I’m having a Reader Favorites marathon to highlight their “Top Reads for 2015″ and I’m starting us off with Kim!
A little insight into Kim (and her book preferences).
She’s a fellow Canadian!!! 
She’s been with us since 2013!
She has a favorite book (and it wasn’t from this year) but I thought you might want to know it:
Picking a favourite all time book is difficult. I have loved so many but One Day by David Nicholls moved me like no other.
She’s a HUGE Colleen Hoover fan! She says:
“I must CONFESS, Colleen Hoover and I are imaginary besties. She is hilarious on social media and has such a laid back but fun, cool vibe. Love, love, love her books. Every single one. If I had to pick a favourite, it would be Ugly Love but I kind of think that’s like picking a favourite kid.”
She’s into the book bad boys. 
“I have a thing for Bikers, Billionaires and Rockstars. Love them hot, moody and totally alpha.”
She asks for:
More:
- Strong, likeable female leads
- Anti-heroes, Rockers, Sports Stars (emphasis on Hockey Players)
- Colleen Hoover
Less:
- Cliffhangers where the follow up is not released
- Serials unless there is a bundle available
- Novellas that cost more than $1
And now for her 2015 favorites. I’m thinking these definitely gave her the “more” category.
She says:
“My Top 5 for 2015 (so far, there’s still time)”
- November 9 by Colleen Hoover
- Paper Hearts by Claire Contreras
- Him by Elle Kennedy and Sarina Bowen
- The Paper Swan Leylah Attar
- The Deal (Off-Campus Book 1) Elle Kennedy <— About this one, she said: “LOVED it!! You just have to say hockey player and I’m in. Garrett was BBF perfection and to match him with a smart, witty, strong female lead in Hannah, this book was pure joy. What a great way to snap a bit of a book funk!!“
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 }
yea Kim! These are awesome. I’ve read 3 of them and have 2 on my tbr.
I love a likable heroine. A lot of times it is what can take a book good to great for me.
I do like the cover of Paper Swan. Now need to read it.
I’ve read 2 of these Kim. Need to add the rest to my tbr.
Awesome Kim. And I’m right there with you on your more/less list.
The Deal would be in my top 2015 books too.
Marrow- Tarryn Fisher is mine!
The Deal is on most of our lists. And we have book 3 coming soon. Yippeee
Oh, nice! I loved the Deal. It was so good! I have Paper Swans, but haven’t gotten to it yet.
I’ve read The Paper Swan and The Deal. Totally agree with you. Great reads.
Oh… I love both your book list but most importantly your LESS list. It is SO PERFECT!!! I would just like to vent about one of my biggest pet peeves. Authors that repetitively use the same exact terminology to describe the H’s looks, eyes, lips, body, personality, power, etc. The h’s reactions for example…. constantly flushing/blushing, the fire in their ‘belly’, butterflies, etc. every time they see each other or visa versa. It is sweet when it is casually mentioned throughout the book though.
I understood their intense attraction, feelings or obsession to the H or h the first time, second, third time it is mentioned. It does not have constantly be explained throughout the entire book. It takes so much away from the story, which in my opinion, could have made the story truly outstanding. This typically leads to unnecessary cliffhangers, drags the book on and on or my personal favorite, rushing the end of the final book. Seriously, have authors heard of a Thesaurus? It is actually free online.
In some instances certain authors do this so much it personally causes me to skim pages, lose interest in the book or absolutely refuse to read future books the author publishes. There are many times I would love to read the next book focusing on other main characters from the previous book(s) but I just cannot do it. I hate to say this but I feel some authors do this as a filler to increase the length of the book or to make more money off of people. I find this downright frustrating! Honestly, I am more annoyed and verbal right now because I just finished a series that contained everything I mentioned above.
I apologize… I know this is a blog. You are supposed to keep thing short and sweet. It is a horrible habit I have even when it comes to personal emails and texting. People get so frustrated with me about that too!!!
HA Michele F that’s a pet peeve for me too! Or authors that seem to like one ‘fancier’ word and they use it multiple times in the same book – ok we get it already!
The Deal is on my list as well. Still haven’t gotten to The Mistake. I really need to read The Paper Swan soon.
I agree. Too much fluff and I get bored and start skimming. Just use some visual to tell me what kind of guy he is – I just read the sample of The Land of the Beautiful Dead, and this guy looks up in the middle of her talking, and I could just picture it and that little detail is way better than all that blushing, flushing, belly heat!
(oh, look that that – the Michelle TRIFECTA right there! LOL)
No one can comment unless your name is Michel(l)e? Huh is that a new rule here?
Ok so if The Last Hour of Gann was a favorite for you this year, then really you HAVE to read The Land of the Beautiful Dead. I loved both, and not just saying it to get you to read it, but TLotBD impacted me even more (which is saying a lot). It’s really harsh though in parts…painfully gritty and real. All this talk has decided my next book for me, going with Heat by Smith too. I really intend to read everything she has published.
Michele F vent away. Please! So I don’t have to be the only one who does that around here. LOL and I do the same thing with text and email, way too long.
Some of these indie authors don’t have a lot of experience yet. Their books don’t always flow the way some of the more experienced writers’ books do. They also don’t have the editing resources the big publishing companies provide. But when they have a great plot to begin with, I expect their writing to improve over time.
Another pet peeve: I’m reading new one by Bink Cummings, and she keeps talking to the reader. A lot. Enough that I put the book down and am moving on to LotBD. I was all excited about a Scot riding a motorcycle & being all badass… And got turned off by the writing style. Too bad.
Dear Michelles (and Fabi) please vent away.
I am always banging on and jumping up and down on my soap box about stuff (usually cliff hangers and male characters who come across as misogynists not alphas….and unnecessary superfluous detail about outfits and decor (!)) If you cant vent to as blog when can you??
Its enlightening to hear everyone’s hit and miss lists.
Lisa, your pet peeves are mine too.
Thank you ladies for not throwing peanuts at me. I also enjoyed reading your pet peeves too. They do fall into my list also.
Fabi ~ thank goodness I am not the only one that writes long emails and texts. Now, when someone complains to me I will think to myself “I am not the one one that does this!”
MichelleS ~ thank you for your recommendation. Unfortunately, no matter how hard I have tried, I cannot read paranormal books. Which is disappointing because you all seem to really love them. *please… Do not change your mind about the peanuts*
Whether or not I like paranormal, I have been following Maryse and all of you for years. Your comments and banter are amusing as hell. Plus, I still get a bunch of awesome books recommendations too.
I hope your holidays are wonderful… Enjoy!!
Fabi ~ I am not the ONLY one that does this.
I also love reading about the spell check errors. Unfurtunately, that was not a spell check error. That is a Michele needs more coffee error or maybe I should just go back to sleep for a while. Either one sounds good to me right now.
Lol Michele. This is the ‘funnest’ group ever.
I have a few family members that don’t even bother reading my emails anymore. They see I wrote and simply call me to find out why. *shakes head* Then, I have to repeat everything I already wrote to them.
Michele, join in with the banter.
Fabi, do you ever just e-mail “call me”?
NEVER. I hate talking on the phone.
…but my brother does that to me all the time. He’ll email or text “call me”.
Happy Holidays Michele F!!! I’m so glad you’re with us!!!
Ooh!!! *massive fistbump* for the “less” things!!!!
The Paper Swan and The Deal were two of my favorites for 2015 as well.
The Michelle trifecta…that’s hilarious!! Hubby just asked me why I snorted. I couldn’t explain ’cause he just wouldn’t get it.