2013 Adieu

I decided to get a little creative while highlighting some of my favorites from 2013. I selected from books that I gave a four or five rating. It was fun for me and nice to give the books one more mention.



  The year began with a secret revealed in a rose Garden where a black swan did dwell. There was talk of true love that would never go too far. Then at nightfall the frost settled in and the creatures came out.



       

    

  

My thoughts became flat-out about love in all its damaged and twisted perfection. How

no gem, be it obsidian, onyx, or opal could ever rock me of my obsession or bring me more closely entwined with my forever attraction to tales of love, redemption, and things that go bump in the night.

   


    


      


    


I have made many the advanced arrangement so I didn't have to fight destiny for my reading time. I then made a toast to never falling into a tragic situation like ever being without a good book. I also want to make clear while I have never went so far as to lick my e-reader I have maybe drooled on it once...or twice. But we can keep that between us two, right?


     


    

      


There are many a society that would have me bound and make me walk in between the lines of manic rules against the reads that I love. They would tempt me and try to pull me away from the Alpha boys that I love so. They would take me to task for being unteachable. If things got too rough I would just go traveling to find pieces of home in with the Rock Chicks who have dangerous and hot nights.

    


    

      

   

    


Once there I would get all metaphysical and seek the origin of broken wings and strip away to the simple perfection in our stars. The light would dawn and there would be no signs of panic.


     

       


   




How could it be scandalous to follow your heart and read what you love? To find a book that can touch you, entertain you, educate you, or do all three, is an amazing wonder. 


      



HAPPY 2014 to Everyone!!!! I wish us all a joyous year filled with endless good reads!!!!

More Rocking for me!

Music of the Heart by Katie Ashley


For Abby Renard, the plan was supposed to be simple—join her brothers’ band on the last leg of their summer tour and decide if she’s finally ready for the limelight by becoming its fourth member. Of course, she never imagined stumbling onto the wrong tour bus at Rock Nation would accidentally land her in the bed of Jake Slater, the notorious womanizing lead singer of Runaway Train. When he mistakes her for one of his groupie’s, Abby quickly lets him know she sure as hell isn't in his bed on purpose.

Jake Slater never imagined the angel who fell into his bed would resist his charms by promptly kneeing him in the balls. Of course, the fact she seems like a prissy choir girl makes her anything but his type. So he is more than surprised when after betting Abby she wouldn’t last a week on their tour bus, she is more than willing to prove him wrong. But as Jake’s personal life begins to implode around him, he finds an unlikely ally in Abby. He’s never met a woman he can talk to, joke with, or most importantly make music with.

As the week starts comes to a close, neither Abby nor Jake is ready to let go. Can a sweetheart Country songstress and a bad boy of Rock N Roll actually have a future together?


Rate & take





Heat Index  1 ☼

It's inexplicable as to why I love rocker stories so much, but I am not questioning, just enjoying! This was a fun romp that all started with bet and turned into so much more.
This book begins the Runaway Train series and I have already downloaded book two in the series.


What kind of stories do you find irresistible?

Drinks anyone?

Wallbanger by Alice Clayton


The first night after Caroline moves into her fantastic new San Francisco apartment, she realizes she's gaining an intimate knowledge of her new neighbor's nocturnal adventures. Thanks to paper-thin walls and the guy's athletic prowess, she can hear not just his bed banging against the wall but the ecstatic response of what seems (as loud night after loud night goes by) like an endless parade of women. And since Caroline is currently on a self-imposed dating hiatus, and her neighbor is clearly lethally attractive to women, she finds her fantasies keep her awake even longer than the noise. So when the wallbanging threatens to literally bounce her out of bed, Caroline, clad in sexual frustration and a pink baby-doll nightie, confronts Simon Parker, her heard-but-never-seen neighbor. The tension between them is as thick as the walls are thin, and the results just as mixed. Suddenly, Caroline is finding she may have discovered a whole new definition of neighborly.



Rate & take






Heat Index 3 ☼☼☼


This is book one of the Cocktails series, and in case you hadn't guessed it, each book is named after an alcoholic beverage. Very cute, as was this read. The story itself created a meet cute for these two neighbors sharing one very thin wall. The rest of the story continued at a nice pace and was entertaining. If you are looking for a beach type read I think this is a decent one.

Peachy star close

Starfire by Mimi Strong


Peaches Monroe works at a bookstore in small town Washington. She's also a plus-size lingerie model, and the former girlfriend of Dalton Deangelo. He's the sexy, smoldering actor who plays TV's hottest vampire.

Now Dalton is back in town, hiding out from his past and a ton of bad publicity.

He can't keep his hands off Peaches, even though she's dating someone else.

Peaches knows that being friendly with Dalton always ends up in complete disaster, but he does have an interesting proposal for her--a wedding proposal. He says a fake wedding will save his career, and he needs her.

As much as she'd love to run into the arms of the incredibly hot, deliciously sexy actor, she's also afraid. He keeps hinting that he loves her, but he won't say the words.

Even if he did profess his love, can you ever really trust an actor?



Rate & take





Heat Index 3 ☼☼☼


This book closes the Peaches Monroe trilogy and all was well. I defy anyone to try and maintain a bad mood while reading this book. I think it is impossible with all the crazy, bawdy, nonsensical things that come out of Peaches mouth and thoughts, and believe me I did my best. The only thing that took away from the story was editing, or lack of it....I feel like the author or publisher wanted a book of a certain length and a lot of this story was filler for that purpose. Still all in all enjoyable fun.

We're moving...but where to?

 
 
The arrangement 12 by H.M. Ward

There is so much blood that I can't think. The night goes from bliss to chaos in a matter of moments.As the truth begins to unravel, it's clear that I can't trust anyone, except Sean Ferro. The same man that threatens to destroy me could also be my salvation--and I could be his. 


Rate & take





Heat Index 3 ☼☼☼

So, here I am....12 installments in and still just as ready to plunk my money down for more, as I was after reading installment one. I am mystified as to how H.M. keeps it all going....but I will say she is very talented with the cliff hangers. The past shorts (these are all novella length) I'd given 4 skulls to - this got one less due to what I thought was a little less action. Not to say it was devoid of action, just less than I'd hoped for. Could it be that no matter how great the story is that I am looking for closure, or at least the light at the end of the tunnel? Maybe. I think I am just greedy to finally have the whole picture.

All about Jack

Forever, Jack by Natasha Boyd


Keri Ann Butler's life changed on the night she met movie star, Jack Eversea. She thought she knew a Jack that was very different to the man adored by fans the world over. In the wake of his betrayal and abandonment, Keri Ann has had to pick up and move forward with the life she was supposed to live and has put off far too long.

Suddenly Jack is back, and his explanations for why he left seem more and more plausible, and his declarations more seductive. But being Jack's latest tabloid accessory isn't on Keri Ann's career agenda, no matter how much she is attracted to him. And how can she can ever trust him again?

Jack knows he let the only 'real' thing that ever happened to him slip through his fingers. And his hands have been tied to try and stop it. Until Now.

Jack is now fighting to save his relationship with Keri Ann, even as his crazy life threatens to tear them apart. Again. The question is, can he convince her she can have it all? And have him? Forever?



Rate & take





Heat Index  3 ☼☼☼


I was eagerly awaiting the closure this book was going to bring by finishing the story started in Eversea. I still have the same crush on the main character, Jack, that began in the first book. The depth he was written with was refreshing. The main female lead I found the same way I find many female characters....like a good shaking or slap could cure the incessant self doubts and indecision. Yes, I get that we all have them but it seems some book characters can raise it to a high art and would give any shrink more than a pause about their career choice, not that these women ever do contact a professional for help. But I digress, I did think this story ended gracefully and gave me exactly what I want from it. Another plus, the cover is something lovely to look at instead of the foot of snow that fell all around me during the night.

Loving Destiny

Taunting Destiny  by Amelia Hutchins


I thought things were bad and weird before – hold on – it’s getting worse.

Adam and I are both going through identity crises of epic proportions as we Transition from who we were, and discover who we were meant to be. More Fae are dying, and I feel as if time is running out for us to find all of those responsible and put an end to the killings.

The people I thought I could trust have betrayed me and the one person I should absolutely not trust; is taking me deeper and deeper into his world.

Ryder’s secrets are dangerous and devastating.

With each touch and word, he pulls my heart closer to himself and at the same time he is trying to keep me at arm’s length. The dance he and I have begun, is getting more complicated as our worlds are being shaken from all sides, and the visions of the future are frightening, and nothing like I had ever pictured for myself or those I care for.

This time, destiny is taunting me.

I had always thought that I controlled my destiny. Now, my rights are being taken from me by powerful people and leaving me with alternatives that range between bad and awful.

This time, the choices I have to make can decide the fate of both worlds.

Everything is unraveling, and nothing will ever be the same again.



My rate & take





Heat Index  3 ☼☼☼


Seems like I have been waiting a very long time for this second book in the Fae Chronicles series, but it was actually just six months ago that I read and review the first book in the series.

This follow up did not disappoint! It had me from the beginning and just kept right on going until the last page ended and my temper tantrum began. Once again I was put on hold from the continuation of another great story. From the information available on Good Reads this author will have two more books coming out for the series. It's tough being me.  :-)