DG’s best of 2016 list is ready, too!! She’s been with us for a long time, but made it official just a bit over a year ago (joining us at the end of 2015!!) She’s been an incredibly fun and active member of our book crew, and has great book taste, so I’m thrilled she’s shared her list today.
Since this is her first official “best of” list on the blog, I thought I’d include a bit about her, so you could get to know her better:
I found Maryse’s blog after googling to find books similar to one I just finished – think it was Beautiful Disaster. And for the longest did not comment but then there are those books that you are in the middle of and you want to gush, rant or share about…so ladies ya’ll get me better than most when it comes to book addiction…yes, totally admit it…I am a book addict. *grinning*
My THREE things:
1. I am addicted to hazelnut coffee but only in the mornings since this is the ONLY caffeine I drink.
2. if I THINK I can make something, I refuse to buy it. (Example: I made my girl’s Supergirl Halloween costume because I am THAT mom)
3. I often pause when reading even if I am engrossed in a book to take mini breaks to check Pinterest, FB or Instagram …and I’m not sure why….Drives me nuts! Nuts I say! I start a book…really intrigued, everything is clicking,,.and then it gets too easy, my attention starts to drift. Just want someone that I can’t put down….
Things I don’t like…cliffhangers, major time lapses : where the H and h have lost major time separated, love triangles, and unhappy endings..*whispers lowly that I still believe in fairytales*
…I am a sucker for romances that involve single parents, adorable kiddos or babes …
…I really like a strong alpha who takes control, takes the girl and everyone else be d@mn3d!…
I do like to re-read my favs…but for the most part I am chasing that new read HiGH!! I’m a sucker for HEAs, absolutely LOATH cliffhangers, can handle angsty as long as I get the vibes that my prince (whether dark or not) finds his princess AND lastly if you don’t hook me by at the latest 10% into a book….you’ve lost me!
I LOVE a good HEA! But I like for there to be a little work involved first…whether it is angsty, a pesky ex, a misunderstanding, life threatening injury…something to make the HEA worth it. Also love it when that crazy hot alpha has that ‘over the edge protective’ moment…just really love a good alpha. I mean who doesn’t want a strong, hot, determined male to dominated and determine where this relationship is going…right?!? Oh, and let’s throw in a side of hurt feelings too….you know those alphas sometimes think that they know what is best and stomp all over our girls feelings and heart.
I think mine runs toward dry to slightly crude (in books)…and I appreciate some good sarcasm. Just saying…
I have never been one to have like crushes on rock stars, movie stars ….famous folks in general…aside from the book boyfriends…BUT…at this late time in my life…I have the most major crush, look wise..he is perfection to me….so yeah, I might just have to read the new book he is on… STROKED. *fanning self, sighing deeply…someone call the emt’s…I might just pass out from the cover!* …Definitely my crush…can he just be on ALL book covers going forward?!?!?
Here are her favorites and think you’ll recognize quite a few of your own favorites, too!
DG’s Top 10 from 2016
She says:
My Top 10 of 2016…it was really hard to narrow it down to 10 when there were so many great reads…these are no ranking order since they all are somewhat different than each other.
Sparrow by L J Shen <— Sparrow! Definitely one of my FAV mobbish reads! The H was one of the biggest jerks….EVER. But, man did I fall for him….HOT jerk, strong h, some snarky back n forth, hidden agendas, and a little bit of crazy on the side! Yep! Got to say I loved it!
Bounty (Colorado Mountain Series Book 7) by Kristen Ashley <—It’s KA …should I even have to say more?!? Loved the way she brought this gypsy rocker her bounty. LOVED the defining moment when the switch was flipped for Deke and the way he lost it for his gypsy. LOVED the way her father was woven into the story and the way he loved his Justice. LOVED the way her father’s music could settle her….again, do I need to say more?!?!
How to Date a Douchebag: The Studying Hours by Sara Ney <— The Deal/ New Adult book. I LOVED the snarky banter. Definitely had a The Deal feel to it. I loved that ‘Jim’ did not give in easy to the most popular jock on campus. Just a great read!
Deep Redemption (Hades Hangmen Book 4) by Tillie Cole <— Dark, cultish Biker book. Tillie Cole at her finest…Love this MC series…unique plot and definitely unique characters…Not for the faint of heart! …the Hangmen are slightly darker, maybe a little more…violent. Very broken H/h who just need each other so much…definitely a interesting, twisted ride. Throw out EVERYTHING you ever THOUGHT you KNEW…the Prophet is unraveling mysteries!
Patchwhore by Kim Jones <— - Biker / New Adult Just HILIARIOUS. I love a good “revenge” book. Especially when the ex gets all JERKY…throw in some bikers…some hot and some not…yeah, fun read!
Between Here and the Horizon by Callie Hart <— This was one of my OMG reads! Couple chapters in and I was like …WTF! Definitely good…definitely not what I was expecting…I mean the blurb does not prepare you for what happens several chapters in! CRAZY different! But I am ALL IN!
Right (Wrong Series Book 2) / Wrong (Wrong Series Book 1) by Jana Aston <— Two feel good books! Sorry had to combine these two into one because they are both are sooo good!
Banking the Billionaire (Bad Boy Billionaires Book 2) and Tapping the Billionaire (Bad Boy Billionaires Book 1) by Max Monroe <— I mean serious…how can you not count this as one also…hot and hilarious! LOVED the banter, loved the couples, LOVE the mystery around these two writers! Just read it! *grins*
Wait for It by Mariana Zapata <— Queen of the slow burns! LOVED Ms Zapata’s latest (ALL her books really). LOVED how this is the first book that we get to visit with previous characters from her other her books…LOVED getting to know Trip better (and briefly visiting Iris and Dex) from Under Locke, best friend Vanessa and Aiden from WoW, and cousin Sal and Rey from Kulti. MZ wove them all in the story so effortlessly. LOVED Dallas and the way he loved her! *sighs*.
A Veil of Vines by Tillie Cole <— It’s every girls dream to live the fairytale…marry Prince Charming. Except in this case the Prince is not so charming. Just love the slow burn kinda love that forms and the twist that brings them closer to their happily ever after.
I am happily addicted to reading but I need to expend my book energy (especially when one puts me in an emotional frenzy - SO fun!). So, I release my feelings about the stories, by writing them down here. It's my book therapy. 
{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
Great list – my top four reads are in your list so I am excited to read the others listed that I have yet to read, including Sparrow and Veil Of Vines. Thanks DG!
Great list DG! Just recently read all the Hangmen biker books… So good! I’m looking forward to the douchebag book and Wait fr It. Now I’ll have to move Sparrow up on my TBR list.
Great list! Loved the Bad Boy Billionaire Series and every single character! Deep Redemption, yep! I’ve read Wrong, but not Right yet and you totally have me wanting to read Sparrow. I always thought that cover was so beautiful!
Nice list, DG. I like how enthusiastic you are about them.
I really enjoyed Bounty & Wait For It. It was really fun to watch Dallas fall in love, not as reticent as her other heroes.
Thanks for sharing DG. Wow. Hard to keep up with all these great lists.
Great list DG. I’ve read a couple of these and have several more on my tbr. What you describe as liking and not liking in your CR reads is pretty much spot on how I would describe my tastes too. I need to get to the rest of these books asap.
Wait for it was so good. And I liked Sparrow. Two on your list I’ve read. I love this list because you have a few I’ve been eyeing as well, and now there are a few more to add to my TBR.
“I do like to re-read my favs…but for the most part I am chasing that new read HiGH!! I’m a sucker for HEAs, absolutely LOATH cliffhangers, can handle angsty as long as I get the vibes that my prince (whether dark or not) finds his princess AND lastly if you don’t hook me by at the latest 10% into a book….you’ve lost me!” –
UM…. that’s totally me. Which means I need to check out this list stat, because I have read only ONE from this list (Bounty). Click click click!
LOL MichelleS. That was exactly what I was referring to when I said exactly my tastes in reading.
I’ve seen Sparrow on a couple of lists…I think it just moved up my TBR…thank you for sharing your favorites…great list!
Wrong & Tapping the Billionaire were hilarious!!
I’ve had my eye on How to Date a Douchebag and Sparrow is my “one word title” pick for the 2017 challenge!!
Great list.
Thanks ladies! And Happy New Year to all!!! Been on holiday as my friends across the pond like to say, so this is the first I have checked in!
I get so excited when others decide to read some of my favs! Maybe I just want to someone to gush with?!? Who knows?!?
MichelleS and Fabi…unfortunately I am chasing that new read HIGH right now! I soooo desperately want that book that I can’t put down, that leaves me in a book COMA at the end! The one that I will be thinking about days later…it just feels like most of what I am reading is good, ok but nothing to brag about.
And I really like to get excited about a read…any recs anyone???
Maryse!!! Happy New Year and thanks for taking care of all of us book addicts with your awesome blog! Need to add your blog right up there on my list with FB, Pinterest and Instagram as one of those to check in between!!!
DG have you read Dark Matter?
No…I haven’t. Is it dark? (Lol since it is called Dark Matter) A series?
So searched Dark Matter and several appear…..would it be the one with the deliciously hot looking male tatted chest on front?!?!?!
It’s by Blake Crouch. I was looking for Maryse’s review but I have a hard time using the search feature on my phone. I read last week and loved it.
OMG, I haven’t read one single book from your list!! But I DO have Between Here and the Horizon (and have forgotten the spoiler I read so YAY!) and A Veil of Vines, and I REALLY want to get to those this coming year.
I’m so glad you finally joined in, DG!!
Well dang Fabi…it is not the one with the deliciously hot looking male tatted chest on the cover…wink, wink. Little known DG fact…I really like covers! But I will check the ‘correct’ one out tomorrow!
Amy…I absolutely LOVED, loved Veil of Vines! I just love this couple…period. I love, LOVE, love how humble he is and they are each other’s split-aparts. This is one of those favs I will definitely fall into my reread category!
Fabi… here is my Dark Matter review: http://www.maryse.net/books/book-review-dark-matter-by-blake-crouch.html
Sparrow is free right now. One of my top reads too for 2016. For those that haven’t read it, pick it up now!
Thanks Kathy!
I love all of these lists. I love how passionate we are about our favorite reads from the year…then the softly uttered cursing that l you sometimes can catch a snippet of when you realize you should have included that book in your own review because you loved it so much LOL~
Anyway, DG… GREAT LIST! I have a couple here. How to Date a Douchebag, Wrong by Jana Aston, And I’ve read and thoroughly enjoyed all of the Bad Boys Billionaires series.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write this up! And thank you Maryse for posting them for us!
Off of your list I’ve read How to Date a Douchebag, Wrong, Bounty, and Wait for It. I keep forgetting Tapping the Billionaire is on my tbr and I keep seeing it pop up everywhere, I need to get on it! And I love the smell of hazelnut coffee and the idea of it sounds so yummy, but every time I get it, it goes to waste! Lol
DG, great list! I hate cliffhangers too and I like/need HEA, but definitely want them to work for it!!