HAPPY THROWBACK THURSDAY!!! I’m loving this list especially because it brings back HUGE wonderful memories. Like, my intense love for vampire romance back when this blog was really stating to grow (and this was one of my BIGGEST LISTS for years!! I posted it below) + a review from my very own sister (also below), which brought back memories from that year.
She spent a few months at my house and we had the BEST TIME EVER!! We were so relaxed, and just living our gentle daily life together, her doing her work remotely from my house, and her hobbies, and me blogging and and reading (she was reading too). Oh and alllllll of the cooking we did, and swimming in the pool, chatting and drinking wine until late into the night. So you KNOW I had to take a photo from that time period that we took it together, and match it to my favorite theme below. 😉 Don’t we look CUTE??? LOL!! P.S. I included the original picture of us below next to her review. 🙂
So all that to say, there’s been plenty of book fun, on this day, February 5th since the start of my blog, and here is a lookback blast from our book past!
P.S. If you see a feature that I used to include, that you wish I’d bring back, let me know!
Reader Question – The book where the girl named Olivia or Violet saves the boy from drowning… FEBRUARY 5, 2025 <— STILL UNSOLVED!
Reader Question – The book where the heroine wins a date with the famous hero and ends up going on tour with him… FEBRUARY 5, 2025 <— STILL UNSOLVED!!
Reader Question… Solved! The book where she moves to be with her fiancé but falls for his friend… named Gavin. FEBRUARY 5, 2024 <— WANNA READ A BOOK THAT WILL MAKE YOU GO CRAZY WITH ANGST??
Jackie: Gavin Blake from Collide/Pulse. I’ve read those books a few times because I love Gail McHugh’s writing and I needed a Gavin fix.
Jean: …the one with the soda tabs…..Collide by Gail McHugh??? I freaking loved that book!!!
Shane: OMG guys, Collide is so good. I love Gavin and that Emily, she is something else… Those bottle caps tho…
Reader Question – The bully book with the girl named “Birdie” and he dates her, but turns everyone against her… FEBRUARY 5, 2024 <— I actually think this one IS solved. 🙂
Book Review – In Five Years by Rebecca Serle FEBRUARY 5, 2021. <— I 5 STARRED this one & IT’S ON SALE RIGHT NOW!
MichelleS: 5 stars for me too – for keeping me riveted for a two days! Did I love where it went? Well, no. I’m a HEA girl at heart. I loved the friendship, and the leading men were just wonderful.
R. Renee: I’m almost 30% into In Five Years and loving it. I have no idea where it’s going. It’s just a fun ride so far!
Maryse: I one-clicked it (price be damned!!! I needed it!!) and am reading it now. I’m at 16% and LOVING IT!!! …it is AMAZING so far!!! Got me hooked right from the start.
Michele G: I LOVED that book!!! Enjoy and don’t try to figure it out…
Book Review – Release by Aly Martinez FEBRUARY 5, 2020 <— 5 STARS PLUS!!!! Just an INCREDIBLE, UNFORGETTABLE STORY!!!!! Relatable… and kind of magical. WOW!!! 🤩 So much to think about.
Harper: Just finished Release by Aly Martinez. Is a very good book, lots of angst, chemistry, a good dose of reality and an amazing love story. I recommend it!
Maryse: YAY!!!! Thank you Harper!!! I LOVE HER!
Jennifer: Release by Aly Martinez is the first book I’ve read since the baby has been born and OMGOSH! Aly is hands down one of my favorite authors!
This book had me laughing, crying and dreaming of my newest book boyfriend Ramsey 🤤!
I will definitely read this again as it was the perfect mixture of steam and store. I felt like I was setting on their couch watching everything unfold. 10+ ⭐️ Aly has done it again ….
Separated or Divorced Second Chance Romance Book Recommendations FEBRUARY 5, 2020 <— ONE OF MY FAVORITE TROPES! A BIG LIST of amazing books about healing, personal growth, second chances and new starts!!!
These stories run the gamut of all sorts of romance drama (from unrequited love, to more common marital strife issues, growing apart due to resentments, secrets, and life stresses… to some with PTSD, all the way to infidelity issues), and this list promises to tear our hearts out… and despite all odds, possibly mend ’em, too (hence, the “second chance romance” part). 😉 Sometimes love really IS enough.
Guest Review (my sister!!) – Chained: Brides of the Kindred book 9 by Evangeline Anderson FEBRUARY 5, 2017
Johanne (my sister): And now… I’ll tell you a little secret about me. Well it was even a secret to me before someone made me notice this strange habit. I often lay on the couch or have my feet up when I read and my body is usually still. But when I like what I read, my toes wiggle. At one point, my friend told me “My! This book must be really good because the wiggling of your toes is intense!”
So now that you know, I give Chained by Evangeline Anderson, 4.5 toe wiggles! Ha ha ha
Rosalind James – Escape to New Zealand Series Reading Order FEBRUARY 5, 2017 <— I POSTED THIS because we were wanting a Māori (or NZ Rugby team) romance with and here it is!!
Maryse: Er… umm… can somebody write a Māori romance? With the whole Haka warrior dance and all? ‘Cause… just… *swooooooon* Or… you know. Even just a New Zealand Rugby team romance. 😉 That’ll work.
Angie: Yes. I love when they do the Haka. It gives me chills.
Maryse: I’ve been watching them on Youtube. I wish we could see one tonight. 😉
Linda: Seen a haka. Very scary, if they meant it.
Erin: Rosalind James has an entire series
Maryse: *off to look up Rosalind James*
Shannon: YES!!!!
Sarah Lyons Fleming – Until the End of the World Series Reading Order FEBRUARY 5, 2015
Michelle: I loved how the series ended. It really had a character that I wanted to push into a zombie herd in book 1 and was swooning over by book 3. The character development and progression was so great. As usual, it’s more about the characters than the zombies but there’s a little of everything. Book 2 was a sledgehammer to my heart though so any who are going to read it brace yourselves!
Rosie: I only recently found these books via audiobooks and I was hooked from the start. It was so good to come across some really good post apocalypse / zoombie books as there are lots of not so good ones out there. I actually found them when I was looking for something free to listen too, I came across the novella. Even though I saw the risks of spoilers I thought ah lets do it. I am so glad I did as it got me well and truly hooked!
…oh my these books are so good, I’m going to be upset when I’ve finished the last book that’s for sure.
Great blog post 🙂 and I agree with the comments as well. If Michelle refers to book 2 as “and after” then I totally agree, total sledgehammer to the heart. I really can’t wait to hear book 3, waiting sure is going to be hard.
For anyone here that hasn’t listened to the audiobook versions I can highly recommend them, they are excellent and so well done. I’m already feeling lost not having my fix from this story tonight, it really is excellent!
Courtney Cole – The Nocte Trilogy Reading Order FEBRUARY 5, 2015
Tasha: I bought Nocte by Courtney Cole and was absolutely captivated from the very first page. Heck even the forward had me wiggling in anticipation. The story was AMAZING! I didn’t want to put it down, I was dying to find out the secrets…oooooh the secrets!! Didn’t see them coming, I guessed and guessed and just when I thought I knew, nope not quite! I felt so connected to the characters and all the emotions.. I don’t want to give anything away because it’s best to go in completely blind. This was the first book I have read in so long that I didn’t skip anything, not even a little…
Jean: Maryse, I think you would love these! I have some guesses as to what’s going on but still kinda stumped! Verum is much darker and creepier than Nocte and I liked that!
Natacha: You must read it! Finished both books in 2 days! Couldn’t put it down. I am completely mind f#*$ ed . I feel crazy. Like support group crazy. The thinking u know something and then u see ur wrong and oh my god I want to figure this out so bad and I think I know but chances are book 3 will prove me wrong. Not my usual read at all but still so captivating I am glad I took a chance on it
Author News Roundup – 02-05-14 FEBRUARY 5, 2014 <— I miss doing these author news posts. These were easier to do when I was full time only blogging, so I could search for all the info. 😉
Reader Question – The book where she left, broke his heart and his best friend wants to hurt her… FEBRUARY 5, 2014 <— STILL UNSOLVED!!
Reader Question… Solved! The book about the women who’s engaged to a younger man (and has a teenage daughter…) FEBRUARY 5, 2014 <— OOOOOH FORBIDDDENY!!!! AND SOLVED!
Book Review – Pulled by A.L. Jackson FEBRUARY 5, 2013
Devon: Loved this one. Loved her other books, too. This was a great story!
Stacy: I just finished Pulled by A.L. Jackson. And just… WOW. It’s really, really good. Think The Sweet Gum Tree meets Thoughtless plus… I don’t know… that special something. I highly recommend it for you. … when I finished it, I thought, “Maryse would love this!”
Maryse: I DID read Pulled (last year!). Very good, but OMG I was so scared for her. My fear actually overtook the romance ’cause *spoiler* right to the end.
Jaci Burton – Wild Riders Series Reading Order FEBRUARY 5, 2012
Staci: “I’ve read alot by Jaci Burton including her “Wild Riders” series. These books are about Harley riding bad boys! She writes super erotic stories!”
My Top Ten Favorite Vampire Series FEBRUARY 5, 2011 <— ONE OF MY MOST POPULAR posts for years and years!!! But now that I look at it, and I have even more series under my belt, I would change a few up. 😉 Well, the last one on the list, since I loved the first 3-5 books but then it completely lost me after that.
Frore: I just have to say, I absolutely love your list! I’ve been hunting for something new to read and this was just perfect. Thank you so very much, I have to run to the book store and find some of these lovies on your list now.
Heather: hi i just wanted to thank you for this list i found it a while ago and so far i have picked up several of the series you have suggested and have pretty much loved all of them. BDB is the best andthe Twiligh series is great too
Shreya: Maryse…… 🙂 i’ve read all the series that you have listed in your blog(the favourite paranormal & vampire series) and all of them are really good….i mean there are some personal favourites among all these series but your suggestions are simply amazing……..bt the sad part is i’ve finished reading almost all of them and need some more of your unique suggestions dear…..i’m sure you have found some great new series in this genre…… PLS HELP 😀 😀
Sherrilyn Kenyon – The League Series Reading Order FEBRUARY 5, 2011 <— OH I FELL IN LOVE WITH NYKYRIAN & his dimples and fangs SO HARD!!
JimiAnn: I also LOVE this series! I bought it when I started collecting the Dark-Hunters and then it sat around for like a year before I finally read it and I was so mad at myself for not reading it sooner! I really don’t even know why it took so long considering I have never read anything by SK that was less than 4 stars, lol. I am really glad to see another book coming out for this series too!
Maryse: Oh yes, book #1, had so many angst-y moments, and I love how much he resisted her. Oh and that “table clearing” scene…even though he was mad at her… Nice!
👉 View all posts published on February 5th, through the years
💜 Throwback Thursday is a weekly feature on Maryse.net, where I revisit past posts from that same day in my entire blog history.