Reader Favorites – Jean’s Best Books of 2018 List

YAY!!!! Jean has sent us her Best of 2018 list and she and I have VERY similar book-tastes, so I can’t wait to see what she has in store for us! P.S. That one to the left? MINE!!! I love hysterical books, and this sounds right up my funny-bone alley!!!

I LOVE how much enthusiasm she has when she recommends a book, and she does not skimp on that here. :D!! She loves these, and she tells us why.

And I can’t help but feel all warm and fuzzy inside after this sweet message.

Hi Maryse!  I took some time to put my list together, and it’s a little long!! HAHA!  If you post it, please edit as you see fit!! Thanks for all you do!! I love you and love that you have introduced me to all my worldwide book friends!  We have a special bond and it all started with you!!

Awwwwww JEAN!!! I am just so honored  that you guys hang out with me every single day. I LOVE our book world, and I love you guys so much. My books, and my book-buds make it so that I am never ever lonely. <3
Ready? Here it is:

“Some of my favorites for the year, not in any particular order.  It’s been a tough year…..I’m only up to 96 books which is way behind for me, but such is life.

I’ve found myself struggling with my typical genre….contemporary romance….and also found when I stepped out of my box was when I ended up really loving the book.  I like mindf*%ckery and twisty turns (typical Tarryn Fisher books)…..ya know, the ones that have your mouth hanging open at the end with the WTF expression!  The endings that you didn’t see coming from a mile away….love them!!  I am also always pleasantly surprised when I delve into paranormal or fantasy and find myself loving them just as much as contemporary romance!

I feel like all of the romance scenarios have been done and I need something different. I did enjoy some great rom-com books this year too!!!”

Mister McHottie By Pippa Grant – This was my first book by Pippa Grant!  Hysterical!  I really want more people to read it!

Jean: …my friend just begged me to read a book she just finished and went as far as lending it to me….she said she never laughed so hard….. so don’t make fun of me when you see the title on GR….. it’s called Mister McHottie!!!

Some of the quotes that had me laughing so hard:

She’s making this elevator stop on Every. Single. F&cking. Floor. Good Chase, the businessman, the gaming tech genius, the face I show the world, the smarter part of my brain, hops off when the doors open on the second floor, because he appreciates stairs and getting the hell away from this deranged woman. Bad Chase, though, has possessed my body and keeps me in the elevator.

This woman drives me mad. She’s obnoxious as toe fungus and pathologically self-righteous. I want to crush her. I want to ruin her. I want to own her.

I’m simultaneously mortified and lustified. And if you don’t think lustified is a word, trust me, it is, and I am so that right now. Hornified too, which is like being horny and horrified all at once.

Getting off is great, but He was a man who had sex, and lots of it, and in the worst locations, with the woman of his nightmares isn’t the inscription I want on my tombstone. Alright fine, it would be an addendum.

“You can’t feel that?”, I smirk. I know she can, and she knows I know she can. “You mean your crinkly winky?” she fires back. 

He apologized, my hopeless vagina squeals. Let’s hump him. She’s on probation, so I ignore her.

HAHAHA!!  Please read it!

My Torin by K. Webster  – This book! I freaking LOVED it! Totally not what I was expecting. This book moved me. It made me smile, cry, and totally fall in love with the characters! Tyler, Casey, and Torin…… I seriously don’t know what to say except please read this book! I went in blind and suggest you do too.

It’s a beautiful story of finding love and learning to love no matter how different a person may be. My heart feels so full right now. Thank you Ms. Webster for once again stepping outside the box and making my reading world that much better!!!!

Ryan’s Bed by Tijan <— That ending….WTF?!?!?!? Yes, those last three words had my jaw dropping to the floor and I just had to sit there for quite a while processing what those three little words meant (and they weren’t “I love you”, just so you know)!

Now, don’t go peeking at the end if you have plans to read this book because it will totally ruin the story for you!  So after that ending and then reading the letter from Tijan at the end, I just have to tell her, YES, IT MADE ME THINK!! YES, IT MADE ME WANT TO RE-READ THE BOOK WITH THAT LITTLE ADDED KNOWLEDGE OF THOSE THREE LITTLE WORDS! *Sigh*…..*deep breath*……..read the book dammit!!

Behind the Bars (Music Street Series) by Brittainy C. Cherry – Recommended by Leslie!  Loved it!!  I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MUCH I LOVED THIS BOOK!! IT WAS EMOTIONAL AND BEAUTIFUL AND HEART WRENCHING AND SATISFYING!!! JUST AMAZING!!  Here are a few quotes that I highlighted…..but seriously, there was so many beautiful words I could have highlighted.

Every person had lyrics in their life that were too painful to sing.
Whenever I thought of home, I didn’t think of a place; I thought of people, the ones who shaped us into the people we were meant to become, the ones who loved us with our scars and told us those scars were beautiful, the ones who allowed us to make mistakes and still loved us fully.

It’s hard to be around you sometimes,” he whispered. “Why’s that?” His eyebrows knit together and he lowered his voice. “Because you make my heart beat.”

Transcend/Epoch Duet by Jewel E. Ann – I was so so lucky to win the signed books from Maryse’s giveaway!  They are like prized possessions to me now, signed by Ms. Ann, and stamped with “From the Library of Jewel E. Ann”.  5+++++ Stars!!!!!

These books! Wow! What a unique story and I was mesmerized. Flawless writing, awesome main and secondary characters, the feels throughout……and Griffin!

Yes, I fell completely and utterly head over heels in love with Griffin! *sigh* And I was preparing myself to have my heart ripped out and left on the floor.

That Guy by Kim Jones – Absolutely freaking hysterical! So, your best friend’s boyfriend cheated on her. What do you do? You travel to Chicago, steal someone’s dog poop, and plan to light it on fire on his front step. Haha!! Of course, that’s exactly what you’d do. Unfortunately, people are apparently very protective of their dog poop and while running from the dog’s owner, she slips into the back of a parked limo, who mistakes her for someone else and begins to take her to Mr. Swagger’s home.

Yes, Mr. Swagger. Could there be a better name? LOL! Things get really interesting from here on out. Penelope was hysterical and the sh!t that came out of her mouth was laugh out loud funny!!

Consumed (Firefighters series Book 1) by J.R. Ward – I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It really gives you a true look at the life of a firefighter. I was happy to see at the end of the book, J.R. Ward mentions her research, observation, and help from the Louisville FD, PD, SWAT, etc.

Great writing as usual from Ms. Ward…..great character buildup….great storyline! Looking forward to the next book in the series!

Bring Down the Stars/Long Live the Beautiful Hearts by Emma Scott – ALL THE STARS IN THE WORLD!!!  Can’t say enough about this duet.  Emma Scott does it again!!

Jean: Just finished Bring Down the Stars by Emma Scott! Amazing! Yes, the cliffhanger is killing me but damn it was great! I’m in love with two guys!

Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren – I’ve never read a character like Hazel. She was hysterical….quirky, clumsy, outspoken, and just frigging funny, while Josh was the logical one, just a little bit laid back and calm.  After not seeing each other since college, they reconnect. But they only want to be friends. And they take this time trying to hook each other up with different people on double dates.

Seriously, the dating fiascos were a riot, and of course the whole time in the back of my mind I’m thinking these two need to be together. They played off each other and their banter just worked! It was nice to read something a little different with no predictability. Although this is only the third book I’ve read by Christina Lauren, she has not done me wrong yet!

Heartbreak Warfare by Heather M. Orgeron and Kate Stewart – NO DOUBT BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR!!!

Jean: It is a rainy miserable day here! I was “this close” to calling out sick so I could read Heartbreak Warfare. OMG you guys…… this book! I’m only at 18% but I know this is going to hurt! It’s so great though!!!! Can’t wait to get back to it!

and then…

Jean: I finished Heartbreak Warfare last night too…..amazing story! Definite 5 stars!

Pestilence (The Four Horsemen Book 1) by Laura Thalassa – 5 HUGE FREAKING STARS!!! – I love when I step out of my “box” and come across a book that just is so epic, it rocks my world!!  Thanks to my girls for the push to read this one. It was so great!!

It’s basically the end of the world…..a plague has hit and continues to wreak havoc on Earth as one of the Horseman (Pestilence) passes through cities obliterating the living.  And then, there’s Sara. Determined to save as many people as possible. She picks the short stick and has the task of attempting to kill Pestilence. Little did she know, he can’t be killed. So as punishment, he captures her and takes her with him. Ahhhhh sooooooo f’ing great!!

There is so much more to this book that I just don’t want to reveal. I just loved it so much and I really can’t wait for the next book, War! Highly recommend to all, even if you think it’s not a genre you would regularly read, there is a love story mixed in there, so give it a shot!!

Waiting for the Sun: Waiting for the Sun, Part One by Robin Hill – One of our own with her debut book!!  Ahhh…..I have so much to say, but I’m going to try to keep it short and sweet!  This book…..so great! It has everything I look for in a story…..my emotions ran the gamut…..happy, sad, anxious, heartbroken, just enough angst for my heart, and yes, some sobbing too!

Jean: You guys! Robin is giving me the feels we’d get frm our old school books! So well written and ready to get my heart torn apart!

Oldies:

The Mason List: A Coming of Age Love Story by S.D. Hendrickson – This is one of those “why did I wait so long to read it?” books!! So good!!

Jean: The Mason List which I’ve had forever but still haven’t read either. When I opened my Kindle today it was re-downloaded or something and right there as my first choice……maybe it’s a sign……

The Pebble Jar (The Young Hearts Duet Book 2) by H.A. Robinson – 5+++++++ Stars!  By the end, I was busy cleaning up my pile of wet snotty tissues. Wow, this book. I have no words, seriously. Beautiful story, characters, writing……and yes the utter heartbreak…… and its not the heartbreak you’re thinking. Unputtdownable!

Jean: The writing is AMAZING….. it sucked me in from the first line!

Dark Matter: A Novel by Blake Crouch – I FREAKING LOVED IT!!! Not my normal genre, but holy Hannah!! I could not put it down. I was intrigued, mesmerized, amazed……yeah, mind blown!!  Highly, highly, highly recommend this book!

Jean: …holy crap, it’s a pageturner! …I dove right in yesterday and am almost done!!!

Moon Called (Mercy Thompson, Book 1) by Patricia Briggs – Recommended by bev…..and if you don’t listen to bev, look out!! She’s relentless and persistent!  LOL!!  But seriously, loved Mercy Thompson!  Mercy Thompson = One Badass Mofo Wolf!!!

Jean: Can’t flip the pages fast enough! …I don’t want anything to happen to Mercy!!!

I’m still hoping to read a couple more this year that are at the top of my TBR (Verity by Colleen Hoover being one of them) so may need to add to this list!
Hope everyone had a great year of books and let’s hope 2019 will be even better!!!!

P.S. Like Jean’s book-style? Check out more of Jean’s favorites:

• Reader Favorites – Jean’s Top Favorite Books List:
• Reader Favorites – Jean’s Top 12 Reads for 2015
• Reader Favorites – Jean’s Favorites 2016
• Reader Favorites – Jean’s Top 25 Favorite Books of 2017