Kristen Ashley

Review: Midnight Soul by Kristen Ashley

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01 amid “You don’t have a midnight soul, Frannie. Your soul is so bright, I look too close, I’d be blinded.”

Magical, romantic, beautiful and sweet. This series is all these things and more. I actually read this book slower than I normally would. I wanted to savor this world that I’ve come to love so much and I therefore I wasn’t ready for it to end. Heck, I know it’s over and I still have a hard time admitting that!

We’ve only ever seen one side of Franka, and it’s not the side that makes you love her. In fact, you want to stay far away from her. But after seeing what she’s endured her entire life, you can’t help to forgive her for her past embrace her in love.

Noc was a great hero to this story. He was thrust into a world not of his own, but he welcomed it and embraced it and helped save it. And to thank him for it, he was given Franka Drakkar, his Frannie. He knew she wasn’t the nicest person, but after an evening of whiskey and wine, he learns that there’s more to her and he wants all of it.

The slow burn between these two was perfect. I was so glad there was no rushing and Noc had the patience of a saint and knew she needed to get her head on straight before he could officially make his move. I loved each and every time Frannie discovered that she’s no longer the same person she was back when they first met. It tickled me to see her vulnerable like that. There was a secret part of Noc that he holds close to his heart, but somehow Frannie find a way to it and shows him that there’s more to him than this.

“I have a golden soul,” I said again. and he opened his mouth to speak buy I carried on. “I know this because the gods in my world and the God in yours would never tether a soul that was anything less than golden to the perfection that is you.”

And shall we talk about that epilogue? Simply perfect. In fact, I didn’t realize this was the final book until I started to read that. I was so very relieved to see the other couples and their families and even the newer couples find happiness as well. So bittersweet. So emotional. So very good.

~Melpomene

Buy Midnight Soul HERE.

Be sure and read the entire series so you can fully enjoy this one.

Wildest Dreams
The Golden Dynasty
Fantastical
Broken Dove

Review: Bounty by Kristen Ashley

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01 bounty There’s just something about a Kristen Ashley book that brings a smile to my face. Not sure if it’s the stories themselves or the many parts of them, but whatever it is, I fall a little bit in love with each of them. Between the scenery, romance, the emotional tone, and even the characters themselves, I am swiftly caught up in all the action and swept away on a happy cloud and left feeling emotionally full and content.

Justice is recovering from a loss and has chosen to do that in a fixer upper, in the Colorado Mountains. She plans on making this her happy place away from the rest of the world. She just wants to be her and not the Justice Lonesome, that the rest of the world knows. She’s done with that life and wants to find her “more.” She’s hoping the simpleness of Colorado will hold that in store for her.

Deke is a simple man. What can I say about him? I love him. We’ve read about him before. He’s proven he’s a good friend and strong man to have on your side. He doesn’t take crap from anybody. He’s always wanted more, but knew that he’d never get it. When he accepts a job to fix up Jus’ house, he had no idea that this woman was going to be the key to his “more.”

I think I felt a connection to this story due to the musical undertones. Something about the lyrics drew me in. I sit back and listen to the songs, that are named, and cry sometimes. I feel it deep down in my gut. I can’t put in words what this does to me. But what I can say that it adds an extra something something to it. Can’t place my finger on it, but it’s there.

In true Kristen Ashley form, Bounty was is beautiful love story filled with a pleasant slow burn that transformed into a hot and saucy romance. And of course it has a bit of confrontation and a hefty dose of family and friends. It makes me wish I lived in the mountains.

“I’m a lucky girl. Blessed. Given so much bounty, it’s almost embarrassing how much God likes me. But he really must like me because I have all I have and He also gave me you.”

~Melpomene

Release Date: 4-18-16
Preorder Bounty (Colorado Mountain Series Book 7)

You NEED to read the first six books in this series. Trust me. Your heart will thank you for it.
The Gamble (Colorado Mountain Series Book 1)
Sweet Dreams (Colorado Mountain Series Book 2)
Lady Luck (Colorado Mountain Series Book 3)
Breathe (Colorado Mountain Series Book 4)
Jagged (Colorado Mountain Series Book 5)
Kaleidoscope (Colorado Mountain Series Book 6)

Review: Fairytale Come Alive by Kristen Ashley

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01 fairy I believe in fairytales and happily ever afters. When the characters have to fight tooth and nail for those HEAs, I love them even more.

I’m not normally a fan of “ghost” books, but this book was so much more!!

This is book 4 in the Ghosts and Reincarnation series. I haven’t read book 3 yet, but I will say that this one is the first one that had more “ghostly” feel to it, compared to the first two books. The others were more light on the haunted undertones. Don’t let that turn you away. I wish I knew about this book sooner. Heck, I wish more people knew about it. If you like second chance romances, this is one you’ll wanna add to you TBR.

SYNOPSIS
In Isabella Austin Evangelista’s life miracles never happen… she knows she’s destined to be the princess who’s stuck in the middle of a fairytale where there will be no happily ever after.

Once upon a time, Prentice Cameron loved Isabella Austin until he discovered she was a spoiled, rich girl who spent her summers toying with his heart.

Life led Prentice to his own fairytale, the love of the full-of-life Fiona Sawyer. That being so, that fairytale was torn away when Fiona died of a brain tumor leaving Prentice with a house to keep clean, piles of laundry to be done, a business to run and two children who were getting tired of takeaway.

But Isabella comes back to Prentice’s tiny fishing town and she sweeps into his children’s lives like a beautiful, well-dressed fairy godmother who bakes exquisite chocolate cakes and gives the perfect manicure to six year old girls. Then Prentice finds out Isabella’s soul destroying secrets, secrets that explain why she left him so many years ago.

Fiona, stuck in her village and forced to haunt her family and watch Prentice and Isabella’s crazy dance, finds the impossible happening. She’s cheering for Bella and Prentice to rekindle their love. Then she finds out why she’s caught in her heartbreaking haunting and discovers she must embrace her magic and keep Bella safe or Bella’s fairytale will never come true.

20 years is a long time, and yet sometimes it’s not long enough. When we see Isabella and Prentice reconnect, I knew it wasn’t going to be smooth sailing, and this time, I was right. Hearts were broken again and again. Isabella knew how much pain she caused, the last time she was in town, but she really had no idea being back would cause even more. But with pain also comes healing. And being with Prentice may just be the one person who can heal her.

Besides Prentice and Isabella, there were so many side characters that made this story even more beautiful. Some brought a spot of laughter when it was needed while others added a new dimension to the healing process. On a side note, when we see Bella interact with Pren’s kids, I melted. Completely melted. It was insta-love. She was the best person to help them while they helped their dad heal her.

I like to cry and feel when I read, as you know. But as I said above, this isn’t usually my type of story. I thought “ghost” books wouldn’t bring the feels out, but I was so very wrong about this one. I swear to you, I spent the first 25% in perpetual tears and heartache. I was quite unprepared for this. No joke.

And that epilogue?? Hand me a tissue and I’ll tell you all about it. How does Kristen Ashley always write books that leave me in a pile of mush? I swear, she is a master word wizard of emotions.

~Melpomene

Buy Fairytale Come Alive.

Review: Sebring by Kristen Ashley

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01 a Boy, does Kristen Ashley know how to end a series. Goodness.

Fantastic. Emotional. Sweet. Sexy. Basically, it’s what you expect from a KA book. And you will never be disappointed. EVER.

Nick Sebring has a score to settle and he takes it upon himself to get close to Olivia in order to do that. But in doing so, he sees something in her that makes this more than a job. She is not living. She is surviving. Nick He decides to take it upon himself to give her a life of her choosing. A free one, if she’ll only let go and let him take care.

“And I’m the man who knew you meant a fuckuva lot to me yesterday, so you meaning more today means everything. And I’m the man who’s got two priority missions. To get you free of a life you hate and to get you to a place that you smile, frequently and easily.”

My heart was breaking for Olivia. Her life is full of secrets and lies and lots of destruction. She is a pawn in the game her sister and father are playing. She is merely a shell until she meets Nick Sebring. She wants to believe that he’s in this game for her and not any other reason. She wants the peace that he promises. She wants the safety. But living the life she does, she’s used to people playing her. So she’s wary of him at first, but then he gets her to believe that he can give her the peace she seeks.

“I breathe. I’m here. I take up space. I eat. I drive. But I have no brain. No will. No strength. No opinions. I do not matter to the point I do not exist.”

“You exist for me.”

So many secrets. So many lies. At numerous points my stomach dropped. I had faith that Kristen would work this out for me, but not without some stress. So you gotta get through it and it will be worth it.

Let me add a little more to this. My feelings about Knight just went up a little after reading this. He loved his brother, even if he caused him a ton a grief. Families forgive and move on and Knight did that and he helped Nick when he needed him.

That epilogue….aw man…again, she’s the queen of the epilogue.

“It’s your purpose this life to take care of me. And it’s my purpose to give that back.”

He tried to read her, thought he got a bead, and said, “You don’t gotta make grand gestures.”

But he’d read her wrong.

“You’re right, I don’t. You love me and I have one simple task. To make it worth it.”

That’s not gonna be hard, baby, you do that by breathing.”

Someone hand me a tissue, please.

~Melpomene

Buy Sebring (The Unfinished Heroes Series Book 5)

Get caught up with the series.
Knight (The Unfinished Heroes Series Book 1)
Creed (The Unfinished Heroes Series Book 2)
Raid (The Unfinished Heroes Series Book 3)
Deacon (The Unfinished Heroes Series Book 4)

Review: The ‘Burg series by Kristen Ashley

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Another week. Another Kristen Ashley series. I know I’ve said this before, but if you’re in the mood for a good romance that ends with a HEA, then you need to pick up a KA book. I swear to you, you will like it. And this series was another winner for me. I spent my last week of Christmas break reading the last five of these books. And then I sat there at the end, just crying. Kristen Ashley writes the BEST epilogues I’ve ever read. In fact, this one was so perfectly written, I found it hard to even pick up another book. Everyone’s lives are laid out in a nice pretty package.

Another fabulous thing about her books are the crossovers. If you go her site, you will see a reading order. Now, you don’t have in order, but I highly recommend it. You’ll see past characters pop up periodically, and it makes you squeal. Or maybe that’s just me. But seeing all these characters interconnect is pretty darn sweet. Seeing the kids grow up together and find their own happiness, makes me feel like a proud mama.

Plain and simple, read Kristen Ashley.

~Melpomene

For You (The ‘Burg Series Book 1)
At Peace (The ‘Burg Series Book 2)
Golden Trail (The ‘Burg Series Book 3)
Games of the Heart (The ‘Burg Series Book 4)
The Promise (The ‘Burg Series Book 5)
Hold On (The ‘Burg Series Book 6)

Melpomene’s Top 15 of 2015

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I decided to stick with a top 15 instead of 25 this year. 25 seemed a bit overachieving, so I toned it down a smidge. And I was going to write this long and beautiful post, but then I realized I just can’t write long and beautifully, so you get short and sweet. Here you go.

1. Before We Were Strangers: A Love Story by Renee Carlino

2. November 9: A Novel by Colleen Hoover

3. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

4. Iniquity (The Premonition Series Book 5) by Amy Bartol

5. Breathe (Colorado Mountain Series Book 4) by Kristen Ashley

6. Restless Waters: A Left Drowning Novel (Left Drowning Series Book 2) by Jessica Park

7. The Song of David (The Law of Moses Book 2) by Amy Harmon

8. Kyland by Mia Sheridan

9. The Forgotten Mountain (The Collectors’ Society Book 3) by Heather Lyons

10. The One Thing by Marci Lyn Curtis

11. Where Sea Meets Sky: A Novel by Karina Halle

12. The Air He Breathes by Brittiany C. Cherry

13. Bad Romeo (The Starcrossed Series Book 1) by Leisa Rayven

14. Burned: Fever Series Book 7 by Karen Marie Moning

15. The Shadows (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 13) by J.R. Ward

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The Gamble (Colorado Mountain Series Book 1) by Kristen Ashley

Elude (Eagle Elite Book 6) by Rachel VanDyken

Walk Through Fire (Chaos) by Kristen Ashley

Gus by Kim Holden

The Raven (Florentine series Book 1) by Sylvain Reynard

What were some of your favorites??

~Melpomene

Review: Colorado Mountain series by Kristen Ashley

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01 Colorado Mountain

Holy emotional roller coaster, Batman!!!

I just spent the last two weeks reading Kristen Ashley’s Colorado Mountain series and then kicking myself for waiting so long to pick these up. I am seriously questioning my sanity as a romance reader. These are a must!!! In fact, go to her website and look at the reading order HERE and start reading. Trust me. Things make a lot more sense that way. You can still enjoy them just by reading each series, but if you go in order, it brings out a few details and “Holy Crap!” moments that you don’t want to miss.

These six books all have a heavy dose of romance with a nice dose of excitement that sure to get your heart racing and your emotions rolling. My favorites, in this series are The Gamble and Breathe. In The Gamble, Max is the super alpha male who doesn’t take no for an answer. He is a fierce protector and lover. *whew* What a way to start the series!!

My most favorite book was Breathe. There’s aren’t enough words to convey all of my feelings. I had tears all over the place, with this one. I had a few “Holy crap!” moments, and then I discovered why she has a reading order. It made all kind of sense, going in the intended order. I went all giggly when I got to that point. It made me love her even more. When you go to read it, you MUST have this song nearby. No joke. Every time I hear this song, I think of this story and I start crying. My family makes me skip it when it comes on. They hate to see me cry. But this song…..

If you’ve never read Kristen Ashley, I highly encourage you give her a try. You can thank me later.

~Melpomene

The Gamble (Colorado Mountain Series Book 1)
Sweet Dreams (Colorado Mountain Series Book 2)
Lady Luck (Colorado Mountain Series Book 3)
Breathe (Colorado Mountain Series Book 4)
Jagged (Colorado Mountain Series Book 5)
Kaleidoscope (Colorado Mountain Series Book 6)

Review: Ride Steady by Kristen Ashley

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01 ride I swear to God, Kristen Ashley can do NO WRONG. This book had all the feels. Oh my word, did it ever. One moment I’m giggling and the next I’m tearing up, and five minutes later I’m swooning. She writes the perfect story.

Right off the bat, my heart was breaking for Carson”Joker”Steele. His home life was made from nightmares. Pure nightmares. But some how he finds a way to break free and move on from the damage his father has done to him, and make a name for himself with the Chaos MC. He found a place to belong. A place of safety. A place where he’s not alone. But he was just treading, not really putting forth an effort to create livelong bonds. That is until he ran into Carissa and realizes that just skimming the surface isn’t a way to live. He needs to dive in deep.

Carissa had the perfect life, until it wasn’t. She married her high school sweetheart and gave him a child, but then he threw her away. She was forced to scrounge up and try and make a life for her and her son, with no help from her jerk off ex. Then one day she gets a flat tire and is rescued by the one boy she always felt something for. The one boy who was hurting but tried to hide it. The one boy that’s going give her the ride of her life.

Chaos is family. No matter what. They care for each other and will stand by you, until you get the through your thick skull. So when Joker is suddenly in the position to finally have something real in his life, his brothers will do anything to help him achieve that. Because everyone deserves to be happy.

I loved watching Joker transform into the man he was meant to be. He went from a non smiling, no emotion showing guy, to a smirking, full out rolling laughter in a matter of weeks. His feelings made me tear up half the time. He was straightforward and calm, and majorly swoony.

I swear, watching the big tough “manly man biker” with an eight month old, was enough to make me melt right to the floor. And then to watch him defend that boy’s mama, really made me melt. He was fierce and super loyal and he is the standard by which all men should be ranked against.

This is, by far, my most favorite MC series EVER. I hope there will be many books to come. I love the fact that some of the past characters, from the Rock Chicks to the Dream Men, make an appearance. I love seeing all their worlds collide and work together to keep everyone safe. Well done, Kristen!!

~Melpomene

Buy Ride Steady (Chaos)

Ride steady can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend you read the rest of the Chaos books. Trust me, you will love this series.

Own the Wind is only 99 cents!! That’s a great incentive to get started with these guys!!

Then grab Fire Inside to continue the series.

Review: Deacon by Kristen Ashley

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01 a0 How does Kristen Ashley manage to write about the most sexy men on the planet?? They may not be perfect men, but they are perfect to the women that claim them. And Deacon is most definitely that man. He hasn’t made the best choices in his life, but when he meets Cassie, he realizes that he can’t keep doing what he’s doing if he wants a girl like her.

SYNOPSIS
Deacon has an ugly history, a history that broke him, leaving him a ghost of a man. Out of necessity, he left the normal world to descend into the criminal world and found he fit. So he stayed. Cold as ice and living off the grid, Deacon has no intention to connect, not with anyone.

Then he returns to some remote cabins in the Colorado Mountains and finds they have new owners. One of them is Cassidy Swallow, a young woman willing to work hard to live her quiet dream in a house by a river surrounded by aspen and pine.

Suddenly, Deacon finds he’s at war. Cassidy’s pull for him to connect is strong. He fights it, but he loses, always coming back for more. But when he does, he gives her nothing.

From the first time she sees him, Cassidy knows Deacon is dead inside. She knows he’s the kind of man who could destroy a woman. But one night when Deacon’s control slips, Cassidy takes a chance.

He might break her. He also might be her dream come true.

Cassie knows he’s dangerous. She knows she should stay away. But there’s this pull that can’t be explained, and all it takes is one little slip and she’ll be lost in him forever.

I loved Deacon’s mysterious side. He kept coming back year after year. He barely ever spoke to her, but that didn’t change the fact that they were drawn to each other.

This book was so hot. I mean, whoa. I was rereading and taking notes. Their connection was off the charts. One minute they were sweet, and the next there was no stopping them. The was Deacon spoke to Cassie was so sweet and saucy, I was swooning.

Another 5 star K.A. book. In all reality, you can’t go wrong with a K.A. book. She write about real women and real situations. No cookie cutter books. Perfection.

~Melpomene

Buy Deacon (The Unfinished Heroes Series Book 4)

Rereading Books

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Do you reread books? Lately I’ve been rereading quite a few. I blame my book club for this. They got me started. We had a Kristen Ashley week, so I reread all of the Dream Man books. Let me tell you, I LOVE those guys!! Mystery Man was the first, and I gotta say, Hawk was the BEST!!! His and Gwen’s story was so awesome! Lots of emotion and excitement. Wild Man, Law Man and Motorcycle Man rounded up the series. Motorcycle Man was Tack’s story and I seriously love that guy. He has the biggest heart and he loves so fiercely, that when he sets his sights on Tyra, she can’t possibly get away. I can’t wait to keep going with the Chaos series, which is the spin off of Tack’s story. Love me some motorcycle men.
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Buy:
Mystery Man (Dream Man Book 1)
Wild Man (Dream Man Series Book 2)
Law Man (Dream Man Series Book 3)
Motorcycle Man (Dream Man Series Book 4)

Then I decided to read the Birthmarked trilogy, by Caragh O’Brien. I was hoping to have my daughter read them, but then I got to the second book and realized that the subject matter was quite above what I want my 12 yr old to know or think about. I’m so glad I reread them, before I set her to them. While this is one of my favorite YA series, I think it’s more for older teens, or atleast in my house it will be.
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BUY:
Birthmarked (The Birthmarked Trilogy)
Prized (The Birthmarked Trilogy)
Promised (The Birthmarked Trilogy)

Now I’ve been dying to reread the Fever series, by Karen Marie Moning, but first I have to reread her highlander series. So I’m slowly going through these. I just read the first one yesterday and I’m reading the second one now. I love the highlanders!!! I love the romance and sexy scenes. I love the accents, I can hear in my head. I can’t wait to get through these and on to Fever. I heart Barrons!! I have missed him and need to visit him soon.

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BUY:
Beyond the Highland Mist (Highlander Book 1)
To Tame a Highland Warrior (Highlander Book 2)
The Highlander’s Touch
Kiss of the Highlander
The Dark Highlander
The Immortal Highlander
Spell of the Highlander
Into the Dreaming (with bonus material) (Highlander Book 8)

So??? What are some of your favorite rereads??

~Melpomene