Everyone, please join us in welcoming Kini to Smexy Books!! She’s been here for a while but we thought we would officially initiate her into the fold by having her tell us what her favorite reads for 2016 are so far…

Never Sweeter by Charlotte Stein– Stein at her best. Gritty and emotional, heroine was once bullied by the hero. Something only this author could make me tolerate and then fall in love with the hero. Some hot and dirty smexing in this book too.

Offensive Behavior Ainslie Paton– Hero is a virgin and beta-y. Heroine is a stripper. They get together and he wants her to show him all the things about sex. It develops into much more for both. Another emotional read, but not angsty. Just real people with real issues trying to find love.

The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata– The slowest of slow burning romance, but this book is really good. Heroine is the personal assistant of the hero, a taciturn football player. He proposes a fake marriage so he can stay in the US. I LOVE the fake marriage trope and seeing the MCs fall for each other.

Strong Signal by Megan Erickson and Santino Hassell– Gamer heroes, one is in the Army in Afghanistan, the other an anxiety ridden recluse. They develop their relationship online and then when they met IRL and go offline, the sex is off the charts hot. I love when books have real characters that struggle with real problems.

Undecided by Juliana Keyes– NA done right. Reading the evolution of Nora and Crosby was a lot of fun. I did a full review here.

Sustained/Sidebarred by Emma Chase- Jake & Chelsea were a great couple. Chelsea is raising her nieces and nephews after their parents died. Jake avoids being too deeply involved with woman. He ends up changing diapers and cleaning up vomit. I loved watching Jake falling in love with not only Chelsea but the kids as well. Sidebarred was a fantastically long epilogue of sorts that brought their story and the series to an end. I cried tears of happiness and joy.

Sebring by Kristen Ashley– A favorites list wouldn’t be complete without a KA book. Nick is using Olivia to get back at her father, until he isn’t. Olivia longs for normalcy and happiness. There is typical KA wackiness and drama that escapes me now, but the ending remains etched in my mind. Nick gives her everything Olivia wanted and so much more. It was such a satisfying happily ever after.