My list for 2016 is a short one, but it was a good reading year. While I read fewer books than usual, I was also not plagued by the WTF phenomenon that was 2015 and for that I am thankful. I can’t think of a single book that I read this year that was a total fail or “can’t even finish with this crap”- and that’s a huge win in my world. I was delighted by the installments in some of my favorite series, as well as a new emerging favorite author.

First mention on my list goes to The Hating Game by Sally Thorne – a book that Mandi made me read. It’s light, fun, sexy, and oh how I love a hate to love type romance!

Next up, the surprise historical hit While the Duke was Sleeping by Sophie Jordan   . This book surprised me, probably because I wasn’t expecting much from it. It is exactly what you would expect – while you were sleeping but with historical England twist. The ‘bastard’ hero was just such a delight and I so loved watching things come together between him and our heroine that despite predictability I really did adore this book.

Speaking of adore, Kelly Bowen is quickly becoming my new favorite historical romance author. Easiler this year with A Duke to Remember   she delighted me with a story of a very capable skilled heroine and a Duke in hiding – oh how I loved the tale! Then just last week I read Between the Devil and the Duke (review coming next month) and she’s done it again. This time with a gaming hell owner and a lady who is exceptional at mathematics, in a lot of financial trouble, and totally bewitching and intriguing the hard to impress man who can’t help but do anything and everything he can for her. I tip my hat to Kelly Bowen for interesting characters and fun stories.

I will mention Kerrigan Byrne here because having just finished her novel The Duke (review coming in 2017) and having enjoyed her past novels including The Highlander this year she is another to watch for. Tortured and frequently jerks – her leading men are such a nice change of pace from the soft pampered lords of the usual historical novels.

Next up, three series with paranormal twists that are favorites AND the authors brought their A game for me. If you’re not reading these series – for goodness sakes why not?! Magic Binds by Ilona Andrews is another outstanding installment in perhaps the best series I read. I am anxious to see how Kate & Curran handle their next adventure…

Marked in Flesh by Anne Bishop proves that this story still has some interesting places to go, and it is best not to poke the wild things in the woods. This series is continuing to build and keep momentum while developing really rich characters and my only regret is that she only releases one a year.

Speaking of only one a year regrets – The Undoing by Shelly Laurenston made me laugh and totally delighted me. This “crows” series by Laurenston is proving to be far stronger for me vs her previous series which was very hit or miss. I can’t wait for the next one.

To round off my list I will mention some paper books I read this year.  I am determined to get any book with a Borders book sticker on it (meaning I purchased from local Borders years ago before they closed down – so sad!) read at long last!

I worked on several from the Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher (I’m years behind on this one). Harry Dresden continues to wow, delight, surprise, and utterly entertain me and I really don’t want to catch up on this series because I want to have these books to savor forever! Sadly I’m only 3 books behind being current on this now… can’t stop reading them!

I also read the Dragonlance chronicles book #1 by Weis & Hickman. This is a fantasy series that my cousin long ago recommended to me as something I’d love and it is an interesting adventure – I am intrigued enough to pick up #2 and 3 and keep going.

There are some usual favorites who don’t make it onto the list this year, but I’m hoping that means I will find their book offerings in 2017 stronger and all the better for the absence. I’m also hopeful to continue to find both interesting new to me authors and that the authors all mentioned in this list continue to delight me. No pressure or anything – but I do so love a good book!