Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Dream (Skins #1) [Dylan & Angelo] by Garrett Leigh

This book was NOT an easy read. Like most of Garrett's books, it's the kind to break your heart to too many pieces before it is reassembled back together. Yet there is always a sort of hope because we KNOW Garrett will bring us a HEA even if it will takes us a while to get there.

The story is told from both the MCs POV which was perfect in this one. We needed to understand them both and I gotta say it wasn't easy. We've technically met Dylan Hart before in Garrett's only MF novel "What Matters" (written as Gracie Leigh). His relationship with his best friend Sam turns to be more than he can handle now that he realizes he can never get more than a threesome with him and his girlfriend Eddie. Thing is, Eddie and Sam are soulmates and he feels like an intruder, nothing more. Not knowing how to deal he shuts both of them off and goes to a kinky sex club to blow some steam. 



Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Claimed in Shadows (Midnight Breed #15) [Aric & Kaya] by Lara Adrian

I've waited SO LONG for this book but now that I'm finished with it I mostly feel disappointed. Somehow I had a hard time connecting to the two MCs. I'm not even sure why. My main issue is actually how much time we spent in each one's head and how repetitive these thoughts were. I was just over it. When I was a little over the half mark I started skimming through those thoughts waiting for the action to FINALLY arrive. It was too little too late. Even the reunion of the founders of the order wasn't enough for me and the main villain in this one was SO obvious I was impatiently waiting for SOMEONE to uncover it and it too took way too long.

So what do we have here? Aric Chase, stops in Montreal to help with a mission against Opus Nostrum. He is assigned with Kaya Laurent a new to the order breed-mate with a special ability which is quite essential to their mission. They have a hard time together at first. They might both be attracted to one another yet Kaya plays warm-cold with Aric and he doesn't know what's her problem, while for Kaya he is too full of himself (to even consider to trust). Yet her true problem is something else entirely. She is hiding a secret. One that as time goes by turns to be more and more problematic and dangerous not only to the order but for her staying with the order.. As they grow closer together Aric tries to make her trust him enough to confess what is bothering her but she is adamant almost to the very end about keeping this secret to herself.   



Sunday, January 28, 2018

Tribute Act (Porthkennack #8) [Nathan & Mack] by Joanna Chambers

This book should have been a medical recommendation for me I swear! I had a horrible month, the year truly started on the wrong foot so I'm so glad that this book was in my schedule it made thing so much better. It was sweet, yet heart-breaking but also heart-warming at the same time. It was tender yet it wasn't mushy. It was about family taking you for granted and yet loving you fiercely and trying its best which isn't always enough. It was simply beautiful. If you don't have this book on your list - add it NOW, and do yourself a favor and find the time to read it. It's SO worth it. 

Nathan Bridges meets Dylan MacKenzi (aka Mack) rather randomly at a pub. After sharing a night together Mack disappears and Nathan (our sole POV) is left feeling he might have lost something before he even got to having it... It was good, but more than that it had a promise that vaporized when he woke up alone to find a cold note.



Friday, January 12, 2018

Between the Devil and the Pacific Blue by Charlie Cochet

I really enjoyed this one! But it's surely going to be one of the worst reviews I've ever written because I don't want to spoiler ANYTHING. So let's just make it simple - Do you like strange ghost stories? If the answer is yes - no debate, just grab this short novella and ENJOY!


Wednesday, January 10, 2018

The Bells of Times Square by Amy Lane

This book truly broke my heart. I can't remember when (or even if..) I EVER found myself crying for a WHOLE hour (the last of the book). Truly a masterpiece, though I know that no matter how much I'll try my review won't give it the justice it deserves.

The book start with a very old Nate Meyer. Like every year since 1946, Nate have been going to Times Square in New Years Eve to listen to a church bells that never actually ring in honor of his wartime lover. At this age and time, Nate can barely communicate and is strapped to a wheelchair - but that won't stop him from his yearly ritual. 


By his side is his (not yet out) gay grandson, trying to ask his grandfather for acceptance. Nate sees his grandson's lover and looking at them together makes him relive again everything he had and lost with HIS lover - Walter.   



Saturday, January 6, 2018

The Heart of Frost (North Pole City Tales #2) [Jack & Rudy] by Charlie Cochet

I didn't like this one at all :( The pace was very strange, mostly it was slow. The relationship between Rudy and Jack was already established YEARS ago, they were sweet together, at times a bit too sugary even. But my problem was the plot part of the story took WAY too much time and while all the action happened Jack behaved SO badly I couldn't care less about him. Yeah he had his reasons and mostly he "wasn't to blame" still doesn't mean I like him..


Mending Noel (North Pole City Tales #1) [Tim & Noel] by Charlie Cochet

This is the first I've tried by Charlie besides the THIRDS series. I had high expectations I'll be honest.. which is why I'm so sad and annoyed this one just didn't work for me. The world building is AWESOME. I don't celebrate Christmas but if I did I would probably find this one even more special. Every reference, every character or theme in this book is ALL Christmas. It was really cool seeing how the author made a whole new world were all the characters and treats are everyday life material.


Monday, January 1, 2018

2017 Yearly Recap

Every year it's the same, when the year is almost over I start organizing the books for the next one and think about what I've been through book-wise this past year.

Lucky GoodReads enjoys organizing our statistics for us, right? ðŸ˜‰

I love looking at the statistics. I realized I've read a bit more than last year which I considered then to be "horrible" when it comes to reading. Also it's fun realizing just HOW MUCH I've read and so many of them great books! My rating statistics are the same as last year - 4.3 in average but it's now wonder really, I stick to authors I love which is why I decided this year to have a countdown of my most read authors by books. 



                                               1. Mary Calmes (34 Books)
                                               2. Amy Lane (19 Books)
                                               3. Katy Regnery (14 Books)
                                               4. Sarina Bowen (8 Books)
                                               5. Christina Lee (6 Books)
                                               6. Garrett Leigh (6 Books)
                                               7. Emma Jameson (5 Books)
                                               8. K.J.Charles (5 Books)
                                               9. Cari Z. (5 Books)
                                               10. Charlie Cochet (4 Books)

It's not a shock that my most read author is Mary Calmes and then Amy Lane and Katy Regnery, these three have been my "projects" these past 2 years. I"m TRYING to finish reading all of their published work and while I have finished reading all of Katy's books, I plan on finishing Amy's and Mary's in 2018. With the amount of books they publish and keep publishing I'll have my hands full :)

The rest of my list is no surprise either - Sarina Bowen, Chrisitna Lee & Garrett Leigh are true favorites. I've already went through each of their published work and keep waiting for MORE. 


Emma Jameson, at least under this name is new to me, she doesn't write under this name my "go to" genres and yet she keeps surprising me. I'll be finishing all of her published work next year. Cari Z is also someone who keeps surprising me with the diversity of her novels. Every book is something entirely different and mostly not what I was expecting. She too will be my project for next year as well.


K.J. Charles is still new to me, I just read Historical Romance series by her but it was enough for me to realize I've GOT to try more. 


Last but not least is Charlie Cochet. 2018 is going to be the year I tackle all of her published work. Her Urban Fantasy series jumped in no time at all to be my absolute favorite PNR series of all times. 


I gotta say, it was hard picking up the books for each author but I did my best to put at least one of my absolute favorites of this year :)


There are 3 more authors I feel like I must mention especially because they were new to me and a very pleasant surprise!   

  
                                                         Kim Fielding
                                                         Aly Martinez
                                                         Sue Brown

I've just scratched the surface with these three but I hope I'll find the time to add more of their books in the near future. 


Naturally these are not the only authors I've read this year or my only favorites, some authors publish less and so though I REALLY enjoy their books and auto-buy them, they won't make a cut if I only look at how many books I've read.. Frankly, I love reading, and especially enjoy reading these authors (who took 80% of all of what I've read this year). When you stick to what you already know you love you're rarely surprised (to the worse). 


I already have my list for 2018 ready, it's going to be more of the same. If that's what you're into as well - we'll be having our usual fun together next year as well ðŸ’ƒ