Top 10 Favorite Reads of 2017
So, I always wait until the last minute to write this post at the end of a year. You just never know what books you’re going to read that last day! What if it’s a real gem? Well, I’m mid-book and I won’t finish it before the end of 2018, so I feel confident that I can post my list. Click on any book cover to find out more. Here they are, in no particular order, my top 10 reads of 2018!
1. Anchor in the Storm, Sarah Sundin
First, NO SPOILERS!! Don’t say a word about book three. I have it, I just
haven’t had time to read it yet. Sarah is one of my all-time favorite authors. I’ve avoided reading all reviews of book three just so it’s perfect. I adored this story. I love how both hero and heroine weren’t perfect, they were flawed even though they both found each other perfect. Just love this book.
2. A Worthy Pursuit, Karen Witemeyer
I’ll be honest, I read quite a few Witemeyer books this year and it was HARD to choose my favorite. In the end, I love the chemistry between Stone and Charlotte the best of all. My second favorite was Worth the Wait, both excellent reads.
3. The Rogue Bride, Lynn Winchester
I know, shame on me for picking the fourth in a series. All of them are good, but of them all, this is my favorite. It’s a redemption story, I fall for those every time!
4. Dreamspell, Tamara Leigh
Oh. My. Word. I could’ve started this book right back up at the beginning as soon as I was done. I literally stayed up until 4AM reading. Then I’m not sure if I swooned, or just collapsed from exhaustion. I’m too old to love a book this much.
5. The Captive Heart, Michelle Griep
This book had me from page one. Eleanor made an immediately sympathetic heroine and that took me through the whole story. I LOVE a manly, flawed hero and Samuel fits that perfectly. This one is staying on my shelf forever.
6. The Thorn Bearer, Pepper D. Basham
Oh, sigh. I’m not sure if I loved this more for the rich historical fiction or the sweet wonderful tension between Sam and Ashleigh. It would be tough to name a story that I’ve read where hero and heroine were chased up more trees, but in the end, I savored every page.
7. Leveraging Lincoln, Stephenia H. McGee
This is one of the few books I read this year that wasn’t romance. What can I say, I love kissing books. While this book was light on the romance, I adored it. I kept wondering, flipping the pages, worried about Matthew and Annabelle. And, to fulfill my desperate need for a romantic thread in a book, the end. Sigh. Now, I need to read book 2!
8. Anna Finch and the Hired Gun, Kathleen Y’Barbo
This is one of Kathleen’s older books, but it made me a huge fan. I love the western feel of this book. Anna’s spunk and Jeb’s stalwart protection are just infectious. I couldn’t stop reading this book. I also want to say that I laughed out loud at the epilogue in this one. It was so fun! It was this book that made me a fan of Kathleen.
9. Too Deep for Words, Andrea Boeshaar
Any book that makes you bite your lip and pray that it doesn’t go the way you think you see it going, and squint, and pray some more… then sigh, because it’s just so good, belongs on a best list. Very well crafted read that begs you to turn the pages.
10. Wrapped in Red, Meghan Gorecki
Merry was a sweet heroine, I was totally clamoring for her to give up her hurt and anger and love her snowman, Sam. I was frustrated at the end and almost quit reading, but I kept reading because I didn’t want to give up. I’m so glad I did. Any book that can evoke real emotions where you laugh along with the character and want to ring her neck for her choices, is a well-written book. Bravo Meghan!
As you can see, I have an affinity for historical fiction. It’s kinda my thing. I did read some non-fiction in 2017. Here are my top two favorites:
1. The Inside Scoop, Janet Kobobel Grant and Wendy Lawton
This is an excellent go-to guide for anyone with questions about the publishing industry. It isn’t “pro” any path to publishing which is incredibly refreshing. Well-researched and even humorous, I highly recommend this book for anyone wondering which path in the publishing world they would like to take.
2. Mastering Amazon Ad’s, Brian Meeks
[image error]This one is a bit self-explanatory. I’
m an Indie author and, as such, I want to increase my visibility as an author. I didn’t read a single book that helped me do that more than this one in 2017.
There you have it. Not many were actually written in 2017, but that’s when I read and loved them. I hope you have a wonderful 2018.
