Thursday, December 31, 2015

My Top 5's of 2015






2015 has been a year of amazing books.  There have been so many books I read this year that I just adored.  As we say goodbye to 2015 and welcome 2016 I want to take the time to give you my top 5's of the year!  And let me just say it was so hard to narrow it down to just 5 for each of my categories.  Not all my picks were published in 2015 just read for the first time in 2015.  I will leave the link to my Goodreads review for my picks.   Let's get this party started! 




5. Protecting What's His (Line of Duty, #1) 
  

4. Seducing Destiny (The Fae Chronicles #4)
 

3. The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie (MacKenzies & McBrides, #1)  

2. Bound by Flames (Night Prince #3)
 

1. Souls Unfractured (Hades Hangmen, #3)
 




5. Their Virgin Captive (Masters of Ménage #1)
 

4. Hooked
 

3. Darkest Before Dawn (KGI #10)
 

2. Dragonbane (Dark-Hunter #25)
 

1. Craving Trix (The Aces' Sons #1)
 



5.  Lost and Found series by J.M. Madden
4. Bewitched and Bewildered series by Alanea Alder
3. New Species series by Laurann Dohner
2. MacKenzies & McBrides series by Jennifer Ashley
1. Hades Hangmen series by Tillie Cole




5. Derek Tyler From Protecting What's His (Line of Duty #1)
4. Valiant from Valiant (New Species #3)
3. Vlad from Bound by Flames(Night Prince#3)
2. Ian Mackenzie from The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie (MacKenzies & McBrides #1)
1. Flame from Souls Unfractured (Hades Hangmen #3)



5. Roni Axton from Dark Instincts (The Phoenix Pack #4)
4. Kat from Darkness (New Species #12)
3. Meryn Evans from My Commander (Bewitched and Bewildered #1)
2. Livy Kowalski from Bite Me (Pride #9)
1. Leila from Bound by Flames (Night Prince #3)




5. Reckless River (Men of Mercy #3) 

4. Protecting What's Theirs (Line of Duty #1.5)


3. The Many Sins Of Lord Cameron (MacKenzies & McBrides, #3)



2. My Protector (Bewitched and Bewildered #2)


1. Moon (New Species #10)


 I can't wait to see what books I fall in love with in 2016.  I wish everyone a wonderful and happy New Year :)



Saturday, December 26, 2015

Silent Vows

Book Review of Silent Vows (MacCoinnich Time Travel Series)


Title: Silent Vows

Series: MacCoinnich Times Series

Author: Catherine Bybee

Date Published: September 3rd 2010

Date Read:  July 09, 2015

The Blurb:
Myra, a medieval virgin druidess, flees five hundred years into the future to escape death at the hands of a cursed witch and lands in the arms of a handsome but cynical twenty-first century cop. Officer Todd Blakely knows Myra is hiding something, but can't resist her innocent charms. Destiny throws them both into a world of intrigue and mysticism. Can Todd be the true white knight she needs? Or will magic and the winds of time tear them apart? 

My Review




5 Give me a reason to come home every night Stars 

                  * May be some spoilers below*



“Do you think I didn’t know what would happen when I jumped into the stones? That I didn’t know I might never see my life as it was before again. I knew exactly what I was doing, Myra, and I did it anyway.” He took a step back. “I chose to do it anyway.” Her hands covered her arms in a struggle to keep warm. “Why?” “Because of you, dammit! I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”

I am lovin the hell outta this series. The first book Binding Vows was so good I really didn't think that the second book would come close to being as good as the first, but I was wrong. Silent Vows is funny, action packed, and romantic.

“I’ve learned from my years on the force that life is often stranger than fiction. I haven’t pushed you for the answers I know you have, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want them.”


“No one has ever kissed me the way you do. Let alone anything more.”

What this book is about

Myra MacCoinnich is a druid virgin living in the 16th Century. Myra's brothers Duncan and Fin went into the future a few months ago to stop the evil witch Grianna from getting her hands on a druid virgin, which she needs to break her curse. When they come back from the future they bring the druid virgin that Grianna was after with them. Tara McAllister Who is now married to Myra's brother Duncan. Grianna unbeknownst to the others has come back to the 16 century with Duncan, Fin, and Tara, and is now after Myra. Myra's Mother Lora has had a dream warning her that Myra will die if she doesn't go into the future, to Tara's time. So the family sends Myra to Tara's time to search out Tara's sister Lizzy to stay with her until the danger is over and it's safe to return home. Instead Myra meets Officer Todd Blakely, who knows Myra is lying and hiding something, but helps her anyways, because he feels protective of her. Will Myra be able to find Lizzy and keep safe in the future? 

“I’m not a knight.” “That is where you are wrong. You may not have those titles in this time. But your actions are those of a knight. You’ve dedicated your life to righting people’s wrongs. You uphold the laws of your land. Your chivalry would not go unnoticed in my time."


“When you touch me, I feel alive,” she confessed. “This burning inside me is only sated when you touch me. I want this. I want you.”

I liked Todd. He is a little bit cynical and a bit jaded. When his dad was killed in the line of duty and his mom died a few months later of a broken heart Todd decided he would never marry and take a chance of putting his wife through what his mom suffered. So he keeps people at arm's length. I love that even though he tries not to get close to her, Myra breaks through his walls. I loved Myra. She was very sweet, innocent, and a little naive. I loved reading about her child like joy of discovering new things when she was in the future. I thought it was so sweet when Todd was taking her around showing her new things especially when he took her to look at the neighborhood Christmas lights. Myra not knowing or understand how things worked in the future lead to some hilarious moments like when Todd called home to check on her. She could hear him talking on the answering machine telling her to pick up, and she was talking in the air like he could hear her . Todd and Myra are a adorable couple. I loved the sister bonding that happens in this book. Ian and lora Myra's parents are awesome! I loved the parts with Fin and Simon. I don't know how I feel about Fin and Liz. I know their book is next and I am a little worried, seeing as Fin pissed me off in this book by kissing Liz then trying to get Todd to go into town with him to find women to sleep with to get their minds off Liz and Myra. They don't go but just the fact that Fin wanted to use another woman to get his mind off Liz after he kissed her pissed me off so bad. I don't know how I will feel about them as a couple. Just sayin. I am loving this series so far and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys romances. 

“The bruise on your eye, how did you come by it?” He had almost forgotten about Fin’s fist greeting him that very morning. It seemed so long ago. “Fin.” Ian’s lips curved slightly. “Would you like to blacken the other?” “To serve what purpose?” “Oh, I don’t know make you feel better?” Ian grunted, drank his Scotch. “It might be difficult for you to hit a target with that gun of yours if your vision is blurry.” “Later, then?” Ian laughed. “Maybe.”


Below I leave my favorite moment from the book:

“I’m going to marry your daughter.” Myra’s eyes grew big as saucers. A muscle ticked in her father’s jaw. “Are you asking, lad?” Oh, God. Todd turned to her, smiled. “Marry me.” A short laugh burst out. “He wants you to ask him,” she explained. “I don’t want to marry him. I want to marry you.” But he was joking. His hand moved around her waist and pulled her close. “Marry me, Myra. Give me a reason to come home every night.”



Monday, December 21, 2015

Binding Vows

Book Review of Binding Vows (MacCoinnich Time Travel Series)


Title: Binding Vows

Series: MacCoinnich Times Series

Author: Catherine Bybee

Date Published: December 4th 2009

Date Read:  July 07, 2015

The Blurb:
Duncan MacCoinnich's task... Travel to the twenty-first century Renaissance Faire, deflower the Druid virgins, and go home. Only his job is not so easily accomplished with the virgin in question, Tara McAllister. Time is running out. The evil is closing in on them both. Tara finds Duncan irresistible after what was supposed to be a mock Hand-fasting binds them. When Duncan whisks her to his home in Scotland she could accept that. But, can she forgive him for taking away her modern life when she finds herself in the sixteenth century? And is it love they feel? Or something else? 


My Review



5 “I’m a virgin, come and get it.” Stars



“You have got to be kidding! You were sent to deflower the virgins?”

My God I love this book!!!!! What do you get when you take Scottish Warriors from the sixteenth century, a evil witch, a modern 25 year old virgin, a accidental soul binding marriage, and time travel? A freakin Hit that is what you get! OMG!!!! 

“Go, pop that cherry for God’s sake.”


“You have flooded my mind every moment from the minute I sat on you.”

What this book is about

The evil Grainna needs the blood of a Druid virgin to break her curse, get back her powers, and return to her time. In order to find a Druid virgin she runs a Renaissance fair were the virgins are to wear their hair down. Duncan and Finlay MacCoinnich are Druids that have traveled from the sixteenth century to the present to stop Grainna by deflowering all the virgins, druid or not just to be safe. Duncan meets Tara McAllister and realizes she is just what Grainna needs to break her curse, a 25 year old druid virgin. So Duncan sets out to complete his task and sleep with Tara. There is only one problem with that Tara isn't giving it up!! Tara let her friend Cassy drag her to this Renaissance Fair where she meets Duncan. She finds that she really likes him and things start to get carried away fast, but Tara did not save herself for 25 years to just give it up to some man she doesn't know even if he does make her hotter than anyone ever! After what is suppose to be a fake Hand-fasting Tara finds herself really soul bound to Duncan in a Druid marriage and in the sixteenth century. Will Tara forgive Duncan for bringing her to his time and can Duncan keep Tara safe from the evil Grainna?

“Yes. I’ll be honest with you.” Tara took a long-suffering breath and slowly explained what she needed to say. “Having sex with someone I barely know isn’t on my list of things to do today.” The air thickened while she awaited his reply. Her shoulders tensed. With a straight face he asked, “What about tomorrow?”


“What’s under that kilt?” His smile teased. “Need.”

This is the first book I have read from Catherine Bybee and I am hooked! Duncan is sexy, playful, and sweet. He gives Tara what she needs, and protects her. Tara feels deeply, she has a temper, but she is a sweet person. Tara and Duncan have a beautiful relationship full of passion and respect. I loved them as a couple. I loved all of Duncan's family and I loved the plot. This book was sweet, made me laugh, and gave me the warm fuzzies. I am so glad I found this series and this Author! Great Read!!!!!!

“Will you marry me, Tara? Will you take me and my name and all it holds? Will you give any child that may even now be forming or any future children my name?” He placed his hand on her flat stomach. “Will you be my wife?”



Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Wild Cowboy Ways

Book Review of Wild Cowboy Ways (Lucky Penny Ranch Series)



Title: Wild Cowboy Ways

Series:Lucky Penny Ranch Series

Author: Carolyn Brown

Date Published:December 22th  2015

Date Read:  December 14, 2015

The Blurb:
Allie Logan isn't the type to land a hot hunk of cowboy. Truth is, she's given up on dating since shedding her no-good ex. But the new owner of the most ramshackle ranch in Texas might just change her mind about that. He's six-foot-plus of tall, dark, and charming—the kind of guy who could make a girl throw caution to the wind . . . or the kind of guy who could break her heart.

Blake Dawson hopes he can make Lucky Penny Ranch finally live up to its name, but the property needs a ton of work. Allie and her carpentry skills are his best shot at getting things in order. Besides the fact that her brown eyes and dangerous curves have him roped and tied. Now Blake only needs to convince her that a wild cowboy can be tamed by love—and she's just the one to do it.


My Review




                4 Burning bridges Stars

"I can't help it when I'm around you. You don't have any idea how beautiful you are or how you affect a man, do you, darlin'?"-Blake



"I don't care if you are telling me pretty words that you've told lots of women before me. I don't care about your past. I'll burn those bridges for you if you'll hand me a stick of firewood and a match."-Allie

Wild Cowboy Ways, the 1st book in the Lucky Penny Ranch series, was a sweet, enjoyable read. What's not to like, sexy cowboy with wild ways, meets pretty tomboy carpenter that has been burnt by ex. The story had a nice steady pace. Carolyn Brown did a great job of building up the world, characters, and Allie and Blake's relationship. I liked both Allie and Blake. Allie was sweet, she had a little sass to her, and she had a good heart. The only thing I didn't like about Allie was that she sometimes acted like a teen and not a 29 year old woman. She let her mom and sister boss her. Allie's sister Lizzy wanted her to date this guy that creeped Allie out but instead of just saying No and that being that, she lets said guy push himself on her, putting his arm around her and touching her. Her sister kept setting up double date dinners and crap. It was just little things like that, that made Allie feel immature at times. Blake was sexy, hard working, laid back. But if I had to read one more time about another woman just walking up and grabbing him and kissing him I was gonna flip. Not that he kissed them back, but dayum, the man needed to wear a sign that said "Keep your lips to yourself".

"I don't want you to leave the Lucky Penny, so please make it work. I've opened my heart to you. I can argue with you. I can be drunk and shake the hell out of your house and you don't judge me. You don't talk down to me or make me feel like less of a woman because of what I do."-Allie


"What I feel for you goes far above 'like,' Allie Logan. I don't know if it's love because I've never really been in love before. But believe me when I tell you that I admire you for what you do. I think it's downright sexy the way you can crawl up on a roof and fix a ceiling and honey, those cargo pants turn me on."-Blake

Those two things, Allie's immaturity, and the women physically throwing themselves at him every 2 minutes is why I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5. Other then those things Allie and Blake's relationship is very sweet. Allie really makes Blake work for it. Allie's grandma Irene was cracking me up in this book. OMG the things Irene would say. I liked Lizzy for the most part but at times she annoyed me. The ending was super sweet and cute. I really loved the last like 10%, and I had a stupid smile on my face the whole time I read it. I enjoyed the peek at the next book which is Lizzy's book, which I will be reading. This book was a nice lighthearted read. 





Sunday, December 13, 2015

Operation White Christmas

Book Review of Operation White Christmas (Escape to the Country Series)


Title: Operation White Christmas

Series:Escape To The Country Series

Author: Nicki Edwards

Date Published:December 17th  2015

Date Read:  December 12, 2015

The Blurb:
Hollie Douglas has dreamed of a White Christmas ever since she was a child, but her dream implodes when her fiancé breaks her heart two months before their big day. Convinced by her best friend to go ahead with her planned honeymoon anyway, Hollie doesn't expect to find herself stuck in a snowstorm in rural Canada two days before Christmas.


Jim Bell has been dreading another Christmas without his wife. When one of his orphaned animals goes missing in the middle of a snowstorm, he didn't expect he'd be rescuing a stranded Australian tourist as well. He quickly realizes Hollie is carrying as much emotional baggage as him, and when she accepts his offer to seek shelter at his farm, he wonders if he's doing the right thing.


As Jim helps Hollie fulfil her White Christmas dreams, the winter wonderland and spirit of Christmas work their healing magic on both of them.

My Review




                      3.5 First Snow Stars


Operation White Christmas was a quick, very sweet, and lighthearted read. I enjoyed the plot. Both Jim and Hollie have had some hard times. Jim's a widow, Hollie finds out her fiancé is cheating and they break up. Together Jim and Hollie find peace, healing and happiness. I loved all the snowy Christmas fun. Jim and Hollie were both very sweet characters. I do wish as a reader I would have got to know them better. Because it's a short story it wasn't very in depth. That being said it was a warm and fun little holiday story that got me in a Christmas mood. I was a little disappointed with the ending. I would have liked a epilogue that showed how they ended up. I didn't feel like I got any closure. I enjoyed Nicki Edwards writing style and I will be checking out more of her books. I think I will look into the Escape To The Country series, there are a few books that came before this one.