Its another edition of Top Ten Tuesday, a meme from The Broke and The Bookish! After you finish here, head over to their page for all the blogs participating!
This week’s topic is a doozie! 10 best books I read in 2015. How can I pick just 10? Where do I even start? Ugh…Ok, here I go!
All Played Out by Cora Carmack
Nell stole my heart right away. She is probably one of my favorite female characters of all time because she is smart, driven, and doesn’t try to be something she isn’t. Mateo is amazing and perfect for Nell. I love that he walks the line between possessive and charming. Its HOT.
The Bewitched and Bewildered Series by Alanea Alder
Oh this series is a diamond in the rough for sure! Smart, geeky, funny, and hot all in a paranormal package. I love how Alanea blends all kinds of supernatural beings and throws in humans for good measure! These books make me laugh out loud and swoon frequently. I am a super Alanea fan girl now!
Normal/Okay by Danielle Pearl
Ok, I couldn’t make a list without including 1 drama, angsty new adult read. This series was exactly that. Rory and Sam are these seriously damaged people who find each other and work through their past. Its nonstop drama, angst, and pain-everything you expect from New Adult! I think I connected so deeply with Rory because I struggle with a debilitating anxiety disorder as well. Her story is very emotional and these books are not for the faint of heart!
Dirty English by Ilsa Madden Mills
Oh, Ilsa Madden Mills….God bless you for bringing me Declan Blay. Hard Core Swoon! This book was a blend of several of my favorite things: fighters, smart girls, and references to literature. If you haven’t read this book, you are seriously missing out on a hottie with an accent who can quote literature!
The Hurricane by RJ Prescott
This was a book I grabbed off amazon simply because it was about a fighter (can you tell I have a thing for fighters??). And then RJ Prescott blew my mind! Why is this book not on every best seller list?!? Its well written, engaging, and heart wrenching. There are books you love and there are books you never want to end. If RJ Prescott would have written a million pages of this book, it would not have been enough. Seriously. Stop what you are doing and read this.
The Consequences of Loving Colton
So, I love the Eagle Elite series by Rachel Van Dyken. So, when this book popped up on Netgalley I was like “Score! RVD!”. This book is now my favorite RVD book of all times. It is hilarious and heart warming. This is what I love about new adult. It wasn’t angsty! Can I get a Hlalleleuh? Amen!!
The Strongest Steel
This was another book I grabbed on a whim and was totally sucked in! Scarlett Cole has written a beautiful story about a girl who survived domestic abuse and who tries to make a new life. And Trent is probably my favorite book boyfriend EVER! He is not an alpha-hole because that type of behavior would have sent Harper running for the hills. He is very understated and I found that I totally loved it!
The Ghost Bird Series by CL Stone
Book 1 is free; If you’re like me, when a free book sounds even remotely good, you grab it. Because free! This series sucked me in and when I try to explain it to people I sound crazy. Its a bizarre story to say the least but I think its totally awesome! (What girl wouldn’t want a harem of boys who love her?). I also love that even though there is this reverse harem aspect, its not crossed the line. By book 8 there is still only kissing. Its appropriate since these kids are only in high school. I really appreciate that the book didn’t turn into a sex focused new adult!
Demons at Deadnight by A & E Kirk
If you like YA paranormal, this is a great series! Its suspenseful, funny, and full of characters that are (mostly) lovable (I’m still not loving Matthias but whatever). And even more amazing for this genre? Aurora’s parents aren’t dead!! They didn’t abuse her, they aren’t neglectful…basically they are totally normal people (which makes them unlike parents in all YA/NA books pretty much!).
Defy by Allie Juliette Mousseau
Oh, Defy was a gem of a find for me. I love romantic suspense, but I hadn’t read anything by Allie Juliette Mousseau (or even heard of her) before I received an ARC of Defy. God Bless this amazing author for providing me with an ARC because I swallowed this book whole! This book was so action packed you literally cannot find a good place to stop until you finish the book. Well played, Ms. Mousseau, well played! If you are a fan of seriously action filled romantic suspense, get Defy now!
Honorable Mention
(because you really didn’t expect me to JUST pick 10, did you??)
Semi-Charmed by Isabel Jordan
Super funny PNR? Heck yes! Harper is adorable in a ‘normal girl’ kind of way (ironic since she has super powers!). This book was a fun twist on PNR that keep me reading, laughing, and swooning over Riddick.
The Deathless Night Series by LE Wilson
I am such a sucker for the fated mate trope and I love the spin that LE Wilson has put on it. These books sucked me in and I loved every minute of it. If you aren’t usually a fan of the fated mate trope, give these a try and you will change your mind!
Fighting to Start by SL Ziegler
Oh, this book made me ugly cry big time. I ugly cried for days! The 2nd book just came out and I am not sure I can read it. I am not sure I am emotionally ready for it! (I need someone to tell me if Hadley and Reed get their HEA…because if they don’t, I just might give up on books!)
Here They Lie by D’Ann Burrow
What a super unique YA read! This is perfect for my high school students because it has a slight super natural aspect, but not so much that the book becomes totally unbelievable. And the romance is the super slow boil so that by the end of the book, there is 1 kiss. Thats it! Its also a smart read that keeps the reader on her toes. I’m excited to see how she continues this series!
Delayed Penalty by Sophia Henry
This is my top hockey pick this year, hands down! I found this book so unique. I read a LOT of sports romance (and hockey specifically-why are there so many hockey books?!?). It sometimes feel like I read the same book 20 times just with different character names. Then I read Delayed Penalty. Auden was smart and focused. Alexander was NOT a manwhore (Am I the only reader who is SO over this trope?!?). They have this connection built on REAL things that actually matter. And they deal with REAL problems that actually exist. And they handle their issues like NORMAL people. Honestly, it was refreshing and I loved it!
Wet by Stacy Kestwick
This book was a diamond of a find for sure! I was introduced to Stacy’s debut novel via Facebook and I was not disappointed. Like anyone else who has read the book, I began to stalk Stacy online to find out when book 2 would be released! This book sucked me in so quick I read it in one sitting and sat dumbstruck, staring at my kindle when it ended. I was sure that Amazon had only sent me part of the book. I was sure there was a mistake. Alas, no, I have to wait for soaked with everyone else.!
Ok, so that really was more like my top 16, but its my blog and I can do whatever I want, right! So, tell me, what was your favorite read this year?? What books MUST I read in 2016??
I’ve only heard of one of these! I’ll have to check out the rest!
My Top Ten Tuesday
Nice list of books in your post!! I discovered some really cool sounding book titles.
I’m so glad you enjoyed my list!
I’ve not heard of any of these but I am a recent convert to romantic suspense so will plan on checking out Defy.
Oh its so good!!!
I see you picked mostly contemporary reality YA stories. That is still hard for me to read ATM because – feels. However, I am looking at Semi-Charmed by Isabel Jordan. Sounds interesting!
Oh you would enjoy Semi-charmed! You would probably love the Bewitched and Bewildered series. Both are infused with humor and make things interesting!
Awesome list! I haven’t read any of these, so I am excited to look them up and see what I am missing! 🙂
I hope you find some you love!!
[…] Did you catch my Top Ten Books of 2015? […]
I love your font and format, girl! Xoxo
Awww thanks!!!
You know I have Semi-Charmed Life on my shelf waiting to be read. I think I bought it because of the Third Eye Blind song lol! Now I’m singing it in my head again. Glad to see you enjoyed it so much to give it mention here. I haven’t heard of many of these but look forward to taking a look.