Are you ready? I'm going to release the fuck force upon you!
Prepare your body!
j/k
I'm going to discuss my favorite reads of 2015! Relax!
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| No prep necessary. I'm just going to gush. |
2015: I was stingier with my favorite list last year. It's my smallest ever. Just 13, lucky 13. I have repeat authors, a good chunk are books released from previous years and there was one hetero book BUT listen to me, this book is a book I think MM Romance readers could try.
If you don't know, I review for two blogs which forces me to read new releases. If not, I'll be forever trying to conquer my unconquerable TBR that has ten zipcodes at this point. (How do I keep up? Unicorn glitter, coffee and sass)
This is how a few of my fave books made it on there (Hansen, Charles, Elsborg, Deckard), and how a few of the authors on this year's list caught my eye years before. Pair that with my love of freebies, which is how I discovered one of the other authors (Vargas) and well...this girl loves to read.
So in no specific order, they're all on my list. I think it's ranked enough. ;P
The Newcomers
The story has a lot of winning ingredients to appeal to MM readers and it doesn't tilt the boat. It's contemporary, friends to lovers. Add a soldier and a rock star, you can see the check cashing itself in the bank. Though it has tried and true tropes & ingredients and it's safe, the story is pretty good. This was the author's debut in 2015 and she is already onto book #3 this month. I haven't read her recently to see if her writing improved, but from what I remembered it was solid. Yummy characters, some drama and flair and hot vanilla sex...delicious.
Ask any unicorn, they'll tell you, if I find an author that I think is worth your read, your dollar...I'm going to crow about it until the stable closes. I am guilty of hoarding freebies but I do try to crack them open. So of course, I make time for the Daddy kink. It's my shit. And there was Vargas's "Waiting For the Right Boy" waiting on my Kindle. And it had an extra surprise of MANTIES. A Cupcake & Baby special. We don't get that too often. And the thing is the writing is good. Better than average freebie writing, so I had to snap up everything else I could find that I got for free by the author.
And did. Liked that too. And I don't like reading the same author so close together, I get to notice their signatures in their work.
But she released Alex Undone in May 2015 and...holy shit. It was like my spirit animal wrote a story about a clueless butt virgin becoming a gay porn star.
This series just won my snarky loving heart. And then some.
Where Palex finally comes full steam ahead.
Yes, I created a 'ship name for them.
Emory gave Palex to the world. And I thank her ever so kindly. #assinator3000FTW
The Authors You Might Not Have Heard Of (But I Think You Should)
Check out the snazzy new cover!
The ratings are fairly decent and I think the warnings and triggers might scare potential readers but it's a powerful book. I don't know why reading broken people fascinates me so but...this author blew me away. I demolished this book and then had to go sit down for a few. This doesn't have a happy ending. It's pain and abuse up the wazoo and you can discuss it for days as to why the characters put up with it. But there are many people who do. Not excusing anyone but it is what is. I can't wait for the author's sequel to this. Though it's going to be a tough one to try and top, I'll be there on release day. Excellent debut. This is a first time writer's dream book: evocative and lingers on the brain.
I'm not sure 2015 had a theme for me, but 2014 sure did. It was the year of the male author. And I raved about a couple of D's: Deckard, Devon McCormack and Daniel de Lorne but I might've forgotten one. Or not. Douglas Black. I really like his tone and I found myself really enjoying the hell out of his books. But this book? I refuse to remove it from my Kindle because I'm in heavy like with the quotes. The plot is a simple one, but the story is so romantic. *gushing* Yes, sex fiends, there's a jizz-tastic amount of sex as well, but the story about an average guy who was sinking in his mundane life and taking a chance on this larger than life character? It was a great read. Maybe you're a reader like me who tries to avoid those buzz books while they're still buzzing (sounds bad right? But if a book has too many people swarming around and raving 5 stars the house down...I'm looking for the nearest exit) Read this blurb, maybe give this a chance.
Why this book kicks ass?
This is a companion to Painted Faces. And I frown on companion books usually. Why in the hell do I want to read what the other character was thinking if I already read it first hand? Whelp, not only does it feature a drag queen hero that is straight...the story is still as good the second time around from Nick aka Ms. Vivica Blue's POV. It was like meeting with an old friend again and talking about the good old days. I didn't bitch, moan or skim.
That's why it kicks ass. Read the series if you get a chance. It's
The Repeaters
Third in an unrelated paranormal/urban fantasy series based in London, this featured one of my favorite paranormal beings as a main character...a demon. A demon with a twist! I still think the previous book was slightly better, this book still was a strong contender.
And the cover is one of my faves of the year. I want to lick it.
K.J. Charles double whammy - get ready for the verbal sledgehammer
I want to start a Julian Norreys fan club! And I want to be the co-president. I do love the dandies. And he reminded me of some my favorite Regency/ Georgian acerbic tongued dandies *cough*Sebastian*cough*Simon*cough*...the book was good but Julian stole the show, owned it, rewrote and slapped the fuck out of it.
The secondary characters! The sedition! The return of Julian Norreys! The main characters! O.M.G. I thought I was going to get the filler book before the main event that I know book #3 will be.
Nothing doing. This book had everything and more.
And kink!
Nothing more to say to that.
Bey Deckard - Bringing in the visual. He's excellent with setting the scene.
Third in the Baal's Heart series, my favorite pirate triad is back in action and revisiting a certain troubled pirate's past. It's darker and quieter but a great conclusion for the triad.
For the ones who love it darker and without a HEA. Though in my warped head, it sort of was. A book featuring a character I like reading about in fiction and a serial killer have a walk down memory lane.
Twisty. Filthy. Bloody. Clever. Fun?
And that cover still gives me the vapors. Also a fave of mine.
The Book Everyone and Their Father's Barber's Barber Read...Except for Me
CANDYLAND THUNDERDOME'd = me. I had this book for who knows how long and I would have probably let it languish among the many in my TBR K2. Thank goodness for the THUNDERDOME.
Purple Jism. Sweet Lavender Semen and Raspberry flavored cock heads, you feel me? I would drink it all day and ride it into the sunset. This book was magical. And there was a demon MC, so you know I was excited times a zillion!
BIDGAFFIEHBILI (or Book I Don't Give A Flying Fuck If Everyone Hated Because I LOVED It)
I love her writing. And I also know when it's not up to snuff. But this one was like old school Mercy. Her fans know what I'm talking about. This was the jam and jelly. The bees knees. It knocked me out of my book slump right when I needed it. Loved those two dudes.
Didn't like it? *shrugs*
Didn't think it was believable? *shrugs*
Don't. Give. A. Shit. Loved. It.
So while my list isn't that long, I think it had a good number of strong writers and excellent storytelling. Definitely entertaining. A little bit for everyone's taste? *shrugs*
I did try a good number of new to me authors (like Lisa Henry through her free stuff or authors from our anniversary event's flash fics - Suki Fleet)...wait, I think that could possibly be my theme - the year I finally tried those authors I been meaning to get to.
I think my 2016 list might end up a little longer. We're barely half a month into the new year and I already have 2 faves.
Whoa.
The fuck force is strong, unicorns!
Any books on here that you loved? Any books you loved you want to shout out for 2015?
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| Try to rub my horn. I dare ya! |
SRAL out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *drops mic*
Great list! Yes, yes, yes for that Mercy Celeste book! LOVED it! And Violence Begets...I still can't write a review for that book due to violent sobbing. But soooooo good!
ReplyDeleteI want to give a shout out to what was my absolute favorite book of 2015: Sutphin Boulevard by Santino Hassell. It was gritty, realistic, and just downright romantic. I just LOVE his writing. He puts the reader right into the story. And Nunzio Medici camethisclose to ousting Ty Grady as my #1 book boyfriend.
Thank you!
DeleteMC's book was delicious. All of her best qualities in full force.
Violence Begets..., I understand anyone who can't put their feels into words. I barely managed to. I needed a day. So, so, so good.
I keep reading only great things about Santino Hassell. Sadly, I've never read anything by him. :(
(Yes, I live under a rock. It's quite nice actually.)
I know my friends definitely love his work. Maybe this year I'll finally get to something by him. ;) We'll see.