Simply The Best 2014 – Round Two: The Year In Reviews And A Giveaway

Hi, everyone, we’re back again with the second round of our Best of the Best (be sure to check out Sammy’s and Tina’s lists HERE), and another chance for you to win e-copies of THREE of the titles selected by Jackie, Lana, and Jules, winner’s choice! THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED

Good luck!

And now, here they are, simply the best:

Jackie:

Say Something by B.A. Tortuga: “There is just something I love about romance novels. I can’t pick just one thing. There are the MCs of each story, their struggles, their victories and yes, sometimes their failures. The overall feeling of “Love Conquers All” is usually there by the end, and it just gives me the warm fuzzies.

B.A. Tortuga has done all of this and more in Jenson and Mike’s story, Say Something. This story begins with two young men, just graduating high school. Jensen couldn’t afford to go to college even if he had the grades to do so. Mike, on the other hand, is on his way to college so he can become an actor. This is the first time Jenson has to say goodbye to Mike, but it won’t be the last.”

Pulling Leather by L.C. Chase: “Through her writing, LC Chase has opened up the world of the rodeo and the hearts of these men. I hope there will be more to the series, but if there isn’t, I think Scott’s story was truly the gem of the bunch. I highly recommend this title and the entire series.”

Names Can Never Hurt Me by Wade Kelly: “Wade Kelly did a fabulous job with this story, and I loved most of the characters by the end of the book. The ones I didn’t like weren’t meant to be liked, and I loved how she made these characters unlikable but realistic. Once Nick realized which friends were good for him and which ones were leading him down the wrong road, he had a decision to make and some serious soul searching to do. I completely believed the struggle he went through, and I believe he is well on his way to redemption. I don’t think he has finished his journey, but for this story I believe he did all he could.”

Recovery by Con Riley: “When I finished reading Salvage, I thought to myself, “That was a great book.” Then I read Recovery, and I found Ms. Riley had completely outdone herself. This was not only the story of a recovering alcoholic but the story of a man coming to terms with every facet of his life. Jamie works his steps in the program, and he has to come to terms with the mistakes he has made in the past and find a way not to repeat them in the future.”

 

Love You Forever by Amelia Bishop: “Amelia Bishop has done a fabulous job showing how “forced” closeness can eventually push two people apart, no matter how much they love one another. As human beings it seems that we need free will, even in love, if we expect any relationship to grow and prosper. Cole and Rick find this out the hard way.

This book truly caused me to stop and think about how two people in love can grow apart yet find their way back to each other. It is a true example of letting someone you love go and knowing they will find their way back if it is meant to be.”

Lana:

Spinning the Top: an Anthology by Torquere Press: “All the stories in Spinning the Top were top notch. The writing was exceptional and while these were short stories, they were able to set up the main characters in such a way that I was rooting for the happy ending. Spinning the Top was a hot little read that left me wanting more, more, more!”

Alpha’s Claim: an Anthology by Evernight Publishing: “All the stories were good but one stood out for me. Bite Harder by Avril Ashton did it for me in a big way! I think the title says it all. Kellan is a powerful alpha of a pack in upstate NY. He sees Rory, a new wolf in town, and knows that Rory is his mate. He wants him bad and will do anything to get him. Rory has no clue that the local alpha is his mate. That’s when the fun begins. Rory’s uncle steals something valuable from Kellan and to pay him back he offers his daughter as payment. But Rory knows he has to protect his cousin Bre and instead offers himself to the alpha. Kellan is surprised but can’t believe his luck that his mate is offering himself. Man and wolf like that a lot. The heat index goes off the charts after that.”

Dr. Feelgood: an Anthology by Dreamspinner Press: “The stories where all beautifully written with humor and heat. I don’t think I can do this book justice reviewing it, because how many times can I say I absolutely loved it?! Dr. Feelgood deserves to be read and savored. The stories also need to be made into full length novels. Reading this book made me feel like I was only having an appetizer and wanting more, more, more!

If you love sexy men who love to give TLC, then this book is for you!”

Faith & Fidelity by Tere Michaels: “Everything in this book was total perfection, from the guys initial meeting to consummating their relationship, which was amazing; from Evan’s magazine cover model partner with a sarcastic personality, to Matt’s one night stand. And let’s not forget Evan’s kids and how they seamlessly took Matt into their hearts like he belonged there from the start. I’m usually not a huge fan of too much kid action in a book, but these kids stole my heart, and I absolutely loved them.

Faith & Fidelity is a must read for anyone who loves to see two hot cops find each other, find love and find their happily ever after. A heartwarming story of love and life!”

Avaritia by Mathew Ortiz: “I love Mr. Ortiz’s writing style. Even though Avaritia is written in the third person, I felt like I was reading William’s and Rush’s inner monologues. Their dialogue and interactions were spot on, and the back and forth between the two made me laugh out loud. The dirty talk was fun too.

I loved Avaritia and was entertained throughout. I know my review is not doing it justice, but it’s a story that needs to be read. It will make you laugh and tug at your heart. A great ball of energy that will make your witch’s senses tingle!”

Jules:

Fever Pitch by Heidi Cullinan: “This book truly has it all: characters you will LOVE… and those you will hate. Moments that will have you laughing, cheering, swooning, fanning yourself, and even needing a few tissues. It showcases humor, love, friendship, loyalty, and at times, really tough life lessons. And, music. Always the music. I can’t say enough about how good Fever Pitch is or how much I love it. It’s a must read. And re-read. A desert island book.”

 

The River Leith by Leta Blake: “Honestly, the writing style overall just really spoke to me. I could say so much more about how much I loved this book, but I’ll let you all, discover it for yourselves. I will say, though, that I’ve been looking for a long time for a book to recommend as a first time M/M read to one of my best friends, and I think I might have finally found it. I highly recommend this book, folks. And, I plan to rush out and get Leta’s other stories!!”

 

A Forbidden Rumspringa by Keira Andrews: “First, I have to say, I can’t imagine the research that went into writing this book. The work that the author had to have put into this is astounding. You will get sucked into the details from the very beginning, and it never lets up. It was absolutely fascinating to get lost in the world and traditions and mindsets of these people. I found myself so drawn in that I could anticipate emotions and outcomes of certain situations, though not at all because the story was predictable but because I had gotten to know the characters so well.”

 

The Bells of Times Square by Amy Lane: “The writing in this book is stunning. At times both sweet and funny, and also heart-wrenching and emotional, there isn’t a feeling you won’t experience while reading it. Amy Lane is a phenomenal storyteller. She perfectly conveys what the war experience is like, and what being a part of it means for both Nate and Walter. Nate’s Jewish faith is a huge part of the story, obviously, and his reflections on what was happening during the war, and what it would mean to him to help the resistance, in even a small way, were very powerful.”

 

Release by A.M. Sexton: “The world that Sexton has created here is fascinating. Her storytelling and writing are so strong, that even as I was questioning myself for enjoying the book so much, I was incapable of stopping. Some of her prose when describing Misha’s feelings and observations (as in the quote I chose above) is absolutely breathtaking. The descriptions of both the opulence and decadence of the Upper City, as well as the conditions and poverty in the trenches, are also stunning. As a leading character, Misha is likeable, feisty, extremely bright, and also incredibly sexy. Ayo is beautifully heart-breaking and fascinating, and Misha finds himself becoming increasingly drawn to and protective of him as well. The pace of the story was perfect, and the ending was thrilling – and surprising! I can’t wait for Return to come out in the fall so we can see what happened to some of the supporting cast (whose characters were also rich and very well-written), and get the conclusion of the story!”