Friday, January 30, 2015

Bound By Flames (Night Prince, #3) by Jeaniene Frost

Well, I have been waiting for this installment for a longgggg time, practically from the second I finished the previous one. Vlad Dracul, especially Jeaniene's Vlad Dracul is my absolute FAVORITE paranormal character, naturally most loved vampire, not to mention he isn't just ANY vampire he is THE vampire - Vlad Tepesh, the impaler! YUM on so many levels I can't even, no, there are NO WORDS!

Sticks & Stones (Cut & Run #2) by Abigail Roux and Madeleine Urban

God, I love this series SO MUCH. Love Zane, love Ty as well, and in this book we got to meet and love the Brady Bunch, mmm, sorry, I mean the Grady Bunch :) Zane and Ty are forced into taking a vocation. Ty suggests Zane comes home with him as he knows that Zane would mostly sulk in his hotel room for 3 weeks. He also misses him as they don't see each other privately (outside work) as they used to. Ty has his reasons for that. He also has his reasons to ask Zane to come and meet his family. Everyone has his own reasons as it seems.

So what do people do when they life near the mountains? They go on a hike! especially since Zane admits to never doing that. Earl (Ty's father) and Deacon (Ty's brother who everyone calls Deuce) also accompanies them. But Ty and Zane can't have a relaxing vocation, they can't have a real vocation anywhere and anytime! So naturally they stumble into life threatening trouble (a couple of times..) yet (since there are a few installment after this one) they get out of it (scarcely) alive..

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Collateral by Aleksandr Voinov (Vashtan) & Gileonnen

Generally I'm the most "distracted" and "self centered" person I know. I don't know anything about anything unless it's totally useless information. I don't read newspapers, I don't listen to the radio and I don't watch TV. My friends usually see that I know what's important.. 
It's the same with movies. My friends are expected to send me trailers to whatever it is they want us to watch together (or promise it's really good and I'll like it - they know me after all and it's not THAT important for me to know in advance what's the movie about). 
So when a friend suggested we watch the 3rd installment of Iron-man I told her I haven't even seen the first two.. (who was this Tony guy anyway?!). Her answer was - Then watch them! you have until the weekend - we're going! 
I actually got them the same day but totally forgot to watch them till the day we were suppose to go so I watched all three one after the other!!! The first two at home, then got ready and went to the theater with her to watch the third one. 
Conclusion - I LOVED IT! love Tony Stark, love the Iron-Man, love Robert Downey Jr as the Iron-Man, love Pepper and Gwyenth Paltrow as her. Yeah. It was totally AWESOME!  
So naturally, kinda worked for me trying this one out. Especially since it's Aleksandr Voinov and since this year I'm on a "mission" of reading most (maybe even all!) of his books. 

Cut & Run (Cut & Run #1) by Abigail Roux and Madeleine Urban

As this series is closing to an end - the last book will be published on the end of March 2015, I decided to re-listen to it and remind myself of the great time I had with this series. As I've already wrote a review on this one, I'm leaving it in the end of this post. It was actually the first book I've EVER reviewed. feeling a bit nostalgic :) 
It's not that I didn't read before I just didn't know GoodReads or any other book websites. 

This one was also my first "real" M/M romance book/series. The first M/M Romance book I've read was "Lover at Last" the 11th book in the Paranormal series "The Black Dagger Brotherhood" by J.R. Ward. For me, the fact that Bailey and Quinn were gay was a "side note" and not a very important one. I loved the series, loved both of them in the previous books and couldn't wait for their "happily ever after". But as a friend suggested this series to me - gay men - no paranormal aspect to it - I had my doubts.. back then I rarely read ANY "realistic" romance novels if they didn't have a paranormal element to them.. so surprise surprise - I LOVED this series to pieces! I read all the book that were published back then one after another barely lifting my head from my kindle. I feel kinda sad to soon say goodbye to this series yet it will always have an honorary place in my mind. 


Friday, January 23, 2015

Soulless by T. Baggins (S.A. Reid)

It's been such a ride I'm not sure were to start. It's a beautiful sensitive story as well as cruel and heart breaking one. It was a bit slow going at times and since it's not only Paranormal Romance but Historical Romance - taking place round the ending of the 1700s in Britain - the language was a bit difficult for me. Took me time to "find myself" in the words, to really understand deeper and sometimes literal meanings (which it's not a 5 stars review for me). Yet once I felt the connection between Ban and Nicholas I was totally hooked to the story, waiting for them to find a way to be able to finally be together, and yeah, it wasn't simple, not at all but I was really happy with the way it ended. I think it's somehow more sweet than bittersweet (you decide). Yet it definitely NOT what I was expecting but it's T Baggins way to torment not only her characters but her readers as well. 

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Manhandled by T. Baggins (S.A. Reid) & Rosemary O'Malley

I've read enough reviews of this one to know what I"m getting myself into. I don't think I would have handled it as I did without knowing that this short novella teeters on the verge of consent.. be advised! also it's mostly an Erotica novella though it has a drop of romance in the end. 

I actually liked it. I"m not sure I would have thought the same if it was a full length novel. But since it was short and hot I could somewhat appreciate it even if it's not my usual (or actual) taste.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

NOT what I expected. While the story COULD have been EPIC it was somehow dull due the WAY too philosophical view both main characters had it also felt ABSOLUTELY pointless. 

Hazel and Augustus meet in a therapy group. Hazel is struggling with cancer, she knows she isn't going to make it but the treatment she is getting now somehow prolongs the ending giving her a bit more time (while don't really knowing what "a bit" means). She is sick, has to have oxygen tank with her at all times and she is quite detached from the lives around her (almost) except for her parents. Meeting Augustus and becoming fast friends is NOT what she was expecting. Yet it happens nevertheless. 

Monday, January 19, 2015

Fifteen Shades of Gay (For Pay) by T. Baggins (S.A. Reid)

I have to admit, the name of this book kinda put me off.. I have a "thing" against "Fifty Shades of Grey", who am I kidding I have a whole BUCKET of things against it, so even the humorous referral to it annoyed the HELL out of me. Yet there is nothing to it except for the title seeming close and the trilogy Andrew reads to his sister Mary who sounds as if it's referring to a same kind of kinky erotica with a lot of male dominance and, well, since Andrew laughs about it - I was game :)

Saturday, January 17, 2015

Fighting Redemption by Kate McCarthy

Beautifully written and utterly engaging though I blame the Prologue for being such a knock to the chest you really don't know what to expect this story to be and then the impatience of getting there. I can't remember a book I was THAT impatient with yet couldn't put down. Mostly books who make me impatient are annoying, or I'm not sure I'm going to like where they are going. With this one, I didn't know where it was going, yet I couldn't wait to FINALLY get to the end and REALLY understanding what the Prologue was ACTUALLY about because I knew it has to be some sort of a "twist" there, something in the way the story was played, I knew it's going to be much more than the obvious. I'm rambling aren't I? well, only shows how affected I was by this heartbreaking beautiful story. 

Friday, January 16, 2015

Something Different by T. Baggins (S.A. Reid)

Another great novella by T. Baggins / S.A. Reid. I"m becoming obsessed with her writing. Somehow she brings controversial subjects and deals with them in a such a way you have no other options than to accept them and see them somehow differently. 

This book's tells the romance between Michael who starts being unfaithful to his wife with James a "rent boy" (a hooker if you find the word any better), not exactly the most "attractive" main characters, right? 

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Thirst by T. Baggins (S.A. Reid)

WOW, this is so NOT what I was expecting and it's definitely NOT a romance novella, it's a short horror story with male-on-male action (and not always with consent.. be advised..). Well, there is some sort of love but it's twisted and "wrong" all over.. It's also REALLY short - round 20 pages yet it pacts a story with a great punch. 

West of Want (Hearts of the Anemoi #2) [Zephyros & Ella] by Laura Kaye

I tried giving the second installment in the "Hearts of the Anemoi" a chance. I really did. I wanted to like it more than the first one, I wanted to be invested in the story but sadly I was mostly waiting for something to actually happen, for the characters to be interesting and not whinny or just boring to tears. I can't say more about the plot than is written on the cover since I've DNF on 22% and in this time - nothing actually happened.. well.. Ella almost drowns when a storm strikes her boat. The storm isn't  natural one it was caused by the moody god of the West Winds Zephyros. Zephyros feeling bad for causing an innocent harm helps her as best as he can but then can't seem to let her go. 

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Coming Home by Jay Northcote

This one was a free really short novella (round 38 pages). It was nice and sweet. Naturally in such a short novella there wasn't any "paper time" for anything extremely special to happen, I took it and enjoyed it as it is. 

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

'Til Death, Volume One by Bella Jewel

This was absolutely horrible!!! naturally I feel terrible writing my personal opinion in such a blunt way but I just wouldn't, no, wait, couldn't keep on reading. 15% was the maximum I could give this one. Both main characters where horrible. Katia was SO shallow she puts to shame any notion of shallowness I have in me (and I thought I could be a pretty shallow person when I want to be..) also she doesn't sound very smart or tactful.. Marcus describes himself as an asshole and that he is! Not only that he is controlling in SUCH a disgusting way I can't even.. no.. there are NO WORDS. I guess for a woman like Katia who swoons over Christian Grey (from "50 Shades of Grey") I can maybe get why she would find a sexy controlling man appealing yet I couldn't be bothered to read of a woman like that. 

Monday, January 12, 2015

Archer's Voice (A Sign of Love - Sagittarius) [Archer & Bree] by Mia Sheridan

I enjoyed this book SO MUCH. It was a lot more than I expected. While I WAS expecting a heart breaking story about an isolated man and the woman who brought him out of his loneliness - which was clearly written on the book synopsis! - I wasn't ready for the man - for Archer - the special, smart, funny, courageous, sexy, sweet, drool worthy and yeah, damaged pretty badly man.. having left with no voice, not only in the physical sense - not being able to speak - but also in the metaphorical sense - as he doesn't think he has the right to be, to think and express himself. Bree is also a beautiful person. A woman who sees a lot more than the physical (though she doesn't miss his attraction YUM!). Archer might have intrigued her at first yet later on she shows a real interest in him, an interest no one has ever made.

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Looking for Alaska by John Green

I enjoyed this book but can't say it was a favorite. While it started off GREAT, had a lot of Laugh Out Load moments and loved the fact that the story was told from the point of view of one teenage guy - Miles Halter who wasn't popular, having no friends who decided to look for the "Great Perhaps" in a boarding school in Alabama called "Culver Creek". A lot happens to Miles in this year, things he would probably never forget and which probably shaped the grown man he became. But, alas, we only meet him and his new friends for a year.

I usually dislike teenage books with a passion! I just can't be bothered with the nonsense they keep thinking and god help us - saying! But this book was as far off than the usual teenage book as one could get. Firstly, since it's not really a romance book in the clear sense of the word, and it's more of a "coming of age" book, there is a lot of meaning to what happens to Miles and his friends and mostly to the way he and the people around him interpret those events. It made the story more real but also more meaningful, yet at the same time, it's the reason I'm giving this one 4 stars instead of 5. It got tedious on a certain point where I felt this book is becoming a "psycho-bubble" a bit too much for me. Also while the first half of the book was fun and enjoyable the other half which was suppose to be more "meaningful" lacked in "action", mostly I mean that it felt as nothing was happening, they were all somehow waiting for something to happen or to be revealed. Even though they were actively doing things it dragged in my opinion. 

Thursday, January 8, 2015

North of Need (Hearts of the Anemoi #1) [Owen & Megan] by Laura Kaye

I can't really explain why this book hasn't caught my interest. The story itself, the idea behind it, were cool. The characters are nice enough but not too appealing and the plot moves so slowly almost half way through a lot yet nothing happened, it felt as if most of the story has already been told / done and I don't have anything to really anticipate happening.. quite strange. I feel bad writing this so boldly, but I was just bored.. so I let this one go at 42%.

Megan Snow lost her husband two years ago. It's Christmas and instead of having it with her family she goes to the cabin they used to share during the holidays. On a desperate moment she build a 3 snowy figures - a snow family - John (her late husband) herself and a young they didn't have a chance to have. Crying into the arms of the snowman makes her wish sort of come true. The snow man turns into Owen Winters - the snow god who was asked by John Snow upon his death to make Megan happy (anyone have a deja vu hearing this name ;)). 

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Mating Balance by Gina A. Rogers & Kyle Adams

A sweet and very enjoyable read! Loved this one! Both main characters were interesting and so different yet so very alike in nature. the build up of the relationship was great especially since it had both the instant primal mating concept we are used to with animalistic characters (in this case shifters) yet as they took their time getting to know one another, they truly built a relationship before fully accepting their bond. 

Monday, January 5, 2015

Making Faces by Amy Harmon

Absolutely beautiful! This book is SO MUCH MORE than romance between a boy and a girl. It's an inspirational story that shares truths, life experiences, beliefs, hopes and dreams. There is SO MUCH to this story I honestly don't know where to start. 

While this story generally IS a love story between Ambrose Young and Fern Tyler, it's also the story of Bailey Sheen - Fern's cousin and best friend who suffers from Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Bailey is a lot more than just your typical handicapped side character, and he does a lot more than "move the plot". He somehow gives the whole story a frame, a frame in general and also a frame of reference. I truly believe that there are people like Bailey somewhere in the world that inspire the people around them with their optimism and special ability to see the brighter side of life even if it mostly doesn't shine on them or it's just that they see the sun shining more brightly than most of us do and appreciate life more.  Bailey is also a lot more braver than most of us are, I hate to add you into the mix, as I usually don't put words in other people's mouths, I rather say how I personally see it. Yet here, with who Bailey is, and how he acts, I have a feeling he puts to shame all of us with how bravely he lives his life and how much he cares and shows his affection to the people around him. 

Friday, January 2, 2015

Hot and Bothered by Serena Bell

I'm not sure what I expected this one to be, and well, I didn't even read the synopsis before I pre-ordered it, but even after reading what this one is about, I wanted, I expected, to absolutely love it since it's Serena and I already KNOW I love her novels. Yet I somehow forgot the one novel I DIDN'T like, also by Harlequin Blaze - Still So Hot! - I didn't even think about the similarities in the name.. yep, I was fooled.. by myself, since I was the one not paying attention..

So this one is like a sequel to "Still So Hot!" we actually met Haven in that book, she's into changing self image / publicity, back then she was working with Celine. In that book Elisa (the matchmaker) goes on a coaching trip with Celine that doesn't end as expected.. Here we meet Elisa again as Haven's friend and also match maker (the worst! since as usual she doesn't do the matching.. just looking over and see it happen before her and against her judgement).

Thursday, January 1, 2015

2014 Yearly Recap


Well 2014 is over (almost over, when I"m writing these lines) with 185 books are decorating my virtual "read" shelf. I went through my monthly recap of 2014 to see who and which were my favorites. I wanted to see which authors I have been loving this year,  how many books I've read by there loved ones, who I mentioned more than once etc. 

So here it is! 

Most mentioned authors 
Christina Lee - LOVE LOVE LOVE her New Adult Between Breaths series read it all and can't wait for more.
Ruthie Knox / Robin York - Read all her Contemporary books as Ruthie and this year was really excited about her New Adult series (Caroline & West) under the pen name Robin. For me everything she writes is pure gold. 
Aleksandr Voinov - Aleksandr had me last year with Unhinge the Universe then I've read this year the epic series "Special Forces" and ever since then I've looked at romance books (MM or MF) in a total different way. Nothing is the same after you meet Vadim and Dan and "partake" in their EPIC EPIC romance. So it's no wonder I decided to start reading, well, ALL of Aleksandr's book, it's just he has so many! and I have so many on my list to read anyhow! So I"m starting small but I know I'll get to this point that I've everything by him, even if it won't be in 2015 it might be 2016, well one could hope.. Oh, yeah, forgot to mention - he writes beautifully (mostly military/historical) MM Romance.

Mentioned twice and deserve extra credit
Another 4 authors that are under my pre-order immediate read list. I've also read everything by those authors and hell yeah, going to continue following them around (just call me a stalker :P)
Jan DeLima - It was enough reading Jan's debut Paranormal Romance for me to obsess over her, then she published her second book in the Celtic Wolves series and yeah, I was doomed.. Oh my, she has to start publishing more books.. 
Serena Bell - Another favorite who writes beautiful Contemporary Romance novels. I love her short novellas as well as her full novels. She's just awesome.
Sarina Bowen - Sarina is quite new on my reading list but I'm already utterly in love with her writing and characters. LOVED her New Adult Series "The Ivy Years". Each book was so different not only from one another but the subject it brought when compared to so many college romance novels out there. I also just finished reading the first book on her Contemporary Romance series "Gravity" and adored it as well! A very sensitive and beautiful love story. 
River Jaymes - Though she published 2 full novels and one short novella in the MM Romance genre I'm already obsessed with River. Love her heroes, the romance between them and how amazing she saws all the pieces together. Her debut novella was awesome as well as the Boyfriend Chronicles series. 

Mentioned twice and needs to be checked more thoroughly 
Kit Rocha - I had my doubts when I started reading the Beyond series. Erotica I can handle but Dystopian Erotica isn't really my "thing" yet I was loved this series and with each book it's getting better and better. Though I've read all the books by these two authors writing under one name, they have another pan name - Moira Rogers. Haven't checked those books yet. I'll admit i'm a bit reluctant to check the earlier work as the first ones in the series weren't as good as the later ones mostly character and plot wise. 
Cara McKenna / Meg Maguire - This month I finally finished reading all Meg's books yet I still have many more under her other pen name (or rather real name) Cara McKenna. She generally writes Contemporary Romance under Meg and Erotica under Cara. Most of her books are a fun and an easy going read. Some I enjoyed more than others but generally I enjoy forgetting about life for a while and getting invested in a light romance. Sure there is drama in her books but it's still usually not that overwhelming, heart clenching, soul shattering kind.
SE Jakes - Really enjoy her MM Romance EE Universe books, all of them are really great. A lot of action but also tender romance which always feels extra tender when coming from macho guys. I should check more by her though I don't have anything planned. Also she writes Paranormal Romance under Stephanie Tyler (haven't checked those as well).
Tracey Gravis-Graves - It all started with "On the Island" and continued with "Covet" and I was totally hooked. Yet then came a novel I didn't really get and I was a bit disappointed.. I"m not letting it discourage me though, I'll keep on reading Tracey's books (read everything she published up until now) because I know she has the amazing ability of bringing two people together in very unique and sensitive way.
Kristen Callihan - Kristen became an obsession when I first had my hand on her Historical Paranormal Romance series - Darkest London. Awesome heroines with back bone, spite and a special power and men who support and appreciate them even if it's not the norm in the late 1800s. Sadly I wasn't impressed with her new New Adult book - "The Hook Up" - so though I'll keep watching out for the next books she published I think I'll stick to a more Paranormal theme. 

Last but not least!
There are quite a lot of authors I've mentioned once, I'm not going to add them all, but I will list a few that totally deserve it!
Katja Millay - She only published one book - The Sea of Tranquility - and it left me in pieces. A MUST read to all New Adult (well it's technically a Young Adult) lovers. So beautifully and tenderly written. The romance absolutely perfect and the back story heart clenching. Can't wait for more books by her.
Kristina M. Sanchez - Another favorite author which is on my auto-order list. She only has two New Adult books out - "Duplicity" and "One to tell the Grandkids" but both of them are GOLD. 
Lara Adrian - I LOVE her Paranormal Series Midnight Breed. Though it used to have similarities to the Black Dagger Brotherhood by J.R.Ward I do think it's better! Not to mention she totally changed the series the past few books so it's only getting better with each one. Lara has more books in other series I haven't tried yet and I probably SHOULD!
Tere Michaels - I've just finished reading the MM Romance series Faith, Love and Devotion by her and was absolutely floored. I really want to try out more of her books though I tried a short novella this month and was a bit disappointed. It WON'T discourage me. I'll read them ALL!
T. Baggins (S.A Read) - I just recently finished one short novella by this author and I was just torn to tiny bits and pieces.. It left me speechless and in tears trying to digest all my feelings. There are VERY few authors who can draw this sort of reaction from me. So naturally I added ALL her books to my reading list for ASAP. 

I"m sure there are more authors I"ve read and absolutely loved this year buy I think I should stop here and not totally confuse you with my obsessions. I really enjoy making my monthly goals and recaps, remembering and thinking about the books I've read and planning ahead my reading list. This one was fun as well. I wonder how the 2015 recap would be, how many new authors I'll have and how many more authors I'll add to my "auto-order" or ones I"ve read all they published. 


2014

Trespass by Meg Maguire

By finishing this one, I've actually finished reading all of Meg's novels. Yeah I have quite a lot left from her other pan name (and her real one) - Cara McKenna but this is a sweet step as well. Sadly it's my least favorite from her books. I kind of went randomly through her books so I didn't have special expectations from this one (or another).

Meg's books are usually very fluent and an easy read. I'm not saying there isn't drama around the building of the relationship. Sure there is! But mostly I expect a relaxing time giving myself to the book. Here while the beginning was interesting and I enjoyed the buildup, somewhere along the line, their routine together became "too routine-y" I guess. It took WAY too long for Sarah to confess to Russ the true reason she is on the run and when you think about it, it makes absolutely no sense as to why she wasn't looking over her back the whole time. Also the conclusion of the book was SO obvious and silly I was just put off by it. I was struggling to finish the last 2-3 chapters and when I finally did finish I was just annoyed with how obvious it was to me..