Best of 2013

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

The Rosie Project

Grade: A
Hotness Level: Ember
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Contemporary, Nerdmance
Published: 10/1/13
Reviewed by Anne
292 pages
 
So, I saw this book had some good buzz last fall as a funny romance told from a Sheldon-like character’s POV.  I put it on my To Read List and finally got around to it over Christmas Break.  I devoured this book!  It gave me a serious case of Book Cranky as I had to fit it in around my kids and family obligations!
 
It’s told from the first person point of view of Don.  Don is someone I’d guess is on the autism spectrum.  He is certainly very literal minded and has a hard time understanding people.  He is very self aware, though, and his narration is unintentionally funny.  Actually, it’s unintentionally hysterical!  He knows he would like to have a wife, because he has observed in others a happiness level he associates with a long term partner.  After deciding that being set up with people and online dating are very unefficient ways to meet a potential mate, he begins The Wife Project.
 
He runs The Wife Project with the help of his married friends, Gene and Claudia.  Their relationship is a secondary story line.  In the course of The Wife Project, Don meets Rosie, who he immediately recognizes as unsuitable for wife material.  However, he’s intrigued at her current quest to find her biological father.  He finds this situation interesting enough to start The Rosie Project, his effort at helping Rosie in her quest.  
 
This story was touching and sad at points, but it’s so funny throughout that it didn’t bring me down.  Along with Don and Rosie’s quest, we hear about Don’s relationship with his elderly neighbor, Daphne, who helped inspire Don to undertake The Wife Project.  This story reminded, in emotional tone, to the beginning of the movie, Up.  Don and Daphne’s story is very simply told, but so much lays between the lines.  It’s an excellent way to get insight into Don’s character and it left me rooting for him!
 
I don’t really know if it’s an accurate portrayal of someone with Asperbergers or autism.  If it is not, a reader with familiarity to this issue might not enjoy the story.  That issue aside, I really enjoyed the book and I highly recommend it!
 
Note: I’m listing this one under Best of 2013 and Best of 2014, because I read it late in December, after I made my Best of 2013 list.

Shattered Ink by Laura Wright

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Shattered Ink (Wicked Ink Chronicles, #2)
Grade-B+
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Wicked Ink #2
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kay
64 pages

This is a continuation of Addison and Rush’s love story. Rush is still in Las Vegas working at his tattoo shop and Addison is back in Cali trying to get through finals, so she can graduate. Addison is worried about what happens next for them. She’s not content to see each other for a day here and there or even on the weekends. She wants to be with him as much as possible. To see him, touch him, make love with him and wake up next to him.

Rush wants Addison to move to Las Vegas and in with him. He plans to ask her when she comes for the weekend. He hopes she feels the same way he does but he’s cautiously optimistic. He forgot that his ex is coming to town this same weekend and will be working in his shop. He tries to keep the two away from each other because he confided in his ex about what happened between he and Addison in the past.

I love this series. I just wish the books were longer. It’s a series a very short novellas. I adore the characters and I admit I’m a little in love with Rush. He’s a very sexy character. He’s got a filthy mind and a filthy mouth. Both are things I absolutely adore. This kind of wraps up their story and the next book is about Vince and Lisa! I look forward to it and all the wonderfully filthy sex scenes and dialogue that I’m sure will come with it!

                      


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!