VACATION READING 

Leaving Farmersville Texas and heading to the coast for a week with the family.

I only downloaded 6 books, we shall see if it is sufficient.

My choices are: Beautifully by Madeleine Sheehan

Pulse by Gail McHugh

Blood like poison trilogy by M. Leighton

Lick by Kylie Scott

Now, let's see if I can pull myself away from the beach,booze and shopping to read these little tasty treats...  

 Happy Reading y'all.

For Your Consideration...

  

 

 I update my "for your consideration" list as often as I find a book that I think is worthy.  Please feel free to check back. Thanks so much

also, please leave me a suggested read and I will gladly add it along with your name.

 

 

SEXY BERKLEY....YES, OH MY GOD, YES!



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SEXY BERKLEY

by

DANI LOVELL

 

 

   You know there are times when a book comes along that just makes you experience every emotion. I have a friend who calls this "a Tourette's of emotion."  I was laughing, I was excited, I was happy, I cried, felt the heartbreak and then HAPPY again! Yes people I get wayyyy to involved in the characters lives, I know this and now lets move on shall we?

 

  I happened upon this book while searching for something to, fill some time between, you know "getting something good to read."  Having never been recommended this title or hearing of this author, I thought "well, its free so I'm out nothing if I hate it."  So I starting reading it at about 5pm Sunday. I WAS HOOKED FROM THE VERY BEGINNING!!! I knew it was going to be a great read for me , as I was laughing out loud and my husband was looking at me like I was a little crazy. I read this book in little more than a day... slept for 3 hours, got up and finished it....

Author Dani Lovell, takes us into a fantastic world, which we all would die to dip our toes in. An intense attraction that leads to lust, passion, falling hard, fast and the potential of heartbreak.
Is a week enough time to fall in love with someone? 

 

*****
 

    Three besties have a night of drunken fun at the new apartment of our leading lady Beatrice "Bea" Hart. Events from this evening of drunkenness leads to a rash decision to join Tilly (one of the besties) on her holiday to LA....... and this is where the fun begins, a snippet of Tilly's conversation with her sister Gemma.

 

"Yes, I'm a weeny bit tipsy zzarling, but that's by the by. I wanted to ask a teeny weeny, dinky tinky favour...uh huh, well, it's Bea, She's thinking of booking the same flight as me tomorrow, she needs a fucking break."

 

This could very well be a conversation I would have with my besties, we tend to drunk dial...

Being a bit of a potty mouth myself, I found it so humorous how these three ladies talked and I loved it. Tilly and Clare could seriously be the best "side kicks" ever! I believe I chuckled the entire first chapter.  

 

   Bea is having a rough time with the take off of the airplane, clawing the headrest, cursing and freaking out. A hand, coming from behind her, holding on to hers is making the fear subside. A seemingly innocent gesture. But wait, that can only mean the beautiful, sexy man she saw boarding and seated behind her, was now in fact holding her hand. This is the beginning of our introduction to Daniel "SEXY " Berkley.
 

   We get our first glimpse of Daniel "Sexy' Berkley while he is boarding the flight. Bea notices his expensive shoes, suit and his 6'3" height. Doing a double take she is, caught staring at him with her chin on the floor, they exchange "hi " and "hello."  Then he jumps to be her "hero" when the take off has Bea clinging to the back of her seat for dear life... The simple act of holding her hand leads the best time of her life.

 
   I could go on and on about how fantastic this book is and I could give away the story but that would be such an disservice to Author Dani Lovell.  For her freshmen outing,  I am very impressed!! The writing flows no gaps that need to be filled in and I appreciate that. Not once did I feel like the characters were hard to read or follow. They were complicated just enough to make them interesting, which is VERY refreshing!  NO tortured, secretive hidden past...just characters who put it all out there. REFRESHING!
  It's been a while since a book has left me feeling satisfied, completely from beginning to end.  I often get "weighed down" with all the cliff hangers and trilogies. I know this isn't necessarily a stand alone, but we are given a "finish" to Bea and Daniel and I am so happy about that. I have stated before with some of the books I have read that feel like "all foreplay and no finish" well we certainly get the BIG FINISH with Sexy Berkley.   Simply I must just say this....

 READ IT!!!!!!!!!!


Beyond happy to give Sexy Berkley
5 clocks....

 

 

 Next up ...the story of Luke and Tilly
 

One more thing, being that I am an American, I had not heard the music of Paolo Nutini.  Of course when she mentions it in the book, I had to go immediately in search of the songs. They are literally the most perfect songs for this book... if you are unfamiliar with his work, I beg of you seek out his music.....  ( I am adding a link to his youtube page.)



              Sometimes books strike a cord with me, and this one hit home. Let me tell you why.
    I met my husband online, the attraction was so instant... you ask how, I simply can not tell you other than it just was. We talked for a month and then I came to visit him for a WEEK!  I knew I was in love with him the moment I laid eyes on him standing at the gates of the airport. We had an amazing week !!! As the days flew by, the sadness started creeping in so by the last day I was sick, literally sick. I cried and just wallowed in self-pity.  The day came to take me back to the airport for my flight home, it was the hardest thing I have ever done. I knew I wanted this man and I knew I had to be with him. But my job and family back home (a thousand miles away) were keeping me there. The last thing he said to me was "this will work, but I can not do long distance and I can not move, my job will provide for us. I need to be with you." I boarded that plain and cried myself home, Gut wrenching tears, that didn't stop until I was in my bed, making decisions that changed my life.
                  42 days later, I packed up and moved...13 years and going strong... I HAD TO BE WITH HIM!!!!!

Paolo Nutini... Last Request and Loving You.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffJ8xcfqOX0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wn6k1rj58nw

For Your Consideration...



        I often get asked "What are you reading?" or "Do you know any good books you could recommend.?" So, today instead of reviewing the latest 3 I have read (I will get to that later.) I am going to give you MY list of MUST READS... and yes, I have read them all!

 

 

All books are listed in the proper reading order. 

 

 

 

All the following titles are by Kristen Ashley

Rock Chick Series

 

Rock Chick

Rock Chick Rescue

Rock Chick Redemption

Rock Chick Renegade

Rock Chick Revenge

Rock Chick Reckoning

Rock Chick Regret

Rock Chick Revolution (8/13/13)
(these are all about a HOT guys, the women they want and protect. But most importantly, about Chicks who ROCK!)

 

The Colorado Mountain Series

 

The Gamble

Sweet Dreams

Lady Luck (my personal fave!)

Breathe

Jagged (11/5/13)

Kaleidoscope (2/4/2014)

*with more to come*

 (this series just kept getting better and better. They all have 3 things in common, HOT manly men, determined women and a really great love story.

The Dream Man Series

 

Mystery Man

Wild Man

Law Man

Motorcycle Man (my personal fave!)

 (I really do not need to say much, the series title pretty much says it all)

 

The Unfinished Hero Series

 

Knight (my FAVORITE book of hers)

Creed

Raid

*with more to come*
(not your average hero's, which I love!)

 

The Chaos Series

*spin off of Mystery Man and Dream Man Series*

 

Own the Wind: A Chaos Novel (review below)

Fire Inside

*with more to come*
(this is becoming a very fun and interesting series...can't wait for more!)
 

 

I am about to start The Burg Series. I 'm sure I am going to love it, check back for the details.

 

Undeniable Series by Madeline Sheehan
Undeniable (Deuce and Eva) 
UnBeautifully(Danny and Ripper
(the following release dates are TBD)
Unattainable(Cage and Tegen also Dirty and Ellie)
UnBeloved (Dorothy, Jase and Hawk)
Undying (ZZ's story)
 This series is my Obsession...Gritty, raw, powerful.. ugh, just so freaking good!!! 

 

Sinners on Tour by Olivia Cunning

 

Backstage Pass

Rock Hard

Hot Ticket

Snared (title subject to change)

Double  Time

 

(HOT series!!)

(The Sinners books are listed in their proper reading order, not their order of release)

 

 

The With Me In Seattle Series by Kristen Proby

 

Come Away With Me

Fight With Me

Play With Me

Rock With Me

 (I really like this series and it makes me happy when we get a new one.)

 

Thoughtless

Effortless

Reckless

by S.C Stephens

 

(all three are a "series" but not a named series)

Note: Give this series a try, it is intense and you will have a love/hate relationship with the leading lady... it is so worth it, I promise!

 

Fallen too Far Series by Abbi Glines

 

Fallen Too Far

Never Too Far

Forever Too Far

(its a sweet story, with a HOT leading man.)

 

Neighbor from Hell Series by R.L. Mathewson

 

Playing for Keeps

Perfection

Checkmate

(these were fun to read!)

 

 

 

 

This Man Series by Jodi Ellen Malpas

(I am recommending this, but it does take some getting use to. The author is British and writes using  terms that I had to look up. Also, I found this series a bit "wordy" but check it out.)

 

This Man

Beneath This Man

This Man Confessed

 

Battlescars: A Rock& Roll Romance by Sophie Monroe

 

Battlescars

Afflicted

 

 

Surrender Your Love by J.C Reed

 

Surrender Your Love

Conquer Your Love

Treasure Your Love (release date TBD) 

 

 

The Kathleen Turner Series by Tiffany Snow

( I really got into this series, reading 3 in one weekend. This is a romance/mystery collection.)

 

No Turning Back

Turn to Me

Turning Point

Out of Turn (12/17/13)

Turn on a Dime (his side of meeting her 8/6/13)

 

 The Surrender Series by Melody Anne
Surrender
Submit
Seduced (release Sept 2013) 
(I am really into this series, interesting plot)

 

 

 

 

 

 

STAND ALONE NOVELS

I tend to get sick of series and need a good old, beginning to end story. I often find stand alones that I just fall in love with. Some authors do end up writing a companion novel and it still works. I have not felt like I was left hanging with any of these selections.
 

 Sexy Berkley by Dani Lovelle
(I could not put it down, funny, sexy, heartbreaking, happy... its just that good)
 

The Edge of Never by J. A. Redmerski

The Edge of Always (coming 1/14/2014)

(A really great read, I laughed, loved and cried.)

 

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire 

(I have read this book many times. Awesome read and I still cry at the same point every time I read it.)

 Fading  EK Blair
(Dark subject, wonderful friendship and overcoming horrific circumstances)

 
Wallbanger by Alice Clayton

(this book will make you LOL!)

 

Beautifully Damaged by L.A. Fiore

(intense, loved it)

 

Falling Stars by Sadie Grubor

(tormented rock start)

 

Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

(FANTASTIC BOOK, intense and beautifully written!!!)

 

Rock Me by Cherrie Lynn

Leave Me Breathless by Cherrie Lynn

(sexy, wow!)

 

 

 Collide by Gail McHugh
Pulse (Collide 2)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKn9166Ts3Q&feature=youtu.be

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Kxx77bk5YQ

 (these got me very excited!)

 

Delayed Penalty by Shey Stahl

(dark subject, but handled with such poise and telling it from a male prospective was brilliant!)

 

 

Damaged

Damaged 2

by H.M Ward

(interesting turn of events!)

 

 

 

I am sure I will have many more to add to this very soon. Happy Reading!!!

 

 



Entwined with You, A Crossfire Novel....

 

***THIS CONTAINS SPOILERS***

I could not wait to get my hands on the final book in the Crossfire Novel Series: Entwined with You. Looking forward to the "up all night read." Well...... pretty much all the foreplay and no finish...

Gideon Cross is a fantastic character. Hot, tortured, passionate and  willing to do whatever it takes to protect Eva Tramell.  Even commit murder...

We are picking up right where Reflected in you left off. With Eva finding out that Gideon has killed her abusive ex stepbrother Nathan. They are purposely staying away from each other to throw off the detective working the case. But as we know their chemistry is just to much to ignore. Gideon moves into the building (which he owns) to be closer to Eva and well you can imagine what ensues.

Eva is keeping Carey, her best friend in the dark about the murder and her still being very much with Gideon.  He is still "Entwined" with Trey and Tatiana and it gets even more of a cluster when she (Tatiana) ends up preggors!

Her Mother is still interfering in her life to the point of stalking. The events of her past come crashing down on her when her father finds out about the abuse and high tails it to NYC. This is the worst fear she has had, her Dad knowing just how bad the abuse was and him blaming himself. This was handled beautifully, it was a chapter that needed to be closed.

We also get the return of Brett, its sort lived and annoying and unnecessary. Yes, I didn't care for the Brett idea at all. Along with Corrine GOOD LORD lady get a clue. It gets very old, very fast. I mean how many times can you be told NO and not understand it? Ugh, so annoying.

The best moment of the book is when Eva's Parents "hook up" after years, again Eva is angry and takes it out on both of them, but they do kind of deserve it. Mom is still married... opps!

The sex, is truly awesome as always with Sylvia's books. Detailed and perfectly described. HOTT!
But, it seems to me (and who asked me?) that its Gideon and Eva's coping mechanism. I am a bit bothered that it's their "go to"... things get tense, sex... they have a huge fight, sex... they are happy, sex... he brings her coffee, sex  and that is NO JOKE. I mean I understand that its pretty much what the first book was based on, but aren't we suppose to believe there might be more to them? I am sure I am in the minority on this one.

I was almost at 83% on my Kindle and that is when it hit me....SHE IS NOT GOING TO END THIS. So many unanswered question, characters introduced at the last minute, suspects other than Gideon in Nathan's murder, Carey's baby mamma drama... Just so many things left unfinished. Now should we be happy that we aren't just left hanging? My rational brain says "yes" but the rest of me says "JUST FINISH THIS!"  I was set on this being the last installment because the literal definition of trilogy is... 

 

 

 

Trilogy

Noun "A group of three related novels, plays, films, operas, or albums."   And the slap in the face last line of the book really did not make me happy. Quote from Miss Day:

"yes, dear reader, you're right. this can't possibly be the end.
Gideon and Eva's journey isn't quite finished yet. I look forward to seeing where they'll take us next."

Sounds an awful like someone is milking the cash cow, of what was, I thought, an amazing series... Now I am just annoyed!

Being Me... I really wanted to like it.

***I purposely did NOT read any of Rebecca's Journals***
I waited and waited.... I LOVED If I Were You, so I was very excited for Being Me...
I was left feeling, let down... I could not get over the feeling that this book was a "filler" if you will. I am not going to bash this book because I do believe it had to be written the way Miss Jones did.

I will start with the things I really enjoyed about this book.

Mark "Bossman" Compton, I really believe he came into his own in Being Me. I  did not like him in If I Were You, he is still arrogant, bossy and determined. BUT he is also witty, kindish ( I know not a word, but it works in this case.) and almost funny. I appreciate Miss Jones for making him "likeable." His role in Being Me is vital and I am very interested in seeing how he plays into Sara and Chris's relationship in Revealing Us. I have a feeling he will play a HUGE part.

I am so glad the "murder" was solved, I pretty much had it figured out in the middle of the book. The behavior was just to erratic and made me pay close attention. I know this is in no way the end of Rebecca's involvement in this trilogy. I am just glad we have moved on a bit.

The Ella mystery...really looking forward to seeing how that plays out. Since we know that Sara is so worried about her.(and believe me she went on and on about it.)

I LOVE Chris's charity work. Beautifully written and I feel very needed to help us understand a part of why Chris is so "messed up." It really made a difference to me that he was humanized, if you will. We know he is into Pain, I would have to assume being with Sara is feeding his addiction...(more on that in a minute.)

NOW, the SEX...holy hotness... WOW! Miss Jones sure can write a scene. very erotic, but not over done .

Now, if you noticed I really didn't have a whole lot to say about Sara, there is a reason... She drives me crazy!!! And that was my problem with Being Me.
Now I can understand her curiosity but the fact that she is whiny, annoying and a irritating presences in this book. OH and ,she happens to be the main character so this is a BIG problem for me. I mean Chris is into pain and well, he would have to be to put up with her. The constant repeating of "I am worried about your safety, please do not do this again." by Chris and Sara's "Ok, I won't " and a paragraph later, guess what? She was right back at it. And this went on quite a few times. It just seems Miss Jones was stuck on something to make Chris worry. I found this particularly annoying. Sara has a flair for the dramatic and boy does she work that. Her constant refusal to heed a warning only makes her seem more of a pain in the ass, then this "strong, out for justice woman."  Her past was brought up through out Being Me and we met Michael and her father briefly, then it pretty much fizzled out after that. I am hoping they appear in the next book.

I felt let down, and that brings me to believe that her next installment, Revealing Us...  has to be amazing! I would like to think Miss Jones had a purpose to making this book ,an ending to a few things and a beginning to new things.

If you noticed the first line of this review was "I did NOT read the journals." Miss Jones said via Facebook upon release day quote " If you have not read the journals they will be spoiled by BEING ME. I highly recommend reading them first. You will know why on the last page of BEING ME. Those who have read BEING ME and the journals I think might agree? SO is the fact that I didn't read the journals why I am less than impressed with Being Me?... I have to wonder.

Here we go, my first Blog, my first book review... I thought I would start with my favorite author Kristen Ashley. I am starting with the second book in the Chaos Series.

 

 

 

 

This is the story of Lanie aka "Lady" and Hopper aka, "Hop". We met Lanie in her fantastic previous book Motorcycle Man, wait I need a minute, just remembering Tack....OK well...

 Lanie, is damaged goods, she is afraid to love and is not looking to find a love, or even a "boy friend," she just wants a good time, enter Hop. Lanie wastes no time in letting her intentions be known to Hop. One night, one time, one amazing ride. Hop is more than willing to be the one to give Lanie exactly what she needs.  But will one night be enough...

Ms. Ashley takes us on a joyous ride with these two. Lanie trying to fight the demons that have chased her most of her life. Trying to over come the loss of her fiancé, who she took bullets for, only to have him die. She doesn't want to be loved, she doesn't even believe in it, in her eyes love only hurts.
op, has been through a bitter divorce, one "skank" after another and it just looking for a good time. He knows Lanie, he knows her story, but he can't help but notice her, she is beautiful. Hop just wants a good time and when Lanie propositions him late one night at the Chaos compound, who is he to say NO?

 

                                           ~~~~~~~~SPOILER ALERT~~~~~~~~

 Once Hop and Lanie enter into this "no strings" agreement, it becomes clear to Hopper that he can not get enough of her. Not just the sex, but he wants to dig deeper into why Lanie feels like she is unworthy of love. Her family is a mess, her alcoholic mother, her philandering father and a sister who gave up on her parents long ago. Lanie is the one who deals with all of them, and the one who is in the most need of someone's shoulder to lean on. 

Hops life is not all roses, he harbors a secret about his children with his ex that no one knows.  He is worried about the violence that is threatening his MC, he is keeping his past a secret for the fear that it will send Lanie running once it comes out.
They battle her demons, and he confesses his secrets to her and they deal with the fall out.
Is he tough love approach enough to make Lanie see that she is so very worthy of love? or is it to much for her to handle and just another heartache in the making?

 I loved the tone and flow of this book. The flow of the conversation is just mind blowing. I never feel lost, I laugh, I cry and I fall in love with each of her characters.  Her attention to detail paints the perfect picture. Her loyalty to her past characters, who if you are a "diehard" like me, you appreciate when she brings them into the fold. 

The only issue I had with this book was, I needed more of the bad guy Benito, I needed more of a set up for the next book. I think that is the only area where it fell flat for me. He was addressed and then kind of forgot about. I have no idea where she is going to go next with this series. If I had a wish and Ms. Ashley could grant, it would be for a book all about  Rush....(hint...hint)

 

****I have no affiliation with Kristen Ashley, this is purely based on my opinion. I am a fan! I get asked all the time what I am reading and this is my way of letting my friends and family know.****