Monday, December 29, 2014

TOP 30 Books and Series of 2014 - #4



This is not your typical love story. 

It’s not so black and white. Lines are crossed. 
Walls are smashed. Good becomes bad. 
 
Bad becomes very, very good.

Shayda Hijazi—the perfect wife, the perfect mother, the perfect daughter. For thirty-three years, she has played by the rules, swallowing secrets, burying dreams and doing whatever it takes to anchor her family. Shayda Hijazi is about to come face to face with the one thing that can rip it all apart, the one thing her heart has always been denied: Love.

 
Troy Heathgate—untamed, exhilarating, dangerous—a man who does exactly as he pleases. Life bends to his will. Until he comes across the one thing he would give it all up for, but can never have.

Born on the same day in opposite corners of the world, their lives collide. And nothing is ever the same again.

Spanning three decades, 53 Letters for My Lover is a fiercely sensual, emotional ride to the heart of an epic, forbidden love that defies it all—an intimate exploration of love, loyalty, passion, betrayal, and the human journey for hope, happiness and redemption.



AMAZON | B&N

*53 Letters for Your Lover has a companion novella in Troy’s POV titled From His Lips. Below are some quotes from both Shayda and Troy in their POV from their respective books.

"He Said/She Said" with Shayda and Troy

Shayda's quotes from 53 Letters For My Lover


Troy's quotes from the companion short story, From His Lips




AMAZON | B&N

A hauntingly tragic love story that takes you on a roller coaster of a ride over three decades of love, devotion, heartache, pain and self discovery. Leylah Attar has become a go to author for me with this beautiful, unconventional love story.

Shayda is a victim to her cultural obligations. With an arranged marriage, the turmoil of loving her husband Hafez, who wants nothing but her happiness, left with no way of showing her because of his own dysfunctional family and demons of his past - Shayda is let vulnerable. When Troy Heathgate comes barreling into her life, their attraction is magnetic, combustible and yet so taboo.

What happens next is a series of events that will shape the lives of those around her, not always in the best way. Love is complicated, hard and not always pretty. Things don't always go the way you want them, the way you plan. But fate...fate has a way of setting a course that eventually guides you down the right path.

The writing in this book was magnificent. Beautifully woven. I tried to put the book down and ended up waking up hours later only to pick it back up. I needed to know what was going to happen next.

Troy, Shayda and Hefez all will leave you with a wealth of emotions that will have you thinking about this book, long after you read the last word.









Leylah Attar writes stories about love - shaken, stirred and served with a twist. When she's not writing, she can be found pursuing her other passions: photography, food, family and travel. Sometimes she disappears into the black hole of the internet, but can usually be enticed out with chocolate.

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THE BEAUMONT SERIES

Follow the lives of Liam Westbury "Page", Harrison Powell and Jimmy Davis - members of 4225 West. Liam returns to his hometown after a tragic event - finding his forever girl and a surprise or two. As the band moves from LA to Beaumont, the rest of the band find their forevers along the way.

A series full of heart, heartache, love and redemption. You don't want to miss this series!



https://www.goodreads.com/series/91326-the-beaumont-series


FOREVER MY GIRL (Beaumont #1)
I was never supposed to be a rock star. I had my life all planned out for me. Play football in college. Go to the NFL. Marry my high school sweetheart and live happily ever after.

I broke both our hearts that day when I told her I was leaving. I was young. I made the right decision for me, but the wrong decision for us. I’ve poured my soul into my music, but I’ve never forgotten her. Her smell, her smile.

And now I’m going back.

After ten years.

I hope I can explain that after all this time.

I still want her to be my forever girl.





MY EVERYTHING (Beaumont #1.5)

 When Nick Ashford lost his friend, Mason, he didn’t realize he was going to lose his family as well, but that’s exactly what happened. Alone and in a foreign country, Nick is working on rebuilding his life one patient at a time, that is, until a striking volunteer makes her presence known.

Can Nick finish his year in Africa without risking his heart being broken again, or is he willing to start a new chapter in his life before his return to Beaumont?


AMAZON | B&N
  
MY EXPECTED FOREVER (Beaumont #2)

I expected a life of music.
I expected to raise my son.
It took one look to make everything change.
I never expected happiness.

I never expected to find her.
I never expected to feel desire.
I never expected I’d be a family man.
I never expected to be loved.
I never expected to fall in love.

They say you should expect the unexpected, I didn’t realize my unexpected would be the forever kind.


FINDING MY FOREVER (Beaumont #3)

Everywhere I look, my friends are settling down - marriage, children, white picket fences; but not me. Marriage isn't in the cards for me. I’m a ladies man.

A rock star.

I was born and raised in the industry.

I love everything about my life, especially the attention from the women that my status brings me.
Women find me. I don’t chase. I know what they want and they know I’ll deliver.

 
But after one look, one touch, one night...
Now I’m the one doing the chasing.

I need to find a way to show her that I’m serious, that I can change.
I need to find a way to show her that I can love her fully, and only her.
I need to find a way to show her that she’s my forever.
 
AMAZON | B&N | iBOOKS | KOBO 


FINDING MY WAY (Beaumont #4)

Liam Westbury has the world at his feet. He’s the quintessential golden boy. He’s the superstar quarterback for Beaumont High. His girl, Josie, is head cheerleader. He has his choice of colleges just waiting for him. Except he’s suffocating from all the pressure he’s under and no one understands.

Liam Page is the heartthrob he never wanted to be. He’s successful, smart and in demand by record companies and his adoring fans. Music is his passion, his love, but something’s missing. His nights are lonely and he longs for the girl he left behind. Seeing her in every face in the crowd haunts him with the knowledge that she hates him. Going home has never been an option until now.

Be there when Liam Westbury becomes Liam Page and follow the highs and lows of the Quarterback turned Rockstar as he finds a way back to Beaumont in this prequel to Forever My Girl.

AMAZON | B&N | iBOOKS | KOBO  

 
Heidi is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband and two daughters. Also renting space in their home is an over-hyper Beagle/Jack Russell and two Parakeets. During the day Heidi is behind a desk talking about Land Use. At night, she's writing one of the many stories planned for release or sitting court-side during either daughter's basketball games.   
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Sunday, December 28, 2014

Top 30 Books and Series of 2014 - #5

HERE WITH ME 
by Heidi McLaughlin

 Ryley Clarke has grown up with the military in her blood, with both parents serving their country. Ryley knows the risks of being married to the military. But when the unthinkable happens, and her future husband is killed in action, Ryley can barely survive... until Evan's twin brother, Nate, helps her pick up the pieces.

After serving on a special mission with the military for six years, Evan Archer returns home to find the unthinkable - the love of his life, Ryley Clarke - engaged to his brother, Nate. With Nate on deployment, Evan needs to figure out what happened in his absence, and more importantly, how to win Ryley back from the man he once considered his best friend, but now thinks of as his rival.
AMAZON | B&N |  KOBO

The best book to date for Heidi McLaughlin. The emotional pull - it grips you and you get pulled into the life of Ryley and Evan. Your heart will break, sing and cry yet again.

Ryley and Evan are soulmates. Made for each other from the beginning. But when Evan leaves on a mission after Ryley reveals that she is pregnant with Evan's child, when he ends up not coming home...it rips Ryley apart.

So when Evan comes back, six years later, expecting a homecoming to end all homecomings, he is shocked to find out that everyone thinks he's been dead and the love of his life is about to marry the one man, he thought was protecting her while he was gone - his twin brother Nate.

The book will move and shake you. You will be wrapped up in the love and their pain.


Heidi is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband and two daughters. Also renting space in their home is an over-hyper Beagle/Jack Russell and two Parakeets. During the day Heidi is behind a desk talking about Land Use. At night, she's writing one of the many stories planned for release or sitting court-side during either daughter's basketball games.   





A well written, emotional series that will have you rooting for the underdog. This series is stunning, in both good and bad ways. The characters are well written, sucking you into their world. I felt like I was there in the bar with them, or at their house and was a part of their group. That's when you know the book is good. This a roller coaster of a ride that will have you screaming for more. And even better, at the time of the post, Inky is currently FREE.

https://www.goodreads.com/series/109469-the-leaves

INKY (The Leaves #1)

Anika “Inky” Redding is passionate about two things; her love of painting and her fiancé Evan. While working as a bartender to pay her bills, she meets Cole, a sexy divorcee. She denies their mutual attraction and tries to put him out of her mind.

When an abusive person from her childhood makes an unexpected visit, Inky’s world is turned upside down. Secrets are revealed and truths are exposed leaving Inky devastated and questioning what she thought was love. As she picks up the pieces and tries to move on, she finds her path crosses with Cole once again and this time, she cannot deny the passion between them.

 
Once she opens her heart again, will she be able to move forward or will her past find a way to stop her?

 AMAZON | B&N | KOBO


COLE (The Leaves #2)

Cole Carlyle, successful hotelier, has lived his life on his own terms.

Burned by a gold digging ex-wife, he never expected to find his soul mate in Anika “Inky” Redding.

Anika Redding, talented artist, overcame her past to live her life free of shame. Betrayed by people she thought she could trust, the last thing she expected was to find true love in Cole Carlyle.

Their love for each other has helped them overcome their demons before, but now faced with an unimaginable challenge, Cole must turn to the last person he wants involved in his life, and hope that those demons don’t once again try to swallow them whole.

Inky and Cole’s romance and passion ignite and in the sequel to “Inky” we follow their journey to overcome their pasts once and for all, while building their love into something everlasting.


NICO (The Leaves #3)
When I was a boy, I met a girl.
She didn’t know it then, but…
She changed me.

 Now…..I am a man.
A man who is broken by the stories of the women who come to me.
They are my birds with broken wings.
I help them heal, help them to make them strong, so they can fly free.
Lark changed me. Loved Me. Made Me Strong.
With her, I am free.
I write…
To the girl of the past.
To the girl of my present.
And, the girl of my future.
Dear Dish…



 
Julie is a Southern California native, a fan of a really good story (preferably romance with a happily ever after), really good pie (preferably pumpkin) and copious amounts of coffee (preferably Folgers).
She has always enjoyed writing and at one time thought she could be a singer songwriter...the 'writer' part is the one that stuck.
Julie is obsessed with pi...the equation(and the food). She's allergic to cats and cantaloupe and hates mushrooms...so if you ever want to give her a gift, those are out for sure.She currently lives with her own romance hero husband and two boys in Melbourne, Australia.
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Top 30 Books and Series of 2014 - #6



ARCHER'S VOICE by Mia Sheridan 

When Bree Prescott arrives in the sleepy, lakeside town of Pelion, Maine, she hopes against hope that this is the place where she will finally find the peace she so desperately seeks. On her first day there, her life collides with Archer Hale, an isolated man who holds a secret agony of his own. A man no one else sees.

Archer's Voice is the story of a woman chained to the memory of one horrifying night and the man whose love is the key to her freedom. It is the story of a silent man who lives with an excruciating wound and the woman who helps him find his voice. It is the story of suffering, fate, and the transformative power of love.

THIS IS A STAND-ALONE SIGN OF LOVE NOVEL, INSPIRED BY SAGITTARIUS. New Adult Contemporary Romance: Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.


What an amazing love story. This will definitely be a story that will stick with me for a while. I had such a hard time putting this book down. I craved to know what was going to come next for Archer and Bree.

A beautifully woven tale of finding a love that is so profound and with that love being able to survive a past that paralyzed a heart thought to never heal.

 
Mia Sheridan is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author. Her passion is weaving true love stories about people destined to be together. Mia lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband. They have four children here on earth and one in heaven. 


 The WOODLANDS SERIES by Jen Frederick

The Woodlands Series takes you on a journey, starting with two Marines as they embark on their search for Noah's penpal, Grace. The series expands with Noah's best friend, Bo and continues with friends in their inner circle. 
 
Strong male characters and female characters that can stand on their own. A great military romance series that you will get hooked and want more.

Add the Woodlands Series to your TBR

UNDECLARED (Woodlands #1)

For four years, Grace Sullivan wrote to a Marine she never met, and fell in love. But when his deployment ended, so did the letters. Ever since that day, Grace has been coasting, academically and emotionally. The one thing she’s decided? No way is Noah Jackson — or any man — ever going to break her heart again.

Noah has always known exactly what he wants out of life. Success. Stability. Control. That’s why he joined the Marines and that’s why he’s fighting his way — literally — through college. Now that he’s got the rest of his life on track, he has one last conquest: Grace Sullivan. But since he was the one who stopped writing, he knows that winning her back will be his biggest battle yet.
 

UNDRESSED (Woodlands #1.5)

Noah and Grace's happy ever after hits a stumbling block in the form of one shady professor threatening Noah's scholarship eligibility. Noah is given the choice of throwing his New Year's MMA fight for a big payoff or accepting that the true meaning of love isn't measured by the thickness of his wallet but the depth of Grace's big heart.

Grace and Noah's story begged for a peak inside their Happy Ever After. Originally published in the anthology Snow Kissed, this holiday novella speaks to the great gifts one person can give to another -- unconditional love.



UNSPOKEN (Woodlands #2)

Whore. Slut. Typhoid Mary.

I've been called all these at Central College. One drunken night, one act of irresponsible behavior, and my reputation was ruined. Guys labeled me as easy and girls shied away. To cope, I stayed away from Central social life and away from Central men, so why is it that my new biology lab partner is so irresistible to me?

He's everything I shouldn't want. A former Marine involved in illegal fighting with a quick trigger temper and an easy smile for all the women. His fists aren't the danger to me, though, it's his charm. He's sliding his way into my heart and I'm afraid that he's going to be the one to break me.

Impulsive. Unthinking. Hot tempered.

I allow instinct to rule my behavior. If it feels good, do it, has been my motto because if I spend too much time thinking, I'll begin to remember exactly where I came from. At Central College, I've got fighting and I've got women and I thought I was satisfied until I met her.

She's everything I didn't realize I wanted and the more time I spend with her, the more I want her. But she's been hurt too much in the past and I don't want to be the one to break her. I know I should walk away, but I just can't.


UNRAVELED (Woodlands #4)

Twenty-five-year-old Sgt. Gray Phillips is at a crossroads in his life: stay in the Marine Corps or get out and learn to be a civilian? He’s got forty-five days of leave to make up his mind but the people in his life aren’t making the decision any easier. His dad wants him to get out; his grandfather wants him to stay in. And his growing feelings for Sam Anderson are wreaking havoc with his heart…and his mind. He believes relationships get ruined when a Marine goes on deployment. So now he’s got an even harder decision to make: take a chance on Sam or leave love behind and give his all to the Marines.

Twenty-two year old Samantha Anderson lost her husband to an IED in Afghanistan just two months after their vows. Two years later, Sam is full of regrets—that she didn’t move with her husband to Alaska; that she allowed her friends to drift away; that she hasn’t taken many chances in life. Now, she’s met Gray and taking a risk on this Marine could be her one opportunity to feel alive and in love again. But how can she risk her heart on another military man who could share the same tragic fate as her husband?



Jen Frederick lives with her husband, child, and one rambunctious dog.  She's been reading stories all her life but never imagined writing one of her own. Jen loves to hear from readers so drop her a line at jensfrederick@gmail.com.

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