Locke

I KNEW from the very first moment that I came across Locke's' character in Axel that he was something else. Something different. 

"I'm looking right at you motherfucker. It shouldn't take a big leap of 'clue the fuck in' for you to realize I'm looking right at your dumb fucking ass" he snarls at me with such ferocity that I'm momentarily rendered speechless."

And I was rendered speechless. Here was this big beautiful man with black eyes. One who kept to himself and looked out for his family and loved ones. He was in so much pain. But what was worse is that we didn't know why.

We do get to experience the intense friction between Locke and Emmy through out the other books. And while I thoroughly enjoyed the others, I kept rushing through them hoping and praying that I would get my temporary short fix of Locke. 

My heart broke when Coop was killed and Emmy suffered because he literally gave his life for her. But it shattered when she ran away and Locke couldn't do anything to help her.. Like I mentioned before, I've kept reading because I wanted/needed to know where their story was going. So needless to say that I preordered this book. Started reading it the minute that I had the opportunity to do so. 

Oh my goodness! There are no words to describe what I felt while I read this. I know that I always say this. But seriously. This was freaking awesome. 

"I'll taint her. I'll ruin her. And in the end, it will destroy her. One smile from her made me fall. So I pushed her away..."

We finally get to learn about Emmy's past. And what a fucked up past it is. She had it bad. From a sick and twisted father and mother to a bastard ruthless abuser. What's worse is that her parents let it happen because of their lifestyle. Until her savior shows up.  

"I'm seconds from passing out when I feel his body disappearing. I sit up, struggling to let the air in, and meet the crystal-blue eyes of my savior. 'You okay?' He asks. I nod mutely. A million questions rush through my head, but not a single word escapes before he nods and slams his fist into Shawn's face. I want to weep when I watch him crumple to the floor, passed out cold. 'I'm Zeke, but my friends call me Coop."

Gah. To know that it was Coop that saved and rescued her from that life. It finally made sense as to why it hurt her so much to loose Coop. Not that they had any kind of romantic involvement. But that he became more of a brother figure to her. 

Locke. His name alone. I waited FOREVER to know more about him. I knew that he was intimidating and scary. But he was also such a loveable man. He cared for those that were a part of their family unit. He protected them fiercely. But he wouldn't allow himself to love or feel anything especially for Emmy. 

The things that he went through. From having such a miserable young life, because of the way that his mother treated him. To being deceived by the one person that he had decided to give his heart to at such a young age. 

There was so much that he suffered through. 

I have to say that I absolutely LOVE Harper Sloan. I love what she does and what she gives us. To me, it's such a precious gift. To be able to loose myself in a book. To feel so much while I read a book. To be able to laugh while I do so is amazing. I loved meeting the other Alpha characters. But to be able to experience Locke was something else. 

Reading Funk

I am in a total reading funk right now. I've got about 20+ books sitting in my TBR pile (patiently waiting in my Kindle).
I made the mistake of reading all of Amy Harmon's books in a matter of days... I was so greedy that I couldn't get enough of her writing style. I really do believe that she's turned into one of my Author crushes, kind of like Kristen Ashley. The beauty of her books though is that they have all been clean writes. They have stayed with me. Every single one of her characters. Especially Johnny Kinross.
Anyways, I can't seem to find anything that will grab my attention... I'm searching and searching. Hopefully I'll come across something soon.

Running Barefoot

I honestly and truly believe that I have found one of the best books that I have read, and has become one of my favorites.

We start by meeting Josie Jensen at a very young age. Unfortunately for her, she finds sorrow and pain at such a young age. She basically has to grow up very fast and take care of her loved ones. But despite her troubles, she has a yearning and need for learning. She develops many talents. From understanding and mastering her need for music and playing the piano - to developing an unyielding love for reading and knowledge. 

Then we meet Samuel Yates. He is different in every aspect, so to speak. He is half white-half Navajo. He neither fits in the "white" world or in the "Navajo" world. He is judged and discriminated against where ever he goes. That is, until he meets 13 year old Josie on the back seat of a school bus. She gets picked on by an older boy, and Samuel kindly steps in. But quickly keeps to him self. 

Over time, they develop a "strange" friendship. I say "strange" because this happens while they read and analyze "Wuthering Heights" for an assignment that he has. Little by little, they become dependent on each other. 

I love how that friendship grows. It truly is beautiful in every sense. Josie teaches Samuel a lot. Most importantly how to let go of grudges and to be more than what every one else wants him to be. 

I like that she didn't take it any further with Josie being 13 and Samuel being 18. He joins the Marines right out of High School and is gone for several years. While he's gone, Josie falls in love again. Unfortunately for her, she experiences pain again. Samuel comes back after some time, and helps Josie like she did for him many years ago. 

The trials and troubles that they go through to get where they need to be amazes me. Thee were several times where I wanted to cry - some from heart ache, others from happiness. 

I love what Amy Harmon did with this. It's essentially what I look for in a book.  

Infinity + One

I do have to say that I'm in love. I'm in love with Amy Harmon. With her books. With her characters. I had completely forgotten how much I enjoyed her writing style. That is until I remembered that she wrote Making Faces, which happens to be one of my favorite books.

I was captured from the very beginning. I love how the main characters were almost like a modern day Bonnie and Clyde. They went on a full adventure, without meaning to.

I love that Finn was a total math/number nerd. And Bonnie, well, she was a well know country singer. There was more that tied those two together, and it almost felt like it was their destiny. It was complete beautiful.

I couldn't get enough of them. I feel like the more you say about the story, the more you give away. And I honestly believe that this is one story that you should fully experience for your self.

A Different Blue

"Once upon a time there was a little blackbird, pushed from the nest. Unwanted. Discarded."

I think I was hooked with just reading the Prologue. I wanted - NO - needed to know what had happened to the little girl sitting in the car, while her mother was plotting who knows what.

I felt a lot of pain and sorrow through out the entire book. I'm not saying that it was a horrible book. All I'm saying is that I certainly captured my emotions.

We get to meet Blue Echohawk, a senior in high school. A possible 19 year old. She has no idea who she is or where she came from. All she knows is that James Echohawk became her world when he took her in at a young age. He taught her every thing that she knows but left her alone again at a young age.

Needless to say, Blue has suffered a lot. She also doesn't fit in. But that's because she wants it that way. That is until the new History teacher - Mr. Darcy Wilson - at only 23 years old decides that he wants to help her.

I love how he approaches the situation and how he handles it. He becomes her constant and is there to support her through her trials.

"What we believe affects our choices, our actions, and subsequently, our lives".

I love how she overcomes those trials. But I think what I truly enjoyed the most was how this story came to a full circle. That was a definite tear-jerker for me. When she finally found out the truth about her past and who she really was.

There was "some" romance in this book. But I like that it wasn't all about it completely. It was about that little Blackbird learning how to spread her wings and taking on the sky.

Ugly Love

Every time that I start one of her books I think that it won't be as good as her other work. I feel like such an idiot for thinking so. She has yet to disappoint me from the very first time that I picked up Slammed. I didn't think I could genuinely love an author as mush as I love her, for the work that she does.

She is absolutely amazing. You can definitely see how much she has grown Her work gets better and better. There is more beauty with each chapter that you read.

My goodness. My emotions were everywhere and nowhere while I was reading this. I felt so much for Miles. I loved reading his past. It was pretty intense for someone so young. I kept wondering why he was such a jerk and kept to himself. Once I figured it out, I hurt for him. I understood why he closed himself off, but at the same time, I didn't understand why he wouldn't allow himself to feel anything for Tate. I knew that she was reaching some part of him that had been lost.

Tate was awesome. She never truly gave up. I liked her character. I was pissed at her for accepting what  and how the "relationship" was originally offered to her. I understand why she did it though. She would rather have something than nothing at all.

Cap was one of those characters that was freaking hilarious. An 80 year old man that piloted the elevator in their building complex. I loved his sense of humor and his mart remarks.  I love that he was Tate's best friend and was there for her to help and support her.

 Overall, I absolutely love this book. Everything was perfect. From the way that she wrote Miles and Rachel to Miles and Tate. Everything was beautiful.

I was trying to figure out why Ugly Love. Until I finally understood it all. And it was Beautifully Heartbreaking...

Unbeloved

I started my affair with this series when I came across Undeniable in October of 2012. I've read the other books as well. I was very curious when I realized who this book was about because Dorothy is mentioned in the other books as well. 

I'm glad that I took the time to read it. I freaking loved it from the first chapter to the very last. I was very happy that we get to hear her side of the story and what really happened.

Needless to say that my appreciation for Hawk grew. There was so much that I learned that made me understand him a lot more. He really wasn't a bad person. I mean, yeah he does all the dirty work for the MC, but he's not that bad. Not if he can truly fall in love with someone. 

I enjoyed that we get to read the book through Dorothy, Jase and Hawk's POV. That was a bonus for me. To be able to really know what is going on inside their heads.  

I like that we get to learn how Jase and Dorothy meet. I find it very messed up what he put her through. Although she was always the "other" woman in the rest of the books, I feel like this one justifies her. She really did fall in love with him, although she did it and acted in a selfish way. I say this because she put the needs of her daughter aside for Jase. 

The ending in this book has me all sorts of twisted right now. I don't think I can wait until May of 2015 for it to be released.