2015 Year In Review – part 3: Books ‘n Cozy Spots – Terry

2015 Year In Review – part 3: Books ‘n Cozy Spots – Terry

BOOKS ’ N COZY SPOTS BOOK REVIEWS

2015 YEAR-END WRAP-UP.

Terry’s Reading Year 2015, In Summary:

My Reading highlights for 2015.

I have to thank Talon P.S. & Princess S.O. for this wonderful opportunity to write reviews for Books’ n Cozy Spots. I have had so much fun reading and meeting new authors and readers this year.

Through Books’ Cozy Spots I have been given the pleasure of stepping out of my cozy reading zone and trying new genres, sub genres that I probably would have missed. I hope that Jaycee and I have given you, the reader, some food for thought and also helped you take a chance on something new and different. After all reading is like life, an adventure. There are many roads to take and you may find a hidden treasure or passion at the end of an unexpected left turn or the turn of a page. Enjoy all the options.

At the end of your chosen adventure let the author know if you enjoyed it. Write a review and tell them and your fellow readers what you liked or if you didn’t like something let them know that too. Just remember be nice if it is the later, because we all like different things and to discourage another from taking an adventure they may enjoy would be a shame. If you’re feeling like you want the adventure to continue drop the author a note. Or better yet find out if they are attending a book conference and let them know in person how much you loved their story and characters! Now there is another adventure you will enjoy.

So now here are a few highlights from my adventures in 2015.

 

Overall Favorite Book Reviewed in 2015:

My overall favorite story for 2015 also appears in another category because I love this story from the front cover to the back cover. I think for a story to be an all-time favorite you need a combination of a world you would or could step into to be with the characters and the fact that not only the main characters but also secondary characters capture your heart. Combine this with a story you want to tell everyone every detail but don’t because you want them to experience and feel every moment the way you did and there you have an all-time favorite! This year I have to give this title to Muse Me Only by Princess S.O.

Here is my review

Wow! First off I have to tell you the next time you encounter an ass, take a second look. Yes I know this story is fiction but Princess S.O. did such a wonderful job with her character development that *sighs* this story, Muse Me Only, will add one or two more fantasies/day dreams to you list. *wink*

The story takes place in New York with an artistic theme and we get two artists for the price of one. Xherdan Chantal is a painter and his focus is the human form, the male form, and his Muse. This story is also told through Xherdan’s, aka the ass, eyes. This is quite a treat because we also get to know his thoughts and what he is feeling as the story unfolds. This is also where we get his background story. I enjoyed this very much, getting this information as we need it instead of all at once. Which give us an inside look at our sweet ass and puts everything in perspective, well at least in Xherdan’s mind.

What is an artist without a Muse? Oh and Princess S.O. has given Xherdan a Muse like no other, with an appetite for one who turns motion into living color. Sreven is one of the male dancers at The Corona Club. When he takes the stage it is for Xherdan’s Muse, even though Sreven doesn’t realize it. He has noticed Xherdan in the audience but has yet to meet him.

So what happens when these three finally meet? I would love to tell you more but I refuse to spoil another word of this story. Princess S.O. does with words and paper what Sreven does with his body and music as well as what Xherdan does with paint and a canvas. They have all created artistic masterpieces to feast our minds and hearts on.

Send the family out for the day, lock the door and turn off the phone. You are not going to want to be disturbed while you enjoy this work of art!

Favorite Contemporary Romance for 2015:

My pick for favorite Contemporary Romance has a touch of the paranormal but I consider it more Contemporary so this goes to Heart of Clay by Lee Brazil. This m/m story was a complete package for me. I love it when an author can make you feel the emotions of the characters before you know the whole story, and then to watch it unfold, priceless!

Here is my review

I totally enjoyed this story! Lee Brazil gives us a wonderful story of choices and consequences. The choices we make in our youth can sometimes come back or continuously haunt us. Clay and Brad have been dealing with some of those choices for twenty years and neither of them has been dealing with them in a good way.

I fell in love with Clay and Brad in the first chapter. Lee Brazil tells this story so well you will be able to feel what these men feel. This says a lot, because you don’t really know why they are feeling that way to begin with. As the story unfolds though it all comes together to break your heart, that is until the person who tore these two friends apart makes an appearance.

This is where the story really takes off! Bobby holds the key to bring peace of mind and heart back to the friends of his youth. Bobby has also been trapped by the choices he made and is as stuck in the emotions of the past as his cohorts in crime, not the criminal kind. They were called the three musketeers in their youth and you remember what you were doing in your youth. *wink wink* Bobby now has to get Clay and Brad to listen to him. This is a challenge because ghosts belong in the movies and story books, not in your backyard. 

This story moved at just the right pace and the characters were perfect, even Pip and Nan, Clay’s grandparents. There is nothing better than a story that will have you rooting for the characters while laughing and even shedding a tear for them while their story is told. I do wish the story was a bit longer but there are no loose ends and Lee has left the story at a place where you can take the characters where you want them to go. *sighs* Well done Lee, well done.

Favorite Paranormal Romance for 2015:

My pick for this category is one that surprised me, Kick at the Darkness by Keira Andrews. I love paranormal romances but I would never pick up a Zombie story. Zombies just don’t do it for me but I once again I was pleasantly surprised. Thank you Keira Andrews, I would have missed a great story if I didn’t leave my comfy reading zone.  The world you deconstructed and the great characters were spot on for an amazing read.

Here is my review

I never got in to the zombie thing. I see the word and my first instinct is to skip it. The one thing that made me say “hmmm, I think I will give this story a try.” was the cover. Thank the reading goddess! If you also think, skip it at the zombie or apocalypse word, don’t do it! This is a great read!

I have read some post-apocalyptic stories and enjoyed them but to have it happen right before my eyes was great. Keira thought of everything in her world building, or would that be world destruction, from all of the things that need electricity to work to how nice a hot shower is. She also put her own spin on the zombies and weres. Yes there is a lot going on in this story and Keira has weaved it all into a story that flows perfectly together.

Keira gave us a couple great main characters, Parker and Adam. Well I wasn’t too keen on Parker in the beginning but with the help of Adam and some great secondary characters Parker won a place in my heart. Parker and Adam didn’t have a great first meeting they didn’t like each other at all. When they wound up together it was fun to watch them get to really know each other while trying to keep their secrets and stay alive.

Kick at the Darkness has it all death, destruction, humor, some great loving. The characters include heroes, damsels in distress, sweet families, scary survivors to bat shit crazy scientists. The people you meet and places, things you see will keep you turning the pages. I do feel this story is for the older reader. I know the young teens love their zombies but with the erotic tag you may want to check it out before they start reading it. The end of the world does vanquish a few inhibitions. *wink*

So check your survival kit and get comfy, you are going to want to finish this story in one sitting.

Favorite Book Villain for 2015:

In an unlikely turn of events my Favorite Villain is also the leading male or Hero for The Brede Chronicles by P.I. Barrington, Alekzander Brede. This is one of those stories that just prove each reader can read a story and see it differently and/or take something different form it.

My Review for The Brede Chronicles by P.I. Barrington

Well talk about timing, on a few of the Facebook pages I frequent there has been a lot of talk about authors killing off beloved characters. I know I have wanted to go through some of my favorite characters closets and throw away all of their red shirts, yes that is a Star Trek thing. P.I. Barrington the author of The Brede Chronicles Book One has on the other hand, had me wanting to one click a full wardrobe of red shirts for her main character Alekzander Brede. I am not sure this was her intended emotion for her leading male but, well done P.I. Barrington!

I am going to get the bad out of the way to begin with because it is; I feel personal peeves with this story. I really do wish authors of Science Fiction would add a glossary to their stories. It would help with stepping right into the world they have created. As I read there were a few places where the story changed either to new characters or to the past and there were no page breaks to indicate the change. Now on to the fun stuff.

The Brede Chronicles Book One takes place in New Cairo 2107. I love stories that take place in Egypt. There is just something about the history and people of this part of the world that I can’t resist. P.I. Barrington has combined the past and future in this story that is believable. I feel this makes becoming invested in the characters so much easier. Like our leading lady Elektra Tate.

Elektra is full human and was abandoned on the streets on New Cairo when she was a child reducing her to one of the proscribed citizens, the lowest level of society. She has dose what she needs to, to survive, lie, cheat and steal. She has also taken a liking to Alekzander Brede. They have one of those love/tolerate/hate relationships that they both use to benefit themselves. You will enjoy watching this but it is also one of the reasons I really wanted Alekzander to wear a red shirt. Elektra is a true underdog and watching her character grow and develop made me love her to pieces.  I think there is more to her story than we have been told in book one I will be keeping my eyes open for book two which is under way as you read this.

Alekzander Brede, at first I loved him he is kind of a cross between James Bond, Worf, and Mr. Spock, adventurous, sexy and logical. He is a major alpha male he is part human and part Amphidian. His father was human and his mother was Amphidian which gave him full citizenship on both planets, the upper crust of society. Alekzander also embraced his Amphidian heritage which tends to be violent, cruel and very aggressive. Since Brede is in the mercenary business this is a plus. This also makes some of his personal life a pleasure as well as giving me the WTH are you thinking/doing/feeling.

This is a fun, somewhat dark science fiction, adventure, romance. This story is filled with twists, turns, aliens and a little heat. So kick back and watch what happens as Alekzander and some other people searching for a lost artifact that will be the answer to some people’s desires as well as the down fall to others.

Favorite Book Cover of 2015:

When people ask which cover did you love the most of the books you read this year I don’t even have to think on it. Although there were some great covers one sticks out in my mind and heart, the cover from Muse Me Only by Princess S.O. I love covers that give you a peek inside the story and this one did that for me. I love the colors and the framing of the cover on the book. It is a beautiful work of art for the main character who is an artist.

I am adding an extra item because I have another book that deserve to be mentioned in my year end round up.  Historical Romance

I do enjoy a good mm story but I generally don’t pick up historical. Thank you Kayla Jameson for not only a story I enjoyed but a series I am looking forward to reading. “A Spartan Love” is not just historical but an ancient love story. I fell in love with Andreas and Theron.

Here is my review

I have read a few historical romance stories and I have enjoyed them. I can tell you this is not your usual historical romance; it is a story of forbidden love from the ancient world. Sparta is one of the most powerful city-states and the Gods live.

Kayla Jameth mixes history and myth to bring us an exciting and fun romance. I will let you know some of the words used are from the ancient language so you may want to give the Lexicon a quick glance before you start if you’re a little rusty on your Greek history/mythology. If you choose not to it won’t be hard to understand the story, Kayla has done a good job explaining as the story grows. She has also done her homework and tells a story that will keep you turning the pages.

I fell for our main characters Andreas who knows and accepts his place as a slave in this society and Theron who accepts and revels in his knowledge that the world is his to conquer and control. We also have some wonderful secondary characters which include some powerful gods, brothers in arms, nosey neighbors and a fury friend.

Andreas, a helot, has been alone for four years. His father was killed by the kryptes when he was a child and his mother past 4 years ago. Because of Andreas size he keeps to himself so he doesn’t attract the attention of the kryptes or the Spartan Overlord. He doesn’t want to be considered a threat and killed like his father. He just wants to be left to live and take care of his land and livestock, maybe have a family or at least a friend to keep company with. But the chance of this happening isn’t very likely. Unless he takes a chance that will either kill him or give him what he dreams of and longs for.

Theron is a kryptes, a Spartan Warrior in training. The kryptes are not yet warriors, they are still young men left on their own to hone the skills needed to be worthy of the title Warrior. These young men also hone their killing skills by stalking and hunting helots who are unfortunately out after dark. Theron has found one such helot, Andreas. Theron decides to play with his prey and what he learns and discovers may be the death of not only his prey, Andreas, but of himself as well.

Grab your glass of wine and enjoy a taste of Spartan Love.

Looking Ahead to 2016 – Books and/or Authors I am going to follow closely: (disclaimer:  dates may be unknown at this time, or may change from those indicated.  Check links provided for updates)

The first story I am waiting for and have been waiting for since I read Becoming His Slave by Talon P.S. is Right One 4 Diesel. This M/m is going to continue one of the best series I have had the pleasure of getting my hot little hands on. Diesel and Paris should be released January 29th.

 

 

 

A Tested Love by Kayla Jameth will also be coming out this year. I can’t wait to see what happens to Andreas and Theron. The Spartans have rules and they don’t play with them. I don’t have a release date yet but I am keeping my eyes open and my one click ready.

 

 

 

 

Anastasia Vitsky is a new author for me and one I will be keeping an eye on as well. Anastasia  writes f/f and also released a m/f story in a Christmas Anthology this year. If you are thinking you’re not sure about f/f story this may be one of those less traveled roads you might want to take.

 

 

 

Joey W Hill is one of my go to authors I recommend her any day of the week and twice on Sunday! She will be having at least two releases in the coming year. The first is Naughty Wishes and then we will be getting Julie’s story! We met Julie in Rough Canvas with Marcus and Thomas. I can not wait!!

 

 

 

R.G. Alexander is also a new author to me who I will be keeping close thanks to her new series The Finn Factor. I love that big Irish family and all the loving going on.

 

 

 

Kora Knight is catching quite a few eyes with her Up-Ending Tad series and I hope to see more from this rising star!