The Books I'm Thankful For (so far) in 2013

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!
In tradition (well mine at least) of today being Thanksgiving Day, here is a list of ALL the books I've read thus far this year (and have given my highest ratings to), which means I'm Thankful VERY for finding/reading them!! So, here you go (listed in the order of when I read them this year):

1. "Every Night Forever" [Hyena Heat Series, Book 1] by R. E. Butler: 5 out of 5 stars! In this novel, you'll find that Dante, Cairo, and Mason (originally from "The Wolf’s Mate Book 4: Michael & Shyne") aren't "bad guys," they are just misunderstood. I loved the compelling plot, the relationships that are between the brothers and the relationships that they grow between themselves and Alyssa! It's a very sweet novel; about three guys proving themselves to a woman who deserves their love. [Read more of Jess' Review and 3 Teasers for this book HERE]
2. "Hooked" [Hooked Series, Book 1] by Liz Fichera: 5 out of 5 stars!! This novel HOOKED me from the very beginning!! I loved the characters!! Plus, I thoroughly enjoyed the back-and-forth POV chapters, like it is in Ms. Barnholdt's "Two-way Street," Ms. Crane's "Stupid and Contagious," & Ms. Elkeles' "Perfect Chemistry" especially since this novel seems to be a unique mix of all three of these books too!
   
   Ryan & Fred are great together! Their banter and their growing respect for each other make it so that no matter what really happens between them they can never fully dislike the other. Only two things I wish would have happened for me to enjoy this novel even more... [Read more of Jess' Review and 2 Teasers for this book HERE]
3. "How Beauty Saved the Beast" [Tales of the Underlight Series, Book 2] by Jax Garren (aka Jennifer Hinson): 5 out of 5 stars!! Now that "Beauty" has met the "Beast," it is time to save him! This is one vivacious novel that I did not want to put down! Jolie & Hauk are so similar it was like they were made for each other! I could not get enough of these two and their cast of colorful friends!
   
   Plus, if you were like me and ended up skipping (aka not reading) "How Beauty Met the Beast," book 1 in this series, than never fear! [Read more of Jess' Review and 2 Teasers for this book HERE]
4. "Sexting While Working" by Morgan Marek: 5 out of 5 stars! Two co-workers find out that they are each others secret sexting partner while in a boardroom conference together. This hot, steamy, and racy novella it one that keeps you entertained! It also helps that it has a great plot line, along with exciting characters!
   
   I highly recommend this novella to anyone looking for a quick erotic read that has the potential for romance! [Read more of Jess' Review and a Teaser for this book HERE]
5. "Swept Away" [Trouble in Texas Series, Book 1] by Mary Connealy: 5 out of 5 stars!! This witty, funny, adventurous novel keeps you on your toes with it's no nonsense style group of men, who are as close as brothers, trying to bring law and order to a wayward town. I was very surprised with some of the twists that came up! Also--even though it never happened--am still waiting for one of Ruthy's "family" to show up from the dead just to cause even more trouble. =0)
   
   Luke's friends were wonderful characters! [Read more of Jess' Review and 3 Teasers for this book HERE]
6. "Wildcat" [The Cat Star Chronicles, Book 9] by Cheryl Brooks (aka Samantha R. Michaels): 5 out of 5 stars!! This is the best novel of Ms. Brooks' Cat Star Chronicles thus far!! I could not get enough of Sara and Jerden!! Reading about their personal tragedies and how they worked together to get over their fears was heartwarming and very erotic. =0)
   
   Yet, the novel's plot flowed wonderfully from beginning to end. Very well written. Plus, I enjoyed getting updates on Tarq, Lucy, Jack, Cat, Bonnie, Lynx, Dax, Ava, and all of their families!! [Read more of Jess' Review and 3 Teasers for this book HERE]
7. "The Boys of Summer" [Summer Series, Book 1] by C. J. Duggan: 5 out of 5 stars--a teenage girl grows up and comes into her own during the summer before her Year Twelve begins because of good friends, forbidden love, and a whole lot of fun late night activities!
   
   I fell in love with this novel, mostly because of how Tess blooms throughout it and because of her unique and growing relationship with Toby. They were so sweet together. Plus, I loved how she seemed to make him a better version of himself too.
   
   The Onslow Boys, especially Sean & Toby, along with Adam & Chris were a fun bunch to read about! [Read more of Jess' Review and 2 Teasers for this book HERE]
8. "Rush Me" by Allison Parr: 5 out of 5 stars!! Two supposed opposites meet unexpectedly and get into a relationship that neither of them are used to but both want desperately to keep! I could not get enough of Ryan & Rachael!! They were snarky, fun, and brought positive changes into each other’s lives while they fumbled through their feelings for each other.
   
   This intense novel keeps you on your toes with its romantic twists and laughing with its great cast of secondary characters! Rachael, at times, is so snarky and independent that I would think, "why is she doing that," but then I'd realize that I act the same way at times too which made me sympathize with her more then I expected too. [Read more of Jess' Review and 2 Teasers for this book HERE]
9. "A Night Like This" [The Smythe-Smith Quartet Series, Book 2] by Julia Quinn (aka JQ): 5 out of 5 stars! This is hilariously energetic novel keeps you on your toes while encouraging you to fall in love with its compelling cast of characters! I loved Daniel & Anne! Their story was one I did not completely expect yet it kept me riveted the whole way through. If only there was more! =0)
   
   And the secondary characters! Good god! They made this novel full of twists I never saw coming, and so very fun to read! [Read more of Jess' Review and 2 Teasers for this book HERE]
10. "How Beauty Loved the Beast" [Tales of the Underlight Series, Book 3] by Jax Garren (aka Jennifer Hinson): 5 out of 5 stars, two friends and "soul mates" fight the biggest battle of their lives in order to win each other's heart, as well as, to defeat their enemy. This was an epic ending to a delightfully fun series! I love how strong willed and determined Jolie throughout this novel! Also, I just could NOT get enough of Jolie & Hauk they are the perfect "Beauty & the Beast" couple!!
    
    It will be interesting to see how Ms. Garren will expand on this series once she switches to Book 4 making Brayden the hero and Ashley (oh, how I hope Ms. Garren makes her likeable somehow) the heroine. [Read more of Jess' Review and a Teaser for this book HERE]
11. "Witch Bound" [Twilight of the Gods Series, Book 2] by Eleri Stone: 5 out of 5 stars!! This is a romance about a girl who is still coming into her own while being thrown into situation after situation she never expected to be in, especially when one of those situations happens to be falling for her groom's best man!
    
    I could not get enough of this story, mostly because of how Rocky and Fen's relationship comes together! Fen & Rocky have this instant attraction that neither (at first) wants to mess with--because of what it would do to Rocky's family, the groom/Fen's best friend, and Fen & Christian's clan--but as everything grows between them, once they start up a friendship, by the end of the book it's hard for them to stay apart no matter what their original plans were. =0) [Read more of Jess' Review and 2 Teasers for this book HERE]
12. "Playing Games" [Games Series, Book 2] by Jessica Clare (aka Jill Myles): 5 out of 5 stars!!!! This is one feisty, fun, adventurous, steamy, erotic, sweet novel that I didn't want to have end or put down! Liam and Katy are quite a pair! Both seem to be complete opposites but soon learn there is more to each of them then what they appear. In addition, they also find out that they are better suited as partners then who they were originally partnered too.
    
    Liam just has this way about him, that pierces Katy's heart in all of the right places!! [Read more of Jess' Review and 2 Teasers for this book HERE]
13. "Heavy Metal" [Goddesses Rising Series, Book 2] by Natalie J. Dramschroder: 5 out of 5 stars, this novel takes up where "Under the Moon" left off and throws you into a world of intrigue, suspicion, romance, passion, and a whole lot of suspense! I loved Riley as a character. She is smart, brave, courageous, and wise beyond her years. Then add Sam with her and I could not get enough of this novel or it's duo!
    
    In addition, if you are like me and haven't read the first novel in this series, DON'T WORRY because you don't need to have read it for you understand the plot or to like the characters!! [Read more of Jess' Review and 2 Teasers for this book HERE]
14. "Indelible" by Bethany Lopez: 5 out of 5 stars!! Love finds you in unexpected places and people. Judd and Sam have had to deal with hard circumstances in their lives that have made them grow up more then the typical college student would have had to put up with. Together these two made a great team, one hot couple, and a fun duo to read about! I loved this novel and I didn't want it to end, even though I was very happy with how it wrapped up!
    
    I recommend this novel to anyone who likes contemporary new adult romances! [Read more of Jess' Review and 2 Teasers for this book HERE]
15. "Battlescars" [Battlescars Series, Book 1] by Sophie Monroe: 5 out of 5 stars!! Charming, thrilling, and sarcastic the whole way through, this is one rock & roll fairy tale that is hard not to love! Aubrey and Jake are a perfect pair, from their humorous antics to Jake's self-deprecating ways to how they come to fight for each other as best they can. I loved their whirlwind romance; especially how Jake goes about trying to win Aubrey over it was all very gentlemanly.
    
    In addition, Jake's band mates were an entertaining bunch all on their own. [Read more of Jess' Review and 2 Teasers for this book HERE]
16. "Drive Me Crazy" [Holland Springs Series, Book 1] by Marquita Valentine: 5 out of 5 stars!! Follow this sweet and spicy romance between a girl who has been in love with her best friend's older brother for just about all of her life and see if it's truly unrequited love or not. It's hard not to get wrapped up in this love story; the main characters are just that captivating. Plus, the sex scenes were a fun and entertaining inclusions too.
    
    Carter & Melanie were one couple that I loved reading about and couldn't get enough of, so I hope they'll be secondary characters in the other books within this series. [Read more of Jess' Review and 2 Teasers for this book HERE]
17. "Desire By Blood" [By Blood Series, Book 1] by Melissa Schroeder (aka Kiera West): 5 out of 5 stars!! Thrust into a marriage neither ever expected, this couple finds ways to overcome their fears and follow their hearts when everything is put on the line...
    
    I loved this dynamic duo! Cordelia with her sass and Nico with his passion made me fly through this novel trying to read more, more, more about them!! This novel got me into vampire romances again! I especially loved that it was based in a historical setting because it gave you a whole new idea of that time period. [Read more of Jess' Review and 2 Teasers for this book HERE]
18. "Beloved" [Where the Heart Lives Series, Book 3] by Robin Lee Hatcher: 5 out of 5 stars! This fast paced, heart wrenching, historical romance is one that I had a hard time putting down I liked it so much! All of the characters have so much dimension and emotional growth to them throughout this novel that it was hard not to like each of them in some way, well except for Brook of course. With the way this novel is laid out, I believe Diana and Tyson needed their time apart to grow and become the wonderful people they turned out to be, since when they both first got together they weren't a good match up because of how they both were hoping for different things. [Read more of Jess' Review and a Teaser for this book HERE]
19. "Darkness Awakened" [Darkness Series, Book 1] by Katie Reus (aka Savannah Stuart): 5 out of 5 stars! This fast-paced, action-packed, paranormal romance is one that will hold your attention and wish you could keep on reading even past the ending!!
    
    Finn and Lyra are an unstoppable duo! They also, complete each other in a way that even though they've been separated for about seventeen years their relationship quickly picks up where they left off. It was fun to read about how Finn's pack would accept Lyra and how Lyra was able to hold her own against, almost, everything that came her way. [Read more of Jess' Review and a Teaser for this book HERE]

Goodness! I didn't realize that I LOVED so many novels/novellas (thus far) THIS YEAR!! It's far more then I typically love per year! I hope after reading my reviews and teasers you'll be interested in a few of them too.

It's an eclectic mix of paranormal, contemporary, erotic, Christian, and historical romances! =0)

Anyway ....

Best wishes to you and yours on this day! I hope every one of you will have a WONDERFUL, YUMMY, & HAPPY Thanksgiving! Please stop back on my blog this Saturday because starting that day (November 30th) until December 6th I'm putting together a couple of giveaway contests and hosting a few guest posts all surrounding Small Business Saturday/Week!! Also -- stop by for tomorrow's Black Friday Extravaganza Giveaway and Facebook Party!!! Thanks!!

Take care, Jess