My Top Reads for 2013, Part 1

I had a goal this year to read 125 NEW books and I have reached my goal. I am going to post two blogs with my top reads for 2013. Yes, two blogs. I did read 125 books this year and felt I couldn’t pick five books for the amount I read. Not all the books are brand new this year but some that have been out for a long time, and they are new to me. Many I have done reviews on as well. I will post Part 2 later in the week.

Wicked at Heart by Danelle Harmon: This is the first book I’ve read by Danelle Harmon and it won’t be the last. I was in a book coma for a few days after reading this book. This book keeps you guessing to the very last minute. You will experience every emotion while you read it. There are many twist and turns that you honestly don’t see coming. The love the story between Damon and Gwyneth is one for the times. I don’t have enough words to describe how wonderful this book really is.

Midnight’s Wild Passions by Anna Campbell: I spent a good part of my summer devouring Anna Campbell’s books (author interview to come soon!). She is a fabulous writer and I will be auto by anything she writes. This book is about a man getting revenge and sharp tongue companion that will stop at nothing to protect her charge. This book has adventure, lots of laughs and romance.

The Heiress Effect by Courtney Milan: Another auto buy author! Take a young lady that is going to the extreme to protect her sister and you’ve got a heroine you instantly love and are cheering for. This book is hilarious. The lengths that the heroine goes to, to keep the male population away from her is remarkable and I love her strength. It’s a great read with a wonderful romantic element with Oliver.

Untouched by Sara Humphreys: This is the second paranormal romance I’ve read and it is just as amazing as the first book that I read (which was a top summer read for me). This story is about a woman who cannot touch others without pain and seeing visions of that specific person. Makes life lonely not being able to touch anyone. Ms. Humphreys’ writes her characters with a lot of depth that makes her stories so fun to read.

Lady of Pleasure by Delilah Marvelle: Don’t let the title of this book throw you off. This book is about a long friendship with strong feelings that are ignored and because they have been ignore there is pain for the H/h. There is so much emotion of every kind that you don’t want to put it down becuase you are waiting for the next type of emotion to hit you. Ms. Marvelle pushes the emotional boundaries in this book and it made it a ever better read.

Final Piece by Maggi Myers: This is not a historical romance but a romance. It is VERY emotional. It deals with a young woman that has experience sexual abuse very young but overcomes that and puts the pieces of her life back together with help from a friend. This is not just about a young lady but about a family healing. It’s a powerful read that is full of hope. It is written beautifully. You will want to have your box of tissues next to you as you read this story.

The Wicked Deeds of Daniel Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley: Many of you that follow this blog know that I will drop everything (nearly) to start reading a book about the Mackenzie’s. This book was no exception. I loved it. Daniel Mackenzie has been in every book from the beginning of this series as a young man in his early teens. It was a wonderful read that is about the beginning of the Industrial Revolution with many inventors popping up. It was an exciting romantic read with all the fabulous Jennifer Ashley flair.

Happy Reading and stay tuned for Part 2 later in the week.

-Romance Reader Girl

Advertisement

Review: The Wicked Deeds of Daniel Mackenzie (Highland Pleasures #6) by Jennifer Ashley

If you have been following this blog you know that I am a big Mackenzie fan and read all the books the moment they come out. The Wicked Deeds of Daniel Mackenzie was no different. I began reading the moment it arrived on my Friendle (Kindle) and it didn’t disappoint.

Daniel Mackenzie has had the best examples in his father (Cameron Mackenzie) and Uncles (Hart, Mac, Ian & Fellows) to be a man full of passions love and madness. He delivers on all fronts. Daniel loves machines and how they work. It’s 1890 when the industrial revolutions is going full steam and Daniel is in the middle of it. He is confident and handsome with wealth and intelligence. He is traveling living his life, enjoying his mechanics and family.

Violet is a young woman that has had to use her talents as a medium to support her mother and companion. Her mother has the real talent but Violet is often left to pretend to have the gift and talk to people on the other side. She has a brilliant mind as well. She makes inventions to make sounds to enhance their readings. Violet hasn’t had an easy life; she can read people but she learned these tricks at the cost of something more valuable…her youth.

When Daniel and Violet meet there is comedy among the skepticism. I enjoyed reading Daniel and Violet banter and work together to help one another. Also, Daniel lives up to the Mackenzie name when he falls in love. They fall hard and love harder. It is wonderful see what was the young wild boy in The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie to the strong confident man in this story. I have to say when Ian Mackenzie was mentioned in this story I had a rockstar fangirl moment! Not only do we have a visit from Ian but from all the Mackenzie’s and you can’t help be giddy when you see them all appear. It’s like coming home.  This story captured my attention to find out who Violet really is and there are a couple of moments where you will say, “GAME CHANGER”. I do enjoy the moments where Daniel is very blunt at the risk of losing everything. Oh and I must say Uncle Hart (the Duke) sometimes doesn’t learn lessons well the first time! It was a fun fast read and I enjoyed every moment of it. I hope to see more Mackenzie stories.

Purchase The Wicked Deeds of Daniel Mackenzie and other books in this series on Amazon or B&N.

-Romance Reader Girl

Happy Book Release Day: Pick up these books!

Two books have come out today that I encourage romance lovers to pick up and read.

Lady in Red by Maire Claremont 

Lady Mary Darrel should be the envy of London. Instead, all society believes her dead. For Mary holds a secret so dangerous, her father chose to keep her locked away…and have a grave made for her near her mother’s. Driven to the edge of desperation, Mary manages to escape the asylum, only to find that her fate yet again rests in the hands of a man…

Edward Barrons, Duke of Fairleigh, longs for some way to escape the torment of his father’s crimes. In Mary’s warrior spirit and haunted gaze—which so mirrors his own—he finally sees his path to redemption. He will stop at nothing to keep her safe, even as she seeks revenge. But will the passion they discover in each other be enough to save them from their demons?

I was lucky to receive an ARC copy of this story and I loved it! See my review here.

Purchase on AMAZON or B&N.

******************************************************************

The Wicked Deeds of Daniel Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley

Daniel Mackenzie lives up to the reputation of the scandalous Mackenzie family—he has wealth, looks, and talent, and women love him. When he meets Violet Bastien—one of the most famous spiritual mediums in England—he immediately knows two things: that Miss Bastien is a fraud, and that he’s wildly attracted to her.

Violet knows she can’t really contact the other side, but she’s excellent at reading people. She discerns quickly that Daniel is intelligent and dangerous to her reputation, but she also finds him generous, handsome, and outrageously wicked. But spectres from Violet’s past threaten to destroy her, and she flees England, adopting yet another identity.

Daniel is determined to find the elusive Violet and pursue the passion he feels for her. And though Violet knows that her scandalous past will keep her from proper marriage, her attraction to Daniel is irresistible. It’s not until Daniel is the only one she can turn to that he proves he believes in something more than cold facts. He believes in love.

Purchase on AMAZON or B&N.

-Romance Reader Girl

Review: The Untamed Mackenzie (Highland Pleasures #5.5) by Jennifer Ashley

Disclaimer up front for this review- I adore the Mackenzie’s Series. This is one of my all time favorite series. I devour each Mackenzie book Jennifer Ashley’s writes. The Untamed Mackenzie is no exception. Ok! Disclaimer over, please enjoy my review below. 🙂

We first met Lloyd Fellows in The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie as he tirelessly tries to to put Ian and Hart Mackenzie away for murder. We learn later that Lloyd is the half brother of the Mackenzie men. So it’s only natural that Mr. Fellows gets his own love story. Keeping it in the family Lloyd Fellows is enamored with Isabella Mackenzie’s (Lady Isabella’s Scandalous Marriage) younger sister Lady Louisa Scranton. They have chanced meetings and shared kiss or two in the previous Mackenzie books.

Lady Louisa Scranton is trying to put her life back together after her deceased father has disgraced her family name. She is trying working to find an acceptable husband but cannot get one of the Mackenzie men off her mind. Louisa is at a elite garden party when she is asked to join Bishop Hargate in the tea tent. Alone she goes in prepares a cup a tea as he is announcing his attentions. As she begins to respond he falls to the ground and dies. She is alone with a dead man she rushes out to get assistance and that’s when tongues being to wag…

Detective Inspector Lloyd Fellows is about to go on holiday to visit his half brother Cam Mackenzie when he told to go on special assignment to assist in a murder. When he arrives he is left speechless when the woman he cannot get out of his mind is the one being accused of murder.

This novella was a fast paced intriguing story. From the beginning you are brought in wanting to know who killed Bishop Hargate and will Lloyd and Louisa come together and recognize their feelings for one another? There are twist and turns through the story and there are of a couple of “I didn’t see that coming” moments. Of course, you cannot have Mackenzie story without having a few if not all Mackenzie’s making an appearance. I will say Daniel Mackenzie definitely stole some scenes. He is on his way to being a charmer and I am looking forward to reading his story out in October!

Overall this was great read. It was nice to see Lloyd and Louisa find their happy ending with all the twist and turns. This could be a standalone read but to really understand the dynamic of the Mackenzie’s I recommend going back and starting from the beginning with The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie.

Purchase Jennifer Ashley’s Mackenzie’s Stories on Amazon or B&N.

-Romance Reader Girl

Your Go To Book

Hi Readers,

Do you have a go to book(s) that you read over and over again, because you love it so much? What is it? Why do you keep reading it?

One of my go to books is ‘The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie’ by Jennifer Ashley.
First, let me tell you this is one of my favorite series of all time. I absolutely adore the Mackenzie Series. It is amazing.

Ian Mackenzie’s story hits me with a punch of emotion every time I read it. I am memorized by it and cannot put it down. It reaches out and touches me in a way that I never expected. It also makes you (the reader) think outside your box or what your life would be like in a particular situation. This book touches my heart and for that reason it’s one of my go to books. Also, it’s amazing on audio!

I would love to hear about your go to books!

-Romance Reader Girl