Harlie's Top Book Picks of 2012

Its me again!  Whew, I read a lot of books in 2012 and I'm going to share some of my favorites that I reviewed and/or just read for my own pleasure.  So in no particular order, here they are:

1.  Dead Series by Lizzie T. Leaf - as most people know, I grew extremely tired of the paranormal genre in general so for me to post a paranormal series as one of my top picks of 2012 is something.  This series is intelligent, funny, sexy, suspenseful, and it builds from the first book of the series to the last one.  Lizzie never dumbs down the genre, nor does she make it overly graphic in nature.  Its about normal "paranormals" living amongst humans and the problems that they face within themselves.  Yes, there are vamps, weres, fae and demons.  The males aren't Uber Alpha and the females are not saps or doormats.  Highly recommended for everyone.

2.  That Filthy Book by Lily Harlem and Natalie Dae - O.M.G.  I mean seriously Lily and Natalie?  *wink*  Lily knows how much I love reading books about established couples and how they cope with their everyday lives and keeping fresh.  She and Natalie did not disappoint with this book.  Its raunchy, arousing, thought provoking but first and foremost, loving.  The devotion that the couple had to each other and their relationship is staggering.  It has a bit of everything that you have ever read in erotic romance and then some.  Its on the keeper shelf on the Kindle for all time.

3.  Archer's Lady by Moira Rogers - Again, another genre that I don't typically read but I'm so damn hooked on Moira Roger's Bloodhounds that I sometimes just look at the covers, close my eyes and remember...The genre I speak of is a mash up of Western Historical, Steam punk, Paranormal, and erotic.  I blame my friend Maria Durst for turning me on to the series and I've never looked back.  Archer is my favorite Bloodhound so far.  There are more coming this year.  Woo Hoo!

4.  Conditional Offer by Liz Crowe - I know, I know.  Its a Liz book but for me this is the best and my favorite of the whole Stewart Realty series.  Its the story of Craig and Suzanne.  I'm a self professed Jack fan but there was something about Craig that I just had to have his story told.  If you read my review, you know that you have to read the series in order as to realize what the side stories are but if all that had been left out, Conditional Offer would still be on this list.  I got lost in their relationship and have never been happier about a "book couple" and their HEA.

5.  A Dry Creek Bed series by Avery Flynn - Most people don't know that my favorite genre is romantic suspense.  Yes, I was weened on Sandra Brown, Cherry Adair, Karen Rose, Andrea Kane, Karen Robards and Tami Hong.  So when I get a chance to read a debut romantic suspense, I'm not sure what to expect.  Expect the unexpected from Ms. Flynn.  She takes what could be two dimensional characters and gives them depth, deep emotional layers and then throws in humor...*swoon*  Plus, her heroes aren't Uber either.  I grow tired of the same old hero and heroine in my romantic suspense.  Don't make them too stupid to live and just out right mean to each other.  Yes, I'm finding that more and more.  I like a strong man but not some of the ones that I'm reading now.  I would bitch slap them right back to their mommas.

That's all I have for right now.  I'm reading some really good ones right now.  I've pushed myself out of my comfort zone and its showing in what I'm posting on the blog.  Plus, I've started to review some YA on my PG-13 blog and that's been a blast too. 

So tell me, what are some of your favorite reads last year?  Don't worry.  My list is actually longer than that the one I posted but I didn't want bore everyone.  Watch for the other top reads in the next few weeks on Harlie's Books.

Moving and a question

As some of yall know my family is moving to Lindale, Texas on Friday, July 13th.  Yep, the irony is not lost on us.  I will admit that I'm writing this blog on Friday, July 6th.  I'm behind...so behind.  Most of yall have moved so you know about the purging, cleaning, sorting and packing.  Well, I found out something about myself in this whole process. 

*big breath*

I am a print book whore.  Yes, PRINT books.  Before I got my Nook, I was a print book hoarder/whore.  The Reader Service from Harlequin is evil I tell you, just evil.  At least it was before I got the Nook.  Now, I get them ebooked but still.  Good Lord.  I had 5 boxes (copy paper size) and 8 huge plastic bins.  I'm done to 2 plastic bins and one medium bin with my hardbacks.  Hubby is still saying that I have too many to move.  Trust me, I cried after I dropped off my books to my library.  Of course, they loved me for it.  Yes, their romance section was lacking...

For the past two weeks, I've been giving away print books on the blog.  I've had Lori Foster, Suzanne Brockman, Heather Graham, M.J. Cast, Joan Johnston books and there is more to come.  Its actually been freeing to get rid of the books but sad too.  Its like I'm giving up my friends.  I know I'll find new friends but still...

Here's the link for some free books from me...  http://harliebooks.blogspot.com


In other news, I have a poll up for everybody on the blog.  I'm not sure if authors know anything about "author services".  You know, a virtual assistant that helps you with blog tours, Facebook, Street Teams, calendar maintenance.  Basically being a PA, secretary or whatever you want to call them.  In my last job in Dallas, I was a Senior Executive Administrative Assistant to 3 Senior Vice Presidents at bank.  I was there for nine years and I loved my job.  In other words, I ran our department.  :) I've asked some author buddies of mine what they thought of this and most have just been speechless.  Didn't know that those kind of services were out there for the taking.  Some though knew about it but have been reluctant to even research the subject. 

If you go to the top right hand side of my blog, you will see a poll.  I would love it if you would answer the question for me.  Its just information for myself and no one else.  I'm interested to see what the results are from my readers.  Some of my blogger friends have added these services to their blog so I just want to hear from you and your thoughts.

Also, I'm not sure if yall read Smart Bitches, Trashy Books but I was a guest reviewer for her this week.  Here's the link...

http://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/blog/rita-reader-challenge-the-texans-bride-by-linda-warren1?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+smartbitchestrashybooks%2FwRgdXX+Smart+Bitches%2C+Trashy+Books

I'm quite proud of this review and honored to be on her blog. 

That's all I have for now.  Starting next week, I will be in and out since we are moving and our son's T-ball team made the playoffs.  Games start Monday. 

The Turks Series by Liz Crowe-Reviews

In honor of Liz Crowe's release tomorrow of The Diplomat's Daughter, I thought I would share my reviews of the Deniz children stories that were published last year.  This series was the best series I read last year and Blue Cruise was in my top 5 books of last year.  I have reprinted this from Harlie's Book Blog from last December.  


Congratulations to Liz on The Diplomat's Daughter release tomorrow.  I've waited impatiently for this release and the final installment, too.  


Sure are pretty covers, huh?  Well, underneath those covers are some of the best books that I have read all year.  I have decided to review the whole series instead of individually.  There is a reason for that I will get to that later.  


Turkish Delights is a story about an American woman, Elle, that is has been living in Turkey for the past couple of years.  Elle finds herself falling in love with a Turkish man, Emre, fifteen years her junior. When she decides to contract to Madame Eve’s dating service for a night, she has no idea what she is store for and the delights that wait for her.  I adored this book from the start.  Elle is a strong woman that has fallen for Emre and thinks that it would never work between them.  Emre has one shot with Elle before she leaves and believes that a relationship between them is destiny.   You can feel the intensity that Elle and Emre have for one another and the lengths that they go to be with each other.  Age is just a number and it doesn’t care if two people love each other.  This is a multi-cultural story actually set in Turkey.  The richness in Liz’s writing shows the depth of her love for the country and the people.  I can still smell the spice bazaar as I type.  While the sex is hot from the beginning, what sets it apart is the emotional depth and intensity that Liz has created between Elle and Emre.  Elle and Emre set the tone for the entire series and it is best that you read the books in order.

Blue Cruise was a rare book for me to read for a couple of reasons.  I laughed, I fell in love, I cried buckets and I sighed.  This is only my second m/m read so I wasn’t sure what to expect.  Caleb and Tarkan were destined from the start.  We pick up their story after being together for a couple of years.  Caleb is Elle’s personal assistant and instrumental in talking some sense into Elle’s head about Emre.  Tarkan and Emre are twins and couldn’t be more different.  Tarkan’s culture sees their relationship as wrong and his father has made the decision that he does his stint in the military.  Much to horror of Caleb, Elle and Tarkan’s family, his station is attacked.  Caleb is numb with grief and has a hard time being around Emre because of it.  Elle decides that the only way for Caleb to deal with his grief is to contact Madame Eve and set up a Blue Cruise for him.  Deciding that Elle is right, Caleb goes back to Turkey and finally starts to heal the pain that has had a hold on him for the past couple of years.  Adem is perfect for Caleb.  He doesn’t rush Caleb into a relationship and he listens to Caleb.  The communication between Caleb and Adem was open, honest and done with a deft hand.  Again, the emotional intensity between Elle, Emre, Tarkan, Caleb and Adem is layered and believable. 

I will admit that Tulip Princess was a hard read for me.  It is the final book in the trilogy of the Deniz siblings.  Lale is wild and doesn’t seem to want to settle down anytime soon.    Her parents are at their wit’s end and decide that she needs to go live with Elle and Emre.  While she is there, she helps them with her niece and finds that she doesn’t need that lifestyle anymore.  When Elle decides that Lale needs a night out, she sets her up with Madame Eve and Emre is livid.  The intense dialogue between Lale, Emre and Elle is beautifully written and handled with humor (yes, you will chuckle at Elle) and honesty.    While I liked Lale very much, I didn’t like Andreas in the beginning.  It wasn’t until the end of the book that I finally made a connection with him.  Lale and Andreas were too much alike and it took them to fall apart before they realized that they were perfect for each other. 

As a whole, the series was one of the best trilogies that I have ever read.  The writing, pacing, plots and dialogue were beautifully done.  Each book delivered on the emotional scale for me, too.  With Elle/Emre, I was laughing and sighing.  With Tarkan/Caleb/Adem, it was crying and joys in Caleb’s healing.  Lale/Andreas it was frustration and then belief that they would make it as a couple.  If you have put off buying the series because its multicultural or that some of the subject matter that Liz brings to the surface is not for you…think again.  It is a series that should be read, discussed and re-read again.  A word of caution though…okay, a couple…bring tissues, carve out a couple of hours and please, please read them in order.  You can read them as stand alones but reading them order only enhances each book.

Overall rating:  5 Harlies and a recommend read

A Reviewer's Thoughts

Woo Hoo!  Its finally here!  My first official post as a Sweet N Sexy Diva.  I'm sure that most of yall are wondering what I'm doing on the blog.  Well, Tina had an open call for more divas and I answered the call.  To my utter amazement, Tina said sure and welcome aboard.  A reviewer would be different to have as a Sweet N Sexy Diva.  Something new and different.  Oh and can I review a book once a month and post it?  Sure, you bet I can. 

For some of you that don't know who I am, my name is Marika Weber.  I'm the owner of Harlie's Books, a review blog.  I used to review for The Romance Studio, Night Owl Reviews and several other sites.  I decided that I couldn't keep up with my own blog and review for everyone else.  So now, I only review on my blog.  When I made the decision, I felt cleansed in some ways.  Its hard work to review and then post the review on deadline for the sites.  Then, I had my own reviews to do and post.  And I do all of this for no money. 

For almost a year, I didn't read anything that I truly wanted to read for my own pleasure.  It was all for review.  I missed reading my own books and authors that I kept up with.  For example, I'm so far behind on the Brotherhood series by JR Ward that I may never catch up.  I've missed some debut novels from authors that I followed on other blogs, Facebook and Twitter.  I shamed myself the other day when I realized that JD Tyler is Jo Davis.  Jo Davis wrote one of the hottest firefighter series around and now she is writing paranormal.  I also missed Nora Roberts new series (have the book), still have her Wedding Series to finish, too.  Trying to catch up has been a chore but I'll eventually get there. 

I miss the joy of reading sometimes.  I realize that most of you probably think that is weird coming from a book reviewer but it is.  When I review, yes I do read the book but I read it from completely different angle.  I look for continuity, fluidity, content, did I connect with the characters, did I even like the characters and pacing.  I'm not a reviewer that looks for grammar, spelling and to see if on one page the eyes are blue and then the next chapter they're green.  That's an editor/proofreader's job, not mine. 

If you have ever read one my reviews or have been reviewed by me, you know I don't do spoilers.  Have you ever had one of your books reviewed and the reviewer completely spoiled it for the reader?  Oooo that just pisses me off!  Honestly, I have books that I are on my Nook that I never read because I read a review and before it was too late, the reviewer spoiled the whole book.  Needless to say, I don't go to that review site anymore.  :)

So in closing (sounds formal, doesn't it?), this me somewhat in a nutshell.  As my grandmother used to say, "Peel an onion, there are many layers."  I really have more to say but my time is short and I'm sure that most of yall are asleep by now.  If you want to get in touch, I'll leave my linkage at the bottom. 

I want to thank Tina again and don't worry about me posting a review...at least not yet.  Come back next month and I will bore you with what (sub) genres I think are over done/tired and just getting boring.  As a reviewer of most anything, there are alot right now.  See you on the 7th next month.

Twitter:  @marika67
Facebook:  Marika Weber
Good reads:  Marika Weber/Brian's Mom
Amazon:  Brian's Mom (reviews)
http://harliebooks.blogspot.com - review blog
www.maw25.wordpress.com -regular blog