2017 was definitely a year of highs and lows, disappointments and pleasant surprises; and in a way it felt very polarizing. As I look over all the books I’ve read this year, not too many landed in the middle for me. I loved or I loathed, with only a few middling “mehs“s sprinkled between.
I rage read a couple of books that I couldn’t bring myself to completely ignore (I’m looking at you J.R. Ward’s The Chosen) and I was blindsided by one of my most anticipated reads seriously lacking in the bedroom (Dammit! For 10 books I waited for my hero and his sexy “otherness,” I was owed a sexy feast of premium beef and all I got was closed door jerky!). I’m trying vowing to be over this lukewarm nookie by 2018.
So in no particular order because I wouldn’t survive trying to do so- here are my 2017 favorites…
Fire In His Blood by Ruby Dixon
GATEWAY FICTION DRUG ALERT! Ruby Dixon’s post-apocalyptic dragon tale is freaking C-R-A-C-K! I immediately read book 2 and while waiting for book 3, I needed a Dixon fix and discovered… her SIXTEEN DEEP Alien romance series, Ice Planet Barbarians and my life was no longer my own. Somehow my children survived and my husband hasn’t left me citing irreconcilable obsession with alien smut, so I guess everything is fine- but you guys- Alien Smut has taken over my recreational reading and I’m not sorry. Any recs?
Standing His Ground by Jamie Begley
I’ve read this at least twice a month every month since it’s release. I really, really think this book is something special. Funny and a guilty pleasure I willfully indulge in over and over and over and over…
The Highlander is All That by Sabrina York
I discovered Sabrina York with this novel and I’m seriously wondering what the hell I was doing with my life beforehand. I enjoyed this so thoroughly that I’ve sought out her books in other genres.
By The Hour by Roni Loren
A tale where the Sex surrogate and ice queen collide- from one of my all time fav authors. Written so well. Loren is a national treasure.
The Right Kind of Rogue by Valerie Bowman
Book 8 in *The* most adorably rewarding historical series I’ve read. Each book in the series features a vastly different kind of woman with her own spark and wit. It has everything- humor, sexy and well crafted focused plots! So good!
Broken Things by Jessica Cale
I Love Love Love this historical series. Have you read any of the Southwark Saga novels!?!? Whaaat are you waiting for! Do it, and then find me on Twitter and squee with me! The world is built impeccably. I want to live there! Pro Tip- Read Virtue’s Lady and then devour Broken Things! Ohmiigawd, are you doing it? Do it!
The Scot’s Bride by Paula Quinn
Book 6 of the Highland Heirs series. Do I recommend reading the first 5 books at some point (absolutely), do I understand if you simply can’t wait to experience book 6’s hero, Patrick, for yourself because, swoon!? YES! And it stand’s alone, YAY!
Holiday Spice by Samantha Chase
Practically sexless- but- The. Sensual. Tension. is aces and the story is beyond funny, captivating and entertaining. If Samantha Chase ever decides to let her pen get dirty, it will be EPIC!!
Still by Kennedy Ryan
Slow burns in part 1 and then part 2 blows the mind. Talk about surviving thick and thin with the one you love. I cried and punched stuff. Very emotional and touching. It is also a very in your face, honest and fair look at international relationships and the insecurities and challenges faced on all sides. Both main and supporting characters confront their own preconceived notions in very authentic ways. A gem.
Loverboy by Laure Gilly
Just when I thought I’d been through the emotional wringer and come out the other side whole- Gilly hits me with more, river dancing in spiked heels on my already pulverized heart. Damn this book was visceral. Definitely, one to read when you want to feel something. It is unapologetically dark and beautiful in its way.
Silver Silence by Nalini Singh
The future is uncertain in the Trinity/Psy-Changeling world and Silver Silence begins a bold and brave new spin-off. The bear changelings are written with amazing precision and the HEA is one of Singh’s best to date! Very emotional- get the kleenex!
GIVEAWAY
Leave a comment letting us know what one of your favorite reads for 2017 was and be entered to win a prize pack of books (books are finished copies that we have collected the past few months. They are newer releases, not the ones shown above). Books will be given away all week so be sure to comment on each reviewer’s favorite books for 2017 post. Winners will be chosen at random on January 2nd, 2018 and books will be mailed out the second week of 2018.
One of my favorite reads for 2017 will be Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant. It was just as amazing as I had hoped it would be. I need to check out Ruby Dixon’s bond thanks to your rec!
Thanks for bringing up the Grant novel. I have some time on my hands so I’ll check that one out too!
Ruby Dixon’s alien smut has captured me, too!
As far as favorite reads of 2017, I’d have to say Lauren Dane’s Diablo Lake series (#1 came out in 2016, but #2 came out in 2017 and I didn’t get to either of them until a couple months ago.) I am VERY impatiently awaiting #3.
My favorite is A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J Maas. While it is considered Young Adult Fantasy, I still fan girl squealed when it arrived on release day. LOVE this authors writing!
My reading experience this year was basically the opposite of Sheena’s—almost all my reads were OK. I didn’t hate very many and I also didn’t love very many. Of the ones that I did love “An Extraordinary Union” by Alyssa Cole was probably my favorite.
Read some pretty fabulous books this year but my absolute number one was the American Queen, American Prince and American King books by Sierra Simone. If you’re missing the sexy times, give these a try!
I also loved the Marriage Games duet!
I discovered LJ Shen and Alisha Rai and Sarah j Maas!
I loved Autoboyography by Christina Lauren
I just read The Idea of You by Robinne Lee and was so surprised by how much I loved it.
I loved Walk of Shame by Lauren Layne, Beard in Mind by Penny Reid, and The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas to name a few of my favorites this year.
Devil in Spring by Lisa Kleypas
I always enjoy the JD Robb books and in 2017 we got Echoes In Death and Secrets In Death.
This is why I always look forward to best of lists! You guys are sharing some great recs! Thanks!
Some of these look REALLY good! I put Standing his Ground on my GoodReads list and “Still” and “Holiday Spice” look fantastic too. Hmmm. HMM!! Eek!
I’m still re-reading my version of The Hating Game, darn it. I loved the Court of Thorns series, the last book that came out this year. So good. I keep thinking about Three Dark Crowns too.
Most of All You by Mia Sheridan and Roomies by Christina Lauren
Bountiful by Sarina Bowen and Hate to Want You by Alisha Rai.
I really enjoyed Beard in Mind by Penny Reid and Silver Silence by Nalini Singh.
The Coppersmith Farm House; The Clover Chapel; The Lucky Heart all by Devney Perry. Awesome books!!
Lots of good books this year. Kristen Ashley had a Complicated and A time In Between.
Two Man Advantage by Toni Aleo.
Beard in Mind by Penny Reid
Wildfire by Ilona Andrews and Devil in Spring by Lisa Kleypas. Honorable mention to Penny Reid’s Dating-ish and Beard in Mind.
That’s an interesting list. I haven’t even heard of most of the books, so I’ll have to check them out. I think my favorites for the year have to be White Hot and Wildfire by Ilona Andrews. We had to wait awhile for them, but they were SO GOOD.
oooh… The Hating Game and Breath of Fire by Amanda Bouchet were my fav of 2017. I’ve reread those so many times I should be over them but I’m not :) thanks for the awesome list! Happy New Year! I’ve got a lot of anticipated new releases and I hope the squees are much more numerous this next year!
*Slaps forehead!!* Was Bouchet’s Breath of Fire this year! How could Inforget that one- I loved! I likely read an early copy and forgot to include it because I didn’t read it in 2017. Book 3 was meh, but BOF- YES! Thank you for reminding me of this one!
Tiffany reieZ, December ,
Scandal never sleeps-shaya black
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Thanks happy new year
Dignity (The Breaking Point Book 2)
by Jay Crownover
Absolutely loved the New Camelot trilogy by Sierra Simone. She’s a new-to-me author I discovered this year.
And anything by Lisa Kleypas is golden to me.
Braid Science by Penny Reid. I know it was published in 2016 but I discovered her this year and loved Cletus’s book. I like be how she really can get into the mind and voice such different characters so realistically.
Silver Silence made my list too! It was actually the first time that I read Nalini Singh – her PNR backlist is so daunting and I’d been told to start them at the beginning. Having a crossover book as the first in a new series gave me a chance to dive in.
Me too! Love it also!
One of my favorite series this year was the New Scotland Yard mysteries by Anne Cleeland; the series starts with Murder In Thrall. This series features a rather unheroic hero, an aristocrat who is a chief inspector, and a heroine, a low level detective of Irish birth who has a knack for telling if the truth is being told. This series combines mystery and romance.
Thanks for sharing your list of favorites, Sheena.
Thanks for sharing your list, I really enjoyed the Samantha Chase one too! I have to say Robin Bielman’s Lips Close To Mine was one of my favorites because of my new BBF Levi!
I’ve read a LOT this year, but here are a few that stood out for me:
Contemporary romance: Helena Huntings two books Shacking up and Hooking up – funny and sweet but dirty heroes :) Wrecking Ball and Sledgehammer by P. Dangelico had some sweet slow burn. From this moment by Melanie Harlow had some lovely second chance angst.
Fantasy: The bear and the nightingale by Katherine Arden
Paranormal/urban fantasy: Iliona Andrews’ Hidden legacy books were fantastic and Patricia Briggs and Anne Bishop also published wonderful books this year.
Steamy Alien\Sci-fi romance – everything Ruby Dixon publishes of course. I also love Anna Carven’s Dark planet warrior series and I dare you to try V.C. Lancaster’s Ruth & Gron series for a very different kind of alien lover!
Rock star/fake girlfriend: Never enough by Roxie Noir – refreshing to read a rock star romance about sensible adults :)
Thanks for the VC Lancaster rec!
Last 2 Hidden Legacy series books by Ilona Andrews.
I loved Robert Galbraiths’s The Cuckoo’s Calling.
So hard to pick favorites! I loved Ilona Andrews newest hidden legacy books. Especially Wildfire :)
Hahaha, I love the Ice Planet Barbarians! I’m only up to book 10, I think, because I can only read a few at a time, then I need a break. Going to take your two highland romance recommendations, because I LOVE highlanders :)
Surprise hit for me – Two Cabins, One Lake by Shaye Marlow – very cute contemporary romance set in Alaska. Kind of over-the-top humor but good romance.
Another of my favorites this year was Bring the Heat by GA Aiken!
Woo hoo!
So many awesome books,added to my TBR a few :D :)
Thank you for sharing your favorites with us.
One of my favorite is Dirty Filthy Rich Men by Laurelin Paige.
Happy Holidays :)
I went on a major Penny Reid glom and read as many of her books as possible this year. I think my favorite is Beauty and the Mustache, but I really liked them all. I am a huge Patricia Briggs fan, so Silence Fallen was another of my favs.
I also loved The Right Kind of Rogue by Valerie Bowman! I was hesitant going in to reading it because I read some mix reviews but I’m glad I ended it up enjoying it.
Still and Grip are my next reads. I don’t think I’ve heard one bad thing about this series and just reading the first chapter has made me hooked.
I loved Silver Silence and Cherish Hard by Nalini Singh. Thanks for the giveaway and Happy New Year.
Complicated by Kristen Ashley
Always You by Belle Brooks
The Billionaire’s Secrets by JS Scott. Loving those billionaire’s books this year by diff authors.
One of my favorite reads was the Unrequited by Saffron Kent. She is a new author, and I just loved it! Thanks so much for the giveaway, and Happy New Year mmalavec(at)med(dot)umich(dot)edu
I loved Devil in Spring by Lisa Kleypas!
Discovered Ruby Dixon as well! Awesome books! Craving Maul by Sara Page is really good alien smut! :)
I don’t track my reading, so I have a hard time with these questions. I just finished A Hope Divided by Alyssa Cole and loved it.
I did read several that were among my favorites, but Now That I Found You by Bella Andre I really did enjoy a lot. I love her books and if you have not tried her, you cannot go wrong with any and there are quite a few to choose from.
I am loving the Body Armor series by Lori Foster, cannot wait for the next one; that series is a spinoff of the MMA and other similar fighting series, they are all good. But the last one I read way called Under Pressure. Really hot sexys guys.
I read YA most of the year, due to my job, with breaks in between for “my books.” So my list has some that were mentioned above already, but I must second The Hate U Give and Court of Wings and Ruin. I also loved When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon, it is such a cute and fun YA/NA romance. Goodbye Days by Jeff Zentner will break you–do not read in public.
As for “my books,” I loved Beard in Mind, Too Beautiful to Break and Ashwin.
Almost forgot about Avon Gale and Piper Vaughn’s OFF THE ICE…the hockey, BDSM, and teacher/student elements were all done very well!