When Em and I decided to compile our list of top 10's for 2012, we thought, no problem, we can do that! NOT! Combined we've read over 250 books this year. Let's rewind on how this all got started.
You should all know that Em got me into this reading thing. I hadn't read a novel in years and while on vacation in April, read two on the Kindle app on my phone. Then I read the 50 Shades series and that was totally up my ally, jumpstarted me into the seductive reading world. My dear friend Em kept me up to date on what I should read next and after about a month, I caught on and started finding and following authors on my own. The hubs gave me a Kindle for Mother's day and then I couldn't be stopped. Eventually we had a few friends asking us what we were reading and commenting on our reviews on goodreads. So, in November Em proposed the idea of having a blog. I squealed! Let's do it! And here we are less than 2 months later, with over 150 fans and a Colleen Hoover giveaway. We are some very blessed ladies! I can't wait to see what 2013 brings to Novel Seduction!
Now, on to the top reads of the year. It was so hard to narrow it down to 10 each. I'm not sure why we decided to be so strict on ourselves, but I think it will mean that much more to the authors who made our list. To narrow it down to these fabulous reads was no small feat. Our lists changed and evolved over the last week as we were doing this. I love that you will see how our reading styles slightly differ. A lot of you probably know that I'm (D) the erotica lover and tend to go for the sexier, steamier books. Em leans more to the YA and deep love stories. However there is a lot of overlap with us! If you haven't read these novels don't wait! You won't be disappointed!
~ D's top 10 reads for 2012 ~
1. The Dark Duet Series by C.J. Roberts. Just as the title describes, this extremely dark and extremely erotic series is captivating! You have to read with an open mind and an open heart. Maybe not for everyone. Captive in the Dark is book one and Seduced in the Dark is book 2.
2. Love Unscripted by Tina Reber is probably the best love story I've ever read. I love everything about it! I even read it twice. It holds a special place in my heart. The sequel Love Unrehearsed was just as great with an genius ending!
3. The Avoiding Series by K.A. Linde will make you scream, cheer, want to throw your book or e-reader. It evokes so many emotions and keeps you glued to it. I once said that Avoiding Responsibility made me avoid all of my responsibilities because it was so good and I could not put it down. Fabulous series!!! Book 1 is Avoiding Commitment and book 2 is Avoiding Responsibility.
4. Slammed and Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover. This series touched and warmed my heart. It has so much to offer and has stayed with me all year. It is one of the few books that I can recommend to young people and I love that! I even was lucky enough to win a signed copy of Point of Retreat this year :)!
5. The Mighty Storm by Samantha Towle. Somehow I was lucky enough to stumble upon this novel months ago. It tore me to shreds! Such an explosive love story and hot! I cannot wait for the sequel next year!
6. Crash into You by Roni Loren. Holy Hell, this was the hottest book I have ever read. No one can do a sex scene like Roni Loren! This book was so much more than just sex though. The writing style was unique and so well done and the multiple layers of the story made you not want to put it down! This is the first novel in a series called, Loving on the Edge. This is BDSM, so it may not be for everyone.
7. The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay. An amazing journey that touched my heart and soul. At times I had tears running down my face and it had an ending that gave me chills over my entire body. This is one of those once in a lifetime stories that will never leave you!
8. The Redhead Series by Alice Clayton. This is a hilarious and super sexy series. Alice Clayton's writing, language and steaminess are the perfect combination for me. I often connect so well with her characters that I feel like she made them about me! (yes, I'm delusional) The Unidentified Redhead is the first book and The Redhead Revealed is the second book.
9. On Dublin Street by Samantha Young. Such a great love story and scorching hot sex scenes with a man to die for!
10. Backstage Pass: Sinners on Tour by Olivia Cunning. This is the first book in a series. Each of the rockstars have their own book. I finished this and was still fanning myself for a few days later! Hottest sex scenes ever written! The whole group of guys are wonderful and unique!
So there is my top 10! A few that came so close were: Wallbanger by Alice Clayton, If I Were You by Lisa Renee Jones, Collision Course by S.C. Stephens, If I Stay by Gayle Forman and Where She Went by Gayle Forman.
xo, D
Ah Shoot. It's my turn. Let me tell you, this is one of the hardest things I have had to do. D & I agreed that we HAD to be able to let a series count as 1 book or else I would've been up a creek! I started this year out reading The Hunger Games and absolutely loved them. I made it my goal to read 52 books this year. I work full time and have 3 little ones and figured 52 was kind of a lofty goal. So, nearly 150+ books later, I met my goal ;). Narrowing it down to a top 10 is nearly killing me. I could've made this list in June without a thought, but the 2nd part of this year has been SO packed with books that have simply blown me away.
Like D pointed out, we will have some overlap, but some that are very different. I'm going to list mine, but I wouldn't say that they are actually in any order. I loved all of these for very different reasons. In reality, I could probably do several different categories and do 10 for each of them. So... here we go!
On Dublin Street by Samantha Young - I must say, this one had me halfway considering leaving my family to head to Ireland and finding Braden for myself. It was an amazing story along with some hot scenes. Jocelyn's past was intriguing and really captivated me. The chemistry between Joss & Braden was fabulous.
The Proposition by Katie Ashley- Ah. Aidan Fitzgerald pissed me off so much at the end of this book. I'm considering looking him up when I'm in Atlanta this summer just so I can kick his tail myself. I loved how strong Emma was. She wasn't going to be walked all over and she would get what she wanted. Aidan was just as strong and just as stubborn as her. It made for some great sex and amazing arguments.
Hopeless by Colleen Hoover- This one rocked.my.world. I cannot say enough things about this. I'm going to just point you to our review in regards to this one.
Slammed and Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover- So, what D didn't mention earlier is that while she was reading Slammed, I was up visiting her. Obviously that meant I had to re-read them. I've read both several times. I've recommended them to almost everyone I know... including my mom. I don't share a lot of what I'm reading with my mom b/c well... she just doesn't need to read most of this stuff ;). Both of these just have everything in them. Heartbreak, love, angst, romance... you get the drift. I seriously laughed at parts, sobbed at other parts, and felt what the characters felt.
Avoiding Commitment and Avoiding Responsibility by K.A. Linde - So if you read our review of Avoiding Commitment, you know that I bought this the day it came out, started it, put it down, loaned it out, and then came back to it. I am SO glad I came back to it. I yelled, I laughed, I held my breath, I considered slamming my Kindle against a brick wall. And when I finished, I hunted down Avoiding Responsibility on Fiction Press to find out what comes next. I also had the thought to avoid some commitments and responsibilities while reading these because I could not stop. I needed to keep reading. And bonus! There will be a 3rd book!
Reason to Breathe and Barely Breathing by Rebecca Donovan - These books really had me going. Given my line of work, reading about abuse and mental health issues really hit home. It was heartbreaking, but at the same time you want to fight for Emma and help her. At the same time, you get SO angry with her and so frustrated with her. And Evan, oh Evan. He is amazing.
Thoughtless and Effortless by S.C. Stephens- I think these books speak for themselves. There's not much I can say that hasn't already been said. Rocker + Love Triangle + reformed man-whore = amazing. Hands down.
Take This Regret by A.L. Jackson- A story of a chance encounter and second chances with a first love. It is beautifully written and has a way of really making you just keep wanting more. It isn't about puppy dogs and rainbows. There are serious issues that are brought up and dealt with. Forgiveness isn't easy and this book really showed that.
I Love You To Death by Natalie Ward - Oh.my.word. I sobbed my way through this. I picked it up because I was waiting on another one to load so I thought it'd be a good time filler. It was so much more than that. I don't think there was anything not to love about Luke. He was AMAZING. I cannot wait to read the next story from his point of view. Ash. Oh my heart hurt for her. I cannot imagine dealing with the things that Ash has had to endure.
Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay - D read this and immediately told me I HAD to read it and that I COULD NOT read the end ahead of time (patience is not a virtue I possess. I frequently get about 10% in to a book and read the ending). I am so glad I listened. I don't think there are words to describe the emotions I felt while reading this one. Each character was developed beautifully without becoming redundant. The story was executed brilliantly. And the romance was so raw and so beautiful.
Wallbanger by Alice Clayton- holy crap. HILARIOUS. I started this book while I was in B&N with a friend and we were both laughing so hard and could not control it. Just like the Redhead series, it had everything. I love her sense of humor. The sex was hot. It was excellent. We talked about this one over here.
Ok. So that was 11. I had a hard enough time narrowing it down to that and there was just no way to take any of those off. Don't judge me.
Others that were fighting for top spots would be: Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire, Easy by Tammara Webber, The Sea Breeze series by Abbi Glines, Vincent Boys series by Abbi Glines, Collision Course by S.C. Stephens, Come Away With Me by Kristen Proby, and Devoured by Emily Snow.
~Em
Monday, January 14, 2013
REVIEW: Wallbanger by Alice Clayton
"Caroline Reynolds has a fantastic new apartment in San Francisco,
a KitchenAid mixer, and no O (and we’re not talking Oprah here, folks).
She has a flourishing design career, an office overlooking the bay, a
killer zucchini bread recipe, and no O. She has Clive (the best cat
ever), great friends, a great rack, and no O.Adding insult to O-less, since her move, she has an oversexed neighbor with the loudest late-night wallbanging she’s ever heard. Each moan, spank, and–was that a meow?–punctuates the fact that not only is she losing sleep, she still has, yep, you guessed it, no O.
Enter Simon Parker. (No, really, Simon, please enter.) When the wallbanging threatens to literally bounce her out of bed, Caroline, clad in sexual frustration and a pink baby-doll nightie, confronts her heard-but-never-seen neighbor. Their late-night hallway encounter has, well, mixed results. Ahem. With walls this thin, the tension’s gonna be thick…
In her third novel, Alice Clayton returns to dish her trademark mix of silly and steamy. Banter, barbs, and strutting pussycats, plus the sexiest apple pie ever made, are dunked in a hot tub and set against the gorgeous San Francisco skyline in this hot and hilarious tale of exasperation at first sight."
This book was such a treat! In so many ways it satisfied me. Alice Clayton's writing style, wit, humor, and raunchiness fits me to a T. I think I have a writer's crush on Ms. Clayton, she is definitely at the top of my list of writers! The chapters of texts and inner monologue were genius! It was a great way to reveal what happened over a week's time without getting bored or feel like you missed something. You made me fall in love with a cat! A cat! (I'm generally not a fan)
Caroline was fabulous. I felt at times, I was her. Her thoughts and her language resemble mine. Her banter with Simon, yep, that's me and the hubs. Her dirty talk, guilty! I LOVED her!!!
Simon, holy hell. I really can't properly put into words how I truly feel about him, for him. He can bang my wall any day ;) The way he loved her baked goods was hilarious and the kitchen sex scenes were original and fun. I also like a man who loves a challenge ;)
Clive, what a freaking character. A smoking jacket, a q-tip cigarette, falling in love with the Russian. Hilarious.
Even the storyline of the secondary characters was entertaining and well thought out. I would love to read more on the other couples.
I loved how many pages of gorgeous description the love scenes had. Nothing was rushed or assumed, it was all spelled out and a beautiful picture was painted. In my opinion, this is one of Alice Clayton's fortes. Such a great novel! Keep them coming Alice Clayton!!!
xo, D
Ah. I loved this book! A friend and I had gone to the bookstore for a "reading date" (don't be jealous of how cool we are) and that's where I started this fabulous read. We were laughing SO HARD. I was kinda scared we'd be getting glares pretty soon. Tears rolling down my cheeks type of laughter. The next day at work, I was reading while I ate my breakfast and read parts to my boss. I needed him to understand that I wasn't a lunatic laughing all by myself. Needless to say, I have already recommended this one to several people because I loved it so much.
Caroline... who couldn't love her and her missing O? Her character is who I want to be. She says all of the things I think. She was strong and independent, but wasn't nutso. She was absolutely hysterical, as well. I loved her friendships and her dedication to them. I loved her sense of dedication to what she believed in - you know, like people being in the right relationships.
Simon. Please. PLEASE bang my wall, man. I loved that he didn't try to hide from Caroline. He loved her baking and we ALL knew it. I loved the way he was so open about how things were and why he did what he did. It was what it was and he told it that way.
The text messaging and inner dialogue was fantastic. It gave you insight in to how they were all connected and where their relationships were. It helped to move the story along, give you insight, but not make it drag. Fabulous!
Now Clive. I hate cats. I hate them with the passion of a thousand burning suns. It doesn't help that I got freakin' attacked by one Clive on Simon style when I was like 4 (except it wasn't during sex, obviously) and that I am VERY allergic to them. But then there is Clive. Clive really made me laugh. He almost made me want to get a cat myself.
I'd say this book is 5 out 5 stars. I am really hoping there will be a sequel because I NEED more Simon and Caroline.
~Em
REVIEW: The Valentine's Arrangement by Kelsie Leverich
cross it.”
Ronnie Clark, an edgy tattoo artist with hopes of high tailing
it out of the forsaken Military town she followed her now ex-fiancé to, is
counting down the days until Valentine’s Day is over. Ronnie doesn’t do romance.
She doesn’t do flowers or dates, and she sure as hell doesn’t do love—not
anymore. After her fiancé slept with a female soldier while deployed, she has
vowed never to fall in love again, especially with a soldier.
Sergeant First Class Kale Emerson is home on his mid-tour leave from Iraq, but he only has one thing on his mind—returning to his deployment to finishing leading his
soldiers on their mission. The last thing he wants is a relationship, but casual
sex, that’s a different story. And when he meets the renowned tattoo artist
Ronnie Clark, a snarky, blunt, takes no prisoners kind of woman, that seems to
be all he can think about.
But when Kale realizes he has met his match
with a bombshell woman who is hell bent against love, will just sex be enough?
And if it’s not, will he be able to convince Ronnie that the proverbial hearts
and flowers aren’t so bad after all, even if he is a soldier?
“You changed something inside me, something I didn’t ever think I would want, or
feel—but you did, and now I can’t go back”
I love when I stumble on a great book that just comes out and not many people know about it yet! When I do, and I love it that much, I want to tell everyone about it! That is what happened to me with The Valentine's Arrangement. I had it on my TBR list and planned on buying it soon. Then I actually won a free copy from the author herself on Facebook. I started it right away. Right around 4% in, I messaged Em and told her how much I was loving it and that she needed to buy it, pronto! It was a quick read, but didn't feel that way at all. I never felt cheated or that it was too short. So Em finished it (in a day, I think, that girl is one fast reader!) and I said we need to do a giveaway and discuss this! So, here we are, celebrating 200 likes and giving away an e-copy of this awesome new book! (details are at the bottom of the review)
{D} I know I'm the huge fan here of this novel. Right off the bat I love Ronnie, her attitude, smugness, directness and bitchiness! I wonder why????
{Em} I love her tattoos. I want to be her and I'm totally jealous.
{D} LOL, I'm the extreme opposite of her, but I think I had a girl crush ;)
{Em} Definite girl crush
{D} Enter Kale...Now, I am a fan of the all american boy!
{Em} I'm totally not a clean cut guy kinda girl. BUT, there was something about him that made me all kinds of hot.
{D} See, Em, this is why we work. We are so different!
{Em} LOL
{D} I loved all the military stuff in the book. It was just enough to set the scene, but not be confusing for us civilians.
{Em} I agree
{D} Did you know that Kelsie Leverich is an army wife?
{Em} of course. I read the bio. I liked that she could give a real perspective of it.
{D} The "mind fucking" was great. And there was a lot of it!
{Em} I do love that it wasn't all, "I'm in looooooooooooove!" after the first meeting. She took some time to come around. She didn't say just what she thought he wanted to hear.
{D} that's why Ronnie is so great! She stuck to her guns (for awhile). I don't blame her, I would have caved long before. His take control attitude was just at the right times. I loved when she called him "Soldier" and "Emerson".
{Em} He was in control without being controlling!
{D} He was super sweet, One of the most revealing scenes with him was in the airport when he was speaking to the little boy. I don't want to give too much away, but I totally believe that the men and women of the armed forces are true superheroes. So those references were great.
{Em} Oh, I loved that. Or when he let her walk away, knowing he was going to fight for her. It was great when he took her line about "Captain America"!
{D} For Ronnie, that whole last 10% or so was great to see. She really is a sweet and compassionate person. She was honest from the get go and told him her fears of being in a relationship and how hard it would be. There was no sugar coating.
{Em} I liked that in regard to her ex, she admitted how easy it'd be to fall back in to that routine, but she DIDN'T. She stood up for herself.
{D} I know. I described this novel as honest. and that's another one of the examples why. She admitted that she still loved him, could still be with him and how easy it would be. I think it was so realistic. that's one of the reasons why i loved it so much.
OK, enough with the serious. let's discuss Ms. Leverich's sex scenes...
{Em} they were Fabulous!
{D} Lots of smoking hot detail from both Ronnie and Kale!
{Em} Without being raunchy.
{D} I like raunchy!
{Em} Ok, not in a BAD raunchy.
{D} LOL, He basically just took what he wanted.
{Em} But she didn't give him what she didn't want.
He's like the honey badger! He didn't give a shit, just took what he wanted!
{D} My kind of man ;) A fave part is in the last scene where she's in the gray tight dress. I won't say why, but Kale says something like....I'm one lucky son of a bitch. I cracked up!
And let's discuss the role of her *F* me high heels???
{Em} I kind of want to buy some. I like when he showed up on Valentine's day and she was in sweats.
{D} and a top knot!!!
{Em} Yep! and he still wanted her!
{D} So these two are total opposites in life but "fit together like puzzle pieces" I really fell in love with them and their story! I want more!!!!
{Em} Is there going to be more?
{D} Hmm, I don't know! Let me message Kelsie. I hope she doesn't think I'm a stalker! And hot damn, I did this review without any wine! What the hell?? (and since when do i say, hot damn?)
{Em} I say it all the time.
{D} maybe I got it from you, us Yanks don't talk that way ;)
{Em} listen, me and my southern charm have to keep things calm!
{D} So, Kelsie Leverich just messaged me back, a sequel is in the making!!! She is hoping for late spring or early summer release!!!! I'm so excited!
So, there you have it! You cannot go wrong with this novel. It has just enough of everything!!!
xo, D
REVIEW: Unlovable (Port Fare #1) by Sherry Gammon
Maggie is truly the poster child for Heroin Chic, complete with jutting bones and dark-ringed eyes, but is she an addict, or is there another reason for her appearance? She struggles with her feelings for Seth, fearing he is just another person who will eventually let her down, as everyone in her life has done thus far.
Maggie has spent her life caring for her alcoholic mother. A task that has left her heavily burdened and alone. Before long, her mother's health takes a turn for the worst, sending Maggie's life into a tale-spin.
While Seth works relentlessly to inject fear into the dealers and flush them out into the open, Maggie fights to stay alive as the hunt turns deadly.
Seth and Maggie's romantic journey is one of humor, heartbreak, and self-discovery."
This story was so good and so sweet! There were so many layers to it and it came together beautifully. For some reason I like reading about High School hierarchies and relationships. I think Sherry Gammon got it all right too. Some of the funniest and scariest parts of the novel happened at the school!
My heart went out to Maggie and her life. It made her grow up way before she had to. I was also impressed at how strong and confident she was even when you would expect her to be the opposite. It was refreshing to see someone rise above the bleak situation that they came from.
Seth! Oh my, Seth, he is a true knight in shining armor. Also, could his friends be any sweeter? At times, the men were a little unrealistic for me. (hot chocolate at night, all being gourmet chefs) Hopefully, men like them do exist ;) I can't wait to hear Booker and Cole's stories in the next novels! Especially Cole, something about him is endearing to me.
I loved the undercover police and the drug ring part of this story too. The Dreser brother's chapters were chilling and exciting. I was even okay with the fact that there was NO sex in this book! None! But it worked! It was all very smart. Great first novel for Sherry Gammon!
xo, D
So this book had a lot of aspects that tend to capture my attention. Abuse, high school love, undercover cops, and a real knight in shining armor. I loved it. It was sweet. It was heartbreaking. And it made me laugh. Trifecta. How can you not love a book with all of those in it?
Maggie. Sweet, sweet Maggie. She was so very strong. She had a lot to overcome. It was beautiful seeing her rise up out of what she came from. She was so strong and so confident, but at the same time, she was so fragile. I loved how she just said what she thought. She didn't hold back. She stuck to her convictions and didn't waver.
Seth. Whew. I loved him. I loved that Sherry Gammon didn't hide the fact that he was an undercover cop from the readers. His passion for his job was awesome, but it didn't compare to his passion for Maggie. The way he protected her was swoon worthy. He didn't judge her for choices she made and did what he needed to do to support her.
Booker and Cole were excellent supporting characters! Like D said, some parts were just not realistic. I mean, guys just aren't THAT perfect. Let's be real here! But Booker's sense of humor was great! He and Maggie's relationship kept me laughing. Garfield. Booker's story will definitely be interesting! Cole was a real sweetheart. I can't wait to learn more about him. I am excited to see what shapes him and why he is so compassionate.
Like D said. There is no sex, but it is ok. It was a genius move on Sherry Gammon's part. Sooooo many books deal with a lot of different views on relationships and sex. Rarely is there a book where sex is not a primary part of their relationship. This was different in a very refreshing way!
{em}
REVIEW: Hopeless by Colleen Hoover
That's what Sky realizes after she meets Dean Holder. A guy with a reputation that rivals her own and an uncanny ability to invoke feelings in her she's never had before. He terrifies her and captivates her all in the span of one encounter, and something about the way he makes her feel sparks buried memories from a past she wishes could just stay buried.
Sky struggles to keep him at a distance knowing he's nothing but trouble, but Holder insists on learning everything about her. After finally caving to his unwavering pursuit, Sky soon finds that Holder isn't at all who he's been claiming to be. When the secrets he's been keeping are finally revealed, every single facet of Sky's life will change forever."
So, to say that D and I both loved this book would be an understatement. It.was.amazing. It addressed some VERY intense situations and showed some very intense emotions. Colleen wasn't afraid to make a disaster out of things, but it was so well put together that it worked. It more than worked. It created a situation that left you breathless. When things start unfolding, your initial reaction is to get mad because some things are unforgivable. But then everything comes out and you are left to think through things. Sometimes your gut reaction is wrong. You realize that sometimes a behavior is wrong, but the intention is right and it may just go ahead and excuse their decision. I've recommended this book to everyone I know because I've had to talk through it. If you want a light, cute read, this isn't the book for that. If you want a book that is going to make you think, fall in love, get mad, and leave an impression on you? This book is just the one. I guarantee that by the end of the book, you will fall in love with each character. There will be times when you want to be angry with each of them, but by the end, you love them all again. And I'm pretty sure that I need a Holder in my life. That boy is swoon-worthy. Definitely 5/5 stars for me. {em}
D & I both felt the need to talk through this book, so here is our discussion as we reviewed the book and sorted our emotions!
D: Ok. I’m ready for our discussion. I highlighted a bit.
E: Oh gosh. I think I highlighted more in this book than I ever have. This is going to be hard to do without any spoilers.
E: my favorite quote: "All marriages have a time limit if you enter them for the wrong reasons. Marriage doesn't get easier...it only gets harder. if you marry someone hoping it will improve things, you might as well set your timer the second you say, 'I do.'"
D: here’s mine: " you can hold my hand, you can run your fingers thru my hair, you can straddle me while i feed you spaghetti, but you are not getting kissed tonight. and probably not tomorrow either."
E: or "I need one of those chapter breaks. I just want to catch my breath, but I have no idea how." or "And once again in my new world full of heartache and lies, this hopeless boy somehow finds a way to make me smile."
E: I.love.Holder.
LOVE him. I love how he was SUCH a teenage boy but at the same time he had experienced so much in his life already that he was loyal, and romantic, and fiercely protective.
D: At first Sky killed me with how embarrassing some of the things she said were. Let me think, when she said about kissing him, about being a virgin. She would just blurt out these things at random times.
E: Yea. She was kinda random, but I think it added to her personality AND her sheltered life.
D: Oh yeah. Definitely! I loved when Six was impressed that "bitches made it rain in her locker" on day 1. Lol.
E: I love that Six’s name is actually Seven.
D: OH OH, here's another " fuck all the firsts Sky, The only thing that matters are the forevers"
SWOON
yes, I love Six
Speaking of Six, I'm still really disappointed how she was just removed from the story and i thought it was interesting that Sky {insert spoiler}
E: OMG. I loved that one. I have it highlighted, too. Loved the reference to Sea of Tranquility in the book, too.
D: YES! (but you didn't get that right away?) lol
E: I knew it was a book I had read, I just couldn’t place which one. I’m an idiot. I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE when books reference other books
D: it shows that the authors are either besties or fans or both!
E: Ok. So I loved how there were SUCH intense things that happened in this book. And you fell in love with all of the characters that even when you WANTED to hate them or be pissed at them, you couldn't
D: I love that {Colleen Hoover} wasn't afraid to make it a mess. Then it was neatly wrapped up.
REVIEW: Avoiding Responsibility by K.A. Linde
bigger and better things with a sexy new man in town. Just when she is starting
to figure it out with him, her world is tilted once again with a phone call from
none other than Ramsey Bridges. A year after his entrance into her life, Ramsey
is trying to make amends and does the one thing she never expects—invites her to
Jack's wedding. The wedding she had evaded at all costs. But no matter what she
does, Lexi can't seem to escape her past with Jack. But does she really want to?
Despite the explosive chemistry between Lexi and Ramsey, she is skeptical about
trusting him after everything that has happened. When things are amiss with him,
she starts questioning his motives. Can Ramsey be the one to remove Jack from
Lexi's life permanently or should she move on with her blossoming new life?"
Reading K.A. Linde's novels is like childbirth. (I'm not diminishing that experience, just hear me out!) It's long, grueling, painful at times, emotional, exciting, some parts are quiet, you might even feel bored for a minute, but you know that it will all be worth it in the end! You know that you will be rewarded immensely! And one of the best parts of reading Ms. Linde's novels is that you know when you have reached that part of the novel! And that is where all the work has paid off. When I got there, I was silent squealing, cheering, fist pumping, gasping in my dark bedroom. Hysterically laughing into my pillow. I might have even yelled, "oh no she didn't". It was fabulous!!!
I can't even imagine what K.A. Linde goes through when she writes this series because sometimes I'm overwhelmed by the details, Lexi's inner thoughts and the precise timing of the past and present chapters. There is just so much! I finished Avoiding Committment (Avoiding Series #1) wanting more and wanting answers and boy did I get them. I'm so satisfied and relieved, really.
The entire last 15% of Avoiding Responsibility was pure genius. I didn't expect that, but I'm so glad it ended the way it did. The whole scene would make a fabulous movie.
Now on to the characters,
Lexi, well I think she finally matured and came into reality. I really got annoyed with her at times. "had she been so lost in her own relationship that she had missed her that her best friend was in one?" That made me sad. Also, she can be frustratingly naive. But I do love her. And I'm proud of her for growing the way she did.
"She needed to man up and face what was coming her way. Avoiding her responsibilities wasn't going to be the solution to her life. She had gotten herself into this situation and she could get herself out of it. "
Ramsey is so strong and independent. Not without faults, but he owns up to them. I truly feel he's always had Lexi's best interest first. And can I say, Oh Em Gee at the 'angry sex'! Holy hell Ramsey that was hot!
Jack. Well, he showed his true colors and finally made his decision. I can't go into more details here.
Bekah got what she deserved. (YES!)
Chyna, I think she needs to mature a bit. I didn't love her as much as I did in Avoiding Committment, but she did have a turning point in her role as BFF to Lexi when she told her to stop running! And I'm proud of her for that! I enjoyed a peek into her family's life and I hope she finds happiness soon.
Ms. Linde exceeded my expectations! I definitely avoided all of my responsibilties when reading this weekend. Thanks for another fabulous story, I'm so interested to see if there is going to be more to all of this. And to close, my favorite line of the novel is, "Now he was just fucking her-fucking her properly". You will just have to read it to find out who that is in reference to ;)
xo, D
Wow. Just. Wow. Let me start this with saying that the conversations I was having while reading this one were amazing. It started Friday night when D texted me about it. I was out having dessert with a friend and, not gonna lie, we might have started wrapping it up right then. Forget that I was supposed to be packing, I had a book to read! I made my (sick) husband drive the 3 hrs to visit my family so I could read. I loved visiting my family, but I really just wanted to go in to seclusion so I could read. I was so excited to get home last night so I could read my heart out... and then I was so wiped that I fell asleep WAY too early. I woke up this morning to some messages from Dana that read, "OMG. OMG. OMG." "Seriously, I need you. I'm reading this and silent screaming, cheering, fist pumping. It's awesome!" "90%... I finished!" So I knew I had to finish it this morning. I.am.so.glad. I did!
I always get a little bit nervous when subsequent books in a series come out. If I loved the first one, I'm always scared that the next one won't live up to my expectations or I'll get pissed off at the author. There's just a risk! Well, there is no need to be nervous about this one. It was even better than the first! Like D said, the last 15% of the book was AMAZING. Parts in the middle were slow, but not bad. They were totally necessary to build up to the end. I really wanted to high five Lexi and Ramsey at several points throughout the book. The details really helped to build up that picture in my mind. There were parts that I could really relate to (and I really hated that, but you live and learn). I had my own "Jack" in my life, so I got where Lexi was coming from in her interactions and feelings about him. I just loved the whole book!
Lexi. Oh geez, that girl. I love her. She really grew up in this book. By the end of the book, you really wanted to cheer her on, high five her, and then yell, "YOU TELL THEM!". Seems that Lexi can afford to grow up a little more, but I loved how her character developed a sense of strength and independence.
Ramsey. Whew, Ramsey. He could screw up with me any day if making up was going to be that amazing. And, seeing how he handled things when he was angry... well... I may purposely make him angry just because that was hot. He's a good guy, deep down. He screws up like any person would do. His screw ups, though, are ones that are results of times he thought he was making a good choice. The way he treats lexi and how he responds to everything with her is beautiful.
Chyna. Like D said, she has a ways to go. While I didn't love her as much this book as last time, I still loved her. She often acted a bit immature, but I think it has as much to do with her past and upbringing as anything else. She stood up for Lexi at a time when she didn't want to. She was brutally honest and really was a great support system.
Jack. Well. At the end of Avoiding Commitment, I was angry with him, but still thought he could redeem himself. Wrong. Screw you, Jack. Screw.You. I can't say much, but he deserves Bekah.
Bekah. Karma is a biznatch, isn't it?
And then there is Adam. Well, I just want to say that I love him!
If you haven't read the book yet, you need to! Get on it! You won't regret it!
{em}
REVIEW: The Dark Duet Series by C.J. Roberts
This stunning series is like nothing I have read before! C.J. Roberts is a true genius!
Captive in the Dark (Book 1 of the Dark Duet)
"Caleb is a man with a singular interest in
revenge. Kidnapped as a young boy and sold into slavery by a power-hungry
mobster, he has thought of nothing but vengeance. For twelve years he has
immersed himself in the world of pleasure slaves searching for the one man he
holds ultimately responsible. Finally, the architect of his suffering has
emerged with a new identity, but not a new nature. If Caleb is to get close
enough to strike, he must become the very thing he abhors and kidnap a beautiful
girl to train her to be all that he once was.
Eighteen-year-old Olivia
Ruiz has just woken up in a strange place. Blindfolded and bound, there is only
a calm male voice to welcome her. His name is Caleb, though he demands to be
called Master. Olivia is young, beautiful, naïve and willful to a fault. She has
a dark sensuality that cannot be hidden or denied, though she tries to
accomplish both. Although she is frightened by the strong, sadistic, and
arrogant man who holds her prisoner, what keeps Olivia awake in the dark is her
unwelcome attraction to him."
WARNING: This book contains very disturbing
situations, dubious consent, strong language, and graphic violence.
"Caleb is a man with a singular interest in
revenge. Kidnapped as a young boy and sold into slavery by a power-hungry
mobster, he has thought of nothing but vengeance. For twelve years he has
immersed himself in the world of pleasure slaves searching for the one man he
holds ultimately responsible. Finally, the architect of his suffering has
emerged with a new identity, but not a new nature. If Caleb is to get close
enough to strike, he must become the very thing he abhors and kidnap a beautiful
girl to train her to be all that he once was.
Eighteen-year-old Olivia
Ruiz has just woken up in a strange place. Blindfolded and bound, there is only
a calm male voice to welcome her. His name is Caleb, though he demands to be
called Master. Olivia is young, beautiful, naïve and willful to a fault. She has
a dark sensuality that cannot be hidden or denied, though she tries to
accomplish both. Although she is frightened by the strong, sadistic, and
arrogant man who holds her prisoner, what keeps Olivia awake in the dark is her
unwelcome attraction to him."
WARNING: This book contains very disturbing
situations, dubious consent, strong language, and graphic violence.
Livvie, poor poor Livvie. I just kept thinking, she didn't ask for this! But it was a way out for her and her own crappy life. Not that this one was better, but it was different. I agreed with most of the choices she made. She ended up being very brave, especially for someone so young!
The climax of the novel is exciting and gruesome, it sealed the deal for me! Got me hooked and wanting more, more, more! I couldn't wait to start book 2 immediately and I did! I definitely don't recommend this for all readers but if you are open minded and can get through this tough novel you will be rewarded with book 2 (about to touch on that one next).
Seduced in the Dark (Book 2 of the Dark Duet)
"What is the price of redemption?
Rescued from
sexual slavery by a mysterious Pakistani officer, Caleb carries the weight of a
debt that must be paid in blood.
The road has been long and fraught with
uncertainty, but for Caleb and Livvie, it’s all coming to an end.
Can he
surrender the woman he loves for the sake of vengeance?
Or will he make
the ultimate sacrifice?"
Rescued from
sexual slavery by a mysterious Pakistani officer, Caleb carries the weight of a
debt that must be paid in blood.
The road has been long and fraught with
uncertainty, but for Caleb and Livvie, it’s all coming to an end.
Can he
surrender the woman he loves for the sake of vengeance?
Or will he make
the ultimate sacrifice?"
Livvie reveals it all to us in this novel. She doesn't leave anything to question. Yes, being inside her head is a bit of a mindfuck but it's necessary so you can empathize with her, become her, feel her! I did all of those things. I think I had a case of Stockholm syndrome myself!
The stories of Caleb's past and his world all through the present were eye opening to me. I know that this exists but it's hard to imagine in this day and age. I kept questioning whether someone like him is born that way or was he a true product of his environment. All of that aside, I fell in love with him and wanted a Happy Ending, eventhough he did not.
The ending was so much more gentle than I ever expected. I think I had tears rolling down my face for the last 25%. I can't really explain why because I don't want to give anything away, but it really touched me in a unique way. I will add that the sex in this novel is scorching hot! And the balance between Dominant and 'regular' scenes was perfect!
This isn't a series that you recommend to everyone, because not everyone is ready to experience this. You all know that you have that one friend (C, yes, it's you! Heart you babe) that you can share this with. And you'll have to because you will need to discuss this!!!! After this series, I was ruined for the next couple of novels that I read. They paled in comparison. C.J. Roberts you are a genius! Thank you for this amazing experience!!!
xo, D
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