Best Books of 2014

With 2015 fast approaching (Can you believe it?), it’s time to take a look back and pick out the best of the best. 2014 was a bit of an uneven year for me in terms of reading. I read 159 books, some of them fabulous…and some not so much. I rediscovered my love of contemporary romance, the subgenre that first hooked me on romance novels in general. I also tried 33 new (to me) authors, and found some new favorites (Jenn Bennett and Macy Beckett are among my new autobuy authors). And finally, I participated in my fifth A to Z Reading Challenge, a challenge I always enjoy.

I read a number of excellent books this year, but I did manage to narrow the list down so I could spotlight the best of the best that I read in 2014:



Top Ten Books of 2014
Top Re-Reads of 2014
Honorable Mentions

My Top Ten Books of 2014

Note: Not necessarily all published in 2014, but all were new-to-me reads
Also note: The books are alphabetized by title as I love them all equally

1. Barefoot in White (Barefoot Bay Brides, Book 1) by Roxanne St. Claire
My Review | Buy Link





2. Bitter Spirits (Roaring Twenties, Book 1) by Jenn Bennett
My Review | Buy Link






3. Etiquette & Espionage (Finishing School, Book 1) by Gail Carriger
Buy Link






4. Festive in Death (In Death, Book 39) by J.D. Robb
My Review | Buy Link






5. High Noon by Nora Roberts
Buy Link






6. Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened by Allie Brosh
My Review | Buy Link





7. Make You Mine (Dumont Bachelors, Book 1) by Macy Beckett
My Review | Buy Link






8. A Marriage Most Convenient by C.C. Galloway
My Review Coming Soon | Buy Link






9. Shield of Winter (Psy-Changeling, Book 13) by Nalini Singh
My Review | Buy Link






10. Sin Undone (Demonica, Book 5) by Larissa Ione
Buy Link

My Top Re-Reads of 2014

1. Decadence (Emerald Valley, Book 1.5) by Riley Shane
Buy Link






3. Judgment in Death (In Death, Book 11) by J.D. Robb
Buy Link






4. A Very Personal Trainer by Justine Elyot
My Review | Buy Link







7. Victorian Valentine by Riley Shane
Buy Link

Honorable Mentions

These books were also new-to-me reads in 2014 and they barely missed making my top ten list.

1. Alpha & Omega (Alpha & Omega, Book 0.5) by Patricia Briggs
Buy Link





2. Azagoth (Demonica, Book 10.5 / Lords of Deliverance, Book 5.5) by Larissa Ione
Buy Link






3. Midnight Action (Killer Instincts, Book 5) by Elle Kennedy
My Review | Buy Link






4. Once in a Lifetime (Lucky Harbor, Book 9) by Jill Shalvis
My Review | Buy Link






5. One in a Million (Lucky Harbor, Book 12) by Jill Shalvis
My Review | Buy Link






6. Rules for a Proper Governess by Jennifer Ashley
My Review | Buy Link






7. Show Me, Baby (Masters of the Shadowlands, Book 9) by Cherise Sinclair
Buy Link






8. The Terrible and Wonderful Reasons Why I Run Long Distances by Matthew Inman
Buy Link






9. This Is Who I Am (Masters of the Shadowlands, Book 7) by Cherise Sinclair
My Review | Buy Link






10. Unleashing Mr. Darcy by Teri Wilson
My Review | Buy Link

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Review: Make You Remember by Macy Beckett

Make You Remember by Macy Beckett
Series: Dumont Bachelors, Book 2
Publisher: Signet
Genre: Contemporary Romance
ISBN: 9780451465344
Release Date: November 4, 2014
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N

He’s about to make his own luck.

Ten years ago, Beau Dumont made the biggest mistake of his life by letting his high school sweetheart, Devyn Mauvais, slip through his fingers. Now the reformed bad boy will stop at nothing to get her back. Even if it means tricking her into taking a job on his family’s riverboat, the Belle of the Bayou.

When Devyn’s old flame offers her a stint at the boat’s day-care center, she sees it as a chance to prove she isn’t just the descendant of Louisiana’s most infamous voodoo queen. Besides, it beats leading ghost tours around New Orleans. Yet when it comes to Beau, Devyn’s all business. She won’t give the sweet-talking playboy another chance to break her heart.

Heartbreak, a family curse, and a second chance with a first love all blend together to make an irresistible story in Make You Remember. Macy Beckett’s second Dumont Bachelors novel is fast-paced, sexy, and filled with characters you have to adore.

Devyn Mauvais’s life went off track when Beau Dumont left her all those years ago and she’s never quite gotten herself back on even footing. She’s shut the door so firmly on her past that she actually makes it harder for herself to move forward and it’s caused her to become a bit sharp with people. One of the joys of Make You Remember is watching Devyn come alive as she finds herself again. Her passion for teaching – and for Beau – make her see that she needs to take a chance and work for the life she wants rather than spin her wheels. I loved seeing the changes in Devyn over the course of the story and I cheered her on as she risks disappointment going for what she wants.

As for Beau, the eldest Dumont brother has an easy charm and talented hands. He knows he screwed up badly when he left Devyn, but that doesn’t mean he won’t grab at the second chance he has with her. I loved that Beau owned his mistakes and stood up for the man he has worked to become. He’s the perfect match for Devyn, and when the sexual tension between them boils over the pages of Make You Remember steam up like you wouldn’t believe. Their love story was solidly entertaining, but I did feel that it wasn’t quite as powerful as it could have been. Beau and Devyn’s romance is based on the fact that they fell in love when they were young and are now getting their second chance. However, we don’t really get to see much of their shared past; only the important details are mentioned in the story and we miss seeing much of how they first fell in love. By not seeing that foundation, I was left wanting a little bit even though the love story built on said foundation was enjoyable.

Make You Remember is the second full-length book in the Dumont Bachelors series, but it can be read as a standalone. Beau’s brothers and Devyn’s sister all play important supporting roles in the book, and having fallen in love with all of them in Make You Mine, I was thrilled to revisit the Dumont and Mauvais families. Like most of his brothers, Beau is still cursed never to make it down the aisle, and though the curse was less important to this story than it was to the first, it was still an obstacle I enjoyed watching Devyn and Beau overcome. I finished Make You Remember a well-satisfied reader, though I’m on tenterhooks waiting for Alex and Ella-Claire’s story. Ms. Beckett, please don’t make readers wait long for more of these sinfully sexy Dumont brothers!


FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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Author Interview: Macy Beckett

I became an instant fan of Macy Beckett's after reading her first Dumont Bachelors book, Make You Mine. I'm so thrilled I got to interview Ms. Beckett and talk about this fantastic series. Make You Mine released yesterday, May 6th, and you can check out my review of it here.

If you want to skip to the cool stuff, scroll down to see my Q&A with Macy Beckett, learn a bit more about her newest release, and enter for a chance to win a copy of Make You Mine provided by Ms. Beckett's publisher, Signet! The giveaway is for U.S. readers, and to enter, simply comment on this post with your name and email address (so I can contact you for your mailing address if you win) by 11:59PM PST Friday, May 9th.


Q: What inspired you to write the Dumont Bachelors series?
A: Years ago, my agent suggested that I set a new series in New Orleans, and when I flew down there for research, I fell in love with the area—especially the bayou. I knew when I returned home that the series would need to include at least three things: voodoo, riverboats, and really good food!


Q: There’s a dash of good old fashioned voodoo in MAKE YOU MINE. Will we be seeing more magic in the series?
A: Oh, absolutely. Devyn and Beau’s story is next in MAKE YOU REMEMBER (November 2014). Even though Devyn is a believer in the curse, that won’t make it any easier for her to break.


Q: How many books do you have planned for the Dumont Bachelors series? (I admit, this question may be a roundabout way of asking if Alex and Ella-Claire will get a book :)).
A: Haha! You don’t have to be sneaky about it. Feel free to ask me anything.

The future of the Dumont Bachelors series is somewhat dependent on sales. After all, publishing is a business, and I have to spend my (very limited) time writing the projects that are likely to generate the most income. But if there is another book, it will be Alex and Ella-Claire’s.


Q: Do you have any favorites of the characters you've written?
A: I really love Allie Mauvais, the heroine in MAKE YOU MINE. She’s got such a big heart, and that shows through her interactions with others.


Q: When you're not writing, what do you like to do?
A: Of course I’m a big reader, but on nights when I’m too mentally exhausted for a book, I enjoy watching Netflix in bed. There are so many great shows I’ve recently discovered, like “Orange is the New Black” and the “Roswell” series from the 90’s.



About Make You Mine:
A girl like her comes around once a century…

For ninety-nine years, every man in the Dumont family has remained a perpetual bachelor. Residents of Cedar Bayou, Louisiana, whisper about a voodoo hex cast upon the family, sabotaging each man’s chance at marriage. In truth, the Dumont men have their own player personalities to blame, and Marc is no exception. As captain of his family’s riverboat, he’s broken hearts up and down the Mississippi. That is, until his high school crush strolls onboard...

Allie Mauvais rocks the boat when she fills in as pastry chef. She hasn’t seen Marc since senior year, when rumors flew that her great-great-grandmother was the one who cursed the Dumonts. After two weeks on the water, neither can deny the attraction that still burns between them. But to truly reach Marc’s heart, Allie must show him that the hex is all in his head and it’ll take more than her mouthwatering sweets to prove it. Will Allie’s love be enough to finally make Marc hers?

My Review | Amazon | B&N | IndieBound



About Macy Beckett:
Instead of a compulsive overeater, I call myself a compulsive over-reader, because my appetite for books is insatiable. While I enjoy all genres of fiction, I’m always drawn to romantic plots. There’s no substitute for a happy ending, and let’s face it: I’m in love with love!

A former military brat, I like to say I grew up everywhere. I graduated from high school in Munich (Go Mustangs!) and went on to earn a BA in English from Texas State University and a teaching license from East Carolina University. I taught middle school for nine years before “retiring” to write romance, and after residing in eleven different states, I finally abandoned my nomadic lifestyle.

Now I live in the heart of Ohio with my very patient husband—who kindly tolerates my neglect while I’m penning a new book—and our three spirited children, who aren’t so easily placated. My work is represented by the fabulous Nicole Resciniti of the Seymour Agency.

http://macybeckett.com/


Don't forget about the giveaway hosted by Signet! Simply leave a comment on this post (with your email address) before 11:59PM PST Friday, May 9th and you could win a copy of Make You Mine (U.S. readers only, sorry)!

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Review: Make You Mine by Macy Beckett

Make You Mine by Macy Beckett
Series: Dumont Bachelors, Book 1
Publisher: Signet
Genre: Contemporary Romance
ISBN: 9780451465337
Release Date: May 6, 2014
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N

A girl like her comes around once a century…

For ninety-nine years, every man in the Dumont family has remained a perpetual bachelor. Residents of Cedar Bayou, Louisiana, whisper about a voodoo hex cast upon the family, sabotaging each man’s chance at marriage. In truth, the Dumont men have their own player personalities to blame, and Marc is no exception. As captain of his family’s riverboat, he’s broken hearts up and down the Mississippi. That is, until his high school crush strolls onboard...

Allie Mauvais rocks the boat when she fills in as pastry chef. She hasn’t seen Marc since senior year, when rumors flew that her great-great-grandmother was the one who cursed the Dumonts. After two weeks on the water, neither can deny the attraction that still burns between them. But to truly reach Marc’s heart, Allie must show him that the hex is all in his head and it’ll take more than her mouthwatering sweets to prove it. Will Allie’s love be enough to finally make Marc hers?

Like the sweet treats Allie bakes, Make You Mine is utterly delicious! Sexy bachelors, a decades-old curse, a little voodoo, a wealth of endearing characters, and a slightly star-crossed romance make this first Dumont Bachelors book a rousing success.

Allie Mauvais is a pastry chef who’s more famous for her supposed voodoo priestess abilities than any cruller or cookie she makes. Plagued by her heritage, Allie uses her powers of observation along with some plain old fashioned psychology to help those who come to her seeking guidance and love charms. Allie is a kind-hearted soul with a great sense of humor and I absolutely adored her from the start. I’m almost sad she’s a fictional character, for I’d love to have her as a friend, were she real. Though she’s as friendly and hardworking as can be, life often throws lemons at Allie; her resemblance to her great-great-grandmother, Juliette Mauvais, has some people believing she’s evil and/or malicious.

The current generation of Dumonts may not believe Allie’s evil, but she’s definitely bad luck. Ever since Juliette Mauvais cursed their family, the Dumont men have been unlucky in love, not a one of them ever making it down the aisle. Marc Dumont has a particular reason to be wary of the curse – the one time he asked out Allie in high school he ended up with an unpleasant affliction the next morning. When Allie comes aboard Marc’s river boat to serve as pastry chef, things start to go wrong. Though Allie insists the curse isn’t real, Marc can only see evidence to the contrary. Even so, he can’t resist his attraction to Allie and it’s not long before things heat up as they cruise along the Mississippi. I loved watching Allie and Marc’s relationship develop. The two of them have that special, indescribable “something” that swiftly charms the reader and makes the pages of Make You Mine fly by.

But the road to happily ever after isn’t a smooth one. Marc is an intelligent, rational man, but the overwhelming proof he’s seen has him believing there’s no way to break his family’s curse. Because of this, he screws up with Allie even though he wants to be with her. Allie’s equally determined to make him see that the supposed curse is all in his head. But is it? I won’t spoil any details of the story, but suffice it so say that author Macy Beckett weaves in details that make solid arguments for both sides.

With its steamy romance, its hero and heroine’s easy Louisiana charm, and the mystery of whether or not there’s a curse on the Dumont men, Make You Mine is a captivating read. Add in a cast of fun, endearing secondary characters – including Marc’s siblings, Allie’s sister, and the adorable couple from the Dumont Bachelors prequel novella, Make You Blush – and the story simply shines. I flat-out loved Make You Mine and Ms. Beckett has me hungry for more Dumont bachelors!


FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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