Recommended Books and Deep Thoughts

March was a bitch. I hated March. I spent the entire month being sick, tired, and grumpy. One of my many sources of income requires student recitals. I performed yesterday, and two out of three performances went very well. The first one I barely survived. My hands shook while playing piano. I swear the notes disappeared from the page. I tried all my usual tricks to overcome stage fright, which you’d think after performing for nearly twenty years I’d be over it by now, and none seemed to help. The audience didn’t notice my mistakes. Everyone said it sounded wonderful. But I knew. The thing is, I should forgive myself of this performance and move on. I will. There were a bunch of excuses I could use legitimately to cover my ass—exhaustion, getting over pneumonia, hadn’t performed in over a year—but I don’t want to use them because the other performances went so well. The point, as I see it is, no matter how well prepared we think we are for something, unforeseen shit happens and we just have to roll with it and do the best we can in that moment. Improvise. Accept. Learn from it and move forward.
Being sick has allowed a substantial amount of time to read. The following books I’ve enjoyed quite a bit and highly recommend and in no particular order:
Who doesn't love a frustrated billionaire looking for the perfect sub with whom to fall and love and spoil rotten? It's kinky love at it's best.
http://www.amazon.com/Loving-Master-Manse-Lynn-Kelling-ebook/dp/B018496PW0








Shattered. Not just broken, heartbreaking. Haken beautifully developed the two main characters, and I struggled with them, my heart broke for them, and I cheered for them. I read this in one day. A isolated head of a publishing company meets a new employee and quickly finds himself enjoying his company a little more than he expected. The only problem with it is he knows he's broken and doesn't deserve love.
http://www.amazon.com/Broken-Nicola-Haken-ebook/dp/B01CEUZT40




The mood is dark, the sex full of angst. The son of a mobster loves a good underground fight, and when he decides to expand his business to a tiny shit-hole town, he meets the very man capable of satisfying his need, a need that if anyone discovered, especially his mobster father, would make him appear weak and potentially cost him his life. I felt like I walked through hell with these MCs. There is BDSM, hot angry sex, fighting, and a very satisfying ending.
http://www.amazon.com/Clouded-Hell-J-R-Gray-ebook/dp/B01DB0B4GO


Seven years can change many things. Finley got a note to come home, and he intended to get the man who sent it out of his system once and for all. When he sees him again, the memories come back, and the love Finley thought he could stomp out only grows like a wildfire. Finley is faced with a decision to continue his successful career as a lawyer or stay in his home town with the professor he loves. I loved this story. Of all the books I've listed, this is the most lighthearted one and it'll make you feel good.
 http://www.amazon.com/Finley-Sunset-Cove-Series-Book-ebook/dp/B01D8PTUQS

WARNING: This is not a standalone novel. I finished this book and was desperate for the second book. I mean like a dog in heat, I wanted the second book so much...but...it's...not...out...yet! These characters, Blake and Cade, grow and learn, and engage in some kink. Their dynamic will have you panting, swearing, and pinning away for them. Secret pasts, relationship hang ups, daddy issues, yeah. Read it. You'll like it. But if you want a feel-good ending, it's not here, not yet.
http://www.amazon.com/Shattered-Past-Anne-Pine-ebook/dp/B0131HHBBE


Witches, vampires, demons, and politics surrounding the city of Boston, which I'm partial to because I grew up there, set the backdrop of this well-written urban fantasy. Vampires aren't my thing and it put me off from reading this for a long time. I'm glad I pushed that prejudice aside. This is a fantastically thought out story with a very three dimensional main character. The bond between him and his vampire is so hot, it drips sex, even when they're not having sex. Nothing sparkly or teen angst like here. Give it a chance, even if you are over the vampire thing. I think you'll be happy you did.
http://www.amazon.com/Necromancers-Dance-Beacon-Hill-Sorcerer-ebook/dp/B01C8VW8GC