The books chosen by Top Shelf are usually ones that I have read the majority of. There is a reason for that. It is because they are some of the best that I have had the pleasure of reading. Before starting this collection, in particular, I went back to read three of them that I had already read again. The reason for this is for some reason, I didn't leave a review on them. I think this was because at that time I didn't know the importance of writing an actual review over just giving them a star. I know now. Hence, why I want my mind refreshed as I review them as part of this collection.

Love Letter to Whiskey by Kandi Steiner
5 stars

The second time reading this was even better than the first.

I'm not sure why I never left a review for this book the first time I read it. I was remiss in that because this book is truly an experience. The angst and emotion that leaps off the pages, as if they were Superman is powerful. I felt, literally, a maelstrom of emotions. B and Jaimie's love is epic. It is tortured.it is also raw and beautiful. I don't condone some of the actions in this book, but Lordy, these two were destined. Anything that happened was because these two were supposed to burn bright together.

This author wrote so many eloquent passages that truly touched me in how she conveyed the emotions.

"Words don’t get written from a heart that’s never felt. They come from pain, from love, from unspeakable depths — and they were my only release. That was also the night I pledged myself dry."

This quote is just one example. It is sentences like this that make me feel and was the reason I pursued a degree in literature.

This book was how I discovered her and it will forever be my favorite. I highly recommend this book. It was even better the second time around.

Sloth by Ella James
4.5 stars

I am ashamed that I didn't write a review the first time. Even though I had read this story before and knew the outcome, it didn't change the fact that it still felt like I was reading it for the first time. I had forgotten how everything was connected in bringing these characters together.

I enjoy the penpal letters at first and then slowly watching these two characters grow from strangers literally to strangers with secrets. Their Cleo and Kellan had crazy chemistry. Their connection was out of this world. My heart hurt for what they went through in the end. I still felt myself tearing up at a certain part. I would have to be the tinman to not feel the emotions that poured out in this book and those last few scenes in particular.

This book started me on my journey with this amazing author and it is always the one that stands out amongst a bevy of great books. Highly recommend.

Teardrop Shot by Tijan
4.3 stars

This author is one that I had previously only read a handful of stories and this was not one of them. All I really knew about this author was her ability to take something broken, whether it be a person or a situation and somehow would make it whole again.

This book was an example of that. Both Charlie and Reese had something broken in them and they managed to come together in order to fit those jagged pieces into one. I had moments where I initially struggled with the characters, mainly Charlie, but somehow they made me love them. Reese from the beginning was someone that intrigued me. I wanted him to be happy more than anything because there was just something about his demeanor that had me sucked in.

The story felt slow at times which is the main reason that it didn't rank higher. However, at no time was I willing to not keep turning those pages because this writer is gifted in what she crafts. She knows how to keep her audience begging for more. While this was not my favorite from her, sorry that belongs to Ryan's Bed, and Bennett Mafia, it still was another solid book by this extraordinary author.

Love in Lingerie by Alessandra Torre
4.5 stars

If there is something I have learned from all the books that I have read by this author, it is the fact that she can write some steam. She writes the "build-up" in a way that has me more frustrated than the characters. There were even a few times that I was worried my kindle would overheat.

I loved watching the flirting banter from Kate and Trey. From the moment they met, there was just that special something there. I loved the smug cockiness of Trey, and trust me when I say he had EVERY right to feel cocky. He was just delicious. Kate kept him on his toes and I liked that they both made the other better. There were a couple of areas that I wish had been fleshed out more and a couple of times I wanted to shake them because of how they seemed to fight the notion that they were meant for more.

Still, one of my favorites from this author. Highly recommend. ( )