Here are some fun comments from Kathy over the last year (including books and authors that didn’t necessarily make her “Best of 2021” list), but that she still highly recommended this year… 🙂
So many yummy recipes. My husband was on Keto but it was bad for his cholesterol. The doctor suggested the Mediterranean diet, we just need to start it!I have never thought about baking feta. Yum!
I just binge read the first 3 in J.T. Geissinger’s Queens and Monster Series. I can’t decide which was my favorite book!
Just finished The Royals Next Door by Karina Halle and really enjoyed it. It kept me sane over the last week when I had to fly up to Spokane to take care of my college son (yes, just two weeks into college) who broke his wrist and needed emergency surgery. My hubby is going up next week when hopefully he gets his huge cast off for a smaller one. Learning to write and take notes with the left hand is not so easy but thankfully he is able to dictate on the computer his essays.
Well, I have lots of reading time and watching tv time. I am currently quarantined in the guest room with Covid. Please be careful everyone!! I am vaccinated and wearing masks indoors and I still got it (maybe from the return flight from Kauai as my cold symptoms showed up a week later). I feel fine but the hardest part is being isolated from my family especially since my son leaves for college a week from tomorrow. I will be out of quarantine on Friday!! I have been binge watching Alone (the survival show) which makes me so grateful for supermarkets!!
Going to lose myself in a book today. We had to say goodbye to our fur baby Piper today. It was a hard decision but the right one as doggy dementia is devastating. We are giving lots of love to our McCovey as he has never been an only dog in the house. It will be a big adjustment for him and for us 🙁
I enjoyed Linda Howard’s After Sundown where the power grid goes out. You might want to check it out.
If you want a lighter read, then go with Broken French. For Lucy is definitely in the next read or two for me! …Go with Broken French! I really liked it.
For those who haven’t read Susan Stoker (she writes a lot of military/Seals Novels). …I devoured her books during Covid.
If you haven’t read Jordon Marie’s Breaking Dragon and the books in this series you should. They are so good!!
By a Thread by Lucy Score is on sale … I love this book. I read it in KU but wanted to have it permanently on my Kindle.
Just trying to get back to reality after our 5 day road trip to see colleges. Good news is that he is 99% sure on his college choice. I think he doesn’t want to say 100% as it makes leaving for college more real.
My celebrity unrequited crush romance is Matt Damon. There is just something about that smile/smirk that gets me every time. My book unrequited crush is Joe from Kristen Ashley’s At Peace. He has stayed with me as one of my favorite heroes!
Rock Bottom Girl by Lucy Score is on sale…. If you need a few laughs, you will love this book. I have KU but still picked it up as I wanted to have it in my library!
I just finished one. Carian Cole’s Don’t Kiss the Bride. Definitely recommend it.
I discovered Kaylee Loring this year too and devoured a bunch of her books.
I read High Risk Rookie by Odette Stone (4th book in the Vancouver Wolves Series). It is a hockey series but one of the best!! 5 stars for me. I wanted to give Levi a hug the whole way through the book!!
New semester for my two high schoolers starts this week. They will be moving to 5 days a week starting next week. They have PM schedule which will be from (11:30-2:35). No lunch so my daughter will have to eat a combo break/lunch before school. Have you seen the cases in California of COVID? I have no choice but to send them as the online program is not an option for us and is not very good.
And now, here’s her official Best of 2021 List!!
Ok Maryse, I have finally figured out my best of 2021! This year was hard for me to narrow it down!
But here it is:
Best Book of the Year:
The Guncle by Steven RowleyI had never read this author before and this book was definitely a departure for books that I typically read as a romance was not the major theme of the book.
The book is about a former sit com star Patrick (or Gay Uncle Patrick) as his niece and nephew call him who after the loss of his sister in law, takes his niece and nephew with him to Palm Springs so that his brother can start to get his life on track. This book had everything from tears to laughs.
The rest are not in any order of best.
This book surprised me given how many stars on Amazon but it was so good.
A 33 year old from Chicago moves to a small English Village to temporarily manage a bookstore named Much Ado About You. I loved all of the Shakespeare references throughout the book.
If you love slow burns, you will love this book!
…I really enjoyed it. It makes me want to visit the English Coast!
3. I know this book has been on a few of our lists but I just loved it.
It is a story of overcoming grief for both of the main characters. After reading this book, I’m ready to book a trip to the Caribbean.
Rebecca writes amazing military themed romances. And I have to admit I had put this one off due to all the reviews about needing tissues. But this book was worth every tear and tissue.
Her last few books were just ok for me but this one made me love her stories again.
It is about a woman whose Mom disappeared during a hike years ago and she decides to based on her Mom’s hiking journal, recreate those hikes. Throw in a game warden who is her landlord and you get a wonderful slow burn romance.
6. I feel that almost every year, she is on my list of best books. She writes amazing M/M stories.
This one is about a California senator who is out and a football play who is still in the closet. The secondary characters are wonderful in this story. If you like this book, there is a second book called The End Zone.
I haven’t read a book of hers in a few years but this book, took my breath away. I’m a sucker for widowed Dad/Mom stories and then you throw in a few twists and it became one of my most recommended reads.
8. I loved this story about a rockstar who has hidden his daughter from the press who moves to a small town and the teacher who falls in love with the little girl and the rockstar. I will admit, I shed a few tears with this one too!
This was a new to me author. It is about a promiscous older rockstar and his newly hired PR assistant. She is hired (unknowingly to her) due to the fact his management think he will not sleep with her as she is not his type (shy, curvy, quiet, etc). Well, you can guess what happens.
I will definitely be reading more books by this author.
Imagine if a fictional Meghan Markle and Prince Harry move next door to you on a remote island in British Columbia. This is the story of Piper who is their neighbor and Harrison who is the bodyguard.
A perfect read that I devoured in a day!
I read this based on so many recommendations from your fellow members. A grumpy hermit as the hero is this wonderful survival story. Rebel North is up next for me!
If you like small town stories, you will devour this series.
A writer who can write humorously about death and funerals is a very talented writer! One of my top recommended books for anyone who wants to read an amazing Rom Com.
Honorable Mentions:
- A Deal with the Devil by Elizabeth O’Roark
- Here with Me by Samantha Young
- Impossible by Susan Fanetti
- High Risk Rookie by Odette Stone
I tried to keep it to 10 but oh well!! Happy Reading!
Kathy
MARYSE’S NOTE TO OUR FELLOW READERS: Have a Best of 2021 list for me? Send it to me here. 🙂
Love Kathy’s book taste? Check out more of her favorites:
- Reader Favorites – Kathy’s Best Books of 2019 List
- Reader Favorites – Kathy’s Top 16 Books of 2020 List
➔➔➔ Looking for more recommendations? Browse all of the reader favorites lists here on the blog. 😀
➔➔➔ Looking for my must-read recommendations? Browse my 5 star and 4.5 star and 4 star reviews or my favorite book lists here 😀
Loved The Last Letter!
Really great list! Lots of good ones and some to add to my TBR!
I read Guncle on your recommendation and loved it. Not my usual type of book either but so good. Thank you!
I just saw your comment. I’m so glad you loved it. Yes, not really a romance but so good!!