Best of 2014

Wild Hearts by Tina Wainscott

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne


Wild Hearts (Justiss Alliance, #0.5)
Grade-A
Hotness Level-None
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Justiss Alliance #0.5
Reviewed by Kay
72 pages

This is a prequel novella to spawn a series about five ex-Navy SEALs. After a mission that was a clusterfuck, these men were discharged but thankfully not court martialled. Even though they were not responsible for this screwed up mission, they were the ones that were blamed to appease the masses. To avoid jail time they had to sign contracts forbidding them to talk about what really happened on that ill fated mission.

As they are leaving the courthouse, a man approaches them with a job offer. He is the founder of the Justiss Alliance and they handle what sounds like protection and black ops work. He leaves his cards with each of the men and asks them to consider his offer.

At this point, you get a glimpse at each of the men in this SEAL group. Some of their home lives and if they will join the Justiss Alliance. These men are named: Risk, Rath, Saxby, Knox and Julian.

I can’t wait to read this series. I have the first one loaded and ready on my Kindle. I hope they are as good as Maya Banks’ KGI series or Cindy Gerard’s Black Ops Inc. series. I love romantic suspense and I adore military romantic suspense. This prequel had no sex in it and I do hope the series does. If it doesn’t, well that’s just stupid.

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.

Lick by Kylie Scott

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Lick (Stage Dive, #1)    
Grade-B+
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Stage Dive #1
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kay
286 pages

This was probably closer to a 4.5 star rating for me. I really enjoyed this book and its characters. I’m kind of a sucker for a rock star romance and this one fit the bill. Not in an over the top way but what felt natural.

Evelyn wakes up in Las Vegas hungover and married to a tattooed, sexy man. She has no real memories of the night before. She fights vomitting and panic at the mere sight of him. She vows no more alcohol and says their marriage was a mistake. David, her husband slams the door as he leaves. The press shows up at the airport and the secret wedding is now known by all. She’s married to the guittarist of Stage Dive.

David sees the media’s attention focused on Evelyn and he sends for her stating that she needs to sign the divorce papers any way. She walks into a party already in session, sees her husband cozied up to a busty blonde, and is ushered away as if she’s a shameful secret. She then sees her husband go off into the poolhouse with the blonde. She meets with his lawyers the next day and oh boy.

This really was a well done book. More emotional than I thought it would be. Funny at times and frustrating at others. My reason for this not being a five star read is that David took too long getting to her after he hurt her so badly. It was said it was all innocent but he allowed himself to be in bad positions with other women and it made me want to punch him in the throat. I wish I could say more about the book but it’s a great journey for these two and you should read it yourselves. I wish the sex would’ve been more descriptive but it was still steamy. I’m definately reading more in this series.