LESLIE’S LIST!!!!!! I always call her my picky book-bud and I love that about her, ’cause I know what she loved, I’ll likely love too. She’s a contemporary romance lover at heart!
And she’s fallen in love with audiobooks… so yay me, since I’m an audiobook newbie but I think this is my year! Leslie, I’m gonna need your guidance. 😉
But first, fun and random tidbit Leslie M highlights from 2019:
I def DO need something different. Same old, same old is driving me bonkers. That’s why I recently enjoyed A Five Minute Life and Under the Northern Lights. Those were unique. Trying “new” genres (in books, movies or tv) is so hard for me…but I am going to try to expand my horizons. 😉
Isn’t it weird how certain tropes can be trendy. Like remember the step brother books phase?? It’s hard when we have too much of the same thing.
I’ve never owned a Kindle or even a tablet! I did have an original nook when it first came out but once I got good sized smart phone, I have always just used it. I find all tablets, ereaders (and actual books) to be too cumbersome for me and they give me carpel tunnel.
I mostly read all audio but have been reluctant to mention anything lately as I have been dnf-ing like a mad woman! …Dnf-ing and book slumps are miserable.
…before I got into romance my genre was non-fiction. Mostly true crime stuff but also biographies.
Love After Loss… Love this trope!
My deal with movies/books is if I know I’m going to do both, I read book first. I don’t like movie ruining my perception of book. But there are several movies I watched (and enjoyed) but know I wouldn’t be able to read the book. Some that come to mind are: The Help, Me Before You, The Fault in our Stars. I’m weird in that some stories are just not my thing when read but when turned into movie, I enjoy them.
Fun Book Quiz:
1. Book you are feeling pulled to read. <— Someday, Someday by Emma Scott
2. Cover caught your eye. <— Tragic (Lark Cove Book 3) by Devney Perry
3. Because of recs or squees. <— Mists of The Serengeti by Leylah Attar
4. 7th book in your library, carousel, list or whatever. <— The Man I Can’t Have (Ward Duet Book 1) by Shanora Williams (7th on my KU list)
5. Newest book in your tbr. <— The Forbidden Man: A Standalone Sports Romance by Karina Halle
As much I hate turning the clocks back, at least it was light out when I got up this a.m.
Three things:
1 – We raked some leaves this weekend. It feels good to have started that chore even if we didn’t get all of them.
2 – Peppermint mocha is coming back at Dunkin’!!! Woot woot. I shot daggers out my eyeballs last year at the poor worker when I tried ordering one. “WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DONT HAVE PEPPERMINT MOCHA?”
3 – I bought some festive plug-ins and my house smells great. Balsam & Fir and Evergreen Mist from Yankee Candle and Twisted Peppermint and Chocolate Peppermint Cream from Bath & Body Works.
I love candy canes and anything with peppermint or gingerbread and of course pumpkin! I love the scents too.
Dinner is done, dishes are put away…LET THE SHOPPING BEGIN!! 🤑💰💵
I love pillows too! I want them all!!
I watched my first cheesey romantic Christmas movie last night!! Yay! I love those things. Funny because I can’t stomach Lifetime/Hallmark movies any other time of year…but the holiday ones are my guilty pleasure. 🎅
Can you believe I have never eaten at a Cracker Barrrel?? The nearest one is an hour away.
Here’s my list! Note: not all were pub’d in 2019.
…my “best of” list. Spoiler alert: mine are all Contemporary Romance! 🥰
A Five-Minute Life by Emma Scott <— The most unique plot and interesting characters with Ms. Scott’s signature swoon! 5*****
Emma Scott’s Five Minute Life was different. I need more books like that. The unique story line is what made it so great for me! It will be on my top 2019 too!
Becoming Calder/Finding Eden by Mia Sheridan <— This story sucked me in, broke my heart then put it back together. Very emotional and tragic but I was captivated by the religious cult plot. 5*****
There’s nothing better than when a book hits the spot perfectly!!
I LOVED IT!!!!!! It was super intense, emotional, angsty, swoony and book hangover inducing. I think most of you would love it too!
Maybe I haven’t lost my reading mojo after all???
I love the feeling when it’s so good you don’t want to put it down or go to sleep. I felt that way with Becoming Calder/Finding Eden. I need more like that. Well….maybe not that emotional…it had a lot of sad.
Riders on the Storm: Waiting for the Sun, Part Two by Robin Hill <— This was one angsty journey and I loved every minute of it! Beautiful conclusion to Waiting for the Sun. 5*****
Riders on the Storm was freaking fantastic!!! 5 swoony/angsty stars. 🤩
…the first 5***** read for me in 6 months!!!! Super angsty and I yelled at Robin a couple times while reading. 😜
Under the Northern Lights by S.C. Stephens <— Slow burn romance between h who crashes her plane in Alaska and the recluse H who saves her. 4.5****
I just finished Under the Northern Lights by S.C. Stephens and I think all of you will love it! No worries if you didnt like Thoughtless as characters and storyline are NOTHING like it.
It’s slow burn, major UST, super swoony, single POV by h and reminds me of The Simple Wild and K.A. Tucker’s writing style.
Dirty Letters by Vi Keeland/Penelope Ward <— Childhood penpals that lost touch reunite. The H is a big, fat sweet-pea that helps the h through her tragic past. 4.5****
I recently finished Dirty Letters (on KU read & listen for free) and I loved it!!!
From Ashes To Flames: A Stand Alone Enemy To Lovers Single Dad Romance (A West Brothers Novel Book 1) by A.M. Hargrove <— I am a sucker for jerky H’s (who redeem themselves) and a story with kids. This is a major broody single dad/nanny romance. 4.5****
Royal (Rixton Falls Book 1) by Winter Renshaw <— Second chance romance where the h & H grew up together and there are flashbacks!! 4.5****
Consolation (The Salvation Series Book 3)/Conviction (The Salvation Series Book 4) by Corinne Michaels <— Widow falls for dead hubs BFF. Oh the heartbreak, drama and angst in this story!! 4.5****
I’m finishing up an audiobook duet of Consolation & Conviction by Corinne Michaels… I might try more Corinne Michaels as she has lots on Audible Escape.
Thank you Leslie!!
And thank you for the Under the Northern Lights reminder. That sounds right up my alley!
Me too. I haven’t read Simple Wild or Under the Northern Lights but both sound good. Thanks Leslie.
Love A.M. Hargrove’s West Brothers and West Series. Definitely take a chance on these books.
K., thanks for mentioning this as I haven’t read the West family besides From Ashes to Flames. Good to know you loved them all! 🙂
Robin & Jan, I really loved Under the Northern Lights and I hope you will too. I’m not good with reviews but check out Jean’s on GR. It was stressful because of the survival element in rural Alaska but Alaska fascinates me, so I enjoyed that aspect of it. Whether you loved or hated Thoughtless, this is so completely different that you wouldn’t even know it’s the same author.
Robin, I may still be sending some stink eye your way from the stress you put me through while reading Riders! 😉
I have the Mia Sheridan one. Have a few of hers I have not read, hopefully this year.
After Thoughtless…….no I cant. One of the few who are an automatic no for me.
I read the Emma Scott book that everyone loved so much, but it didnt work for me. The MCs where more interesting apart than together. I remember the party that the musicians had and wished she’d delved more into the career and lives of professional musicians. Anyway, I haven’t wanted to try another of hers because everyone on here either loves her writing or the actual author.
Anyway, great list. I think you should jump into a historical this year with Chasing Cassandra. Who cares If it is the last in a series just go for it.
Oh Bev, how I wish I could get into historicals!! I love Lisa Kleypas covers. I WILL give them a try this year and I know library has the audios! (and the susan fanetti one from Maryse’s list has me intrigued)
Mia Sheridan’s books (and pretty much EVERY author) are hit or miss for me but Becoming Calder was amazing and such a diff storyline…I hope you try it! If you like stranded/plane crash stories Dane’s Storm was really good too (I know you would not want to try Under the Northern Lights). 😉
I feel like there are soooo many books/authors/genres that everyone else likes except me! Emma Scott’s stories are all very different plot wise but her “style” is similar. If that doesn’t work for you, I get it! Thanks to Maryse for giving us a place to discuss our differing opinions. 🥰
If you like Alaska as a setting, and contemporary romance, you might want to try The Simple Wild, by KA Tucker. I totally felt like I was there. So authentic. And not in a wilderness way, but if you lived there kind of way.
I love books where you can learn about another culture.