2023 Favorite Book of the Month/Year

2023 Let's get it! Happy Reading!

January: The Unwanted Wife by Natasha Anders (Unwanted Series #1) It's a re-read for me this starting month of the year. This book always gives me what I need in angst and (some debate it) grovel. Sandro pays for what he does and says to Theresa. I still would have loved a better explanation for some things: 
I enjoy his desperation once he actually sees his reality and that there's a ticking time bomb/ maybe an expiration date to his relationship/lack of relationship with his wife. The way that Theresa doesn't budge for a long time gave this book a 5 star from me. Did I want them to be clearer with their communication? Absolutely. Did I hate Sandro for using the B word and then passing it off as using right analogy? Yes. Did Theresa become annoying during some parts and I wanted to jump in the book and shake some sense into her? I did, I do. (My comfort read ladies and gentlemen, lol.)


February: A Soul to Touch (Duskwalker Brides Series #3) 4 Solid stars. I wrote why I loved it, added some spoilers, something went wrong and it all was erased. Not re-writing it again so here's some of the highlights: It was good, looked forward to Kitty's book (now Faunus). Monster romance, and a heroine who wanted a monster, hero was great and really looked out for heroine. Communication here is great, the book isn't slow-burn. Got it on loan from KU if anyone is interested. 

March: No book this month, I am in a reading slump and I pretty much ended up reading fanfiction (older ones I have saved from many years ago) A Pirates Life for Me by Addie Logan (Spike and Buffy). Which is a fanfiction with two leads getting pulled into a magical romance book. I love it, which has me watching a Taiwanese Drama Lost Romance. If anyone knows of more books or shows or fanfics like these let me know please I want to read, see more of them, thanks! No link because I downloaded this fic and I have no idea if it still exist online.

April: Neighbor Dearest by Penelope Ward A re-read for me, this is a stand-alone even though there is a first book that has Chelsea as the girlfriend of the Hero of that other book. Chelsea deserves a happy ending after what she went through. This is the only book I have started and finished this month, every other book I have started but either stopped half way through or got past the 1st chapter and stopped because I couldn't concentrate on the story. 

May: Save One Thing by Julia Wolf/J.Wolf I buddy read this with my niece, and it's the only full length book I finished all month. I read novella after novella on K.U. This is a high school setting romance book where the hero has pined for the heroine since they met. My niece loved it, I enjoyed it. I give it a solid 4 stars. I'm not for high school settings anymore at least not romance-wise, but once again it was a good book. 

June: Perfect Together by Kristen Ashley I've only read 3 books this month, and Minx by Sophie Lark would have made it for the top read BUT I am picking K.A's book because it gave me her old school vibes. I think I was just in the mood for over the top dramatic scenes. This is a solid 4 stars. I wrote a review here for it. link here, for anyone who is interested. It was worth the purchase, I was scared it would be bust, turned out to be rewarding reading-wise.



July: Sincerely, Your Inconvenient Wife by J.Wolf/Julia Wolf A marriage of convenience between two people who fall in love at first sight (my opinion) and then as a married couple get to know each other and fall even more in love. Our h doesn't believe in marriage and our H needs to look like he's a changed man. Julia writes books I find comforting and fun, with some angst but nothing overwhelming. 4.5 Stars. 

August: Broken by the Horde King (Horde Kings of Dakkar Book 4) by Zoey Draven Childhood friends, to estranged to lovers book. They are two different species, he's a prince and later on King (based on his species traditions) she's a human adopted by a family and raised as their own, she was mute as a child and he was the one who got her speaking. As they grow older feelings change, she tries to become more and he rejects her. He comes to regret that later in life, and as adults he's now a proper king of his own horde, and she is a doctor/healer who is in need of a job since it's a position that is already filled where she's still living. I liked how they actually talked after all the years of misunderstanding created by outside forces, I only wish she had tried being with someone else in all the years they were not together because H was an ass and did something to ruin that for her.  3 very high stars close to 4 stars, my detractions come from the miscommunication and her not really being with anyone even if it was not really her not trying. 

September: Return to Monte Carlo by Cate C. Wells It's a second chance trope, taking place in 1982. A throwback really to early Harlequin books when the worldly and rich 30 something year old fell in love with the young 19 to 20 year old naive girl from a small town. Except a lot more explicit, and whole lot dirtier in the bedroom (and anywhere they did the deed) since they enjoy it a lot rough and very little sweet. So read with caution if you're in the mood for a sweeter romantic moments. 4 stars from me. 

October: Blood Moon by Jillian Graves 5 Stars, a fun and sexy quick read. Highly recommend.

November: Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night (Immortals After Dark #4) by Kresley Cole, re-read for me. I found my paperback copy and just went for it. Mariketa and Bowen are a favorite of mines. Bowen is so hard headed and closed to the idea that she is his mate, and she's just trying to make it out alive (she's still not immortal yet) in the immortal's version of Survivor. Their banter is in my opinion cute and at times I just laughed at Nix's antics and her dialogue in the early books always brought at least a chuckle from me. 4.5 Stars, and it's also the book that made me love magical mirrors (in Mariketa's defense any mirror in her hands becomes a magical mirror) without thinking the other side is just out to get you, lol.

December: Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas A re-read for me, and a favorite of mines since I first read it. It was a solid 5 Star read, it went down to a 4 but it's my older eyes looking at it differently. This is age gap, ex-boyfriend's father taboo, romance. 


Best Read of the Year: Sincerely, Your Inconvenient Wife by Julia Wolf/ J. Wolf (I can safely say she's become a favorite author of mines.)

Runner Up: Return to Monte Carlo by Cate C. Wells

Honorable Mention: Zoey Draven (I've read 4 of her books so far and all are great!)

New to me Author: Evangeline Collins 

I’m in!

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2023 Favorite book of the year:

2023- Favorite Book of the Month/Year


January- Seek by Mia Sheridan-  I absolutely loved this book.  It had so many twists and turns and had this couple traversing through the jungles of Columbia.  Epic.

February- Heartless by Elsie Silver- Such a sweet story about a rancher who is a single-father, his sweet little boy, and the nanny who bursts into their lives and loves them both!

March-  Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score- Such a great story!  I loved the banter, the small town, the characters, and just about everything this book offers!

April-  Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey- Although this is book 2 of the Bellinger Sisters series, it is by far a favorite.  I loved this "friends to lovers" romance.

May-  People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry- I really loved this one.  No big angst...jsut two really good friends who do life together and end top in love.

June-  Every Summer After by Carley Fortune- Such a great summer read, but not fluff.  This one had depth, layers, and characters to remember.

July-  Things We Hide From the Light by Lucy Score-  I loved revisiting Knockemout, Virginia and I'm a sucker for tormented heroes.  Nash Morgan is a great one!

August-  Powerless by Elsie Silver- What is it with me and a childhood connection and backstory?  I absolutely adore this couple!

September-  Wicked and the Wallflower by Sarah MacLean- I need to read more historical romance and this book gives me all the reasons! Not since Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas has a book been this much fun to read.  Opposites attract-check.  Self-Made Man- check.  Sizzling Chemistry- check. Great Start to a Series- check.  Must read.

October-  Out of Nowhere by Sandra Brown- I dare you to figure this one out until the talented Ms. Brown decides to come out and tell you!  Trigger Warning: Mass Shooting.

November- Lulu's Cafe by T.I. Lowe- I really don't have words for this one.  Trigger Warning: Domestic Abuse.  This is simply in a category all it's own.  I don't know how the author managed to take a book that resembled more of a horror book than anything else and turned it into such a beautiful love story filled with healing and redemption.  Disclaimer: there are elements of faith scattered throughout.

December-  Historical Christmas Present by Lisa Kleypas and others- This is my go-to Christmas read and it NEVER disappoints.  I love I Will by Lisa Kleypas the most, but Father Christmas by Leigh Greenwood is and excellent "making of a family" story.



***Favorite Book of 2023***
This is a tough one.  I know the book that will remain with me and one I will never forget is: Lulu's Cafe by T.I. Lowe.  For me, this book was my favorite of the year, but Mia Sheridan is my favorite author and Seek by Mia Sheridan was pure magic and started out the year with a BANG!


I have been awful about coming to the site to update my monthly favorites.  Life so quickly gets busy and the months fly by.  If we do this again in 2024, I will try again to be more committed!

Quite a lot of reading and very little listening this month. Ended up choosing City of the Lost as the favourite by Kelley Armstrong who is a new to me author. Will continue with the series and try some of her other series. Also read quite a few good m/m romances so it was tough selecting the winner this month.

January: have been on a sci/fi trip, the one that stood out the most is:
DAUGHTER OF NO WORLD- Carissa Broadbent.

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2023 Favorite book of the year:

kristalyn loved heartless, it was a really great read for me as well. My December favorite in '22. I am gonna read the next one in the series soon.

bluebear Kelley Armstrong is good. I love her women of the underworld series, Bitten being my introduction to the author back in my teen years. And Spellbound is my second favorite in the series. It was also a show (titled Bitten) if you're interested in checking it out. It was syfy channel original and it was a lot cheesy but fun watch. Enjoy the journey!