Reader Favorites – Cheryl’s Best Books of 2018 List

Cheryl’s back!! Well I mean… she’s never been gone (she’s been actively with us for years, reading and chatting books), but we missed her 2016 & 2017 “Best of” lists. But we have this one!!!! YAY US!!!! 😀

And I found us some fun Cheryl “Holiday Highlights” so we can get to know her Christmas-spirit better. 😉

1. Candy canes. Do you savor them or crunch them? Savor, basically suck on them until they are a sharppoint.  

2. Ginger cookies or sugar cookies? Sugar!

3. Best holiday scent? Christmas tree and sugar cookies

4. As a child was it presents on Christmas eve or day? Just like Leslie one gift Christmas eve the rest Christmas day.

5. Anything you really want this year? Amazon gift cards. Vintage Aluminum christmas tree.

6. If you could would you live in the cottage from The Holiday? I’m with Maryse, I don’t know The Holiday.

7. River by Joni Mitchell or Fairytale of New York by The Pogues?
(If you dont know them, Alexa play me….or YouTube, but would she play them?) Nope.

8. Does Auld Lang Syne make you kind of sad? Yes.

9. Will you be glad to see 2018 go? Mixed.

10. Charlie Brown Christmas or The Grinch Who Stole Christmas? Grinch

11. Choose two words to define your 2019. Bittersweet (Daughter will graduate high school, but will also go away to college). Hopeful.

12. It’s the 21st are you here in pjs watching elf? Yes.
If so eating or drinking what? Christmas cookies and wine.
Fav. non-animated Christmas movie: It’s a Wonderful Life. Practically have all the lines memorized from watching it so much. 

…got family christmas PJ’s- Elf and matching PJ’s for the dog! LOL.
My fav is the stuffing with gravy and sweet potato casserole. Roasting the sweet potatoes now.

Now preparing food for hosting bunko tonight. Homemade vegetable soup, winter salad, cheesy mashed potato/goat cheese/spinach appetizers (a new recipe-fingers crossed) apple-gouda pigs in a blanket (hubby wanted me to try this recipe) and cheese and crackers. Oh and not to be forgotten- wine, LOTS of wine!!!!!

Also just found out I’m not hosting Thanksgiving- going to mother-in-laws. Good and bad. Haha.

…my in-laws do pork and sauerkraut. The pork is ok but I am not a fan of sauerkraut. My parents do the black eyed peas.

Laughing about creamer comments as I drink my blonde flat white. I hate creamers- too sweet for me, but hubby loves all. Got him gingerbread latte. Ewww.

And now… Cheryl’s Best Books of 2018 List

The number of books I read in 2018 was significantly less than previous years, but surprisingly when I looked at the books I had read I had some difficulty remembering anything about a lot of them. I also have mainly read Kindle Unlimited books. It’s good and bad. Good because it helps to keep down my spending on books, but bad because I have to be diligent about adding these books to my GR “books read” account because once you return them to Amazon they are gone from your Kindle library, as is any notes you made about the book.

For this year I want to review more books and also save comments to my GR account so that hopefully I won’t have as much trouble writing my favorite’s list. I’ve also gotten more stingy with my 5 star ratings, so that didn’t help with compiling my list.

So without further ado, here’s my list in random order…

Transcend Duet, Look the Part and One by Jewel E. Ann.
Ok, not one book but three by the same author. This author is now on my short list of those authors whose new releases are an automatic one-click. I’m usually not a big PNR reader, but I think Transcend qualifies for that genre. Loved the unique story and was back and forth about who I wanted to end up together.

Look the Part was a funny, emotional read, with an upbeat, rat loving heroine and a straight laced, no-nonsense hero.

I didn’t read One the first time in 2018, but I read it again in 2018. A feisty, independent, strong h who is an amputee and a sweet, sexy quarterback combine to make a book that I read in one sitting (twice) and LOVED both times. If you’ve read the Jack and Jill series you’ll probably recognize these characters.
Mister McHottie, The Pilot and the Puck-Up, Beauty and the Beefcake and The Hero and the Hacktivist by Pippa Grant.

Another author that has become a one-click for me. If you are looking for hilarious, and sometimes, ok most of the time, over the top Rom-Com, you won’t be disappointed. They can be read as a standalone but I would recommend reading them in order.

Cheryl: Jean, I just read Mister McHottie. Pure, LOL entertainment. Did you get the bonus epilogues too? Hilarious. Great break from flat tires and angsty reads. …It was hysterical! Loved it.

Cheryl: Finished The Pilot and the Puck-Up. This author is generally over-the-top and hilarious. It didn’t disappoint. (Mister McHottie is great too). So if you want over the top, with a bada$$ h, I recommend it.

Jock Hard series and How to Date a Douchebag series by Sara Ney

A new to me author. I liked the Jock Hard series so much more than the two Douchebag books I read. (Good lord, not a sentence I thought I would ever be writing). Funny, sexy sports themed stories with heroines who although could be described as a wallflower, are snarky and stronger than they seem.

Cheryl: I finished Jock Row. Funny, lighthearted read. Slow-burn. Recommend you read Switch Hitter first. They are standalones, but characters from SW are mentioned in JR.

One Good Man: a novella and the Beautiful Hearts duet by Emma Scott.

Even though One Good Man was a novella, every word spoke to me and I only had one complaint when I finished it. I wanted more!

Cheryl: I’m reading One Good Man. Wasn’t sure initially since it is set in the 70′s, but so far I’m liking it and I always love Emma Scott’s writing.

Cheryl: One Good Man, I just finished it. Quick, great read. All the feels. 

Beautiful Hearts- It’s hard to put into words the emotions associated with reading these two books. And the words of this story- just simply beautiful. I had so much highlighted.

“You’ve been running from who you are for years, haven’t you? Though it’s a terrible lesson to learn, I can’t help but feel this is the universe’s way of saying now you’re going to sit down and take it. You’re going to sit and be with who you are, Wes. Maybe for the first time in your life.”

*sigh*

Ok, back to my list after a short cry break.

Ride by Dallas Harper.
This was a debut book that certainly did not read like one. Everyone probably knows that I love sports romance and when I saw that R. Renee recommended this one, I promptly one-clicked it. Strong heroine and angsty well-written story about extreme snowboarding.

Waiting for the Sun: Waiting for the Sun, Part One by Robin Hill
Speaking of R. Renee and debut authors, I loved this book! It does end on a cliffhanger, which anyone that knows me, knows that I absolutely HATE!! Reading this book, before book 2 is out was a testament to the beauty of the prologue that drew me in and compelled me to finish the book even knowing I would want to throw my kindle at the end.
From the very beginning I feel in love with the writing. I eagerly impatiently await more of Frankie and Darian’s beautiful story.

Sidebarred: A Legal Briefs Novella by Emma Chase.
Two words- the kids!! Floved them.

Cheryl: Sidebarred. Can I just say more Jake and the kids!!! *sigh* …Quick, sweet read.

Last, I want to mention two authors whose series I love and read more of in 2018.

• The Perfect Game Series by Samantha Christy. Yes, more sports romance!
• And Baby Maker and Tiebreaker by P. Dangelico. Although I’m still on the fence about Tiebreaker. Let’s just say that one is not for Amy.

I also realized after reading everyone else’s fav lists that I forgot to add

• That Guy

Cheryl: Just finished That Guy. Enjoyable, funny read.

• From Lukov with Love.

Cheryl: Just finished From Lukov with Love. It is definitely the very definition of SLOW BURN. I enjoyed the snarky h and her interactions with the equally snarky H; however, I felt like I was skimming because it did get a little redundant with her inner monologues and issues. I think I would have like a little more at the end.

• I also should have put Our Unscripted Story on my list. Loved that one. I think the cover added to my angst level. Kept waiting for the “tragedy.”

Cheryl: Just finished Our Unscripted Story. I forget who said the blurb sounds great… but you were so right! I loved it. The story followed the MC’s who met as teens. There was such angst wondering if they would end up together and along with that I also had such foreboding that something really bad was going to happen. I think it was the cover that started that thought. I was really hoping it wasn’t going to be one of “those” books. You know the one’s Amy and Maryse love. I’m back and forth between 4.5-5 stars. Couple things were a bit of a stretch for me.

Happy 2019 to Maryse and all my wonderful book buddies!!

FANTASTIC LIST Cheryl!!!!! Thank you so much for this, and I’m seeing some repeats of awesomeness that will also be on MY own list. 😉
Like Cheryl’s book style? Check out more of her favorites:

• Reader Favorites – Cheryl’s Top Favorite Books List:
• Reader Favorites – Cheryl’s Top 15 Reads for 2015
• Reader Favorites – Cheryl’s Best Books of 2018 List

➔➔➔  Looking for more of our favorite recommendations? Browse our “Ultimate Favorites Lists” here. Are you in the mood for a certain kind of story? Browse our favorite “genre/trope categories” here and our reader favorites lists too.