2018 Wrap Up

Hey y’all! Whew what a year…

I hit my reading goal (150), branched out to a few new authors, attended my first Apollycon (can’t wait for 2019!), hit my first 1K on Instagram, and officially become and audio lover! But throughout out it all, I read some pretty amazing books. I wanted to share a new style of wrap up with you guys this year. Sort of like an awards ceremony. Not a top ten and no one better than the other; but stories that stood out to me outside of just the romance aspect. Whether they made me cry, laugh, swoon, or beg for more check out my 2018 Wrap Up Awards!

First some stats!

I read 35,942 pages across 152 books

get more details from my goodreads and check out all of my 2018 reviews/reads! And while you’re there, add me!

On to our winners…


All You Need Is Love

Light-hearted, drama-free romance

A sexy, slow-burning best-friends-to-lovers romance with a guaranteed HEA and no cheating. Dive in, and get ready to melt for Cam! The slow burn never fizzles out; it’s the perfect speed for two friends who discover they could be more. And then they have to discover how they feel about that revelation. For Cam, it’s been a deep desire he’s buried beneath that friendship. For Natalie, there’s more to love than just sex and she’s not sure of the risk of losing friendship of two men she’s known for years. All around heartwarming and entertaining. Filled with sexy, intimate moments and heartfelt relationships all around; you can find out more here!

Secret trysts and stolen kisses abound in this brand new, swoontastic novel from #1 NYT bestselling author Lauren Blakely. Starting off with a steamy fantasy scene between our hero and heroine allowed for a novel size tease the rest of the plot! This novel had a touch of old school romance. With lust and desires dripping off every page, you need to grab this read and begin to raise your expectations when it comes to love! Fond out more here!

 

A sexy, standalone forbidden romance about a sports star and the woman who’s off limits. There’s something about a forbidden romance that can give readers just the right amount if danger. Neither our heroine or hero want to risk their careers but can’t resist the pull against one another.  And while some secret and forbidden romance can leave readers feeling secondhand embarrassment, I couldn’t help but find myself yelling at Jillian and Jones to just BE TOGETHER! Find out more about it here!


Heartbreakers

Break out the tissues and wine

He didn’t want to be bad. He just didn’t have a choice… We had crazy drama around Trouble & Wild and hilarious wit and sass with Legs & Loser; but with Shay & Stitch…..be prepared to have your heart MANGLED in the BEST POSSIBLE WAY. Not only does Daniels’ manage to tell the story of a broken and defeated man, she does it while painting him in the brightest light possible. I stayed up all night, sacrificing sleep, to finally read this story and I was not one bit disappointed. I cried so many times but with so many happy tears. Prepare to have your heart wrung out here.

An all-new second chance standalone romance by New York Times bestselling author Corinne Michaels and USA Today bestselling author Melanie Harlow, this story killed me and brought me back to life! After the young romance left her broken-hearted in the worst way she’s sworn off Ian for life. But tragedy strikes when Sabrina and her husband pass away and leave the children to Ian to raise. Prepare to have your heart ripped out of you chest as each of Sabrina’s children have to handle their grief alongside Ian and London. I love that Harlow and Michaels kept their reactions real. There’s no pretty crying or band aids over the wounds in this story, no.  Now mix in the romance between Ian and London and this is one powerful read.  Find out more here.

A forbidden stand-alone romance in A.L. Jackson’s Confessions of the Heart Series. How can I put in to words the way this book made me feel? Gripping and intense. Sexy and forbidden. Heartbreaking and yet filled with love and warmth that is key to any Jackson story. All of Me takes the darkest parts of two people’s lives and thrusts them in to the light in order to survive. I cringed, I gasped, I needed wine, and I had a happy cry. This book is downright AMAZING. No spoilers here, you’ll have to grab this amazing story for yourself to find out just what darkness dares to creep up on our hero and heroine. Prepare your tissues and buckle down for one hell of a romance! Find out more about Ian’s story here.

a brand-new novel about arson investigator, Anne Ashburn, who is consumed by her troubled past, her family’s scorched legacy, and her current case: chasing a deadly killer. A new branch back into the contemporary world, Consumed is not only intrigued and a standout novel, readers won’t be able to predict what will happen and become addicted to finding out the truth. This book is FILLED with twists and turns and new angles you won’t predict. Hooked from page one I had to know what Anne and Danny’s inner thoughts were. Ward does an incredibly job taking brutal, damaged characters and pulling those flaws right into the light, shoving them in to the face of readers and shouting “ACCEPT THEM”.  Be consumed by this romance here.

Is it love, or is she just his good luck charm? New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Helena Hunting absolutely delights with this witty and fun standalone romantic comedy. Helena brings back the heavy in the best way with The Good Luck Charm. A young romance ended too soon. A woman with a second broken heart and a man with a second chance. The light-hearted humor and wit that any HH fan knows is definitely present in TGLC. Ethan and Lilah, whether they’re fighting or reminiscing, have the ability to outwit and go head to head with one another. But Hunting takes us back to her original romance feels of heavy story lines.  Get lucky here.


Bad (BOY) Romance

Bad boys do it better

From New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Jay Crownover comes a standalone romance with a hero sure to keep readers up long into the night. Jay frickin Crownover. She continues to blow me away with her ability to create dark and gritty characters that have obvious faults but still endeavor you to feel hope for what may be. Cable and Affton’s story is filled with heartbreak, doubt, and somehow a sliver of hope, a light at the end of the tunnel. Crownover has delivered a character with a mysterious past that was painstakingly revealed over time (almost a year for us newsletter subscribers!). And as each peace of Cable’s puzzle finds it place, the picture of a boy becoming a man and finding his way to recovery was shown and hearts everywhere fell for the dark handsome boy. Find out more about Cable here.

An enemies-to-lovers romance where opposites not only attract, they ignite. Trying to think of a way to explain this romance isn’t easy. First of all, JB Salsbury is in her own genre when it comes to romance. They’re dark in a different way, with non-traditional heroes who are tough to love at first. And that can definitely be said with Jesse. Jesse is an ASSHOLE at the beginning of Playing by Heart. I hated him at first, but in the best way. Reading his level of dirty, you just KNOW there’s going to be an epic redemption of his soul.  This love story is all a tale of what a person can handle when it comes to self-love before loving anyone else and Salsbury does it ABSOLUTE justice. Find out more here.

The Queen of Paranormal Romance, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Gena Showalter, stuns with SHADOW AND ICE, the first title in her scorching new paranormal romance series Gods of War Series. This story is about love. And sex and violence and power and control but beyond all that LOVE conquering all. A message conveyed in every caress from Vale. In every sacrifice from Knox.Filled with explicit and entertaining fights scenes to rival and blockbuster, this story will have on the edge of your city dying to know how Vale and Knox can overcome every obstacle that threatens to tear them and the world apart. Dive in and find out more here.

Talk about a powerful hero! Evans impresses with her latest alpha and brother to one of our past heroes. Cullen Carmichael is a magnetic and demanding poker player. When Wynn steps into his card game months later, single, Cullen knows its time to up the stakes and risk it all for the feisty redhead. I can’t explain just how much chemistry is between these two characters. The push and pull of Wynn’s ability to give it all to Cullen against his ability to show his hand sends a message about the lengths people will go to find their happy ever after. Filled with tense moments, secrecy, and one hot alpha this is one emotionally packed romance. Find out more here.

Prepare for a story that hits hard, digs deep, and holds tight. Unconscious Hearts is a powerful romance with an alpha hero and a magnetic heroine that you’ll immediately fall for. Covered in leather, dripping with sin, smelling like temptation. Thorn is made for lustful nights and stirs something in Ari she hasn’t felt for a long time. I love that Sloan slowly reveals the truth behind both Thorn and Ari’s past as well as why they initially fight their attractions to one another. There’s no huge history dump as you’re reading; you get discover why these characters are the way they are as if you were slowly learning about them as a friend in their world. I couldn’t put down this dark romance not just for the passion in each page but for how hard it pulls you in and has you begging for what comes next. Find out more here.


One More Chapter

Cliff hangers that left us begging for more

From New York Times bestselling author Meghan March comes a brand new saga of forbidden love and second chances. Heady, rich with passion, and rife with excess, the Sin Trilogy is brimming with drama. With flashes of the past mixed in with the current events of the Riscoffs and the Gables, readers will be in a whirlwind of emotions. Stolen kisses, secrets abound, and a doozy of a twist I GUAR-AN-TEE you won’t see coming, this romance will have you hooked from the start! Prepare yourself for more drama than any reality TV show and some steam scenes more risque than you’ve experienced!! Find more about the series three novels: Book 1, Book 2, Book 3.

She was brainwashed into believing she could save mankind. Now, she’s the one who needs saving. An original plot line, complex characters, and twists and turns to drag you in to the story, the Mercy Series is its own brand of romance and mystery. So unlike any other new adult romance, Ghostgirl pulled me in from the start and never let go. This slow burn was completely satisfying as their feelings developed alongside the story. Pieces of Mercy’s past slowly come out as the puzzle of what truly happened to her begins to form. Filled with moral quandaries and blurring the line between right and wrong, Saint delivers another powerful message about personal faith and fighting for the truth. Dive in to learn more about Milo and Mercy.

How do you put in to words a story that takes years of love, laughter, and pain and wraps them in a package under heartbreak and hope? The amazing duo that is Kennedy Fox saved the most detailed and heavy Bishop for last. Readers who have stuck alongside the series have openly waited for the tricky twin Jackson’s story behind his playboy ways. Now spoiler free here…but be warned that you will want quiet, wine, and something to bring yourself comfort when reading this romance. The supposed climax is right at the beginning and I LOVED getting to read the back and forth up to the pivotal day. KF definitely set the bar high with this tale, I swear they save the end of their series for the high stakes drama and it is WORTH IT! So sit down, stock up, and buckle up for one insane ride here.

The highly anticipated sexy, suspenseful stand-alone second-chance romance from NYT Bestselling Author, A.L. Jackson. Magnetic. Heart stopping. Filled with passion and suspense but brimming with hope. Jackson’s finale to the Fight For Me series is an amazing collaboration of regrets and second-chances. I could not believe how engrossed I became in this story! Ollie and Nikki have an obvious connection that no one can deny. Watching them gravitate towards and away from one another was such heartbreak.  No spoilers for the truth about Sydney but I will say to read between the lines and come to your own conclusions as the truth will SHOCK you. I was not prepared at all for the twist ending but I could not have read any faster, turning page after page to see just what would happen. Find out more here.

What has a sexy, bad-ass veteran hero…
A feisty and independent heroine who won’t hesitate to stand up for herself. A forbidden, best friend’s younger sister conflict. And a forced-proximity roommates-to-lovers situation that creates all kinds of sexual tension? The second standalone title in New York Times bestselling author Laura Kaye’s Warrior Fight Club series! There’s a connection with Shay and Billy that sparks the minute the two characters come together. Kaye impresses with her ability to once again combine sexy heroes with rough pasts and even tougher walls to break through. Sexy, with a surprise twist you won’t see coming. add this new romance to your TBR!


Love Bites

Novellas and quick reads

From New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author K Bromberg, comes CONTROL, a new novella in her Everyday Heroes Series, brought to you by 1,001 Dark Nights! I love the 1001 Dark Nights series because it’s more than just a sneak peek into an author’s series, it’s a splash into that author’s voice and style. K Bromberg is stellar at writing drama mixed with sex and romance. Control is a stunning look into her Everyday Heroes series and shows how two lost people can find happiness with each other.

Now don’t judge me….but I’m a Kylie Scott fan that hasn’t finished the Stage Dive series at this moment. GASP SHOCK AWE. Now that that’s out of your system…let me introduce you to a quick and sexyyyyy novella from Scott and 1001 Dark Nights. Whoo lordy say hello to your newest naughty dream. Sam is H-O-T. He’s a rough and gruff silver fox with a smooth tongue for Martha. Filled with sweet and sexy, this novella is a great taste of the Kylie Scott world!

 

The perfect combination of sweet and sexy, Laura Kaye amazes again with her novella peek into the Raven Riders series. This story was a fun treat vote into existence by Kaye fans. I was hoping for my smooth talking charmer Phoenix to get his story but Caine took me by surprise. It’s the quiet ones that see and hold the most. Filled with more honesty and truth in a smaller format, Kaye delivers the heart-wrenching pain of a characters path while revealing the bright hope of their love filled future. Find out more here.


Aural Fixations

Who knew audio books were so addicting

Read Me Romance is a FREE podcast hosted by New York Times Bestselling Authors Alexa Riley and Tessa Bailey. Trust me when I say you WANT to be listening. These three slowly reveal an audio book EVERY SINGLE WEEK, with snippets each day. Add in their hilarious banter and it’s like hanging out with your own mobile book club. Get introduced to new authors, feed into your guilty, dirty reads, or like me discover you new found love of audio books and the worlds they open up. Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss a single installment!

A standalone romance novel published by Montlake Romance: It all started with a mysterious blue note sewn into a wedding dress. The name embossed on the blue stationery: Reed Eastwood, thanks to a twist of fate, he’s my new boss. But that’s not going to stop me from discovering the story behind his last love letter. A love letter that did not result in a happily ever after. My very first full length audio book and I fell in love! Entranced by their voices, escaping into their worlds. This romance was filled with drama and twists I never saw coming. I loved every minute as Charlotte attempted to learn Reed’s truth. All while Reed harbored a shocking secret that threatened everything! Find out more here.

Be prepared to fall in love with Sara Ney and her captivating new adult romances! Being a well known jock-blocker gets Scarlett noticed for all the wrong reasons; just like that, she’s banned from Jock Row. Week-after-week, she visits Jock Row with her friends and is quarantined to the porch with one Sterling “Rowdy” Wade. As the weeks progress, the two find out how much they have in common and fall madly in love. Hilarious. witty, and filled with flirtatious fun, this audio was so uplifting and Scareltt and Rowdy’s romance is so real and honest. Drama free and filled with happiness!


Dark and Deep

Dark romance filled with deep emotion

It’s passionate and powerful; suspenseful and seductive. Kristen Ashley’s finale of the Honey series is an endless list of beautiful adjectives that add up to an explosive read. Stellan’s eyed the beautifully intriguing Sixx for longer than she could imagine. After waiting years for her to make a move he decides that only another Dom is willing to crack the shell of this mysterious femma fatale. What Stellan hadn’t planned on was not only culling the dominatrix but releasing the submissive inside.  In KA’s distinctive voice, I found a new hero within Sixx. In addition to our final Honey couple, KA dives into more worlds of the exotic and risque. Find out more about them here.

How can I describe how amazingly sexy and sweet this book is? I’m new to Laura Kaye’s Blasphemy series but you can bet your sweet butts I went out and bought the the rest of the entire series after I finished this book in the late hours of the night. I couldn’t put it down, couldn’t look away from the sheer power this book holds. Not for the faint of heart, On His Knees is filled with raw sexuality alongside a man coming to grips with the reality of his sexual preferences. Kaye’s depiction is honest and real and truly makes you understand what it means to go through the struggle of discovery. Find out more about this M/M romance here.

Holy Jesus….this was my first “age difference” romance and I am SOLD! Kylie Scott has been killing the standalone game and this did not disappoint. Adele is stuck staying with her father’s friend and business partner, Pete. Bad news? She’s been terribly in love with Pete for years and now that she’s older, she’s not quite sure what their relationship will be like (especially considering how badly it ended 7 years before). When a night of high emotions turns an argument into one steamy night, their worlds change forever. Not only does Pete have to come to terms with his feelings towards Adele, he has to come face to face with a future he never planned for with her. Another real and relatable romance from Scott; find out more here.

A YA novel from USA Today bestselling author Sarina Bowen. I’m so glad she’s decided to branch out once again and she’s delivered a compelling YA story about love, loss, and the power of music. Rachel’s daydreamed about her rockstar father for years, despite her mother’s protests. Now, her mother’s passed away and left Rachel in his hands just as she’s to turn 18 and experience the world on her own. But the imaginations of a little girl rarely match up to reality. Her dads not all rock god; he’s just a man with imperfections. The Accidentals truly emulates the rag-tag combination of teenage heartbreak and over abundance of emotions. It had me crying, it had my heart breaking, but the power of Rachel’s love of music and her family pulls readers through in the end for a warm ending worthy of any story. Dive in here.


LOVE & LAUGHTER

Cry from laughing instead of heartbreak

I was honestly taken by surprise with how emotional this book made me feel. There’s no terrible past from Jean about her child’s father. There’s no cataclysmic event to force Eric to decide what he wants. This a story about two people (technically three with the baby lol) who fall for each other all out of order. But who are we to judge. You never know what a relationship looks like to the two people in it. And Chaser is the soothing balm after the rough and rich stories of Vaughn and Joe. Scott couldn’t have done a better job on Eric’s story! Find out more here.

an all-new standalone in the USA Today bestselling Rugby Series from Penny Reid and L.H. Cosway. I didn’t want this series to end; I’ve loved it since the moment I started to read it. But Cosway and Reid go out with an amazing story filled with a spunky heroine and a secretive hero. Will, one of our beloved rugby players, is caught amidst a sports scandal as his sexy secret comes to light: he’s a voyeur. But he’s determined to clean up his so called dirty act for the team’s image. In comes the klutzy and foot-in-mouth speaking Josey as his new roommate and pseudo-babysitter. These characters are just plain heartwarming and I found myself laughing hysterically throughout the whole book. A wonderful ending to an amazing series! Find out more here.

OMG Sarina and Tanya deliver another hilarious five-star rom-com! Man Card features sassy, sexy Ash and hilariously metrosexual Braht as our hero and heroine. The two have spent months as “frenemies”; there’s chemistry (and one sexy time in a pantry!) between them but for some reason the attraction leads to an all out turf war as the two realtors love to one up one another. And of course one-upsmanship leads to some hysterical moments for them! Filled with riotous wit and endearingly flubbed sexy-times, Man Card easily slips into a five-star read status. Find out more here.

 

 

CONSUMED – A J.R. Ward Review

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Something has to be said for the power in Ward’s books. A new branch back into the contemporary world, Consumed is not only intrigued and a standout novel, readers won’t be able to predict what will happen and become addicted to finding out the truth. I highly recommend reading the two free novellas before diving in the world of Anne and Danny. They give a sneak peek into all our characters before a moment that changes all of their lives.

Anne is the solo female in her fire squad and has always felt she’s had an axe to grind (sorry for the pun there…). Determination and pure snark have gotten her this far and it’ll take more than smart-talking, playboy Danny to sweep her off her feet. But there’s a connection between the two of them when they’re int he field. They think in unison and anticipate each others needs and movements like no one she’s ever seen. His charm may not be his dazzling smile and sexy body, it just may be his dedication to being the best firefighter the city’s ever seen. But a split decision from Anne leaves the world they know in dust as he shatters their fragile relationship with one swing of his axe.

Now, Anne isn’t your typical fire inspector; haunted with the memories of her days of a firefighter, she’s in a constant mental and physical struggle to regain her confidence. Putting those memories behind her she dives into the mysterious warehouse fires and discovers a plot that goes deeper than anyone could ever imagine. Not to mention, Danny is back on her radar and diving headfirst into self-destruction. His pain over what happened to Anne during their last fire is eating him alive. The drinking, the fighting, the sex, all a coping mechanism to escape the night terrors and the pain he caused for the woman he loved. Spending more time with brings more pain but Danny will take what he can get. But this new Anne is making more discoveries then in her investigations; Danny’s secrets come to light as Anne has to come to terms with her own past and her city’s possible corruption.

This book is FILLED with twists and turns and new angles you won’t predict. Hooked from page one I had to know what Anne and Danny’s inner thoughts were. Ward does an incredibly job taking brutal, damaged characters and pulling those flaws right into the light, shoving them in to the face of readers and shouting “ACCEPT THEM”. Anne’s struggle with being the only female in her field versus her feelings towards not only Danny but her only family’s expectations created a very complex creature. Matched against Danny’s straight up “I loved her and I lost her” attitude makes for compelling drama. Add in the crime and suspense aspect and Consumed will do it’s own namesake to readers. It’s my latest five star read, but what else would you expect from The Warden herself. I can’t wait to see where our boys go next…


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From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the popular Black Dagger Brotherhood series comes a brand-new novel about arson investigator, Anne Ashburn, who is consumed by her troubled past, her family’s scorched legacy, and her current case: chasing a deadly killer.

Anne Ashburn is a woman consumed…

By her bitter family legacy, by her scorched career as a firefighter, by her obsession with department bad-boy Danny McGuire, and by a new case that pits her against a fiery killer.

Strong-willed Anne was fearless and loved the thrill of fighting fires, pushing herself to be the best. But when one risky decision at a warehouse fire changes her life forever, Anne must reinvent not only her job, but her whole self.

Shattered and demoralized, Anne finds her new career as an arson investigator a pale substitute for the adrenaline-fueled life she left behind. She doesn’t believe she will ever feel that same all-consuming passion for her job again–until she encounters a string of suspicious fires setting her beloved city ablaze.

Danny McGuire is a premiere fireman, best in the county, but in the midst of a personal meltdown. Danny is taking risks like never before and seems to have a death wish until he teams up with Anne to find the fire starter. But Danny may be more than a distraction, and as Anne narrows in on her target, the arsonist begins to target her.

From the creator of the bestselling Black Dagger Brotherhood, get ready for a new band of brothers. And a firestorm.

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ORDER YOUR COPY NOW

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FREE novellas out today in the Firefighter world! Grab your copy for FREE of The Wedding From Hell and meet Danny and Anne, the hero and heroine of CONSUMED

PART 1: https://amzn.to/2M65cm8
PART 2: https://amzn.to/2vrTbOj

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Meet The Warden

223848J.R. Ward is the author of over twenty novels, including those in her #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling series, The Black Dagger Brotherhood. There are more than 15 million copies of Ward’s novels in print worldwide and they have been published in 25 different countries around the world.

After graduating from law school, Ward  began working in healthcare in Boston and spent many years as Chief of Staff of one of the premier academic medical centers in the nation. She lives in the south with her incredibly supportive husband and her beloved golden retriever. Writing has always been her passion and her idea of heaven is a whole day of nothing but her computer, her dog and her coffee pot.

Visit the JRWard Facebook page for more on the Brotherhood or email her at jrw@jrward.com.

Twitter: @JRWard1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jrwardauthor/

Copy provided

2017 Top Reads

It’s that time again! the end of the year is my favorite because it gives me a chance to look back on all of the reading I’ve done and the crazy adventures I’ve gotten to go on. Whether it was new authors, new series, or new avenues, this year held some of the most jaw-dropping and heart-wrenching books I’ve ever read! I’ve got some of my favorites and their reviews to share with you but here’s a quick look from my Year in Review on Goodreads.

p.s. GoodReads lovers, you can add me here!

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WIN.jpg What I Need – J. Daniels

There’s something to be said about a southern gentleman who’s not afraid to talk dirty. Daniel’s CJ Tully is the perfect mix of sweet talkin’ man who will do whatever it takes to win his woman. But don’t let the cop uniform fool you….he’s downright dirty. And sweet Riley has to rumble her way around his confident feet.

Check out my full review of Tully’s tequila filled kisses here!

 

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The Deep End & The Farthest Edge – Kristen Ashley

You bet your sweet butt that KA is going to be on my list. Her latest dip into the dark erotic world of BDSM went live this year as she released two in the Honey Series. No stranger to strong men who aren’t afraid of what they like, our new heroes have a different tale to tell. With a switch up about alpha-subs and a delectable world of decadence and rules when it comes to sex, KA’s Honey Series either left you shocked or hanging on for more.

Read the full review for Olly and Amelie here and Branch & Evangeline here.

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Salvaged-cover-1.jpg Salvaged – Jay Crownover

Talk about your heroes that need saving. I had been dying for Poppy and Wheeler’s romance as it was a chance for two battered broken hearts to find love. This tear-jerker romance was one hell of a way for Crownover to end her Saints of Denver series with a BANG!

Read my full thoughts here.

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Checkmate: This is Dangerous & This is Beautiful – Kennedy Fox

Magical duo Brooke Cumberland & Lyra Parish revealed themselves as the elusive Kennedy Fox after releasing their final duet in the Checkmate series. And where the two previous duets were enemies and friends to lovers, the final pair was a heartbreaking tale of loss and what may never be. With a cliff ending for book 1 that left readers in shock, the duo closed the series with a one-two punch sure to make your top reads list.

Check out my reaction to Logan & Kayla’s tale here and their finale here.

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ALJackson-ShowMetheWayBookCover525x8_MEDIUM Show Me the Way – A.L. Jackson

My first A.L. Jackson novel and I AM HOOKED. In her new Fight For Me series, the first novel deals with single dad Rex fighting his attraction to his new neighbor Rynna. When dangers from their pasts their past threaten their lives and the life of his daughter…hold on.

Read my review of this heart-warming, coming home romance here.

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The Final Fight – J.B. Salsbury

If you’re looking for a tale that will break you apart emotionally then build you back up, then the dramatic final to Salsbury’s Fighting Series is the book for you. It’s somehow two tales in one; our hero Braden falls in love our heroine AJ but after going to war comes home a broken man who has to learn to love again.

Read the full review (with tears) here.

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IMG_2541 Hooking Up – Helena Hunting

Generally the queen of romcoms filled with slapstick humor, Hunting’s Hooking Up had readers wanting strangle our new heroine’s traitorous husband within minutes. Bit with Anarchy Amie taking charge, our sassy heroine takes charge of her life….with a new beau.

Read my (hero) spoiler-free review here.

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Ruthless King, Defiant, Queen & Sinful Empire – Meghan March

New to Meghan March these series completely blew me away with the dirtiest and darkest side of NOLA romance. Mount, the dark king of NOLA, claims our heroine Keira, body and soul, as a debt paid and the whole sordid tale spirals into madness from there. With cliff hangers and twist endings in each story, this trilogy was a journey straight to my favorite reads.

Read my initial reaction to Lachlan Mount here, to Keira standing her ground defiantly here, and the big finale of this sinful duo here.

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Honorable mentions: While I don’t review every book I read in the year, there are a few that still hit my top reads list.

 


Looking ahead…

With the close of 2017 comes the highly anticipated reads for 2018! Here’s some of my big wishes for the next 12 months:

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Dynamic duo Kennedy Fox blew us all away with their Checkmate series and as they come together for another series (technically two with the #BedtimeReads series!) we’ll get 4 novels based on the southern, country brothers of Courtney Bishop. Find out more about book one, Taming Him now.

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J. Daniels returns to her Dirty Deeds series and is bring us the heartbreaking tale of Stitch and Shayla. I cannot express how excited I am for this story! I’m all for a heartbroken man who needs some cute little lady to love him and fight for him! (In my mind it’s me, because I am claiming him!). You can check out an exclusive excerpt from Bad For You here.

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For fans of the fantasy romance Fever Series, Moning dives in again with a focus on Dani O’Malley in High Voltage. With her world seemingly in shambles after an all-encompassing battle against the Fae, a new view point and a new hero is sure to have fans begging for more!

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One of my all time favorites, Julie Ann Walker, closes out her beloved Black Knights Inc. series with Built to Last. Mysterious mercenary Angel may finally reveal his secrets as we say goodbye to this MC romance classic!

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Rom-com queen Helena Hunting teased a new book and new cover with Good Luck Charm. Her charming characters make for heartwarming, feel-good romance with no shortage of sexy times and hilarious moments. Find out more about this new standalone here.

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Beloved school teacher Josie may finally find her prince charming in Jaci Burton’s next Hope novel, One Perfect Kiss. Burton’s sweet romances have never failed to leave readers sighing and swooning over her hunky heroes. I for one can’t wait for some more wholesome romance!

THE CHOSEN – A J.R. Ward Event: Highlights

VIP guests were treated to a cover cookie and BDB stadium cup alongside their autographed copies of THE CHOSEN.

The WARDen’s back! And this time she’s here to talk about another controversial storyline: Xcor and Layla!

On a sunny Saturday afternoon in downtown Cincinnati where we lay our scene…

Many questions are simmering behind the 650 pairs of eyes of the room.

But only one is the most asked question of  all:

What is the next book?

THE THIEF!

And it will be Sola and Assail’s story! It will deal with the bloodslave that was found and it will affect Z greatly.

What the fuck is going on with V and Jane?

“If he hadn’t had only one ball, I would’ve taken it from him.”

Does he cheat? Physically or emotionally?

No, but it will get ugly.
V will show up in The Thief.

Why did Quinn have such a visceral reaction to Layla’s secret?

There needs to be lowest of the lows as well as the highs in these stories. There can’t always be middle ground.

Quinn and his reaction to Lyrics was Ward’s hardest part to write in The Chosen.

The Bastards are moving in! 

They will now be interwoven into the books and will eventually get their own books. Ward’s most excited for what she finds out about Sin!

The WARDen laughs as her faithful readers ask some outrageous questions!

Is Throe and his book and shadow friends related to Devina? 

YES! Devina is at the bottom of a well and she needs another vessel. We will see Eddie and Adrian as well!


Lassiter is now all powerful
and he brought in the Lessers knowing that the Brotherhood needed to be rid of them in order to be ready for what’s coming next: Devina.

Will there ever be another Insider Guide?

“It’s about time.” She is also going to speak with her publisher about getting a few novellas out for backstories, i.e. Scribe Virgin’s becoming.

Will the BDB ever end?

No! As long as it’s possible they will go on!

The WARDen’s swooping signature on the hundreds of copies handed out.

Will there ever be more small series like The Bourbon Kings?
Yes, but she can’t tell us yet!
Bourbon kings will wrap up in book 3. And EVERYTHING does get wrapped up.

Lassiter is bound to keep all of the promises The Scribe Virgin made.

Lassiter is getting a book!

Muhrder is coming back.

Novo, of the Legacy series, will be our next tough female heroine.

We will be seeing more of Harhm’s “extended family”.

Lassiter did have to sacrifice something in order to “bring back” Selena.


Will Terese know about Selena and her connection?

No, one other person besides Lassiter WILL find out.

The WARDen focusing on a reader’s question.

The Bastards will be inducted into the Brotherhood.

Lash will be coming back.

In regards to the Dehstroyer prophecy: due to The Scribe Virgin’s power shift to Lassiter, there will be a power shift in The Omega.

Luchas will be back; possibly in the Legacy series.

The coffins! Keep reading and we will find out what they mean. “It’s creepy as shit.”

WOLFEN! It’s someone we know!!!

Ideally, Ward would like to do a “focused, in the future” series on all of the children; including Nalla, L.W., Rhamp, and Lyric.

Is there a reason Nalla is having nightmares with shadows, especially now with Throe and his book? 

Keep reading…she has a special skill 😉

Finally the secret of Boo is REVEALED!!

“BOO IS THE SCRIBE VIRGIN! She’s been with them all along and she’s with them still.”

RandomHouse, Ward’s publisher, raffled off prize bags at the end of the event.

2016 GoodReads Reading Challenge: Pt. 1

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I’ve reached my goal!! Scroll down to see all my reads from this year…so far!

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Maya Banks: Softly at Sunrise, Forged in Steele, After the Storm, When Day Breaks, Darkest Before Dawn

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Maya Banks: Mastered, Keep Me Safe, In His Keeping

Karen Marie Moning: Feverborn

Erin McCarthy: Burn

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Maya Banks: Safe at Last, For Her Pleasure, Be With Me

Candy Starr: Too Many Rock Stars

Kate Dyer-Seeley: Slayed on the Slopes

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Yasmine Galenorn: Autumn Thorns

Kristen Ashely: Rock ChickRock Chick Rescue, Knight

Jaci Burton: Unexpected Rush

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Kristen Ashley: Rock Chick Redemption, Rock Chick Renegade, Rock Chick Revenge, Rock Chick Reckoning, Creed

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Kristen Ashley: Raid, Deacon, Sebring, Rock Chick Regret, Rock Chick Revolution

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Kristen Ashley: For You, At Peace, Golden Trail

Shiloh Walker: Darker than Desire

Patricia Briggs: Fire Touched

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Drew Jordan: Hide

Kristen Ashley: Games of the Heart, The Promise

J.R. Ward: The Beast

Katie MacAlister: Dragon Soul

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Kristen Ashley: Hold On, Bounty

Kresley Cole: The Player

Jay Crownover: Built, Charged

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Gena Showalter: The Darkest Torment

Maya Banks: Dominated

Kylie Scott: Dirty, Lick

Jay Crownover: Rule

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Jay Crownover: Jet, Rome, Nash, Rowdy, Asa

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Katie MacAlister: Daring in a Blue Dress

Jay Crownover: Honor

Sherrilyn Kenyon: Born of Legend

Julie Ann Walker: Devil and the Deep

Shiloh Walker: Headed for Trouble

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Katie MacAlister: Ghost of a Chance

Katie Ruggle: Gone Too Deep

Yasmine Galenorn: Flight from Mayhem

J.R. Ward: The Angels’ Share

M. O’Keefe: Burn Down the Night

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Jaci Burton: Don’t Let Go

Shiloh Walker: The Trouble with Temptation, The Right Kind of Trouble

Katie Ruggle: Hold Your Breath

Jay Crownover: Better When He’s Bad

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Maya Banks: With Every Breath

Jay Crownover: Better When He’s Bold, Better When He’s Brave

Katie Ruggle: Fan the Flames

Lynsay Sands: Runaway Vampire

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Lynsay Sands: Immortal Nights

Kresley Cole, Larissa Ione, and Gena Showalter: Blood Red Kiss

Yasmine Galenorn: Shadow Silence

Katie Ruggle: In Safe Hands

Erin McCarthy: Heart Breaker

I’ll add the rest of 2016 at the end of the year with the rest of the stats!

XOXO Nalla

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