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?

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.

What was your favorite series in 2021?

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

Rebecca Zanetti: I’ve enjoyed Rebecca Zanetti’s books for years. Her books are incredibly immersive. I’ve loved most of the books she’s written. From paranormal to dystopian to romantic suspense; she writes it all.

Devney Perry: This is a relatively new-to-me author. I read a book she wrote in the Rifts & Refrains series. It was really good so I glommed most of her backlist. I still have a few more of her books to read & that’s very exciting.

Jessica Gadziala: This is a new-to-me author that I found randomly on GoodReads. The books sounded decent so I headed over to Amazon to buy a few. Imagine my surprise when I found all her books are on Kindle Unlimited. I glommed her for months. I think there were a few months there in the summer that the only author I read was her. Her characters are fascinating and I love how all the books are connected somehow.

A.L. Jackson: A.L. Jackson has been on my Best of Authors list for the last three years. I discovered her in 2019. I’ve read almost all her books & have yet to be disappointed. They are very emotional

Catherine Cowles: This is another new-to-me author. Her books pack quite the emotional punch. Her heroes are to die for. Heroines are pretty badass too.

Honorable Mentions: Cassandra Robbins, Ilona Andrews, Nalini Singh, and Kristen Ashley.

Holly

This year I chose new-to-me authors that I binge-read in 2021. I didn’t love every book I read by them, but I enjoyed them enough to glom their books/series.

Jenna Collett: Collett has a series of fairytale retellings I really enjoyed. Her writing is wonderful and I enjoyed the girl power theme in her books.

Isobel Wroth: I binge-read a ton of Wroth’s novels this year. She reminded me a lot of Kristen Ashley – in a good way. Imaginative and creative, her world-building and female friendships kept me coming back for more.

Anna Carven: I struggled with Carven’s writing early on, until I realized some of her books had been released as serials and then just combined. After that I easily fell into her world. She writes imaginative stories full of detail and relatable characters.

Juliette Cross: I love that Cross can do both light-hearted and darker novels. I read and enjoyed two different series by her, and they were so different you’d never know the same author wrote them.

Melanie Karsak: I first discovered Karsak’s steampunk novels, which I really enjoyed. Then I tried her Shield-Maiden series and I was hooked. Anyone who watched Vikings and loved Lagertha should try her.

Honorable Mentions: Ilona Andrews, Nalini Singh, Sherry Thomas, Michelle Diener, Hailey Edwards and Molly Harper.

Who were your favorite authors in 2021?

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

Lucky Stars (Ghosts and Reincarnation #5) by Kristen Ashley: I read this book very early in the year, but I still remember it. It’s a second-chance romance with a few ghosts thrown in. It was typical Kristen Ashley fare and I was hooked.

Blood Heir (Aurelia Ryder #1) by Ilona Andrews: At the end of 2020, I struggled to start this book. I finished the Kate Daniel series in 2020 & I didn’t want it to be over. So I procrastinated. Then I read it, & omg you guys, it was amazing. Aurelia was just so like Julie, but not like her at all. Seeing the short glimpse of Derek & I all for this series. I can’t wait for the next book.

Give Me a Reason (Redemption Hills #1) by A.L. Jackson: For me, A.L. Jackson has never missed. There is not one book she’s written that I didn’t like. This book went beyond like and straight into love. It’s the first in a new series. Both Trent & Eden are amazing characters.

Tin Queen (Clifton Forge #5) by Devney Perry: I’m really disappointed that I didn’t review this book. It took me awhile to love it, but when I did? Holy crap, this was a good book. There is romance, intrigue, family secrets, and a happy ending. This book stayed with me long after I finished it. Nova was so badass. Plus she admitted when she was wrong, which made her a better character than she already was.

Wicked Bite (Realm Enforcers #5) by Rebecca Zanetti: This is probably my favorite book of 2021. I enjoyed Bear and Nessa so much. Their struggle was very real. I hope to bring you guys this review sometime this month. It was a fabulous book.

Honorable Mentions: Fallen Jester by Devney Perry, Archangel’s Light by Nalini Singh, and Come to Me Recklessly by A.L. Jackson.

Holly

Murder on Cold Street (Lady Sherlock #5) by Sherry Thomas: I somehow missed this series when it was first released, which turns out to be a blessing because I was able to binge-read it. I loved all the books, but this one stood out for me. Charlotte, Watson and the whole cast of characters is really wonderful here.

Hot as Hades by Alisha Rai: This is the Hades/Persephone story I’ve been waiting for. I loved everything about it…except that it ended too quickly.

Heart (Ghost Mountain Wolf Shifters #2) by Audrey Faye: This series was another new discovery for me in 2021. I liked all the books I read in the series, but this one was my favorite. The focus on the pack submissives and letting those who were abused and traumatized find their own power was wonderful.

Wild Sign (Alpha & Omega #6) by Patricia Briggs: Briggs is always a favorite, and I love Charles and Anna, but I especially loved learning more about Leah in this book. Although this isn’t my favorite book in the series, it was definitely an awesome book.

Shatter the Dark (Ever Dark, Ever Deadly #4) by Jenna Collett: This was such a great book. I really loved the nod to Hansel and Gretel and Beauty and the Beast. Both MCs were well-written and really grew over the course of the novel.

Honorable Mentions: The Half-Life of Marie Curie by Lauren Gunderson, Chaos Reigning (Consortium Rebellion #3) by Jessie Mihalik and Boyfriend (Moo U #1) by Sarina Bowen.

What were your favorite books in 2021?