Another year has passed. It's funny, but the older I get, the more quickly the years seem to pass. Time speeds up, and there's barely a moment to think about what you are doing, why you are doing it, or if you'd rather be doing something else. We fall into habit, and sometimes those habits aren't good ones. 

I think new year is a time to sit back and re think all of that. We all make resolutions, but is any real thought given those resolutions? Are those resolutions about the size of your pants, or are they about soliciting real change?

Real change takes some work on your part. I know change doesn't come easily to anyone, but if we want things to get better we have to be proactively seeking ways to make things better. I've been plagued by stress this fall. I wanted to get away from the stress, let it wash off of me like water down a duck's back. But, I felt powerless to get away from the stress. I felt trapped by circumstances and people and it was starting to really be a drag. I've had some time to re-group and I've come to realize that I need to start doing things to change how I react situations. So I have a plan in place for that. Thinking about this at length made me realize that there are certain things I have been putting off, or not been consistent with in my life because I was too busy, too tired, too stressed, too in the habit of being the habit of doing things the exact same way because it was easier to do that than to try to change those habits. 

But, if I want the stress to decrease, changing those habits as well as putting into place my No Stress Plan is essential. So I have some goals for the new year in regards to that as well. And oddly, all of this got me to thinking about reading goals and challenges. 

Picture is not my own work

This year, I'm reading less books. I'm challenging myself to 45 books and I plan to include some books that are not romance novels in that mix. Books that I've been meaning a long time, but kept getting pushed to the wayside for romance books because of a million reasons. But, if I want to read those books, I need to make time for them so I resolve to do that dear readers. 

Here is my full 2016 Reading Goals

1. Read 45 books in 2016. 
2. Every other month, read a book that is not romance. 
3. Focus on series you want to finish more than the shiny new series. 
4. Savour every word. 

They are simple goals. But I hope to realize each of them. It's easy to make resolutions and then fall back into old habits a month or two later. So this year, my reading goals and my personal goals are simple, but require me to change my mindset and my habits. What are your goals? Give them some thought during a quiet moment and what you really need (other than bigger pants) will come to you. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR
JEWELS

I started reading the Elemental Assassin series this year, and I love the consistency and true to life way this series feels. It's an urban fantasy, but the problems Gin faces are always so much deeper than merely doing away with the bad guys, and book seven of the series really highlighted that for me.

Series: Elemental Assassin, #7
My Rating: ❀❀❀❀❀
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Gin dealt with the ghosts of her past in the last book, and in this novel, her lover Owen, has to deal with his. Owen's ex-finance Selena is in town, and she's got a vendetta against the whole of Ashland's underworld. Now, that's not necessarily a bad thing, but the trouble is, Owen is utterly blind when it comes to seeing who Selena really is. And she is twisted and cruel and has hurt those close to Gin, namely Eva, Owen's younger sister.

Eva's asked Gin to kill Selena, and Gin has seen how dangerous Selena's elemental powers are, and how she uses them to not only kill but to torture her marks first. So she's faced with a hard choice. Kill Selena, or let her become as dangerous and powerful as Mab once was. And if that wasn't enough, Owen wants to get Selena help because he believes that it was Mab's killing of her father that caused Selena to become the person she is, and he wants to give a chance, to get to her help.

Owen did seem rather too invested in Selena. I didn't blame Gin for being jealous, or for wondering if Selena was right, that Owen really loved her, not Gin and that he would go back to her eventually. And the circumstances and characters put Gin in a hard position. I think she's right when she says that someone has to make the hard choices, and because she's the trained assassin, it's always her. And the hard choices in this novel are ones that involve the safety and emotions of people Gin loves. And what she does will affect what others do one way or another no matter what. I was proud of Gin in this book because she listens to Owen, gives him space, tries to be fair even though she knows how nuts and sick Selena is, but in the end, hard choices have to made and relationships are affected because of that. In some cases, relationships are strengthened and new ones possibly formed, but in another closer to Gin's heart, the relationship is tested and I'm not sure what that will mean for future books.

Relationships are never easy, and this book reminded me of that. They are worth the hurt, the risk and what Gin is going through reminded me of that too. I like it when a book gets you thinking about things that are real, and Widow's Web certainly did that for me. Fingers crossed relationships are healed in book 8. And listening to his book was truly a lot of fun!

Happy Listening,

Jewels

I adore Sarah Morgan's series, O'Neil Brothers. Each book has had something special that has just made it le sigh. I don't know if the sexy brothers (they make me shiver) or if it's the idyllic setting of the series, but each book has been absolutely delicious. I'll be honest, I'm sad there's not more brothers in this family!

Series: O'Neil Brothers, #3
My Rating:❀❀❀❀❀
Genre: Contemporary Romance

I think what first attracted me to this series was the covers (yes, they are the first thing that sparks my imagination) and I'm so glad the covers are sexy sweet because that introduced me to a series that you really can read over and over because they just give you that perfect little happy feeling when you get to the end of these books.

Maybe this Christmas finally gave us the story of Tyler and Brenna, and I was very happy that these two were thrust together as a result of booming business. It was great seeing Brenna take certain things into her own hands and have that spiral into taking her feelings for Tyler into her own hands and confessing her feelings for him. She really grew as a character in this novel and I was happy that Tyler inadvertently pushed her to and that resulted in their happily ever after. It was kinda like a Christmas miracle!

What also was wonderful about this story was Tyler and his

Book One in the series

relationship with his daughter. I thought she was adorable and hilarious and I liked that the whole family had a plan for Brenna and Tyler and that Jess was on the in. It took Tyler a little time to overcome his fear, but I think he was partially able to do that because of Jess. She healed his heart just as much as Brenna did and I liked that balance.

A wonderful story any time of year, Maybe This Christmas will make you smile and make you believe that happily ever afters can come true.

Happy Reading,

Jewels

I haven't posted a Quote It! in a while,but while reading Maybe This Christmas by Sarah Morgan, there were some parts that just leaped out at me. Some made me laugh, some were just...well, sweet. So I had to share because I honestly love this series, and this book is the last the series.

Sigh. I'll have to see what else Sarah Morgan has in a similar vein, there was just something about this series that I adored.

But, today I'm here to share quotes from this great book! I'll get to it without further musing.

"You two are driving me crazy. 'For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo.' Shakespeare obviously never met you and Brenna." 

He'd asked what she wanted as a gift, but she had everything she wanted except one thing. Him.

"I've wanted you forever. It's always been you. Always."

"He is scared, freaked out as you say, so you must unfreak him." 

Well folks, keep your eyes peeled for the review. It's coming soon.

Happy Reading,

Jewels

There's something to be said for a good fantasy that can't quite be said. C.L Wilson is an author who continues to impress me with her fantasy series that is also a sizzling romance series. The third book in this series really wowed me in story development. I never saw what happened coming.

Series: Tairen Soul, #3
My Rating:❀❀❀❀❀
Genre: Romantic Fantasy

This book largely dealt with Rain and Ellysetta trying to save the dying tairen, and thus the Fey. It also dealt with some political maneuverings in the Fey world, but I was glad to see that ultimately Rain's authority as king is upheld. He is mustering together an army of Fey for another Mage War, and it is not easy as the first Mage War cost many Fey lives and the Fey warriors are close to losing their souls. It costs Rain to muster up that army, but I think in the end, the price save the Fey.

As for the tairen, I was horrified when Ellysetta learned what is causing the deaths of their youngs in the egg. I actually shuddered. But while I was elated when she saved those tiny souls in the eggs, I was also very worried for her as it came at a huge cost. I cannot say what might the consequences might be, and with two books still left in this series, I will confess that I'm shaking in my boots wondering what could happen to Ellysetta, Rain, the tairen and all the other characters I've come to love.

There were horrible moments in this book, but there were also beautiful moments, and Rain and Ellysetta are learning how to be a couple that isn't just soul bond, but meaningfully connected emotionally through true acts of trust and sacrifice I doubt I'll ever grow tired of reading their story.
This reader is truly dazzled by the methodical writing, intricate plot and layered characters and I savoured every delicious word.

Happy Reading,

Jewels