Category: November 2013

Book links:

 My Today on Amazon (My Way)

Goodreads 

Buy the first book in the series, My Now & Forever (My Way Series) on Amazon and you can find my review HERE

Synopsis:

Lacey’s Story…

Covering up pain is easy. It’s keeping it tucked away that’s hard. I’ve always needed the cover of tattoos to hide the nasty past that leached its way into me, tainting me beneath my skin. Not the shiny, trendy tats, but the ugly broken kind, meant to keep the world at bay. If they weren’t enough, then my piercings, foul mouth and crazy hair usually did the trick. Life had taught me to never follow the rules, because when you do, you get burned.

That philosophy served its purpose, until I met someone who turned my life upside down. Milly, the little hoochie, stormed into my life and changed everything with her undying faith in me, her love and her shitty coffee concoctions. I found a family in Milly, and her sexy farm boy, Cree. She accepted me without hesitation, and never ran from the dark and dangerous secrets that I harbored. My new family loved me unconditionally, with their showers of sprinkles and impromptu dance parties.

My life was perfectly imperfect until Tripp and his crazy-ass ideas of princesses. Our relationship is what most would describe as fuel meeting fire. We were both hell bent on burning each other to the ground. Tripp, fresh out of rehab, moved in with Milly and Cree to try and make a new life for himself. Tripp, the sexy as hell, charismatic beast, soon became one of my best friends. We shared our love of ice cream and tattoos as we blazed our own path that could only lead to a beautiful train wreck. The only question left is, will we set the countryside ablaze with our hot tempers and foul mouths, or will we paint our own happy ending filled with all the gushy shit normal people crave?

My Review:

Before I can even begin this review, I have to just say a quick little something to H.J….

After reading My Today’s dedication, and sobbing a big ugly cry, I have to thank you.  In my time blogging, it’s something like being named in a book dedication that leaves me completely speechless and overwhelmed by the sentiment behind the words.  So, Heidi, thank you, Fishster.  I am so proud of all that you have done and am looking forward to the greatness in store for you.  Heart you BIG!

My Today is the second book in author H.J. Bellus’ My Way Series.  We met Lacey in the first book, My Now & Forever, and we fell in love with her in My Today.  God Damn, this book was incredible.

Lacey is just freaking peachy, if you ask her.  She’s got her share of demons constantly nipping at the tenuous leash she has them reigned in by and uses them as a reminder for just how crappy life can be.  She also uses them as a reminder at just how wonderful life can be.  Tattooed, foul mouthed and unapologetic for how she lives her life, she is certainly one of a kind.  That’s just how she likes it.  She was enjoying her status-quo life with her BFF Milly, Milly’s hubby Cree and their kiddos, until Cree’s cousin Tripp comes to stay for a bit Suddenly her status goes from “quo” to “whoa”.  He’s 100% sex on a stick and 100% bad news.  He’s got more baggage than her complete matched set and that’s something she doesn’t need.  Too bad she always goes for the opposite of what she should and soon finds herself in a relationship she never knew she could have….but one she always knew she wanted and needed.

Tripp is ready to put all of the pain and hate behind him.  He’s ready to start a new life with the part family that wants him and without the part of the family that doesn’t.  He’s lost too much in his life already, but he isn’t about to give up just yet.  He’s sober and clean and is finally ready to start living.  Luckily the vibrant, bright and shiny, tatted up, pink streaked blonde is just the kind of breath of fresh air he’s been craving.  He soon realizes after meeting Lacey that her past is just as tarnished and painful as his.  Most guys would walk away and focus on themselves, but not Tripp.  He’s ready to dive right into the deep end of Lacey and swim to the salvation of shore right along side of her.

Tripp and Lacey are two broken halves that make up an imperfect whole…but a whole nonetheless.  The issues they have are many but together, they can whether whatever comes their way.  All they need to do is drink in the strength they give one another and learn that they deserve happiness and love no matter what the past has shown them.

I had mentioned that we met Lacey in the first book, My Now & Forever, and I had no clue at the time just how much I would end up loving her.  She is not a character you will forget.  She is a foul-mouthed, loyal, infallible, amusing, boisterous, colorful spitfire of a gal with so much love and life to give that I would scoop her up and drag her ass to hang out with me if she was a real person.  She has been through so much in her life and we have no idea just how deep her wounds go until later in the book.  When we do find out how she received those wounds, I was absolutely crushed.  Upsetting doesn’t even begin to describe it…but then I realized those are the very things that turned her into the amazingly resilient person she was today, and that’s the character that I loved reading.  Now, shall we get to Tripp?  Oh, dreamy and delicious Tripp.  Where do I even begin?  Let’s forget for a minute that he is tall, built, ruggedly handsome and tatted up like a work of lickable art.  His soul is as broken as they come and has never has a wounded hero been so worthy of redemption.  He reminded me of a lost, beaten puppy just looking for a good home and in turn would love and protect the family that took him in.  That man had me crying too many times to count with his understanding and his unconditional love and support for Lacey.  Yes, he had a few screw ups along the way, but he more than made up for it, if you ask me.

Now, I can’t spoil anything for you, but I have to say that the last few chapters were freaking amazing.  I went from a big, sobbing mess to laughing tears of joy and bursting at the seams with happiness for the rag-tag group we’ve grown to love.  Leave it to H.J. to make me look like a complete crazy person to anyone watching me read the end of this book.  I may have to make a t-shirt that says something like “warning: I am reading an H.J. Bellus book and it is guaranteed to make me look like an emotional mess…walk away or I may use your sleeve as a tissue.”

Thank you H.J. for yet another fun, crazy, intense, emotional read!  I heart your fabulous characters and your unique story telling ways!

Five Loves

About the author:

I’m just a simple girl who loves the country life.. .oh yeah! & a good corn dog! Throw in a little Vanilla Ice, and shits bound to get crazy! Be brave…

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Goodreads 

When rock-god vampire Johnny Malone commits suicide, the rest of The Impalers gather for an Irish wake and jam session to send their bandmate off in style. But alcohol-laced blood and grief make for one hell of a combination…

When her brother, Johnny, dies, Stella Malone’s grief lands her in the buff arms of The Impalers’ bass player. While her tryst with Wyatt had some serious bite, Stella isn’t looking for a relationship, especially after a tipsy argument leads to her getting stuck in bat form at the wake. The rest of the hungover Impalers are in no shape to help her, meaning that Stella’s one night stand is the only one who can help her figure out what really happened last night. Only Wyatt doesn’t have a clue what happened last night, either, nor does he know that Stella is the bat currently dive-bombing his head. But he does have her purse and that has to be a start, right? Or not.

On the other hand, there is a priest passed out in the bathtub and an alcoholic parrot squawking about a chapel of love…

Which might explain the ring on Berto Cortez’s finger. How did a night of rock ’n’ roll debauchery result in him turning sexy washboard player Katie Lambert into a vampire and then marrying her? He wouldn’t. He couldn’t. But he can’t quite remember, exactly. Which means these four friends turned amnesiac couples have only one choice: hit the famed Bourbon Street for some answers…

So, I happened upon this book while stalking Kathy Love’s Facebook page.  Kathy has written two series that I adore, The Young Brothers Series and The New Orleans Vampire Series.  Well, I was so excited to see something new from her and Erin McCarthy that I ran right out and bought it.  It turned out being exactly what I had hoped for…a fun, cheeky read with humor, hot sex, love, mystery and vampires.

This is a paranormal version of The Hangover meets Bridesmaids, and with chapter titles like “A Parrot, A Priest and the Slight Problem of an Extra Vampire” and “Find a Beer or Your True Love, Whichever Comes First”, I’m sure you can only imagine the debauchery that ensues with a bunch of vampire band mates in New Orleans. I loved the characters and all of the bizarre circumstances they had to piece together to figure out what had happened the night before and how they had ended up in the mess they were all currently in.  Missing fangs, passed out priests in bathtubs and marriage?! Talk about one hell of a night!

However, don’t let the humor turn you away…there’s plenty of steamy moments that will satisfy your smutty urges. WIth two main couples and the writing talents of Erin and Kathy, you can count on some hot scenes that are sure to have your undivided attention. Countertops, couches and alleys…oh my!

All in all, if you’re looking for a light, entertaining read, I recommend this title be on your list!

Thank you Kathy and Erin!

Interesting note: While the authors conceived the story and timeline together, Kathy and Erin each took a couple from the book and wrote their stories separately before combining the pieces and making this book into a whole. Awesome!

Four Loves

Well, it seems as though the holiday season is once again upon us.  Bring on the holiday parties, family gatherings, cookies and cheer!  And in some cases….people you want to punch in the throat.

I came across a blog post from a gal named Jen last year about a curious (and creepy) little elf that goes around messing houses up while kids sleep and the moms who were really responsible for this.  I found myself reading and nodding in agreement to every damn word she had written.  I thought: “this foul mouthed, sarcastic mom, Jen, is a friggin GENIUS”!  I then realized there were more posts from her besides just this one….in fact, there were TONS!  Tons of snarky gems filled with sarcasm and oozing with back-handed humor and at it was at that point that I became part of the People I Want to Punch in the Throat following.

I’m sure you can just imagine how freaking thrilled I was when I found that Jen had put out a book.  I mean, really…..combining all of the things I love about her blog and putting it into my favorite thing on this earth: a book! Could it get any better?!?  Nope!  I immediately knew I had to share this find with you all.  Mainly so you all could laugh yourself through this cookie-baking, card-making, gift-buying, and if I’m being honest, INSANE time of year.  Jen gives us stories ranging from her toddler rant that became family legend to those oh-so-enjoyable cookie exchange parties.  With chapter titles like “White Trash Dollhouse” and “Like a Neon Virgin in Guess Jeans and Swatch Watches” and all the hilarity in-between, this is a MUST read for all of you!  So bust out the vino and get to reading….you WON’T be disappointed!

Oh, and thanking all that is holy, it includes my favorite chapter, and the blog post that introduced me to the world of the throat punch: “Over Achieving Elf on a Shelf Mommies”.

Thank you, Jen, for being appropriately inappropriate and giving me, among many, that “thank f@ck I’m not alone in having these thoughts!” moment.  Happy Holidays!

Buy it on Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/Spending-Holidays-People-Throat-ebook/dp/B009KYXYDW

People I Want to Punch in the Throat blog can be found here: http://www.peopleiwanttopunchinthethroat.com/

Five Loves

It seems only fitting that for my very first post, I share my recent review of Rogue Rider by Larissa Ione.   It releases on November 20, so be sure to get it on your to-read list! 

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The prophecies were there but no one listened. Until now. They are the Lords of Deliverance and they have the power to ward off Doomsday . . . or let it ride.

Jillian Cardiff came to this remote mountain town to forget the demon attack that almost killed her. Instead, she rescues – and falls for – a gorgeous stranger who has no memory of anything other than his name. Handsome, charming and protective, Reseph seems like the kind of man that Jillian can trust. But with hints of a troubling history of his own, he’s also the kind of man that can be very dangerous . . .

Reseph may not know his background, or why he mysteriously appeared in Jillian’s life, but he knows he wants to stay. Yet when Jillian’s neighbors are killed and demon hunters arrive on the scene, Reseph fears that he’s putting Jillian in danger. And once it’s revealed that Reseph is also Pestilence, the Horseman responsible for ravaging the world with death and destruction, he and Jillian must face the greatest challenge of all: can they forget the horrors of a chilling past to save the future they both desire?

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 Before I begin my review, I have to tell you I am a bit biased when it comes to this book.  You see, I was the winner of the “name a character” prize Larissa had offered in a charity auction back in March of 2011.  Originally is was to name a minor character in either the third or fourth book in this series but Larissa, being the amazingly kick ass person she is, gave me the option to wait and name the heroine of this book.  After pinching myself to be sure I wasn’t dreaming and jumping around my house while screaming like a loon, I obviously chose to wait…and picked my own name for Reseph’s heroine.  This book holds a special place in my heart, not only for having a truly amazing personal story behind it, but because it lived up to every possible expectation I had. And so, without further delay,  here is my review…..

This is the fourth book in Ms. Ione’s Lords of Deliverance series and is Reseph’s story.

Pestilence had finally been stopped.  Through the efforts of Reseph’s family, he had been ended with a fatal blow to the heart with Deliverance, a thousands year old dagger thought to be the only weapon powerful enough to use against the Horsemen.  Only Reseph wasn’t exactly dead.  Pestilence may be gone for now but Reseph was in Sheoul-gra trapped in a prison not only made of stone, but prison in his own mind being terrorized by the horrific memories of what Pestilence had done. Memories of death and torture, and knowing that his hands did it all, were proving to be to most horrific punishment imaginable.  A punishment that Reaver, their heavenly watcher, couldn’t stand to see.  Reaver knew Reseph and he knew that Reseph was worthy of a second chance….and he decided right then that he was going to give Reseph that chance no matter what the consequences were.

Jillian Cardiff is trying to get past the nightmare she left behind.  After a horrific demon attack that nearly left her for dead, and being let down by the man she loved, the solitary life she leads now was a welcome escape.  All she needed was her animals and the snowy mountains…until she literally stumbles across an injured stranger in the snow and decides that she can’t turn her back on him.

After nursing the stranger back to health, he awakens to find he has no memory of whom he is or how he came to be buried in snow in the mountains of Colorado.  Together they will have this mystery to solve and together they will have to heal one another of the emotional scars they both have endured and learn to be resilient once again.

I know what some of you may be thinking.  You’re thinking that there is no way Reseph deserves a chance at redemption and he should rot in Sheoul-gra where he belongs.  From the very beginning I disagreed with that and I knew that if anyone can change the minds of the naysayers, it was Ms. Ione.  From the very beginning of this story, we get to see the untainted Reseph, thanks to his amnesia.  The man who is playful and cheeky despite his lack of memory…the man who clearly would have never done anything that had been done when Pestilence had been at the wheel.  This is the man who his siblings had been fighting to save since the very beginning.  His journey has so many facets…self-loathing, retribution, self-discovery, acceptance and forgiveness.  It was both heart breaking and heart warming to watch his struggle.

Jillian’s journey was equally as fascinating.  She has had her share of heartbreak and despair that has led her to build up walls that no ordinary man will be able to penetrate.  Thankfully, Respeh isn’t ordinary in any sense of the word!

I cannot express how much I loved this book.  I finished it in 24 hours because I just had to see what happened next.  I laughed, I cried, I got weird looks at the dentist for my audible gasps.  Ms. Ione created such memorable characters and the moments that they share are ones that readers won’t soon forget.  The emotions from Reseph and Jillian practically leap off of the page. This was the absolute perfect ending to Pestilence…and beginning to Reseph.  Thank you, Ms. Ione, for an unforgettable story and for being the amazing author and storyteller that you are.