Best reads of 2016
Ah another year comes to a close. 2016 has been another great year for books. I find that the more I read, the more authors I find that I love, the harder it is to write up these lists. I have read so many great books this past year, but I managed to narrow it down to my top 20. I only chose one book per author, but I may have cheated a bit on some of them and combined a few books as sometimes I just can't choose! So here are my top reads of 2016 - in no particular order - with my favorite read(s) of the year at the end! Click on the title to see my full review. Enjoy!
Bend Me, Break Me by Chelsea M. Cameron
Ingrid and Coen don't have an easy time of it. Ingrid had some tragedy in her past, something that leaves her broken, but Coen? Oh, Coen was wonderful. You know he has secrets, but man he was amazing with Ingrid. The two of them have a connection that cannot be denied and he will always be there for her. One of my favorite things about this story is how the author dealt with Ingrid's past. With what happened to her. How it was talked about and what details you learn/don't learn. It was wonderful.
The Silent Waters by Brittainy C Cherry
This book wrecked me in such a wonderful way. It is all about the moments. Moments that made the book for me. Moments, big and small, that make a person who they are. Sometimes it was just a word or two that would just shatter me, but the author always puts you back together again in a better way. I loved all the moments even when they hurt me. A moment can change everything. A moment can help you heal. It was a wonderful read.
Upon a Midnight Dream & Whispered Music by Rachel Van Dyken
This is another cheat one as I simply cannot decide which one I enjoyed more! I am particular about my old timey romance, but these stories were so much fun I wouldn't have cared even if it had things I normally don't like in my old timey romances. The first book was so ridiculous in such a great way I couldn't stop reading it once I started. The second is a retelling of Beauty & the Beast - my favorite! And just as much fun as the first. I was talking to the author in Birmingham this year and she said most people don't even realize she has old timey romances! That is such a shame as they are amazing!!
Practically Imperfect by Mary Frame
I love this author. She writes some seriously entertaining hijinks that I love. The characters are all so much fun! I smiled/laughed my way through this story. The author writes some more serious situations in a lighthearted way I can't get enough of. Oh, this book is wonderful.
All the Rage by T.M. Frazier
I love most all of Frazier's books, but Rage? Oh Rage. I love love loved her! She is so tough and badass, but she is not so experienced with emotions. There are only a few people she cares about and if you are not on the list she could easily kill you and not think twice about it. It was wonderful watching her fall in love since it was a whole new world for her. Loved it!
Wasted Words by Staci Hart
This author writes some really fun, cute, sweet reads. Cam is a bit of a nerd and likes to categorize people. Tyler is Cam's roommate and she doesn't think he is on the same shelf as her, so nothing can ever happen. It was a really sweet story. Watching Cam fall for Tyler and how it all works out was great.
King of Hearts by L.H. Cosway
Man Cosway sure knows how to write some amazing, unique characters. This book was split into two parts, before and after. Before was a lovely story, but after? Oh man it was great. Oliver has demons, you know this already if you have read the prior books, but man Alexis is wonderful with him. The whole how do you reach someone who is so far gone? When things fall apart what do you do? It was a great story. I loved Oliver and Alexis.
More Than Forever by Jay McLean
I love Cam and Lucy! Cam loves Lucy so much, but she doesn't always see it. She has some insecurity issues, but oh these two. I love how Cam is there for her through everything. How he knows she is it for him and how he sees her. It was lovely.
And finally my favorite read of the year. Or I should say my favorite author, who happened to be a new to me author, of the year as I cannot pick one of her books as my favorite. I love them all so much! So who is it?
Jade West!
Oh my goodness do I love her books. Every one I have read has been amazing! It all started with Dirty Bad Wrong, the best BDSM book I have read. Seriously this book is hot hot hot, but it also has an amazing story. That is the thing with Jade. She writes these stories that are so incredibly hot I would love to read them just for that, but they also have an incredible story to back it up. If you were to take out the sexy times you would still have an incredible read. Bang Gang, Sugar Daddies, and Teach Me Dirty were all so so so good. They are all so different, have situations I haven't read before, but oh I can't get enough! A student/teacher relationship? Not my thing, but this one worked. A M/M/F relationship? I have never read that before. Sure I read ones that start out as a threesome, but then eventually it becomes just two people, but not a threesome relationship. Not where everyone loves each other equally. So good! And Bang Gang? Gah! Seriously I don't know how she does it. I fall for all of the characters and want nothing but great things for them all. Plus it is hot hot hot! I can't wait to see what Jade has in store for 2017! I am so glad I gave her books a try. If you like BDSM, if you like hot, super sexy reads with incredible story then you want to read Jade West. She is incredible! The best!
Last year one of my top reads was the first Janus Group trilogy. It was so much fun so when I found out there was a second trilogy coming out this year, chronicling what happened after the end of the first one, I was really excited to read it. All three of the books were great reads, but Rath's Redemption, the final book, was so so so much fun! In the other books Rath struggles with the things he has done, which I enjoyed, but in this one he finally is just like f this! I am going to take the bad guys down and I won't feel bad about it. Oh man. Rath on a mission was amazing!! Seriously, this whole series is amazing, but this book? This book was my favorite by far.
The Spiral Down by Aly Martinez
I don't read a lot of M/M romances because prior to now most that I had found were just...not what I want to read. I don't know how to describe them. Maybe more erotica, which I am overall not really a fan of. I like my books to have great stories and great sexy time. The ones I tired to read before felt...not realistic. But The Spiral Down changed all that. This was the story of two wonderfully amazing people who fall in love. I loved every second of it and cannot recommend it enough.
I don't read a lot of M/M romances because prior to now most that I had found were just...not what I want to read. I don't know how to describe them. Maybe more erotica, which I am overall not really a fan of. I like my books to have great stories and great sexy time. The ones I tired to read before felt...not realistic. But The Spiral Down changed all that. This was the story of two wonderfully amazing people who fall in love. I loved every second of it and cannot recommend it enough.
Chase Me by Laura Florand
It is no secret that I love Laura Florand and all her books, they always make me feel all warm and fuzzy, but Chase Me was the first that had a much different feel. It was just straight up fun! A special ops guy and a Michelin star chef get mixed up and fight their way to a happily ever after. It was amazing! Fun, hot, sweet, everything you want in a story is in here.
It is no secret that I love Laura Florand and all her books, they always make me feel all warm and fuzzy, but Chase Me was the first that had a much different feel. It was just straight up fun! A special ops guy and a Michelin star chef get mixed up and fight their way to a happily ever after. It was amazing! Fun, hot, sweet, everything you want in a story is in here.
The Player and the Pixie by L.H. Cosway and Penny Reid
What do you get when you cross a guy who is terrible in bed, knows he is, but doesn't know what to do about it and a girl who is so bright and colorful, but had issues of her own? This amazing read! Hilarious, sweet, heartbreaking, you have it all. I felt for Sean immediately, oh I loved him so much, and he and Lucy are perfect together. They have a lot of things to work through, somethings outside their control, but oh this book was great.
What do you get when you cross a guy who is terrible in bed, knows he is, but doesn't know what to do about it and a girl who is so bright and colorful, but had issues of her own? This amazing read! Hilarious, sweet, heartbreaking, you have it all. I felt for Sean immediately, oh I loved him so much, and he and Lucy are perfect together. They have a lot of things to work through, somethings outside their control, but oh this book was great.
Bright Side and Gus by Kim Holden
I know this is two books, but I feel like they have to be read together. If you are looking for a book to make you cry then Bright Side is your book. I don't cry at books. I just don't. But Bright Side was different. Bright Side made me cry so much I had to put the book aside at times because I couldn't see to read for the tears. It was amazing and devastating and oh, this story. I thought I was prepared for it, I knew what I thought would happen, and yet I wasn't ready. I don't think you can be. And after Bright Side it felt like I wouldn't be able to move on. Wouldn't be able to read another book because this one was stuck with me. Luckily Gus was there to help. To fix things. To make everything okay again. If you are going to read Bright Side you should have Gus ready to go afterwards. If you are like me you will need it. You will need it to try and move on. Plus it is a great story by itself.
I know this is two books, but I feel like they have to be read together. If you are looking for a book to make you cry then Bright Side is your book. I don't cry at books. I just don't. But Bright Side was different. Bright Side made me cry so much I had to put the book aside at times because I couldn't see to read for the tears. It was amazing and devastating and oh, this story. I thought I was prepared for it, I knew what I thought would happen, and yet I wasn't ready. I don't think you can be. And after Bright Side it felt like I wouldn't be able to move on. Wouldn't be able to read another book because this one was stuck with me. Luckily Gus was there to help. To fix things. To make everything okay again. If you are going to read Bright Side you should have Gus ready to go afterwards. If you are like me you will need it. You will need it to try and move on. Plus it is a great story by itself.
An Ounce of Hope by Sophie Jackson
I was trying to decide which story I liked better, A Pound of Flesh or An Ounce of Hope and I think the later just barely hedges out the former. Part of it was that I was not really expecting to enjoy An Ounce of Hope. I put off reading it forever as I didn't care about Max or his story after reading the first book. Man I am glad I still went ahead and read this though. It was amazing. The writing really reinforced how fragile Max and Grace were and how strong they become. I loved them so much!! Another book I couldn't put down.
I was trying to decide which story I liked better, A Pound of Flesh or An Ounce of Hope and I think the later just barely hedges out the former. Part of it was that I was not really expecting to enjoy An Ounce of Hope. I put off reading it forever as I didn't care about Max or his story after reading the first book. Man I am glad I still went ahead and read this though. It was amazing. The writing really reinforced how fragile Max and Grace were and how strong they become. I loved them so much!! Another book I couldn't put down.
Splinters of Light by Rachael Herron
Oh man was this book devastating in such a wonderful way. It is not my typical read which is probably why I put it off for so long, but man it was good. This is the story of Nora and the other Glass woman and what happens when the inevitable comes a little too soon. I couldn't help but put myself in some of their places and think about what I would do in their situation? What would I do if I found myself in their situation right now? Oh, it was very hard to read at times, but because it is so well written. It is hard to feel so much for these characters and watch them go through everything. It feels like they are people you know. It was wonderful even if it was devastating.
Oh man was this book devastating in such a wonderful way. It is not my typical read which is probably why I put it off for so long, but man it was good. This is the story of Nora and the other Glass woman and what happens when the inevitable comes a little too soon. I couldn't help but put myself in some of their places and think about what I would do in their situation? What would I do if I found myself in their situation right now? Oh, it was very hard to read at times, but because it is so well written. It is hard to feel so much for these characters and watch them go through everything. It feels like they are people you know. It was wonderful even if it was devastating.
Grin & Beard It by Penny Reid
Since I am trying to only put one book per author on my list then Grin & Beard is my favorite from Penny this year. Beard Science was also amazing, but something about Jethro and Sienna really got me. It was fun and funny, sweet and heartbreaking and just wonderful. I normally don't care that much about the female characters, don't connect with them as much, but I loved Sienna. I wish she were real so I could be friends with her. Plus I normally don't like famous people in my books, but she was different. She was just a person who happened to be famous and it worked. Oh it was fun. Sienna was hilarious and that tension in the beginning when they want to be together, but don't think they can be for whatever reason? Oh I loved it. I have re-read this one a few times already and I am sure I will a few more next year.
Since I am trying to only put one book per author on my list then Grin & Beard is my favorite from Penny this year. Beard Science was also amazing, but something about Jethro and Sienna really got me. It was fun and funny, sweet and heartbreaking and just wonderful. I normally don't care that much about the female characters, don't connect with them as much, but I loved Sienna. I wish she were real so I could be friends with her. Plus I normally don't like famous people in my books, but she was different. She was just a person who happened to be famous and it worked. Oh it was fun. Sienna was hilarious and that tension in the beginning when they want to be together, but don't think they can be for whatever reason? Oh I loved it. I have re-read this one a few times already and I am sure I will a few more next year.
Once Upon a Time by S.K. Hartley
This book was hilarious! I was a little iffy on it based on the synopsis, I was worried it would be another comedy that wouldn't be my sense of humor, but oh it was fun. It is hard for me to find books that I find as funny as this one. It was wonderful. Hot and funny and sweet and a great read.
This book was hilarious! I was a little iffy on it based on the synopsis, I was worried it would be another comedy that wouldn't be my sense of humor, but oh it was fun. It is hard for me to find books that I find as funny as this one. It was wonderful. Hot and funny and sweet and a great read.
Graffiti in Love by G.G. Andrew
This was a fun, sweet read. I wish I saw the world as KaveMan does as it sounds so beautiful! They way he talks about how he sees everything, colors, all of it makes me jealous. I wish I saw things like he does. I think I could have read a book of him walking around describing how he sees things and been perfectly happy. Instead I got to watch him and Laurel fall in love. It wasn't easy or straightforward, but it was wonderful to read.
This was a fun, sweet read. I wish I saw the world as KaveMan does as it sounds so beautiful! They way he talks about how he sees everything, colors, all of it makes me jealous. I wish I saw things like he does. I think I could have read a book of him walking around describing how he sees things and been perfectly happy. Instead I got to watch him and Laurel fall in love. It wasn't easy or straightforward, but it was wonderful to read.
Warped by Emma James
What a wonderfully twisted world this author created. I read this on the edge of my seat the entire time. I couldn't get enough. I needed to see what would happen, but also wanted to savor it. I don't normally like MC books, but Edge is part of an MC and I love it! This is not a standalone, it is the second in a series, so if you haven't read Wrenched yet you would need to before starting this story. And you should just so you can read this one it is that good. So dark, so twisted, and sometimes things have to get worse before they can get better. I can't wait for the next book to come out!!
What a wonderfully twisted world this author created. I read this on the edge of my seat the entire time. I couldn't get enough. I needed to see what would happen, but also wanted to savor it. I don't normally like MC books, but Edge is part of an MC and I love it! This is not a standalone, it is the second in a series, so if you haven't read Wrenched yet you would need to before starting this story. And you should just so you can read this one it is that good. So dark, so twisted, and sometimes things have to get worse before they can get better. I can't wait for the next book to come out!!
Bend Me, Break Me by Chelsea M. Cameron
Ingrid and Coen don't have an easy time of it. Ingrid had some tragedy in her past, something that leaves her broken, but Coen? Oh, Coen was wonderful. You know he has secrets, but man he was amazing with Ingrid. The two of them have a connection that cannot be denied and he will always be there for her. One of my favorite things about this story is how the author dealt with Ingrid's past. With what happened to her. How it was talked about and what details you learn/don't learn. It was wonderful.
The Silent Waters by Brittainy C Cherry
This book wrecked me in such a wonderful way. It is all about the moments. Moments that made the book for me. Moments, big and small, that make a person who they are. Sometimes it was just a word or two that would just shatter me, but the author always puts you back together again in a better way. I loved all the moments even when they hurt me. A moment can change everything. A moment can help you heal. It was a wonderful read.
Upon a Midnight Dream & Whispered Music by Rachel Van Dyken
This is another cheat one as I simply cannot decide which one I enjoyed more! I am particular about my old timey romance, but these stories were so much fun I wouldn't have cared even if it had things I normally don't like in my old timey romances. The first book was so ridiculous in such a great way I couldn't stop reading it once I started. The second is a retelling of Beauty & the Beast - my favorite! And just as much fun as the first. I was talking to the author in Birmingham this year and she said most people don't even realize she has old timey romances! That is such a shame as they are amazing!!
Practically Imperfect by Mary Frame
I love this author. She writes some seriously entertaining hijinks that I love. The characters are all so much fun! I smiled/laughed my way through this story. The author writes some more serious situations in a lighthearted way I can't get enough of. Oh, this book is wonderful.
All the Rage by T.M. Frazier
I love most all of Frazier's books, but Rage? Oh Rage. I love love loved her! She is so tough and badass, but she is not so experienced with emotions. There are only a few people she cares about and if you are not on the list she could easily kill you and not think twice about it. It was wonderful watching her fall in love since it was a whole new world for her. Loved it!
Wasted Words by Staci Hart
This author writes some really fun, cute, sweet reads. Cam is a bit of a nerd and likes to categorize people. Tyler is Cam's roommate and she doesn't think he is on the same shelf as her, so nothing can ever happen. It was a really sweet story. Watching Cam fall for Tyler and how it all works out was great.
King of Hearts by L.H. Cosway
Man Cosway sure knows how to write some amazing, unique characters. This book was split into two parts, before and after. Before was a lovely story, but after? Oh man it was great. Oliver has demons, you know this already if you have read the prior books, but man Alexis is wonderful with him. The whole how do you reach someone who is so far gone? When things fall apart what do you do? It was a great story. I loved Oliver and Alexis.
More Than Forever by Jay McLean
I love Cam and Lucy! Cam loves Lucy so much, but she doesn't always see it. She has some insecurity issues, but oh these two. I love how Cam is there for her through everything. How he knows she is it for him and how he sees her. It was lovely.
And finally my favorite read of the year. Or I should say my favorite author, who happened to be a new to me author, of the year as I cannot pick one of her books as my favorite. I love them all so much! So who is it?
Jade West!
Oh my goodness do I love her books. Every one I have read has been amazing! It all started with Dirty Bad Wrong, the best BDSM book I have read. Seriously this book is hot hot hot, but it also has an amazing story. That is the thing with Jade. She writes these stories that are so incredibly hot I would love to read them just for that, but they also have an incredible story to back it up. If you were to take out the sexy times you would still have an incredible read. Bang Gang, Sugar Daddies, and Teach Me Dirty were all so so so good. They are all so different, have situations I haven't read before, but oh I can't get enough! A student/teacher relationship? Not my thing, but this one worked. A M/M/F relationship? I have never read that before. Sure I read ones that start out as a threesome, but then eventually it becomes just two people, but not a threesome relationship. Not where everyone loves each other equally. So good! And Bang Gang? Gah! Seriously I don't know how she does it. I fall for all of the characters and want nothing but great things for them all. Plus it is hot hot hot! I can't wait to see what Jade has in store for 2017! I am so glad I gave her books a try. If you like BDSM, if you like hot, super sexy reads with incredible story then you want to read Jade West. She is incredible! The best!
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