Happy New Year, Chatterbabes!!!!
Now back to the good stuff! I think its safe to say that this year in books was complicated. Some stories tested our patience while having to put aside fictional bail money, some swept us off our feet, and the rest held our hearts hostage. We read plenty of books across multiple genres, but these were the best of the best!
Without further ado, the moment you’ve all been waiting for…. Our top favorite books of 2018!
*Not all of these books were published in 2018. These are books we read in 2018.*
Punk 57
by Penelope Douglas
I was minding my own business when I stumbled across this little gem late this year and I’m so glad that I did! This was one of those books that have been on my TBR for a while now and I took the plunge and read the first chapter. There was no going back after that! I loved these characters. I loved their fierceness and determination, and I loved the storyline itself and the message that was brought out.
Read Sonya's Review Here
Hot Ticket &
Wicked Beat
by Olivia Cunning
Wicked Beat
by Olivia Cunning
&
Olivia Cunning has the rock star romance subgenre down to a science. Her ability to write the hottest sex scenes I've ever read while keeping them versatile, plentiful, and still manage not to have them take away from the plot is incredible. That takes a hell of an imagination and talent! The way she writes the friendships between the guys is just as perfect, too. I'm head over heels for this group of characters and this entire series! Hot Ticket and Wicked Beat are two of my favorite books of the year, and The Sinners on Tour series is my absolute favorite rock star romance series of all time!
-Jessica
The Surviving Trace
by Calia Read
I have never wanted to time travel before but after reading this book, I secretly wished that I could of! The past has that name for a reason and usually things that were left there, should always stay there. But what if you were meant to go back? What if there was someone waiting for you? Would you go back then? I loved the assertiveness and passion that these characters held and it was one of my favorites for the year
Sonya's Review Here
Long Shot
by Kennedy Ryan
When I read Grip by Kennedy Ryan last
year, I used the word "important" to describe it. If I had to use one
word to describe Long Shot, I would use the same one. This book helps give a
voice to millions of people that suffer and are judged by others that have
never gone through the horror they've experienced or still experience every
single day.
Kennedy Ryan is one of those authors that doesn't just entertain
you with her stories. She makes you think. She enlightens you, and sometimes,
she might even change you.
This is a book for everyone. It doesn't
matter if romance is your preferred genre or not. It's a story that needs to be
heard, and Kennedy did an amazing job telling it. I hope you give it a shot!
-Jessica
A Court of Thorns and Roses
by Sarah J. Maas
After having A Court of Thorns and Roses recommended to me more times than I can count, I finally took the plunge and read it this year, and I'm so glad I did! It took me a little while to get into it at first, but once it grabbed a hold of me, I didn't want to put it down. Because this was a book club read, I read it much slower than I generally would on my own which allowed me to really savor what I was reading. Discussing it, analyzing the characters, and predicting the outcomes with 5 other people made it even more enjoyable. Without a doubt, ACOTAR is my favorite YA book of 2018!
-Jessica
The Transcend Duet
by Jewel E Ann
Transcend( book 1)
Epoch( book 2)
Another duet that solidified it’s place into my heart for 2018.. Loved loved loved this one!! Jewel E Ann takes the unknown and make you a believer and I loved that she took us out of our comfort zone and what was always considered a normal contemporary read. If you haven’t read these books yet, you really need to.
Sonya's Review book 1 Here
Sonya's Review book 2 Here
Midnight Blue
by L. J. Shen
Midnight Blue isn't your average rock star romance. It's so much more raw and emotional. The
writing is breathtaking. The characters are endearing. The romance is
beautiful, and the story is masterfully crafted. It's no wonder it's on my list of favorite books of 2018. I'm not the least bit surprised though. L. J. Shen never disappoints me. If anything, she surpasses my expectations. Fans of this author's work,
phenomenal writing, assholes, and romance in general, this book is for you!
-Jessica
The Ribbon Duet
by Pepper Winters
If you haven’t read this duet yet, please don’t talk to me until you do. If you’ve read these books already, then you already know how powerful and all consuming they were. I was immersed in this unusual love story that brought out so many different emotions in me, I didn’t know which way was up! I loved that this love story was unique and nothing was ever rushed when it came to telling these two story.
Read Sonya's Review Here
Pretty Venom
by Ella Fields
This book gave me anxiety and damn near crippled my poor heart!! I’ve been a fan of this author from the moment she stepped onto the scene and she has always brought her A game every time. But this book right Here? I swore I held my held my breath for the final half of the story. These characters tested me, made me fall in love with them when I wasn’t supposed to, and left their mark .
Read Sonya's Review Here
Books that play with my emotions are my favorite. I want to fall in love, have my heart ripped to shreds, and have it sewn backed together. I want laughter through tears and smiles filled with rage. Give me characters that make me love them even when I want to hate them for chopping my heart up and throwing it in a blender. I want to feel a connection and experience every drop of emotion with them. This book gave me all those things, and though I feel like I've been put through the ringer, I'm grateful for the experience.
Fans of angsty romance, you need Callum in your life! If you haven't read anything by this author yet, and you want to get the full "Ella Fields experience," you should defintely pick up this one...just make sure you have a warranty on your Kindle first. Don't say I didn't warn you.
-Jessica
Dirty Deeds & Hothead
by Stella Rhys
I've loved every book I've ever read by
Stella Rhys, and these were no exception! The writing is phenomenal, and I
was drawn into both stories immediately. There was never a time when I wanted to
put them down. The characters are lovable, and the chemistry between them is off
the charts. You can literally feel their connection.
Though the stories themselves are amazing, the steamy scenes are what stood out most to me in both books. I don't mean just straight up sex either. The banter between the characters alone will have you fanning yourself! I'm telling you, this woman writes steam like no other. I can't even adequately explain how amazing she is at it. Her makeout scenes are hotter than some full on sex scenes I've read. I'm not exaggerating in any way. She should teach a fucking class or something! LOL Stella is one of my unicorns, and I recommend her books to anyone that loves romance.
Though the stories themselves are amazing, the steamy scenes are what stood out most to me in both books. I don't mean just straight up sex either. The banter between the characters alone will have you fanning yourself! I'm telling you, this woman writes steam like no other. I can't even adequately explain how amazing she is at it. Her makeout scenes are hotter than some full on sex scenes I've read. I'm not exaggerating in any way. She should teach a fucking class or something! LOL Stella is one of my unicorns, and I recommend her books to anyone that loves romance.
- Jessica
Bane
by L.J Shen
What can I say about this author’s writing? She slays it Every. Single. Time and Bane was no exception. That man swagger just bled through the pages and you wanted nothing more than to be under his protection and have his love. Mixed in with some shocking moments, unexpected and witty humor, steamy scenes, and you’ve got yourself one heck of a read.
Read Sonya's Review Here
Heath
by K Webster & Nikki ASh
Heath is a complicated, tragic, and unconventional story of multiple generations of relationships between two
families of complex and
memorable characters I’m certain I’ll never forget.
Infuriating and charming, shallow and deep, selfish and selfless, hateful and
loving, passionate and cold, they are forever etched into my heart. This
story is just fantastic! I can’t say enough good things about it.
When it ended, I noticed I was holding my hand over my heart. That says
everything you need to know about it right there. It will make you FEEL, and
isn't that what we want most of all?
-Jessica
Wishing Well
by Lily White
Oh my word this book!! I fell in love with the villain and I make no apologies for it. Talk about different with a plot twist! I kept hoping and praying like you wouldn’t believe for a miracle, for my emotions to stay in check, but you know what? That didn’t happen! For the majority of this book, I held it together and I was so proud of myself but then the rug was pulled from under me and that ladies and gentlemen, is why this book became one of my top favorites of 2018.
Read Sonya's Review Here
One Apocalypse
by Kristy Cunning
This is the final book in one of my favorite paranormal reverse harem series ever. Reading it was bittersweet, because I'm not ready to let these characters go.
I'll miss Paca most of all. She's one my favorite characters ever! Usually, childish, petty, vain heroines are loathsome creatures that I find extremely hard or impossible to tolerate. In Paca's case though, those things are what makes me love her as much as I do! Her immature antics, vanity, and shallow behavior had me cracking up throughout every book in the series.
The storyline is fun, entertaining, exciting, fantastical, suspenseful and intriguing! We get trips to purgatory and hell, comedy, action, suspense, and steam! There is rarely a dull moment. Reverse harem fans, this is a must read!
Rewrite the Stars
by Charleigh Rose
Rewrite the Stars is a unique coming of
age romance with a splash of mystery and a sprinkle of suspense! Full of angst,
passion, amazing banter, and a connection that pours off the pages, this
romance is everything I hoped it would be! Sebastian and Evan's chemistry is
off the charts, and the sexual tension between them will have you squirming in
your seat. The sex scenes damn near set my kindle on fire! I will never
look at carnival rides the same way again.
Speaking of carnivals, the setting of this story is my favorite
thing about this book. It’s magical, vibrant, and mesmerizing! I could feel the
excitement in the air, hear the music from the carousel, smell the funnel cake
and cotton candy, and see the burlesque dancers performing on stage. The author
did a phenomenal job of making me feel like I was completely immersed in every
aspect of the story.
From start to finish, I was nothing but impressed! Rewrite the Stars is well paced,
entertaining, and original, and the secondary characters are endearing and
interesting enough for me to cross my fingers that they get their own books. In
other words, read this damn book!
-Jessica
The Sweetest Oblivion
bt Danielle Lori
The Sweetest Oblivion is a
captivating mafia romance that kept me up all night reading. It's well
written, violent, and full of steam. The romance is a bit of a slow burn, but the
sexual tension and the payoff in the end are topnotch. Aside from the intense chemistry between Elena and Nico, Elena's morally
challenged family is probably my favorite thing about the book, and I can't
wait to read more about them in the future. Overall, Danielle impressed me and
exceeded my expectations, and now, she has a brand new fan!
-Jessica
Birthday Girl
Penelope Douglas
-Jessica
Breaking the Gladiator
by Nicola Rose
Blood, sex, deceit, love, sacrifice,
murder, and mayhem, this book has it all! I didn't know what to expect out of a
gladiator romance, but I can't imagine it being any better than this. It's
fantastically written, the characters will make you feel a whole range of
emotion, the story will have you on the edge of your seat, and the romance will
grab ahold of your heart!
A threesome, a beheading, having sex
while rolling around in the blood of their enemies, it's pure heaven! What does
that say about me for holding such an opinion? I don't know lol, but I know
there are plenty of sick bitches out there just like me! If you're one of them, you're welcome for the recommendation!
-Jessica
Saint
by A. Zavarelli
Saint exceeded my expectations in every
way! The story was gritty, entertaining, violent, and full of action. The
romance was heartwarming and hot, and the characters were complex.
Scarlett is
a heroine I'll never forget. She's crazy, badass, and breathtakingly beautiful.
Rory is all alpha but secure enough in himself to have a strong, alpha female
by his side. He honors and respects Scarlett as an equal, and he’s always
prepared to kill for her without batting an eye.
-Jessica
Filthy Gods
by R. Scarlett
R. Scarlett has been on my radar for
quite some time now, and when I saw this book, there was no way I was passing
it up. Secret societies, danger, and a couple that engages in regular verbal
sparring matches? It's like the author wrote this book for me!
Filthy Gods is a new adult romance with
a cocky hero, a strong willed heroine, and an abundance of heat. Nathanial
Radcliffe and Juliette Monroe are intelligent, ambitious, and competitive.
Their intensity in the academic arena translates in the bedroom where they're
even more passionate about each other than their future careers. That's saying
a lot when it comes to these two.
Overall, Rebecca Scarlett impressed me with her beautiful writing and captivating storytelling. She set the stage for the upcoming books in the series perfectly, and I'm literally craving more of the "American Gods." Fans of new adult romance should definitely pick up this one!
Overall, Rebecca Scarlett impressed me with her beautiful writing and captivating storytelling. She set the stage for the upcoming books in the series perfectly, and I'm literally craving more of the "American Gods." Fans of new adult romance should definitely pick up this one!
-Jessica
The Morelli Family Series
by Sam Mariano
Sam Mariano had to be on this list, because she stole so many fucking hours of my life this year it's ridiculous! Her Morelli Family series is one of the most addicting series I've ever read and has become one of my favorite series of all time. After book 3, I just couldn't stop binging. At some point, I worried I may need a damn intervention!
Nobody can make me lose my mind over a story or the characters the way Sam can. Hell, she can make me hate AND love some of her characters at the same freaking time! How is that even possible?!
Okay, I'm going to stop babbling about this series, because I'm the one that's going to wind up looking crazy. If you're a fan of mafia romance, morally challenged characters, alpha males, and insanity, this is the series for you!
-Jessica
Folsom
by Tarryn Fisher & Willow Aster
It's not everyday that I come across a dystopian romance, so when I heard what this book was about, I jumped on it immediately! The premise sounded great, but the story actually turned out way better than I thought it would be.
Women rule the world. The earth's men are near extinction, and it's up to the handful of men left to repopulate the planet. I know that sounds like it's all about sex and completely ridiculous, but it's not. It's emotional, suspenseful, infuriating, heartwarming, and incredibly unique. If you're a fan of unconventional romance, make sure to add this one to your tbr today!
-Jessica
Suddenly Forbidden by Ella Fields
O.M.G. The feels! The motherfucking
feels!! Suddenly Forbidden stole my heart, and it’s still holding it captive! This book was my introduction to Ella Fields' writing, and I decided I was going read everything she had ever written or would write in the future before I even made it to the last page. The woman is one hell of a writer! I felt every emotion Daisy and Quinton experienced
throughout this story. My heart warmed, bled, and mended right along with
theirs. Everything in this book felt so incredibly real from the characters
right down to the farm they grew up on. That takes amazing talent, and this
author has it in spades. If you’ve never read one of her books, you’re doing
yourself a great disservice. Any fan of romance, books that give you all the
feels, or just damn good writing, should one-click this one immediately!
-Jessica
Mindf*ck Series
by S. T. Abby
Yes, I added the whole damn series. LOL I couldn't possibly pick just one! If you've ever read it, you know why the whole thing needs to be here. It is absolute perfection!
I have a thing for serial killers in
romance (Yeah, I'm a little weird. Whatever.), but so far, they have always
been male. This is the first book I've read where the serial killer is the
female main character. Excited does not begin to describe how I felt when I
got that bit of information! (Not a spoiler... in case you were wondering.) Lana
is a badass that I've fallen deeply in love with. I can't even be upset with
her for murdering people, because her victims are the scum of the earth. They
deserve every single thing they get. Couple that with a boyfriend in the FBI
that's actively investigating the murders she commits, and you have a winner in
my book!
The Mindf*ck series is officially one of my favorite dark romantic suspense/thriller series of all time! The plot is incredibly intriguing. The writing is gripping. The characters are complex, and the relationships are beyond complicated! If you are on the fence about starting this series, hop on over! It's everything I hoped it would be, and by the end, it was so much more!
-Jessica
Gorgeous
by Kristy Marie
Gorgeous is a beautiful, emotional rollercoaster of all the feels! I cried when it was over. I cried in the beginning, and I laughed my ass off the whole way through!
What made this book even more amazing to me was all the time we got to spend with the entire cast of characters. The characters in this series are some of my favorites in all of romance, and that is no exaggeration.
Get your Kleenex ready, Cade's story is an emotional one. He doesn't get where he needs to be easily, and he doesn't get there alone. His journey is difficult and heartbreaking, but it's also beautiful and inspiring, and it's one you don't want to miss! One of my favorite romance novels of 2018 and of all time.
-Jessica
Verity
by Colleen Hoover
This book was by far my top favorite book of 2018. Normally I don’t believe the hype when it comes to books like these but I got on the train anyway. It was exhilarating, suspenseful at times, shocking, and straight up crazy. I had no idea what I was heading into when I started this journey but I’m so happy I took the ride and came out still sane( I think)
Read Sonya's Review
Buy now: Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Tv0cZg
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/Verity
Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2zksQUq
Heartbreak Warfare
by Kate Stewart and Heather Oregon
Heartbreak Warfare by Kate Stewart and Heather Oregon The title of this book is pretty self explanatory but boy did this book do a number on me!!! I was wrecked! You don’t understand what I'm trying to tell you: I was such s mess that I couldn’t even articulate what I was feeling after I finished reading the book itself! These characters took pieces of my heart with them in every painful chapter but loved every minute of it and if asked, I would do it all over again.
Read Sonya's Review Here
There was no way I could leave Heartbreak Warfare off my list of favorite books of 2018. No other book has ever produced the kind of emotion from me this one did. There are almost no words to fully describe how amazing this book is. It's not just one of my favorite books of this year. It's one of the best books I've ever read in my life.
It's an epic journey of souls that had their hearts twisted up, crushed, and ripped into pieces trying to salvage their lives the best they can. My heart was shredded into ribbons before it was only partially mended into some semblance of what it once was by the time I reached the end. I read it all night long, because I couldn't leave Katy, Briggs, or Gavin until I knew what was going to become of them. Truth be told, I loved all three. Any outcome was going to gut me, and the love triangle was only part of it. To see what Katy's experience did to her was beyond devastating. Watching her try to lead a normal life after everything she experienced in Baghdad was heartbreaking. I already had nothing but the utmost respect for the members of our military, but damn. This story brought it to a whole new level.
Heartbreak Warfare obliterated my expectations, destroyed my heart, and owned my soul! Captivating, complicated, raw, devastating, real, and beautiful, it's an emotional rollercoaster like no other! Katy, Briggs, and Gavin's story may be a fictional one, but it makes you think. It makes you FEEL...and there is nothing I love more than a book that does exactly that.
-Jessica
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