2019 TOP READS

Liza’s 2019 Top Picks

So I shared my top audiobook picks yesterday, and wanted to spotlight my top picks I read as well. Seriously I was super lucky to read so many amazing books this year, and it was really hard to narrow down my favorites from the 150 books I read this year. These books are in no particular order, and I loved each and every book.

Easy Ride by Breezie Bennett

Breezie Bennett is a new author who has hooked me as a reader from her very first book. Lots of sexy football players, smart women, laughter and tears in each book.

Tomboy by Avery Flynn

We finally got Fallon Hartigan’s story and it was totally worth the wait. She is probably my favorite character every written by Avery Flynn. I own this book in print, digital and audio I love it so much!

Old Dog New Tricks by Roxanne St. Claire

We waited forever for the Dogfather to get his books after he took care of helping his adult children each find their mates. I knew it would be a tough thing for Daniel to love again after his true love Annie had passed away. This story was full of love, along with some laughter and tears. Loved every moment of this story!

Total Surrender/Absolute Pleasure by Erika Wilde

I love the grown up fairy tale series of books from Erika Wilde. Seriously I couldn’t pick which one was my favorite so far, so I had to list them both. Super sexy stories with a bit of intrigue along the way. Highly recommend this series of books!

As Long As I Have You by Bella Andre

We finally got to meet the London part of the Sullivan clan, and I fell just as in love with this part of the family as all the other members of the family. The Sullivan series of books remains some of my favorite stories I’ve ever read.

Dare Me Tonight/More Than Sexy by Carly Phillips

I love the Dare family so much!!! With Dare Me Tonight we got the baby of both family’s story, Sienna Dare. I’ve wanted her story from the beginning and loved seeing her meet her match in Ethan Knight. More Than Sexy wrapped up our Florida Dare siblings with Jason Dare’s story and introduced us to the best friends in his life who are just like brothers to him. Loved both stories so much, I’ve read them each multiple times this year.

Wolf Rain by Nalini Singh

The newest Psy-Changeling book took us back to DarkRiver/SnowDancer territory and I was so freaking happy to be back with so many of my favorite characters. Memory and Alexei’s story was a wonderful addition to the series and I felt like I was coming home with this story.

Storm Cursed by Patricia Briggs

Honestly one of my favorites in the Mercy Thompson series. I love that Mercy seems to become stronger with each new book. I also really loved the time we got with Mercy and Adam together and seeing Mercy and Mary Jo finally find some peace.

Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors by Sonali Dev

Seriously this was such an amazing contemporary retelling of Pride & Prejudice. Sonali Dev pulled me in from the very first page and I loved the entire ride. I fell in love with the entire Raje family and can’t wait to read more of their stories in the future.

Black List by Lynn Raye Harirs

The first book with Ian Black’s Bandits, and I totally loved this first book. Loved Jace and Maddy, and especially the times we got to spend with Ian Black. These books have every bit as much suspense as the Hostile Operations Team books, and I can’t wait for future stories.

Nikki’s Top 2019 Picks

2019 was an amazing year filled with great romance books. The titles listed below are in no particular order. It would be difficult to do that because I love them all. I've included links to my reviews for all the novels listed, with the exception of the last trilogy because I haven't written it yet. I hope you find my suggestions helpful in your quest for your next great read!

I've included links to my reviews on the blog for the ones that have a review.

1. Choose Me by RC Boldt

https://lizasblog-liza.blogspot.com/2019/05/choose-me.html

2. Too Good At Goodbyes by RC Boldt

https://lizasblog-liza.blogspot.com/2019/10/too-good-at-goodbyes.html

3. Butterfly in Frost by Sylvia Day

https://lizasblog-liza.blogspot.com/2019/08/butterfly-in-frost.html

4. Love Story Duet by Robin Huber

Book 1: https://lizasblog-liza.blogspot.com/2019/05/a-love-like-yours-love-story-duet-1.html

Book 2: https://lizasblog-liza.blogspot.com/2019/06/a-story-like-ours-love-story-duet-2.html

5. Wages of Sin Duet by Tara Leigh

https://lizasblog-liza.blogspot.com/2019/05/corrupt-savior-wages-of-sin-2.html

6. At the Pleasure of the President by Lexi Blake and Shayla Black

https://lizasblog-liza.blogspot.com/2019/04/at-pleasure-of-president.html

7. I Want You Back by Lorelei James

https://lizasblog-liza.blogspot.com/2019/04/i-want-you-back-want-you-1.html

8. Spun Out by Lorelei James

https://lizasblog-liza.blogspot.com/2019/11/spun-out-blacktop-cowboys-10.html

9. The Sutter Lake series by Catherine Cowles

Book 1: https://lizasblog-liza.blogspot.com/2019/06/beautifully-broken-pieces-sutter-lake-1.html

Book 2: https://lizasblog-liza.blogspot.com/2019/06/beautifully-broken-life-sutter-lake-2.html

Book 3: https://lizasblog-liza.blogspot.com/2019/10/beautifully-broken-spirit.html

10. The Sugar Bowl Trilogy by Sawyer Bennett

TOP AUDIOBOOK PICKS OF 2019

Liza’s Top Audiobook Picks of 2019

Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Random House Audio)

New to me author and OMG I loved this story so much. I’m really hoping it’s true it will soon be made into a show on Amazon Prime.

Veronica Speedwell series 1 – 4 by Deanna Raybourn (Recorded Books/Audible Audio)

I glommed this series as quickly as I could after listening to the first book in the series. I’m anxiously awaiting the next book in the series!

The Lemon Sisters by Jill Shalvis (Harper Audio)

One of my favorite books ever from Jill Shalvis! The romance was strong in this story, but it’s the sisters’ relationship that makes this such an amazing story.

Protect the Prince by Jennifer Estep (Harper Audio)

Loved the growth of all the characters in this book. I can’t wait to read the 3^rd book in 2020!

The Rest of the Story by Sarah Dessen (Harper Audio)

Somehow this was my first book from Sarah Dessen, and I loved her voice. Her books are classified as YA, but her voice speaks to everyone.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens (Audible Audio)

I really enjoyed this story very much. While I figured out most of the mystery involved in this story rather early on, it was still such an engaging story from start to finish.

Rebel by Beverly Jenkins  (Harper Audio)

I admit it…somehow this is my first book by Ms. Bev. I absolutely loved her voice and was pulled into the story from page one.  Yes Rebel was my first book, but definitely won’t be my last!

Sapphire Flames by Ilona Andrews (Harper Audio)

I love the Hidden Legacy series of books and really loved the first book with Catalina as the head of House Baylor.

Barenuckle Bastards series by Sarah MacLean (Harper Audio)

I listened to both books after hearing Sarah MacLean speak at RWA in July. I absolutely fell in love with her voice in these books, and can’t wait to see what happens in the 3^rd Barenuckle Bastards books.

Well Met by Jen DeLuca (Penguin Audio)

This romantic comedy story was one of the best stories I listened to this year. I actually had tried to get a print copy at RWA at the publisher’s signing and Ms. DeLuca ran out as I got to her table. I have to say it was more than worth the wait to listen to the story!

The A.I. Who Loved Me by Alyssa Cole (Audible Audio)

Alyssa Cole could probably write and updated phone book and I’d love it. Her Reluctant Royals books have been some of my favorites from the very beginning. I grabbed The A.I. Who Loved Me as soon as it hit Audible and loved every minute of this story. I really hope we get more stories in the future with these characters as well.

Heidi’s Guide to Four Letter Words by Tara Sivec & Andi Arndt (Audible Originals)

I signed up for Audible Escapes in December and one of the books suggested to me was this book. I literally was laughing out loud as I was grocery shopping and again at work while listening to this story. It hit on all my happy places and I could read about these characters over and over again.

Nikki’s Top Audiobook Picks of 2019

Cold Fury Hockey series by Sawyer Bennett

1. Alex
2. Garrett
3. Zack
4. Ryker
5. Hawks
6. Max
7. Roman
8. Lucas
9. Can
10. Reed
11. Marek

All Tantor Audio

The Cold Fury Series by Sawyer Bennett 

This series was my first foray into Sawyer Bennett’s amazing world of romance novels. It took me a while to get there, I missed the bus so many times, but sweet Baby Jesus...I have arrived! 

I was looking for an audiobook from my local library to fill the silence while I was knitting a blanket, and I downloaded book 1 in the series, Alex. I was floored by how much much I loved it. I’m not typically a fan of sports romance, but the Cold Fury won me over. It’s an 11 book series and I gobbled them all up, in audiobook, over the course of 4 weeks. If I had to pick my favourite, I think it might be Zack. It’s book 3. It’s full of angst and heartbreak...my weakness in romance! I love that the book was narrated by both a man and a woman. All the books are read by Cris Dukehart and Graham Halstead. They did an amazing job bringing the characters to life.

Ethan Frost series by Tracy Wolff

1. Ruined
2. Addicted
3. Exposed

All Tantor Audio

The Ethan Frost series by Tracy Wolff

I really loved this series. It was dark and twisted, and heartbreakingly beautiful. This series deals with some sensitive, possible trigger inducing, topics. But the love story between Ethan and Chloe consumed me until I read all the books. I will say that I wasn’t a huge fan of the narrator, Tess Chalmers. Her voice grated on me a bit. It reminded me of a stereotypical “valley girl” from the 80’s. Sometimes, her voice would pull me out of the story, but most of time I was able to brush it off. 

LOVE LAUGHTER AND STEAMY EVER AFTERS

It’s release day for Love Laughter and Steamy Ever Afters!! I am so excited about this sexy boxy set from ten bestselling authors. Check out all the fantastic release day goodies, including several excerpts and a giveaway, now!! Ten Novels by Ten New York Times Bestselling Authors From the hot big city heroes that make us melt, to the sassy small town heroines that make us smile, this limited edition collection has something for everyone. Ten sexy and sweet full-length novels—a wide mix of fun, heart-tugging, addictively romantic love stories—each handpicked by an all-star gathering of ten of today’s most popular contemporary romance authors. -- Ten NYT Bestselling Authors -- Ten full-length, standalone novels (no cliffhangers) spanning 2,000+ pages -- Over 97% off retail for the individual books sold separately (a forty dollar savings!) -- Only available until June (So snag your copy today) THIS BOXED SET INCLUDES: BELLA ANDRE – Can’t Help Falling in Love (The Sullivans) MELISSA FOSTER – Seaside Dreams (Seaside Summers) LAUREN BLAKELY – Trophy Husband (Caught Up in Love) VIOLET DUKE – Love, Tussles, and Takedowns (Cactus Creek) SAWYER BENNETT – On the Rocks (The Last Call) CARLY PHILLIPS – Dare to Desire (Dare to Love) ERIN NICHOLAS – Out of Bounds (Boys of Fall) MELANIE SHAWN – Actually Love (Crossroads) JESSIE EVANS – Diamonds and Dust (Lonesome Point Texas) CRISTA MCHUGH – Falling for the Wingman (The Kelly Brothers) Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes and Noble Exclusive Excerpts: CAN'T HELP FALLING IN LOVE by Bella Andre   Gabe Sullivan’s captain, Todd, stepped into the room. “How’re you feeling, Gabe?” “Good, Captain.” He moved to sit up straighter on the bed and Todd shook his head. “You’re fine just like that. I know your skull must hurt like hell.” He nodded back to the doorway. “Are you ready to see Ms. Harris and her daughter, Summer?” No, he thought, he’d be better off never seeing those eyes again. He’d thought about Megan and her daughter one too many times for comfort. Not just because he was reviewing the rescue, trying to look for what he could have done differently, to have gotten them out faster and more safely—but because he hadn’t been able to forget her strength, how hard she’d fought to stay conscious, and what a fighter she’d been every single second of the harrowing journey from her burning apartment. Still, he understood that fire victims often felt compelled to say thank you to the men who had saved them. Especially in a case like this, where they’d just barely held death at bay. “Sure.” He began to nod, but a sharp shooting pain stopped him halfway into the movement. Catching his grimace, Todd said, “I’ll ask Megan and her daughter to come back later.” Her name fit her, Gabe had found himself thinking one too many times. Megan was pretty and strong all at the same time. It would be better to think of her as Ms. Harris. Although, he had to wonder, was there a husband? And if so, where had he been during the fire and why wasn’t he here with them now? “No,” he said, “it’ll be better if I see them now.” She’d say thank you, he’d tell her he was happy to see her and her daughter doing so well, and that would be that. No more being haunted by her eyes, by the surprising strength she’d shown him as she’d crawled on the floor of her apartment and down the stairs. A couple of minutes later, Todd walked back in with the mother and daughter. Ignoring the pain in his head, Gabe sat up higher and forced a smile on his face. And then, his eyes locked with Megan’s and his smile froze in place. My God, he found himself thinking before he could shove the thought away, she’s beautiful. The last time he’d seen her face it had been through a thick haze of dark smoke and the knowledge that one wrong move meant their lives were over. Her eyes were just as big and pretty, her limbs looked as lean and strong as they had when he’d been helping to move her along the floor, but now he could see the softness in her, the sweet curves of her breasts and hips in her T-shirt and jeans. He couldn’t stop staring at the startling green of her eyes, the silky dark hair falling across her shoulders, and the way her pretty young daughter was a carbon copy of her, the only difference their hair color, one dark, one light. She seemed just as stunned as he and for a long moment, the two of them just stared at each other in silence until her daughter ran over to him and threw her arms around him.   LOVE, TUSSLES, AND TAKEDOWNS BY VIOLET DUKE   She felt his eyes on her before she saw him. Her body recognized the intensity of that stare as if it were hardwired to her directly. The guys were all but forgotten now. Hell, the whole room faded away like white noise as she watched Hudson climb into the ring. Lia enjoyed watching him move. There was nothing hurried about his motions; he always seemed relaxed and confident, efficient and ready. He wasn’t intimidating in that built-like-a-fridge way her friends who’d played football in college were. Rather, he was leaner. But infinitely harder. More etched out of wood than molded out of clay. As such, running into his chest was literally like running into a wall. A hard, sexy wall lined with bricks. “You’re killing me.” His voice simmered, soft and low, with a lazy smile curving his lips to show his words were more compliment than complaint. It took just one glance at the throbbing pulse in the muscular column of his neck for Lia to know he wasn’t nearly as unaffected as he sounded. Then all analysis of the man scattered when he went and peeled his shirt up over his head, sending those granite-etched muscles of his back rippling and expanding. His eyes tangled with hers as he toed off his shoes and immediately, Lia felt a surge of adrenaline override any female reaction she’d normally have to the sight. Because the man was doing something so much better than flirting. He was inviting her to play. No gloves. No strike pads. With a slow grin, she snagged her teeth around the Velcro bindings on her MMA gloves and started stripping off the boxing tape underneath as well. This was exactly the kind of sparring she’d been craving for weeks now.       Enter the fantastic giveaway now!!   a Rafflecopter giveaway

Night Shift Anthology Cover Reveal #3

Night Shift Anthology Cover Reveal #3

Title: Off Duty

Author: Sawyer Bennett

Release Date: March 17, 2015

Click here to Pre-Order

Blurb:

As a member of the New York Fire Department, single father Tim Davis is about as tough as they come. But underneath the muscles and tattoos, he still nurses a bruised heart handed to him courtesy of his first love. While on vacation with his son in New Orleans, Tim runs into the very woman that taught him about love before pulling it all away.

Holly Reynolds is rebuilding her life as an orthopedic doctor, far away from her home in New York City and her controlling father… the man responsible for tearing her and Tim apart. While she knows the hurt she caused Tim could never be forgiven, she can’t help the overwhelming feelings she still has for her first and deepest love.

Truths are revealed as lies are exposed.

Two people come back together again to explore the fragile emotional bonds that still keep them tethered, even as their passion ignites hotter than any fire Tim has ever had to put out before.

Night Shift Anthology releases on March 17, 2015. 6 NEW novellas from Toni Aleo, Kindle Alexander,

Sawyer Bennett, Chelle Bliss, Eden Butler, and Brenda Rothert.

100% of the proceeds will be donated to the Keith Milano Memorial Fund,

PanCan.org, and the Nashville Predators Foundation.

Click here to Pre-Order Night Shift

About the author:

  New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, Sawyer Bennett is a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. Her husband works for a Fortune 100 company which lets him fly all over the world while she stays at home with their daughter and three big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn't have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.

Sawyer is the author of several contemporary romances including the popular Off Series, the Legal Affairs Series and the Last Call Series.

SOCIAL MEDIAL LINKS:

www.SawyerBennett.com

www.facebook.com/bennettbooks

www.twitter.com/bennettbooks

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The Off Series

Off Sides - http://amzn.to/1GRe5V2

Off Limits - http://amzn.to/1GReczI

Off the Record - http://amzn.to/1x4Xtou

Off Course - http://amzn.to/13skyqh

Off Chance - http://amzn.to/1xcgLv9

Off Season - http://amzn.to/13slkUb

Also available on iTunes, Barnes & Noble, and GooglePlay

Click here to Pre-Order Night Shift