One of my favorite things about Goodreads is that I can look back over the past month or year and be reminded of all of the great books I read. In case you’re looking for another good read, I’d thought I’d share my favorites with you. This year I was in the mood to laugh, and funny books filled my Kindle.
January:
The Secret Place (Dublin Murder Squad #5) by Tana French – I’ve loved every book in this series by Tana French and The Secret Place is no exception. About a cold case involving the murder of a teenage boy at a girls’ boarding school, this book is intriguing, thought-provoking, and just a really good read. As usual, French’s characters are so real I can practically smell the cigarette smoke seeping through my Kindle. I really hope this isn’t the last book in the series.
February:
My Favorite Mistake (My Favorite Mistake #1) by Chelsea Cameron – This is a fun, contention filled rom-com from another of my favorite authors, Chelsea Cameron. Taylor is not excited that her new roommate, Hunter, is so good-looking because she’s not interested in any sort of romantic entanglement. When Hunter suggests a bet, promising he’ll leave if she can convince him she either loves him or hates him, how can she refuse?
March:
Burn for Me (Hidden Legacy #1) by Ilona Andrews – This book is in close competition with The Masked Truth for my favorite book of the year, but they are two very different books. I’ll call this one my favorite urban fantasy of the year. About what happens when a magic user becomes too powerful, this book is filled with action, amazing dialogue, great characters, and an all-around fun story. This book is a prime example of why we should never judge a book by its cover, as well, because this book is definitely more action than romance. A fun read I would recommend to almost anyone. The biggest disappointment about this book? The next book in this new series won’t be out until 2017.
Painted Faces (Painted Faces #1) by L.H. Cosway – One of the most important criteria any book must meet to make it on this list is that I must remember it vividly enough to write about and confidently recommend it. Painted Faces met that criteria in spades and the first thing I remember about it, is just what a gorgeous, surprising, and well-told story it is. About a cabaret performer who is deeply troubled, as seen through the eyes of the woman who meets and eventually falls in love with him. A unique and captivating read.
April:
Crushed (Redemption #2) by Lauren Layne – When I want a fun, light, sweet love story Lauren Layne is my go-to choice. This is another fairy-tale retelling, but this time it’s the Ugly Duckling – not about becoming beautiful, but about finding the people who think you’re beautiful as you are. A book that will definitely make you smile.
Vision in Silver (The Others #3) by Anne Bishop – I love this series and this third book didn’t disappoint. In a world where the supernatural and humans remain separated, for everyone’s safety, the humans are starting to rebel, but they don’t realize what they’re up against. At the same time, Meg is still trying to figure out how to survive as a Cassandra sangue and how to help others of her kind. Every moment of this book is enthralling.
July:
Roomies by Lindy Zart – I love a good rom-com, and this book definitely fits that bill. The narrative voice is hilarious and so much fun. The story of a girl in love with her roommate, a roommate who shows no interest, and his bad-boy brother who shows too much interest. Just a good fun read.
The Consequences of Loving Colton (Consequence, #1) by Rachel Van Dyken – Rachel Van Dyken is another of my favorite authors in large part because she is so versatile, she can write angsty or she can write slapstick or she can write thriller and she does it all well. I’m pretty sure she can write any and everything well. And The Consequences of Loving Colton is fall on the floor funny and swoon worthy at the same time. It makes me laugh out loud and for me, that’s just about the best thing a book can do.
August:
Deceptions (Cainsville #3) by Kelley Armstrong – I love this series and Deceptions is my favorite so far. Olivia continues to investigate the convictions of her biological parents and to unravel the secrets of Cainsville and the role she and Gabriel play in those secrets. The supernatural in this book are unique and so secretive, and the characters are just plain loveable. I can’t wait for the next book in this series.
In Too Deep (Due South #1) by Tracey Alvarez – This book was the best of surprises. I got it for free through Bookbub and my expectations were low, but the book truly blew me away. I especially liked the main character, a troubled police diver on leave and returning home to help out her family, because she was tough and incredibly brave. Her troubled past and the problems she had as a result made her one of the most real and likeable characters I’ve read all year. A definite must-read.
September:
Chasing River (The Burying Water Series) by K.A. Tucker – I’m a huge fan of K.A. Tucker’s, but Chasing River is my favorite so far. Amber Welles visits Ireland as the first leg of her long-anticipated trip abroad. When she is saved from a terrorist’s bomb by River Delaney, her simple trip becomes a lot more complicated. I adored the characters in this book and their story is beautiful and real, but what I loved most about this book was how K.A. Tucker made me feel like I was in Dublin and educated me about some of the history of Ireland and about current day events without being the least bit didactic. A gorgeous, escapist read.
October:
Edge of Darkness and Darkness Bound by J.T. Geissinger – These are the fourth and fifth books in the Night Prowler series, a paranormal series that just keeps getting better. Each of these books is about a different member of the Ikati, a group of panther shifters, and his or her romance with a human or another panther, depending on the book. The books and the characters are all unique, and the action in each of them is heart-stopping and adrenaline fueled. As a whole the series follows a battle between the Ikati who want to remain peaceful with and hidden from humans, and the Ikati who want more power. This series is smart, fun, and fast-paced.
Hopeless by Colleen Hoover – I just love Colleen Hoover’s books and this one was no exception. The story of Sky and Dean and the unraveling of secrets, is at times more like a thriller than a romance. A beautiful, exciting read.
November:
The Masked Truth by Kelley Armstrong – I am such a huge fan of Kelley Armstrong that I would probably read a telephone book if she wrote one. And I have never been disappointed by her books. The Masked Truth is, quite possibly, my favorite book of the year. About a hostage situation at a retreat for teens suffering from mental illness or “issues,” this book is a bit slow to start but will take you on a ride that will have you questioning everything you thought you knew. This book has a great story and plot, but my favorite thing about this book were the characters. They are people I’d like to know and spend time with. Armstrong also sheds light on a mental illness many don’t understand and does so with empathy and compassion.
The Vixen and the Vet by Katy Regnery – First, I am a sucker for a modern retelling of any fairytale, but especially of the Beauty and the Beast story. Second, I was already a pretty big fan of Katy Regnery’s before I read this book. Even if I’d been neither, however, this book would have been a hit with me. A down on her luck reporter interviews the hometown vet who’s been a recluse for the past decade after returning from war scarred and battered. The characters don’t seem like fairy tale archetypes, though, they read like real people who are entirely relatable and likeable. There are no magical transformations, but there is a happily ever after.
December:
Those Across the River by Christopher Buehlman – This book is just the right amount of horror when you’re in the mood for a good, scary, thought-provoking book. It’s dark, it’s creepy, it’s downright disturbing. Set in the first half of the nineteenth century, a young man moves into his deceased aunt’s house with his girlfriend. The small, rural town is just the right setting for a terrifying tale, even in the beginning when the characters are somewhat happy. When something or someone across the river gets angry, the violence and horror begins in earnest. The book, while a good horror tale, also asks questions about race, gender, and the accepted hegemony.
The Shambling Guide to New York City (The Shambling Guides #1) by Mur Lafferty – When Zoe, a travel writer in desperate need of employment, takes a job as editor of a traveling guide, she learns about a side of New York City she never could have imagined. This book has it all: action, adventure, a little bit of romance, and supernatural characters and creatures that are well thought out, believable and, oftentimes, hilarious. If you’re looking for a fun read, give The Shambling Guide to New York City a try.
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