Jen in Bookland

Wow I can't believe 2014 is already over! This year has really just flown by for me. It was a good reading year. I started off with a lot (for me) of five star reviews. It made me think am I getting lax? Or are these books just that good? Well I think it was that there were a lot of great books that came out this year. So I think I will do a top 20 books that I have read. There were a lot of great ones so it was hard to choose, but I think I have a good selection. The follow are in no particular order, except the top two reads that will be at the end. This year there were two books that just really blew me away that stick out as over and above the rest. So here we go (click the title to go to my full review of the book): Archer's Voice by Mia Sheridan. Man I loved this book. Archer is so sweet and wonderful and amazing and I loved him. Bree was just amazing with him and oh it was so good. The scene where Archer is out in the thunderstorm on the porch...oh if I hadn't...

Midnight in Venice Synopsis: From the author of The Billionaire's Secrets and Falling for Rain, Midnight in Venice is a captivating new contemporary tale of romance and suspense set in the magical city of Venice, Italy Readers met and fell in love with Olivia Moretti in Meadow Taylor's hugely popular holiday story Christmas in Venice, where Olivia is rescued by a gorgeous Italian cop, Alessandro Rossi, during an airport bomb scare. Now, as the new year begins, her joy at having landed her dream job in Venice's thriving art world is surpassed only by the realization that she and Alessandro are falling in love--and her surprise that he turns out to be not just the son of a tycoon, but a gifted pianist and former racecar driver who is equally at home in the city's bejewelled palazzos as patrolling its streets. Olivia can't believe that her life now includes masked balls, exquisite music, romantic trips to Paris--and true love. But all this is put in jeopa...

All Broke Down: A Rusk University Novel Synopsis: In this second book in New York Times and USA Todaybestselling author Cora Carmack's New Adult, Texas-set Rusk University series, which began with All Lined Up, a young woman discovers that you can't only fight for what you believe in... sometimes you have to fight for what you love. Dylan fights for lost causes. Probably because she used to be one. Environmental issues, civil rights, corrupt corporations, and politicians you name it, she's probably been involved in a protest. When her latest cause lands her in jail overnight, she meets Silas Moore. He's in for a different kind of fighting. And though he's arrogant and infuriating, she can't help being fascinated with him. Yet another lost cause. Football and trouble are the only things that have ever come naturally to Silas. And it's trouble that lands him in a cell next to do-gooder Dylan. He's met girls like her before fixers, he ...

He Found Me: (He Found Me #1) Synopsis: When I was seventeen, I disappeared. I walked out the door of my apartment with a backpack and never looked back. I left the life of Cora Mitchell behind, seeking freedom from my real-life nightmare. But my freedom came with a cost. I lived a fictitious life for the next six years, never letting anyone close enough to see underneath the facade that was Andra Walker. I was content with my simple little life. Until I met Julian. And the moment I started allowing myself to open up, allowing someone to see through the superficial, was the very same moment the Monster from my past would return to find me. Review: He Found Me was an alright story, but the writing style was not for me. It was too descriptive and just not a style of writing that I enjoy. Cora was in a bad situation when she ran away and disappeared. She started a new life under a new identity, Andra, with the help of an older friend. She is now living a unassuming lif...

Maybe Not: A Novella Synopsis: Colleen Hoover, the New York Times bestselling author of Maybe Someday brilliantly brings to life the story of the wonderfully hilarious and charismatic Warren in a new novella, Maybe Not. When Warren has the opportunity to live with a female roommate, he instantly agrees. It could be an exciting change. Or maybe not. Especially when that roommate is the cold and seemingly calculating Bridgette. Tensions run high and tempers flare as the two can hardly stand to be in the same room together. But Warren has a theory about Bridgette: anyone who can hate with that much passion should also have the capability to love with that much passion. And he wants to be the one to test this theory. Will Bridgette find it in herself to warm her heart to Warren and finally learn to love? Maybe. Maybe not. Review: Maybe Not was a great little read. It is long enough that the story feels complete and it was just a lot of fun. Warren and B...

Justified (Alfha Law Firm #1) Synopsis: After the first sighting, he’s fascinated. After the first smile, he’s infatuated. By the first kiss, he’s obsessed.  Nolan sees Chloe through a window of a bakery in downtown Manhattan. At first sight, something about her calls to a piece of him he thought was lost. Without thinking, he begins watching her, and when the moment presents itself, he strikes, claiming Chloe for himself. For a man who is used to getting what he wants Nolan wont let anyone or anything stand in his way. Review: *Note: I recieved a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review* First off let me just say that if you do not like alpha males you should not read this book. If you don't like guys who are obsessed and super possessive and just want to hide their woman away and not let her go anywhere without him, this is not for you. I for one would never want that in a guy I am actually seeing, but love reading it when Aurora Rose Reyno...

Letters at Christmas (Entangled Scandalous) Synopsis: London, 1815 Three London Seasons. Three Christmases come and gone. Jilted Sidony Harbeck is done waiting for the inconstant Captain Hale Martin to return. Despite their whispered adolescent promises, he never wrote her a single letter. Now the scoundrel has returned, professing his love and a thoughtless bet to woo her, but she only wants him to suffer. After three years at sea, Hale finally has the means to marry his best friend's sister and the love of his life. But he only has three days to convince her of his devotion because he stupidly proposes a wager - he'll convince Sidony to marry him by Christmas or he'll leave her alone forever. When Hale sets out to seduce her, the stakes are raised by a passion so intense that Sidony must risk her heart no matter the odds.  Review: Happy Holidays! For those of you who celebrate Merry Christmas! Or I hope you had a Happy Hanukkah, Kwanza, or whateve...

Once Upon A Christmas Synopsis: Kahlúa, coffee, and sympathy—it's amazing the trouble they can get a girl into. Chloe Carmichal was only trying to help her best pal (and secret crush), Nick, drown his sorrows. She never expected they'd end up having a hot-and-heavy tryst that Nick's hangover would make him forget, but that Chloe will always remember...since she'll have his baby as a Christmas memento... Review: Just a note - this is the third story that comes in the Lisa Plumley Christmas collection  Once Upon A Christmas . These stories are each long enough that I am going to write a review for each of them individually, even though you have to purchase the set to read them. Now on to story 3,  A Baby for Christmas . A Baby for Christmas was almost my favorite in the set. If I just ignore the whole not telling the baby daddy he is going to be a dad then it was my favorite story in this collection. Chloe has been in love with her best friend, Nick, forev...

Once Upon A Christmas Synopsis: Some women would consider it the perfect Christmas gift: an all-expenses-paid Vegas honeymoon. But Stacy Ames isn't some women. Actually, she's supposed to be posing as her cousin Janie. Too bad Stacy's faux hubby turns out to be her infuriatingly sexy ex, Dylan. Fortunately, mistletoe and free champagne have a way of turning "too bad" into very, very good... Review: Just a note - this is the second story that comes in the Lisa Plumley Christmas collection  Once Upon A Christmas . These stories are each long enough that I am going to write a review for each of them individually, even though you have to purchase the set to read them. Now on to story 2, Christmas Honeymoon . I enjoyed Christmas Honeymoon, but not as much as the first story, Mistletoe and Holly . The whole concept, Stacey has to pretend to be her just married friend so that it doesn't cause family drama, was not my favorite. I don't know why they...

Mistletoe in Manhattan: A Christmas Story Synopsis: As Little Missington's first Christmas baby in fifty years and the daughter of 'Christmas When You Like It' party-planners, Holly West has been surrounded by the holiday spirit since birth. Trouble is, she's not exactly filled with festive cheer. In fact, Holly can't wait to ditch the tinsel and Santa suits for champagne and celebs, and become a party-planner to the stars.  When British film star Dean Layton hires her parents' company to throw his holiday bash in Manhattan, Holly jumps at the chance to help, confident she can handle a little Christmas in exchange for access to Dean's exclusive world.  But New York and Dean's over-the-top demands are more than Holly bargained for. Can Holly deck the halls and make it a party to be proud of, or will this Christmas be one she'll never forget . . . even if she wants to? Review: Mistletoe in Manhattan is a different type of Christma...

Once Upon A Christmas Synopsis: Accountant Holly Aldridge scrupulously plans everything in her life—until her boyfriend gets spontaneous by dumping her right before Thanksgiving. Still, Holly's sure he'll reconsider, given a little time...and a reason to be jealous. That reason, all six-feet-plus of him, is her new roommate, Sam McKenzie. If Sam has his way, Holly will have a sizzling new romance by Christmastime... Review: Just a note - this story comes in the Lisa Plumley Christmas collection Once Upon A Christmas . The stories are each long enough that I am going to write a review for each of them individually, even though you have to purchase the set to read them. First up Mistletoe and Holly . Mistletoe and Holly was a fun read. Holly is this very structured person. She has her life planned out and she wants things to fit nicely into their boxes. When her boyfriend dumps her right before Thanksgiving, well she just don't accept that. He is supposed to ...

Kissing Santa Synopsis: Lily Johnson comes home for the Christmas holidays. There's also the potential reunion with an old flame. The storm of the century hits the little community where Lily grew up. Christopher Crin is well known for his holiday gift giving. He even bears the nickname Cringle. This year he has a special gift to give. Will Lily accept? Review: Kissing Santa is a very short holiday read. I enjoyed the story, and I would definitely read a prequel or something to see how Lily and Christopher first got together and what happened between them. Lily is home for Christmas when a storm hits. There is a tradition of the firefighters delivering Christmas presents to all the kids as Santa on Christmas Eve, with Christopher heading the gift giving. With the weather Lily and the kids are not sure Santa will still make it, but Christopher is not willing to give up. Not only do the kids need him, he needs to see Lily before she leaves again. It is a cute, ...

  Synopsis: Kalliope lives with one purpose. To inspire. As an immortal muse, she doesn’t have any other choice. It’s part of how she was made. Musicians, artists, actors—they use her to advance their art, and she uses them to survive. She moves from one artist to the next, never staying long enough to get attached. But all she wants is a different life— a normal one. She’s spent thousands of years living lie after lie, and now she’s ready for something real. Sweet, sexy, and steady, Wilder Bell feels more real than anything else in her long existence. And most importantly… he’s not an artist. He doesn’t want her for her ability. But she can’t turn off the way she influences people, not even to save a man she might love. Because in small doses, she can help make something beautiful, but her ability has just as much capacity to destroy as it does to create. The longer she stays, the more obsessed Wilder will become. It’s happened before, and it never turns ...

Home for Christmas Synopsis: Savannah Wentworth, a Seattle socialite, has sold everything she owns to balance the accounts of her family's historic business, including her ancestral home. She finds herself at a crossroads with Christmas just around the corner.  Austin Douglass, a self-made technology mogul, is getting ready to offer an IPO for his company that is gaining worldwide attention. He needs to attract investors, and the old-monied Seattle families are interested. Growing up on a wheat farm in Eastern Washington has little prepared him for the rigors of entertaining the Seattle elite. Through his P.R. person, he meets someone who is.  Savannah is a traditionalist, Austin is a minimalist. They are polar opposites. She is losing her family estate, he is gaining one. As the holidays brighten up the city and snow falls in the mountains around them; as the time-honored Christmas traditions are celebrated; can these two find a path that will lead them ....

Are you all excited for Jay Crownover's next book Asa ? Yes? I know I am. Man I love her books and I cannot wait to read more of Asa! It is going to be so good! It is not quite time, but today we do get the first looks at his cover. Man, I cannot wait! Without further ado the Asa cover! Available for pre-order on Amazon * Amazon.de * Barnes & Noble Add it to your to-read list on Goodreads About Asa: Starting over in Denver with a whole new circle of friends and family, Asa Cross struggles with being the man he knows everyone wants him to be and the man he knows he really is. A leopard doesn’t it change its spots and Asa has always been a predator. He doesn’t want to hurt those who love and rely on him, especially one stunning arresting cop who suddenly seems to be interested in him for far more than his penchant for breaking the law. But letting go of old habits is hard, and it’s easy to hit bottom when it’s the place you know best.  

Royal Hastings is q...