Reader Favorites – Kathy’s Best Books of 2019 List

This is Kathy’s very first Best of the Year list with us, though she’s actually been with us (and commenting pretty regularly) over the last few years. In fact, she’s been with us since 2013!!! I was thrilled to gather up some of her latest life and book highlights over the last year and a half so we could get to know her better.

And then… her list right after this!!!

Fun Facts About Kathy:

This is my favorite time of year. I love finding new treasures to read as well as reaffirming that maybe my taste isn’t so bad 🙂

I am an audible virgin.

I love Hockey romances!!

I am a sucker for a sports romance and girl from the wrong side of town!

Does anyone ever get book paralysis? I finished my last book 3 days ago and just couldn’t decide what I wanted to read next. I mean if you looked at my Kindle, it would be so embarrassing of the number of really good books that have been sitting in it collecting dust.

Some of her favorite books over the years:

Just got a new Kindle for Christmas with so much more memory that I am a little scared of all of the books that I can put on it!

I recommend The Art of Racing in the Rain: A Novel to everyone I know. It makes you reevaluate how you treat your precious fur babies, what they are thinking, etc.

I have never highlighted as many passages as I did in the Mists of The Serengeti. I have been waiting so excitedly for her new book!!

I have been re-reading some oldie but good Historical Romances lately. I had missed this genre!

For those of us, cough, cough over the age of 40, I have really enjoyed the latest books by L.B. Dunbar. She has heroines and heroes over the age of 40 in second chance romances. I have read 3 of the 4 and would definitely recommend them. A nice change of pace 🙂

Maryse, the Jack and Jill series is amazing. it puts you through so many emotions (dark, some tears, and some laughs). But you can’t just read one, you have to read all to get to the conclusion. Your laundry and house cleaning will forgive you!

…for those of you with teenage daughters or who like YA books, my daughter and I read A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi. It takes place a year after 9/11. We loved it but both wish it had an epilogue at end. But we would still give it 5 stars.

Favorite enemies-to-lovers: My favorite is an oldie but goodie! Loved Wallbanger by Alice Clayton. It is an enemies to lovers but also had those laugh out loud moments that made it a great combination!

Rock Star Romance: Love Cake!! It is one of my favorite stories about a rock star. I read it in one day!! …I recommend it to everyone I know. One of the best rock star romances ever!!

Travel: If you are going to be in that direction in Europe, look at Bruges, Belgium. It is called the Venice of the North and the city is located on canals. It is so beautiful. I went there with my now husband and it is a very romantic city.

I lived in SF for 8 years. Go to Baker Beach, it is one of the best views of the Golden Gate. At night, it is amazing!

4 more days until my husband gets home!! He is on a 50th b’day golf trip to Scotland so I have much appreciation for single parents!

A Day in the Life of Kathy:

1. What you last ate: Vegetarian Taco Salad from a really good Mexican Taqueria.
2. Last thing you drank (or currently drinking): Chardannay since I just got home after watching my H.S. son’s golf match.
3. Did you buy anything today: Beef Jerky for my son, take out dinner
4. How is the weather: Sun but really windy today. We have had so much rain in CA.
5. Last song you listened to: An oldie but goodie, Bittersweet Surrender by Big Head Todd ( I am showing my age:)
6. Last line you read: I am reading Obsession by Ann Mayburn. “That scary looking one with the sexy hair and psycho eyes.”
7. What are you going to do next: Get in my pjs and start reading my book.

About our favorite house stuff: Love the Roomba. I got it for Christmas but it drives my dog crazy. He starts barking at it and trying to bit it. I have to put him outside or in my bedroom when I run it!

When Maryse asked about opinions on a Keurig: I love my Keurig. You can buy compostable pods (not made from plastic) on Amazon. My husband was against getting one for a long time but he is a believer now as it always guarantees hot and fresh coffee. I can do my Starbucks Cinnamin Dolce latte as Starbucks makes this as well as the Peppermint Mocha during the holidays is delicious. I just stock up on them when they are on sale.

P.S. NOTE FROM MARYSE: Kathy… I JUST GOT ONE!!! 😀 YAY ME!!! Thank you! 🙂 Your recommendation totally helped me.

And now…

Hi, Maryse,

I love reading all of the Best of Year book lists and I have never submitted my list. So this year, I thought I would send my list.

This year, I had 3 M/M on my list. All of them different but so good each in their own way.

Kathy’s Best Books of 2019 List

Someday, Someday by Emma Scott
I loved Max in Forever Right now and the two year wait was well worth it. My heart broke so many times for Max and for Silas and their struggle to be true to themselves. One thing about Emma’s books is that you fall in love with her secondary characters so I am really hoping we get Sila’s brother Edward’s story soon!

Kathy: Someday, Someday! Best of the year for me! …What a book to end the year with!!

Red, White & Royal Blue: A Novel by Casey McQuiston
This book involves the president’s son who starts a fake friendship which turns into more with the Prince of England (the spare). You find your self laughing and crying as they navigate their relationship and their place in the world.

Kathy: Red, White, and Royal Blue had all of the emotions (funny, sweet, sad, etc). One of my best books of the year (besides Someday, Someday). I even let my precocious 13 year old read this novel.

…It was funny where I found my self laughing out loud, touching, and just so well written. It is a M/M romance about the president’s son (loved that the president was a woman in the book) and a prince in England.

I debated about giving it to my teenage daughter as it is not very descriptive sexually (scenes fade to black) and she read it 3 times! If I could give it more than 5 stars I would!! Hoping more books come out with some of the secondary characters in the book.

Endless Stretch of Blue by Riley Hart
This is a friends to lover story. Both were at a nightclub where a fire broke out and they each lost a sibling. They are suffering survivor’s guilt. They bond over losses and their shared experiences. I have read a few by this author and definitely take a chance on this one.

Kathy: Endless Stretch of Blue by Riley Hart (M/M Romance). Five Stars. It is about two people who lost loved ones in a tragic fire and form a friendship over that loss. So good that I finished it in one day!

Carry the World by Susan Fanetti
This is a historical romance which takes place during the Depression in Appalachia. The heroine is a widow who rides the mountains bringing books to those high up in the mountain when she encounters a widower and his children. I loved reading about this time in our history that I knew nothing about.

Kathy: Carry the World by Susan Fanetti. Thanks to those here that recommended it. I devoured every word. Definitely 5 stars for me!

Verity by Colleen Hoover
I will be kicked out of the Maryse book club when I admit that this was my first Colleen Hoover read. I think I have almost ever book that she has written, I just not read one yet. Loved her twists and she made me read late into the night to finish this one.

Whatever Happens by Micalea Smeltzer
This is a Y/A book and I went into in blind without hearing anything about it but the synopsis pulled me in. It is about a high school girl whose sister commits suicide and her family moves to a new state to try and start over. She forms a friendship and then something more with the neighbor boy next door who is Autistic. As a Mom of a high school junior this book pulled at my heartstrings at how some students can be so cruel to those that are different.

Kathy: …(Also has elements of bullying involved). Definitely recommend this read. Not sexually explicit so if you have a teenager, this would be a great book for them or you to read.

Park Avenue Player by Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland
I admit it, I did not see the twist coming and that is all I am going to say!!

CowSex by Lesley Jones
This romantic comedy is a couple years old and she was a new other to me. I needed the laughter and this book definitely gave me that! I will definitely be reading her other books.

Kathy: CowSex by Lesley Jones. I LOVED it and the main woman character (Gracie). If you don’t like swearing in the boom, than don’t read this one but that is all part of her character. This was my first book by Lesley Jones so excited to find a new author to me!

Gym or Chocolate?: A romantic comedy by Stuart Reardon and Jane Harvery-Berrick
I loved loved loved this romantic comedy. The heroine is overweight, a radio DJ and in her 30’s. She trapped into running a marathon and this is her journey. I have not laughed out loud in a book in a long time. Her experiences as she try to get fit, every woman will sympathize with her struggles.

Where the Blame Lies by Mia Sheridan
I have read a couple of books by Mia Sheridan but this book is just so intense and suspenseful. It held my attention through every page.

Kathy: I finished Where the Blame Lies last night. It was definitely ite!y different than a few of the other books i read (more thrillerish if that is a word. Not a light read. I would definitely recommend reading it.

The Devil Angels MC Series by Lola Wright
There are three books so far in this series each involving a different character in the MC. I was so happy to find a new MC author and I couldn’t just pick one book so put the whole series instead. I am anxiously awaiting book 4!

Kathy: I found a new MC series by a new author, Lola Wright. The first book is the Devil’s Angel’s MC Book 1. I enjoyed it so much, I ended up reading the second book on the same day (husband and son were gone all weekend at golf) so I got some reading in:) They are both free on KU.

So for 2020, I am going to dig through all of the books on my Kindle. I have so many books that I bought that either got lost on my Kindle or that I am scared to read such as Arsen, Carnage, Paper Swan, Monsters in the Dark Series, etc.

I am going to try and read one a month! Glasses of wine may be needed!!

Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season and wish everyone joy, laughter and good health in 2020.