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.

Making the Switch is Difficult

I'm going to try not to bore you today with my dribble and troubles.  I'm finding that making the switch from blogger/reviewer to author extremely hard.  Most of the time, I'm met with laughter, patronizing comments and then just being ignored.  Don't feel too bad for me.  According to a reviewer that I know that made the switch, its harder than I thought it would be.

Many people view me as a reviewer and that's what they like to see.  Not me as an author.  But I beg to differ on that.  Reviewing is a form of writing.  My reviews are generally over 300 words and I have to say everything that I liked or didn't like in a book without spoilers.  Its not as easy as it sounds.  In fact sometimes to just plain old hard to write a concise, well thought review.  Tim's post the other day was brilliant about reviewing.  

When I blog at Sweet N Sexy Divas that is also a form of writing.  As most people here can tell you, thinking of your once a month post can be a challenge.  What is the topic about?  Do I just promo this month?  Share personal things? Review a book?  Writing comes in all forms, not just a book.

The ugly truth that I'm finding out is that I'm not one of the "cool" people hurts.  I didn't set out to become one of the "cool" people when I decided to write but it hurts none the less.  Shoot, I'd like to not be laughed out for a day.  Trying to build my name up as an author is hard.  I've been turned down by more blog sites like Sweet N Sexy Divas in the last week that I have lost track of the sites that I applied for to blog.  Plus, I won't even get into my troubles with finding a CP or even a beta reader for the stuff I'm working on now.  Again, its the patronizing and pat on the head that makes me want to scream.  I had a frustration breakdown about two weeks ago in front of my husband.  He's first reaction, he wanted to beat everyone up but then when I tried to explain everything, he just hugged me and told me that everything would work out in time.  I haven't cried that hard in a long time.

I have attached my cover so you can see that yes, Virginia, its real.  I wrote a book and it releases in December.  I'm very proud of the "little book that could".  Its a short, spicy story about a couple that meet at a bar.  If I said anymore, I would spoil it.

Marika Weber w/a Harlie Williams
www.harliewilliams.com

Books that are becoming passe'...at least to this reviewer

Its me again...your friendly Diva reviewer. I told that I would be back. Today I was gonna touch on what genres/sub-genres that right now, kinda bore me. Please don't throw things at me. Remember, its just my opinion. I have some good news to share. I've hired some reviewers to Harlie's Book Blog. Their reviews should post sometime next month. I have a request form on the blog and I'm getting 1-2 requests every other day now and I can't keep up. Trust me, I'm not complaining but I've wanted to expand the blog for some time now and that time is now.

The blog will also be converted to a Word Press platform and sometime this summer, it will fully convert to www.harliesbooks.com. I've got everything done for that but the conversion to WP. *sigh* Still waiting on the designer.


Here's a list of a couple that right now are kinda boring:

1. Ménage-I love a good ménage but I want it to mean something. Bring me the emotional connection between the characters. Anyone can have sex so show me how the emotions play into the relationship. Is there jealousy, feeling left out of the equation, or is the ménage just based on the sex? My biggest peeve is when an author builds up a ménage relationship and then BAM…someone is left out. What is worse about that is, the relationship that I invested in continues for the left out person in another book. Please, don’t do this. Make either the ménage be a committed relationship or a one shot deal. Unfortunately, I have stopped reading authors that do this.


2. BDSM-I realize that this particular sub-genre is hot right now because of 50 Shades but I have read some bad BDSM before but I am finding that authors are just throwing in certain aspects of BDSM and then labeling it BSDM. I have written a short story that has the hero tying up the heroine but I wouldn’t label it “true” BDSM. They don’t live the lifestyle nor do they want to. It is just an aspect of their bedroom repertoire they use every occasionally.


3. The “Friends to Lovers” troupe-Yes, my current WIP is this particular troupe but the conflict that I built in my story is not necessarily the conflict with each other but how the town effects their relationship and defines who and what they are as individuals. Don’t bring in the ex-whatever to break them up and then have them work it out. Boring…


4. As a reviewer, the length of the story has never bothered me. Some short stories have packed enough characterization/conflict/sex for me. Then there are some long novels that have bored me to tears.


5. Too much sex-I know what you are thinking. Yes, there can be too much sex in a book. As a reader of erotic romance and erotic shorts, I can be bored with it. I like a story with characters that I can connect with, care about, and cheer for in the end. Sex is sex and anyone can have it, so leaving out the gratuitous sex for sex sake’s would be great.


I'm sure that you are probably thinking...wow, maybe you shouldn't read a book anymore, much less review them.  Trust me, I've thought about it.  Most bloggers/reviewers have thought about it.  Reviewers/bloggers don't get paid for the work we do and sometimes, we want to chunk it all, just like writers do. 

We review because we love books.  Nothing more, nothing less. 

I'm sure that I will be crucified for my opinion.  Feel free.  I'm feeling a little feisty right now. 

Until next month...

Harlie (Marika)

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