Jill Shavis... amazing

Though thier isn't anything amazeballs about these books, they reached something inside me and spoke to me.  In the Animal Magnetism books (which is just a hint that the books are full of animal lovers) Jill Shavis has won me over.  I have fought enjoying her books, b/c they are kind of pricey, but man I have loved living in Sunshine, Idaho the last couple of days.  

The characters are real and developed.  The writing is amazing.  The details are there but not so detailed that you feel like you miss the story (my issue with the Inns of Boonesboro trilogy by a certain other more popular author), and the relationships take shape naturally and without any love triangles or unnecessary drama.  

Please read this series!  You'll be happy you did!  (Even if the books are much pricier than the typical 2.99 books on Amazon.

One Sweet Ride -- Jaci Burton

Jaci Burton is at it again!

Whew this book had more steamy romance than any of her other books combined!  Grayson Preston and Evelyn Hill are a heady combination.  Evelyn Hill is a political guru helping Mitchell Preston succeed at his bid for Vice President...to do that she's been assigned to garner the support and control the social media for Mitchell's son Gray.  Gray's a stock car racer (NASCAR???) with a pension for stacked blondes with little to know expectations.  So when Evelyn Hill shows up, he dismisses her immediately, Gray wants NOTHING to do with his dad and therefore nothing to do with her.  Over the course of the book Gray and Evelyn battle how to have a relationship with such vast careers and commitments along with being honest with what they want from the other.  

I wish there was more from Alecia and Garrett (previous play-by-play characters) but overall this book was off the charts and a really quick read.  

Definitely READ IT.

Relentless Pursuit - Kathleen Brooks (Blues Brothers)

This book is part of the Blue Grass Brothers series and it's the most recently released as of 05.2013.    The characters are fantastic..  This story features Pierce (the youngest Davies brother) and Tammy.  As with all the Blues Brothers books, we have some loving, some crime, and a happily ever after.  The only thing that kind of bothered me.... Pierce's realization of his love for Tammy.  But I remember that in all Mrs. Brooks books (say that three times fast) the men seem to make the realization they are in LOVE and claim it.  I really like that about here men, however for some reason Pierce's change from super play boy to not just didn't seem as seamless to me. 

Either way...this book is a definite TO READ!

Extreme Love -- Abby Niles

So ladies (and possibly gents) I will be honest here and say that I loved the premise of this book!  As a fellow chub battling to lose weight, I loved watching the heroine Cait transform.  None of the jumps in her character where unrealistic and I felt like her character's transformation happened naturally.  Also -- who doesn't want to think some hot MMA star would enjoy a curvy size 12 and not some size 4.  The hero/MMA fighter is super hot and boy does he pursue Cait!  

Overall, I enjoyed this book but.... there were some parts of the story that just felt odd or like something was missing. 

So to read or not to read?  Borrow it first.. it's $4.99 on Amazon.. if you love it..buy it AFTER you read it. (if you can't borrow it... I did like it.. but .... well like I said..I'm not sure)

I just couldn't resist -- Toni Aleo -- Empty Net

Ladies let me start with this...my Capitals lost last night...so I reveal in the fact that Tate and Audrey do not lose in this amazing book!

Toni Aleo (all hail the amazing hockey queen) hit one out of the park with this book.  I laughed, cried, and screamed YUPPP with Tate and Audrey.  This book starts with Fallon's sister Audrey.  Audrey hates her job, accepts any love she can find, and rejects the idea that she is a whole woman due to issues involving her inability to get pregnant.  Introduce Tate, the next door neighbor she keeps not meeting and Lucas's best friend.... and did I mention Audrey's one night stand?  Tate is complex and scarred but still amazing, confident, and sweet.  Tate knows what he wants..and it is most definitley Audrey!  There is one scene in here that had me BEGGING to be Audrey for a couple of moments (and that's saying something since I am hopelessly devoted to my awesome husband) but seriously....Tate STANDS UP WITH AUDREY...well you'll just have to read to see what I'm talking about.

This book also deals with minor and major physical abuse (not by Tate obviously) and Mrs. Aleo does a wonderful job of depicting the lies women believe for the love of the wrong man.

Also -- let me just say that until this book I was always against girls who dated younger guys..it just freaked me out for some reason...but Audrey and Tate converted me!  AND Tate made me rethink my stance on men with gaps!  (again read the book, you'll completely understand!)

This is a definite TO READ!

True by Erin McCarthy

Erin McCarthy -- I'm new to her so bare with me.

This is the first book I've read by Ms. McCarthy and I did 'enjoy' the book for the most part.  This is difficult for me because I have never poured myself out into a work and can't imagine having people criticize it ..but that's the point of blogging so here it goes.

I felt the characters were interesting but kind of flat.  The heroine, Rory is a introvert premed student studying to be a coroner who is way more sass then she leads on.  Tyler is studying in the EMT program, and is a bad boy to the T (including some happy place piercing and tatted up with symbols all over his body) except his image is way different than the boy...he carries around a library card for crying out loud and explains A Street Car Named Desire to Rory.  It had the makings of a great book, but somewhere between the typos (that normally I am able to read over) and the anti-climatic make up scene, I just wasn't feeling the book.  Also -- some of the other characters seemed forced and underdeveloped (like Tyler's friends Nathan and Rory's friend Kylie) but I assume they will be more developed in the their own books.

It was a quick read and had a good plot, I just wish the characters were a little more ....I don't even know..just more.  Tyler is full of passion yet shows none of that really when he and Rory make up.  Rory is so analytical that it makes sense for her to just accept Tyler but Tyler's response doesn't really click with me.  Also, the almost English teacher in me cringed when I saw it was published by a division of Penguin publishing with SO many simple errors.  But again, I shouldn't say much as within this blog there are more errors than I'd like to admit!

Over all on my scale of to read or not to read I'd say:

Borrow it first to make sure you click with it....then buy it if it's something you would read again!

Back to some Toni Aleo -- Trying to Score

I've already described my love for Mrs. Aleo -- but I'll continue on to her second book Trying to Score. Insert mama bear Fallon.  I can't think of a better Mother's Day book then this one! Fallon works for her family's wine company as the head of marketing.  She went to Stanford for three years until she found out she was pregnant with Aiden.  She defies her father and family and is cut off from her family money, moves in with her sister, finishes school and works at her family company.  So who's the baby daddy?  None other then hockey star Lucas Brooks.  HOT MAN ON A STICK Lucas makes me want to scream like a twelve year old at a Justin Beiber concert!  

Wouldn't you know Lucas gets traded from the Sharks (located in California) to the Nashville Assassins.  In Lucas's defense he didn't know about Aiden.  Something happened between Lucas and Fallon before Fallon found out she was pregnant and Fallon just couldn't move on from it.  She knows she did wrong by Lucas by not telling him, but Lucas realizes just how much of a mess it would have been to be the father back then.... he has his secrets too.

So where do they go from here?  Let's just say Mrs. Aleo IS A MASTER AT HER CRAFT.  Sometimes you want to SCREAM at Fallon, other times you want to scream at them both.  But this book is a crazy romance and a huge rush. The passion between Fallon and Lucas does not fail to entice the readers!  Of course you have the uber rich athlete and back child support but Fallon and Lucas deal with real emotions that all of us as moms can relate too (and dads.... I guess I shouldn't leave out the male species and assume emotions are null and void for them too lol)

So you already know the answer to this one:  

To read or not to read?

READ IT!  Let's not forget to mention you meet the Webber's babies and stay in touch with the characters you have fallen for from book one as well!

Catherine Bybee Not Quite Series

The newest book of the Not Quite series came out, and it did not disappoint.  This book was a refreshing and fun read with pretty fun characters and all the things that make a romance novel:  love, loyalty, devotion, friendship, and of course a baby thrown in for extra measure.

The story features hotel heiress (Paris Hiltonesq without the annoying "that's hot" or dumb blonde moments")  Katie and Katie's brothers best friend Dean.  Katie and Dean have a secret history, but their secret relationship ended before it even began due to some heavy circumstances.  But they are reunited when Katie's brother and his wife get married.  Dean sets his sights on Katie and gets her and more.  

This book was a quick and easy read.  Not too emotional but sweet and fun.  

On the to be read or not scale:

READ IT...when looking for something quick and light!

Toni Aleo -- I'm a hockey convert!!!!

So let me tell you a little about Toni Aleo.  Not only does she absolutely LOVE her fans, but she has just recently moved from self published to being published by Loveswept.  Her books star classic women with strong alpha males.  She does not DISAPPOINT!  Oh I forgot to mention that all her books thus far feature amazingly attractive HOCKEY players!  While I am normally a football junky, I've transitioned to lusting after some slap shots...and the men who perform them!

Lets start with Taking Shots.  

This story features Ellie and Shea.  Shea is the captain of the Assassins and also happens to be Ellie's favorite member of the Nashville based team.  To say Ellie is a fan is an UNDERSTATEMENT.  Complete with Shea undies and jersey, Ellie is one of the Assassins biggest fans!  So when her uncle (the team owner) allows her to take the official team photos, her meet Q with Shea occurs.  

Shea falls instantly, while Ellie takes her time realizing her value and her love for Shea.  The awesome part about Toni's books are you can see Ellie and Shea in the rest of the book as well.  

Taking Shots IS DEFIINITLEY A TO READ book!

Look for my reviews of the other two books out here shortly!

Chloe Cox -- Club Volare Novels

I have read the Chloe Cox book Sold to the Sheikh and am continuing on to the next book in the series  Disciplined by the Dom.  

Sold to the Sheikh

The first book had me in over my head!  That book made me swoon at the intense connection between the Dominate Sheikh Bashir and submissive in training Stella.  This book begins with divorcee Stella working at exclusive Club Volare, NY for the richer than rich.  Stella received the job after her friend from college, Lola (aka Mistress Lola) notices her need and hires her.  The club is the New York chapter of the exclusive and private Qui Volare Society, a group committed to pursuing excellence, and even enlightenment, through sexual exploration.  Stella doesn't even realize her submissive nature until she meets Sheikh Bashir who bids and wins Stella without Stella's knowledge.  They proceed on a journey of discovery as Stella learns about herself and Sheikh Bashir learns he can have a strong connection to a woman who is worthy to be trusted.

I can not possibly (without sharing the whole story) explain the chemistry between Bashir and Stella, but HOLY COW.   Let me just say that in my ebook, Chloe Cox writes a letter to the reading and mentions a scene in Chapter 9....it is WORTH the wait!  Though I'm not personally into BDSM, I love how these two connected on such a deep level that the BDSM is simply the couple connecting and heightening their bond and not demeaning or abusive.  

Overall Rating on the To read or not To read rating?

To read most definitely!

Welcome!

As an avid read of Romance Novels, I have read over 300 books this year alone.  I love nothing more then sharing a good book with good friends and so I thought I'd share my reviews with you.  

Some of the reviews will contain spoilers and some will just be a general overview of my feelings towards the book.  I'll try to let you know of spoilers but reader beware.  

My pet peeves with romance novels:

I LOATHE when self publishers publish segmented chapters and charge $0.99 for each segment of chapters so you end up paying over $10.00 for the book itself.  I'm also not a big fan of love triangles when someone is in a relationship.  I just can't get behind or support cheating in any way, even if I do understand the motivation.  Most of the books I read don't have these pet peeves HOWEVER certain books are worth the multiple charges and I'll definitley let you know which one is which.  

Here is a listing of some of my favorite authors and links to their websites:

Toni Aleo -- www.tonialeo.com

Nashville Assassins Series

Kate Angell -- www.kateangell.com

No Tan Lines & Richmond Rogues

Jaci Burton -- www.jaciburton.com

Play-by-Play series

Julie James -- www.juliejames.com

FBI/US Attorney General

Lorelei James -- www.loreleijames.com

Rough Rides & Blacktop Cowboys

Sydney Landon -- www.sydneylandon.com

Danvers Series