WHY AM I HERE?

I think I'm going through a blogging existential crisis. I have a few questions running through my head on a loop lately. What am I doing here? Why am I doing it? Am I happy with how I'm doing it?

The answers to the first two questions is easy. I'm here because I love books, and I love to talk about them with other book lovers. It's not enough for me to read. If I feel something, anything for a book, I need to be heard. I want to know that someone else heard me, and then I can let them somewhat go. The answer to the last question isn't as clear cut. In many ways I am happy with how I blog. I'm honest. I'm fair, or as fair as I can be. It's impossible to be completely objective when reading, we all bring our personalities and experiences to the table when we open a book. But I always try really hard.

But in some ways, I don't feel happy with what blogging has become to me. Or what it would become to me if I let it. I've found myself caught in the fray a few times. The competition, the quest to read all the new and hot books so that I can say I was there at the beginning. The numbers. Oh my gosh, the numbers. For a long time, I never paid attention to my blog numbers. I barely knew how many GFC followers I had, didn't even have a clue on how to search for the numbers of RSS and email subscribers. I didn't even have a page view count up for the first six months of the blog. But back then, I posted a couple times a week, and wasn't super active among the blogs. I only blogged because I loved it.

I don't know why that changed. Partially, it could be due to all the posts and tweets I saw from the bloggers with "authority". I woke up and thought "Hey, am I doing this wrong?" If I don't know what an SEO/unique visitors/etc. is, does that make me lame and non-legit? FYI: I still don't know what an SEO is, nor do I care. And guess what, it hasn't hurt my blogging opportunities one bit. Or maybe it has. But you know what? I'm okay with that.

This blog, while I do enjoy and take pride in it, is my hobby. I make absolutely no money, at all. In fact, it has cost me a lot of money in shipping costs, books, and time that can never be accounted for. I don't do Amazon Associates. I do have a Book Depository affiliate account, but I've never used it. I don't have ads, though I've been approached by companies to place them. Gosh, I've never even gotten off of blogspot, and I can't tell you how many times I've been told that's wrong.

**Please let me be clear, I am in no way saying that other blogs/websites shouldn't do these things. I'm only talking about me here.  **

I've taken steps to make sure that I'm blogging the best way for me. I've started limiting promotional spots to books/authors that I can confidently promote. When I write my reviews, I'm thinking of readers, and not trying to "out-review" anyone else. I'm doing giveaways differently, in an effort to focus less on my blog's numbers, and more on the book/author. To make it easier for a reader to just simply enter if they want a book. If someone wants to follow my blog in any, all, or no way....that's cool. Now, if I'm paying for a giveaway, I will probably include blog following options. I haven't decided. But I do know that nothing is required. This is simply to do what's best for me. I am a person who tends to get a bit too focused and obsessive. It's the same logic as to why I no longer count calories, why I had to give up my Wii fit and leave batteries out of my elliptical. I get too focused on numbers and results.

 

** Again, I want to stress that I am in no way speaking on how others blog. This is my way of making sure that I am blogging for the reasons and in a way that feels good to me and makes sure that I am not focusing on numbers. **

I'm not sure if I even know what I intended on when I began writing this post. I just know I've had these very conflicting feelings on blogging. I love the community, but dislike the competitive nature. I've thought about the blogs I admire, especially the first blog I ever really loved, For What It's Worth. I don't want to copy anyone, but I do want that spirit that Karen has.

If you're still reading this, thanks. I really try to keep feelings like this to myself, but it was either say something or just quit. I don't like feeling...whatever it is I'm feeling towards blogging. I'm too old for jealousy or competition. Some days, I feel thisclose to saying "Fck it" and being done. I just want to talk about the books I love, and be happy about it. If the day ever come in which I feel that way, I should just stop. But maybe just writing this will help lift the heaviness, and help me once again feel good about blogging.

I'll just be me...

EXCERPT AND GIVEAWAY: THE EDGE OF ALWAYS by J.A. REDMERSKI

I am happy to share an excerpt and giveaway to celebrate the release of

THE EDGE OF ALWAYS

The highly anticipated release by New York Times Bestselling Author

J.A. Redmerski!

 

Publisher: Forever Romance

Release: November 5, 2013

New Adult Contemporary Novel

 

 

  New York Times and USA Today bestselling author J. A. Redmerski brings us the second book in her heart-renching series about two 20-somethings who find each other in their darkest moment. Camryn Bennett has never been happier. Five months after meeting on a Greyhound bus, she and her soul mate Andrew Parrish are engaged-and a wedding isn't the only special event in their future. Nervous but excited, Camryn can't wait to begin the rest of her life with Andrew, a man she knows in her heart will love her always. They have so much to look forward to-until tragedy blindsides them. Andrew doesn't understand how this could happen to them. He's trying to move on, and thought Camryn was doing the same. But when Andrew discovers Camryn is secretly harboring a mountain of pain and attempting to numb it in damaging ways, there is nothing he won't do to bring her back to life. Determined to prove that their love can survive anything, Andrew decides to take Camryn on a new journey filled with hope and passion. If only he can convince her to come along for the ride...  

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Goodreads


 

I turn to Andrew again, waiting for him to spit it out. A cold breeze rushes through my knitted sweater, and I hide my hands inside the sleeves.


“You have five minutes to throw all of your stuff in your bag,” he says, and my heart is beating erratically before he finishes the sentence. He taps his wrist where there is no watch. “Not a second more.”



“Andrew—”



“This isn’t up for debate,” he says. “Go get your stuff.”



I just look at him, face blank.



My theory was right, but I didn’t want it to be. I don’t want to go on the road…I mean, I do…but it’s not right. It’s just not right.



“You have four minutes now.”



“But we can’t just leave like this,” I argue. “It would be rude.” I point at Asher. “And Asher just got here. Don’t you want to visit with—”



“I can visit my big brother anytime,” Asher counters. “Right now, I think you better do what he says or you might end up on the road wearing the same panties for a week.”



A few more seconds pass and I still haven’t moved. I’m in a state of mild shock, I guess.



“Three minutes, babe,” Andrew says and is looking at me with a serious face. “I’m not kidding. Get up there, throw our shit in our bags, and get in the damn car.”



Oh hell, he’s back to his old self again…



When I start to argue again, Andrew’s eyes get all feral-looking, and he says, “Hurry up. Time’s running out!” and he points to the house.



Finally, letting down my guard and going with the moment as much as I can allow myself, I glare at him and say, “Fine.” I’m only agreeing to it because I know he’s trying make things better. But I feel guilty as hell.



Disregarding his playful five-minute demand, I turn on my heels and walk very slowly back toward the house, purposely taking my time, partly my way of silently arguing the situation.



I push open the bedroom door, set my bag on the bed, and start stuffing everything inside of it. Then I go into the bathroom and grab our toothbrushes and various bathroom necessities. I yank our phone chargers from the wall and then my phone from the nightstand and chuck it all into my purse. I make my way around the room, hoping that I’m not missing anything.



Looks like Andrew already packed his stuff at some point and I never noticed.



Then I just stand here, scanning every inch of the place around me but not really seeing any of it. I don’t want to do this, but maybe it’s the right thing.



I hear the horn honk three times, and it snaps me out of my thoughts. Grabbing my bag, I swing it over my shoulder and grab my purse from the bed.

 

GIVEAWAYS

 

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About the Author J.A. Redmerski, New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author lives in North Little Rock, Arkansas with her three children, two cats and a Maltese. She is a lover of television and books that push boundaries and is a huge fan of AMC's The Walking Dead. Website | Facebook |Twitter| Goodreads

   

TEASER TUESDAY: RUMOR HAS IT

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along, just do as following:

·Grab your current read
·Open to a random page
·Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
·Be careful not to include any spoilers so as not to ruin the book for others.

Make sure to share the title and the author so other TT participants can add the book to their TBR piles.


Series: Animal Magnetism #4
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: 11/5/13

He’ll help unleash the new woman in her…

Special Ops soldier Griffin Reid doesn’t exactly have happy memories of growing up in Sunshine, Idaho. He’s only come back to recover from a war injury, and while he refuses to admit he’s in a weakened state, he finds comfort in the last person he’d expect.

Kate Evans teaches fourth grade science in Sunshine, the place she’s always called home. Dreaming of graduate school and a happily-ever-after, she’s desperate to break out of the monotony of Sunshine. Luckily, a certain sexy man has just come back into her life.

To Griffin, Kate as always been his little sister’s friend, but now he’s finding her to be so much more. As both attempt to forge their paths, they must decide if their passionate connection can turn into something lasting…

My Teasers~

  Her mouth was still pressed to his throat, which was deliciously rough with at least a day's growth, and when she breathed him in, he exhaled slow and long, so indelibly male. She blamed the sexy sound for what she did next.
  She licked him.
  He jerked as if she'd taken a bite out of him, and he backed away so fast that he bumped up against the tall bookshelf behind him. "What the hell was that?" he demanded.
  "My tongue?"      ~eARC, 13%


  "So beautiful," he whispered against her heated flesh, and trailed his tongue over her fingers, getting his first sweet taste of her. "Let me in. Let me have you."    ~eARC, 44%



So, I have two teasers, one funny and one sexy. I couldn't help myself! Be sure to check out my review for Rumor Has It, later this week.

REVIEW: JAGGED (COLORADO MOUNTAIN #5) by KRISTEN ASHLEY

Series: Colorado Mountain #5

Category/Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Forever

Publication Date: 11/5/13
Format: Kindle
Source: Purchased
Rating: 5 stars

An old flame rekindled . . .

Zara Cinders always knew Ham Reece was the one, but he wasn't interested in settling down. When she found someone who was, Ham walked out of her life. Three years later, Zara's lost her business, her marriage, and she's barely getting by in a tiny apartment on the wrong side of the tracks. As soon as Ham hears about Zara's plight, he's on her doorstep offering her a lifeline. Now, it will take every ounce of will power she possesses to resist all that he offers.

Ham was always a traveling man, never one to settle down in one town, with one woman, for more time than absolutely necessary. But Ham's faced his own demons, and he's learned a lot. About himself, and about the life he knows he's meant to live. So when he hears that Zara's having a rough time, he wants to be the one to help. In fact, he wants to do more than that for Zara. A lot more. But first, he must prove to Zara that he's a changed man

I loved Jagged. Now, I know this comes as no surprise at all to those who regularly read my reviews. My love for all of Kristen Ashley's books has been shouted from the (virtual) rooftops. This book is the fifteenth of Ashley's I've read since late-June, and luckily, I have loads more to go.

Jagged was a great addition to the Colorado Mountain series. In Zara and Ham's story, we do get a love story that, in many ways, falls into a similar pattern as the previous books in the series. Zara is the usual KA heroine: strong and loving, but also vulnerable. In her former lover Graham "Ham" Reese, we are treated to another badass Alpha man. Seriously, Kristen Ashley is The Queen of Alpha Men. And you know what, this could be a problem because I am having a hard time falling for all other book men in my life.

Awesome Points go to Jagged for Max and Nina! One of my favorite things about all of Ashley's books is that characters from previous books pop up. Since this one is set in Gnaw Bone, we get Max (swooooon) and Nina, Kami, Cotton, Mick, Arlene. Extra bonus Awesome Points for a hilarious, kickass scene at The Rooster!

So even though I did find Jagged to be similar to other books in the series, I also found it to be a departure, as well. Why? I'm not exactly sure, other than the lack of kidnappings, gun shots, and explosions in Jagged. And even though the story was less intense in regards to outside disruptions, and we don't have the crazy scenarios involving guns and deranged bad guys, it was just as bold in regards to the love story between Zara and Ham. Their story was in turns sad and frustrating, but also introspective and insightful. Ultimately, it was beautiful and powerful. In every single KA book, I  continually find myself profoundly moved and changed by the enlightening words and methods with which her characters express their love.

You might think I would be getting tired of reading the same author over and over again. You would be wrong. It doesn't matter that Ashley's books share many traits: a smart, gorgeous, sweet and loving woman who's hit a tough time in her life; a sexy, gruff, tough, but ultimately loving Alpha man, crazy hilarious friends; danger and excitement; but always, a love story. Kristen Ashley's books are the new norm for me. Complete Comfort Reads. I always have one of her books loaded on my Kindle. And when I finally get through them all, I know that I will be happy to begin again.

Jagged does the Colorado Mountain series proud.



Favorite Quote:

  "I'm here, Zara, as in, I intend to stay here. I own a TV. A bed. Bought fuckin' night stands, a dresser, and lamps. This is it. This is where I wanna be. It's where I wanna be because I like the people, I like the work, I like the bar where I work, all in God's country. But this is mostly where I wanna be because you're here."   ~eARC, 33%


  "You're unpredictable lately," I shared. 
  That got me another glance, this one surprised before he asked, "How's that?"
  "Committed. Possessive. Forthcoming. You were always awesome but you're exponentially awesome...er," I explained. 
I caught his grin before he asked, "I'm awesome...er?"
"Exponentially awesomer," I corrected."   ~eARC, 50%


  And finally, I paid attention. So I said not a word. I just let everything he was saying to me without saying it flow through me. It felt beautiful. His hand and arm relaxed and his voice was soft but jagged when he replied, "Yeah, baby, I know."    ~eARC, 76%

Colorado Mountain Series

    
  

(covers lead to GoodReads page)

Kaleidoscope (Colorado Mountains #6) release 2/4/14

Purchase Lady Luck

Barnes & Noble  |  Amazon  |  iBooks

About the author:
Kristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA. She nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorise and she hadn't taken her first breath!).

Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana but has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write.

Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multi-generational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland and existed amongst the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).

Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.

And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.

Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook   |  GoodReads

REVIEW: (NEVER) AGAIN by THERESA PAOLO

Category/Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Berkley Penguin
Publication Date: 10/15/13
Format: eARC
Pages: 211
Source: Received from publisher for review
Rating: 2.5 stars

Just when she had finally moved on…
…He moved back.

When college freshman Liz Wagner hears her ex's voice for the first time since he moved clear across the freaking country, she does what any respectable girl would do: Dive into the girls' bathroom.

Zach Roberts—the Zach Roberts—is back. And he’s everywhere Liz looks—infiltrating her friend group, buddy-buddy with her brother. It’s enough to ruin college altogether. But what choice does she have but to put on a happy face and pretend he didn't leave her vulnerable and alone in a pile of emotional wreckage?

Pretending works, until tragedy strikes and the only person available for comfort is the one person she wants to stay away from. When Zach turns out not to be the jerk she convinced herself he was, but the boy she used to love, Liz needs to decide whether to open her heart again to the boy who tore it out.

 

So..... I'm not exactly sure how to review (Never) Again without being fairly negative. I don't like being ranty or mean, but I have to be honest, this book just didn't work for me on most levels. Let me just do this the easy way, and list what I didn't and did like.

• I did not connect with, or even really like, the main character Liz. She was wishy-washy to an extreme, completely blind to the reality of the two guys she feels torn between, and melodramatic. She was eighteen, but her maturity level read like a tween. 

• (Never) Again does have a love triangle. I'm one of those rare birds not bothered by triangles, as long as I can buy it. Liz's old boyfriend Zach comes back to town, causing her tons of turmoil because she took their breakup hard. Her new boyfriend Joe is an ass. Her friends know it, her family knows it, even Zach knows it, but she constantly makes excuses for him. It's no love triangle when you're just waiting for the heroine to simply open her eyes. 

• The V-card. Specifically, Liz's. I can handle a character saying it once or twice, but she used the term every time she referred to her virginity. She wants to finally lose hers, but acted so odd about it. I just found it annoying.

• The story felt repetitive, in plot and narrative. I only need to be told once or twice that Zach had changed in the past year or so. I don't need to constantly read about his newly bulging biceps. As far as the plot goes, the story slowly forward throughout, but to me it felt like "same story, different day". 

• The big, unanswered question. Zach stopped calling Liz  after he moved while they were dating. She never found out why. When he shows back up at college, she stays sulled up at him, and whines about how bad it hurt. I don't know, Liz why don't you ask him? You're only together all day, every day. I don't like when a story revolves around a problem that can be solved by simply asking a question.  

Look, I truly don't have a problem with flawed characters. I'm a flawed person. But if I'm going to invest in a story, I need to not be so annoyed.   

Here's what I liked about (Never) Again:

• I really liked Zach. Yeah, he hasn't handled everything ideally, but he was nice, seemed to have good intentions, and he didn't annoy me. I also liked Liz's brother Josh. He was basically the only person in the book that called her out on being a brat and her inability to open her eyes and see what's happening around her.

• There are some really sweet moments in (Never) Again. Baking cookies and visiting an ill grandparent might not seem like staples of New Adult romance, but these quiet moments gave Liz the opportunity to slow down and see outside of herself. 

• I liked the ending. And no, this is not me having a cruel, Simon Cowell moment. I genuinely liked how the story wrapped up. It was sweet and showed growth on Liz's part. 

Despite what I've said here, I didn't hate (Never) Again. If this had been one of my first New Adult reads with this, or a similar plot, I might have enjoyed it more. 

For an alternate point of view, check out these reviews I found on GoodReads:

Cassie's Review  |  Christine's Review

Favorite Quote:

  I've never been bitch slapped. Technically. But after the last few months I can imagine how it feels. If life had hands, its fingers would have imprinted on my cheek.    ~eARC, 1%

Purchase (Never) Again

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About the author
Theresa Paolo lives in the same town she grew up in Long Island, NY with her boyfriend and Milton, their big eyed goldfish. She has a hard time accepting the fact she’s nearing thirty which is why she writes New Adult and Young Adult books, reliving the best and worst years of her life through her characters. She put her love of writing on hold while she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from Dowling College. On November 11th 2011 at 11:11 she made a wish. Two hours later she was laid off. Jobless for the first time since she was sixteen she was determined to make her wish come true. Writing became her life again and after many nights of ignoring her boyfriend to spend time with her characters, she finally received the call that all her hard work, finger crossing and eye crossing paid off. She was getting published. When she’s not writing, she’s behind a camera or can be found in the blogosphere or on Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook. She is repped by the amazing Brittany Booker of The Booker Albert Literary Agency.

Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Pinterest

THE WEEKLY REWIND, #73: BOOK HAUL AND GIVEAWAY

THE WEEKLY REWIND is a weekly post in which I recap the bookish awesomeness from the past week, and post a book haul.  

 

Book Haul

For Review

• Beautiful Player (Beautiful Bastard #3) by Christina Lauren - I still haven't finished BB. But I will definitely give this a try. The pb is gorgeous.
• A Little Too Much (A Little Too Far #2) by Lisa Desrochers
• Torn (Billionaire Bachelors Club #2) by Monica Murphy
• Before Jamaica Lane (On Dublin Street #3) by Samantha Young
• Dare to Love by Carly Phillips - Phillips is one of the first romance authors I read as an adult, I am so excited!
• Unraveled (Box Set) by Lauren Hawkeye, Sarah Castille, Sara Fawkes, Julia Kent, Opal Carew, Vivi Anna, Cathryn Fox, Daire S. Denis

 

  

Bought:

• Wild Man (Dream Man #2) by Kristen Ashley - the pb released on Tuesday & I was so happy to have my man Brock Lucas in my hands!
• All He Wants (All or Nothing #1) by C.C. Gibbs - Found this on Dear Author & it sounds pretty great.
• Beauty and the Billionaire (Billionaire Boys Club #2) by Jessica Clare - I got this b/c of an awesome review at Smexy Books.

Amazon Freebies:

• Coming Home by Leslie Kelly
• Revenge (West Coast Hotwifing #1) by Jasmine Haynes
• Shameless (Nashville Nights #1) by Cheryl Douglas
• Meant to Be (Heaven Hill #1) by Laramie Briscoe
• The Edge of Courage (Red Team #1) by Elaine Levine

 

Gift:

 

• All For You (Boys of the South #2.5) The 12 NA's of Christmas by Marquita Valentine - I read this in beta, & Marquita sent me a final copy.

 

 

 

Thanks to

• Gallery Books
• NAL
• Marquita Valentine
• William Morrow
• Avon Impulse
• Carly Phillips
• Lauren Hawkeye

 

 

Books I Reviewed Last Week

 

Fighting For You by Sydney Landon - 4 stars
Mystery Man by Kristen Ashley - 5 stars
Wild Man by Kristen Ashley - 5 stars
Law Man by Kristen Ashley -4 stars
Motorcycle Man by Kristen Ashley - 5 stars

 

Books I'm Reviewing This Week

 

• (Never) Again by Theresa Paolo
• Jagged by Kristen Ashley
• Rumor Has It by Jill Shalvis
• Moonlight Kiss by Luann McLane
• Unbound by Cara McKenna

 

Giveaway

You can find a list of giveaways on the page.

In an effort to reduce the books piling up on the floor in front of my bookcase, I'm giving away more books!

 

Must be 18+ years of age to enter. Open to US only.

 

 

(covers lead to GoodReads)

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

FRISKY FALL SATURDAYS: MOTORCYCLE MAN (DREAM MAN #4) by KRISTEN ASHLEY

Summer is over, but just because the temperature is dropping, doesn't mean we have to stop reading scorching hot books! Frisky Fall Saturdays is a weekly post dedicated to steamy books. . Feel free to join in. (let us know so we can add a link to your post) As those leaves start piling up in the yard, ignore them and pick up a sexy book!

The Autumn Review
Globug and Hootie Need a Book
Insightful Minds Reviews


**The books featured on FRISKY FALL SATURDAYS are for adults. If you are under 18 years of age, or do not like smexy books, please stop here. **



I fell in love with Kristen Ashley's writing with the Rock Chick series. Since then, I've decide to devote a week/month to each of her series. August was Rock Chick. September was Colorado Mountain. October is Dream Man.

Series: Dream Man #4
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Forever
Publication Date: SP 5/22/12, now w/Forever 12/11/12
Format: Kindle
Pages: 400
Source: Purchase
Rating: 5 stars

Get ready to ride . . . Tyra Masters has had enough drama to last a lifetime. Now, she's back on track and looking forward to her new, quiet life. Until she meets the man of her dreams. The tattooed, muscled biker plies her with tequila-and the best sex of her life. She knows it isn't the tequila and hot sex talking. He's the kind of man she's always wanted. Unfortunately, he's also her new boss . . .

Kane "Tack" Allen has a rule. He doesn't employ someone he's slept with. So when he learns he spent last night in bed with his new office manager, he quickly fires Tyra. Yet when Tyra stands up to him and fights for her job, Tack is intrigued. He tells her she can keep her job on one condition: no more sex. Ever. But as things heat up between them, Tack finds that he'll be the one breaking all the rules...

HOT DAMN. Now...NOW I know why all my fellow KA/Alpha Men lovers have been waiting for me to read Motorcycle Man. Tack, Tyra, and the Chaos crew took me on an exciting ride, full of drama, action, mucho sexy times, and it was FUN.

Motorcycle Man is, you guessed it, a biker book. Books -and shows- with this lifestyle are fairly new to me, and now I totally get why they're so popular. This lifestyle is in no way relatable to me, but at the heart of it, the characters have many of the same emotions and experiences as many of us, just in a heightened capacity. I love that Tack Allen and his Chaos Club were wild, sexy men, but also always mindful of their bond, their brotherhood. Chaos is a family.

And speaking of Kane "Tack" Allen...I have been extreeeeeemely interested in him since Mystery Man. He's tough, gruff, and takes zero shit off anybody, but seems to have a soft spot for pretty ladies in trouble. Yeah, he's sometimes a little scary intense, but such is the way of a badass biker. And sure, he and Tyra get off to a rough start (as you do in a KA book), but Tack is a straight-shooter, devoted, sexy, dude who also happens to be a good dad, and guys, you can't do much better than that, no matter how you slice it. I loved Tack. Maybe more than Brock. I'm not sure. (I refuse to choose!)

As for Tyra, she's awesome chick who's a good friend, strong, spirited, brave, and with a huge heart. I really liked Tyra, could empathize with her doubts, but was cheering her as she overcame each obstacle as they came her way. And I shall not forget to mention that Tyra is a badass, just like her man, and will take someone down if need be. She and Tack were perfect together.

As for the sexy...it was brought in Motorcycle Man. Of course it is well-established that KA writes the hottest, sexiest men. Tack was no exception, in fact, he is one of the sexiest guys yet. His goatee and dirty mouth alone puts him in my KA Alpha Man Top Five.

Motorcycle Man is the seventeenth KA book I've read since late-June. And at this point in my Kristen Ashley Epic Read-a-Thon of 2013, I feel like I've said it all. The books are all similar in ways, but also manage to stand on their own merit. Each book, whether it's from Rock Chick series, Colorado Mountain, or Dream Man, manages to be special.. Ashley has as bit of a formula to her storytelling, but it works. You will get no complaints from me when the books are led by such engaging, sexy characters, and stories that make me - as Tack would say-  "keep my eyes open, throw my hands in the air, and enjoy the ride".


A Few Favorite Moments:

  "When you give it all to me, if it works with us in a way that lasts, you'll never be scared. You'll feel safe enough to have you eyes open, your arms up and you'll enjoy the fuck outta the ride. I'll see to that, Red, and that's a promise."


  "You know," I started, "it's annoying when you grin all know-it-all."
  "This isn't my know-it-all grin, Red. This is my I'm gonna get some later grin."


  "Love and redemption."
  My head tipped on the pillow. "What?"
  "That movie you made me watch, first time at your house. Love and redemption. You said, 'the most beautiful stories ever told are the most difficult ones to take'. You said that, Red. Right out. And I knew if you got that, when it was later and I shared my shit with you, you'd get me. I never thought my story was beautiful. I thought it was shit. But you said that and when you did, I saw it. The ride is not over but if I can keep my Club together and find a sweet, feisty woman who's got my back and enough to her that she'll stay there, holding me up not dragging me down, I figure I'd find my way to beauty eventually. And I'd find absolution because I'd know, I earned the love of that woman, a woman who's got so much to her it'll take years to dig down and find the heart of her, that would be my reward."  

The Dream Man Series

   

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About the author:

Kristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA. She nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorise and she hadn't taken her first breath!).

Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana but has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write.

Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multi-generational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland and existed amongst the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).

Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.

And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.

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