My Top 5's of 2017

2017 is coming to an end.  With the New Year just a few days away it's time to look back on my year in books and to do my Yearly top 5's.   This year I have read over 260 books.   Some I loved.  Some I didn't.  Some where good but just didn't wow me.  When making these list it's so hard to narrow it down to just 5 for each of my categories.  Not all my picks were published in 2017 (only the New releases top 5) just read  for the first time in 2017.  I will link my Goodreads reviews(if I wrote one for that book) for my picks to the cover pics.  So just click on the cover to read my thoughts on each book.    Let's get this party started! 

This is actually my Top 6 books that came out in 2017 because I just couldn't get it down to 5 lol

6. Grappling for Position (Against the Cage #4)

5. Journey to the Unknown (Meet the Shepards, #3)

4. Wicked Bite (Realm Enforcers #5)

3. Dark Legacy (Dark #27)

2. Falling Hard (Colorado High Country #3)

1. Damnable Grace (Hades Hangmen #5)

They may not have been released in 2017.  Just that I read for the first time in 2017!

5. The Highwayman (Victorian Rebels #1)

4. Heaven's Sinners (The MC Sinners #2)

3. Devil in Winter (Wallflowers #3)

2.  A Perfect Ten (Forbidden Men #5)

1. Radiance (Wraith Kings #1)

5.  Possession (Fallen Angels #5)

4. Seduced by the Tide (Dragon Soul #2)

3. Until Fountain Bridge (On Dublin Street #1.5)

2.  Tucker's Claim (Hell's Eight #3)

1.  Precarious (Jokers' Wrath MC #1)

5. Victorian Rebels Series by Kerrigan Byrne

4. Knights Rebels MC Series by River Savage

3. Wallflowers Series by Lisa Kleypas

2. Forbidden Men Series By Linda Kage

1.  Wraith Kings Series By Grace Draven

5. Wyatt Haney from Whatever you need by Barbara Longley

4. Xcor from The Chosen by J.R. Ward

3.Dorian Blackwell from The highwayman by Kerrigan Byrne

2. Oren Tenning from A Perfect Ten By Linda Kage

1. Brishen Khaskem from Radiance by Grace Draven

5. Brenna Shane Kincaid from Caressed by Ice by Nalini Singh

4. Cynthia Leighton from Relentless by D.B. Reynolds 

3. Ildiko from Radiance by Grace Draven

2.  Samantha Kennedy from Deadly Lies by Cynthia Eden 

1. The Chosen Layla from The Chosen by J.R. Ward

These are Authors I just found in 2017 not Authors that just started writing!

5.  Rachel L. Demeter Fairy Tale Retellings series

4. Kerrigan Byrne Victorian Rebels series

3.  Ruth Ann Nordin Chance at love series

2. Linda Kage Forbidden Men Series

1.  Grace Draven Wraith King Series

5. Wicked Bite by Rebecca Zanetti

4.  A Perfect Ten by Linda Kage

3. Close to Heaven by Pamela Clare

2.  Falling Hard by Pamela Clare

1.  Affliction by River Savage

Well there are my top 5's.  I did a lot of rereads this year, had a few book funks, and found some amazing new books.  It was hard to narrow it down.  I can't wait to see what amazing books I discover in 2018!  Happy Reading Everyone :)

When You Love a Scotsman

Book Review When You Love A Scotsman  (Seven Brides for Seven Scotsmen Series)

Title: When You Love A Scotsman

Series: Seven Brides For Seven Scotsmen Series

Author: Hannah Howell

Date Published: December 26th 2017

Date Read:  December 21, 2017 

The Blurb:

With danger closing in from all sides, Abigail Jenson works tirelessly to protect her small Missouri farm. She doesn’t require saving—but a handsome officer appears on horseback just as ruthless marauders set her cabin ablaze. With nowhere else to turn, Abigail allows the soldier with the seductive Highlander’s gaze to escort her to shelter in a nearby town.

Matthew MacEnroy was reluctant to join his adopted nation’s conflict—until an enemy attack wounded two of his brothers. Bravely doing battle has its price when a proud, independent beauty comes under his watch—no military man can risk the powerful emotions their attraction has unleashed. But when Matthew himself is caught in the crossfire, Abigail leads their long journey home to MacEnroy valley . . . and her caring touch sparks the promise of a bold future together. 

 My Review

4 War and love Stars

******Spoilers*******

When You Love A Scotsman was a good solid read for me. Matthew MacEnroy was yummy, protective and at times playful. Abigail was brave, smart, and had a big loving heart. I thought Matt and Abbie were very cute together. The steam factor was high too. I only had two problems with this book that made it a 4 star read instead of a 5. I will try to relay those issues without giving away a ton of spoilers if possible. 

Problem #1 the attitude towards sex in this book and also in book 1 was a little too modern. Let me explain. Women for the most part in the civil war times still had very strict ideas about sex before marriage. As in you don't have sex before you are married. Yes I know it did happen and of course more so if your beau was going off to war. But it wasn't the norm, and it was normally with some courting, a declaration of marriage or love or something. That didn't happen in this book. Matt just takes Abbie for a walk, on what I would count as the equivalent of a second date at best, and just has sex with her. No real build up. No I want to be with you forever Abbie. No I love you. Not even I want to court you. Nothing! He just showed up randomly(every couple of weeks)ask her to go walking, not really talking about much. He did feed her so that was nice, and then he would jump her lol. Now the 2nd or 3rd time he took her "walking" he was kissing her and just without even getting fully undressed had sex with her. Abbie doesn't say a word in protest. No what of my honor? Are you gonna make an honest woman of me? Are we together? Nothing. She just gave her virginity away. Which back then would have been a huge deal, as it would have lower her chance at marriage. Also if she would have gotten pregnant would have had her child labeled a bastard. She just gave it away without a word. I just didn't buy it. Now don't get me wrong I hate the way women were treated back then, but history is what it is and it just didn't feel right when I read it. Still I could overlook it and enjoy the read. 

Now for the second problem I had with this book which kinda ties into the 1st one. Problem #2 Matt's attitude towards sex and Abbie. This was the biggest problem for me. It was what bothered me the most. See Matt sat there and slept with Abbie over and over, never giving her words of love, or commitment. He knew he took her virginity, but he just didn't seem to care much. It was like he was just having fun and if he would have walked away she would have been ruined. I needed him to really want to be with her. I wanted him to have deep I'm keeping her feelings, not just having sex with her knowing what was at stake for her. It felt kinda selfish and not a honorable thing to do. It bugged me. It bugged me more that people kept asking Matt if he was "gonna marry the girl" and he just kept saying he didn't know and he was thinking about it. It made me just want to shake some sense into him.

Now even with those two problems the book was still a great read. I loved the civil war setting. It was heartbreaking, as well as beautiful. I think Hannah Howell did an amazing job at showing the truth of the brutishness, cruelty, ugliness born in war times. She didn't paint over the pain and loss war leaves behind. I loved Abbie's courage through the whole book. Every time something knocked her down she would just pick herself up. On top of that she helped everyone. She didn't cry and whine she just jumped in and helped. My favorite type of heroine is the brave, strong ones, and that was Abbie for sure. I loved her so much. I also really loved little Noah (4 year old orphan boy that claims Abbie as his) he was just so precocious and cute. I loved getting to catch up with the whole MacEnroy clan including Mrs O'Neal her children and the Jones brothers. I really loved the epilogue. It gave a nice deep look into the future. I can't wait for the other sexy Scottish MacEnroy brothers to get their books. 

Lure of Oblivion

Book Review Lure Of Oblivion  (The Mercury Pack Series)

Title: Lure Of Oblivion

Series: The Mercury Pack Series

Author: Suzanne Wright

Date Published:  November 21st 2017

Date Read:  November 28, 2017 

The Blurb:

Gwen Miller may be a human, but she has no problem taking a stand against her own kind. She’s going to testify against the teenage boy she saw viciously assault a lone shifter female—and no amount of pressure from the boy’s wealthy family will make her back down. But when the harassment turns violent, help comes in the form of a lean, toned wolf with winter-gray eyes.

As a guest at Gwen’s inn, shifter enforcer Zander Devlin can’t help but notice that the fierce and leggy brunette is in serious trouble. Since she’s putting herself at risk for one of his kind, keeping her safe is the least he can do. That’s not the only reason Zander wants her close. He desires her, even as the wolf inside him backs away from her. But his feral instincts are hard to keep down, and as they take shape, they’re harder for Gwen to resist. Then again, embracing them could be the only thing that could save her life.

 My Review

             4 Learning to trust Stars

Lure of Oblivion was a good solid read for me. I would expect no less of Suzanne Wright. She is one of my favorite authors and her books always hit the good spot. I will say that though I enjoyed this read something kept it from being a 5 star read for me. I honestly can't put a finger on what kept this read from wowing me but something was missing for me. I loved Gwen. I thought she was totally bad ass for a human. I liked Zander a lot. I didn't love him but I really liked him. I think I was a little put off that he was kind of standoffish to Gwen at the start. However when Gwen and Zander got together their passion was burning up my kindle. SW writes great sex in her books. I enjoyed the plot as well. I started this book and it kept me entertained the whole time. Lure of oblivion was a great addition to the Mercury Pack series and I can't wait to read the next book. 

Vampires in America: The Vignettes - Volume 2

Book Review Vampires in America The Vignettes (Vampires in America Series)

Title: Vampires in America The Vignettes Vol 2

Series: Vampires in America Series

Author: D. B. Reynolds

Date Published:  December 15th 2017

Date Read:   December 12, 2017

The Blurb:

RT and EPIC award-winning author D. B. Reynolds brings to print the stories her readers have been waiting for. Ten Vampire Vignettes, including five brand new stories and five reader favorites from her blog, all in print for the first time. They range from the wild and dusty streets of post-Gold Rush San Francisco, to the vicious halls of the U.S. Capitol today, and every place along the way.

These are the stories in between the books, the slices of life that happen as the vampires of North America defend their lives, uncover secrets, and sometimes, simply take a moment to romance the women they love.

As always, be forewarned, there is sex in these stories. But Reynolds’s readers wouldn’t have it any other way!

My Review

      4 Cute, fun, short stories Stars

Vampires in America The Vignettes Vol 2 was a very enjoyable read. I love the VIA world so getting to catch up on all my favorite vamps with cute little stories is so much fun for me. I knew I would get some smexy time with Cyn, Raphael, and the other Vampire Lords and mates. What I didn't expect,but was pleasantly surprised about was the stories about Juro. I loved the story with Juro and Luci, but my all time favorite story in this book was of how Juro and his twin brother Ken'ichi became vampires. I am super intrigued by the hunky Japanese twins and would love more of the sexy twin duo. I would love for Ken'ichi to get his own book. Hint hint!!!! This book was an easy, sexy read that gave me my fix of Vampires in America while I wait for Quinn's book!