Fading by E.K. Blair

Can a guilty conscience keep wounds from healing? Fine arts major, Candace Parker, grew up with a mother who thinks image is everything, and her daughter’s perfection will never be good enough. About to graduate college and pursue her dreams of becoming a professional ballerina, Candace decides it’s time to let go and have a little fun. But fun is short-lived when a brutal attack leaves her completely shattered. The memories that consume and torment Candace are starting to destroy her when she meets Ryan Campbell, a successful bar owner. He feels instantly connected and tries to show her that hope is worth fighting for. But is Ryan harboring his own demons? As walls slowly begin to chip away, the secrets that are held within start to become painful burdens. At what point do secrets become lies?

Initial Thoughts: The description was a little bland, but I've always loved movies/books about ballerinas. I think my clumsy self wishes I could be all Center Stage and kick ballerina ass. So I was intrigued by the ballerina aspect. And the cover is gorgeous.
The Pros: HO. LY. CRAP. This book was intense. SO INTENSE. The blurb does it NO justice whatsoever. This book was incredibly deep, emotional, and real.
Ryan. RYAN. Swooooon all over the place. Can all men be just like him? I mean, really. He was a dark haired Ryan Gosling superhero figure to me in this book.
This book makes you really examine what "family" means. Is it something you're born into? Or is it people you care about and look after?
Unlike most other romance novels out there, the relationship between Candace and Ryan evolves over time. They don't meet, fall in love, and get married in a month. Although there are extenuating circumstances, I really appreciated the gradual evolution of their relationship. Starting out holding hands, a first hug, a kiss on the cheek, this is real life. No "ohmygod I need you right now let's go to the bedroom" nonsense on the first date. It was refreshing.
Jason and Mark. Can you guys be my best friends too? I loved them.
The Cons: This book isn't a light read, and is not intended for younger readers. The subject matter can be disturbing and hard to get through, but it's worth it. So just a word of a caution.
Kimber annoyed the living daylights out of me. I was expecting to like her character after the first few pages, but after her and Candace's falling out, I wished that she had just been written out of the story.
NO EPILOGUE. I know that E.K. Blair is coming out with the story told from Ryan's point of view but I wanted an epilogue because I am greedy like that.
The Wrap Up: 5/5 BUY THIS BOOK RIGHT NOW. It is seriously one of the best books I've read this year. And maybe last year too. It will take you on an emotional roller coaster, but it is so, so worth it.
Buy Fading by E.K. Blair on Amazon.

Forever Black by Sandi Lynn

When Ellery moved to New York with her boyfriend, she thought they’d live happily ever after in their small New York apartment. She never thought he’d pack his bags and leave because he “needed space.” With her newfound single status and fear of being alone, Ellery buries herself in her artwork and paintings until one night she helps a mysterious intoxicated stranger get home safely. Little did she know the mysterious stranger is none other than CEO and millionaire Connor Black. After finding Ellery in his kitchen the next morning and assuming she broke his #1 rule about sleepovers, he becomes intrigued, not only by her stubbornness and defiance, but by her kindness. Connor Black, emotionally dead and damaged, that stemmed from a personal tragedy, made a vow to never love or fall in love with a woman, until Ellery Lane walked into his life by accident. After she opens up and shows him her world, Connor starts to feel emotions and feelings he never knew existed. Despite the rumors and warnings regarding Connor Black and his use and misuse of women, Ellery finds herself being drawn into his world. Ellery knows they can never be together because she is harboring a deep secret that could destroy Connor emotionally forever. Join Connor and Ellery as they embark on a journey of courage, love and strength. Will it be enough to save them?

Initial Thoughts: This one had been at the top of my Amazon recommendations for some time now and I finally gave in to see what all the hype was about.
The Pros: I really liked Ellery's character. She was stubborn and feisty and I loved it. It seems that in a post Fifty Shades literary world, the shy, "I'll do whatever you say" heroine is far too prevalent. Since that is the opposite of what I am, I hate that trend. Ellery was someone I could relate to. If I want ice cream, I want ice cream, and there is nothing you can do to stop me.
Ellery's secret was something I was but at the same time wasn't expecting. It was a huge secret, and it was something I hadn't experienced in a book before. It definitely changed the course that the book was going in.
Peyton was a great friend. She wasn't one of these fair weather "best friends" I often see in romance novels. She was really there for Ellery, even though they hadn't known each other for that long.
I liked the dynamic between Connor's staff and Ellery. There was no disconnect or hierarchy, and they all genuinely cared about Connor and Ellery.
The Cons: The whole situation with Ashlyn pissed me off. I get that Connor was scared of what she would do, but  christ on a bike.... bitch was cray!
Ellery's stubbornness grated on a me a few times during the novel. I know that is just her character, but it got a little too much at times.
I didn't find Connor that swoon worthy. I know, you think I'm crazy. I just didn't.
The ending seemed rushed and confusing. The two epilogues were disjointed and left me with a lot of questions. I guess it kept it open for the second book, but it was in a really weird way.
The Wrap Up: 3.5/5 I wanted to absolutely love this book like it seems everyone else did, but I didn't. I did like it, but it is nowhere near the top of my list.
Buy Forever Black by Sandi Lynn on Amazon.

Collide by Gail McHugh

A missed first encounter… Colliding with a second chance… On the heels of graduating college and trying to cope with her mother’s death, Emily Cooper moves to New York City for a fresh start. While harboring secrets of his own, Dillon Parker takes care of Emily through her grief. Knowing he can’t live without her by his side, he’s sweet, thoughtful, and everything Emily has ever wanted in a man. Until she meets Gavin Blake—a rich and notorious playboy who is dangerously sexy and charming as hell. Emily tries to deny the instant connection she feels, but Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome is not inclined to let go so easily. Recovering from his own painful past, Gavin will stop at nothing to win Emily over. This unexpected encounter compels Emily to question her decisions, forcing her to make a choice that will destroy friendships, shatter hearts, and forever change her life.

Initial Thoughts: Yet another "girl meets rich playboy but will be his undoing" novel. I didn't have very high expectations.
The Pros: Emily seemed like a relatable character. Her mother just died, she's clinging to the support of her boyfriend, and she's in a new city. Her life is a train wreck, naturally, and this book shows that. There is no pretending Emily is perfect in spite of her difficult position in life. She's real, and she's flawed. Like us readers.
HELLO GAVIN BLAKE. I love him. He's perfect. Honestly, I think he blows Christian Grey out of the water.
This book was full of DRAMA, but in a good way. You never knew what was going to happen next, and I love that in a book.
This was a true love triangle... none of this "oh I might love this super nice guy because he's what's best for me". This was a gritty, serious, drag out love triangle.
The Cons: The cliffhanger ending! I nearly died. But thank god there is a second book.
Olivia kind of bothered me. She seemed a little too self centered.
I hate Dillon. He reminds me of every guy I dated in my early 20s. But that's a personal problem... ha. This book got me MAD. I'm not sure if that's a good or a bad thing, but I was seriously emotionally invested in this book and found myself radiating anger more than once.
The Wrap Up: 4/5 Definitely not what I expected. AT ALL. This book kept me guessing, and the characters were real. There was no "sudden billionaire that grew up poor" or "innocent girl turned wild thing". Those characters have been overdone, and the characters in Collide were a refreshing change from the romance novel selection out there right now. This book shows you how your choices change your path of life.
Buy your copy of Collide by Gail McHugh on Amazon today.

Release Me by J. Kenner

Damien Stark could have his way with any woman. He was sexy, confident, and commanding: Anything he wanted, he got. And what he wanted was me. Our attraction was unmistakable, almost beyond control, but as much as I ached to be his, I feared the pressures of his demands. Submitting to Damien meant I had to bare the darkest truth about my past—and risk breaking us apart. But Damien was haunted, too. And as our passion came to obsess us both, his secrets threatened to destroy him—and us—forever.

Initial Thoughts:

I was given an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This book was recommended for Fifty Shades lovers, so naturally I had to read it.

The Pros:

The pageant world upbringing that Nikki had reminded me of Toddlers and Tiaras and how miserable those poor girls are. I have never read a book that contained that element.

Nikki is a flawed heroine. Her self-mutilation was a very, very real element of the book. How she struggled then, and how she struggles now were a big part of the book.

Nikki's friends Jamie and Ollie are good additions to the story line. While we don't know too much about them, Jamie brought comic relief at time, while Ollie provided us a doorway to Nikki's past.

I LOVED that Nikki was a brilliant woman. Her double major science degrees put her in a class that I have yet to read about in a romance novel. She is not your normal "too stupid to live" heroine. She fights everyday, and she's better for it.

There was plenty of witty banter back and forth to keep the reader entertained. I loved that although some of the subject matter was dark, the author was able to keep it light enough for it to not be a heavy read.

I couldn't put this book down. I HAD to know what happened next. Book crack. Definitely.

The Cons:

Not a huge fan of Damien. I feel like he wasn't described well enough physically for me to put a picture in my head. When I don't have a picture in my head of a character, I have a really hard time connecting with them. He was also so closed off, while Nikki was so forthcoming in her confessions. One sided relationships bother the crap out of me. 

The payment for the painting. It made Nikki seem like a prostitute. Yuck.

The Wrap Up: 4/5

Loved it! If there isn't going to be a sequel or this isn't turned into a series I will seriously cry. I have so many questions! If you liked Fifty and the Crossfire series, you will love Release Me.

Buy Release Me on Amazon January 1st, 2013.

Last Call by Jennifer Schmidt

Novalee Jensen thought what happened in Vegas would stay in Vegas, but two years later, her Vegas indiscretion shows up in her bar. Novalee’s fears come true as the sudden appearance of the stranger brings questions everyone wants answers to, and the secret she’s kept to herself for so long is exposed. Dean Philips is on a mission to find his wife and bring her back to Nevada, all without exposing his own secrets and lies. Lies that could not only cost him his fortune, but also the woman he’s yearned to know since that fateful night two years ago.

Initial Thoughts:

I was given an ARC of this book by NetGalley. Vegas + secrets + lies = I'm in.

The Pros:

This book was heartwarming. Novalee is just so sweet. She's been handed a rough deck of cards in her life, but she's made it out on top.

Dean's progression from miserable drunk to heartthrob was a fun ride to be on. His love for someone he barely knows (even though she's his wife) was confusing yet romantic at the same time.

The fact that they stayed faithful to each other for 2 years even when they both thought the other person didn't know about the marriage = soooo cute.

I liked that even though Novalee had no biological family, she had a family in her friends and patrons.

The Cons:

The plot line was hardly original, and it was a bit predictable.

I doubt I would have taken Dean back after all his lies, but this is a romance novel. Sins are always forgiven.

The Wrap Up: 3.5

A quick, cute read. Nothing out of the ordinary, but a good choice for a book that doesn't require you to think too much.

Buy Last Call on Amazon.

About Last Night by Ruthie Knox

Cath Talarico knows a mistake when she makes it, and God knows she’s made her share. So many, in fact, that this Chicago girl knows London is her last, best shot at starting over. But bad habits are hard to break, and soon Cath finds herself back where she has vowed never to go . . . in the bed of a man who is all kinds of wrong: too rich, too classy, too uptight for a free-spirited troublemaker like her. Nev Chamberlain feels trapped and miserable in his family’s banking empire. But beneath his pinstripes is an artist and bohemian struggling to break free and lose control. Mary Catherine—even her name turns him on—with her tattoos, her secrets, and her gamine, sex-starved body, unleashes all kinds of fantasies. When blue blood mixes with bad blood, can a couple that is definitely wrong for each other ever be perfectly right? And with a little luck and a lot of love, can they make last night last a lifetime?

Initial Thoughts:

I was given a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. It had come up a few times on my recommended lists but I had hesitated on buying it. For some reason (probably my Catholic roots), I hated the name Mary Catherine and that made me not want to read it? Ridiculous, I know.

The Pros:
Holy crap was this an emotional read. I read it in one sitting. Could not put it down.

Although Cath has made mistakes, it really does appear that she has learned and grown from them. In a lot of romance novels, people's mistakes are either forgiven or forgotten. Not this one. Cath learned the hard way and she's not going to let herself make the same mistakes again.

Um, Nev is perfect. Minus his family thing, he is absolutely perfect. Patient, caring, and kind, he's what every little girl (and some boys!) dream of.

The steady progression of their romance was refreshing. And the fact that the ending doesn't go as most romance novels go. I don't want to spoil it, but I was really pleased with it.

The Cons:
The name Mary Catherine, as I already said.

I wanted to know a bit more about Cath's background. Is she still close with her aunt and uncle who took her in? I felt like it was such a big part of her that was just explained in a few pages. It wasn't enough for me.

The fact that she had zero friends was off-putting. I know she said she works a lot, and she had some sort of relationship with Judith, but it seemed strange that she had no friends.

The Wrap Up: 4.5/5
Something about this book... I just loved it. It had the right balance of emotion, romance, and intelligence.

Buy About Last Night on Amazon.

The Librarian by Logan Belle

Inspired by the story of the iconic Bettie Page, Logan Belle’s sizzling erotic novel explores the transformation of Regina Finch from shy librarian to the object of one powerful man’s all-consuming desire. Regina Finch, brilliant and bookish, has worked her way up to her dream job as a librarian at the Main Branch of the New York Public Library. But her discovery of the sordid sexual adventures of a rakish, young billionaire among the hallowed halls and sacred stacks of the library unleashes a confusing blend of repulsion and desire that threatens to consume her. It is only through her introduction to the work of Bettie Page—the world’s most popular ingenue-turned-fetish-model—and Page’s own sexual awakening that Regina can hope to discover her sexual prowess and seduce the man she loves.

Initial Thoughts:

I was given an ARC of this novel through NetGalley. Also, a book about a librarian? Sold.

The Pros:

I absolutely adored that Regina was a librarian. People see librarians as grandmother type figures that are uptight and stuffy. This book blew that stereotype out of the water.

The reverence that the author paid the New York Public Library was amazing. I felt like I was right there in the library with Regina and Sebastian. 

The author touched on the all too real subject of our nation's libraries closing. This is a SERIOUS issue and more attention needs to be paid to it.

I loved the character of Carly. In the beginning of the book I didn't care for her much, but as the book goes on and her relationship with Regina grows, I also grew to love her.

The relationship between Regina and Sebastian was not your typical BDSM relationship that you see in many novels these days. The padlock Tiffany necklace instead of a collar was a nice touch.

The Cons:

While I feel like Regina's character was well developed, I thought Sebastian's was underdeveloped. 

The ending felt cut off and short. It left a lot of questions unanswered.

I didn't like the name Regina. Maybe because I had a nun in school named Sister Regina. Who knows.

The Wrap Up: 4/5

This was not your typical romance novel and I loved it. I will definitely be checking out other books by this author.

Buy a copy of The Librarian by Logan Belle here.

Lucky Break by Kelley Vittolo

She’ll gamble her heart on the best friend she left behind… One lucky break is all struggling actress Sidney Williams needs. But when living the LA life becomes too much, she heads back to the small town of Shamrock Falls for the vacation she needs to get her life on track—and immediately runs into Kade Mitchell, her former best friend and the boy next door she’s always regretted leaving behind. Kade, the new owner of Lucky’s—once the most popular bar in Shamrock Falls—is determined to bring the place back to its former glory, and seeing Sidney again is a distraction he doesn’t need. Sure, the chemistry between them is explosive, but Kade can’t let himself fall into a fling with his best friend—not when he knows she’s soon heading back to the glitter of Tinseltown. Now, with the possibility of her first major acting role looming, Sidney must decide if her lucky break is in Hollywood or right where she left it—in Shamrock Falls.

Initial Thoughts: I was given a free copy of this book from Entangled Publishing through NetGalley. I'm a sucker for hometown stories like this one.
The Pros: Kade. Oh Kade. So, so sweet. I just wanted to hug that boy. And maybe more... :)
I liked that she wasn't too broken up about her LA boyfriend dumping her. He seemed like a total tool.
Having a support system in place when you return home like Sidney does with Rowan and eventually Kade is invaluable. 
Sidney doesn't look poorly upon her hometown even though she has been exposed to the bright lights of LA. 
It seems like in a lot of books that I read that as soon as someone "makes it big", they think less of their hometown. This book was thankfully not like that.
I loved the flashbacks to their childhood. It really brought together the picture of who these three people were then and now.
The Cons: It was a bit too simplistic for my tastes, but it had a good story line.
I wish it was a bit longer. I could have used a little more Kade!
I think having Aunt Mae play a larger part in the story would have provided some much needed comic relief.
The nickname "Peaches" made me gag.
The Wrap Up: 3.5/4 A decent, quick romance read. I enjoyed it, but it wasn't something that I couldn't wait to tell my friends about.
Buy a copy of Lucky Break by Kelley Vittolo on Amazon.

On the Island by Tracey Garvis Graves

When thirty-year-old English teacher Anna Emerson is offered a job tutoring T.J. Callahan at his family's summer rental in the Maldives, she accepts without hesitation; a working vacation on a tropical island trumps the library any day. T.J. Callahan has no desire to leave town, not that anyone asked him. He's almost seventeen and if having cancer wasn't bad enough, now he has to spend his first summer in remission with his family - and a stack of overdue assignments - instead of his friends. Anna and T.J. are en route to join T.J.'s family in the Maldives when the pilot of their seaplane suffers a fatal heart attack and crash-lands in the Indian Ocean. Adrift in shark-infested waters, their life jackets keep them afloat until they make it to the shore of an uninhabited island. Now Anna and T.J. just want to survive and they must work together to obtain water, food, fire, and shelter. Their basic needs might be met but as the days turn to weeks, and then months, the castaways encounter plenty of other obstacles, including violent tropical storms, the many dangers lurking in the sea, and the possibility that T.J.'s cancer could return. As T.J. celebrates yet another birthday on the island, Anna begins to wonder if the biggest challenge of all might be living with a boy who is gradually becoming a man.

Initial Thoughts:
There was so much buzz around this book I just had to read it.
The Pros:
This book was like Castaway with a dash of Mrs. Robinson. In the best possible way.
The description of the island and the characters was flawless. I felt like I was there with Anna and TJ on the island. Also, I think that the author did a phenomenal job of writing about events that really would happen if you were a castaway. Sharks, storms, chickens, you name it, she thought of it.
The growing romance between TJ and Anna was natural, not awkward in any way, shape, or form. It was a beautiful love story. It wasn't creepy, just sweet.
The idea that the cancer could come back at any time haunted me throughout the book. At every page turn, I was like "omg. is the cancer back?".
This book is a self-pub but I found no mistakes and the writing was phenomenal.
The Cons:
I'm not a huge fan of dual first person narratives.
The Wrap Up: 5/5
One of the best books I've ever read. Seriously.
Favorite Quote: "'What's it like being with her? Is it true what they say about older chicks?' 'She's not that much older.' 'Uh, okay. So anyway, how is it?' 'It's incredible.' 'What's she do?' 'She does everything, Ben.'"
Get your copy of On the Island on Amazon.

Mystery Man by Kristen Ashley (Dream Man #1)

While drinking cosmopolitans, Gwendolyn Kidd meets the man of her dreams. Then she takes him home. Then she wakes up alone. But her fear that she lost her dream man turns into a relationship with a mystery man when, night after night in the dead of night, he comes back for more. Hoping it will blossom into something real, she lets him. But she doesn’t even know his name. Gwen’s struggling with the decision to end their crazy non-relationship when her sister-from-hell, Ginger’s best friend pays a visit and warns Gwen that if she and her sister don't get smart, they'll both get d-e-a-d, dead. Gwen has no clue what’s going on but she’s used to Ginger’s antics and decides to lay the problem on her sister’s biker boyfriend's doorstep. Bad choice. She hits the Denver Underground radar with a big, loud ping. This means Gwen’s Mystery Man, Cabe “Hawk” Delgado has to step in to keep her safe. But when Hawk gets a dose of Gwen in the daylight, he makes the decision that he finally wants real with Gwen. However when Gwen gets a dose of badass, bossy, straight-talker Hawk in the daylight, she decides she’s done. Thus begins the head-to-head of the Commando vs. Cosmo Girl as Hawk woos Gwen in his own unique way, Gwen survives firebombs, drive-bys, kidnappings, hot pursuits by biker hotties and gorgeous police detectives and discovers the heartbreaking reason why Hawk kept her at arm’s length. And as all this happens, Gwen finds that her sister’s troubles are serious trouble and she must decide who to keep alive: her sister-from-hell or the man of her dreams.

First Impression: I really liked the Colorado Mountain Man series, so this series was next up on my list. And it had a martini on the front. I like martinis.
The Pros: This book was pretty much the Colorado Mountain Man series set in Denver. If you liked CMM like I did, you'll like this one too. If not, then this isn't the one for you.
Hawk. HAWK. I mean, come on. His name is Hawk. Can't get much hotter than that.
I liked the underlying theme of family, and what family means.
Tack seemed scary at first, but he was actually a good guy. He looked out for Gwen when she needed him, and didn't push any boundaries.
Epilogue. Incredible. Loved it.
The Cons: Gwen was a bit stupid. But we can't have a macho man without a tad stupid heroine, right?
Ginger Kidd. Seriously? Of all the things you can name a person, Ginger Kidd? 
I wasn't a huge fan of Mitch Lawson. Something about him just annoyed me.
The whole mystery man aspect in the beginning of the book was a bit too weird for me. Sneaking into her house? She never knew his name? But he knew everything about her? Creepy.
The Wrap Up: 3.5/5 Another solid Kristen Ashley novel. It has all of her normal themes: macho men, kind of stupid heroine, action, kidnapping, sex. I docked it a half star just for the whole creepy stalkerish beginning.
Favorite Quote: "You live in your head too much, you curl up and shut shit out and spend so much time doing it, you forget to live your life. You can't live your life in your head. That isn't living."
Buy Mystery Man by Kristen Ashley on Amazon.

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

Deep in the stacks of Oxford's Bodleian Library, young scholar Diana Bishop unwittingly calls up a bewitched alchemical manuscript in the course of her research. Descended from an old and distinguished line of witches, Diana wants nothing to do with sorcery; so after a furtive glance and a few notes, she banishes the book to the stacks. But her discovery sets a fantastical underworld stirring, and a horde of daemons, witches, and vampires soon descends upon the library. Diana has stumbled upon a coveted treasure lost for centuries-and she is the only creature who can break its spell.

Initial Thoughts: This has been on my wish list on Amazon since I got my Kindle a year and a half ago. It had great reviews, but as soon as I saw the word "vampire" I was turned off. It felt like everyone and their mom had a vampire book out last year. I went through my wish list recently and decided that it was time I gave it a try.
The Pros: It felt like this book was a mixture of Harry Potter, a romance novel, and a dash of Twilight. I think that's good? Pretty sure it's good.
The historic detail in this novel was fantastic. I'm a big historical fiction fan, so this was awesome for me.
Harkness is a fabulous writer. No Stephenie Meyer nonsense here. Her descriptions left you feeling like you were in the book, not just reading it.
We read about vampires and witches all the time. Harkness adds daemons to this list. No werewolves. No fairies. No hobbits. Thank god.
I liked the scientific aspect of this book. Taking supernatural beings down to a DNA level was fascinating.
The Cons: I was confused about the daemons. What were they really? Do they have a different lifespan than humans and witches? Do they live forever like vampires? What were their talents, other than being slightly inclined to higher IQs?
The book had a slow start. Slow starts are not good for me. I tend to lose interest and walk away from the book. Luckily, I stuck with it, which was rewarding in the end.
Diana is an intelligent woman (she DOES have a PhD in something fancypantsy after all), but she acts like a child multiple times in the book,
Matthew was a bit overbearing for my taste. And I like macho men in my novels. So that's saying something.
The Wrap Up: 3.5/5 I liked the book, but I think it could have been trimmed down a little. It was a monster sized book (just under 600 pages!) and I think the attention to detail, while good, could have been cut back a little. Less overbearing with Matthew, and more strength from Diana, and this book would have been perfect.
Favorite Quote: "My life now has a beginning, middle, and an end. Everything before you was a preamble. Now I have you. One day you will be gone, and my life will be over."
Buy A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness on Amazon.

Rock Chick by Kristen Ashley (Rock Chick #1)

Indy Savage, cop's daughter, rock chick and used bookstore owner, has been in love with Lee Nightingale, once bad boy, now the man behind Nightingale Investigations, since she was five years old. No matter what ingenious schemes Indy used to capture his attention, Lee never showed an interest and Indy finally gave up. Now Indy's employee, Rosie, has lost a bag of diamonds and bad guys are shooting at him. When Indy gets involved, Lee is forced to help. Complicting matters, Lee has decided he's interested, Indy's decided she's not. But she can't seem to keep Lee out of her life when she's repeatedly stun gunned, kidnapped and there are car bombs exploding (not to mention she's finding dead bodies). Indy's best bet is to solve the mystery of the diamonds before Lee. Lee's challenge is to keep Indy alive and, at the same time, win back her heart.

Initial Thoughts: Kristen Ashley has become one of my favorite authors, and Rock Chick is the first in her bestselling Rock Chick series. Badass girls and macho men? I'm SO in.
The Pros: I loved how this story has a history. It's not a boy meets girl, girl falls in love with boy, boy realizes he can't live without the girl, they live happily ever after, kind of story. Indy and Lee have known each other their entire lives. That adds a special something to the book.
Nightingale Investigations... can I work for you? And hang out with your bevy of macho men hotties?
Indy and Ally are hilarious. And huge troublemakers. This book had me laughing at many points.
Kristen Ashley's use of language varies between characters. It feels like they are really speaking to you.
The Cons: Indy could be annoying at times. I wanted to just grab her by the shoulders and say "STAY OUT OF IT!"
I didn't quite get the whole "Rock Chick" thing. Are they groupies? Are they not? Are they stuck in the days of 80's hair bands?
The Wrap Up: 4/5 I really liked this book. Funny, action packed, with a side of romance. I couldn't wait to read the next in the series.
Favorite Quote: "Your grandmother used to say that you were two souls separated in heaven. She mainly meant you were both trouble and deserved each other."
Buy Rock Chick by Kristen Ashley on Amazon.

Knight by Kristen Ashley

Anya Gage has learned that to get anything good in life, you have to work for it. She has no expectations, no dreams. Then she finds herself at a party where she doesn’t want to be and she meets Knight. Knight Sebring knows who he is, what he wants and what he likes. And he gets it. But he never expected something as sweet as Anya Gage to wander into his bedroom during a party he did not expect to be having to borrow his phone. Knight tries to leave Anya to the life she deserves of white picket fences and a man who watches football on Sundays – good, normal and clean. But when Anya comes to his nightclub and finds herself in a situation, he knows someone has to look after her, he can’t fight it anymore and he decides that man will be him. Knight teaches Anya that, just as with the bad, in life you should also expect the good. And he teaches her this by giving it to her. But Knight has a dark past and just as he desires Anya for exactly who she is, he fears when she finds out exactly the man he has become and always intends to be, she’ll leave him for good, normal and clean.

Initial Thoughts: I have grown to LOVE Kristen Ashley books. I have read the entire Colorado Mountain Man, Mystery Man, and Rock Chick Series. I'm currently working my way through the 'Burg series, but this one by her caught my eye, so I took a break from the 'Burg to read this one.
The Pros: This book was completely different than Ashley's other novels. It was a refreshing change of pace for her.
Ashley left behind her normal Denverite speak for this one. I can't decide if that's good or bad, I think I've grown to like it.
Knight was MUCH hotter than KA's other novels. Much. Much. Much much. 
There were some really sweet quotes from Knight that made me go all "awwwwww!" 
The Cons: Anya calling Knight "Daddy". Um. Ew?
It felt like a Fifty Shades knock off, and not in a good way.
Knight's actual  business was SHOCKING. And how could Anya stay with him after that? She barely even thought about it.
The whole novel felt a little rushed. Maybe she should have broken it down into two books and took a little more time on character development.
The Wrap Up: 3/5 I think I like Kristen Ashley's typical novels better. This one just seemed a little too forced for me, and the "Daddy" bit creeped me right out.
Favorite Quote: " 'Wars fought over a face like this,' he murmured like he was talking to himself, my heart stopped beating and his thumbs moved lightly across my cheeks. 'A man would work himself into the ground for it, go down to his knees to beg to keep it, endure torture to protect it, take a bullet for it,' his eyes came to mine, 'poison his brother to possess a face like this.' "
Buy Knight by Kristen Ashley on Amazon now.

The Gamble by Kristen Ashley

Nina Sheridan’s on a timeout adventure in the Colorado Mountains. She needs distance from her clueless fiancé, distance to decide whether she wants to spend the rest of her life with a man who doesn’t care enough to learn how she takes her coffee. Arriving in a blinding snowstorm at the A-Frame she rented, she comes face to face with the most amazing man she’s ever seen. Minutes later, when he kicks her out of his house, she goes head to head with him. Beyond angry because she’s flown half a world away to start her timeout adventure, not to mention her sinuses hurt, she heads back down the mountain and ends up in a ditch. Unable to extricate herself, she gives up, hopes for rescue and falls asleep in the backseat. The next morning she wakes up in the amazing man’s bed and she’s sick as a dog. Holden Maxwell spends days nursing her back to health and then he spends the next two weeks trying to convince her to take her Colorado adventure further, in other words, make it permanent and take a gamble on him. Nina has a tough time fighting her attraction to Max, especially when it seems all Max’s friends, her mother and stepdad and the whole town want them together and both she and Max get embroiled in the murder of Max’s ex-friend and the town of Gnaw Bone’s most detested resident – a man everyone has motive to kill, especially Max.

Initial Thoughts:
This book kept popping up at the top of my GoodReads recommendations, but I kept putting it off. Much like I did with Gabriel's Inferno by Sylvain Reynard, and we all know how wrong I was in putting that one off. I think the cover of this one bored me. What can I say? I'm a visual person.
The Pros:
"Macho, macho man. I want to be, a macho man." That's what I had in my head the entire book. HEL-LO. 
Max is the ultimate macho man. And sweet at the same time? Too good to be true. It IS a romance novel after all.
For some reason, Nina being partly British was interesting to me. I like their accents. I am vain.
Max taking care of Nina while she was sick, without knowing a thing about her, was so sweet. 
This book is funny! I now call girls I hate "she bitches from hell" thanks to Nina's lovely comments about Max's ex.
The side story lines in this book are so well thought out, they could be stand alone stories. 
Epilogue! I love epilogues. I crave closure in books, and I love when I get to see everything come full circle.
The Cons: Max's deceased wife probably should have been discussed much earlier in their relationship. That just isn't healthy.
At times, the book got a little outlandish and hard to believe. But it's fiction, so whatever.
I didn't love the "Duchess" nickname. It kind of freaked me out.
The Wrap Up: 4/5 A great, LONG, romance read. There are some steamy scenes thrown in here and there, but this book has some serious substance with some lasting life lessons. A must read!

Gabriel's Rapture by Sylvain Reynard

Professor Gabriel Emerson has embarked on a passionate, yet clandestine affair with his former student, Julia Mitchell. Sequestered on a romantic holiday in Italy, he tutors her in the sensual delights of the body and the raptures of sex. But when they return, their happiness is threatened by conspiring students, academic politics, and a jealous ex-lover. When Gabriel is confronted by the university administration, will he succumb to Dante's fate? Or will he fight to keep Julia, his Beatrice, forever? In Gabriel's Rapture, the brilliant sequel to the wildly successful debut novel, Gabriel's Inferno, Sylvain Reynard weaves an exquisite love story that will touch the reader's mind, body, and soul, forever.

Initial Thoughts: You can read my review of the first book, Gabriel's Inferno, here. I love love LOVED that book, so reading the follow-up was a no brainer.  The Pros: Okay. Let's get this straight. Sylvain Reynard is a PHENOMENAL writer. Each sentence felt like poetry. As in the first novel, the continued references to literature, art, and architecture were not only interesting to read about, but I felt like I was actually learning along the way. Imagine that, LEARNING from a romance novel! (Although, I did learn the geography of the Portland area through 50 Shades...) The scenes in Italy were straight out of a fairy tale romance, even with a villain :) The fact that Gabriel and Julia had to face responsibility for their actions was refreshing. Many novels you think, "you would never get away with that in real life!" and in this one, they didn't get away with it. They had to face devastating consequences. Julia finds strength through the challenges she faces, growing from the immature college student, to a mature woman. Like in the first, passion is key in this novel. Everything from a simple kiss to the sex scenes conveyed the passion they felt for one another. Cons: What happened to Paul? What happened to Christa? I felt like there were a few ends that weren't tied up. Julia kind of made me a little crazy in this book. She seemed a little immature. Gabriel made a few rather large decisions about their relationship without consulting Julia. Not cool, buddy. The protective man-ness can only be considered hot up to a certain point. Then it's just annoying. The Wrap Up: 4.5/5 Another outstanding read from Sylvain Reynard. It was almost as good as the first, but really, how can you top that? Favorite Quote: "She is not my equal; she is my better. She is my sticky little leaf."

Insanity by Lauren Hammond

Sometimes love...can drive you crazy. Adelaide Carmichael and Damien Allen couldn't be more opposite. Adelaide's mother abandoned her when she was ten years old, leaving her to be raised by her abusive and alcoholic father. Damien on the other hand came from a wealthy family, was a local celebrity, and seemed to have a bright future ahead of him. Despite their differences, Adelaide and Damien were young, wild, and fiercely in love. And they had a plan. They were going to run away. Be together forever. And their plan was set in motion, until tragedy struck and for some reason, Adelaide wound up in The Oakhill Institution for the insane. Adelaide has no idea what she did to wind up at Oakhill, but she knows one thing for sure... She wants out. And after Damien follows her there to aid her in escaping, Adelaide slowly begins putting together the pieces of her memory that are missing. And it doesn't take Adelaide long to figure out that sometimes... That one true love never dies.

Initial Thoughts:
A romance set in an insane asylum? I'm in.
The Pros:
The flashbacks between her life then and her life now painted a brilliant picture of psychiatric care in the past.
The characters inside the insane asylum were so interesting.
Her Romeo and Juliet-esque romance with Damien was cliche, but sweet.
How she dealt with the monster that is her father for that long, I have no idea.
Is she crazy? Is she not? This books keeps you guessing.
The Cons:
There were parts of the book that left me really confused. I know there are multiple books in the series, so 
I'm hoping my questions are answered in future books.
It was hard to read about some of the "treatments" they used back then. It left me haunted.
The Wrap Up: 4/5
Wonderful start to an eerie series. It really gives you a history of psychiatric care and what love can do to a person.
Favorite Quote: "I love her son like he's the oxygen in my lungs, the plasma in my bloodstream, and the rapid pulsating beat of my heart. Sometimes I feel like I love him so much it aches when I'm not near him. It's like tiny pricks from a sewing needle jabbing into me repeatedly. I miss him so much that since yesterday my heart has felt like a towering inferno and there isn't any water or a fire extinguisher around to put it out. I'm burning, burning, burning. I want to burn eternally."

The Opportunist by Tarryn Fisher

Olivia Kaspen has just discovered that her ex-boyfriend, Caleb Drake, has lost his memory. With an already lousy reputation for taking advantage of situations, Olivia must decide how far she is willing to go to get Caleb back. Wrestling to keep her true identity and their sordid past under wraps, Olivia’s greatest obstacle is Caleb’s wicked, new girlfriend; Leah Smith. It is a race to the finish as these two vipers engage in a vicious tug of war to possess a man who no longer remembers them. But, soon enough Olivia must face the consequences of her lies, and in the process discover that sometimes love falls short of redemption.

Initial Thoughts: While perusing my Goodreads for new book suggestions, I saw a lot of people had given this book 5 stars, so I gave it a go.
The Pros: The psychological aspect of this book was what kept me reading.
The author really demonstrated how every choice you make affects your future. Olivia has a lot of her choices thrown back in her face.
That's about all I can come up with for Pros.
The Cons: What the hell is wrong with Olivia? And Leah? There was not a sane girl to be found in this book.
Also, what is wrong with Caleb? I still can't understand his motives.
The flashbacks got confusing after awhile.
There wasn't enough of a plot line for me to even consider liking this book.
The Wrap Up: 1/5 Probably the only book this year that I really didn't like. It was just too effed up for me to even remotely understand what was going on. 

Favorite Quote: I didn't have one.

Backstage Pass by Olivia Cunning

Five stunning guys, one hot woman, and a feverish romance... For him, life is all music and no play... When Brian Sinclair, lead songwriter and guitarist of the hottest metal band on the scene, loses his creative spark, it will take nights of downright sinful passion to release his pent-up genius... She's the one to call the tune... When sexy psychologist Myrna Evans goes on tour with the Sinners, every boy in the band tries to seduce her. But Brian is the only one she wants to get her hands on... Then the two lovers' wildly shocking behavior sparks the whole band to new heights of glory...and sin...

Initial Thoughts:

This was one of the "must read after Fifty Shades" books that were recommended to me. The cover looked a little steamier than I was used to, but I figured it was worth a try.

The Pros:

Character development. You got to know each of the characters so well in this book. I figure that's because each guy is going to have his own novel, but it made the story so much richer by giving you info on all the people involved in the storyline.

This book had an actual plot. Yes. You read right. An erotic romance with an actual plot. And it was GOOD.

Myrna is a smart, no-nonsense lady. I liked that.

Brian = biggest sweetheart I could ever dream up. He has the biggest heart.

I love me some rockstar romances, and this was the epitome of it.

This book was FUNNY. There was a lot of moments that had me laughing out loud.

The Cons:

The name Myrna. Really? I get that she was supposed to be sexy librarian-like but the old lady name was really "ew" to me.

They probably could have toned down the sex a bit. There were parts where I was like "uhhh... again?".

"Master Sinclair" was a little creepy. It was an alter ego that didn't fit Brian at all.

The situation with Brian's parents seemed forced. It probably could have been left out.

The Wrap Up: 4/5

Probably the best erotic romance I've read since Fifty Shades. It didn't quite have the plot line pros that Fifty did, but it wasn't just smut.

Favorite Quote:

"I need a million dollars to pay the ransom on my kidnapped poodle."

Scandalous by Ella Steele

Millionaire Jack Gray earned his fortune creating erotic art for a discerning clientele. He doesn’t use a brush to depict these hauntingly beautiful portraits—he uses bare skin. A sterling reputation is the only thing standing between Jack and poverty as he skirts the thin line between fine art and cheap sensationalism. To ensure that his character remains beyond reproach, an assistant observes his sessions. While interviewing for a new assistant, Jack hears her voice—Abby Tyndale—the girl who got away. The last time Jack saw her was over a decade ago. After years of romantic tension she had nearly kissed him, but then disappeared without a trace. He hasn’t seen her since. Until now. When he learns that his lost love joined the clergy after she fled to West Texas, his heart sinks. She’s forbidden, forever set apart by her vows. Jack’s life quickly spins out of control as Abby grows closer to him, and worsens when his client list is stolen. The financial blow alone is damning, but it’s the scandal brewing beneath the surface that he fears the most. Jack and Abby’s livelihoods rely on their reputations. A single scandal will destroy them both. While fearing a contrived scandal, they have courted a very real one as their romance reignites.

Initial Thoughts: The cover was beautiful. I hadn't seen a cover like that ever before. Also, the aspect of Abby being "clergy" was oddly interesting.
The Pros: I had never read a romance novel involving a nun. This was new. And intriguing.
The art aspect in this book was really interesting to me. As a former (and sometimes current) artist, I really liked the way they described Jack's process of creating his art. Also, the fine line between what is considered pornographic and art is explored in this novel.
Abby deals with her past, present, and future when all of it collides when she returns to NYC. After initially balking at the idea of that, she faces it head on.
The reason why Abby was forced to take a "sabbatical" is amazing. I loved it. 
The Cons: I felt like the novel moved too fast. The author could have turned this into a really great love story if she would have just taken her time.
Typos. You guys know how I feel about those.
The ending? Confusing. Rushed. Not well thought out.
Jack wasn't described well enough to be considered a true romance heartthrob.
The Wrap Up: 3/5 Decent, quick romance read. If you're looking for in depth romance, you won't find it here. But this is a great beach read.
Favorite Quote: "Before I could speak, a voice came from the shadow at the end of the room. "So that's where you went? Texas." That voice. It made my stomach flip. My body was instantly covered in goosebumps, every hair standing on end. Something inside my chest ached when he spoke. Although I hadn't heard it in years, I recognized his warm playful tone instantly. I'd know him anywhere."

The Bungalow by Sarah Jio

In the summer of 1942, twenty-one-year-old Anne Calloway, newly engaged, sets off to serve in the Army Nurse Corps on the Pacific island of Bora-Bora. More exhilarated by the adventure of a lifetime than she ever was by her predictable fiancé, she is drawn to a mysterious soldier named Westry, and their friendship soon blossoms into hues as deep as the hibiscus flowers native to the island. Under the thatched roof of an abandoned beach bungalow, the two share a private world-until they witness a gruesome crime, Westry is suddenly redeployed, and the idyll vanishes into the winds of war. A timeless story of enduring passion, The Bungalow chronicles Anne's determination to discover the truth about the twin losses-of life, and of love-that have haunted her for seventy years.

Initial Thoughts:

Uh, the title of the book is The Bungalow. Which means I was sold from the get go.

The Pros:

This is wonderfully executed historical fiction. I was so involved in the characters lives, that by the end of the book I was so sad to be finished.

The way that the author paints a picture of the island really makes you feel like you were there with Anne.

I learned a lot about WWII and how bases were during this time.

The dynamic between Anne and her best friend, Kitty, changes throughout the book which kept me guessing.

There were so many twists and turns that this book was nearly impossible to put down.

The way the story was told from the past and the present was very interesting.

The Cons:

I didn't like who Anne ended up "choosing".

Gerard's character was vastly underdeveloped.

I couldn't get a feel for how I really felt about Anne's mother. 

Kitty's motives were unclear. Why did she do all of those horrible things? What changed her so much?

The Wrap Up: 4.5/5

I loved this book. I finished it in one sitting. After I finished, I had that heavy heart feeling. The one I get after reading a truly great love story.

Favorite Quote:

"He was there, of course - in uniform, shyly smiling at me as the waves fell into the shore. I could hear them - their violent crash, followed by the fizz of a million bubbles kissing the sand."

Click here to get your copy of The Bungalow.