Ashes to Amber (Torn Hearts, #1) written by Gail McHugh (416 pgs) – finished reading 6/12/15 – 5 stars - Contemporary Romance (New Adult)

OMG! What was that that I just read??? Angst galore! Three people, one girl and two guys, totally feelin’ it. Amber, Brock, and Ryder...all basically damaged one way or another. Their lives come together, and who wins? Who loses? And, is there something or someone more horrifying waiting to strike? Take away their happiness? Destroy their lives? How will everything end? And, when it’s over, who will be around to pick up the pieces? I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to find out what happens to this amazing trio of individuals. The drama, and the love, and the not knowing what’s going to play out in the end was one compelling read. So, “yes” this ends in a cliffhanger. I’m not surprised. There was just too much going on for their story to be wrapped up so quickly. Will I wait around for Part Two to be released? Absolutely, without a doubt! It was that good! Oh man!! Damn! Damn! And double Damn!! Freakin’ HOTTTTT!!!!!! My only wish is that Ms. McHugh releases Part Two quickly. I just have to know what happens!!! When the sequel is released, I will review this more in depth. Until that time, I will leave you with all my questions. And, hopefully all will be answered after Amber, Brock and Ryder’s story is complete.

Review Written, 6/11/15

Bright Side (Bright Side, #1) written by Kim Holden (383 pgs) – finished reading 5/22/15 – 5 stars - Contemporary Romance (New Adult)

***POSSIBLE SPOILERS PRESENT WITHIN REVIEW***

I knew that this one was going to be sad, but I so was not prepared for the level of pain I felt when it was over. I loved Kate! She was funny and feisty. Confident. Personable. Everyone’s friend. She made me smile with her honestness. She made a statement. And, she will never be forgotten because she made her mark on every person’s life that she touched. If you read this book, you will definitely cry because Kate just weaves herself into your heart without even trying. 

Whether she was called Kate, Katie, Bright Side or even Katherine she was a force to be reckoned with. She stood for what’s right. For what’s your most personal desire. What’s your biggest most important dream. Nothing stopped her, and when you think she would be afraid, she faced it dead on. Ms. Holden created such an impeccable character. She was never afraid to show her true self. This is just not her story, though, it’s about two men who have come to love her (not a love triangle per se). Both loving her in their own private and touching way. Both needing to have had her in their lives for personal meaning. And, Kate needed them too. Her life has been anything but easy. She has pretty much depended solely on herself her whole life. So when she finds out that she has contracted another bout of an all too life-stealing illness, she knows she must be brave and not run.

From the very beginning, and as I read each chapter, I could feel the emotion rising. I basically couldn’t avoid the heartbreak building as Kate’s story is told. As the author alternates POV’s from Kate to Keller and as they got to know each other, I got a sense of hope that maybe this story wasn’t going to end badly. I was totally off that mark. But, it was done, and the words that were written were simply BEAUTIFUL!!! I did cry, in fact, I barely could read the last chapter through my tears. It took me a while to calm down from the emotional loss of such an intriguing and brave young heroine. She was captivating and honest, and her story was raw and real. I can only hope that Ms. Holden tells Gus’ story with as much compassion, humor, and bravery. Loved, loved, this book but what a heartbreaking ending. One of my favorites so far this year...

“So, why do you call Kate ‘Bright Side’?” Shelly asks.

He looks at me and then back to her. Then back to me. And back to her. He points at me. “Have you met the girl?”

Everyone looks at me and their smiles are endearing. It makes me feel good.

Gus continues. “She’s the poster child for positivity. She’s a freaking ray of sunshine. She doesn’t just look on the bright side...she lives there.” – Kate (Thursday, November 24)

“Katie didn’t just look on the bright side...she lived there. He was right. And that made her the bravest person I’ve ever known. You are brave...” – Keller (Friday, January 27)

“Do epic.” – Kate (Sunday, January 22)

Review Written 6/4/15

BOOKS READ IN MAY, 2015

True North (True, #1) written by Liora Blake

Kane’s Hell written by Elizabeth Finn

Wild Irish Envy (Copperline, #2) written by Sibylla Matilde

Dominic: The Prince (Ties of Steel, #2) written by M.J. Fields

Gibson’s Legacy (Last Score, #1) written by K.L. Shandwick

Rush (White Lace, #1) written by Gina Gordon

Trusting Gibson (Last Score, #2) written by K.L Shandwick

Center Mass (Code 11-KPD Swat, #1) written by Lani Lynn Vale

Fear Me (Broken Love, #1) written by B.B. Reid

Fear You (Broken Love, #2) written by B.B. Reid

Bright Side (Bright Side, #1) written by Kim Holden

Gus (Bright Side, #2) written by Kim Holden

Deliver (Deliver, #1) written by Pam Godwin

My Favorite Book of the Month...Drum Roll Please...(can’t make up my mind between this duet of books) Bright Side (Bright Side, #1) and Gus (Bright Side, #2) written by Kim Holden

I read quite a few great books in May...it was really hard to just pick out one fantastic read!!

75+ BOOKS RELEASING IN JUNE, 2015 (mostly Contemporary Romance and New Adult with some Paranormal & Historical Romance with a touch of Erotica)

(Listed in Chronological Date Order by Author)

Vicious Cycle (Vicious Cycle, #1) – Katie Ashley – 6/2/15

In the Unlikely Event – Judy Blume – 6/2/15

Mad About the Major (Bachelor Chronicales, #8.5) – Elizabeth Boyle – 6/2/15

Sweet Ache (Driven, #5) – K. Bromberg – 6/2/15

Royal Wedding (Princess Diaries, #11) – Meg Cabot – 6/2/15

Kane (Slater Brothers, #3) – L.A. Casey – 6/2/15

One Night with a Billionaire (Billionaire Boys Club, #6) – Jessica Clare – 6/2/15

One More Shot (Hometown Players, #1) – Victoria Denault – 6/2/15

The Best Medicine (Strictly Business, #1) – Elizabeth Hayley – 6/2/15

Suddenly One Summer – Julie James – 6/2/15

Midnight Captive (Killer Instincts, #6) – Elle Kennedy – 6/2/15

Shards of Hope (Psy-Changeling, #4) – Nalini Singh – 6/2/15

Follow Me Back (Twisted Love, #2) – A. Meredith Walters – 6/2/15

Moonlight on Nightingale Way (On Dublin Street, #6) – Samantha Young – 6/2/15

Double Tap (Code 11 – KPD Swat, #2) – Lani Lynn Vale – 6/4/15

Strike (Sphere of Agony, #2) – Heather Leigh – 6/7/15

Back Stage (Power Station, #3) – T. Gephart – 6/8/15

Midnight Secrets (Midnight, #6) – Lisa Marie Rice – 6/8/15

Alive – Chandler Baker – 6/9/15

Only a Promise (Survivor’s Club, #5) – Mary Balogh – 6/9/15

Blue – H.J. Bellus – 6/9/15

Zack (Cold Fury Hockey, #3) – Sawyer Bennett – 6/9/15

All the Single Ladies – Dorothea Benton Frank – 6/9/15

Back to Back (Behind Your Back, #2) – Chelsea M. Cameron – 6/9/15

Blueprints – Barbara Delinsky – 6/9/15

Trusting Liam (Taking Chances, #2) – Molly McAdams – 6/9/15

Amber to Ashes – Gail McHugh – 6/9/15

Blane’s Turn (A Kathleen Turner Companion) – Tiffany Snow – 6/9/15

Kade’s Turn (A Kathleen Turner Companion) – Tiffany Snow – 6/9/15

You and I, Forever (You and I, #3) – Melissa Toppen – 6/9/15

Consequence of Revenge (Consequence, #2) – Rachel Van Dyken – 6/9/15

King – T.M. Frazier – 6/15/15

The Song of David – Amy Harmon – 6/15/15

Beat – Vi Keeland – 6/15/15

Never Let You Go (A Modern Fairytale, #2) – Katy Regnery – 6/15/15

Arrow’s Hell (Wind Dragons MC, #2) – Chantal Fernando – 6/16/15

The Rumor – Elin Hilderbrand – 6/16/15

Wildfire In His Arms – Johanna Lindsey – 6/16/15

Let It Be Me – Barbara Speak – 6/16/15

Stalker – Clarissa Wild – 6/16/15

Grey (Fifty Shades, #4) – E.L. James – 6/18/15

True Devotion (True, #2) – Liora Blake – 6/22/15

Heartfelt – Lynn Crandall – 6/22/15

Shattered By You (Tear Asunder, #3) – Nashoda Rosa – 6/22/15

Up in Smoke (Crossing the Line, #2) – Tessa Bailey – 6/23/15

Ever After (Nantucket Brides Trilogy, #3) – Jude Deveraux – 6/23/15

Trapped by Scandal (Trapped, #2) – Jane Feather – 6/23/15

Summer Secrets – Jane Green – 6/23/15

Bengal’s Quest (Breed’s, #30) – Lora Leigh – 6/23/15

The Girl I Was Before (Falling, #3) – Ginger Scott – 6/23/15

Never Loved (Dark Obsession, #1) – Charlotte Stein – 6/23/15

That Chesapeake Summer (The Chesapeake Diaries, #9) – Mariah Stewart – 6/23/15

The Book of Speculation – Erika Swyler – 6/23/15

Wicked White (Wicked White, #1) – Michelle A. Valentine – 6/23/15

Tiny Little Thing – Beatriz Williams – 6/23/15

Wicked Ride (Enforcers, #1) – Rebecca Zanetti – 6/23/15

Ride Steady (Chaos, #3) – Kristen Ashley – 6/30/15

You Can’t Escape – Nancy Bush – 6/30/15

A New Hope (Thunder Point, #8) – Robyn Carr – 6/30/15

Insider (Exodus End, #1) – Olivia Cunning – 6/30/15

True Love Way – Mary Elizabeth – 6/30/15

When You’re Back (Rosemary Beach, #12) – Abbi Glines – 6/30/15

How to Marry a Royal Highlander (Renegade Royals, #4) – Vanessa Kelly – 6/30/15

Hard to Let Go (Hard Ink, #4) – Laura Kaye – 6/30/15

On My Knees (Stark International Trilogy, #2) – J. Kenner – 6/30/15

Kiss Me (Fool’s Gold, #17) – Susan Mallery – 6/30/15

Untamed – Diana Palmer – 6/30/15

A Promise of Forever (Tallgrass, #4) – Marilyn Pappano – 6/30/15

Searching for Always (Searching For, #4) – Jennifer Probst – 6/30/15

Can’t Fight This Feeling (Cabin Fever, #3) – Christie Ridgway – 6/30/15

Second Chance Summer (Cedar Ridge, #1) – Jill Shalvis – 6/30/15

Power Play (Risky Business, #1) – Tiffany Snow – 6/30/15

Falling For June – Ryan Winfield – 6/30/15

Out of Time (Nine Minutes, #2) – Beth Flynn – June, 2015

HellKat – Robyn Roze – June, 2015

Derailed (Wrecked, #1.5) – B.N. Toler – June, 2015