Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Bells' Year End Review!

Welcome to my 1st ever year end review for my blog!
I tried to put all of my favorite things of the year into 1 post!


Dead, Undead, or Somewhere In Between!
Author: JA Saare
I love this book! You know how once in a while a book will come around that you absolutely love with your heart and soul? Well this is that book. It's my go to book when I feel absolutely shitty. It always makes me feel better when I read it. I love the characters in this book so much that you'll see me mention them time and time again. The writing was awesome and because of that I love JA Saare's voice. I have read all of her books and am looking forward to the sequel, The Renfield Syndrome. JA Saare is now my Boo. What started off as chatting on Twitter turned into an actual friendship. I may have got all fangirl and geeked out at the beginning, but she really, truly, appreciated my love for the book. That led to us realizing that we share similar interests and are both driven crazy on a daily basis by our families. Craziness truly brought us together. LOL!

Honorable mention: Alien Tango
Author: Gini Koch
Another awesome author that I had the pleasure of "meeting" on Twitter. I read her first book, Touched By An Alien, soon after it was first released and fell head over heels in love with her main character Jeff Martini. I then proceeded to let her know how I felt and she actually took the time to chat with this fangirl on Twitter. Then she released this little diddy up above and my love has turned into an obsession. This book was full of so much awesomeness, that I gave it *10* Bells in my review. I am looking forward to all of her future releases. Her books are so much fun!

Other Honorable mentions:

Archangel's Kiss by Nalini Singh

Sin Undone by Larissa Ione

Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews

Twice Bitten by Chloe Neill

Smooth Talking Stranger by Lisa Kleypas

Double Cross by Carolyn Crane

The Downside Series by Stacia Kane



JA Saare!

Honorable mention: Gini Koch




Con and Sin from Sin Undone!
Author: Larissa Ione
Not only did hey have scorching smex throughout the book, you truly felt the love they have for each other. Con was a 1st for Sin, the first man that she truly let in, and Larissa Ione did a wonderful job at portraying that. Because of that, I named them as my couple of the year.

Honorable mention: Disco and Rhiannon
Dead, Undead, or Somewhere In Between
Author: JA Saare
Rhiannon was another great heroine that eventually let her man in and let him see her for what she truly was. Disco was patient, and because of that, Rhiannon gave him her heart. I loved that Rhiannon didn't like him at the beginning of the book. Disco gave off vibes that he might be a real prick, but that turned out to be the complete opposite. We learn that he has always been attracted to her, and their feelings for each other grew as they had to work together. Disco *swoon*



Chess and Terrible's Tunnel and Bathroom Scenes!
City of Ghosts
Author: Stacia Kane

*fanning face* Oh Terrible...you got some skillz boy! The smex scenes in this book between the two of them were scorching! Who cares about wet cement under your back and being in a dark, dirty tunnel if Terrible is giving you a hurtin'! Chess you lucky girl you. Chess was feeling it so good that she thought she might sift through the door in the bathroom! These two gave into the passion and we were rewarded with some well written scenes from Stacia. I know I'm not the only one that wanted to follow them into the bedroom at the end of the book. ;)

Honorable mention: Con and Sin's Snowball scene
Larissa Ione
Words cannot describe this scene. You must read it for yourself. In fact, if you haven't read this series yet, start at book 1 of the series, Pleasure Unbound, and ride the lust wave all the way through the series! You will not be disappointed.


BARRONS!
Say my name!
The Fever Series
Karen Marie Moning

Jericho Z. Barrons. A man that has captured my heart, my mind, and my soul. What is he? I don't know. Is he good? I don't know. Is he bad? I don't know. I may not know a lot about Barrons, but I know I loves him something fierce! After re-reading the books in this series, my love has just grown for this man. Yes he can be a prick and an arrogant bastard, but I love it when he is like that! I love it when he yells at Mac. I want him to yell at me! Yes I'm weird, but I would probably do things on purpose just to hear him yell at me. Then we could have wild make up sex! You know that Barrons is a beast in the bed! Lock me up in a room with him!


Honorable mention: Raphael, the Archangel of New York
From Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter Series
Raphael has been my number 1 for a while now, but Barrons has been on my mind the most He is so intense, just like Barrons, and I love it! I've read the new Guild Hunter book above and I must say, that Raphael is just as intense in this book. He is so sexy and I want to bathe in his angel dust!


Book Boyfriends of 2010

Martini

Disco

Roarke

Cope

Finn

Luke

Jax

Hardy

Jack

Packard


All of Rhiannon's Law's
Dead, Undead, or Somewhere In Between by JA Saare
The Law's in this book are almost like a character of the book! They are so freaking awesome. I do have to say, it was this first one that opens the book that had me chucking as I read it:
Rhiannon's Law #27: When you're working in a gentleman's club and one of your dancers takes off those heels, alert the big guns, and ass kicking is on the menu.
Hehe! All of the law's are just as awesome as this one!


Honorable mention: Terrible telling Chess that he loved her. *swoon*
City of Ghosts by Stacia Kane

He lifted his head to look at her. Giving her his eyes, giving her what was behind them. "You know I do, aye? Love you right, Chessiebomb."
I literally held my breath while reading this entire scene. It was what we were waiting for since book 1, and Terrible words were oh so right!


JOE MANGANIELLO!
This is the photo that started the obsession. Angie on Twitter posted this pic, and I've been in lust ever since! I cannot wait to see more of him in the next season of True Blood!


Yack as in it was horrible!
I'm Your Girl by J.J. Murray
I managed to drag my poor buddy Lynette into reading this book with me! It was a DNF for both of us. One day as we were discussing it on Twitter, Robin was curious as to why we didn't like it. So she also tried to read it. Nope, didn't work for her either! So this book was a DNF for all 3 of us. It was YACK!


Tell them ShaNayNay!

There is a 4 way tie for this category! So many OMG moments that I just can't leave them out! Because these scenes include spoilers, I'm only going to mention a little info and OMG!

Dead, Undead, or Somewhere in Between by JA Saare
Rhiannon! WTF?! Oh. My. Goodness!

Unholy Magic by Stacia Kane
When Terrible sees you know who with you know who. Oh. My. Goodness!

Double Cross by Carolyn Crane
Packard! NOOOOOO! Oh. My. Goodness!

Twice Bitten by Chloe Neill
Ethan, DAMN YOU! (I love you!) Oh. My. Goodness!



Favorite book moment of 2010:
Finally getting my hands on Lover Mine by JR Ward!
As soon as I left the book store and got in the vehicle, I pulled it out of the bag and bosom hugged it. Hubs just stared at me. I was so happy to get this book and continue reading about one of my favorite series, the BDB! BDB4EVA!



What was new on Hanging with Bells for 2010:
I lost my m/m virginity by reading Faith and Fidelity by Tere Michaels!
I won it on Stacey's blog!
And I was rewarded by SmokinHotBooks with this badge!


I fell in love with a cowboy by the name of Luke! Now I want to devour all cowboy books!
Mount Up by Melissa Ecker
Seduction In Memory Grove is a series of 3 hot novellas! I enjoyed them so much that I put Luke on the Book Boyfriend right away!


My blog turned 1!
I had an awesome time this 1st year and can't wait for many more years to blog about the things that I love! There will be more reviews, author interviews, and giveaways in 2011! The blog will even had a different look. My giveaway is still open until 1/5/2011. Click here to enter it!



Most anticipated read of 2011:

SHADOWFEVER!!!!!
I have been waiting for this book and finally it is almost here! 1/18/11 is going to be an awesome day because I will be reunited with my love Barrons and I can finally find out who/what he is and why he does the things that he does! I know there are a lot of you out there that are looking forward to this as much as I am!



*wipes brow* Whew! It took me a bit to get this post finished. There was a lot more that I wanted to add, but I know that you don't want to spend all day reading the post. Hehe!

I just want to say a big thank you for reading my blog! It means a lot to me that you would take the time to read all of the crazy things that I have to say!

Here's to 2011 and all the awesome books that we'll be reading!
Let me know what some of your favorites of 2010 were and what are you looking forward to in 2011!


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27 comments:

  1. Dead, Undead, or Somewhere In Between was also one of my favorites. :D

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  2. What a great post, Belinda! You've got me craving all those books I haven't read now. LOL

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  3. I love your choices and honorable mentions! I must get my post up soon..but chapter 8 in Twice Bitten didn't get any honorable mentions?

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  4. Awesome post chica! I am in agreeance with just about everything..tho I need to read JA's book...Youve said awesome things about it, need to get my hands on it now :)

    Some favs of mine were Cynthia Eden's new books this year as well. And discovering Lori Brighton..love her :)

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  5. You should've pointed out how me never agree on books. So if we BOTH think something SUCKS, it must be something else! LOL!

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  6. My heart is racing really fast reading this post!!!

    Chess & Terrible get my vote too for Smokin Hot Smex Scene of the year - AND the quote you list, too, Chesssyyybombbbb.

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  7. AWESOME LIST BELLS!

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  8. Melanie - I'm glad you loved Dead. You were my first share the love winner and I shared Dead with you. Such a great memory. *hug*

    RRR- Yeah you do need to read some of them. Especially DEAD!!! I'm going to stay on your ass until you read it! I still love you though. LOL!

    C - There were so many scorching scenes to choose from! Those were the 2 hottest for me so I had to put those 2. You know that Ethan has a special place in my heart. :D

    Nikki - I hope you get a chance to read it. It's an awesome book. Thanks for telling me your faves. :D

    Lynette - So true! LOL!

    Spaz - Gotta love Chessiebomb! *swoon* Thanks for all the awesome comments this year! *hugs*

    Lily - Thanks! It was really hard to pick and choose. But, ultimately I had to go with what my heart chose. (Gosh that sounds really sappy.)

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  9. Awesome awesome post!!!! I agree with pretty much all of it!!!! AND I'm starting Touched by an Alien today so hopefully I can share in your joy of that book!!!

    What a fun year for you!!! I am SO glad you started blogging.

    Terrible makes me feel tingly.

    Shadowfever makes me feel jittery

    I can't wait to read with you in 2011! :)

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  10. Awesome post Bells! You are so passionate about the books you love and I must say that I have a lot of your books on my TBR (because of you and all the other tweeps who are constantly talking about these books. I've bought Carolyn Crane, Gini Koch, Stacia Kane all because of twitter and by blog buddies). Can't wait til 2011 and more book goodness.

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  11. Great post, Bells. I love your passion. Can't wait for more in the new year!

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  12. Fantabulous post! I was planning on doing the same type of post. Best couple. Hottest smex scene. Now I don't want to do it cause I don't want folks thinking I'm biting. Ha!

    Maybe I need to re-read Undead. I remember liking it but not as much as everyone else. I didn't care for Rhiannon too much. And Disco was just meh for me. But I totally agree with the rest of your choices!!

    The countdown to Shadowfever is on and poppin'! I'm getting chills just thinking about it. Barrons!!!!!!!

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  13. Mandi - Smexi, you were one of the 1st to encourage me to start blogging so I think you for giving me all the support that you do! *hugs* We are going to have so much fun in 2011 discussing our books! WOOT!

    The Book Pimp Blogs - Thank you for those kind words! I'm sure your TBR pile must be just as big as everyone else's. LOL! Have fun reading!

    Ash - Thanks! Books have been such a big part of my life since I was a little girl. The coming year's releases are going to be so good!

    Marq - My PP! Thanks for all of your support girlfriend! Go ahead and do your post. We all think the same things when it comes to books! I would love to see your choices...girlfriend! LOL! BARRONSSSSSS!!!!!

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  14. Awesome post! I've actually had Lover Mine in my possession since it release but have yet to devour it. I can't wait to find out what's in store for JM!! And I agree, Shadowfever is one of the most anticipatively releases for 2011.

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  15. Hey Bells! Fantastic post! I love your blog, and adore you. I didn't know you read Faith & Fidelity. I love that book, I'm reading Love & Loyalty rite now and loving it! I'm so glad you fell in love with a cowboy (thanks to Melissa Ecker) it warms my heart to know this!

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  16. What a wonderful wrap up Bells! And I agree with almost all of it. If I didn't agree with it, it's because I didn't read it.

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  17. YAY BELLS! Loved all your favorites. I especially loved that you bosom hugged JM when you got him from the bookstore, I can't say I didn't do the same thing and then I tore into that book like nobody's business. I feel I will have a similar reaction to Shadowfever when it gets here even though I will have already read it on the kindle:) Can't wait for 2011!

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  18. Great wrap up and totally agree with you about some of those series. Barrons, Terrible series.
    I have last barrons book on order :)

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  19. *lifting my head off the sofa* OMG I love your post!! Such a fabulous year of books! Thanks so much for sharing all the fun and welcoming me into the Book Bloggers Circle :) Here's to 2011! And all the SF tweets that will start on the 18th!

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  20. Love, love, love your O.M.G. moments! Damn Ethan is right.

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  21. Thank YOU for putting together this post and for making this blog fun to visit day in and day out!

    One of my favorite discoveries this year was Lorelie James' Rough Rider series. I too have a cowboy obsesssion. ;-)

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  22. crap I haven't read Dead Undead yet. Shame on me.

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  23. Fab post Bells. Terrible and Chessiebomb *swoon* I can't wait for book 4.
    JA Saare is SUCH a talented author. And a great person to boot!
    Yum to Joe.
    OMG Shadowfever. That's all I can say.

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  24. Great post! I haven't thought about my Favorites for 2010, but I should, huh? I have a feeling it would be Meljean Brook, Jill Myles, JL Langley and Larissa Ione heavy!

    Thanks for a great year!!

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  25. BV - I hope you get to catch up before Lover Unleashed comes out.

    Andrea - I love and adore you! Thanks for all your great recs this year. I love Hardy and Jack!

    Julie - Thanks for stopping by. :D

    Jenny - My padded cell mate. I hope 2011 brings us many new book boyfriends that we can talk about.

    My 5 Monkeys - 2010 was a great year for books. I'm so looking forward to next year!

    Princess - We are going to have a ball discussing SF!!! I can't wait!

    C - Our Ethan was such an asshole. I still love him though! I love discussing books with you and can't wait for our chats next year!

    Jen D. - I read my first Lorelei James book as well. Holy hotness Batman! Can't wait to chat more with you!

    Smokin - It's really good. I hope you get the chance to read it.

    KB - LOL! Here's to more Joe next year!

    Tori - Thanks and I can't wait to discuss next years books with you. You're awesome! :D

    Hot Momma - I <3 you and can't wait for our future book chats!

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  26. Wow, so happy to be on your list, and in such great placement! *does the happy dance* (But...no Nathan, Jason or The Zane in the hunks department? LOL) Thanks for making my debut year so awesome, Bells! *smootchies*

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