Reader Favorites – Steph N’s Best Books of 2018 List

Oooops!!!! We just got one more in, so YAY US!!! Steph N has been with us since 2015, but most actively chatting with us this year!! I’m so glad!!

Let’s get to know her better, shall we?

About her reading preferences:

KU– worth it to me, I try and make sure to read four books a month from it to make it worth the $10 but that isn’t really ever an issue. I’m always at my limit and sometimes have to turn things before I read it just to download something else.

I love stumbling on a terrific series, especially when they allow me to use my KU.

I’m a mood reader. Sometimes I want sweet, sometimes I want dirty, sometimes I want dark. I only wish Amazon kept track of what you’ve read like they do your purchases.

I always considered a true romance book to have some sort of conclusion at the end that ends up with the couple together. A romance book also mainly focuses on all the stuff a couple goes through to get there and how it plays out and is written that makes it a good book.

I have never once listened to an audiobook!

Am I the only one that can’t remember reading books?? Thank goodness for the alerts from Amazon telling me I have!

About reviews: “Thanks for the very long review. I have the opposite problem. (example- 5 stars-WOW- Read it! Ok. )” <— Sidenote from  Maryse: LOL!!!! CUTE!! We’ll take your short & sweet recommendations anytime, Steph! 😉

About the books that “stayed” with her throughout her life:

As a kid: Island of the Blue Dolphins. I bought a copy as an adult just to have it on my bookshelf

As a 20 something: Good in Bed (Cannie Shapiro Book 1) by Jennifer Weiner

In my 30s, the Left Behind Series (by LaHaye Jenkins)
In my 40s, not for any literary reason but because it got me reading again after my moms death, Fifty Shade (*after the movie came out. I hadn’t read in over two years and I had been one of those book a day readers. I picked it up because a friend on Facebook told me how much better the book was. I even wrote EL and told her how it got me out of my slump.)
Most Current: Full Tilt and All In (Full Tilt Book 2) by Emma Chase.

MANY Others were so good over the years but those stand out in my mind/head.

I have to add on the Left Behind Series, which is Christian fiction. My mom was a HUGE reader, mainly of the mystery/suspense genre. I was watching her TEAR through these books and she kept like chanting to me “so good, so good” (haha). I thought it was another in her typical genre and when I found out it was about the rapture and end times I was kinda like huh!? So when she reached somewhere around book 7, I picked up book one, read it and was instantly addicted. If you have not read this series AT LEAST pick up the first book and try it out! I would imagine that it is available at the library/overdrive.

About her dog’s reaction when she ugly-cried while reading:

I read Sloth and loved it. The only think I hated was reading it on a kindle paperweight, the letters they wrote back and forth were a bit hard to read. But whatever. One point gave me such an ugly cry my dog actually looked at me with a WTF expression.

About her search for cheese 😉

Steph N: I’m looking for a great queso recipe without velvetta. Does anyone have one? I’m probably going to have to resort to Velveeta again. There was a restaurant that I worked at years ago called “Tia’s Tex Mex”. I could drink their queso I was so in love with it. I’ve been on the hunt ever since to make it like that at home!

And now… her Best of 2018 List:

“Last year I made a New Years Resolution to keep track of books I read. I set a goal of 52 books and ended up reading 125. Going through my books, I feel I’m a little stingy with the 5 star rating.

I mostly read some sort of romance from dark to ditsy. I finally discovered the library and ebooks through them and read 45 library books.

Here is my list!”

5 Stars:

• Transcend and Epoch by Jewel E Ann <— probably on everybodys list!
• Transcendence by Shay Savage <— did not care for the second one. It was basically the same story, but the story is unique

Steph N:  loved Transcendence too! It was different than most “romance” books.

• The Idea of You: A Novel by Robinne Lee <— (debut, wish there was a follow up, stuck with me, I couldn’t get Harry Styles out of my head)

Steph N: God I loved this book so much. The writing for me was just stellar. Five plus stars for me.
This was my review of that book and I’m STILL thinking about it which is a rarity in my world.

”I loved EVERYTHING about this book. The story, the characters, the romance, the art, the language, the ending. Everything.”

The Idea of You was in my top three of books this year. Something about it stuck with me.

• My Torin by K Webster <— K Webster is just SO GOOD with the way she lays the words on the page.
• All the Ugly and Wonderful Things: A Novel by Bryn Greenwood <— SO SO Good
• Midnight Valentine by JT Geissinger <— This might be my book of the year along with the Hating Game and The Idea of You)
• The Hating Game: A Novel by Sally Thorne <— I just fell in love with this not deep, not dark, not angsty book
• Atticus: A Woman’s Journey with the World’s Worst Behaved Dog by S Bennett <— I think the title and the cover sucked me in! 🙂
• The Birthday List (Maysen Jar Book 1) by Devney Perry <— Oh my heart!
• As Dust Dances by Samantha Young <— HIGHLY recommend!! GO! Read it!! Standalone, didn’t read the first one.
• Trailer Park Heart by Rachel Higginson <— Cute, fun, relateable to me

Steph N: One click- Trailer Park Heart. I just LOVE her books!

• The Song of David (The Law of Moses Book 2) by Amy Harmon <— The first was 5 star as well
• Forever Right Now by Emma Scott <— a holdover from 2017 that was on everyones list. I think Emma Scott is in my top 3 of authors.

Steph N: Side note- Emma Scott. One click author for sure.

…I’m a big Emma Scott fan too, can understand the wanting to add them all to the best list!!

Just realized I read a 5 star a month!

4.5 Stars:

1. Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas <— this only by second book by this author, need to read more!)
2. The One by John Marrs <— Thriller, scary, crazy
3. In Harmony by by Emma Scott <— love the Shakespeare in this book
4. Behind the Bars (Music Street #1) by Brittainy Cherry <— quick read with lots of heart, loved the message in this one
5. Until It Fades: A Novel by KA Tucker <— single mom, loved this one!

4 Stars:

• Beautiful Hearts Duet by Emma Scott <— this was all over good reads and I liked it but it lacked something for me
• 53 Letters For My Lover by Leylah Attar <— Cheating, marital strife, story takes place over years
• Arrogant Devil by RS Grey
• Disgrace by Brittainy Cherry
• Infinity + One by Amy Harmon
• The Evolution Of Sin: The Complete Trilogy By Giana Darling
• -The Affair 4 stars
• -The Secret 4 stars
• -The Consequence 5 stars

Steph N: I read three naughtly cheating books (a series) by Giana Darling. Lots of misspelled words and there were some timeline things that were screwy (I didn’t notice ’till I read it in other reviews. I loved it but I may have just been in the mood for some hot sex scenes.

• Tall, Dark and Charming: An Accidental Surprise Baby Standalone Romance (Tall, Dark and Sexy Series Book 1) by Erica Wilde <— This was a quick, cute, predictable but enjoyable read
• Sex, Not Love by Vi Keeland
• The Real by Kate Stewart
• I’ll be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara <— Real life story, glad I already knew the outcome as I was FREAKED out reading it

Old Books I FINALLY read:

• Comfort Food by Kitty Thomas <— 4 stars (thanks for pick for me challenge)
• Jezebel by K Larsen <— 5 Stars (also read because of pick for me challenge)

Steph N: and oh m gee.

• Numerous Older Kristen Ashley books <— 4 stars

YAY!! Thank you SO much for this, Steph!!! Keep ’em coming. 😉 You know how to reach me now. 😛

Like StephN’s book taste? Check out more of her favorites lists:

• Reader Favorites – Steph N’s Best Books of 2018 List
• Reader Favorites – Steph N’s Best Books of 2019 List
• Reader Favorites – Steph N’s Favorite Books of 2020 List

➔➔➔  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.