toxic relationship to another—Archer is always there, waiting to be noticed.

Then along comes Evan, the only person who’s ever cared about Archer without a single string attached. The harder he falls for Evan, the more Archer sees Vivian for the manipulative hot-mess she really is.

But Viv has her hooks in deep, and when she finds out about the murders Archer’s committed and his relationship with Evan, she threatens to turn him in if she doesn’t get what she wants… And what she wants is Evan’s death, and for Archer to forfeit his last chance at redemption.(less)

My Review

Right off the bat, I want to say thanks to the publisher and the Fantasy & YA Addicted group on Goodreads.com for the opportunity to read this book.

Wow, this is probably one the top five books I’ve read this year.

Amazing can’t describe. I was captivated by the first words and it never stopped until my stunned silence at the end.

Archer is probably the most flawed characters I’ve ever read about, almost to the point of being non-redeemable. However, the book was still that good. I can’t think of words to describe the story without giving too much away, but there is m/m romance (no sex scenes). I of course was hoping that things would work out with Vivian, but I’m a girl and wanted to love Archer. But Evan was great, fabulous even and a better choice for him.

I probably will have more to say later, but I’m still reeling over the ending of the book. I wonder if this is a standalone book or if the story will continue????

I highly recommend this book!


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Saturday, December 3, 2011

Pulled Long by Christine d'Abo

Pulled LongPulled Long by Christine d'Abo

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



This novel is for mature audiences and features m/m romance.

Book Summary

For months, coffee shop owner Ian Long has fantasized about a customer he knows only as "Blue Eyes." Until he learns Blue Eyes is in the midst of a divorce—the last thing Ian wants is to be the rebound experiment of a straight guy. Giving in to lust, he invites the man into the cafe after hours and they indulge in a little exhibitionist play, but Ian is unwilling to get involved.

But when he’s forced to see Jeff again to return his briefcase, Ian finally agrees to go out on a date. Dinner quickly becomes an erotic encounter in a special room at the sex club Mavericks, and Ian realizes Jeff satisfies desires he didn’t even know he had. The more he gets to know Jeff as a person, the harder it is to resist falling for him.

Jeff makes it clear he’s interested in more than just sex. He wants to go public with their relationship in more ways than one. But can Ian open his heart, when he fears it will be broken?

My Review

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This book for me was the best in the series. The first two dealt with Ian's sister and their romance. Now up is Ian. He finally found love and I was totally excited for him. It’s no secret that his love was blue eyes. Blue Eyes finally revealed his name in this one and also that he was bi-sexual. That only made poor Ian cringe because he had a bad experience with a man who couldn’t admit he was gay or bi-sexual.

The story took us on adventure after adventure. We even get to met Blue Eyes ex. It was a hot and thriller tale. For those who like m/m romance, this is a must read. But even if you don’t, it’s the ending to a series and you should try it out.

I gave it five stars because it was better than the other two which I gave four. It was more like 4.5, but who’s counting. LoL!

Great read! I recommend for adults as this book contains graphic love scenes. It’s a must for those who enjoy m/m romance.


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Her Dark Knight by Sharon Cullen

Her Dark KnightHer Dark Knight by Sharon Cullen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I not sure how to classify this book. But it is adult romance with hints of other genres such as historical and paranormal.

Book Summary
Madelaine Alexander is on a mission. When her boss sends her to the hottest nightclub in town to meet with the owner, she won't be deterred, even if that means standing in line for fifty-eight minutes in torturous heels while she'd rather be home in her pj's with a bowl of popcorn.
A Knight of the Templar, Christien Chevalier was given immortality along with the responsibility of protecting the treasure of the Templars. He's been unwavering in his task for centuries until his one true love—who died seven hundred years ago—shows up in his club, demanding his attention.

Christien couldn't protect Madelaine when they first fell in love. She was married to a lord and he was simply a knight. Now, through some unknown miracle, she stands before him again and they have a second chance. But Christien fears that Madelaine is being used as a pawn in a dangerous game, a game of good versus evil that could affect all of mankind...

My Review
This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

From the first page, I was holding my breath for the knight, wanting to know his fate. We are transported back in time to the fourteenth century wanting to know why the man was in the situation he found himself in.

I don’t normally read historical romance novels. This novel however is not specifically from the historical prospective. Something not a lot of writers can do well, this author weaves a tale from the past to the present effortlessly. I was caught waiting for the story to collide from the past to present. How can the fourteenth century and present collide? I will let you read the story to find out.

What I will say is this. Christien is not the normal bad boy type. But there is something compelling about him with the weight of the world on his shoulders and his need to be a warrior, you almost forget he’s not that bad boy. I fell hard for the man as I know most readers will. He’s that perfect mix of danger and sweet that make for an excellent read.

Although you might think in the beginning that this story is predictable, in the end it won’t be. The plot takes turns I never thought of. And of course that’s always good. Christien and Madeline will have to go to hell and back if they want to find their happy ending. I have to wonder though, is this just the beginning?

I truly recommend to romance, historical romance, and paranormal romance lovers alike. There are adult explicit situations in this story, so mature audiences only.


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V is for Vengeance (Kinsey Millhone #22) by Sue Grafton

V is for Vengeance (Kinsey Millhone, #22)V is for Vengeance by Sue Grafton

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



This is a mystery and suspense novel for adults.

Book Summary
The new Kinsey Millhone novel from the #1 New York Times- bestselling author.

Kinsey on Kinsey: "I know there are people who believe you should forgive and forget. For the record, I'd like to say I'm a big fan of forgiveness as long as I'm given the opportunity to get even first."
-from V is for Vengeance

A woman with a murky past who kills herself-or was it murder? A dying old man cared for by the son he pummeled mercilessly. A lovely woman whose life is about to splinter into a thousand fragments. A professional shoplifting ring racking up millions in stolen goods. A brutal and unscrupulous gangster. A wandering husband, rich and powerful. A spoiled kid awash in gambling debt thinking he can beat the system. A lonely widower mourning the death of his lover, desperate for answers that may be worse than the pain of his loss. An elegant but ruthless businessman whose dealings are definitely outside the law: the spider at the center of the web.

And Kinsey Millhone, whose thirty-eighth-birthday gift is a punch in the face that leaves her with two black eyes and a busted nose.

V: Victim. Violence. Vengeance.

My Review
Sometimes you appreciate something more when you have to wait for it. Sue Grafton’s latest novel, two years in the making is nothing short of brilliant. She is one of the queen’s of suspense, mystery and thrillers.

Sue’s series is dubbed the Alphabet series as she began with the letter A. We are currently at V for Vengeance which was released at the midpoint of November. The last book U was released in 2009. Yes, she writes in two year intervals. But let me tell you there is something to be said for taking your time. There are no plot holes. The characters are well developed and fleshed out. The conversation is believable. She is a master of her craft and her books should be savored. This series is written at the point of the late eighties which is probably the year the series began. But Sue continues as if we are still there.

This series is about Kinsey Millhone, a private detective and former cop. Kinsey world is rich with wonderful characters that she comes across in her everyday life as a PI. There is not much romance at least not for Kinsey in this book. I’d hoped maybe something might happen with Chaney, but alas no. Still there was some for some of the minor characters. But in the end, this is not a romance novel. It is a mystery novel and excels just as it should for that genre.

If you haven’t read any books in the series, you could conceivably read this one with no problem. Each story is a mystery within itself. But there is something to be said about reading a series from the beginning in order. So if you have the time, I say start with A for Alibi. It will be another two years before the next book “W” for ??? comes out. Ugh! Although I wish it would come out sooner, I think the wait will make the book sweeter.

I highly recommend for suspense and mystery lovers.


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Sunday, November 27, 2011

My Top Ten Book Boyfriend list of 2012 thus far!

I don’t think I can accurately decide the actual rankings among these books I’ve read this year. They are all very good in their own right for their own reasons. Additionally, the timing is vast between when I read these books and the one that is most fresh in my mind always seems the best. So I will just say these are the ten must read books/series. I’m including series as one because I want to include more books.

Let’s start with my top three heroines from Vampire Academy, Divergent, and the Hunger Games.

Last Sacrifice (Vampire Academy, #6)Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I want to begin with Rose because I think she is the top “girl” lead I’ve ever read. Why did I choose Rose over Katiness and Tris? It is because Rose is more “real” than the other two despite that she is the only one in a paranormal romance. Rose although tough and capable, is a girl. She has desires for male attention and the one I can relate to more. From the beginning Rose has been selfless making tough decisions but always having everyone’s best interest at heart. Rose was born a leader and always acted like one. But she always showed vulnerability when it came to love and relationships.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my book boyfriends from this series. Dimitri and Adrian, wow! What’s not to love about either other them. Dimitri is the guy we shouldn’t date if we are Rose because he is our instructor and legal when we are not. But his passion and sexiness drive us insane. Adrian is the fun loving guy who doesn’t believe in himself. He is vulnerable and we want to save him from himself. But at the end of the day, Rose needs someone strong to balance her out and handle her in ways Adrian cannot. So the best decision is made with Dimitri at her sides. I can’t wait for the next Bloodlines book to see if Adrian will fight for what he cannot let go.

Divergent (Divergent, #1)Divergent by Veronica Roth

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Tris is my number two girl. What makes her number two instead of number one? Tris didn’t begin to think out of the box until the opportunity presented itself. She conformed until at sixteen and the “choosing” approach. Additionally, Tris was not a born leader until faced with no other options. She continually questioned herself about what was right/wrong. Her fighting against the “bad” guys only came when her family and friends were threatened. She is also not selfless which she admits as much. But her journey is not over like the other two series, so who knows how much more she will evolve. Tris was also initially uncomfortable with relationships. Therefore, she wasn’t as relatable to me.

Obviously, Four/Tobias is the guy. Al was never in contention. Tobias is strong and can help Tris to become the leader she is destined to be. Hopefully he can convince Tris that she is pretty and that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. She will not grow until she learns to love herself a bit more.

The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

My rating: 5 of 5 stars




Katiness is my number three girl. I must say, I don’t like Katiness very much. She is cold and unfeeling which has a lot to do with her circumstances. I didn’t much like her choices. She was definitely selfless, but she lacked emotions. I just couldn’t relate to that. She never allowed herself to feel. In fact, I think in the end, she only went with her option not so much that she loved the guy more but that he was the only one who showed up. Also, I think it was her best option despite I was on the other team. The other guy was too similar to her in a lot of ways. She needed someone else to balance herself out. But I never felt Katiness feel. She was always just doing the right thing. I think she would have done well in Tris’s home faction. I still loved the series though.

Gale and Peeta have very different qualities. Gale is strong and handsome. He will fight for us physically and loves us desperately. Peeta however will also fight for us but in different ways. He’s always loved us. His quiet nature compliments are strong one. He is the best choice.

Shadowfever (Fever, #5)Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



My top book boyfriend of all time would be Barrons. The Fever series is nothing short of great. The characters are rich and Barrons is the mysterious strong guys that we all want to protect us and love us with such ferocity. Barrons is right for Mac who although has evolved to be a fighter still needs protection. You have to read this series to appreciate. Well worth it.


HushedHushed by Kelley York

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



What can I say about Hushed other than the book took me by surprise. The guy is irredeemable yet we grow to love him nonetheless. Despite my apprehension to his flaws I find myself putting him on my top ten book boyfriend list.

Who wouldn’t love Evan? He will stand by us and be there through thick and thin unconditionally. Who wouldn’t want a man like that?


Succubus Revealed (Georgina Kincaid, #6)Succubus Revealed by Richelle Mead

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Georgina Kincaid made a bad decision and made another to overcome the first. Despite being a succubus and leading men to the dark side to corrupt their souls, we love her. She is not typically strong but her values are high and she constantly tests the limits of who she is to save the day.

Seth and Roman are very different male leads. Roman is the strong guy who will love you with a fighting sprirt. He love hard and fast and we love him. Seth is quiet at heart and sometimes a little soft, but he steps up when it counts the most. Georgina chooses right here and this is the best ending to a series I’ve ever read.


The next two books/series Shade and Beg for Mercy are different romance/paranormal romance books that I’ve ever read. The relationships are real in every way. There is no true love and no soul mates. The female and male leads are flawed and make bad decisions at times. They are in realistic situations in an unrealistic world only by nature because it is paranormal. The plot twists are not predictable and had me cringing at times. But I loved every second of the ride.

Shift (Shade, #2)Shift by Jeri Smith-Ready

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Logan and Zachery are both to die for in the Shade series. But this is no typical love triangle. And how could it be if Logan is a non-corporal ghost. This series isn’t over, but I still love Zach despite what he did. I never saw that coming. Which is what makes this series great.

Beg for Mercy (Cambion #1)Beg for Mercy by Shannon Dermott

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Paul, Flynn, Luke and Sebastian are all very good leads in Beg for Mercy. Who wouldn’t want Mercy’s problem with four hot guys. The only problem is choosing one. They are all good and bad and for different reasons. I couldn’t blame Mercy for her indecision. The easy answer is Flynn the hot bad boy who vulnerable heart shows through at times. Luke’s total love and kindness should also be the easy choice. Because he is not perfect which also makes him a good candidate despite his overall goodness. Paul is the would be boyfriend turned to best friend status only due to circumstances out of their control. But he’s human, so he is automatically last in the list. Then there is Sebastian. He is the wild card who is mysterious and dangerous. Yet in the end, he is the one that saves her time and time again. I can’t choose.


My breakout Indie awards go to Eden and Winter Awakening. These stories were fantastic and should be best sellers next to other traditionally published authors. Lighter on romance than all the others mention above, they still packed a punch, pun intended.

Eden (Eden Series, Book #1)Eden by Janelle Stalder

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



In Eden, Aiden is the perfect male lead and his confusion over the girls in his life is understandable. But they don’t eclipse the story that unfolds with mini romance stories all around. Aiden/Elisa/Wolf and Rose/Callum and King/Witch. This author manages to weave the tales of all of these romances yet romance is not the majority of the book. You have to read this fantasy tale to see the genius at work.


Winter's Awakening: The Metahumans Emerge (Winter's Saga, #1)Winter's Awakening: The Metahumans Emerge by Karen Luellen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



In Winter’s Awakening, Meg is fearless and daunting. Yet she sometimes needs saving too. Her brothers are there to help protect her and fight against the unstoppable evil. This book is awesome and one you shouldn’t miss. The budding romance with Cole and Meg gets complicated with the introduction to Creed in book two. Yet again in this story’s romance is just a backdrop. It is an addition that enhances the story but doesn’t harm. Despite romance is not a major factor, you won’t even miss that it’s not the major theme. Another must read book of 2012.

There are many more great books out there that I’ve yet to read. My list only includes the stories that I have read. So don’t hate me if one of your favorite books/series isn’t on the list. I maybe I just haven’t read it yet. So check out my book list on Goodreads and suggest some other great series I should read!

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Winter's Storm: Retribution (Winter's Saga, #2) by Karen Luellen

Winter's Storm: Retribution (Winter's Saga, #2)Winter's Storm: Retribution by Karen Luellen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This is the second book in a fantasy series novel. Appropriate for all ages.

Book Summary

Meg was the star of the first book, "Winter's Awakening." In this book, "Winter's Storm," Meg's brothers, Alik and Evan are given a chance to shine.

"Through their words and actions the boys take life and the scenes come alive as they are forced to challenge a greater threat than the group met in the first novel, only this time, without the help of Meg. In this book we also meet Creed a new and interesting metahuman torn between what he has been taught and what he knows is right. Along with the tension of being stalked by the most relentless hunters in the world, we are left wondering which side Creed will be on when the final battle comes.

My Review
This story begins not to far from where we left off in the first book. Again I was sucked into this story from the first page. We are introduced to a new character, Creed, who is connected to someone from the first book who had an encounter with Meg.

Although he’s new, I sympathized with him from the beginning and rooted for him throughout almost feeling like I was betraying Cole in a way. You’ll just have to read the story to understand why.

The story didn’t follow any predictable patterns for the most part. In fact, I was so engrossed with the story, I wasn’t even trying to figure out where things were headed. I just let Karen Luellen lead me wherever she wanted to take me.

I love a good cliffhanger, but having been able to read the first two books back to back, I must say I am in the dumps not being able to move on. Nevertheless, I don’t regret reading and not waiting. The third book can’t be released soon enough.

Great job! Again I recommend to readers of all ages.

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