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The Best of 2014, A New Website, and a Huge Giveaway!

January 7, 2015

Happy New Year everyone!

I know…I know… you’ve heard all the best and the worst, gorged on shows about songs, celebrities, movies, books, etc regarding 2014, but I’ve been on hiatus having a blast with my family and I’m behind.
So I’m making my list like I do every year!
The rules? I never list the worst, only the best. Nothing is in order. This is all my personal preferences and I’m no paid critic. There are no links to buy but everything is available in Amazon, Itunes, B&N or Kobo. Why did these make my amazing list?
I liked them. I really, really liked them. The stories or songs or movies stuck with me for a long time, and many of them pushed me to grow. Be better. Dare. Live a bigger life. Cry. Mourn. Grieve. Begin again.
To me, that’s a slice of brilliance, and I thank each and every artist for giving me such a great moment.
That being said, I read a TON of stuff this year, and I loved so many books, but there’s no way to list all of them. I just picked a small number of my personal best so please know this is not my full list.
Ready?
Drumroll!!

SONGS:
Umm, yeah, no surprise here if you ever follow me anywhere online. Fave song is Lost Stars by Adam Levine. Sheer brilliance.

Best CDs?
V by Maroon Five. 1989 by Taylor Swift. Baptized by Daughtry (came out Nov 2013 but I’m sneaking it in).

Best Movies?
Begin Again with Kiera Knightley and Adam Levine and Mark Ruffalo. So. Good.

The Theory of Everything – I cried and cried and cried some more.

Wild – probably because I read the book and was wild about it. Okay – sorry for the bad joke.

Best Books?
These are not strictly 2014 releases. I read many popular books long after the buzz has faded so I’m sometimes behind the crowd.

1. Wild – Cheryl Strayed.
This book changed me. Made me think about life and all its raw, honest forms. I learned about hiking, and pilgrim journeys and was amazed at how much the author shared of her personal life, digging deep, in order to give us a brilliant story.

2. Unsaid – Neal Abramson
A book for animal lovers, and anyone who ever wonders about what they’ve left behind, and what is waiting for them afterward. I was so moved and shaken by this book I wrote the author a fan letter and I rarely do that. Beautifully written. In my mind – a masterpiece.

3. Black Lies – Alessandra Torre
Oh, my Ms. Torre, where have you been all my life? Full of twists and turns and the dark, sexual content I adore so much. It’s tricky to make this work and she’s the master. I devoured every single one of her backlist books and am begging for more.

4. Heroes Are My Weakness – Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Well, if anyone knows me at all, you know she is the BOMB for me. Brilliant contemporary romance author – this story works on so many intelligent levels bringing in the gothic setting, brooding hero, a bit of suspense, and her trademark humor. Loved it. The audio was great, too.

5. Mr. Mercedes – Stephen King
Every time I think there’s no way this man can write another amazing book he proves me wrong. Gobbled it up, love the hero, the villain, the plot, and finished it in a few days. Afterward I had a King hangover and it was so worth it.

6. The Husband’s Secret – Liane Moriarty
Her books are hitting the charts and I couldn’t resist this one. I’m glad I didn’t. Love the way each story intertwined, twisted, and kept me guessing to the very end. Simply put, a great read.

7. Indebted 1 & 3 – Pepper Winters
Dude, what a dark, erotic world I was dragged into! Can’t say much about it to spoil it, but if you love a good dark romance that makes you fidget, pick this series up.

8. Bound – Melody Anne
Love this author and her new series is deliciously yummy with an alpha hero I loved to hate but seduced me anyway!

9. Club Sin series – Stacy Kennedy
Everyone knows I love a good BDSM story and these are so damn good, the author can’t write them fast enough for me!

10. Animal Magnetism series – Jill Shalvis
I know. She’s a contemporary master. I read Lucky Harbor religiously but somehow never got around to this amazing series with sweet animals and heroes that make me sigh. Love them.

11. Seducing Lauren – Under the Big Sky series – Kristen Proby
I love me some Proby. There was something about the hunky hero Tyler in this book that just got me. The whole series is fab but this particular book stayed with me a long time.

12. Bad Romeo – Leisa Rayven
I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this book. I’ve always been obsessed with Romeo and Juliet, and this angsty romance really did it for me.

13. The Plan by Qwen Salsbury
The boss/assistant trope done so well I couldn’t put it down. And the writing is spectacular and clever. Check this one out.
That’s it my peeps! As I said there’s SO many more to list that I adored but I’d need to make a blog a day for them. Would love to hear your faves for the past year!

Now, onto my big announcement. My shiny new, updated website is complete!


I wanted to keep the design simple but was ready for a new look, a bit more streamlined and sophisticated. I am also hoping to give my readers all the goodies they look for, from joining my street team, audio samples, newsletter sign ups, and tons of extras amidst the book pages. Please let me know what you think, or if have any further suggestions for something you’re not seeing.

To celebrate, I’m having a huge contest. Please enter the Rafflecopter listed here for the opportunity to win some SIGNED books!

Please share my newsletter with your friends. I pick two winners each month from my newsletter lists to receive a gift card or a special surprise.

I wish everyone a blessed and happy new year!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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  1. Theresa says:

    Love the new site it looks swesome

  2. Laura says:

    Site looks great!!!

  3. Diane says:

    Love the new site. It’s even mobile friendly.

  4. Danielle says:

    The new site is great! Looking forward to an amazing 2015! Best to you and yours!

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