2014: Book Year in Review

While I usually only post reviews, at the end of the year is a good time to highlight my favorites reads of the year!  I read 294 books this year, so it only makes sense that I had more highlights this year than in years previous.

In no particular order, my 5 star rated best reads of 2014 were:

Anomaly
His Road Home
Sins of Eden
Night Sky
Playing with Fire
Just Desserts
Stormfront
Torn by Fury
Stone Song
Unquenchable
Silver Skin
The Adventures of Jillian Spectre
Undeniable
Gathering Water
The Relentless Warrior
Avoiding Alpha
Keeping Secret
Becoming Alpha

Big thanks are due to authors or NetGalley participants that offered ARCs for review.  I've been able to find new and interesting stories and authors along the way.  Here's hoping for another good year of great books to read!

Review: Counterfeit Magic

Counterfeit Magic by Kelley Armstrong

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



What a roller coaster ride! This novella had all the twists and turns of a typical Paige/Lucas book and had me rushing to figure out the mystery.

This story dives deep into Lucas and Paige's relationship. We haven't checked in with them in a while, and a lot has changed. Savannah is more involved in the business and trying to find her way in the world. Lucas is taking more responsibility in the Cabal. Paige is... well, she's struggling. She tries to be Lucas's equal in the Cabal and that's not working. She tries to be his equal in the business, but Lucas definitely has brand name power. Ultimately, she is feeling less like a partner and more like a... wife. Since that was the last thing she really wanted, this has left her floundering for her own specialty.

When Ava shows up asking for Lucas, Paige tries to field this new client with her typical poise and grace (especially since Lucas isn't due in soon), but it turns out Ava only wants Lucas. Sure, Paige trusts him, but their relationship is really put to the test as Paige and Savannah separate from Lucas to cover more ground. They are introduced to the supernatural fight club scene and end up getting more than they bargained for.

Ultimately, Paige and Lucas fail this relationship test and it is rightfully addressed in books to come. I love this couple and while it was sad to see them struggle, they really faced it head-on.



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Review: Reckless Magic

Reckless Magic by Rachel Higginson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I really loved this book! I am usually not one to like young adult stories but this one was infinitely more interesting than I expected!

Eden has been jumping between schools for a while because of her uncontrollable destructive powers. Kingsley is definitely more geared towards her powers and she soon makes some interesting new friends and enemies. Kiran draws her in some inexplicable way, but keeps throwing her into deeper trouble.

There's magic, romance, and mystery in this YA read. Hopefully the series continues along with the same wonderful pacing and rich story.



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Review: Marked

Marked by Rebecca Zanetti

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I'm a little late to the game with this series, having not read any previous books. That being said, I think this book can be read alone, but would probably be more satisfying if you read all the previous installments. This is the last of the series, but leads into a spin-off that I'll certainly be checking out.

Janie is a chosen one, forced into a destiny bigger than herself. She's the only human in an all vampire world, so she's been bluffing her way through life for a while now. As if attending peace talks between all the paranormal races wasn't nerve-wracking enough, she gets a startling revelation too. Zane, the boy who has been sharing her dream world all her life, turns out to be a demon-vampire hybrid. Oh, and the demons are also the vampire's sworn enemies, having kidnapped Janie's uncle and tortured him.

This story reads like the paranormal version of an internet dating story. While Janie and Zane know each other through dreams, they don't know anything about the real-life people. As they are thrown from dangerous situation to even more dangerous situation, they are trying to work on a possible relationship (that is completely forbidden). There's some truly sizzling scenes (with some dominance play involved) that show these two are even more compatible than they thought.

So much happens to get to the end of this book that a summary isn't really possible. There's some deadly weapons used, surprise happy/sad news, surprise betrayals, surprise alliances, and some truly shocking sacrifices. This being the last of the series, we got glimpses of where all the previous couples are and how happy they are. This was a great read, which is probably indicative of how the rest of the series was, too.



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Review: Azagoth

Azagoth by Larissa Ione

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This was a wonderful short read that reminded me of why I love Larissa Ione. There was passion, paranormal, and lots of familiar faces. As someone who has read both the Demonica and Lords of Deliverance series, this book was a treat to read.

Lilliana is an angel who was mentioned briefly as the one who helped Reaver get all his Christmas gifts for his kids. Clearly she is a good person with a little rebellious streak. Azagoth is the grim reaper who is tired of playing stud to the angels. As the father of the new race of angels, he's done with these love-less unions and demands a mate. Raphael, being a jerk, forces Lilliana to choose between having her powers stripped or mating with Azagoth, with the added bonus of being freed if she steals from him. An impossible position, but Lilli is determined to follow her instincts.

Of course, they begin to fall for one another. Azagoth displays his vulnerable side and Lilli shows him her naughty side. The results are amazing and the chemistry if off-the-charts hot. This couple is perfect for each other, and their relationship has even benefited a bunch of familiar characters. While not mandatory reading, this story fills a gap between books nicely.



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Review: Hellsbane Hereafter

Hellsbane Hereafter by Paige Cuccaro

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a completely satisfying ending to a really great trilogy. While I joined a little late in the game, I still fell in love with Eli, Emma Jane, and all her friends and foes.

Emma Jane is trying to find a "normal" life, as much as one can when they're working with their fallen archangel father. Eli has fallen now, but he seems happier than ever before. Unfortunately, Emma Jane is battling her overwhelming guilt over Eli's fall and ends up making some bad deals because of it. While trying to juggle her double agent status, she also manages to push away the few people who could be her allies.

The book was filled with the witty sarcastic humor that I've come to expect and enjoy throughout. Even when Emma Jane is making horrible decisions for Eli, I still forgave her and could even understand her motivations (as wrong as they were). While I'm sad that this series has ended, the ending was exactly what we needed. It's not a perfect, fairy tale ending, but it's a very satisfying one.



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Review: Twisted Dreams

Twisted Dreams by Marissa Farrar

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really quick, fun, interesting read that left me eager for more. There's vampires, witches, carnies, and love at first sight. If you're looking for a good coming of age story (of a half-vampire), check this book out.

Beth is ready begin her college journey, but the world seems to conspire against her. On the drive out to her dorm (alone), she almost gets killed by a downed power line. Luckily, she's a half-vampire, more than capable of outrunning and powering through anything that gets in her way. Unfortunately, this attract the attention of the guys setting up a local carnival. The rest of her journey to college is also filled with mysterious hotties, helpful strangers, and annoying roommates -- all the types of things you would expect for a first year student. There's (of course) lots of additional paranormal elements. Why is her roommate disappearing at night? Why is the hottest student paying so much attention to her? Why doesn't she get the typical flashes of premonition when she touches the students here?

This being the first book of a new series, we are still left with a bunch of questions, but I really liked the overall story. There's a sort-of love triangle, but it wasn't as painful as I usually find them to be. Beth has an innocent quality to her that allowed me to let some rushed romantic encounters and silly arguments slide. I'm hoping she learns and grows from what turns into a life-or-death first week at school. When I finished the book, I realized there was a whole other series based on Beth's parents that I'll definitely be checking out. I'm sure that adds another dimension to this follow-up series. As a stand-alone, or part of a larger series, this was still a really solid read.



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