Tag: Best of Lists

Best of 2023: The Authors

Posted January 19, 2024 by Casee in Features | 1 Comment

Casee

Suzanne Wright: Suzanne Wright was a new-to-me author in 2023. Her books are so engaging that I had difficulty finding books to read after I glommed her backlist. I was just pulled in every single time. I’m generally not someone that re-reads books, but I’ve re-read almost all her books.

J.T. Geissinger: J.T. Geissinger was also a new-to-me author this year. I’m not a fan of mafia stories and didn’t know that I had picked one up. Her writing is so good that I decided I had to have more. I love her.

Sherilee Gray: Yet another new-to-me author. Sherilee Gray writes in almost every genre and I couldn’t get enough.

Lucy Score: Lucy Score has been a favorite of mine for years, but I really feel like this year, she really shined.

Georgia Lynn Hunter: And my last new-to-me author on this list. Her books reminded me of Sherilee Gray and I was thrilled to find another author that I loved.

Honorable Mentions: Nalini Singh and Victoria Ashley.

Holly

Ilona Andrews: The GOAT. I adore this duo. There’s nothing they’ve written that I don’t love. Sigh.

Suzanne Wright: I’ve read Wright for years, but I really binged her books this year. I love her blend of strong female leads, supportive (yet alpha) males and humor/drama. These aren’t light books, per se, but they leave me feeling happy every time.

Michelle Manus: I don’t love all the books I’ve read by Manus, but I can’t deny that I always finish them wanting more. The Nyx Fortuna series in particular is addicting and beloved.

Lucy Score: Another author I binge-read in 2023. I absolutely adored several of her books. While I didn’t love every single title, I know what to expect when I pick up one of her books.

Kenley Davidson: This was a new-to-me author in 2024. She has a giant backlist and I found it easy to fall into her books. The fairytale feel hit just right with me this year. Fair warning, the spice level is nil, but I found I didn’t mind since the stories were engaging.

Honorable Mentions: Dianne Duvall and Rachel Bach.

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Tagged: Best of 2023, Best of Lists, Best Series, Casee's Best of Lists, Holly's Best of Lists

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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Tagged: Best Authors, Best of 2023, Best of Lists, Casee's Best of Lists, Holly's Best of Lists

Best of 2023: The Books

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

It’s that time of year again. The time where we come together and look over the books that we’ve read over the course of 2023 and list our favorites. Today’s list will include all of our favorite books of 2023. Join us for a week of reflecting on our favorite books, authors, and series.

Casee

Pretend You’re Mine (Benevolence #1) by Lucy Score: This book was everything to me. It was so angsty, but it didn’t go over the top to where I felt like I couldn’t read it. Harper and Luke were just everything I love in a romance. It was spectacular.

A Trial by Blood (The Thornheart Trials #3) by Sherilee Gray: This book is part of one of my #1 series of 2023. I love the witchy aspect of these books. Rose and Ronan had to fight so hard for their chance, but they got it.

Winter’s Awakening (Warlords of Empyrea #2) by Georgia Lyn Hunter: Honestly, I don’t remember much about this book, just the good feeling that you remember when you do think of it. I do remember the hero was really amazing.

When He’s Sinful (Olympus Pride #3) by Suzanne Wright: Oh, Camden. I adore Camden. I adore Aspen and Camden. I could literally read this book (or listen to it) over and over again.

Omens (Dark in You #6) by Suzanne Wright: Khloe was so annoyingly lovable and I just adored how Keenan handled her and all her craziness. Honestly, I could also read this one (or listen to it) over and over again.

Honorable Mentions: The Price of Scandal by Lucy Score, Things We Never Got Over (Knockemout #1) by Lucy Score, Burn (Dark in You #1) by Suzanne Wright.

Holly

The Faceless Mage (Legends of Abreia #1) by Kenley Davidson: This was a new-to-me author that I found via Kindle recommendations. I really enjoyed it. It reminded me a lot of The Bridge Kingdom. I was invested from page one.

Protecting What’s Mine (Benevolence #3) by Lucy Score: I really loved everything about this book; the small town setting, the trauma both MCs were dealing with, the found family aspect. I liked the rest of the series, but this is my favorite of the three.

Magic Claims (Kate Daniels: The Wilmington Years #2) by Ilona Andrews: It’s a Kate Daniels book by Ilona Andrews. Need I say more? Of course not, but I will anyway. I’ve been waiting for Kate to take the gloves off for years. I CANNOT WAIT to see where things go from here.

Body Check (Blades Hockey #4) by Maria Luis: This was another new-to-me author. Unfortunately, other books I read by her after this didn’t work for me, but I really loved this reunited lovers story.

Guardian of Torment (Nyx Fortuna #4) by Michelle Manus: This is such a great series. I came to it late, but I still feel like I had to wait forever for this book. I love the direction things are heading and I really love Nyx.

Honorable Mentions: When He’s Torn (Olympus Pride #5) by Suzanne Wright, The Price of Scandal by Lucy Score, Hunted (Dark in You #9) by Suzanne Wright.

What were your favorite books in 2023?

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Tagged: Best Books, Best of 2023, Best of Lists, Casee's Best of Lists, Holly's Best of Lists

Best of 2022: The Books

Posted January 4, 2023 by Casee in Features | 10 Comments

It’s that time of year again. The time where we come together and look over the books that we’ve read over the course of 2022 and list our favorites. Today’s list will include all of our favorite books that we read in 2022. Join us for a week of reflecting on our favorites and not so favorite reads, authors, rereads, and series.

Casee

Devil in Spring (The Ravenels #3) by Lisa Kleypas: I haven’t really read historicals for the last five years. I used to love them, but I just stopped reading them for some reason. When I was looking for an audiobook, I chose this one because Mary Jane Wells is amazing. I am so happy that I read it because it has gotten me back into historicals. I loved both Pandora & Gabriel. I adored how Gabriel adored Pandora. He let her be herself & didn’t ask her to change.

Say It’s Forever (Redemption Hills #2) by A.L. Jackson: I love a good, gritty contemporary & that is exactly what this book delivered. Jud was such a tortured hero & I loved reading how he & Salem found their way to each other.

The Segonian (Aldebarian Alliance #2) by Dianne Duvall: SF has never really been my thing, but I decided to read this series because I’m a huge fan of Dianne Duvall. Imagine my surprise when this book ended up on my list this year. Eliana is everything I love in a heroine & Dagon wasn’t too bad himself.

Storm Echo (Psy-Changeling Trinity #6) by Nalini Singh: I don’t think I need much of an explanation for this one. It’s Nalini Singh. Enough said.

Darkness Rising (Darkness #8) by Katie Reus: KR was a new-to-me author this year. I loved everything of hers that I read. This one was a little higher on my list than the others because of Greer & Reaper. They are so opposite, but exactly what the other needed. I loved every minute of this book.

Honorable Mentions: Garrett’s Destiny by Rebecca Zanetti, Hello Stranger by Lisa Kleypas, and The Cursed King by Abigail Owen.

Holly

Magic Tides (Kate Daniels: Wilmington Years #1) by Ilona Andrews: This was such a killer book. I loved catching up with Kate, Curran and Conlan as they settle into a new life.

Storm Echo (Psy-Changeling Trinity #6) by Nalini Singh: I really loved Ivan and Lei and thought this story was very well done.

The Duchess Hunt (Once Upon a Dukedom #2) by Lorraine Heath: I didn’t think I would enjoy this book and it ended up being my favorite of the series. I’m not usually a fan of the unrequited love trope, but everything about it worked for me here.

The Segonian (Aldebarian Alliance #2) by Dianne Duvall: The first chapter of this book is so gripping it has stayed with me. I loved the progression of the storyline and the romance, but that first chapter…wow.

Dark Minds (Class 5 #3) by Michelle Diener: I enjoyed this entire series, but I think this was my favorite of the bunch. There was just something about Imogen that I connected with.

Honorable Mentions: Soul Taken by Patricia Briggs, Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score, and Night Unbound by Dianne Duvall.

What were your favorite books in 2022?

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Tagged: Best of 2022, Best of Lists, Casee's Best of Lists, Holly's Best of Lists

Best of 2021: The Series

Posted January 6, 2022 by Casee in Features | 5 Comments

It’s that time of year again. The time where we come together and look over the books that we’ve read over the course of 2021 and list our favorites. Today’s list will include all of our favorite books that we read in 2021. Join us for a week of reflecting on our favorites and not so favorite reads, authors, heroes, heroines, and series.

Casee

Guild Hunter by Nalini Singh: While Archangel’s Light wasn’t my favorite installment in the series, the series itself is still amazing. I am continually enthralled by the world that Nalini has created here.

Realm Enforcers by Rebecca Zanetti: I read this series late in 2021, so it’s still on my mind. Which doesn’t mean anything except that the series is amazing. I read the entire series in less than a month. The characters were so intriguing that I couldn’t stop. I think this is Zanetti’s best series.

Navesink Bank by Jessica Gadziala: I’m kind of cheating here because Navesink Bank isn’t actually a series itself. Jessica Gadziala calls it the Navesink Bank Universe. It’s made of several series that all connect. I have to admit, it’s nice to have old favorites pop up here and there. My favorite series of the Navesink Bank Universe is the Mallick Brothers series. So yummy.

Aurelia Ryder by Ilona Andrews: Do I really need to say anything here?

Clifton Forge by Devney Perry: This is your classic MC type series. It is completely engrossing.

Honorable Mentions: Dominion by Juliette Cross, Getting Some by Emma Chase, Wrecked by Catherine Cowles, and Dark Protectors by Rebecca Zanetti.

Holly

Ever Dark, Ever Deadly by Jenna Collett: I was really into Fairytale retellings in 2021, and this series was one of the better ones I found. Each book is a blend of fairytales. Books 2 and 4 were especially good. I highly recommend them.

Demon Days, Vampire Nights by K.F. Breene: This is a multilayered series that spans several trilogies and spinoffs featuring different characters. I loved the world-building and the characters.

Class 5 by Michelle Diener: I read more Sci-Fi in 2021 than I usually do, in part because of this series. The books are romance-lite, but I hardly noticed. I was fully invested in the thinking AI’s and the way they bonded with their humans.

Sarazen Saga by Isabel Wroth: What a crazy ride this series was. There’s a lot going on in this series. I was never bored or impatient while reading. I was fully invested in each character and story.

Dominion by Juliette Cross: I really loved the books in this series. The overall theme has shades of Nalini Singh, which worked well for it. I loved the strong women and the world.

Honorable Mentions: The Little Coven by Isabel Wroth, Dark Planet Warriors by Anna Carven, Getting Some by Emma Chase and Sins for All Seasons by Lorraine Heath.