The First Books of 2021

Since I am absolutely horrible at keeping up with this, I'm going to try and if not talk about books individually then in groups. That being the case, this year has been a slow year for my reading. I've been busy. One of the things I've decided to do is sign up for a virtual run. You might be thinking a 5k or even a marathon. Nope, that's not how I roll. I signed up for this:  

https://www.theconqueror.events/ringroad/

Isn't the medal awesome? And the total distance is only 828 miles. Yes, I'm not very active. Yes, this is in fact insane. No, I don't care. Why? I want that medal. Yes that's all it's taking to motivate me to get up and walk miles a day. I'm not a runner and honestly I kind feel like running might show up at some point and zombies won't be chasing me.

Now that I've discussed this major crazy commitment I've made, let me delve into the two wonderful books I've read so far this year.

The first book I read was The World According to Vince by Stuart Reardon and Jane Harvey-Berrick. This is book 2 of the Gym or Chocolate series and I really enjoyed book one. (Which actually has a marathon in it, but that's neither here nor there.)

Vince is a vegan dog loving model. Who is sweet and maybe not the brightest, but he has good intentions. Grace is the lawyer he really likes and she wishes she never had to lay eyes on him. The way these two characters play off of each other is great. Vince is a caring and lovable guy that you are rooting for no matter the situation he finds himself in. I laughed and worried throughout the book, not know how everything was going to be pulled off. Grace is a very focus driven person and Vince helps her become a different person in only the best of ways. This was a nice rom-com that makes you feel good.

From this sweet rom-com, I went to dark and dirty with my next read. A book I've been waiting patiently for and it was a pretty substantial book that I read somewhat slowly but I also read while on the treadmill as I got my steps in. Something that must be done with care cause one wrong step and splat. Just saying, safety precautions should be put into place while trying to multitask.

Trapping Sophia by Izzy Sweet and Sea Moriarty 

Speechless. That's how I was left after finishing this book. There are so many things going on in it that if I started on with them, they would spoil the book. James is a very intense man. Possessive and very focused. Sophia didn't stand a chance with this man. No matter how much she wanted to push him away. His focus on her and everything about her makes him sweet. But he's flawed in a few ways. Something that works for this man. He is pretty and deadly. Sophia is so sweet and having seen her in a previous book, we already know a little about her. What she had to experience and go through changed her for sure. James and her might push each others buttons but they are hot. There are some hot scenes in this book and then some OMG what did I just read ones as well. I really love how the men in this series are all about their women and family. The humor and banter lightened up some of the darker aspects of this book and make me smile thinking about them.

These are the lovelies I've read. I have more books on deck and just have to decide which one I'll start tonight as I hip hop onto the treadmill to get in steps for an epic weekend and chip away at that 828 mile goal.

Also, side note. Trapping Sophia has a Spotify playlist. James' list was listened to as I walked and the choices were perfect for working out aka walking a shit ton. See here: 

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3BmcyZ6s6w5YxsnwZP9ZUX

Enjoy!

Gold Mine by Skye Warren

Title: Gold Mine

Author: Skye Warren 

Series: The Diamond Trilogy Book 2

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Self Published 

Release Date: Sept 15 2020

Edition/Formats: 1st Edition ~ eBook & Print

Blurb/Synopsis: 

I'm stepping off a nine hour flight when it happens. A white van. A dark hood. Every woman's worst nightmare. Now I'm trapped in an abandoned church. The man who took me says I won't be hurt. The man in the cell next to me says that's a lie. I'll fight with every ounce of strength, but there are secrets in these walls. I'll need every single one of them to survive.

DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH is a new dark romance from New York Times bestselling author Skye Warren. Finding yourself has never been so dangerous....

Diamond in the Rough by Skye Warren

Title: Diamond in the Rough

Author: Skye Warren

Series: The Diamond Trilogy Book 1

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Self Published

Release Date: July 7 2020

Edition/Formats: 1^st Edition ~ Audio, eBook & Print

Blurb/Synopsis:

I'm stepping off a nine hour flight when it happens. A white van. A dark hood. Every woman's worst nightmare. Now I'm trapped in an abandoned church. The man who took me says I won't be hurt. The man in the cell next to me says that's a lie. I'll fight with every ounce of strength, but there are secrets in these walls. I'll need every single one of them to survive.

DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH is a new dark romance from New York Times bestselling author Skye Warren. Finding yourself has never been so dangerous....

I really enjoyed Holly and Elijah. There is a lot of history between these two characters. Their love story started out years before and Holly really is everything to Elijah. The way the author brings these two back together is dark, but it works very well for them. Through actions, the reader is able to connect to the characters. There are several moments of WTF, yet it works. The love story intertwined with the suspense and darkness was prefect and kept the pacing fast. I liked the descriptions, which made me really feel for Holly. The author really uses Holly as an author speak to who she is and it's something I am looking forward to as this story continues.

Book Links

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

iBooks

Dark Mafia Romance and Procrastination

I have been doing a lot of reading as of late. Mostly, I have been reading books that I haven't read before. Some of those books have been sitting around gathering electronic dust (ebooks if it wasn't clear) and I finally picked them up. I've also gone back and started reading some books I've read before. Why? Because I liked them the first time and have forgotten a lot about the book.

One set of books I read was the Boston Underworld series by A. Zavarelli. Holy shit! Six book in less than a week and that was only because of essential things like sleep, work, and mental relaxation. The books are as follows Crow, Reaper, Ghost, Saint, Thief, and Conor.

There was so much going on with these books. Mafia and sex and danger. Plus, some pretty kick ass females and their hot mafia men. They might not follow the law, but they follow their hearts after their heads stop thinking. (Wrong heads. hehe)

I loved these books and should go into detail for all of them, but alas, I need to reread them to get everything all straight. I loved all of the books for their stories and the characters. There is lot going on in these books with lots of emotions. A. isn't pulling any punches. Out of the series I loved Reaper, Ghost, and Thief. Conor didn't quite meet my expectations of the series. It was good, but it was a shorter story as well.

I read a few lighter books, because damn did those books hit me in the gut and brain. I'll discuss those later.

I've also been playing Elder Scrolls Online a lot. My character has even been dabbling in thievery and assassination. I try to play him to be a nicer guy and choose the best choices. I'm still trying that with a few exceptions. lol. But, I've been playing a lot more than I've been reading.

Life does get in the way of reading as well.

Hope everyone finds a good binge worthy series for themselves. Cheers.

Tabula Rasa by Kitty Thomas

I'm a fan of Kitty Thomas. If that wasn't clear, then I'll make it known because I will be posting several blogs about her work. I really enjoy reading this author for several reasons. Tabula Rasa is one of my absolute favorites of this author's works. Why? Because of the writing of course. There is something about her male leads that lends to wanting to more about them. These are not fluffy happily ever after stories. They have amazing endings that work for the story that's written.

This is one of my go to re-reads. I have a lot of them and several with this author. My absolute favorite book is Broken Dolls and this one is right behind it. Shannon is a great male lead. There's no way I can talk about this book without spoiling so much.

All I can say is, give this book a try. I didn't regret it and I hope you won't either.

Title: Tabula Rasa     

Author: Kitty Thomas

Genre: Literary Erotica/Contemporary

Publisher: Burlesque Press

Release Date: June 15 2016

Blurb/Synopsis:

At some point, right before my memory clicked off, the nightmare fairy must have paid the world a visit. Everything is dead and abandoned. It’s just… gone.

I don’t remember how the world got this way, but my husband and I were lucky to find the deserted theme park when we did.

I thought we were the only survivors, but a new man has come. Shannon. He scares me. He seems weirdly possessive of me.

He’s going to take me out of the park, away from my husband and the only safety I have. I’m terrified to know what’s out there.

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction, and the author does not endorse or condone any of this book’s content in a real world setting. This work is intended for an emotionally mature, adult audience.

Book Links

Amazon ~~ https://amzn.to/2ycjVTD

Barnes and Noble ~~  http://bit.ly/2xhVCUu

Google Books ~~ http://bit.ly/2ybacgc  

iBooks ~~  https://apple.co/2ycuar1

Kobo ~~  http://bit.ly/2phgU0a

Smashwords ~~ http://bit.ly/2ybhYqm

KITTY THOMAS writes dark sexy stories that play with power. She began publishing in early 2010 and is considered one of the original authors of the dark romance/erotic subgenre.

This work is meant for an adult audience. The author does not endorse or condone any of the behavior carried out by characters in her stories. She believes fiction is meant to challenge the reader, not teach morality. If you haven’t developed morals by the time you start reading erotica, it’s probably too late.

Kitty writes standalone novels except for the Pleasure House Books which are interlocking standalones and can be read in any order (The “order of publication” is listed for those who want a reading order.)

Pleasure House Books

Order of Publication: (i.e. the order in which they were wrote.)

1. Guilty Pleasures

(https://kittythomas.com/book/guilty-pleasures/ )

2. Broken Dolls

(https://kittythomas.com/book/broken-dolls/ )

3.  Surrender

(https://kittythomas.com/book/surrender/ )

4. Pretty Lies

(https://kittythomas.com/book/pretty-lies/ )

For Complete Book List Checkout Kitty’s Website

(https://kittythomas.com/books/ ) 

Author Links

Amazon Author Page  (https://www.amazon.com/Kitty-Thomas/e/B003DYCDF0/ )

Blog (https://kittythomas.com/blog/)

BookBub  (https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kitty-thomas )

Facebook Author Page   (https://www.facebook.com/KittyThomasBooks/ )

Goodreads   (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2654606.Kitty_Thomas )

Twitter  @kitty_thomas (https://twitter.com/kitty_thomas )

Website  (https://kittythomas.com/ )

Mafia Captive by Kitty Thomas

So there are several authors whose works stick with me. Kitty Thomas is one of them. Not only do I love her work but I reread it a lot. There is something about having read a book and still being able to gain enjoyment from going back to it again and again. Mafia Captive is one of those books, plus it takes place during Christmas. It's become a personal tradition to read it for the holidays.

Kitty writes dark and so her books are not for everyone. They are different and different is good in my opinion. Below is all the fun and pertinent information on this title and on the author herself.

So if you like dark. If you enjoy a good mafia story. If you have a soft spot for furry animals. Or if you like some kink thrown in as well, then this book is for you. Plus Christmas, and the mention of various foods. My mouth is salivating at the thought.

Enjoy!

Title: Mafia Captive

Author: Kitty Thomas

Genre: Literary Erotica/Contemporary

Publisher: Burlesque Press

Release Date: April 18 2013

Blurb/Synopsis:

Faith Jacobson was in the wrong place at the wrong time. After witnessing a mob hit, she’s only moments from death when Angelo Raspallo decides to give his brother an unlikely gift.

Leo has avoided involvement with the family business, but it doesn’t make him a saint. He’s troubled and ashamed by his darker desires, one of which is to own a slave. But when his brother throws Faith at his feet, repainting the scenario to make Leo the hero rescuing her from certain death, his moral fortitude will be tested. If Faith were kinky, it would be easy to live out his fantasy, but she’s not. Not even a little bit. Even the mildest spanking sparks terror in her that Leo can’t bear.

The gift soon becomes a burden as he fights with himself over how to handle the addition to his home. He could release her, but his brother doesn’t do loose ends. The only thing keeping her out of the bottom of the harbor is Leo’s mercy. She’s like a beautiful piece of art he keeps in a glass case but can never touch. Is possessing her enough?

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction, and the author does not endorse or condone any of this book’s content in a real world setting. This work is intended for an emotionally mature, adult audience.

Book Links

Amazon ~~ https://amzn.to/2yaJLr8

Barnes and Noble ~~ http://bit.ly/2DsJaXp

Google Books ~~ http://bit.ly/2y9Nm8D

iBooks ~~ https://apple.co/2ybVUvR

Kobo ~~ http://bit.ly/2yf4SZ8

Smashwords ~~ http://bit.ly/2yc9AHh

Also Found in THE CAPTURE FANTASY COLLECTION

Amazon ~ https://amzn.to/2ykzSY3

Barnes and Noble ~ http://bit.ly/2yaxlPT

Google Books ~ http://bit.ly/2yaRntw

Kobo ~ http://bit.ly/2ykAwEX

Smashwords ~ http://bit.ly/2yeyLZx

KITTY THOMAS writes dark sexy stories that play with power. She began publishing in early 2010 and is considered one of the original authors of the dark romance/erotic subgenre.

This work is meant for an adult audience. The author does not endorse or condone any of the behavior carried out by characters in her stories. She believes fiction is meant to challenge the reader, not teach morality. If you haven’t developed morals by the time you start reading erotica, it’s probably too late.

Kitty writes standalone novels except for the Pleasure House Books which are interlocking standalones and can be read in any order (The “order of publication” is listed for those who want a reading order.)

Pleasure House Books

Order of Publication: (i.e. the order in which they were wrote.)

1. Guilty Pleasures

(https://kittythomas.com/book/guilty-pleasures/ )

2. Broken Dolls

(https://kittythomas.com/book/broken-dolls/ )

3.  Surrender

(https://kittythomas.com/book/surrender/ )

4. Pretty Lies

(https://kittythomas.com/book/pretty-lies/ )

For Complete Book List Checkout Kitty’s Website

(https://kittythomas.com/books/ ) 

Author Links

Amazon Author Page  (https://www.amazon.com/Kitty-Thomas/e/B003DYCDF0/ )

Blog (https://kittythomas.com/blog/)

BookBub  (https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kitty-thomas )

Facebook Author Page   (https://www.facebook.com/KittyThomasBooks/ )

Goodreads   (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2654606.Kitty_Thomas )

Twitter  @kitty_thomas (https://twitter.com/kitty_thomas )

Website  (https://kittythomas.com/ )

Bastards and Whiskey by Alta Hensley

I absolutely love being part of a book club. It's a great way to find new books and then have the opportunity to discuss them. Seeing as I read a lot as it is, I sometimes need a little help choosing a book. Especially when my TBR won't get smaller.

Last month it was The Tutor, which I reviewed. This month it was Bastards and Whiskey. I'd actually had another friend read it, but I was in the midst of other books and I threw it on a list. Lists are the best things ever. They can be very helpful. Such as collections on the Kindle app. I swear by it, once I started using it. Narrows things down. I'm even attempting to use Goodreads. Mainly to keep up with books I've read.

I digress. Something I do often and have no intention of changing. But I got this book and broke it open. Only thing was, I wasn't ready to read it as is. I needed something more so I went to my record player. (I'm not that old, or maybe I am seeing as I recall listening to records with friends back in the day.) This is a newfangled contraption with a CD player too. I found an older record and put it on. Something still wasn't right. I mean I had a record playing Kenny Rogers. Maybe I didn't need to go that old school. I traded out the music to Urban Chipmunk. (Note: This is not the best music to read something like this book too, but reasons.)

Everything was almost perfect. Almost. Perfect. Whiskey! Yes, I needed a whiskey drink before I could dive all the way into this book. So some ginger ale and whiskey later along with some very catchy music, I was on my way to reading this book.

This was a book that was very well paced. The characters were both likable and yet they were flawed by their pride and unwillingness to communicate. Kenneth and Anita made a wonderful couple in that they pushed each other outside of their comfort zones. There are so many ways to inadvertently create spoilers in a review of this book.

The story is told from both of the characters POV. This makes the story that much better. Anita is from a place so small and insignificant that she sees it as a mile marker and not a place. She is poor and only has an older woman she cares for in her life. (Also a twice mentioned old biker that was also a tattoo artist.) Meanwhile, in New Orleans Kenneth is an extremely rich lawyer who own a gentlemen's club called Spiked Roses. Anita ends up in New Orleans and working at Spiked Roses.

This is where the story gets dark and dirty. It's also when we see a struggle where Kenneth wants Anita. We also see how naive Anita really is. I wanted to scream at her, the same as Kenneth, when she ends up going home with a man for a shit ton of money but she will also have to deal with being degraded. Which she is unable to handle so she cuts and runs with the money. Kenneth goes after her and their story begins.

The character development was great. The sex was dirty and hot. Holy cow. Be prepared to need a drink after this book. There are other books in the series and I'm looking forward to seeing how the series progresses.