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Hosted by Fiktshun, Two Chicks on Books, Tales of the Ravenous Reader, Dark Faerie Tales, Seeing Double in Neverland, Take Me Away To A Great Read

Merry Christmas, bookworms! Today is an amazing day in my household because it’s Christmas and I got to spend it with Pierre! I also spent time Facetiming our family in the Philippines and I tell you, this is what makes the Holidays so hard for me.

Since it’s almost the end of the year, I would want to share the best books I read in 2017! This year is an interesting year for me because it is the year that I explored other genres and read out of my comfort zone. To be honest, I found a lot of books that I enjoyed that are outside of my comfort zone!

Action + Romance + Female Badassery

Midnight Action by Elle Kennedy (Killer Instincts #5, 2011) – read January 5, 2017

I read the first book in the Killer Instincts series late last year and I was immediately hooked! I binged the series during the Christmas holiday and Midnight Action is the first book I finished reading in January of this year. Holy, cannoli this was SO GOOD!

Jim and Noelle are a PERFECT pair! This is a second-chance romance that really sucked me in. Add a unique twist in the end and I was sold!

Girl Power in Regency England!

Bedchamber Games by Tracy Anne Warren (The Rakes of Cavendish Square #3, 2017) – read January 21, 2017

I read the first two books in this series and they were pretty much forgettable. I was even debating if I should even read this book because I didn’t like the first two books but I am so glad that I didn’t because this book ticked all the right boxes for me!

We have a female masquerading as a man so she could take her recently deceased uncle’s place in court! Her brother has a speech problem and Rosamund was there to save the day! I mean, it was their livelihood at stake! Lord Lawrence Byron immediately saw right through her guise and their romance heated up the pages!

Heroes of Might and Magic

The Winter King by C.L. Wilson (Weathermages of Mystral #1, 2014) – read March 14, 2017

This is the very first fantasy romance that I read and I was blown AWAY! Not only did it check all the right boxes for me, I liked that it combined my love of YA fantasy and adult romance! (I mean, we all know YA fantasy doesn’t really focus on romance). This was ultimately the thing that sold me!

Steampunk, Oh My!

The Falconer by Elizabeth May (The Falconer #1, 2014) – read July 19, 2017

If you haven’t already noticed, I love history, this may also be why I love historical romance. But when you add steampunk to mix, well. Let’s just say that I had a hard time with this genre in the beginning.

I ultimately picked The Falconer up on a whim because I wanted a fresh read and WOW WAS I AMAZED! The Falconer officially started my steampunk binge of 2017!

Sci-Fi + Steampunk + A hero named Thorne!

Evernight by Kristen Callihan (Darkest London #5, 2014) – read July 27, 2017

After the amazingness that was The Falconer, I immediately looked for steampunk romance and I stumbled about the 5^th book in Kristen Callihan’s Darkest London series. My, my, my what a surprise! It was fantastical and romantical and just steamy in all the right places! Yes, I am slowly reading through the series!

It also helped that the hero’s last name is Thorne (and I am partial to anyone names Thorne! Ehemm Carswell Thorne).

Heroine from the wrong side of the tracks

Beautiful Lawman by Sophie Jordan (Devil’s Rock #4, 2017) – read August 17, 2017

I was pretty lucky that I was able to receive an ARC for Beautiful Lawman a few month ago because this was one of my most anticipated reads this year. And yes, it did not disappoint!

I loved that the heroine was the one with a lot of baggage, which is a refreshing change! The last book, perfectly set-up Hale and Piper romance and I was anticipating their romance so much.

The Dark side of Historical Romance

Beyond Scandal and Desire by Lorraine Heath (Sins for All Seasons #1, 2018) – read on October 1, 2017

This is another ARC I received this year and even though it won’t be published until 20-18, I am listing it here! I read about Baby Farms and even watched a documentary about this.

As always, Lorraine Heath is able to capture the underbelly of London perfectly. True, there is an unbelievable twist that happens but ultimately, I think she handled it like a master!

The Perfect Cinderella Story

An Offer from a Gentleman by Julia Quinn (Bridgertons #3, 2016) – read on October 22, 2017

I practically binged the Birdgerton series by Julia Quinn this year and An Offer from a Gentleman is my favorite out of the others! This was a slow burn romance that was very emotional and heart-wrenching. And I am not a fan of Cinderella retellings! I fell in love with Benedict Bridgerton here and I wish he featured more in the other Bridgerton books.

Take Me on a Tour of Paris

Sweet Filthy Boy by Christina Lauren (Wild Seasons #1, 2014) – read on November 18, 2017

One of my surprise reads is the New Adult romance Sweet Filthy Boy. I picked this as the second book written by Christina Lauren to read because I was going to their book signing and I was pleasantly surprised! Initially, I hated the premise but I immediately fell for Ansel and of course, Mia exploring Paris! I thought this was the best book that I read that made me feel like I was touring the city with the heroine!

#RelationshipGoals

Wait for You by Jennifer L. Armentrout writing as J. Lynn (Wait for You #1, 2013) – read December 7, 2017)

Hello Cameron Hamilton! This book broke me in 2017. It was heartbreaking and emotional and hit me in all the right places. As someone who hates slow burn romance, this was a pleasant surprise! I AM IN LOVE! Also, Cam Hamilton. And SHORTCAKE!

What are your favorite books read in 2017?

Have you read any books on my list? Do you agree with my picks?

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