Books that I loved in 2020!

I think we can all agree, 2020 has been a YEAR. But it hasn’t been all bad. There have been lots of little joyous surprises along the way, and books have been a large portion of them for me. I thought it might be fun to take you through some of my favorite reads this year. It’s by no means an exhaustive list, but as a book nerd, there are just too many to write down.

Favorite comforting reread…Never Seduce a Scot by Maya Banks

I’m a sucker for rereading my favorite books, and in a year where there were a lot of unknowns, I needed the comfort of knowing how things worked out. This year that favorite was: Never Seduce a Scot. This is my all-time favorite historical romance. Think arranged marriage, a deaf heroine, a broody but noble hero…need I say more?

The Paranormal Favorite…Bound by Forever by Samantha Young

Paranormal is one of my favorite romance sub-genres. And I read A LOT of books in this arena. But the one that stuck with me the most was Bound by Forever. Think a broody werewolf and badass fae. The world that Young created was one I wanted to stay in forever. I can’t wait for the final book in the series!

A sub-genre that has gotten me through 2020…Reverse Harem

This one kind of surprised me, but I went down a rabbit hole with RH this year and loved it so much. My number one favorite is the Evelyn Maynard Trilogy. A heroine who discovers she’s more than she thought she was and four heroes who are her perfect balance. Add action and intrigue, and I could not put this down!

The Non-Fiction Favorite…Educated by Tara Westover

I’d been hearing amazing things about this book for a long time and was excited to read it when my Zoom book club chose it as one of our books this year. It wasn’t an easy read, but it was incredibly powerful, and I have continued to think about it months after finishing. And if you’re an audiobook lover, the book is narrated by one of my all-time favorites, Julia Whelan.

A book that has stuck with me…Where The Truth Lives by Mia Sheridan

This shouldn’t come as a surprise since book one in this series, Where The Blame Lies, was my favorite read of 2019. And I’m still thinking about both of these amazing stories. They somehow manage to be edge-of-your-seat-suspenseful, incredibly moving, and challenged the way I think about certain things, especially forgiveness.

A book that gave me all the warm and fuzzies…Lucky in Love by Kelly Elliott

This book was equal parts heartwarming and hilarious. And it delivered one of my all-time favorite openings to a book ever. Trust me; you’ll be busting a gut laughing.

Favorite Romantic Suspense read…Hideaway by Nora Roberts

Queen Nora is my all-time favorite romantic suspense author, so it comes as no surprise that Hideaway was my favorite RS read this year. A family steeped in Hollywood tradition, a kidnapping, and a second chance at love. This was a wonderful story that reads more like an epic saga. And you won’t be able to put it down.

The Favorite of 2020…The Not-Outcast by Tijan

This book took me completely by surprise. I’ve long been a fan of Tijan. Her Fallen Crest and Broken and Screwed series are two of my favorites. The Not-Outcast had all of the things I love about her writing, compelling characters, familial drama, and epic love. But it had this extra special something that took this book to transcendent. It was an exploration of trauma and mental health. It explored how you can overcome those challenges and how the people in your life can be a part of that journey, not trying to change you but accepting you for the amazing person you already are. I don’t want to say too much and spoil it but trust me when I say you want to read this book.

I also was hard at work on my own stories this year. I wrapped up the Sutter Lake series with Beautifully Broken Control, a story with a broken and broody hero and a woman on the run. And I started the Wrecked series with Reckless Memories and Perfect Wreckage. If you’re a fan of emotional small-town stories with elements of suspense these novels might just be up your alley. You can find out more about them at https://www.catherinecowles.com/