AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: Kristen Ashley!

So at the beginning of the month I was going through my goodreads stuff online. This is something that's a normal everyday task for me. When going about this particular task I don't normally pay very much attention to my reading recommendations due to the fact that I already have around 300 books on my "to-read" shelf. That's a pretty hefty amount of reading material as it is, so the last thing I need is to see books I might actually like and add another 300 to the list. Plus, I have this habit of adding books I might actually never want to read because they have cool covers. But this time while I was on goodreads I decided it was perfectly fine to venture into the danger zone. I was in quite the reading slump and I was sure nothing on my "read-to" shelf was going to be what pulled me out of it. So I ventured forth into the unknown.
Best. Choice. Ever. 
Let me tell you why! It was the best choice because after going through my Chick-Lit, Humor, and Paranormal shelves I finally came to my Romance shelf. HUZZAH!!! Nearing the end of that very shelf...was a book with a pink cover that I would never read. But out of curiosity I clicked on it. Reading the description of this book I decided to throw caution into the wind. I got the book to see what the fuss is about because it seemed to have good reviews, it sounded ok from the description, and author seems like someone I would normally read. I wasn't overly excited, but it had me curious. I opened the book (on my kindle of course because I needed a book right away), I read the first chapter, and then...I read the second. And the third, and the fourth, and the tenth, then the twentieth. By nightfall that day I finished my last page deciding I had never read a book quite like this one.
I then started the next book in the series. Within two weeks I had finished the whole Rock Chick series, with reading a few other books in between. Then I read series after series by Kristen Ashley. Choas, the Unfinished Hero series, then The Three series, the Dream Man series, and currently The 'Burgs series. Some I liked more than others, some I flat-out couldn't put down, and some had my emotions raw. I loved every series in it's own way. After finding this to be the case, I have come to one conclusion...Kristen Ashley must be some goddess sent to earth to gift us all with her books. No joke. That might be a crazy theory but one thing is for sure...Kristen Ashley has a forever fan in me and I will continue to binge read the shit out of her books until I've read every last one.
This is why she is my author spotlight and quite possibly one of my new top three favorite authors ever. Happy reading :) I hope for your sake you pick up something by Kristen Ashley soon because if you don't, you'll regret it.

Black Iris by Leah Raeder

So sorry for the wait between posts! It's been a busy month and I'm not going to lie after the last book I posted about I had a major book hang-over and I had trouble picking up a book for a little while but here I am! So on with the review.

For me this book was good and terrible. I'll start with why it was terrible for me that way this review ends on a good note so hopefully less people will hate me. I had three major problems with this book.
For me this book was good and terrible. I'll start with why it was terrible for me that way this review ends on a good note so hopefully less people will hate me. I had three major problems with this book...

1. Why all the jumping back and forth in time? I can't stand all the hopping around on the time line. It confused things for me and made it harder to understand things that were already confusing enough! Would it be so horrible to just put the events in the order of which they had happened??? Jumbled time lines hurt my brain.
2. I spent about 50% of my time reading this book either confused or trying to catch up on the order of events. I'm sure other people kept up fine and understood perfectly what was going on...but not me!
3. I actually liked Armin. And now I can't like him anymore. I'm sad. Let me morn this loss...*moment of silence* nope still not over it. Going to take me a while to heal from this one. I need band-aids for my heart. You'll understand my pain if you read this book.


There were also things I really loved about this book. There is no doubt that Leah Raeder is a phenomenal writer...

1. The way this book is written...it could be poetry. No...it is pure poetry. The vivid use of words really catches attention. Leah Raeder is screaming Look at me!!! and we as readers are looking. She has definitely captured an audience and I will be reading more of her books because of this.
2. I am not a lesbian. Nor am I bi-sexual. Yet, this book makes you really understand what goes on inside the head of someone that is. Not only that but it was HOT!!! Going into this book I was curious. Consider that curiosity satisfied. I love that this author is openly herself. She wrote a book that supports others that are going through what she once did. For that I applaud her.
3. This story is dark, twisted, messed up, depressing at times, and definitely a mind trip all around. It was wonderful! So I've got a mentally unstable side. Sue me. Love it!!! The 50% of the time that I wasn't confused I loved it!!

Overall I give it a good 3.5. Stars.
this book because even though you might hate it you'll still love it. Trust me on this. I know that might seem a little confusing but hey, it's no more confusing than the book can get.

Heavens Sinners by Bella Jewel

Urgh!!! So I'm 60% through this book right now and I just can't with the sister thing. Here. This should clear that up a bit...

"Spike knows tragedy, he knows that feelings are better left hidden. He refuses to put his heart out there again, it's a pain he's not willing to feel a second time around. He's accepted he's going to spend forever alone. That's all he deserves. But then there's Ciara, the sister of his deceased wife. She's beautiful and damned determined to throw herself into his life in hopes they can reform an old friendship, but Spike won't hear of it, and Ciara refuses to give up."

I'll be damned if I would ever forgive anyone for revenge fucking me to get back at my sister. Yeah, they don't tell you about that in the description of the book, huh!?!? So much for friends!! I sure as hell wouldnt be trying to "reform an old friendship" with someone that would do that to me. She was a virgin too, you asshole! And you couldn't even be bothered to kiss her while you were with her for her first time. WHAT THE HELL? What kind of man does that? I wanted to like Spike after the first book in this series but what a dumb ass! I am a little disappointed. Not only do you not do that to someone that is supposed to be a friend, you don't do that to anyone period!! EVER!!! And Cheyenne....ok so this bitch...who let's someone get away with doing that to their sister?!?!? Who the hell thinks.."hey he fucked my sister for revenge against me and split her heart into pieces...hmmm I think I'll yell at him a little and then marry him!".
That is a shitty sister. A shitty human being. And Spike is even shittier for going for Cheyenne in the first place. Can pepole really be that stupid? Urgh. Just URGH!!! I wanna hit something. I need a drink. And a bubble bath. People need to just let dead people stay dead and have some dignity for themselves. Needless to say I liked the first book but this was disappointing. Ciara needed to find her backbone and not be doormat, Spike needed to just not be a fucking asshole the whole book, Cheyenne...well let's just say I'm not to sad about that loss, and I feel ripped off by the whole book. I am going to keep reading it purely because I really want to see if Spike apologizes for revenge fucking Ciara at all. Because so far he said he shouldn't have been so rough but hey it was totally cool that he only fucked her to get back at her sister right?? UGHH!!! I feel like I'm punishing myself by reading the rest of this book. At least the sex scenes are hot.

I'm going to need to be drunk for this.

Toodles I have to go down a fifth of something strong.



P.S. This is in no way is me saying I don't enjoy this authors writing. I love most books by Bella Jewel, Heavens Sinners really is just an exception. Bella Jewel has a wonderful writing style and I truly enjoy reading her stories. Just something about these particular characters rubbed me the wrong way. Please do not let this discourage you from picking up any of her books.

Dirty by Kylie Scott

Hell. Yes.

Literally so happy right now!

I was approved for an ARC of this book less than 24 hours ago. I woke up to the email saying I had an ebook copy waiting for me to read. Words cannot describe my excitement. I happy danced, had tummy flutters of excitement, and I was squealing in all around fan-girl mode. Because being able to read one of my favorite authors books before it even hits shelves? Definitely fan-girl worthy.

"But how could anything measure up to the greatness that is the Stage Dive series?" some may ask.
"How could it possibly meet all the impossible standards I had set for this book after reading Kylie Scotts previous books???" others may inquir.
To which I would say...
"I had briefly had these concerns myself. I assure you Dirty is a work of art and no one should ever doubt Kylie Scott because the woman has mad talent!!!"

I devoured every word on every page in less time than it takes to cook a Thanksgiving turkey. I laughed, I cried, I met new characters that captured my heart, and I met some that I wanted to stab a few times. Putting my anger issues aside now...I want to know more about all of them. All traits of a hell of a good book if you ask me. The amount of happiness this story brought me is off the charts. Kylie Scott isn't just an author...she's a bringer of laughter and light. Any reader that picks up a book by her is bound to be hooked.

This book is a solid 5 of out 5 Star read.

READ THE BOOK PEOPLE. JUST READ IT!!!