Author Spotlight - A.D. Ellis

A.D. Ellis holds a special place in my heart.  I'm not sure how I "discovered" her - probably Facebook, as that really is a most awesome place for finding new-to-you authors & not only being able to check out their books, but to connect with them as well.

She currently has a M/M series that has been VERY well received.  

(I don't read M/M, but because I know and adore her writing style & story telling, I'm more than comfortable recommending her!  If you're a M/M reader, check out book 1 in her Something About Him series, Bryan & Jase!)

She also has a couple contemporary series, and these are the ones I've read and fallen in love with.

The Torey Hope Series (book 2, Because of Beckett is FREE at the time I'm posting this) & Torey Hope: The Later Years follow a group of friends/family making their way & finding love in the midwest town of Torey Hope.  They are amazingly sweet, in-depth, heartwarming & sexy!  

Each story can be read as a stand alone (tho they're obviously all connected!) & tackles real-life situations, both individually and as couples.  I LOVE that about her stories!!! 

While I love all of them, one young man from The Later Years stole my heart & just refuses to give it back!  Knowing this, our dear A.D. had a little something extra in store for me at last year's Writers On The River signing.

That's right, a personal message from Zach!!!

*hearts*

When I saw this, not only did I about cry, but my heart got so warm!!

I'm totally fangirling here, and it wasn't even the first time meeting her!  : ) 

Speaking of the first time we met - THIS cemented that special place in my heart that is all hers.

It was my first big multi-author signing - I'd been to a signing w/ 10 authors the year before, and I thought THAT was big, but Rochelle highly encouraged me to come to an even bigger signing in Indiana, and A.D. was there.  And as I walked up to her table a bit nervously, she squeaked, rounded the table, and tackle hugged me!  ME!

SHE KNEW WHO I WAS!

My heart still goes all happy at that memory.  : )  

My heart still goes all happy ANY time someone knows who I am, and is happy to see ME - but she gets the honor of being the first.  

She also surprised me with this little gem in St Louis.  

Zaaaaaach!  

Sadly, about a month after that signing, someone broke into my car & my house, stealing my purse (among other things) and this was one of the treasures I had in there (along w/ my signature book that had been w/ me to all my signings.  Anya Breton - who will also be at WOTR! - was my last signature in that book, WITH a llama stamp, darn it!).

So, altho the necklace itself is gone, I'm grateful I have this picture and will always treasure the gift.

: ) 

I can't wait to see & hug her & get more books next weekend!!  

Be sure to leave a comment & let me know what you think!

And check out this list of authors attending this year's WOTR.  If there's an author you'd like to see a Spotlight on, let me know.

ttfn!

(All links are for Amazon, as usual, not because I get anything from them when you click, but because I figure it's more convenient for you!)  

Author Spotlight - Susan Stoker (and a FREE book)

I have been very blessed to meet many of my favorite authors.  It's a blessing I never could have imagined when I started reading indie romances a few years ago.  Every time I would discover a new author, it floored me when they would reply to a comment, or "like" a post on Facebook.  And even tho I've now met them in person, and known some of them for years, I STILL get a little (sometimes a lot) ferklempt by the fact that they KNOW WHO I AM.  

One such author is the amazingly talented Susan Stoker.

Nashville 2016 - our first in person meeting!

I stumbled across Protecting Fiona randomly, somehow, and even tho it's book 3 in the SEALs of Protection series, I wasn't lost.  Susan became an IMMEDIATE favorite, and I have devoured every single one of her books after it.  It took me a little while to go back & read Books 1 & 2, but they were soooo good!  : )  

(She & Beth MAY have been shocked upon recently hearing I hadn't read them yet...and challenged me to do so... *grin*)

(P.S. Book 1, Protecting Caroline, is FREE at time of posting, click that link above!)

Her stories are full of damsels in distress, adventure, interesting locales, and happily ever afters that are made even sweeter by all the rescues!  They're safe reads in that there's no cheating, none of that triangle nonsense (no offense to ppl who like triangles - just not my bag!), and you know what you're getting when you settle down to enjoy one of her stories.  They deal with REAL issues or concerns or whatever you'd like to call them.  Her heroes & heroines have challenges to face in life - and they do so brilliantly.  

As I'm writing, I'm trying to think of a "favorite" story, but I can't pick just one.  In the Seal of Protection series, Tex could be my favorite because he makes an appearance in each book before "his" story (Protecting Melody) and he's SUCH a presence throughout each series.  But then there's also Cooper (Protecting Kiera) - he is full of swoony goodness!  And his cover miiiight be one of my favorites.  ; ) 

Swaggy goodness & upcoming covers - how heroic does Wander look on the cover of Protecting Dakota?  And the artwork for Fish on Rescuing Bryn?  Thumbs way up!  

It's not all about the guys.  I mentioned "damsels in distress" earlier, but these ladies also kick some serious butt!  They might need saving, but they save their men right back - sometimes in surprising ways!  A couple characters appear as supporting cast along the way - and boy do you NOT like them.  And then... Then Susan shows her talent, and those women get a book (and a hero) of their own, and they redeem themselves from all the bad thoughts you were previously having about them!  

(No.  I'm not telling you who they are or which books they're in, because it's much more fun if you discover them naturally!  ; ) ) 

My most recent meeting with Susan, at the Cleveland Author Event, we actually got to sit down (with Beth - hiiiii Beth!!) and really TALK about books.  I got to experience how her mind works when creating these stories; it made me even more excited for what's coming down the pike w/ them!  And, in case you couldn't tell, I was already pretty excited about them.  : ) 

Cleveland, 2017

So!  If you're looking for awesome adventures, with characters who will stick with you, in a world full of connected stand alone stories - give her a shot.  Each of her books CAN be read on its own.  You don't need to start at a particular spot or with a particular series to enjoy any one of her books.  However, if you're like me, your reading experience will only be enhanced by starting from the beginning & immersing yourself in the world of SEALs, badge holders (hello, cops & firefighters, EMT's & troopers), security specialists,  Delta Force... *hearts*  

Be sure to leave a comment & let me know what you think!  

ttfn!  : ) 

(All links are for Amazon, not because I get anything from them when you click, but just because I figured it'd be more convenient for you!)  

Back In The Saddle

Hello, my bloggy peeps!  It's been a year since I've posted something new in this forum - although I post on my Bookshelf page on Facebook regularly.  I apologize for neglecting this page!  

Recently, my dear friend, Susan Stoker - who is a fantastic author of stories I LOVE - did something AMAZING to cheer me up, because I'd been having a rough time of it.  She shared my blog page with her group on FB, encouraging them to give it a shot.  Because of her post, my "likes" more than doubled.  In less than a day!!  I'm ever so grateful for that - I love to share my love of stories & authors & the book community!  God is so good to have blessed me with these friendships and stories!  : )  

SO!  That inspired me, and I've decided that I need to get back to spotlighting my favorite authors & signings & general bookie love!  

Stay tuned for Spotlights, Reviews, and LOTS of pictures!  

Be blessed, my friends!  

ttfn!  : ) 

Writers On The River 2016

2016 is my Year of Signings, and I am LOVING it!  

The photos above are of me w/ one of my adored author-friends, A.D. Ellis, and the book she signed for me, my favorite of hers - Zach.  I love that she added a note from Zach!!  That was SUPER unexpected and cool!!  *grin*  : )  : )  : )  

Writers on the River took place in Peoria, IL, which is only a couple hours from me, so I hopped in the car & headed off about 10:30.  Picked up breakfast & Starbucks (of course) & was on my way.  Sadly, I realized partway through my trip that I'd forgotten my autograph book, which normally goes w/ me to all my signings.  *sad*  Still, I have 3 more signings this year, so hopefully I'll catch most everyone again!  : )  

The signing was held at Par - A - Dice casino & hotel.  Very nice hotel!  I might end up going back to stay there for a weekend away.  The room set up was very nicely done, also.  Quite a good turn out, it seemed, but the room never felt overwhelming (well, other than my normal overwhelmed in a room full of ppl)!  They had a swag table set up while we waited to go in, so I picked up some pens & cards & bookmarks.  I have a couple new decorating ideas for my library... : )  

 And yes, that IS a little bottle of Smirnoff that was in my pre-order bag from C.A. Harms.

Why, thank you!  

*grin* 

It was a really fun time, and I enjoyed seeing some familiar faces (A.D., Michelle Lynn, Mia Kayla, LB Dunbar, A.M. Wilson) and meeting some new ones (Catherine Scott, Lisa Suzanne - she was giving away cups, so pretty!, Donya Layne, Kennedy Layne - she had the BEST set up, which her husband put together for her)!  AND!  FINALLY MEETING one of my ... I know, I know, I have lots of favorite authors, and favorite author-peeps.  So, saying she is one of my favorite authors AND favorite peeps... it fits, too.  CP Smith - I love every single one of her books, and I adore her personality.  She & A.D. were the reason I made sure to get to this signing, even tho I'd just been to Des Moines a couple weekends ago.  

Just hearts.  

*HEARTS*

: ) 

 LB Dunbar - awesome author, Chicagoan, has a FABULOUS smile, super sweet heart, and I love this picture, even tho my shirt appears to be pinching me (it wasn't) or I have an alien boob (I don't, as far as I know).  : )  

Kennedy Layne & part of her awesome display.  

Her reaction, her tight hug & bright smile & the way she introduced me to her friend who was w/ her at her table... It gave me warm fuzzies & made me feel like ... idk.  It was sweet.  And made me a little ferklempt.  And I appreciate each & every author-friend who does that, because I'm there to support THEM and meet them & encourage THEM, and when they actually know who I am & hug me tight & are happy to see ME?  Seriously, I feel blessed.  (But I was reminded by another awesome author-friend that I might need to make sure ppl know it's me a little bit more, because she didn't realize it was until I posted something later on FB... whoops!  Her comment was ALSO super sweet & I got a little ferklempt, AGAIN.  LOL)

Anyway!  It was an awesome and amazing time, I'm so blessed to get to see each of these ladies (and guys - don't want to leave out Scott from the DM signing or any other awesome guys who also write amazing books!), some multiple times.  I joke about stalking them.  *grin*  But I love being part of this community, in my own small way, and want to do what I can to promote and encourage the purveyors of these wonderful stories.  Their hearts are warm & welcoming, and I want to share the same.  : )  

And there was SWAG galore (my favorite, lip balms - CP's was BLUEBERRY!  Awesome!).  Kennedy gave me a signed coffee mug (hello, veins are filled w/ coffee, so this was perfect!) and hand sanitizer spray thingy.  Michele Shriver had hockey pucks & fudge!  All these authors go above & beyond w/ their swaggy goodness.  Keep it up!  Much appreciated!  *grin*  

 Framed is my favorite CP book, and one of my favorite covers.

She designed it herself, and it turned out AWESOME!  : ) 

The Kennedy Books up top there (next to my boy, ZACH) I won from A.D. & they are HEAVY.  LOL  I'm glad she brought them rather than shipped them.  I'm sure I wouldn't want to pay however much THAT would have costed!  

Next up is Sweet Home Chicago, in August.  That week is going to be SUPER interesting, as I'm going to Arkansas w/ Mom on Sunday, coming back Tuesday/Wednesday, picking up Leyton & heading to Chicago on Thursday & then the signing on Saturday.  Wheee!  I may be a little loopier than normal at that signing, just warning any bookie peeps who see me there now... LOL  

Happy Sunday!  I hope you're hugging your loved ones, telling them you love them at any and every opportunity, and being blessed!  

TTFN!

Scripted Social Author Event 2016

WOW!  What an event!  So many awesome authors & readers & bloggers, the swaggy goodness (altho I tried to keep the swag to a minimum this go-around because I really need a decorating plan for my library before I go crazy w/ more swag!  LOL  I'm thinking frames, but we'll see.), the TREATS!  Yes, authors had treats at their tables, and that was awesome!  

This Scripted Social Event was put on by Southern Belle Book Blog & they did a WONDERFUL job!  Seriously, the table spacing, the volunteer coordination, everything was just marvelous.  I really enjoyed being a volunteer, too!  I was originally going to sit w/ my author-pal, Rochelle Paige, but things got moved around & I ended up being the ticketer-wrist bander for Olivia Cunning.  

I almost thought I wasn't going to make it in time - I arrived in Des Moines Friday night, so I'd be in town on Saturday & not have to leave home super early.  Heh.  Plus, I love hotel stays.  So, today, I headed out from the hotel in plenty of time to grab some coffee & get to the event.  I thought.

Turns out, the Starbucks that is like five minutes away from the hotel was hiding from me this morning.  D'oh!  THEN, I had the adventure of driving around downtown Des Moines for an hour, trying to find where to park.  There were several garages, but the one I pulled into apparently was the reserved one.  *sigh*  Then I found a Holiday Inn & asked if I could hop a ride on their shuttle, since I'm staying at a different IHG hotel & am an IHG member.  They said sure!  Yay!  Except... the shuttle had just left to take someone to the grocery store.  D'oh!  The front desk ppl were super helpful & tried to give me some options (Uber, calling me a cab) but those didn't work out.  I did get to see some ppl who were there for a wedding, tho.  That was cool.

So, I called Erin to tell her I was lost & running late, and she graciously said it's no problem & she'd see me when I got there.  I went back downtown to try again to find parking, and ended up at a DIFFERENT Holiday Inn.  And this one had a shuttle coming back in a few minutes.  Perfect!  I joined the square dancers & - did I mention there is also a square dancing convention going on here this weekend?  Yeah, ppl are in some pretty kickass costumes, too!  The square dancers were all suuuuuper nice & we dropped them off first.  I made it to the Marriott only 10 minutes late!  GOD IS GOOD!

Of course, because I was late & already frazzled, I was REALLY frazzled trying to get to all my pre-order authors.  And not be a dork.  But, let's face it.  I am now and will always be, a dork.  So, embrace it & be honest & move on!  :)  And make ppl laugh in a good way, bringing joy!!  I think I accomplished that... I know the authors & bloggers & readers I met brought ME immense amounts of joy!  : )  

Rochelle was coming out as I arrived, so I was able to give her a hug.  I love hugs, but I forget to ask for pictures & hugs when I'm at the author's table... D'oh!  Goal for the next signing... 

Scott & Jessica Hildreth were my first table, and they are OMH SUPER SWEET!  They had to deal w/ being my anti-anxiety peeps (in the grand tradition of Amber Nation & Savannah Stewart at my first multi-author signing in Indy two years ago...*grin*).  Scott gave me a fist bump & then said, "That'll make sense when you read it."  LOL  Yup, makes sense now!  

I made it to most of my pre-order peeps before it was time to put my Ticket hat on for Olivia Cunning.  Stacey Lynn had cookies & cupcakes, which were yummy!  Kristen Mazzola gave me a purple rubber ducky.  So cute!  Her BFF/assistant was awesome at the upsell for her books, too!  Kathryn Andrews... gosh, her Hale Brothers series blew me away & I got the box set - which is HUUUUGE - & it was so nice chatting w/ her!  Karla Sorenson - oh my heck, I didn't realize I have all her books, but haven't read them yet, but her covers are beautiful!  And she was one of my favorite ppl to meet!  

  

And then there's the HUGE surprise I got at Kelly Elliott's table... I'd pre-ordered Broken Love, because it's one of my favorites of hers (my favorite is Broken - and in this awesome bag that I won was a puzzle of Broken!!!  Squee!!!) and she said, "Oh!  Carrie!  You won!"  and I'm all like, "Oooh, what'd I win?  Keychain?  Signed book?"  And she pulls out this bag full of stuff & it's a really cute bag & I'm all excited!!  AND THEN she pulls out ... A KINDLE!  I won a Kindle!!!  *flop*  I was floored.  What a blessing!  I'd been debating buying one for a while (ever since I got my new phone) & was pretty well set on it & BAM!  God is good, ALL THE TIME!  *bounce*  

Mr Bear wanted in on the action in most of the photos.  

LOL

My Kelly Elliott bag also included that awesome puzzle & Love You to the Moon plaque!  

LOVE!!!  

Tijan was a lot of fun & Amy Daws... oh my goodness, sweetheart!  I know I keep saying that.  Her banner (which was really cool) made me think of a different book & I thought I had met her in Chicago, but she wasn't in Chicago, so ... whoops!  Then I felt bad, but her covers were also amazing & I the books sound good, so I had to have one!  : ) 

Now, Ticketing!  It was CRAZY there for a while, but so much fun.  Everyone was happy & patient & so nice!  And I was able to set all my stuff in the corner behind Olivia's table, where it was safe & sound & I didn't have to carry everything everywhere.  I only pre-ordered 10 books & yet somehow came out of there w/ two bags full of books... LOL  (LOVE IT!!!)  

Happily, the crazy part of the line died down about 2:30/3 & I was able to go around to more tables & then head out.  

One of my favorite box set book covers!  

I believe Elle designed this... : )  

Kandi gave me a cookie, and I think Allison may have given me chocolate dipped cookies?  Someone did, and they were delicious!  I haven't eaten Kandi's cookie yet.  But I'm sure it's delicious.  I also got to meet Maggi Myers... Again, SO NICE!  Her BFF was her assistant, too - I love all these friends traveling together & hanging out at the signings & supporting each other.  Makes my heart happy!  : )  

Allison Bliss, Staci Hart, Kandi Steiner, Tracey Garvis Graves, and of course ROCHELLE were my other pre-orders.  All ppl I would have liked to have hugged & gotten pictures w/ (read: EVERYONE) but I don't have ANY.  By the time I made it to Tracey & Staci, my back was spasm-ing (even w/ setting the books in the corner, because I didn't move around enough w/ the clipboard, my back punishes me.  Grrrr) and hugs & pictures weren't on my mind.  Til I left, because of COURSE I think of it then.  *sigh*  

Anyway, can we talk about the awesomeness of Staci Hart's picture book for Wasted Words for a moment?  It's gorgeous, and I adore the concept!  I believe the couple who modeled for this story are a real-life couple, and seriously, you can feel the love & playfulness & amazing chemistry.  *swoon*  

So, that was my adventure at this round of bookie goodness.  : )  My next event is Writers On The River in East Peoria, IL, on July 9th.  I was on the fence about going, but then one of my favorite authors who will be there (A.D. Ellis - read her!!!) PM'd me to ask if I was going & how could I say no?!  So, that tipped me over.  It's only a couple hours away, too, so I can make it a day trip.  : )  Oh, AND CP Smith will be there, and I haven't met her, but I have loved all her books, and we've chatted on FB, so I want to meet her in person!  

I'd hoped to get to watch Leyton play baseball while we were all here, but his game today was at 10, so I didn't have time to go before the signing.  And apparently they didn't play well today (*frown*) so no game tomorrow.  But at least they get to go to the trampoline place tonight!  : )  

How's your weekend been?  What's happening in your world??  And what authors would you like to meet (or have you met)?!  : )  TTFN! 

Top Reads (and Authors) of 2015 (Part II)

There were also some authors who either published A LOT or I discovered them & they had a lot of stories for me to read.  Some were w/in the same series & some were various stand alones, but each of these authors had more than a few books I read & fell in love with in 2015.  I HIGHLY recommend checking each of them out to see if their stories are something you think you'd love, too!  : )

- Hadley Quinn
- Kristen Ashley (OF COURSE - she's not new-to-me this year, but I read A LOT of her books this year!)
- MJ Nightingale
- Maryann Jordan
- Rachel Brookes (Be My December... *swoon*  seriously!!)  
- Rochelle Paige (again, y'all know I love Rochelle, no surprise I gobble up her books like popcorn!)
- B.N. Toler
- CP Smith
- KC Lynn
- K Webster
- A.D. Ellis (OMH, her Torey Hope books are DELIGHTFUL!)(and I also got to meet her last year & she gives awesome hugs, so if you're ever at a book event where she's at, stop by her table & say hi!)
- Katy Regnery
- Michelle Lynn 
- Kaylee Ryan 
- Aurora Rose Reynolds (like w/ Rochelle, y'all should know by now that ARR writes it, I will read it!)
- Annalisa Nicole
- Harper Sloan
- Kristen Proby
- Skye Turner (her With Gratitude And Love that she put out this year was SO SWEET!!)(She also pointed me in the direction of my favorite way to say THANK YOU to our troops overseas - Cup of Joe For A Joe through Greenbeans Coffee.  Truly an amazing program & I encourage everyone who wants to give a thank you to check it out!)  
- Alexa Riley (I've read a few & mostly loved them a lot!  They are short & steamy & insta-love.  The only one so far I haven't been ga-ga over is Taking The Fall & that's because the main guy in that story annoyed the bleep out of me.  HOWEVER I'm still glad I read it because the stories following it about other characters in that one were enjoyable!)  
- Belle Aurora - I'd been hesitant about reading Willing Captive, but when I did - LOVE!  And then she came out w/ Lev this year & that was one of my top top top stories of the year!!  *sparkle hearts*  
- Monica Murphy
- Lynsay Sands
- Tammy Falkner 
- Kelly Elliott
- Sabrina Paige (Elias, Silas, Luke - her West Bend Saints series gets two thumbs up!!)
- Amber Nation
- Savannah Stewart (Graceful Scars - grab it now!!!)
- River Savage (Knight's Rebels series - gritty but not overly bloody or whatnot.  STEAMY.)  
- M.E. Carter (Change of Hart & Hart to Heart - emotional & fabulous!)
- Scarlett Cole (The Strongest Steele was my vote for best read of the year on the GR awards!!!)  
- Tess Oliver
- Katherine Andrews (Unforgettable Sun, book 3 in her Hale Brothers series - BEST!!  LOVE!!!)  

Again, let me know if you have read, or do read, any of these, and what you think!!  : )  

TTFN!

Top Reads of 2015 (Part I)

Wow!  What a year!!  2015 brought in lots of new (or, new to me) authors & series.  I was blessed to meet some of my favorite authors (Kristen Ashley!  Meghan March!  Rachel Brookes!) and I don't even want to think about how much money I've spent on Amazon.  LOL  But soooo worth it, every penny - even those pennies spent on books I didn't really like, because nothing ventured, nothing gained, and with the amount of gems I found, I cannot complain!  : )  

So, let's get to it!  I'm not putting a number on this list - I'm essentially going through my GoodReads challenge (goal: 300 books; I'm currently reading book 298) & picking the ones that tug at me.  I don't want it to get too bogged down, so I'll try to restrain myself!  2015 was seriously FULL of amazing books!!  

(WARNING:  I didn't do a very good job of restraining myself.  But come on, out of THREE HUNDRED BOOKS, I think I did okay narrowing it down...maybe?  Don't give up on me!  Read the list!!)  (Love you!)

Mugs of Love by Norma Jeanne Karlsson - This was a totally random find, I don't even remember from which site or how I stumbled upon it, but I began recommending it to people when I wasn't even 1/2 way through it.  It was refreshing & amazing!  

Bent Not Broken and Be Here Now by Julia Goda - These were fabulous!!  Julia's writing style reminds me a lot of Kristen Ashley, and I wasn't expecting that at all when I picked up the first book.  Pleasant surprise & these are both re-read favorites!!  

To Have by M.L. Pennock - I admit, I clicked on this one because of the cover.  Get your mind outta the gutter!  LOL  It reminded me of Mugs of Love (the cover, not the story) & I clicked.  Then I read the synopsis & I clicked again to buy.  My instinct for this one was SPOT ON.  It is a true love story & written sooooo wellll!  I love the pacing & story line & romance in this one.  It made my soul happy.  : )  

Capture by Rachel Van Dyken - Intriguing premise, well-written, and the story had all my favorite things!  Friendship, attraction, no relationship angst... gorgeous!  It's book 1 in a spin-off series from the author's Seaside series (which I haven't read, but am interested enough to look them up later).  

Hammer's Fall and Nyght's Eve by Laurie Ramos - I believe my friend Rochelle mentioned Hammer's Fall & I fell head over heels for this one!  I read it in January & wanted the next book right away, but it was waaay out of my comfort zone for price.  Then, later in the year, it went on sale & I SNATCHED that puppy up!  There's a 3rd book I haven't purchased yet, but I'm anticipating enjoying it, as well!  

SEAL of Protection series by Susan Stoker - Susan was a new-to-me author this year.  I don't know how I came across her (probably FB) but Protecting Fiona (book 3 in the series) grabbed me w/ the synopsis.  Once I read it, I was hooked on Susan's writing style & storylines!  I've enjoyed the whole series & she has since come out w/ a couple connected but separate series that I am also enjoying/looking forward to!  

Ashes & Embers series by Carian Cole - another random find (seriously, the theme this year) was book 1 in this series, Storm.  Such a unique premise - two strangers stranded in a truck in a snow storm & one just happens to be a member of a very popular band & the heroine has NO IDEA who he is!  It wasn't all sunshine & roses, but it was soooo sweet!  I snatched up the remaining books in the series throughout the year, but ended up not reading them yet.  Until Talon (book 4), which had another super unique premise - two strangers get married as part of an experiment, and it looks like the people who put this together got it totally wrong, as these two supposed "perfect matches" seem to have NOTHING in common.  The journey their story takes is sooooo sweet and heartbreaking, with some surprise twisty roadblocks thrown in the way.  I absolutely fell in love with Talon.  : )  

Beneath This Ink & Beneath These Chains by Meghan March - ALL THE STARS!  That was the beginning of my review for BTI.  It's book 2 in the series, and I hadn't read book 1 (Beneath This Mask), so it was another random find.  I read it in February & ended up randomly meeting Meghan (in line at the KA signing) in July.  I still get a little ferkelmpt (totally misspelled that) thinking about how THAT all went down!  But this is about the stories!  Each book started out w/ a unique, new-to-me premise & continued on w/ a writing style & story that pulled me in & wouldn't let me go!  *hearts*  

Two Truths And A Lie and Play It Again by Ashley Stoyanoff (PRG Investigations) - Elena & Jason and Piper & Vance totally pulled me into their stories!  TTAAL was a random blog/FB find.  I read a snippet of a blurb, clicked on the book & immediately started reading.  Play It Again popped up on my kindle while I was out of town w/ my mom & I squealed like a little girl at Christmas.  *grin*  And immediately started reading.  My mom MAY have been mid-sentence when this happened... LOL  

Fighting Silence & Fighting Shadows (On The Ropes series) by Aly Martinez - Aly became an auto-click for me after reading her Wrecked and Ruined series last year.  OTR is connected to that series, but can be read on its own as well.  I just LOVE connected books/series, especially when I don't realize they're connected!  Both these series deal with heavy subject matters, real-life issues & problems that will rip your heart out, but I promise it's worth it (and I'm not one for having my heart ripped out, so that is definitely saying something!) and when the pieces are all put back together, you're a better person.  Or, at least, I felt like a better person after reading each of her books.  I felt like I went on the journey w/ each character, and her writing & stories are PHENOMENAL.  So, there's that.  : )  
  
Brothers of Ink and Steel series by Allie Juliette Mousseau - this is a spin-off series of a series I haven't yet read (but want to!) & was yet another random find.  I truly love the FB author/reader/blogger community!  

Need series by Cynthia P O'Neill - I Need You Always (book 1) was a random FB find in June.  I didn't realize it was a D/s story until I was already sucked in.  I'm not so much "into" that, and don't generally seek out books that are about the lifestyle, but this was done SO WELL and the explanations & family connections in this case were so amazing!  I have snapped up each book in this series & LOVED every single one!  

Sweet Hope and Sweet Soul by Tillie Cole - OH MY GOODNESS!  Amazing, amazing, amazing.  The cadence of the writing, the story, the fact that SH was to be the last in the series & then the fans really wanted to know what happened to one of the other characters & thus SS was born.  I have found that sometimes when fans... *ahem* pester ... request a book the author wasn't planning on writing, it can go horribly, horribly wrong.  The vibe isn't there, because the book wasn't the author's brainchild, really, and the characters don't "speak" to them in the same way.  This is SO NOT THE CASE w/ SS.  It was marvelously beautiful & I could seriously gush about it for paragraphs, but I won't.  : )  Just trust me & pick up her Sweet Home series (Sweet Rome was my favorite prior to Sweet Hope)!  *grin*  

Rush & Endless Possibility by Emma Scott - I'd been intrigued by Rush for a while - reviews were very favorable & the hero is scarred & broken, which equals one of my favorite types of hero!  It took me a while after purchasing to read, however, for various reasons.  When I dove in, though, I was pulled right into the story immediately & enjoyed it immensely!  It's lovely & perfect!  AND THEN when I was finished & looking for other books by this author (because it's book 3 in a series of stand alones), Endless Possibility popped up (NOT a stand alone - read it after Rush, as it's a continuation of sorts of Noah & Charlotte's story) & it had JUST been released!  I again was like a kid at Christmas!  LOVE!!!  So, for the best reading enjoyment, I recommend reading these two back to back.  : )  

Take The Fall series by Marquita Valentine - YES!  This is another spin-off series of a series I haven't read (yet) & currently has 2 books.  The stories are intense by not angsty, and so, soooo sweet!  

Forever My Angel by Kelly Walker - this is book 4 in the Chadwell Hearts series & was a highly anticipated part of the story for me.  : )  No One's Angel is book 1 & reading the series in order & together is a treat!!  

Hearts of Fire by L.H. Cosway - book 1 in this series, Six of Hearts, was one of my FAVORITE reads of 2014, and HoF fit right into that expectation.  SoH is about an illusionist & his awesome plot for revenge against those who had a hand in killing his family & hurting the girl he loves.  HoF is about his brother, presumed dead, who is a fire eater & performer w/ the circus.  EXCELLENT writing & an enjoyable story!!  The set up for book 3, King of Hearts, is wonderful & I'm looking forward to reading it (but have been putting it off because it looks to be really emotional & I have to be in the right place for that!).  : )  

Evergreen Grove series by Elisabeth Staab - These books are emotionally charged, written beautifully & and made me both cry & laugh.  Definite recommendations!  Book 3 is a m/m, which I bought to support the author but likely won't read, because I just don't want to read m/m books.  (A.D. Ellis's Sawyer is the other m/m story I have bought for the same reason.  These are, currently, the only two authors who have written a m/m as part of a series that I've bought, thinking their writing styles MIGHT have me reading one, someday, maybe.  *laugh*)  

Breaking A Legend by Sarah Robinson - Another surprise find & LOVELY story!  It's book 1 in a new series & I'm looking forward to the next one!  There is some drama & a little angst, but mostly it's a story about Rory & Clare & their interactions, how they fall in love & help each other become the best versions of themselves.  SWOONY GOODNESS ALERT as well.  : )  (And there's this dog... and the real life story about the dog is heartbreakingly beautiful!)   

Heart Shaped Hack by Tracey Garvis Graves - WOW!  This story is hilarious & full of heart & feels & happy vibes.  There's a happy ending, and it can be read as a stand alone, but there will also be a continuation of sorts, which I'm looking forward to - and I generally do NOT like that sort of thing, but I think Tracey will pull it off... 

GOOD GRIEF!  This is why I'm not a professional blogger.  I love my books so much that I just go on & on & want you to love them, too.  Or, rather, I want to share all my authors & books so those who might also love them get a chance to hear about them!  *grin*  

There were so many other authors/books... I'm making another list & if you aren't sick of me yet, go on & read part II (it's shorter, I promise!  More of a list than any descriptions...!).  

If you end up picking one (or more) of these up & loving it (them), too, let me know!  : )  

TTFN!