Here are some of Kathy’s 2020 “life & book” highlights. 😉 P.S. She’s from California, and made me giggle when she thought 60 was cold. LOL!! ‘Cause I totally get here, since I feel the same way in Florida.
This year was a lot of Rom-Coms and not very angsty books for me!
I love finding new authors. Especially ones where there is humor!!
…light hearted is what I have been reading lately! It has been hard to concentrate on anything lately.
As much as I love a slow burn novel, sometimes I feel like I am screaming at the book for the couple to just get together. Enough!! I do love the insta-love stories, especially when the hero is a strong alpha! My favorite insta-love book is Natasha Madison’s Something So Right. I love this series as they are all strong male characters who know right away that she is it for them!
I’m in Ca and yes, I had to bust out the Ughs today. Today was the coldest it has been, 60. I know that I shouldn’t complain. I made a new recipe tonight, it was Shephard Pie Stew (super easy and it had gnocchi pasta in it. Sorry, not keto but you good skip the pasta. Good reviews from the family!
I love the Stasher Silicone Food Grade Usable Bags. I use them all the time. You can freeze them, microwave them, and they can go in the dishwasher. I use them all of the time for cut up vegetables. If I cut them up, my kids devour them and the bags are perfect for that.
I worked at the polls over 12 hours yesterday. I was worried going into Election Day but for the most part everyone was very pleasant. It was so much fun to see all of the first time voters and there were a a lot of them from teenagers to adults in their 20’s and 30’s. Holding my breath today!! …The election workers clapped every time a voter said that they were a first time voter when they turned in their ballot.
Have any of you watched Song Exploder on Netflix? Just watched the first two episodes which were with Alicia Keyes and Lin Manuel Miranda (Wait for It) . The host goes in depth and analyzes a song with how it was composed and the lyrics. Next up is REM’s Losing My Religion which is one of my favorite songs. Love this series so far!
My husband and I watched the first 3 episodes of the Tiger King last night. We kept saying, ok let’s watch one more. Your heart breaks for those animals. I gave my cat extra love last night! But it was definitely got our mind on what was going on in the world!
I feel like a tactical commander trying to plan my grocery shopping!! I have to shop for my in-laws and my family. I am trying to shop for my parents but they keep going out. My mother is 79 and my Dad is 87. I’m threatening to take her keys away! I’m in CA and it is supposed to rain tomorrow morning so that is when I will go. I figure most people didn’t want to shop on the weekend so will shop today in better weather. That is my plan anyway!! But on a bright side to this situation, we pulled out the Monopoly game that I had played as a child and played it with my 17 year old and 13 year old. First time, they had played it! My son has inherited my husband’s competitiveness!
And now… for her favorites! 😀
Hi Maryse,
So my goal for last year was to read those books angsty books that I had been too scared to read (Arsen, Carnage, etc). But with pandemic, I had to read books that were a little lighter in theme.
This was also the year where I discovered new authors and in some cases devoured the whole series (ex. Susan Stoker, Kaylee Loring, Catherine Cowles, Mia Kayla, Deborah Bladon, Emily Mayer).
So in no particular order, below are my best of 2020:
Romantic Comedies:
- Rock Bottom Girl by Lucy Score (KU)
If you are in need of a laugh, she is a must read. Love the fact in Rock Bottom Girl that the heroine is 38 years old and not a twenty something.
Sleeper by Kayley Loring (KU)
- Troublemaker by Kaylee Loring (KU)
These two books are part of a series of 3. She was a new to me author and I will definitely be reading other books that she wrote in 2021.
Rocket Science by Emily Mayer (KU) <— This book is all written from the heroine’s perspective who is a rocket scientist who forms a relationship with an English soccer player. She is delightfully nerdy and a funny slow burn romance.
Rocket Science by Emily Mayer. Thank you so much to all that recommended this book. It had me smiling all the way through.
I love sports themed and single Mom/Dad themed books and these two had both of those themes.
How Much I Care (Miami Nights Book 2) by Marie Force (KU)
She was a new to me author. This is about a nurse/waitress who donates bone marrow anonymously to the daughter of a baseball player. Loved the family dynamics of her Cuban/Italian family in this book.
This is Forever (Only One Series) by Natasha Madison <— I love this series and you can read it as a standalone.
If you have not read her Something So Series or Only One Series, you need to. They are about hockey players and in the book This is Forever, it features the youngest child of the Stone Family from the Something So Series. She is a go to author for me.
Military Themed Novels:
Defending Raven (Mountain Mercenaries Series) by Susan Stoker (KU)
She was a new to me author and I devoured 3 of her series this year. This is the last book in a seven book series. The Mountain Mercenaries were founded by a character named Rex after his wife was kidnapped and presumed sold into human trafficking 10 years ago. He then forms a group of former Seals and Special Forces to rescue other wives, sisters, and children. In this last book, he finally finds his wife.
The Reality of Everything (Flight and Glory Series) by Rebecca Yarros
This is not a standalone as this is the 5th book in the series and the other characters and their stories are mentioned throughout the book. Great series about military pilots and their significant others.
Other best of 2020 books:
If anybody is looking for a little escapism, try the Zoey Draven’s Horde King of Drakkar Series. I have devoured the first two books.
Honarable Mentions:
Bloom by Deborah Bladon <— A new to me author but I will definitely read this author again.
The Best Thing by Mariana Zapata
I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe holiday and a joyous 2021.
Kathy
Like Kathy’s book taste? Check out more of her favorites:
➔➔➔ 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.
➔➔➔ Do you have your “Best of 2020 list” for us? Send it to me here. 😀
I was given a paperback of Riley Thorn and the Dead Guy Next Door as a Christmas gift to introduce me to Lucy Score and I can’t wait to start it. It’s huge!! Might be my first book of 2021!
I actually haven’t read that one yet! Let me know what you think of it! I think you would definitely like Rock Bottom Girl!! Merry Christmas!
I’ll check that one out! We should buddy read Riley Thorn!
I’m a buddy read virgin!! Would love to! Tell me how to do it and when you are going to start it.
The best way is to use our Goodreads thread because there are spoiler tags. Are you on GR? I can’t remember.
Oh good. I’m on that thread!
Wow, congratulations! We are definitely looking forward to hearing from you about this book.
I’ll post the details here when we do the buddy read if you’d like to join!
Perfect!! Wishing everyone a happy holiday!!
Loved this list! We have similar reading tastes. Have just spent the last few days reading round the clock to smash out this list. Thank you- was in a bit of a slump prior to that.
Really liked Emily Mayer, especially her other book ‘everything girl’. New author I’ll be following for sure.