Month: December 2013

Kay’s Annual Black Dagger Brotherhood Challenge

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

For the last three years I have done the Black Dagger Brotherhood Challenge. This consists of trying to have a book that I’ve read this calendar year for every available entry. I completed the challenge the first two years but fell short last year. I hate to say it but I won’t meet it this year either. I got all but two and needed books for the letter Y. My challenge is as follows:

I- Inferno by Sherrilyn Kenyon

L- Let Me Be The One by Bella Andre
O- Once Tempted by Laura Moore
V- Vincente by Melissa Schroeder
E- Easy by Tammara Webber

T- Taking The Stage by Emma Rose
H- Hot Secrets by Lisa Renee Jones
E- Edge Of Dawn by Lara Adrian

B- Big Girls On Top by Mercy Walker
L- Lush by Lauren Dane
A- All Over You by Emily Snow
C- Come Away With Me by Kristen Proby
K- Knight by Kristen Ashley

D- Defying The Odds by Kele Moon
A- An Alpha’s Path by Carrie Ann Ryan
G- Going For It by Liz Matis
G- Gabriel’s Inferno by Sylvain Reynard
E- Empty Net by Toni Aleo
R- Raphael/Parrish by Laura Wright and Alexandra Ivy

B- Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren
R- Reaper’s Property by Joanna Wylde
O- One Good Earl Deserves A Lover by Sarah Maclean
T- Taking Shots by Toni Aleo
H- Highlander Most Wanted by Maya Banks
E- Eyes Wide Open by Raine Miller
R- Reckless Night by Lisa Marie Rice
H- Headed For Trouble by Suzanne Brockmann
O- On Dublin Street by Samantha Young
O- Offsides by Juliana Stone
D- Down To You by M. Leighton

E- Exotica by Eden Bradley
S- Shades Of Gray by Maya Banks
P- Paradise Hops by Liz Crowe
E-
C- Covert Seduction by Callie Croix
I- Into The Fire by Amanda Usen
A- A Taste For You- Sorcha Grace
L- Lover At Last by J. R. Ward
L- Lover Undercover by Samanthe Beck
Y-

M- Midnight Secrets by Ella Grace
Y-

M- Mine To Take by Cynthia Eden
A- Against The Wall by Rebecca Zanetti
N- Naked by Megan Hart

W- Wolf With Benefits by Shelly Laurenston
R- Rush by Maya Banks
A- Against The Ropes by Sarah Castille
T-Trying To Score by Toni Aleo
H- Highlander Taken by Juliette Miller

Oops, I forgot about not getting one for an E entry either. This is always a fun challenge for me and I now challenge Anne and Kate to do it next year. Come on Kate, you know you want to. There, gauntlet thrown down.

Kay’s Top Ten List of the Year and More

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Here’s my top ten list for 2013.

1.) Highlander Most Wanted by Maya Banks. Very pissed that I have to wait for the final book in this wonderful trilogy for a whole other year! Are you listening Maya?

2.) All Over You by Emily Snow. The second full length novel in this series has been pushed back time and time again. Pissed about that too!

3.) Knight by Kristen Ashley. Very alpha male book and I loved it. It was also filthy and I loved that too!

4.) Inferno by Sherrilyn Kenyon. I absolutely can not say enough about this YA series. I love every book and eagerly await the next one.

5.) Wolf With Benefits by Shelly Laurenston. Laurenston writing about non-winged shifters. Enough said. Plus I get to quote exchange with Anne.

6.) Styxx by Sherrilyn Kenyon. Gut wrenching and spectacular. Kenyon at her brilliant best.

7.) Trying To Score by Toni Aleo. Hockey and hotness.

8.) Empty Net by Toni Aleo. Repeat the above.

9.) The Christmas He Loved Her by Juliana Stone. A sweet book about second chance love.

10.) SEAL of Honor by Tonya Burrows. Military romantic suspense. One of my favorite genres.

I read a great number of great books this year. I got to go to the RT book convention with Anne. We had a great time there and I discovered that I’m officially too old to read out of mass market paperback books.

I discovered and met Toni Aleo. She is my favorite find and author of 2013. Her hockey series is fantastic! Here’s to 2014 and the hope for more wonderful books to read!

Kate’s Year in Review and Best Books List

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne


Way back at the beginning of January, I set some reading goals.

1. I wanted to read 200 books before the end of the year,
2. I wanted to finish reading the Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn (I had already read the first one and loved it), and
3. Anne challenged me to read the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by JR Ward (I reluctantly agreed because I don’t read vampires).

So how did I do, you ask?

1. I am at 193 books so far, and I’m pretty confident that I can read 7 more before the end of the year,
2. The last of the Bridgerton books is waiting for me to pick up a the library (and I can’t wait), and
3. I not only loved, loved, loved the Black Dagger Brotherhood, I’m anxiously awaiting the release of the next book The King on (*gasp*) 4/1/14.

In reviewing the books I’ve read this year, I noticed something. I read my way through a lot of new-to-me series. Some were newly published, others have been on bookshelves for years. Here are the ones that I loved and recommend:

Black Dagger Brotherhood series by JR Ward-obviously. I’m still not a huge fan of vampires, but I am a huge fan of the brotherhood. If you’re one of those few that haven’t tried the series yet and you like your romance with a bit of a bite (yes, that was a bad pun), you need to try this series. First book-Dark Lover.

The Bridgertons series by Julia Quinn-although I’m probably the only person who hadn’t read this series before this year, I’d recommend these books to fans of historical romance. The humor that runs throughout the books blends perfectly with the romance. I know I’m in love with them. First book-The Duke and I.

Dragon Kin series by G.A. Aiken-independent heroines, strong heroes, arrogant dragons, and humor that will make you snort out loud. What’s not to love? If you don’t mind shifters that end up with scales and flame-breathing abilities, this series is for you. First book-Dragon Actually.

The Chrysalis series by Elene Sallinger-BDSM relationships that don’t happen overnight. The buildup to these relationships is so perfect and the characters will have you following each high and low right along with them. Perfect for BDSM readers who prefer more emotion to their stories. First book-Awakening.

Tucker Springs series by L.A. Witt, Heidi Cullinan, and Marie Sexton-m/m series that mixes emotion and passion to sexy, steamy perfection. I can’t pick a favorite among this series. I highly recommend to any readers of m/m romances. First book-Where Nerves End (by L.A. Witt).

The Professor’s Rule by Heidi Belleau-m/m BDSM reads. The first one blew me away. It was something completely new. The second one was exactly the story I wanted and the third one left me wanting more and more. Luckily there are more coming to this series. These are around 50 pages each. If you read one series of short m/m BDSM books, this should be it. First book-Giving an Inch.

So now that I’m caught up on all of these series, what series should I attempt to complete for next year’s goal?