Tag: Best Authors

Best of 2023: The Series

Posted January 2, 2024 by Casee in Features | 1 Comment

Casee

Dark in You by Suzanne Wright: This series is my ALL-TIME FAVORITE series of the year. Suzanne Wright was a new-to-me author this year and I gobbled up almost everything she has written. This series is so well written and the plot(s) just never get old. If I could recommend a series, this one would be it.

The Thornheart Trials by Sherilee Gray: I love witchy books and this series is everything. I love the sister and family vibe here. I can’t wait until the next book comes out.

Night Prowler by J.T. Geissinger: This series was gritty and very interesting. I was obsessed from the first book to the last.

The Mercury Pack by Suzanne Wright: Suzanne Wright ftw this year. This was the first series that I read by her and I was hooked.

Fallen Guardians by Georgia Lyn Hunter: A new-to-me author in 2023, I was hooked on this series. I really hope that she continues the series because it’s really good.

Honorable Mentions: Knights of Hell by Sherilee Gray.

Holly

Nyx Fortuna by Michelle Manus: This series is Innkeeper Chronicles meets Polaris Rising. I love the action and adventure, but I also love the bond Nyx forms with her Station, her crew and those select few who come into her life. I was hooked from page one and can’t wait for the next installment.

Dark in You by Suzanne Wright: Casee forced me to read this and I’m so glad she did. I’m a fan of SW anyway, but this series was truly wonderful. I do think the first four books could have been cut down to three, but I can’t deny I enjoyed the overall progression of the story-arc of the way things continued in later books. I’m really looking forward to the spin-off series that’s planned for 2024.

Kate Daniels: The Wilmington Years by Ilona Andrews: Kate Daniels. Curran. Conlin. YAAAAASSS.

Clecanian by Victoria Aveline: This was a sci-fi series I came upon randomly. I really enjoyed certain aspects of the first few books, but I lapped up the later books. As the political world evolves, the stakes are higher and my emotional investment rose with them.

Gate of Myth and Power by K.M. Shea: It was great to return to Magiford and read a trilogy featuring new characters. I liked the resolution in this one and was anxious for each new release.

Honorable Mention: Paradox by Rachel Bach.

What were your favorite series in 2023?

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Best of 2017: The Authors

Posted January 5, 2018 by Rowena in Features | 2 Comments

Casee

Nalini Singh

2017 Releases: Silver Silence, Cherish Hard, Archangel’s Viper

It should come as no surprise that Nalini made it on my list. She has been on my best-of lists every year since I first started reading her. I am obsessed with her, her books, the Psy/Changeling series, and the Guild Hunters series.

 

Lexi Blake

2017 Releases: Revenge, Love Another Day, Sleeper, Smoke and Sin

Lexi is probably my favorite author of 2017. I discovered her in 2016 and I have never looked back. Ruthless is the first book of Lexi’s that I read. I fell in love with the Lawless siblings right away. That lead me to her Masters and Mercenaries series. I was a bit put off when I read Ian and Charlotte’s book because of the D/s, but I quickly discovered that this series was just as good as her Lawless series.

Elle Kennedy

2017 Releases: Midnight Target

Elle Kennedy is one of my favorites. I love the Killer Instinct series as well as the Outlaw series. I didn’t love all the books in the Killer Instinct series, but Elle pulled me into that world and didn’t spit me out until I read the last book. Her Outlaw series is also to die for. I’ve read quite a few authors that write dystopian romance she she’s up that as one of the best. She’s also one half of Sarina Bowen. I have almost all her books, I just haven’t read them yet.

D.B. Reynolds

2017 Releases: The Stone Warriors: Kato, Relentless (novella)

Where have I been that I missed D.B. Reynolds for so long? I am so into paranormal romance that I don’t know how I missed her. Her heroes are to die for and her heroines are tough-as-nails. Sometimes the heroine even outshines the hero. I love it. She has two series that I’m reading. Vampires in America and The Stone Warriors. I fell in love with D.B.’s books instantly.

 

Christine Feehan

2017 Releases: Power Game, Dark Legacy, Leopards Blood, Bound Together, Shadow Reaper.

This woman knows how to release books. Five books in a year? One thing I love about Feehan is her ability to write so many books without sacrificing originality. I’m pretty sure I’ve said this before, but Feehan introduced me to the paranormal world that I love. Dark Prince was the first paranormal book I ever read which was back in 2000. I haven’t looked back. I adored Bound Together which brought the Sisters of the Heart series to a close. Another thing I love is that she ends her series when it’s time to end it. Sure, there is a spinoff of Sisters of the Heart, but that didn’t detract from the book at all.

Holly

Only 5? Ugh.

Sarina Bowen

2017 Releases: Good Boy, Hard Hitter, Pipe Dreams, Stay, Bountiful, Temporary, Man Hands, Hello Forever, Goodbye Paradise

While some of her books work better for me than others, I’ve yet to read a book by Bowen I didn’t like. While some readers are all about the hero, for me a story is made by the heroine. Bowen writes fantastic women. They’re strong and independent, know their own minds and have fabulous senses of humor. While I love her heroes, her heroines keep me coming back for more.

Ilona Andrews

2017 Releases: Magic Binds, White Hot, Wildfire

Yes, I’m still obsessed with Ilona Andrews. No, I don’t expect to get over it anytime soon. I don’t know what to say about this writing pair, except they’re amazing. I get pulled into each and every book. Each world is vivid and bright, each character comes alive. Humor, hope, love…Andrews gives it all.

 

Kristen Ashley

2017 Releases: The Hookup, The Time in Between, Complicated

Kristen Ashley is the author I re-read the most. Since I discovered her in 2014 (2013?), I’ve read her books hundreds of times. There have been months where I read nothing but KA’s backlist. She had 3 releases this year and I was dying for each and everyone. She has a gift for storytelling. I’m always pulled into her books, living the lives of her characters right alogn with them. Her books aren’t perfect, but they’re the perfect escape. I look forward to each and every release.

Nalini Singh

2017 Releases: Silver Silence, Cherish Hard, Archangel’s Viper

Always a favorite, Singh never does me wrong. Her flawless world-building and strong relationships always pull me in. I can’t wait to fall into her books. Whether it’s PNR, UF or Contemporary, I always know I’m going to get a great story.

 
 

Patricia Briggs

2017 Releases: Silence Fallen (Mercy Thompson #10), Fire Touched (Mercy Thompson #9, mmp release)

Briggs is another author who never lets me down.She’s writes kickass women who are strong and compassionate, plus men who respect them for who and what they are. Her world-building is amazing, and the way she interweaves her two series leaves me in awe. I just wish she wrote faster.

Rowena

Here are my top 5 favorite authors of 2017.

Sarina Bowen

2017 Releases: Good Boy, Hard Hitter, Pipe Dreams, Stay, Bountiful, Temporary, Man Hands, Hello Forever, Goodbye Paradise

Sarina Bowen is one of my favorite authors of all time. She writes my kind of feel good contemporary romances that never fails to hit me with feels and just gives an emotional roller coaster like no other. I love all of her books, her characters, the settings of her books and this year she really pulled out all of the stops because she came out with plenty of books and each and every single book I have enjoyed. She’s so good and if you haven’t tried any of her stuff, you should fix that. Add that to your reading goals for 2018 because trust me, she’s great.

Lauren Layne

2017 Releases: An Ex for Christmas, Ready to Run, I Knew You Were Trouble, Walk of Shame

Like Sarina Bowen, Lauren Layne is one of my favorite authors. For the past couple of years, ever since I read my first book by her, really, she’s been one of the authors that I look forward to each and every single time that she releases a book. Where Sarina Bowen writes great small town, outdoorsy contemporary romances, Lauren Layne writes fabulous big city romances with sharp characters who are smart and sophisticated and just all around fun. Each release solidifies my love for her work. She’s the bomb, for real.

Nalini Singh

2017 Releases: Silver Silence, Cherish Hard, Archangel’s Viper

I was late in discovering Nalini Singh. She was almost done with the Psy-Changelings series before I started reading them and holy cow, her ability to write such a complex world and still have a banging romance in each and every single book is quite the achievement. She wrote great books that I read in 2017 and that is probably why she’ll be a long standing favorite of mine. I hope she writes forever.

Emma Chase

2017 Releases: Royally Matched, Royally Raised, Royally Endowed

Emma Chase is a great writer. She writes contemporary romances with humor, heart and so much love that it’s hard for me to not love the hell out of all of the books that I read by her. Every book that I read by her in 2017, I have greatly enjoyed. I have high hopes for the Emma Chase 2018 releases and I have every faith that I’ll enjoy the heck of those books too. I’m so anxious for more.

Sarah MacLean

2017 Releases: The Day of the Duchess

Sarah MacLean wrote my very favoritest book of 2017. She wrote a story of second chances, fraught with drama and a heroine who fought for her freedom in a time where women were considered chattel to their husbands. That book hit me in every feel in my body and made me so stinkin’ happy at the end that that story has stayed with me long after I finished it. It was such a great story and I’m very much looking forward to what she has in store for the new year.

Honorable Mentions: Lenora Bell, Jessica Lemmon, Tessa Dare and Lucy Parker. All of these authors have written fantastic books that I enjoyed in 2017 and all deserve a mention.

Who were your favorite authors of 2017? Anyone we should be keeping our eye on in 2018? Please share!

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Best of 2015: The Authors

Posted January 4, 2016 by Rowena in Features | 5 Comments

Rowena

  1. Nalini Singh: I started 2015 reading pretty much nothing but Nalini Singh. I love this woman and her writing. I don’t expect that to change in 2016.
  2. Elle Kennedy: This is the other author that I read so much of from in 2015. Loved, loved, loved everything that I’ve read by this author. I can’t wait for more in 2016.
  3. Whitney Gracia Williams: This author wrote one of my favorite books of 2015. I’m still not over how much I loved Sincerely, Carter.
  4. Kristen Callihan: I’m obsessed with Callihan’s Game On series. She continues to impress the socks right off of me with each book she releases, Gray and Ivy’s book was fantastic and shot Callihan right onto my favorite authors of 2015.
  5. Lorraine Heath: I read two books by Heath in 2015 and I loved the hell out of both of them. I’m thirsty for more from her Hellions in Havisham series and the teaser that I read a couple of weeks back about the next book??? Blew me away. I can’t wait for more!

Honorable Mentions: Sarina Bowen, Liora Blake and Jen Frederick.

Holly

  1. Kristen Ashley: I still continue to devour her books, both old and new.
  2. Kristen Callihan: I’m still behind in her Darkest London series, but I’m fully invested in her contemporary NA books.
  3. Sarina Bowen: She continues to surprise and impress.
  4. Ilona Andrews: I’m new to the Kate Daniels series this year, but man did I get sucked in.
  5. Nalini Singh: I’m continually amazed at the quality (and quantity) of her work.

Honorable Mentions: Lauren Dane, Elle Kennedy and Sarah Mayberry.

Who were your favorite authors of 2015?

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Best of 2014: The Authors

Posted January 8, 2015 by Rowena in Features | 5 Comments

best of 2014_authors

Rowena: I realized that while I was picking my favorite authors of the year that I read a LOT of contemporary books. Contemporary romance, YA, NA – I read a whole lot of all of that. So one of my goals in the new year is to read more genres outside of my comfort zone. I’m pretty sure that I’m missing out on a whole lot of goodies.

  1. Mhairi McFarlane. I read three books by McFarlane this year and I’m really impressed. I really enjoyed all of her books and am looking forward to reading more from her in the new year.

  2. Kristen Callihan. I’ve only read one book by this author but it was so damn good that I’m anxious for more. I feel like singing So Anxious by Genuwine to all of her books.

  3. Sarina Bowen. I went through every single book in The Ivy Years series just a couple of weeks ago and I’m still not over them. I loved that series and in turn, came to really love the author. I can’t wait for more from this series and from this author.

  4. Jill Shalvis. Jill Shalvis is like a staple on my favorite authors. She writes like crazy and entertains me with every single book. I adore her books and I was so sad to say goodbye to the Lucky Harbor series. I’m looking forward to what’s next though.

  5. Christina Lee. Christina Lee is one of the newer to me authors that I came to love in 2014. She continually impresses me with each of her books and I’m still sighing all over the damn place at Nate and Jessie’s first love scene in Promise Me This. Dammmmnnnn Nate. I can’t wait to see what she brings in 2015.

Honorable Mentions: Julie James, Stephanie Perkins, Jen Frederick. I have read and loved books by each of these authors this year and I’m pretty stoked to read more from them in the new year. I couldn’t find a picture of Jen Frederick online but it’s all good…she gave us Bo Randolph. swoon

Holly: Like Rowena, I also read a lot of contemporary romance. I finally started to burn out on them toward the end of the year, so I’ll be focusing more on PNR in early 2015.

  1. Kristen Ashley. I don’t love every single book I read by Ashley, but I get sucked into them regardless. She was the author I re-read the most in 2014.

  2. Lauren Dane. She’s one of the few authors I pick up knowing I’ll love her book no matter what. Some I love more than others, but I can’t think of a Dane novel I haven’t liked.

  3. Patricia Briggs. I came late to Briggs’ novels, but I adore her Alpha and Omega and Mercy Thompson books.

  4. Nalini Singh. I was already a huge fan of Singh’s paranormals, but her switch back to contemporary romance reminded me what a well-rounded author she is.

5. Christina Lee. Lee was a new find for me in 2013 and she’s consistently put out fabulous, emotionally engaging reads.

Honorable mentions go to: Jill Shalvis , Meljean Brook and Thea Harrison. All three are auto-buy authors for me who never fail to deliver.

Authors I’m going to be keeping an eye on in 2015 include: Sarina Bowen, Colleen Hoover, Kat Latham and Jen Frederick. I read books I enjoyed by all three authors (Bowen even made it into my top books of 2014).

Who were your favorite authors of 2014? Did you find any new authors to love?

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Best of 2013: The Authors.

Posted February 2, 2014 by Rowena in Features | 4 Comments

(I have no idea how we missed posting this at the beginning of January. Better late than never?)

Best of 2013

Rowena: I have my favorite authors who have never let me down but this year, I was also introduced to some authors that I have seriously come to love.

  1. Julie James
  2. Jill Shalvis
  3. Jessica Sorensen
  4. Samantha Young
  5. Tessa Dare

Honorable Mentions: Sarah MacLean, Cora Carmack and Kristen Ashley.  Each of these authors have written some winners for me this year and they definitely deserve to be mentioned.

Holly: I made an effort to read more new-t0-me authors this year. As a result I found some new favorites. Of course, I still love many of my old favorites.

  1. Samantha Young
  2. Kristen Ashley
  3. Thea Harrison
  4. Lauren Dane
  5. Meljean Brook

Honorable mentions or authors I plan to watch in 2014: Jessica Scott, Jennifer Ashley, Jessica Clare, Tammara Weber and Christina Lee.  Clare, Weber and Lee are all authors I discovered this year. I’m looking forward to seeing what they have to offer with their next releases.

Which authors made your favorites list this year?

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