Kaetrin’s Favourite Reads of 2015
Book Reviews / Recommended Reads / Top Ten ListsBest of 2015 / top 10 lists21 Comments
It’s that time of year when bloggers turn their minds to their favourite reads and try and come up with clever lists and pithy statements about the books they loved best that year. Alas I’m all out of pithy statements, but I had plenty of books to choose from. As it happens, all my favourite reads were released in 2015 – which represents no more than that I read more new releases this past year than I did last year.
Here they are, in no particular order:-
Doing No Harm by Carla Kelly
This book was like a warm snuggly blanket of delicious. Even though it contained some heavy themes, it was completely charming.
She laughed and slapped his head, which made him grab her and kiss her, not on the forehead this time. Her arms went around him as though they did this every day, and they stood together in a tight embrace.
She drew away first; he had no immediate plans to ever move.
The Deal by Elle Kennedy
Oh, man, I loved this book so hard. If I absolutely had to choose a No. 1 favourite for the year, it would probably be The Deal. Probably.
Garrett climbs on the bed and lies down, resting his head on a mountain of pillows. I’ve never met anyone who sleeps with so many pillows. Maybe he needs them to cradle his massive ego.
The Shameless Hour by Sarina Bowen
Bella was always one of my favourite characters from the Ivy Years series and her books totally lived up to expectations for me.
It’s hard to admit you’re just in someone’s periphery when you imagined you were closer to the center of their world.
The Friend Zone by Kristen Callihan
Loved Gray and Ivy. Loved the banter, loved their chemistry. Total win.
“I nearly wet myself when I saw him,” Fi prattles on. “Jay-sus, he’s hot. And freaking huge. A veritable mountain of sexy.” She fans her face with exaggerated movements. “Seriously, Iv… You could climb him like Everest, make base camp at his cock, and tackle the rest in the morning.”
In the Middle of Somewhere by Roan Parrish
Beautifully written debut.
Maybe the point of I love you is that it is a tether. A connection so you can find your way back to someone even when shit seems huge and unmanageable on your own.
Him by Elle Kennedy & Sarina Bowen (which I reviewed at my own blog)
Elle Kennedy AND Sarina Bowen. It’s a twofer.
“Yeah? Hit me. What’s good about going gay?” I nudge him back under the table.“Well, dicks,” he says. “Obvs.”
Ride Steady by Kristen Ashley
Who knew Joker was going to be such a wonderful hero?
“What can I give you, Butterfly?” he asked quietly.
A Desperate Fortune by Susanna Kearsley
Susanna Kearsley never fails to satisfy. Two beautiful romances. Very special.
His logic made me smile a little. “No.”“Then I’m the variable.” Lowering his mouth to mine, he set about convincing me, and did a thorough job of it. I wanted to believe.
He said, “You never need to change for me.”
The Girl Next Door by Amy Jo Cousins
This book was all about Cash for me. I loved his humour and his kindness. He made me laugh and he made me awwww. Plus; holy hotness Batman.
“Are you flexing your pecs at me?”
Busted.
He was a truthful guy, but, dude…
“No way.” He duplicated the movement, tried to figure out what else could have caused him to twitch like that. “Stomach cramp.”
(There is one more in my full length novel list but as it was written by someone from Dear Author I won’t include it here. If you want to know what it is, hit me up on Twitter. @Kaetrin67)
Favourite Novellas and Short Stories
Craving Flight by Tamsen Parker
Just beautifully written, this moody BDSM novella was a stand out.
Curled up in his lap, my head resting against his chest, I start to calm. By the time he’s helping me dress then spooning me on my side of the bed, he’s eased me enough to fall asleep. When I startle awake in the middle of the night, coming to consciousness with the feeling of freefalling with no wings, he’s there. He doesn’t usually hold me through the night, probably because it’s uncomfortable lying on the gap between the beds, but tonight he is. The selfless gesture of concern is touching.
“Go to sleep, little bird. I’m not going anywhere.”
Luminous by AE Ash
Another one that was beautifully written, the words were evocative and gorgeous.
Luminous. That was the word that appeared in her mind. He was luminous and impossible and bleeding out right in front of her, curled in fetal position, eyes closed. Gold skin, gold hair, dark red blood. The fireball had dropped here, and the dream had led her outside today—no helm and no idea what she was walking into.
I totally agree about the Kearsley (which made my list too) and the Ash. It was your review that got me interested in trying it and it was lovely. You’ve also convinced me to try the Elle Kennedy book at some point though it’ll probably be next year before I can get to it or the Carla Kelly entry.
I completely loved A Desperate Fortune as well. That scene you quoted . . . :)
@Angie: I love Kaetrin’s use of quotes from her choices. Wish I’d’ve thought of that in time …
I’m reading the Kearsley right now (there was a very belated UK e-release) – really liking so far.
HIM’s definitely making my favourites of 2015 as well.
Love your list Kaetrin! I had two of Amy Jo Cousin’s books on my own list (Off Campus and Real World) and my colleague Tonya at our blog had Him by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy on her top reads list too! I also very much enjoyed The Deal, The Shameless Hour, Ride Steady, The Girl Next Door and Craving Flight, which are all in my Best of 2015 folder on Goodreads. I think I can say that we have similar (and great!) taste.
@Jayne: love the quotes too!
Okay, I admit it. I love it when reviewers share their favorites for the year. Two of these books are on my TBR pile. ( Wait, just wanted to take a minute to move them to the top of the list.) I’ve been trying to decide also on the Susanna Kearsley book. I see a couple more that I have missed and I need to rectify that quickly. However, there are two on this list that I have read that also happen to be on my own personal “best of” for the year.
Like you, Kaetrin, I really enjoyed Carla Kelly’s book, Doing No Harm. I love that many of her Regencies are about non-aristocratic characters. I am always amazed at how her characters can be so understated, yet still so fully fleshed out.
I also really enjoyed Tamsen Parker’s, Craving Flight. (Orthodox Judaism and BDSM – who does that?) I especially liked the detail Ms. Parker went into describing the day to day life of someone practicing the Orthodox Jewish faith. I think the idea that we see this through the eyes of someone who is relatively new to practicing her faith, is wonderfully inspired.
In any case, thanks for putting this post together, Kaetrin. I have a feeling my TBR pile is going to keep getting larger as I read all of the reviewers favorites for the year.
@Jayne: Yay!
@Angie: It was my absolute favourite scene in the book. *swoon*
@Christine Maria Rose: but of course!
@Sirius: I just did it because I was lazy but I’m happy to take all the credit! LOL
@Li: Come back and let us know what you thought when you finish?
@TerryS: Awww, thank you Terry!
Can you believe I haven’t read a book by Amy Jo Cousins or Tamsen Parker? I feel like a loser considering I’m friends with them on Twitter and think they’re both the cutest things ever…I keep hearing good things about their books and I have Craving Flight in my tbr…thanks for the nudge Kaetrin.
Hey fellow Kristen Ashley Twitter Book Club Member! I love it that you thought Riding Steady was one of your faves this year. :)) It’s hard for me to pull one of her recent books out as a best of- I like to look at her body of work as one of my faves each year. Her books are always so fun and entertaining. If I saw KA at a conference I’d have fangirl meltdown, thanking her profusely for all the countless hours of entertainment her lovely books have provided.
@Michele Mills: We could have a fangirl meltdown together Michele!
The other great thing about Craving Flight is that it’s short, so it doesn’t need a big time commitment. You could probably read it in an evening or less if you wanted.
Kaetrin – I would really like to know of that last book on your favorite list, but I am not on twitter. Any other way I can find out?
@Erica H: I sent you an email Erica – look for one from hankts AT internode DOT on DOT net. :D
How did it get to be this time of year already?
Him and Girl Next Door were two of my favorites too. In fact I read the whole Bend or Break series because of your reviews, so thank you for turning me on to them.
I really like the use of quotes too.
@cleo: Oh thank you Cleo. One of the best feelings a reviewer can have I reckon is the one I get when someone tells me they read (and liked!) a book or series because of a review I wrote.
@Kaetrin: absolutely ! Oh and I completely disagree that choosing the quotes which reflect the essence of the book was lazy . I think it is harder than giving the synopsis :).
@Sirius: *whispers* most of them were in the reviews I’d already posted so it was really really easy!
@Kaetrin: let me have my illusions lol.
Hi Kaetrin,
I read the sample for In the Middle of Somewhere back when you initially reviewed it. I think I’m really hard on samples – if they’re not amazing, I delete them – and I decided that this book wasn’t for me. I’m not a big fan of the casual hook-up to permanent partner trope. Friends to lovers, super-slow burn, gradual build-up of tension is more my style. But when this book hit your “best of” list, I decided to give it a second chance. I am so glad I did. This story is wonderful. And I think, as much as alternating viewpoints is in vogue these days, a single narrator in the hands of a skillful author is even better. I don’t need Rex’s POV to understand him and get to know him, and it makes the big reveals that much more effective. Thank you so much for highlighting this book. Are you familiar with this author’s other work? Any favourites/recommendations?
@Eliza: Yay! This made my day. Thank you :D I’m pretty sure In the Middle of Somewhere is Ms. Parrish’s debut. *taps foot impatiently for next book*
@Sirius: OK, It was really hard *wipes sweat off brow* :D
@Eliza: I just discovered this In The Middle of Somewhere free Christmas short at the author’s website. http://roanparrish.com/2015/12/24/an-in-the-middle-of-somewhere-christmas-story/