Harlequin Junkie’s Top Picks of 2014!

Harlequin Junkie’s Top Picks of 2014!

Another Year over…

As we draw the curtains on 2014, we wanted to share with you, our Top 14 Pick’s of 2014.

Reading these books have brought us much comfort, joy and laughter and left us with a lasting impression. We wanted to take this opportunity to say Thank You to these wonderful authors for keeping us entertained and feeding our addictions for Love, Laughter and Happily Ever Afters.

Listed in no particular order…

The Life Intended by Kristin Harmel

The Life Intended is a novel that has to be read to be fully understood. This was a very intricate, thought-provoking story that had me shedding a few tears as well as laughing in triumph along with Kate.

This is the type of Chick Lit novel that asks the hard questions we all face in life. ‘What If this had happened instead of that?’, ‘Does everything really happen for a reason?’, ‘Why do bad things happen to good people?’ Sometimes this premise can make for a very tough, arduous read. But not with this story. Author Kristin Harmel did a fantastic job including enough of the sweet moments to offset the bittersweet moments, keeping the overall tone of the book from getting too dark.

The Captive by Grace Burrowes

What I love about this book,is that it’s so different that most historical novels, and I adore different. This is a novel about recovery, revenge, and love, and not a novel about balls, false betrothals, misunderstandings, and reformed rakes. However, it’s not only different, but exceedingly well written. The characters are wonderfully drawn, filled with depth, and have a satisfying amount of development throughout the book. When special moments happened between characters, there is a trueness in the emotion that is conveyed to the reader.

When I read and review a book, I often ask myself three questions: was this book a pleasure to read, would I read this book again, and will I remember this book in future. For me, this is a three-yes book, and I highly recommend it!

Hard to Come By by Laura Kaye

God bless Laura Kaye for introducing us to former Army Special Forces guys Nick, Shane, Easy, Marz, and Beckett. Seriously. I think Hard to Come By might just be my favorite Hard Ink book. So far. Although I seem to say this with every new story about these gloriously talented–and hot!–alpha men. But Marz and Emilie’s touching story is going to be a tough one to beat.

Author Laura Kaye writes some of the most perfect alpha men ever, and the loveliest strong & sassy ladies in romance today. If you want a book with it all: suspense, sex, humor, and camaraderie, definitely check out Hard to Come By.

Shield of Winter by Nalini Singh

Totally. Unbelievably. Wonderful. That’s what Shield of Winter is. If you haven’t yet explored the Psy-Changeling world, you’re missing out!

his was one of those love stories that I just enjoyed every aspect of it from beginning to end. And I liked how there were bits of humor mixed in amongst the darkness of their world. Not only with Vasic and Ivy, but the other couples from previous novels, too.

If you’re a fan of smartly written Paranormal Romance brimming with a myriad of emotions, Shield of Winter is the story for you. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Full Measures by Rebecca Yarros

There are few books which have the power to create havoc on your emotions and Full Measures by Rebecca Yarros definitely falls into that category of those few books. It makes you laugh, cry and most importantly enjoy the whole journey in the end.

The romance was exciting because of the character’s amazing chemistry.I also liked how the secondary characters are handled so well and they are such a great addition to the story.The military world is also described so beautifully and passionately.

Full Measures is a must read for anyyone who loves New Adult genre.

One in a Million by Jill Shalvis

I am so sad to see this series end, but at least Jill Shalvis gave us one last perfect Lucky Harbor couple to fall in love with here in One in a Million.

I’m so glad we got a lot more up-close-and-personal time with the hysterical Lucille, Lucy Harbor’s resident matchmaker/troublemaker. Behind all the craziness was a truly lovely and extremely smart lady who had her own special surprise in the story.

I hope you enjoy every page of Tanner and Callie’s romance as much as I did. And…even though there won’t be any more full length books in the series, *sniff sniff*, I’m sure I’ll be revisiting the folks from Lucky Harbor whenever I need a good laugh and that warm & fuzzy feeling these characters always provide.

The Glass Kitchen by Linda Francis Lee

Linda Francis Lee’s The Glass Kitchen is an outstanding women’s fiction novel that really resonated with me. Anytime food, family, and romance are combined to tell the story, I’m there. Plus…look at that beautiful book cover! Simple and oh-so-welcoming.

I thought there was a wonderful cadence to the writing here, which made it easy to follow along with the scenes and especially the dialogue, with it’s mix of serious and light. And the food references/analogies! They fit the story perfectly and, quite honestly, made me hungry

Snow on the Bayou by Sandra Hill

This book is about loss, this book is about secrets, this book is about reconnecting with your roots, finding your way home and getting a second chance at love with the one person you are meant to spend your life with.

It is about the humor of nosy old Cajun women who know what is best, it is about making peace with the ghosts of the past, it is about the power of love and of course St. Jude (cause let’s face it, St. Jude is the saint of lost causes and we are all a little lost sometimes.).

This books made me laugh, this book made me cry, this book touched me in ways that I can still hear the characters speaking in my head.

The Magnate’s Manifesto by Jennifer Hayward

The Magnate’s Manifesto by Jennifer Hayward is definitely one of the best Presents I have read this year. It has a very different concept, lots of drama (just the right amount), a serious kick ass heroine and a steamy passionate romance.
The romance is passionate, intense and totally toe curling.

I think this might be Jennifer Hayward’s BEST book yet and I can’t wait to read more from her. A must read for every Presents lover!

Love, In English by Karina Halle

Love, In English is absolutely amazing. I thought Vera and Mateo’s romance was so passionate, so perfectly balanced between the drama and the love, that it was simply breathtaking.

I think what I loved most was the sheer honesty in the writing. The emotions were raw, with Mateo and Vera’s fears clearly laid out along with their joy, sorrow, and hope. I was utterly swept away while watching them go from acquaintances, to friends, to so much more.

I cannot recommend this romance highly enough. If you enjoy stories that aren’t afraid to delve into complicated emotions with complete brutal honesty, I think Love, In English will make it onto your keeper shelf.

After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid

After I Do was a thought-provoking novel about one woman’s year long journey to bring the love back into her marriage. What she learns along the way is profound, life-changing, and it ultimately makes her a stronger person.

I was intrigued when I read the synopsis for this novel. But if I’m being honest, I wasn’t sure how taking a year “off” from marriage could ever work out well in the end. Following Lauren while she narrated this story was a bit heart-wrenching at times where she was brutally honest in her own thoughts and, definitely, when she finally confronted Ryan.

For fans of women’s fiction, I think Lauren’s story will resonate with its emotional depth, laughs and losses, and the discovery that sometimes standing on your own two feet can only get better when you share that strength with the one you love most.

The King by Tiffany Reisz

Vive le roi! Long live the King! Kingsley Edge, that is. For those of you who are fans of The Original Sinners series, and even those of you who are new to it, you won’t believe the wickedly salacious tale we have here for our very own reading pleasure.

I just have to say that Kingsley Edge is one of my favorite new literary characters. He is outspoken, generous, kinky, extraordinarily loyal, and oh-so much fun. I loved that I never knew what he was going to say or do. It kept me on my toes waiting to see what King’s next scandalous idea would be and who would be involved in the debauchery.

The King was everything I hoped it would be and so much more. It wasn’t just about BDSM, although it definitely had its fair share of racy scenes. This book was a chance to get to know a larger-than-life character and have copious amounts of fun doing so. Highly recommended for erotica fans.

Love Potions by Michelle Pillow

The unexpected twists and turns in Love Potions blending romantic heat and suspenseful fear will keep you immersed in Love Potions and dreaming of men in kilts! Michelle’s flow is smooth and the writing is flawless.

The unexpected twists and turns in Love Potions blending romantic heat and suspenseful fear will keep you immersed in Love Potions and dreaming of men in kilts!

Highly recommend Love Potions by Michelle Pillow to any paranormal romance reader looking for suspense and a lot of laughter!!

Black Box by Cassia Leo

Over the course of five years, Mikki and Crush cross paths on three separate occasions.

Mikki and Crush are two beautiful, broken characters who are perfection together. Cassia Leo crafted an amazing story with so many interwoven parts that just fit together.

Black Box is a beautiful, wonderful, heartbreaking, and intensely emotional love story. There are some difficult themes and it’s a very emotional experience, but I highly recommend Black Box.

From our family to yours HAPPY NEW YEAR 2015!  LET THE READING COMMENCE 🙂