You guys!!! It’s Jean’s 2017 list of book awesomeness!!! And boy does she have a bunch for us to sort through. I’ve read a bunch and agree, so I know the one’s I haven’t read need to be mine!
But first… Jean’s fun 2017 comment highlights. 😉 Let’s get to know her shall we?
Jean is suffering TODAY as we speak!
“Just sat down to watch Philadelphia Eagles game which I’ve been waiting for all week and the power went out! Ugh! And it’s 15 degrees here! *crying* … I am a football junkie!”
But Jean has cozy days too. I love her style. 😉
“We’re expecting 3-5 inches of snow here tomorrow…. perfect day to sit on the couch reading with my hot chocolate while waiting for all my Amazon packages to be delivered!”
About how many books we hoard… and if we should cull the list…
“There are a ton of books I downloaded years ago that I don’t think I’ll ever read now. But then the girls here talk about a possible apocalypse and not being able to get books and I get scared! Lol! But seriously, I think I need to do it.”
And the funniest “Jean tidbit” of all!
Holiday tradition: Day trip to NYC. So beautiful that time of year.
Nightmare date: Guy passed out from drinking too much and I had to walk hone. We were young and dumb. Ended up marrying him. Lol!And I can’t figure out what I’d do if I were invisible for a day. Travel in luxury and all that jazz? Raid locker rooms? Hang with rock/country stars? The choices are limitless!
Ready for her list? 😀
“Hi Maryse! I seriously tried to keep this list short, but I guess it’s been a pretty great year for books! Yay us!”
The following are pretty much on other lists, so I’ll just throw them out there:
The Bird and the Sword (The Bird and the Sword Chronicles Book 1) by Amy Harmon <— Amy Harmon doing fantasy….amazing!!! Enough said!
Jean: …it was AMAZING! YOU MUST READ IT! It was magical, mesmerizing, spellbinding! Maryse, have you read it? Is it on your TBR? I don’t usually beg like some people around here (*coughs bev*), but I’m begging! Come on, it’s Amy Harmon, you know you’ll love it!
Mists of The Serengeti by Leylah Attar <— Whenever anyone asks me for a book recommendation and I’m not sure what they really like in genre (and you know some of our books cannot just be recommended to the “normal people”….haha), this is the book I constantly recommend!!!!
I even recommended it to my niece’s book club and they were all like “oh, we don’t do indie books”……but they took a chance and all LOVED it!!! Haha, told you so!
When Life Happened by Jewel E. Ann – I fell for two different men in this book! How many authors can do that for you?
Jean: When Life Happened was great though! Great! Go in blind. I felt like it was 2 books in one. The author really could have messed with us and ended at one part and make us wait for the second …totally threw me for a loop! Did not see it coming at all! Already a 5 star read for me!
Ghosted by J.M. Darhower – We all know why this was a favorite for the year! And I love superheros! …SOOOO GOOD!!!!!
Forever Right Now by Emma Scott ……because, ya know, it’s Emma Scott!
Favorites:
Begin Again: Allie and Kaden’s Story by Mona Kasten – Broody, jerkface, alpha male! Pure perfection! I know I raved about this one a lot! I am dying for her other books to come out in English….I need them like now!
Jean: I’m loving all the love for Begin Again!!! So great! …a jerk! And he could be seriously brutal at times!
Fake Fiancée by Ilsa Madden-Mills – The cover was what drew me in…..but what I found on the inside….so sweet! I know, I know, I can’t stop loving this book!!
Jean: omg, it’s GREAT! The cover is totally deceiving because this book is reminding me of the Off Campus series by Elle Kennedy! The same feels! Loving it!!!!!
Unloved, a love story by Katy Regnery – Totally my type of book! A recluse living off the grid and a girl trying to find her way in life…..LOVED!!
The Gravity of Us by Brittainy C. Cherry – Graham, that cold-hearted, unfeeling, non-believer! Loved him! LOL!! Great book as is what I always expect from Brittainy! Still need to read her latest one…
Jean: YOU MUST READ THE GRAVITY OF US ASAP!!!!!! IN FACT, EVERYONE HERE MUST READ IT!!!!!!! …I basically read it in one day! IT WAS AWESOME!!!!!!!!
My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick – I loved the Garretts! Huge family with so much excitement! I believe this was recommended by bev and Amy, and yes, I absolutely loved it!!! (See bev, I do listen to you sometimes!)
A Love Letter to Whiskey by Kandi Steiner – I know some of you didn’t love this one, but it was just perfect for me. Timing is everything for the h/H in this book and as much as I wanted to strangle them sometimes, I ended up loving it. Loved B’s comparison of Jamie to all the descriptions of “whiskey”. It was perfect!
The Butterfly Project by Emma Scott – Another “go-to” author for most of us, but what I really loved about this book is the side story we got with the comic book being written at the same time. I fell in love with the main characters of the story AND the comic book characters!! Awesome!
Animal (A Prisoned Spinoff Duet Book 1) by Marni Mann – Great storyline, great writing! Many, many triggers and pretty dark read, but oh so good!!! That Epilogue! Holy crap!!
Jean: YOU GUYS! I AM FREAKING OUT! JUST FINISHED ANIMAL AND YOU HAVE TO READ IT! THAT ENDING! THAT EPILOGUE! WTF?!?! *OK, DONE RANT*
Method 15/33 by Shannon Kirk – A book I’ve had for a while and then Kooloo read it and flipped for it, so I followed suit. And yep, I flipped for it!! So well written and just fascinating how a person’s mind can work.
My Image of You by Melanie Moreland – A damaged, damaged man…need I say more?
Jean: He is a photographer who takes extreme risks to get that perfect shot, gets hurt, and meets a sassy nurse!
Torn Between Two/Choosing Forever by Mia Kayla – Gave me the old feels from the early days! A rock star romance…..or is it???
Jean: Loved this unique rocker love triangle series! Highly recommend!
Special Shout Out:
Gravediggers Series – By Lilianna Hart:
- The Darkest Corner (Gravediggers Book 1)
- Gone to Dust (Gravediggers Book 2)
- Say No More (Gravediggers Book 3)
Seriously girls, this is such a great series and unlike any I’ve read!!
Damnable Grace (Hades Hangmen Book 5) & I Do, Babe: A Novella (Hades Hangmen Book 5.5) by Tillie Cole (Hades Hangmen Series) – Most of the Hs in these books are broken and finding their way and/or saving the h who has lost her way……my catnip!!!! Highly recommend the entire series…..MUST be read in order!
The Hearts Series: Books 1-4 by L.H. Cosway – I feel like this series does not get the credit it deserves. I love the writing of L.H. Cosway and I flew through this series…..so good!!
Most of You Have Already Read These, and I Was Late to the Game (and Kicking Myself):
The Five Stages of Falling in Love by Rachel Higginson– Downloaded for over 2 years and I finally read it!! Dumb, dumb me!!! One of the best for my year!
First Grave on the Right (Charley Davidson Book 1) by Darynda Jones – I should have listened to you all! I just loved this book and will definitely be continuing the series…..
Bright Side/Gus (Bright Side Book 2)– By Kim Holden – There are no words to describe the love I have for these books and you all know what I mean! So glad I finally took the plunge!
One True Loves: A Novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid – MY LOVE OF THIS BOOK COMPLETELY OVERFLOWED!!!!!!!!! (R, thank you, thank you….you’re a persistent little thing aren’t you?!?! Ha!)
Maybe in Another Life: A Novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid – Bought for me by my Secret Santa Tasha because I am a cheap a$$ and stupid. I loved it and I was completely torn throughout the entire book! As usual, TJR does not disappoint and her writing is flawless!!!
“I feel like my tastes are changing…..I love all these different/new genres and am sick of the same old-same old. I read 150 books this year and looking back at the majority of them, I can’t even remember what they were about. The ones listed above definitely stuck with me for some reason or another.
Sorry Maryse, I kinda went overboard with my list!!
Thank you for all you do for us crazies here….. I’m so glad to have found you and your blog which then led us all to each other and becoming “book buddies”!!”Happy New Year to you all and of course, Happy Reading in 2018!!!!
P.S. Wanna know more about Jean’s and her favorites?
- Reader Favorites – Jean’s Top Favorite Books List:
- Reader Favorites – Jean’s Top 12 Reads for 2015
- Reader Favorites – Jean’s Favorites 2016
Wow! I read like 8 of these and 3 are on my list too!!
I need to bump a bunch up my TBR: Begin Again, Fake Fiance, Love Letter to Whiskey and One True Loves.
There are a few others I would like to try someday if I get my big girl panties. 😉
You had a good year. Great list.
*clears my throat*
To Tell the Truth I do beg. Heh.
My Life Next Door is a total Amy rec, but I do have it in my tbr.
I have only read a couple of these but do have some in my tbr like Begin Again based on your rec.
🙂 I’m so glad you picked evil. lol Also glad you yelled at me and said, TESSA HE’S A JERK!
Ilsa Madden-Mills doesn’t get enough credit. Each time she releases a new book, I devour it. I’m glad Fake Fiance is on here. Gravity of Us was so good. It felt real. *hides face* I haven’t read any others on the favorites section.
Oh and yeah, that you finally are reading these PNR recs we give you! 😀 Yes, Charlie is funny, but the whole series is just awesome.
Oh Jean, *tosses glitter* My book twin. I’ve read 9/27 and have 4 on my shortlist TBR and most of the rest I have on my regular TBR. Love it! Awesome, awesome, awesome list! Thank you for this!
And thank you Maryse! You rock! Happy New Year, everyone!
Awesome list Jean!!! Happy New Year everyone!
Me too Leslie. I need to bump some of these up my tbr as well. Some great picks, Jean. Thanks for sharing.
Jean you are my book twin!! I have read the majority of these books!!!
Happy New Year!!!
Hi guys!
Leslie, you do need to bump those up in your list!
Bev, please read My Life Next Door. I think you will love it and it might get you out of your slump!
Tessa not sure which book you are referring to….. but when I read about a jerk or bully, I think Tessa!
Grey and Cheryl, you are definitely my book twins….. would that make us triplets? Lol!
Thanks D.G and Jan! Hope you find a hidden gem for yourselves on my list!
Thanks for posting Maryse! Happy New Year! Hungover does not even begin to describe my state today. Got home at 4 am and just woke up! *guzzles water *
🙂 Begin Again.
Love this list. I have read 5 and they were definitely on my top for 2017. I think I am going to try Animal next. I just finished Eight by E.S. Carter. It is part of a series but can be read as a standalone. Of course it had my catnip of widowed Dad with small children. I definitely recommend it.
On another note, I just saw that the first three books of Erin Watt’s Royal Series are now on KU. I had the first but was waiting to start until I had the other books. The 4th in the series is not on KU but maybe it will be later. Happy New Year!
Kathy yes! Try Animal! Eight sounds like something I would love! I have to check it out!
Great List – I have read several – Bird & Sword, Serengeti, Ghosted, Animal. I started Fake Fiancee, but that was during my “slump” – so maybe I should go back & finish it?
Lots of books to add to my TBR – been wanting to read Charlie Davidson series for so long. I think a new series scares me – but why? I love series. Everyone loves this one. What am I waiting for?
Happy New Year Jean. Thanks for sharing your 2017 with us.
Thanks MichelleS! Yes, you should give Fake Fiancee another try, but seriously, the Charley Davidson series rocks and I think you will love it!
JEAN!!!
Big surprise I’ve read 9 of these and have 3 in my TBR library. We often love the same ones. 😀
My buddy from the beginning… *huge hugs*