Two More Favorites for 2017

Okay.

I have debated this and what I came up with was ...

My blog

My rules.

: ) 

I've gushed about these two authors before.

I sometimes feel like I'm playing favorites with them, and then I feel guilty because - as mentioned before and as you can see from my previous posts - there are SO MANY AMAZING AUTHORS I've read in 2017!  

But I couldn't in good conscience not share just one more time (for 2017 - I have no control and will more than likely be gushing about them again for many years to come, so ... yeah.  *grin*)!!

(Please also note the happy coincidence that the hero in both stories is named Dane...Heh!!)

And so, here you are:

Take Me Back 

by 

Meghan March

This story pulled me in and would not let me go!  

I thought it might be a tough read, but it pulled me in from page one and I couldn't put it down until it was finished.  There are twists and turns and laughter and tears - and oh, the passion!  This is a second chance story - but not your regular kind of second chance.  It gave me the best kind of book hangover, and will be a re-read for certain!  It's the kind of story I want to read again for the first time, to experience all the things that are Kat & Dane.

: ) 

Rescuing Bryn

by

Susan Stoker

There were a lot of books by Susan that I loved this year - she had a new one out just about every month, plus I did a re-read of quite a few.  But Bryn & Dane each hold a special place in my heart because of very specific things about their personalities & individual stories.  And together they have one of my favorite, FAVORITE things in any story - excellent banter!  

*happy sigh*  

I feel better now.

I just couldn't leave these two excellent stories out of my 2017 favorites, and I hope if you haven't read them yet, that you'll give them both a try!  

TTFN!

: ) 

Some of my Top Reads of 2017 (Part 2)

Whoops, I meant to publish part 2 before January 1st, sorry about that!  

Somehow, my Top Reads posts became more author-specific than book-specific, because there were so many authors I read more-than-one book that touched me & became a favorite, making the author into a favorite to share & recommend!  

So, here are a few more of those authors who gave me MANY books to love this year!  

Lani Lynn Vale - This woman has SO MANY series going, and they are (from what I can tell) ALL connected.  It's amazing!  Connected stand alone stories are my favorite things ever, and to have multiple series all connected... You never know which characters from other areas are going to pop up & it's faaaabulous!  I'd read a couple of her books a few years ago, and I was blessed to meet her at a signing (Nashville, October 2016).  It wasn't until 2017, however, that I truly DISCOVERED her stories.  I devoured 10+ this year & enjoyed each & every one!  Looking forward to more in 2018!!

Aurora Rose Reynolds - I've gushed about her before, so y'all already know I adore everything she writes.  : )  Watching her career grow these past few years has been AH-MA-ZING!  She works so hard & writes stories (again, connected, LOVE IT!) that touch my heart every single time.  And in 2018, some of my other favorite authors (Susan Stoker!  Brynne Asher!) will be writing stories for a KW (Kindle World) based on ARR's story universe.  I am SO EXCITED!  

Jennifer Vester - Her Lakefield series sucked me in SO HARD!  The stories are fast-paced & full of ALPHA-Y GOODNESS!  One of my authors posted a recommendation for her series on their FB page, so of course I had to check it out.  ; )  The covers drew me in & then I looked at the blurbs & devoured all three right away.  Then when Chase came out, I was ON IT!  *pounce*  *laugh*  Seriously, tho, I'm so thankful to have found these stories!!   

Jennifer Van Wyk - I somehow was blessed to read an ARC of A Better Place, and it was FANTABULOUS!  10+++ stars.  The banter, humor, meet-cute - everything about this story kept me turning pages & laughing out loud & swooning all over the place.  I need to read more from her in 2018!!  : )  

Scarlett Cole - I fell in love with her Second Circle series a bit ago, and then this year I discovered she has a spin-off series, Preload, and OH MY HECK!  The world she built around these characters is amazing.  My eyes are tearing up typing this, because the guys in Preload had such rough childhoods, but they came together as a family.  The support they have for each other... the way she wrote them, the overarching story line for both series is nothing short of brilliant.  These stories stick with me and pop into my head at random times... *sigh*  *hearts*  

I'm seriously going through all the books I read this year, and it was such a wonderful year for books!  I've gotten pretty good at picking books that will be 4 or 5 (or more) star reads for me.  New-to-me authors are always a gamble, but I've been pretty good in that respect this year as well.  Found some that became favorites - Amie Knight, RB Hilliard, Cybill Cain, Jamie Schlosser, Jessica Florence, Devney Perry, Brooke Parker, Alice Ward, RL Mathewson, Parker S Huntington... I could seriously go on & on, because I found SO MANY authors to love this year!  
And then, of course, the authors who I've been obsessed with for a while, who put out some great reads this year - Rochelle Paige/Elle Christensen/Fiona Davenport, Susan Stoker, L.B. Dunbar... 
SO MUCH GOODNESS!!!  

(EDIT: I had to put together a book-specific post, as well... I'm OBSESSED!)  

Being able to read these stories is a blessing, and one I'm grateful for!

Who've you discovered in 2017, and what are you looking forward to reading in 2018??

TTFN! 

: ) 

Top 10 (or 11) READS (actual books) of 2017

I couldn't resist.

These books blew me away in 2017 & I had to share!

I'm linking to my Goodreads reviews, which include highlights (love that feature on the site!) & you'll be able to get to purchase links if you so desire.  : )  

Tied by Carian Cole - Carian has written some of my favorite reads, it's true (Storm, Torn, Talon), but Ty & Holly's story absolutely blew me away.  It unleashed a level of emotion I'd been unable to let go of for a very long time.  The love and devotion of these two characters, the way they brought each other out of very valid shells... It's not only one of my favorites of the year, but one of my favorite stories ever.  

The Bad Guy by Celia Aaron - I don't really do dark reads.  I like to leave a story feeling good vibes, and want to feel good about falling in love with the hero/heroine of the tale.  But Jamie Schlosser sent me a note that basically said READ THIS NOW and I trust Jamie, so ... I read it.  And WOW!  The premise is definitely darker than my usual (a kidnapping, what?!), but the nuances and pacing, the way we're shown what's going on in Sebastian's head... Yep.  It did it for me & I join Jamie in highly recommending this one!  

Speaking of Jamie... Untamable by Jamie Schlosser - This story is the furthest from a dark read that you will find.  It is HILARIOUS and is just a total feel-good tail... I mean tale.  *grin*  So many true LOL moments!!  : )  

A Steel Heart by Amie Knight - This was another LOL and swoony favorite!  It could have been a dark read - our hero, Holden, is suffering from PTSD & he is a growly beast.  But Miranda is such a burst of joy, and she has the perfect personality to help him through his darker times.  Tippy top read!

Orion by Raeah Wilding - I have this deep, abiding love for wounded warriors, PTSD survivors, men who have put it all on the line in service to their country & come back with scars (seen, and unseen).  This is a story with all of that and more.  It is deep and emotional, and made me want to crawl inside the story to dole out hugs.  

The Map To You by Lindy Zart - There is a lot going on with this story, and I can't even begin to describe it with any level of accuracy.  It tugged at my heart, made me laugh and tear up and fall in love!!  

Pierce My Heart by Kelsey Jensen - This one is an insta-love with lots of depth - I know, sometimes those two things don't go together, but this story is done perfectly in that regard!  Jake & Anna are FUN to read.  : )  

Dare to Dream by C.A. Harms - When I wrote my review for this story, I described it as a 100% perfect read.  There are parts that are so completely a mirror of my relationship w/ my dad that it was a very emotional read for me.  Even with the tears it brought forth, though, it is a FUN read, and one I am looking forward to re-reading & falling in love with again!  Also, it's one of my favorite covers!!  : )  

Trick by Laramie Briscoe - This was one of my first reads of the year, and my first by this author.  It pulled me in from the teasers & blurb I saw on FB, and I pre-ordered it based on that teaser/blurb.  It's a great example of single-parent stories done right, and the chemistry & love you can feel between Trick & Hadley, and the way they have a care to her daughter's feelings ... Loved it!  

Drowning to Breathe by A.L. Jackson - I'm not a big "duet" fan.  I like connected books, but tend to want each couple to have ONE book, because I don't like when things get drawn out unnecessarily.  So, for this one - part two of a duet at the beginning of a series of connected stand alones - to make my top reads of the year, well, it's THAT good!  There is some relationship drama at the beginning, but it gets resolved fairly quickly & the rest of the story is Baz & Shea working together as a team, which I loved!  

Unspoken Words by H.P. Davenport - This one is a little more angsty than I normally like - friends to lovers tend to do that, have a bit of back & forth because they don't want to mess up their friendship.  But Jamie & Cami's story is just so well done that it made it to my list of favorites!  You can feel what they're feeling, and can understand (mostly) the hesitations.  There is also a tragedy that gets mixed up in there, and again the writing is just so beautifully done... AND as a bonus, there is a follow up, Unspoken Vows, where we get to see more from these two.  : )  

There you have it, my friends!  

I hope you've found one or two new-to-you authors to check out, or discovered you & I have a love for the same books!  

Do share!  

TTFN!

: )