Favorite Books of 2014!!

So... in anticipation for the reveal of our first annual Swoony Award winners on Friday, we thought it would be fun to list our top 14 choices of 2014!! And since the Swoony's are for books that were published in the current year, are top picks will be as well!!

I will tell you that my list is not in any particular order. I absolutely LOVED all these books and there is NO WAY I'll be able to choose a ranking for them!! It just is NOT possible!! So don't even ask!! Lol.


Now... without further adieu... here are my TOP 14 of 2014!!

When Embers Ignite by Sharon Landis

Stolen Breaths by Pamela Sparkman

Prejudice Meets Pride by Rachael Anderson

Hunted by Katie Lee O'Guinn

Taken by Katie Lee O'Guinn

Come To Me by Shannon Guymon

Be Mine by Shannon Guymon

Tough Love by Shannon Guymon

Falling for Rayne by Shannon Guymon

A Passion for Cleo by Shannon Guymon

Sweet Confections by Danyelle Ferguson

Becoming Lady Lockwood by Jennifer Moore

Imperfect Love by Rebecca Talley

As You Are by Sarah M Eden

And there you have it ladies and gentlemen!! My Top 14 Favorites of 2014!! I can't wait for you guys to see the Swoony Winners on Friday!! I'm SUPER excited to announce them!! It's going to be AMAZING!! 

Been A Little Quiet Here...

... And I'm sorry!! Just as I am getting my blog up and running and getting lots of viewers I get hit with the dreaded reading rut!! And then once I get over that I get hit with a job! Yes... that's right... after 15 months of being unemployed this girl has a J-O-B!! I just started on the 16th of this month and I am slowly starting to get into the swing of things. I am hoping that starting in January I will be back on track and able to READ and BLOG again!! So don't give up on me!! I promise I am NOT going anywhere!! Just gotta find that balance between work, life and of course reading!! ;) 

2015 is going to be the most FANTABULOUS year ever... I just know it!! ;)  

Discovering Sophie by Cindy Roland Anderson

Synopsis:

Sophie Kendrick's father has gone missing in the jungles of Costa Rica. Desperate for answers to his whereabouts, she decides to search for him herself. She hires Jack Mathison to guide her through the jungle, but the two of them seem to be at odds from the moment they meet. Sophie finds Jack conceited, sarcastic, and worse, very good-looking. He is totally not her type, so how could she possibly be attracted to him? Likewise, Jack can't wait to be rid of Sophie and her optimistic outlook. Seriously, how could someone be that nice? Jack isn't looking for a relationship, and finds the electrifying chemistry between the two of them completely annoying. His job is to lead Sophie to a remote village deep inside the rainforest- her fathers last known location. Still, the jungle is a dangerous place and Jack does everything in his power to protect Sophie, but who will protect his heart?

My Review: 4 Stars

Sophie has never been close to her father but that doesn't mean she doesn't love him. He travels quite often to Costa Rica for research and after not hearing from him after awhile she begins to worry. She decides that she is going to head down to Costa Rica to find him. With the help of her best friend Camille and Camille's brother, they help her touch base with an old friend of their's that lives in Costa Rica who will be her guide for the trek to find her father.

Jack has been burned by women before and has completely sworn off ever having a relationship. He really doesn't want anything to do with them. He was lead to believe that Sophie was male not female so when he finds out that that key piece of information had been withheld he flips his lid! He does his best to NOT be the guide for Sophie but plans don't really work out in his favor.

It was pretty much love at first sight for Sophie and Jack, however, they do everything they can to fight their attraction for each other. At times it was a bit on the annoying side but then again at times it was kinda funny too. I loved their banter back and forth. I really enjoyed seeing their relationship develop. They both had things in their lives that they needed to work on before they could be together and I was glad that they took the time to do so.

While I really enjoyed the book there were some parts that kinda dragged for me. I won't go into too much detail but I will say that I was annoyed with Elaina and Peter. They both had a hard time hearing the word NO and I did end up skipping over some parts that they were in. Another part that just had me shaking my head was the whole story line with her dad. I kinda felt a little gypped. After spending as much time as you did reading about that part of the story, it just kinda happened and then fizzled out.

I do have to say that I am not the type of person to read Christian Fiction or any religious type books. That was all I used to read and I kind of got burned out on all the preaching. With that being said, I was pleasantly surprised that I not only finished the book, but that I enjoyed it as well! For the parts that got to be a little too much for me personally, I just skimmed over them... no big deal.

Discovering Sophie was the very first book I read by Cindy Roland Anderson and I will definitely be adding more books of hers to my list! It was definitely a fun read! :)

**I received a free copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review**

And yes... I did come up with a casting choice for this one... took a little longer to find my Jack but I am pretty happy with my choices... ;) Hehe.

Fate Changer by Katie Lee O'Guinn

Synopsis:

Fate Changer is Book 3 in The Lost Witch Trilogy. Sarah and Zane try to find a way to free themselves from Charles Langford's wicked obsession. She finds new friends and new enemies and must embrace her power in order to save the man she loves. As she comes close to death over and over, she has to put all of her trust in magic and love.

My Rating: 5 Stars

**WARNING** May Contain Spoilers! If you have not read the previous books and do NOT like knowing what happens then I would suggest you stop reading now!

Oh. My. HECK! I could NOT put Fate Changer down! There were so many twists and turns that I was not expecting... AT ALL!!

We pick up with our beloved characters after the tragic death of Francis. They are trying to figure out how they are going to be able to fight off Charles without her. Sarah has been given a month to decide whether or not she will be going to Charles willingly or whether he is going to take her and break her. This of course gives them time to figure out what in the world they are going to do!

There is SO much that happened that I don't even know where to start or what to say!! I want everyone to read this series but I don't want to give it all away!! It was AMAZING!!

Lets start with Sarah and Zane. Seriously.. these two just cannot catch a break! All they want is a little normal but that just does not happen! Between Charles, Mason and Race these two have to constantly stay on their toes! Both of their lives are in danger from different people and they did end up having some close calls.

Next we have Lash... what to say about him?! Well first and foremost he DID redeem himself in my eyes! He actually turned into one of the characters that I loved! He's had a hard life, his father is a psycho, he's in love with a girl that he'll never have.. my heart just breaks for him! But he finds a family with Sarah, Zane and everyone else.. and he's on the road to falling out of love with Sarah.. life may have been rough but it's definitely starting to look up for him!

And I think Charlie deserves her own little section too. She's also had a rough life and was passed around from foster home to foster home. She was tough and mean in Blood Rush but honestly that was just a front for a hurt girl who had never been loved. I really enjoyed seeing her grow and become a better person. She ended up being one of my favorites as well. :)

Ugh! And lets just bunch up Charles, Mason and Race in one very small paragraph. I hate them all! They are psycho! And they all deserved what was coming to them! Period end of discussion! Grrrr. Stupid jerks!

And then we have all the new characters that came together to help Sarah and Zane. Loved them! They were only there for a short period of time but there were some fun ones! I think my favorite was Jericho. Now he would be fun to read about! *hint hint* ;)

All in all I absolutely LOVED The Lost Witch Series! It was intense and had me on the edge of my seat the majority of the time.. I just could not put any of these books down! I completely devoured them! My emotions were off the charts and I felt everything thing that the characters felt. I LOVE any book that can do that! Katie's writing sucked me in from the very beginning and just proved to me all over again what an AMAZING writer she is!! I will DEFINITELY read anything and everything that she publishes!! And yes... you should too!! What are you waiting for?! Go and grab The Lost Witch series RIGHT NOW!! ;)

And no my casting choices have still not changed but I just love seeing them at the end of each of my posts!! ;) Hehe.

 

Blood Rush by Katie Lee O'Guinn

Synopsis:

Blood Rush continues the saga of Sarah Hudson as she embraces being a witch. She, her father, Zane and his mother and grandmother and her friend Lash all flee to Maine to escape Charles Langford. He's determined to have Sarah and acquire her power but she's not the only one in trouble. Zane is in trouble of being acquired himself. By a gorgeous new witch at school. Which leaves Sarah and Lash to figure out their relationship. Peril, love and death will keep you reading until the last page. Find out if Sarah is strong enough to make the right choices and become the woman and the witch she needs to be.

My Rating: 4.5 Stars

**WARNING** May Contain Spoilers! Read At Your Own Risk!

Book 2 in The Lost Witch trilogy picks up in Maine where our beloved characters are now living with Sarah's great-grandmother, Francis. Francis is very powerful witch and has a protection barrier around the town that keeps the evil Charles Langford out. This gives Sarah the time that she needs to come to terms with being a witch and learn everything she can from her grandma so that she can keep herself, and everyone else, safe from Charles.

While Sarah, Zane and Lash are at school they encounter another witch, Charlie. She uses the power of persuasion on Zane to break him and Sarah up. However, they did not know this at first and Sarah was pretty much heartbroken. Enter in Lash who has loved Sarah for years. He is determined to make her his... no matter what!

Ugh! Let me just get that off my chest right now. I am so NOT a fan of any type of love triangle! And while Sarah is heartbroken, she is very up front with Lash and tries to get him to understand that she just cannot have strong feelings for 2 guys at the same time. But he is very persistent and just will NOT leave her alone about it until she agrees to be his girlfriend. The guy just had no respect for Sarah and pretty much thought that because he loved her, he could do whatever the heck he wanted to do! The guy was a jerk! Plain and simple! I have to admit I lost a lot of respect for Lash while reading Blood Rush. By the end he still had not really gotten back on my good side but Katie is a pro at redeeming the good guys who have gone astray. We shall see what is in store for him in Fate Changer. But as of right now... he definitely deserves a HUGE Gibbs slap!! Maybe two... ;)

Anyway... let's get back to Zane and Charlie. Once they realized that Charlie was manipulating Zane, they took the needed measures to make sure that she really didn't have control over him. However, he still needed to date her until they got the needed information about her. Of course this about killed Sarah but during this time she worked to become better and stronger. She was able to learn how to control her powers without any outside interference.

But then things started happening that bring Zane and Sarah back together... where they belong! They just have a connection that, no matter what happens, just can NOT be broken! Every day they are together it grows stronger and stronger. I have a feeling that they are going to be unstoppable! ;)

There were lots of twists and turns that I did not see coming at all! I was on the edge of my seat about halfway through the book and I just could not put it down! Talk about intense! By the end I was happy that Sarah and Zane were back together, sad because of a death and angry and creeped out by Charles! Seriously that guy gives me the willies! He is a flippin psycho! I can't wait to see how they bring the freak down in book 3! It should be AMAZING!! I can't wait!! :)

No my casting did not change but I'm posting it again because I can... ;) Hehe.

 

Freak of Nature by Katie Lee O'Guinn

Synopsis:

Sarah Hudson refuses to believe she's a witch regardless of what her aunt says. She prefers to call it psychokinesis. Sarah has been an outcast since her early teens because of her power. Labeling herself a witch would only make her life even more unbearable. But on the first day of school, a new boy named Zane Miner recognizes her power and decides that he's going to take her under his wing, whether she likes it not. Since he's gorgeous and just as powerful as she is, she's very tempted to let him. But her pull towards another loner threatens her new relationship. As Sarah starts to accept her power she begins to realize that there are many people who would use her and break her into darkness. She must protect herself from her aunt and from a dark destiny that's determined to claim her. Sarah must turn to her new friends if she's going to survive and find the freedom and happiness she's always craved.

My Rating: 5 Stars

I really can't remember ever reading a book about witches. If I have then they must not have been very memorable. However, that has now changed after reading Freak of Nature! It was not what I was expecting at all and I loved it!

When Sarah was 5 years old her mom died and she was placed in the care of her aunt, Lena. When she hit her teen years she became the outcast.. the Freak of Nature. She had so much power around her that she had no clue what to do with it or how to control it. Her aunt has been telling her for years that she is a witch but Sarah doesn't believe it. She prefers to say she has psychokinesis.

Zane and his mom move back into town to take care of his grandmother. From the very first day of school he feels and instant connection with Sarah and just knows that they were meant to be together. Even though she fights the connection at first, he will do everything he can to not only be with her but to protect her from all the danger that is heading her way.

What danger am I talking about?! Well... you see... her aunt?! She be crazy! She THINKS that she is a witch and is ALWAYS trying to get Sarah to join her little "group of witches" so that she can "reach her full potential". However... as stated above... she be crazy! The woman is NOT a witch and wants to bind herself to Sarah so that she can have the same power. But Lena is dark and icky and Sarah wants nothing to do with her!

And then we have Lash. Sarah has been protecting him for years! He was always getting bullied in school and Sarah was always right there by his side. On the first day of school Sarah notices the difference in him but can't figure out why. Zane wants her to stay away from him because his aura is dark and just isn't right. But they have been friends for 10 years and Sarah just can't drop him when she knows that something is off with him.

After setting everything up for you I will now say... let the adventures begin! There is love... danger... new friendships... new enemies... it's got it all! I got hooked from the very beginning and just could NOT put this book down!! And I have to say the ending had me wanting to hurry up and do my review so that I can move on to book 2 in the series! I am super excited to get to know Sarah's great-grandma... she seems fun and very feisty!

So what are you waiting for?! Go grab it and read while I move on to book 2!! ;)

But before I go... let me introduce you to my casting choices... what do you think?! And yes... they are Shannon approved!! ;)

 

Tough Love by Shannon Guymon

Synopsis:

Taryn Downing has made a name for herself as a smart, tough businesswoman. The title she doesn't want though is Cougar. But Brogan Moore, the man she has feelings for has given her an ultimatum: Tell the world they're together, or he walks. As Taryn watches Brogan walk out of her life, she has to ask herself, if her pride is more important than Love. Taryn isn't the only one who has issues with pride and image though. Brogan will have to decide if Taryn is the woman for him, or if his parents are right and he would be better off playing it safe.

My Rating: 5 Stars

I have to say... re-reading Tough Love put a HUGE smile on my face! I forgot how much I loved it!

Taryn is the manager of The Iron Skillet and she is madly in love with Brogan, the best waiter The Iron Skillet has ever had! But sadly she she is stubborn and prideful and just can't admit that she is in love with a waiter, who happens to be 3 years younger than her and her best friend's little brother.

Brogan has been in love with Taryn for 10 years! Almost from the moment he first saw her, he knew that she was made for him. He will do anything he can to get her to admit that she really does love him. They had been secretly dating and when Brogan asked Taryn to start telling everyone that they were together or they would be over, she did the only thing she could to "save her image"... she chose to be over.

*sigh*

Brogan and Taryn... I swear the two of you were almost the death of me! It was definitely a very long and bumpy road! But watching you two go back and forth was rather entertaining! Some of my favorite parts were the bonfire... the date with Garrett... Kam busting in a door... haha!! I just love all these Fircrest characters!! They always know how to brighten my day!! ;)

I really enjoyed this book... even when it was beyond frustrating! Lol. The Downing family really grew on me throughout this series and I even got to the point of liking Anne! Shocking... I know. ;) Believe it or not... I'm wondering what happened to Anne! I don't think she needs her own book but a little paragraph about her ending would complete the series for me. And I'm going to be totally honest and say... I don't like Brogan's parents... I think they suck! I feel so bad for Taryn... but having Brogan stand up for and doing anything for the woman he loves?! Yeah... she's one lucky gal! ;) Brogan is DEFINITELY a keeper!!

Like others of you... I'm sad to see this series end! But I'm looking forward to the next series Love and Flowers! I'm REALLY hoping Garrett will get his HEA!! He totally needs one!! ;)

And of course my casting choice for Taryn and Brogan...

 

2014 Swoony Awards Blitz with Giveaway

What Are the Swoony Awards?
The Swoony Awards were created to recognize excellence in clean fiction. There are so many books published every day and it can be hard to find the ones worth reading. We want to help recognize authors who write entertaining books that are wholesome. It’s our hope that each year we will help provide everyone with a great list of books to read and maybe introduce them to new authors.

What Are the Eligibility Requirements?
-Publication Year: Only books published during the current contest year may be nominated. To be fair to all books, contest dates will run from December 1, 2013 – November 31, 2014.
-Clean romance: No sex or closed door, low/mild innuendo. Only M/F romances.
-Language: None/mild, anything over a handful of profanity (especially the more offensive words) would not be considered clean.
-Violence: None/mild
-Other: Nothing overly dark, depressing or heavy subject matter

Novels, novellas and short stories are all eligible for nomination, no limits on page number. Any (clean) genre is eligible (i.e. contemporary, fantasy, mystery, historical, etc.).

Each voter is able to choose up to 100 books to vote on or nominate each contest year. There is no cap on the overall number of books nominated.

How Are Winners Selected?
We will be accepting entries throughout the year and the winners announced the first week in January. There are fifteen award categories (i.e. Best Novel of the Year, Best Historical, Best Contemporary, etc.). Winner’s will be announced via our blogs (Bookworm Nation, KJ’s Book Nook and Katie’s Clean Book Reviews) and through Goodreads Swoony Awards Group.

Since this is a reader’s choice award the winners are determined by a combination of the number of votes received and how high the voter rated the book and what rank the voter gave each book they voted for.

Who Are We?

 
Kathy (Bookworm Nation)

I've been hosting a book review blog, Bookworm Nation, for over five years. I love to read and review books. And of course, I love to discuss books! A few years ago I started the Goodreads group, Happily Ever After Book Club. It's through Goodreads that I met Katie, Kathy Jo and Heidi and while discussing our love of books one day we thought it'd be fun to host our own Reader's Choice award. We're excited to introduce the Swoony's this year, it's going really well and we look forward to hosting it for years to come. 

Contact Info for Kathy:

Email: bookwormnation@hotmail.com

Twitter: @bookwormnation

Blog: www.bookwormnation.blogspot.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bookworm-Nation/204548468640

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/happilyeverafterbookclub

 

 
Kathy Jo (KJ's Book Nook)
This may come as a shocker but I have NOT always been a little bookworm. In fact growing up I was not the kid you saw jumping at the chance to read. I was the one that just did it to make my teachers happy. That silent reading time during school?! Yeah.. I was the kid napping! ;) About 12 years ago someone loaned me a book and said I just HAD to read it. I took it just to get them off my back and much to my surprise I could NOT put it down! And from then on I would read... but only that one author. I refused to read anything else! It wasn't until 2009 when 2 of my favorite people introduced me to the Twilight Series that I actually started branching out. And ever since then I haven't been able to STOP reading! ;) About 5 months ago I decided to start a book blog and I have been loving it! I get to be another voice for all the amazing authors that I love! How cool is that?! And of course through my adventures in reading I have been able to meet some amazing women who love books just as much as, if not more than, me! I love chatting with them about all the books we read! We have become such great friends that at times I forget that I've never really met them in person! Books just have a way of bringing people together! My reading choices vary... I love a lot of different genres.With that said... I am not ashamed to admit that I am a romantic and I love fluff! As long as it's clean and has a HEA, I'll definitely give it a try! Any book that gives me a break from reality and puts a smile on my face is definitely a book for me!   
Contact Info for Kathy Jo:
Email: kjsbooknook@gmail.com
Blog: kjsbooknook.blogspot.com 
Twitter: @kjincali

 
Katie (Katie's Clean Book Collection)
I started blogging about a year and a half ago. I've always loved to read and talk about books--it's my obsession. The first book I learned to read on my own was Dr. Seuss's Green Eggs and Ham. I love a lot of different genres, but my favorite is clean romance, which is perfect for the Swoony's! I've had a blast meeting new friends who enjoy the same types of books that I do.

Contact Info for Katie:
Email: lilacqueen75@gmail.com
Twitter: @lilacqueen75
Blog: www.katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/katiescleanbookcollection

 
Heidi 
I'm a mother of four amazing kids and married to my own Prince Charming. I love to read, kiss my handsome Prince, bake, run (because I love to bake), ride horses, play sports, and spend time with my little family. I first fell in love with reading at a very young age because of my sweet grandmother who always took the time to read me my favorite books over and over again. She could never tell me no. My wonderful mother is also entirely addicted to reading and we love to "talk books" late into the night....and plot how we are going to buy more. :) I adore clean, happily ever after books, and I've loved getting to know so many other women who do as well. Who knew books would be the reason I would meet some of the dearest people in the world?! 
Contact Info for Heidi:
Email: curlyhide9@hotmail.com

Note to Authors:
If you’ve written a book that matches the above criteria fill free to nominate it for a Swoony! Don’t be afraid to promote the award or to let your fans know your book is up and that it needs votes. We are doing some promoting, but sometimes a Facebook, Twitter or blog post directly from the author is the best way to let your fan base know your book has been nominated. Only books with a minimum of THREE votes will be added to the official nomination list found on the Goodreads Swoony Awards group page. Winners will be announced January 2015.

To stay up to date on voting and nominations, please join our Goodreads Swoony Awards group page!

Note to Readers:
If you’ve read a book this year that you think is awesome…VOTE! This is a great way to let authors know you appreciate all that hard work. You can vote for up to 100 books on the list. We’ve also learned that the order you rank the books you vote on does affect the overall score of the book. So take a minute and make sure you have your books in the order you want them. Invite your friends to vote! Voting ends December 31, 2014.

The 2014 Swoony Awards is now accepting nominations and votes for your favorite books of the year. Polls will be open until December 31, 2014. 

Join us on Facebook and Twitter.

As a thank you for making the Swoony Awards a success,
we'd like to offer an Amazon gift card! The winner will
have 48 hours to claim the prize. Only valid
where Amazon gift cards may be used. You must
be 13 or older to enter.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

When Embers Ignite by Sharon Landis

Synopsis:

Trace Reynolds, a firefighter with a trouble past, isn't looking for a committed relationship. With his heart broken and bruised, too many times, he is only interested in a friendly fun long distance thing with no strings attached. He meets Ellie Waters, a fun, confident, beauty with commitment issues of her own, It seems like a match made in Heaven. When Ellie learns about Trace's tendency to defy death not only in his career but in his leisure time activities, she wonders if this is someone she wants to get involved with even casually.

Will having a couple of near death experiences of her own change her mind? Will Trace stick around long enough to save her or will she have to depend on someone else?

My Review: 5 Stars

I'm going to start out by saying I may be a little bias when it comes to reviewing When Embers Ignite. Why?! Because it was written for me!! Yes.. that's right.. my aunt is the amazing author who wrote this book! When I finished reading Reunions Are Murder I just HAD to have Ellie and Trace's story! And she did NOT disappoint!! ;)

Ellie has always been there for everyone she cares about. She helps them when they need help, lifts them up when they are down, cares for them like a mother. She has a HUGE heart and it shows! The one person that she has not been taking care of?! HERSELF! Over the years she's been so busy taking care of everyone else that she's lost sight of who she is and what she wants in life. Instead of living her life for her, she's been living it for others.. making sure their happiness is her #1 priority. Things start to happen in her's and Trace's relationship that makes her open her eyes and do some serious soul searching. She finally decides that it's time to stop putting everyone else's needs above her own. She needs to start living her life for herself and NOT for everyone around her. Before she can move forward with Trace, or any other guy for that matter, she needs to figure out who she really is and what she wants out of life. She needs to start thinking about her happiness for a change and putting everyone else's on the back burner.

Trace is broken and just cannot commit to anyone. Between his best friend dying in a fire they were fighting together, his ex-girlfriend breaking up with him and then a week later dying while doing something stupid, he just can't let himself get close to anyone. He lives with nightmares and survivors guilt and it is just too much to handle at times. He starts falling in love with Ellie and does everything that he can to fight his feelings for her. In the back of his mind he thinks that once she finds out everything, she just won't be able to handle it and she'll leave him too.. just like everyone else. It isn't until Trace meets a little bit of competition where Ellie is concerned that he starts to really look at his feelings for Ellie. Can he take that leap of faith and allow himself to really open up and let her in? Or is it too late for him and Ellie to get their HEA?

I loved watching Ellie and Trace grow not only individually but also as a couple. They really are perfect for each other. :) While I love Ellie and Trace I just have to say... holy moly can they be stubborn!! I seriously wanted to knock some sense into them a couple of times! Especially towards the end... Ugh! Ellie! What in the world was wrong with you?! You were told by several people not to go anywhere ALONE!! And what did you do?! YOU WENT!! Stubborn woman!! Lol.

And then we have Hunter. *sigh* I have this love/hate relationship with him. I'm not going to lie... he kinda irritated me a lot. Especially when it came to Ellie and Trace's relationship. He was told by both of them that they were together and happy but he just had to keep pushing buttons. There were times that I wanted to Gibbs slap him and tell him to have a little respect! But he did end up redeeming himself in the end when he helped save Ellie from the psycho! But I will say... I hope he gets a taste of his own medicine when it comes time for his HEA! See how he likes it when someone is always around and flirting with his girl. Turn about's fair play, right?! ;) Hehe.

The mystery part of the book had me guessing until the end and I just have to say... I guessed wrong! Lol. There were twists and turns that I just did not see coming! I love it when a story can keep me on my toes! :)

*sigh* The ending... LOVED it!! I got my HEA and a set up for the next book... what more could this girl ask for?! ;)

All in all I LOVED the 2nd book in the Mended Hearts Collection. While it is apart of a series, it can be read as a stand alone. There is enough of a back story that you get the jest of what happened in the first book. I am excited for the other books in the series! And I have it on good authority that there will be books on a couple of guys in this book. And let me tell you... I am super excited for Max's story!! I can't WAIT!! It's going to be AMAZING!! Actually... ALL of them are going to be AMAZING.. I just know it!! ;)

And of course I can't forget one of my favorite things of doing reviews... the casting choice!! Hehe. Here is my Trace and Ellie...

 

Be Mine by Shannon Guymon

Synopsis:

Men are terrifying to Bailey Downing. Not that she wants anyone to know that, but with her mom insisting she fall in love and Kam Matafeo pushing her to feel things she doesn't want to feel, Bailey is determined to make a nice, safe choice. Dean Hogan is the perfect man for her. Smart, wealthy, charming and best of all, safe. But when her romance begins to unravel with Dean, she's faced with a choice: open her heart, or stay safe, cold and lonely. Kam is determined to help Bailey no matter what it takes and with the support of her sister Taryn and her brother Rob, she makes the decision to be brave. But Kam's ex-girlfriend Meredith isn't shy about wanting him back. Bailey will have to learn to fight for what she really wants. The question is, would she rather be safe or would she rather be loved.

My Review: 5 Stars

*dreamy sigh* (Yes.. more dreamy sighs!) I absolutely LOVED Be Mine! It was amazing and exactly what I needed right now!

Bailey has always intrigued me. She comes across as confident and strong. But part of me had a feeling that there was something going on with her... something that she is hiding... I just couldn't figure out what.

Kam takes one look at Bailey and knows that there is more to her then she lets on. He sees what she is busy hiding from everyone else... he sees HER. And he just knows that she is the one for him. He has a bit of a long road ahead of him to help her see that she deserves to be happy and loved but he is definitely up for the challenge.

You see, something horrible happened to Bailey when she was younger but she never told anyone anything about it. She kept it bottled inside because she was ashamed and didn't want it to hurt others in her family. But when she is assigned a story she has to make the tough choice of finally facing it and getting everything out in the open so that she can heal and move on... becoming a better and stronger person.

On top of all this going on with Bailey, she has to deal with Meredith... the psycho ex-girlfriend of Kam. All I have to say is WOW! What in the world happened to Meredith?! I knew that she was a feisty little thing but holy crow Batman!! She just went nuts!! But I do have to say I got a kick out of the cat fight between those two... it was awesome! Haha! They both are a little feisty... ;)

Once everything is out in the open and Bailey has faced it, she finally sees that she DOES deserve love and happiness. And she finds it in Kam. They had their fair share of ups and downs but in the end it was all worth it! And they are better together! These two are my most favoritest couple in the Love and Trust Trilogy!

As I said before Be Mine was just what I needed! It reassured me that even though there is evil in the world and no one is perfect... everyone deserves love and a chance to be happy! Love is not always easy but have a little faith in it... it can heal and make you whole again. <3

And as promised... my casting choices for Bailey and Kam...

Wondering Where I Have Been?!

It wasn't anything exciting... I promise!! It was actually HORRIBLE!! If you are a bookworm like me then you will definitely understand. I have been in a dreaded READING RUT!! Grrrr. I HATE those things!! It's the worst thing ever, right?!

Thankfully I am out of it... FINALLY!! How did that happen?! Easy!! I just grabbed a couple of my favorite go to books and started reading!! Thank you Shannon Guymon!! You are the BESTEST!!

Coming soon... my reviews for Come To Me, Be Mine and Tough Love... and yes... castings will be included... ;) Hehe.

Cinder & Ella by Kelly Oram

Synopsis:

It’s been almost a year since eighteen-year-old Ella Rodriguez was in a car accident that left her crippled, scarred, and without a mother. After a very difficult recovery, she’s been uprooted across the country and forced into the custody of a father that abandoned her when she was a young child. If Ella wants to escape her father’s home and her awful new stepfamily, she must convince her doctors that she’s capable, both physically and emotionally, of living on her own. The problem is, she’s not ready yet. The only way she can think of to start healing is by reconnecting with the one person left in the world who’s ever meant anything to her—her anonymous Internet best friend, Cinder.

Hollywood sensation Brian Oliver has a reputation for being trouble. There’s major buzz around his performance in his upcoming film The Druid Prince, but his management team says he won’t make the transition from teen heartthrob to serious A-list actor unless he can prove he’s left his wild days behind and become a mature adult. In order to douse the flames on Brian’s bad-boy reputation, his management stages a fake engagement for him to his co-star Kaylee. Brian isn’t thrilled with the arrangement—or his fake fiancée—but decides he’ll suffer through it if it means he’ll get an Oscar nomination. Then a surprise email from an old Internet friend changes everything. (


My Review: 3 - 3.5 Stars

I am kind of torn on how to rate this book. There were parts I absolutely loved and other parts... well... not so much. This was definitely an emotional rollercoaster for me and I literally wanted to start knocking people out!

Ella was in a horrible car accident that left her scarred both physically and emotionally. She lost her mother in that car accident and was sent to live with her father that abandoned her when she was eight years old. My feelings on her father, step mom and 2 step sisters vary. I hated the parents in the beginning, then kinda liked them, then started hating them again and I think I ended up kinda liking them in the end. That whole family had issues! I mean seriously! Ella's whole world was tipped upside down and then all the sudden everything was HER fault?! Seriously?! *rolls eyes* I really liked Juliette! She turned out to be one of my favorites along with Rob and Vivian. But NEVER liked Anastasia! Holy crow that chick was just plain EVIL and definitely had issues! And of course NOTHING happened to her... they blamed Ella for Ana's bad behavior! *rolls eyes*

Brian is a famous movie star who has no control over his life. He has to do whatever the "bosses" tell him to do, including fake an engagement to his evil co-star, Kaylee. The only good thing in his life is Ella. And the kicker?! They have never met in person! They have only chatted over the internet and on the phone.

Brian and Ella are really good for each other. Their relationship was one of the few things I absolutely LOVED about this book! It was literally what kept me reading. I just HAD to know how they would meet and I just HAD to see how their relationship progressed once they finally did! And I was not disappointed with it! Brian was completely amazing!! And I LOVED what he did to show Ella how much he loved her and how much she meant to him! THAT part had me sighing dreamy sighs!

However, I had so much anger for the other characters that I literally gave myself a headache from clenching my teeth so much! I cannot tell you how many times I had to put my Kindle down and just walk away! Not sure if it was my mood or the book or both but thinking about everything just starts ticking me off again!

One of the things that I did NOT like (other than the evil characters) was all the language. Holy crow! There was more then I thought there would be and I was rather disappointed because a lot of that could have been removed. It really was not necessary in my opinion. Because of all that language there are very few people that I can recommend this book too. It's really kinda sad because I definitely would have given it a higher rating and recommended it to several people had all that language NOT been in there!

Would I read this book again?! Maybe. I'd definitely skip a lot of the drama and the evilness though. There is too much evil in this world and I read to escape it. But this book was not an escape for me. It was good but a bit too much.

**I received a free copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.**

When Embers Ignite by Sharon Landis is LIVE on Amazon!!

I am very excited to announce that the 2nd book in the Mended Hearts Collection is now LIVE on Amazon!! That's right.. When Embers Ignite by Sharon Landis is LIVE!! I am excited for a couple of reasons. First and foremost this AMAZING woman is my favoritest Aunt! And second she wrote this book for me!!! That's right.. just for me!!! After reading her first book, Reunions Are Murder, I just HAD to have Trace and Ellie's story! I told her this a few times and you should have heard me squeal like a school girl when she told me that I was going to get my wish! YAY!!! 

So without further adieu... allow me to introduce you to...

Synopsis:

Trace Reynolds, a firefighter with a trouble past, isn't looking for a committed relationship. With his heart broken and bruised too many times, he is only interested in a friendly fun long distance thing with no strings attached. He meets Ellie Waters, a fun, confident, beauty with commitment issues of her own, it seems like a match made in Heaven. When Ellie learns about Trace's tendency to defy death not only in his career but in his leisure time activities, she wonders if this is someone she wants to get involved with even casually.

Will having a couple of near death experiences of her own change her mind? Will Trace stick around long enough to save her or will she have to depend on someone else?

Intriguing, right?! So what are you waiting for?! Click on the links above and check out her books!! And yes... I absolutley LOVE them!! :)

Blurring the Lines by Mia Josephs

Synopsis:

Christian Meyer quit his band and checked into rehab. Only, when he checks out to start his solo career, he can’t write. At all.

Corinne’s done the hollywood, famous rockstar boyfriend thing. It ended in such a huge disaster that she ran herself out of town, despite her career as a songwriter just beginning to take off. She lives in a small cabin in the woods of Washington to keep as far away from her old life as possible.

But when Christian is desperate to start his new career, and his manager has the perfect songwriter in mind, their worlds collide.

Corinne is determined to keep her distance, it’s just collaborating for a weekend. But when Chris shows up on her doorstep weeks after their meeting and pleading for help, she can’t turn him away.

With the life she now lives and the past she’s desperate to keep buried, she’ll do everything she can to protect her heart, no matter how quickly she feels herself falling.

For the first time in his life, Chris can see himself being in love, but with a tour date looming, and Corinne terrified to move forward, they both have a long road to travel if there’s a chance of them being together.

My Review: 3.5 - 4 Stars

Blurring the Lines is not your typical romance story. It's about 2 broken people who do not get their HEA the easy way. They have to work at it and make some hard decisions about who they are and what they really want in their lives.

Christian is fresh out of rehab and is trying to figure out who he is without the drugs and alcohol. He's trying to take his music career in a new direction but is having problems writing new songs. He is stuck.

Corrine is a song writer who has not had an easy adult life. She has had to face more tragedy then most people her age. She has been down the Hollywood, rocker boyfriend lifestyle road before and is very adamant about NOT getting back into it.

And when Christian and Corrine meet and all bets are off.

Corrine judged Christian for WHAT he is instead of WHO he is. I loved when he took her to his mom's house to help her see that underneath all the rock star persona he really was just a real person. She had to make some tough choices due to things that happened in the past and it was not easy for her at all. Christian struggled every day with his addiction but he stayed strong even when times got tough. In the end it seemed like Corrine and Jonah gave him the reason he needed to stay sober.

All in all it was a good read. I liked the side characters especially Jonah and Christian's mom, Brooke. Jonah was so cute! And I loved Brooke's reunion with Christian. It was so sweet!

Content:
Romance - Sketchy clean. Some of my friends will think it's not a clean read and others will think it's too clean. For me I choose sketchy clean.
Language - Moderate. There are a few f-bombs and several other swear words.

**I was given a copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.**

2014 Swoony Awards!!

What is the 2014 Swoony Awards you ask?! Well I'll tell you!! Our group on Goodreads, The Happily Ever After Book Club, has decided that we want to honor all the amazing authors and their equally amazing books that they have written this year!

What can you do to help them out and spread the word?! Easy! All you need to do is visit our 2014 Swoony Award List and start voting!! And then once you have voted be sure to share the list with your Bookworm Buddies!!

Who are some of MY favorite authors that are on the list?! Well... let's see... we have Shannon Guymon, Katie Lee O'Guinn, Danyelle Ferguson, Jennifer Moore, Rachael Anderson, Jennifer Shirk and Kasie West... just to name a few!! ;)

What if there is a book that has been published this year, which you have read and loved but is not on the list?! Well as long as it meets the criteria then PLEASE feel free too ADD it!! The more books the merrier I say!! How are our favorite authors supposed to get new fans if we aren't doing our part by spreading the love?!

So what are you waiting for?!?! Go check out the Swoony's, vote and spread the word!! Happy voting and reading my Bookworm Buddies!! :)

The Chimney Sweep Charm by Marcia Lynn McClure

Excerpt:

There was the muffled sound of audience members standing up, and Baylee and Candice turned to look behind them. 

"Holy smokes!" Baylee breathed. "It's like a Navy SEAL convention or something," Candice added. 

And it was! Baylee couldn't believe that over twenty-five of the people in the orientation audience were tall, dark, handsome, buff guys dressed all in black. Each man stood with his feet apart and hands held at his back-similar if not exactly like a military "at ease" stance. 

"They're all packing heat too," Baylee whispered to Candice as she noted all the holstered sidearms. 

"I guess Mr. O'Sullivan wants to be prepared," Candice said. "I suppose you girls are all wowed now, right?" Tate said from the front row. 

"Let's see," Candice began, looking to Tate and feigning an expression of thoughtfulness. "Let's say I'm being assaulted by some weirdo in the street...and who am I going to look to for protection? One of these guys?" she said, nodding toward the security staff. "Or you, Tate? You...who freaked out in June when we were in New York and you thought some guy was looking at you funny. You freaked out and slammed Megan's finger in the door and cut it off! Who do you think I'm going to trust?" 

"It was an accident, and you know it," Tate grumbled. 

Baylee did know it. Still, she found her eyes glancing down the row of chairs in front of her to Megan-to the missing first joint and fingertip on her right hand. 

"Yeah, it was," Candice admitted. "But you still cared more about yourself than Megan. The guy was stalking Megan...not you. Real heroic, Tate. Way to go to instilling a sense of confidence in me that you would have my back." 

"Whatever," Tate grumbled, turning around in his seat to pout. 

"Thank you," Brian said to his men. Baylee watched as the security staff sat down in unison. "So there you have it...our extra security staff for the next two months. As I said, if you need assistance...just grab a chimney sweep." 

Baylee giggled. "Grab a cab, grab a snack...grab a chimney sweep." 

Candice giggled too. "And you know what? I just figured out what I want for Christmas." 

"Absolutely," Baylee agreed. "I'll never ring 'Chim Chim Cher-ee' with the same mental pictures again."

My Review: 4 Stars

The Chimney Sweep Charm had me wishing it was Christmas and that I was with everyone in the Dickens Village! It also had me wanting my own Chimney Sweep for Christmas! ;)

When Baylee and Justice first meet each other it's at the Dickens Village where she is working as a hand-bell ringer and he's working security. They both feel something for each other instantly and have a pretty drama free relationship. Not only do they like a lot of the same things but they also pretty much have the same vocabulary. Of course Baylee can't believe that someone like Justice would ever be interested in her (the theme for a lot of heroines these days) but at least she decides that she's not going to dwell too much on that and just enjoy the ride for however long it'll last.

And boy does it last! These two are constantly neckin and enjoy every minute they can with each other. And can I just say that Justice's grandma is hilarious! I would've loved to see more of her!

The mystery element of the book is very low key and pretty much just happens in the background. I would have loved to see more of that come out. There were so many directions that this book could have taken and I just wanted more!!

For that reason and the book just ending had me rating The Chimney Sweep Charm only 4 stars. I really did enjoy it and will definitely read it again but really... I wanted more!! It was just such a fun book!! So if you are looking for a cute, quick, fluff kind of read... I say this one will be perfect for you!!

And of course... I cannot forget my casting!! These two are just PERFECT!!

 

The Pirate Ruse by Marcia Lynn McClure

Synopsis:

Abducted! Forcibly taken from her home in New Orleans , Cristabel Albay found herself a prisoner aboard an enemy ship—and soon thereafter, transferred into the vile hands of blood-thirsty pirates! War waged between the newly liberated United States and King George. Still, Cristabel would soon discover that British sailors were the very least of her worries—for the pirate captain, Bully Booth, owned no loyalty—no sympathy for those he captured.

Yet hope was not entirely lost—for where there was found one crew of pirates—there was ever found another. Though Cristabel Albay would never have dreamed that she may find fortune in being captured by one pirate captain only to be taken by another—she did! Bully Booth took no man alive—let no woman live long. But the pirate Navarrone was known for his clemency. Thus, Cristabel’s hope in knowing her life’s continuance was restored.

Nonetheless, as Cristabel’s heart began to yearn for the affections of her handsome, beguiling captor—she wondered if Captain Navarrone had only saved her life to execute her poor heart!


My Review: 4.5 Stars

Pirates.. mystery.. adventure.. romance.. The Pirate Ruse has it all!

Captain Navarrone comes upon a battle between a British Ship and the Screaming Witch. He sees Cristabel and knows that, even though he is a pirate, that she would be better off on his ship and proceeds to steal her away! Upon further questioning he finds out that she has been keeping company with traitors! And if there's one thing that Captain Navarrone does not like it's traitors! And ya might want to hold on loves... here is where the adventures begin! ;)

Trevon and Cristabel are probably two of my favorite Marcia characters. I enjoyed their journey of self discovery and love. You got to see their relationship progress naturally and their banter is hilarious! Cristabel has spunk and even though she is afraid of Trevon at times, she still stands her ground and shows how strong she can be.

The moral of this story is absolutely amazing! Both have a lot to overcome but they do and they are that much better and stronger because of it. I really wish Marcia would write more books like this! It is probably one of my favorites of hers! :)

So why only 4.5 Stars? There were just two things that bothered me. One would be it was a bit too wordy at times. I did skip over some parts because I wanted to get to the meat of the story! And the other thing is something that bothers me throughout all her books... it's the constant use of not only the first BUT the last names as well! I can see using it in the beginning and maybe once or twice in the middle or the end but not throughout the whole book! It drives me nuts! Some are worse than others and I really try to overlook them but it's getting harder and harder to do.

Other than that this was an awesome read!! I would definitely recommend it to everyone!!

And of course I can't forget my casting choices... Don't they just scream Trevon and Cristabel?! ;)

 

The Rogue Knight by Marcia Lynn McClure

Synopsis:

An aristocratic birthright and the luxurious comforts of profound wealth did nothing to comfort Fontaine Pratina following the death of her beloved parents. After two years in the guardianship of her mother’s arrogant and selfish sister, Carileena Wetherton, Fontaine’s only moments of joy and peace were found in the company of the loyal servants of Pratina Manor. Only in the kitchens and servant’s quarters of her grand domicile did Fontaine find friendship, laughter and affection.

The life of a wealthy orphan destined to inherit loomed before Fontaine—a dark cloud of shallow, arrogant associations—of aristocracy, void of simple joys—and void of love. Still, it was her lot—and she saw no way of escaping.

Yet, one cold winter’s night, a battered stranger appeared at the servant’s entrance, seeking shelter and help. He gave only his first name, Knight—and suddenly, Fontaine found herself experiencing fleeting moments of joy in life. Knight was handsome, powerful—the very stuff of the legends of days of old. Though a servant’s class was his, he was proud, strong and even his name seemed to validate his persona—and he blissfully distracted Fontaine from her dull, hopeless existence.

Still, there were devilish secrets—strategies cached by her greedy aunt—and not even the handsome and powerful Knight could save her from them. Or could he? And if he did—would the truth force Fontaine to forfeit her Knight, her heart’s desire—the man she loved?

My Review: 3 Stars

This review is going to be different than the other ones I have done because the synopsis pretty much sums everything up. Instead I'll just give my own thoughts of the book. :)

The Rogue Knight was definitely harder for me to get through this time around. While I still liked it, I didn't love it like the first time I read it.

Fontaine and Knight were just absolutely amazing! I really did love them. Both of them were selfless and only wanted to do what was best for others around them. They were focused on others' happiness instead of their own. So their HEA was perfect in my opinion! :) I also really enjoyed all the side characters. They were fun and a definite bright spot when having to deal with the aunt.

And speaking of the aunt... she was just a horrible excuse for a human being! I could not stand her! I was really glad that she wasn't in the book as much as she could have been. I don't think I would have liked it much if that were the case. And I do have to say that while I liked the ending I really wish that something bad would have happened to the aunt. I mean seriously! She is horrible! So why in the world did she have to get everything?!

I think overall it was a good read for me. There were parts that were a bit too wordy and I found myself skipping things here and there just to get to the end. I did however love all the kisses! One of the things I love most about Marcia's books is the kissing! Boy oh boy does she know how to write a kissing scene! ;) Hehe.

And we can't forget the casting choices now can we... ;)

 

A Better Reason to Fall in Love by Marcia Lynn McClure

Excerpt:

Tabby glanced up to see the sales and marketing analyst for the company, Jagger Brodie, walking-rather sauntering-toward the PR office. Without realizing it, a heavy sigh of something akin to longing escaped Tabby's lungs as she watched Jagger Brodie cross the main office space. He was entirely the most attractive man Tabby had ever known-not that she really knew him well, but she knew him well enough to know he was hot! Tall, dark, and handsome, Jagger Brodie looked as if he'd stepped directly out of some sort of trendy clothing store ad, only wearing a business suit instead of nothing but a pair of jeans. He had the deepest green eyes Tabby had ever seen, a flawlessly chiseled jawline, and ebony hair that alluringly beckoned to be combed with female fingers-Tabby's fingers. "Boom chicka wow wow!" Emmy whispered. "Absolutely!" Tabby breathed as she watched Jagger Brodie saunter past. She envied Jocelyn for a moment, knowing he was most likely on his way to drop something off on Jocelyn's desk or to speak with her. Jocelyn got to talk with Jagger almost every day, whereas Tabby was lucky if he dropped graphics changes off to her once a week. "Ba boom chicka wow wow!" Emmy whispered again. "He's sporting a red tie today. Ooo, the power tie! He must be feeling confident." Tabby smiled, amused and yet simultaneously amazed at Emmy's observation. She'd noticed the red tie too. "There's a big marketing meeting this afternoon," she told Emmy. "I heard he's presenting some hardnosed material." "Then that explains it," Emmy said, smiling. "Mr. Brodie's about to rock the company's world!" "He already rocks mine...every time he walks by," Tabby whispered.

My Review: 4 Stars

A Better Reason to Fall in Love is full of romance, friendship, laughter and of course a few HEA's!

Tabby and her 3 friends not only work together but they also eat lunch together everyday and each of them have their eyes on that special someone. ;)

Tabby has her eye on the office hottie, Jagger. When she starts seeing him outside of the office she starts to realize just how perfect he is for her. But of course she thinks that he's just too good to be true and that she doesn't even stand a chance with him.

However, she is proven wrong when her phobia of driving in a snow storm strands her and Jagger in her house for a night. They get the chance to just relax and get to know each other with no pressure and no negative nellies around them. After that night their relationship just seems to get better and better. They both start to fall in love with each other and they are truly happy.

Insert the negative nellies here. There are a few people in Tabby's life that think things are moving too fast and that they need "a better reason to fall in love". And I really wanted to just smack those people up the side of the head! Everyone is different when it comes to love and what they are looking for. I personally know people who knew within a few hours that they had met their special someone and I also know people who it took several months before they knew. Only the people in the relationship know if it will work or not.

Everything about this book was just fun! I loved the cliff diving, singing the blues and of course the whole 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon! I actually found out while reading this book that I personally have a Bacon number! And yes I got ridiculously excited about it and had to share it with everyone I know! Some where excited and thought it was just as cool as I did and others just thought I was nuts! Lol.

A Better Reason to Fall in Love is definitely one of my favorite Marcia Lynn McClure books! So why only the 4 stars? Because I wanted more! I would have loved an epilogue to just complete the whole experience. Even without it, it was still just a fun, easy read that puts and keeps a smile on your face!

And of course I found the PERFECT casting choice! I mean seriously! Does it get any better than this?! ;)