2016 Besties

This is always one of the most challenging posts of the entire year! How to narrow down an entire year of great reads into just one post featuring the best of the besties? We’ll do our best (see what we did there?) to highlight our favorite reads from 2016. Be sure to scroll to the bottom and enter our 2016 Besties, Rafflecopter Giveaway!

BFF K’s 2016 Besties

I just couldn’t narrow the list any further, so I present the Top 16 in 2016!

#1 – Maybe In Another Life & One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Unique, smart, emotional, fantastic!

#2 – The Lost Codex by Heather Lyons

A wonderful end to one of my most favorite series of all time!

#3 – A Love Letter to Whiskey by Kandi Steiner

Kandi Steiner blew me away, an absolute page-turner!

#4 – The Royals Series by Erin Watt

Paper Princess Broken Prince Twisted Palace

My guilty pleasure of 2016 – way crazy and crazy good!

#5 – Beard Science by Penny Reid

Anyone who can turn a quirky, odd-ball character named Cletus into a love interest deserves to be on this list!

#6 – The Year of Meghan March

In 2016, I read or listened to nearly every book that Meghan March has written and I LOVE them all! She is a go-to, always one-click author for me now. She writes great stories, steamy scenes, strong heroines and the best alpha males EVER! If you want to check out my reviews, just enter Meghan March in the search tab on the right side of this page.

#7 – Endurance by Georgia Cates

I loved this book so much, the entire Sin series too! In addition to Endurance, Georgia Cates also brought us the Lovibond Series in 2016!

#8 – Franco by Kim Holden

My final book boyfriend of 2016 and he was worth the wait!

#9 – Better Love by Daisy Prescott

This silver fox was everything! I LOVE this book and this entire series!

#10 – Whiskey & Honey by Andrea Johnston

#TeamBiper #TeamAndreaJohnston #SmartGirlsWriteRomance

#11 – First & Goal: Queen of the League by Laura Chapman

LOL-funny and one of my most fun reads of the year.

#12 – Royally Screwed by Emma Chase

I loved this world and these characters. Royally Matched is one of my most anticipated reads for 2017!

#13 – A Place in the Sun by R.S. Grey

This book will make you want to travel to Italy and eat Gelato with Gianluca.

#14 – Moonshot & Hollywood Dirt by Alessandra Torre

Moonshot introduced me to Alessandra Torre and her terrific writing style. And, I adored the audio for Hollywood Dirt. GREAT books!

#15 – Managed by Kristen Callihan

Witty dialogue and great characters, just an all ’round great read!

#16 – Reilly O’Brien & Co. Series by Jenna Sutton

I read every book in this series in 2016 and I can’t wait for more in 2017. Good stories and great characters!

BFF A’s 2016 Besties

#1 – It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

#2 – F*uck Love by Tarryn Fisher

#3 – So Much More by Kim Holden

#4 – Franco by Kim Holden

#5 – Cunning, Deception, Entrapment (Infidelity Series books 2, 3 and 4) by Aleatha Romig

#6 – Into the Light and Away from the Dark (The Light Series) by Aleatha Romig

#7 – The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

#8 – Whiskey and Honey by Andrea Johnston

#9 – Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnes

#10 – The Angels’ Share by J.R. Ward

#11 – Too Late by Colleen Hoover

All of the images above are buy links for Amazon.com. And, you can click on many of the headings to find our reviews. We are so grateful to all of you for joining us on our incredible book journey in 2016! We’re looking forward to all that’s in store for 2017!

2016 Besties Giveaway

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2015 Besties

This may be one of the most challenging posts of the entire year! How to narrow down an entire year of great reads into just one post featuring the best of the besties? We’ll do our best (see what we did there?) to highlight our favorite reads from 2015. Be sure to scroll to the bottom and enter our 2015 Besties, Rafflecopter Giveaway!

BFF K’s 2015 Besties

#1 The Bourbon Kings by J.R. Ward

Pure pleasure.

#2 Everything by Penny Reid

In 2015, I’ve read/listened to all but 1 book by Penny Reid and I absolutely LOVE them all! This could be considered my “Year of Penny” and it was fabulous. I’ve only reviewed a few of the books on the blog so far, but I hope to review all of them for you in the coming weeks and months.

#3 Bad Romeo & Broken Juliet by Leisa Rayven

Fantastic stories, great characters, I wish I could re-read both of these again for the first time!

#4 Darken the Stars and Iniquity by Amy A. Bartol

Epic conclusions for two of my all-time favorite series’!

#5 Royal Marriage Market by Heather Lyons

Magical royal romance!

#6 Chasing Fire Series by Ann Marie Walker and Amy K Rogers

Best steam since Fifty Shades. #HudsonChaser

#7 Dirty English by Ilsa Madden-Mills

Hot and fun!

#8 The Hidden Library and The Forgotten Mountain by Heather Lyons

Terrific additions to this incredible series.

#9 Bright Side and Gus by Kim Holden

Love these books so much. The review for Gus will be coming soon.

#10 The Allure of Dean Harper by R.S. Grey

Fun and flirty! The Allure of Julian Lefray was fantastic too!

BFF K Bonus Besties

These three books have stayed with me as much as any books I read all year! I find myself thinking about these characters all the time!

Life Rewritten by Andrea Johnston

Until I Met You by S.L. Scott

Some Sort of Happy by Melanie Harlow

BFF A’s 2015 Besties

#1 Marrow by Tarryn Fisher

#2 Bright Side and Gus by Kim Holden

#3 November 9 by Colleen Hoover

#4 You by Caroline Kepnes

#5 Never Never 1 & 2 by Tarryn Fisher and Colleen Hoover

#6 Confess by Colleen Hoover

#7 The Bourbon Kings by J.R. Ward

#8 Betrayal by Aleatha Romig

#9 The Hidden Library and The Forgotten Mountain by Heather Lyons

#10 Bad Romeo and Broken Juliet by Leisa Rayven

BFF A Bonus Besties

The Girl on the Train by Paulette Hawkins

Dirty English by Ilsa Madden-Mills

All of the images above are buy links for Amazon.com. And, you can click on many of the headings to find our reviews. We are so grateful to all of you for joining us on our incredible book journey in 2015! We’re looking forward to all that’s in store for 2016!

signoff_K_sm signoff_A_sm

Giveaway

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Review – Confess by Colleen Hoover

At age twenty-one, Auburn Reed has already lost everything important to her. In her fight to rebuild her shattered life, she has her goals in sight and there is no room for mistakes. But when she walks into a Dallas art studio in search of a job, she doesn’t expect to find a deep attraction to the enigmatic artist who works there, Owen Gentry.

For once, Auburn takes a chance and puts her heart in control, only to discover that Owen is keeping a major secret from coming out. The magnitude of his past threatens to destroy everything important to Auburn, and the only way to get her life back on track is to cut Owen out of it.

To save their relationship, all Owen needs to do is confess. But in this case, the confession could be much more destructive than the actual sin.

BFF A’s Review

OMG! Colleen has a crazy magical way of making a story come alive. The way she makes the story, the characters, the interwoven artwork, all come together- you feel like you are actually there. The characters felt like my best friends, like I knew every thing about them, yet wanted to know so much more.

I instantly loved Auburn because she stands up for what she wants. Auburn has faced many challenges in her young life; my heart ached for her. However, she does not let that stop her. She does whatever she can and what she believes is right to overcome the barriers set in front of her. Owen is sweet, he is kind, he is passionate. He knows too many secrets from strangers and has secrets of his own. To balance all that is in his mind, he paints…and OMG, what an amazing artist he is. (Artist, Danny O’Connor created paintings specifically for this book.) When Auburn stumbles into his life, we find there is a secret Owen holds. Their relationship is sweet, playful and fun. I loved the way Owen treated and protected Auburn. I couldn’t wait for the secrets to all come out. I was on the edge of each page wanting, no yelling and screaming at Owen to just tell Auburn the truth.

So many emotions come through when reading this book. There were a few twists in the story I wasn’t expecting, a few characters are just mean and evil. This adds depth to the heartache, but it also gave me some anxiety. I’ve never wanted to reach in and punch a character in a book so badly, but there were times I wish I could have. Confess has heartache, hurt, pain, anger, frustration but most of all there is love, and in the end, Love is what comes shining through.

(Side note on the tears, that’s a guess. I’m not a crier so who the hell knows – for me- none…but the normal person, I’d say probably a 4.)

Buy on Amazon

More About the Author:

Colleen Hoover’s love for writing began in 1985 when she was five years old. Her first story was titled “Mystery Bob” and was a huge hit with her mother, who was really good at faking interest.
Colleen continued to write short stories for friends and family until December of 2011, when she decided to write a long story she titled, “Slammed.” She self-published SLAMMED to Amazon in January, 2012 and it hit the NYT’s bestsellers list in May, 2012. She has since signed with Atria Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, and now has six NYT’s bestsellers. Colleen prefers to be called a writer, as the term “author” still terrifies her and makes this feel like a job with expectations. She doesn’t work well under pressure and hopes writing will always remain fun and exciting.

You can follow Colleen on Instagram and Twitter @colleenhoover. You can also find her on her blog at www.colleenhoover.com where she holds a daily book-a-day giveaway, or on her very active Facebook page at www.facebook.com/authorcolleenhoover where she loves to give away more free stuff when her husband isn’t looking.

Colleen also wants the world to know that writing short biographies in third person is incredibly awkward.

SPECIAL CONCERT REVIEW – Maybe Someday

One day last spring, this popped up on Facebook:

BFF A and I got very excited and pondered it for a few days. Then, one evening after a few cocktails, we looked up transportation and hotel options and replied like this:

OMG! We began planning and soon made our way from Nebraska to Chicago! What a super fun weekend! You learn a lot about your BFF after two 9-hour bus rides and three days in a hotel together. Guess what, we still LOVE each other! We had a great time seeing the top touristy spots in Chicago, but the highlight was definitely the concert and book signing.

Colleen and Griffin came on stage for a great Q&A. Griffin’s band (featuring Papa P aka Griffin’s Dad on bass guitar) performed all of the songs from the Maybe Someday album and then stood for hours to sign books and ‘stuff’! It was incredible!

Swoon!

Here are each of our reactions to the incredible weekend!

BFF A’s Reaction:

Yes, I’m a music junkie/concert seat snob. Put me at any concert and I gaze at the soundboards, instruments, band, the whole works. Put me this close to Griffin Peterson and his band and I instantly become the annoying fan girl I swore I never would be (it took every ounce of energy not to rush the stage…that may have been frowned upon). The intimate setting and the opportunity to hear Griffin make Maybe Someday come to life all over again was amazing. It was like I was reading Colleen’s words all over again, experiencing Ridge and Sydney’s love story- only this was the live version. Griffin and his band (which also included is own Dad for this show) did not disappoint! Although I love all of the songs, the title song Maybe Someday was by far my favorite of the evening. Maybe it was being in Chicago for the first time with my BFF, or being in the same proximity of my favorite author and musician, perhaps it was the wine, or Griffin’s grandma’s cookies…whatever it was, it was definitely an unforgettable night.

BFF K’s Reaction:

Forgive me, this is probably going to be a tad long!

When I met Colleen Hoover and Griffin Peterson, I had my “I carried a watermelon” moment. You know what I’m talking about, from this scene in dirty dancing. It was the moment that you meet someone you adore so much and you get completely tongue-tied and can’t think straight! Since we were staying in Chicago and didn’t have a train to catch we weeded toward the end of the line which meant that of course I had had a couple glasses of wine. We were having an amazing time and we met some really fantastic people (shout outs to Rose and Mary and Griffin’s aunt!) and a big thumbs down to Jimmy John’s who apparently doesn’t deliver at 11 PM in Chicago.

So after anxiously waiting a couple of hours to meet Colleen and Griffin we got to the front of the line. In retrospect, perhaps I should have done more preparation and less chit-chatting and drinking! I’m not really sure what I had planned to say, but I am confident it was not “oh look you have a little diet Pepsi” and “your grandma makes really good cookies .” Yep. That’s all I got out!

To explain my comments, she did have a really tiny bottle of diet Pepsi sitting on the table! I am also a huge diet Pepsi fan (to the tune of about 88 ounces a day!) I’ve always thought it’s one of the many things we have in common and why she could be one of our BFFs. And while waiting in line we met Griffin’s aunt who is awesome and she offered one of his grandma’s cookies since we had been waiting a while. And it really was a delicious chocolate chip cookie! But I’m pretty sure those are not the things I wanted to tell them! See, it is my “I carried a watermelon “moment!

All told, the Maybe Someday Concert and Book Signing experience was phenomenal and so much fun! Lots of laughs, new friendships and life-long memories!

BOTTOM LINE

If you have the chance to see Griffin Peterson in concert or to meet Colleen Hoover, DO IT!

REVIEW – Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover

At twenty-two years old, Sydney has a great life: She’s in college, working a steady job, in love with her wonderful boyfriend, Hunter, and rooming with her best friend, Tori. But everything changes when she discovers Hunter’s cheating on her–and she is left trying to decide what to do next.

Sydney becomes captivated by Ridge, her mysterious neighbor. She can’t take her eyes off him or stop listening to the passionate way he plays his guitar every evening out on his balcony. And there’s something about Sydney that Ridge can’t ignore, either. When their inevitable encounter happens, they soon find themselves needing each other in more ways than one…

Original music created for Maybe Someday by musician Griffin Peterson can be accessed through the website listed in the ebook and paperback.

BFF A and BFF K Duo Review

BFF K’s Initial Reaction

This may be my most favorite ‘book experience’ EVER! I love music and I love reading. The thought of pulling both of those together made me very excited and this didn’t disappoint! I fell hook, line and bridge for Ridge and Sydney’s story. Being able to read about their shared experience and then listen to the songs ‘they wrote’ was an amazing, multi-sensory experience. The story is heartwarming, angst-filled and surprising. Griffin Peterson has somehow put not only the words of the songs to music, but captured the essence of the story in every song. Everything about Maybe Someday is incredible.

BFF A’s Initial Reaction

“There are only twenty-six letters in the English alphabet. You would think there would be only so much you could do with twenty-six letters. You would think there were only so many ways those letters could make you feel when mixed up and shoved together to make words.”

Those twenty-six letters, formed into words, immersed in the thoughts and feelings of Ridge and Sydney, mixed with the lyrics and music,…all of these things combined made the perfect experience when reading Maybe Someday.

More About the Author:

Colleen also wants the world to know that writing short biographies in third person is incredibly awkward.

REVIEW – Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover

Hopeless was Sky’s story. Now, in Losing Hope, we finally learn the truth about Dean Holder.

Haunted by the little girl he couldn’t save from imminent danger, Holder’s life has been overshadowed by feelings of guilt and remorse. He has never stopped searching for her, believing that finding her would bring him the peace he needs to move on. However, Holder could not have anticipated that he would be faced with even greater pain the moment they reconnect.

In Losing Hope, Holder reveals the way in which the events of Sky’s youth affected him and his family, leading him to seek his own redemption in the act of saving her. But it is only in loving Sky that he can finally begin to heal himself.

BFF K’s Review

As soon as I finished Hopeless, literally as soon as I finished! I 1-clicked Losing Hope. This is Hopeless from Holder’s POV. Although you know the story, seeing it through Dean’s eyes and understanding his motivations and internal dialogue gives the story a whole new perspective. I adore both of these books and can’t imagine one existing without the other. Just when you think you can’t love Holder (or Sky) any more…..there’s Losing Hope!

(Only a 3 because you know the story from Hopeless, but the emotions are still there!)

More About the Author:

Colleen also wants the world to know that writing short biographies in third person is incredibly awkward.

REVIEW – Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

Sometimes discovering the truth can leave you more hopeless than believing the lies…

That’s what seventeen-year-old Sky realizes after she meets Dean Holder. A guy with a reputation that rivals her own and an uncanny ability to invoke feelings in her she’s never had before. He terrifies her and captivates her all in the span of one encounter, and something about the way he makes her feel sparks buried memories from a past she wishes could just stay buried.

Sky struggles to keep him at a distance knowing he’s nothing but trouble, but Holder insists on learning everything about her. After finally caving to his unwavering pursuit, Sky soon finds that Holder isn’t at all who he’s been claiming to be. When the secrets he’s been keeping are finally revealed, every single facet of Sky’s life will change forever.

BFF K’s Review

Hopeless was my first Colleen Hoover novel. I think it changed my life. It might be one of the only books that I haven’t told many friends about. I had it on the informal ‘best reads’ list that I kept before the blog. But, I didn’t effuse about it on social media or with my friends. In fact, I think BFF A is the only one I even told, ‘you have to read this.’ The funny thing is that I loved this book so much, I just wanted it to be mine. I wanted my thoughts and feelings about the book to stay with me. I didn’t want to share it with others or dissect it, it just wanted it to live in my heart and mind. Weird huh?

After starting this book, I flipped through the pages frantically, all night long, dying to see what would happen between Holder and Sky. I never expected the twists and turns this story would take. Since reading Hopeless, I’ve devoured everything written by Colleen Hoover and never looked back.

More About the Author:

Colleen also wants the world to know that writing short biographies in third person is incredibly awkward.

REVIEW- Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover

When Tate Collins meets airline pilot Miles Archer, she doesn’t think it’s love at first sight. They wouldn’t even go so far as to consider themselves friends. The only thing Tate and Miles have in common is an undeniable mutual attraction. Once their desires are out in the open, they realize they have the perfect set-up. He doesn’t want love, she doesn’t have time for love, so that just leaves the sex. Their arrangement could be surprisingly seamless, as long as Tate can stick to the only two rules Miles has for her.

Never ask about the past.
Don’t expect a future.

They think they can handle it, but realize almost immediately they can’t handle it at all.

Hearts get infiltrated.
Promises get broken.
Rules get shattered.
Love gets ugly.

BFF Duo Review BFF A & BFF K

A’s initial reaction:

Have you heard the song “I Don’t Dance” by Lee Bryce?

“I don’t dance, But here I am
Spinning you around and around in circles
It Ain’t my style, but I don’t care
I’d do anything with you anywhere
Yes, you got me in the palm of your hand
Cause, I don’t dance”

This lyrics fit perfectly with this book, because I don’t cry. Well, I do cry, just not when I read. I have never been one to have tears running down my face when a book is in my hand. BFF K is sure I have a heart of stone because books we both read, she will be sobbing. Me on the other hand, maybe misty eyed or a single tear, but that’s it…until, Ugly Love beautifully written by Colleen Hoover. She wrote this book, had me in the palm of her hand and I cried. No, I sobbed.

Hearing the title Ugly Love, I thought, how can love be ugly? Isn’t love supposed to be wonderful? Full of hearts, cupid, romance, and lust? Ugly Love is absolutely perfect because it describes the most gut wrenching kind of love. Love that is mean, it hurts, it’s scary, it will rip your heart to shreds, but in the end, put it all back together, deepest kind of love. Colleen has a way of pulling you in, completely immersing you in the story to the point I didn’t care what my family was doing, or the fact that I stayed up most of the night to finish it in one day- what a book hangover that was!

K’s initial reaction:

If you’re like me and you’re scared to read this, don’t worry…You’ve got this!

I read so many reviews and comments about how much this book tore people’s hearts out. But, what they all forgot to say is that it is so beautifully written and lovely that it glues the pieces back together tighter than ever. It’s amazing and lovely and actually full of hope and wonderful-ness.

Are you like me and you’ve been a big chicken to start (or finish) this book? Get over yourself. Stop being a baby. Do it. Start now and don’t stop until the absolutely perfect, amazing, phenomenal conclusion.

This is the kind of book that will make you want to shout from the rooftops (and EVERY social media platform) to make sure no one misses out on this story.

Colleen Hoover is a freaking genius.

More About the Author:

Colleen also wants the world to know that writing short biographies in third person is incredibly awkward.

REVIEW – Slammed by Colleen Hoover

Colleen Hoover’s romantic, emotion-packed debut novel unforgettably captures all the magic and confusion of first love, as two young people forge an unlikely bond before discovering that fate has other plans for them.

Following the unexpected death of her father, eighteen-year-old Layken becomes the rock for both her mother and younger brother. She appears resilient and tenacious, but inside, she’s losing hope. Then she meets her new neighbor Will, a handsome twenty-one-year-old whose mere presence leaves her flustered and whose passion for poetry slams thrills her.

Not long after a heart-stopping first date during which each recognizes something profound and familiar in the other, they are slammed to the core when a shocking discovery brings their new relationship to a sudden halt. Daily interactions become impossibly painful as they struggle to find a balance between the feelings that pull them together and the forces that tear them apart. Only through the poetry they share are they able to speak the truth that is in their hearts and imagine a future where love is cause for celebration, not regret.

BFF K’s Review

Slammed is another Colleen Hoover masterpiece! I was pulled through the book from one angst filled situation to another. The book literally gave me butterflies, like the High School crush kind of butterflies, from beginning to end. Will and Lake are one of my very favorite book couples. Their devotion to their families was inspiring and my heart was heavy at the burdens they both shouldered from such a young age. But, all of those things make them rich and wonderful characters and you will care desperately about how their story ends!

More About the Author:

Colleen also wants the world to know that writing short biographies in third person is incredibly awkward.

REVIEW – Mud Vein by Tarryn Fisher

When reclusive novelist Senna Richards wakes up on her thirty-third birthday, everything has changed. Caged behind an electrical fence, locked in a house in the middle of the snow, Senna is left to decode the clues to find out why she was taken. If she wants her freedom, she has to take a close look at her past. But, her past has a heartbeat…and her kidnapper is nowhere to be found. With her survival hanging by a thread, Senna soon realizes this is a game. A dangerous one. Only the truth can set her free.

BFF Duo Review BFF A & BFF K

K’s Initial Reaction:

Have you ever been at a restaurant, taken a bite of your meal and then said, ‘you’ve got to taste this’? You probably do this if the dish is amazing, or horrible, or indescribable. That’s how I feel after finishing Mud Vein by Tarryn Fisher. I think I love it, but I’m not sure, and you’ve GOT to try it! I’ve described it as similar to Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn, but more gut wrenching. I spent so much of the book trying to figure out who kidnapped Senna and Isaac and when that mystery was solved I sailed through the rest too quickly. I just had to know how it ended. And then I was traumatized, but in the way that only the very best books can make your heart hurt! In my opinion, grab the tissues, the ending is a tear jerker.

A’s Initial Reaction:

The plot had my mind racing from beginning to end. I flipped through each page, trying to think one step ahead and figure out the mystery only to be blown away when it was all uncovered. I was exhausted after reading Mud Vein by Tarryn Fisher and needed to take a vacation. Partially because the plot wore me out, partially because I stayed up way past my bedtime to continue reading. Once I recovered from this book’s hangover, it was quickly added to my all time Bestie list.

The story is complex, the characters are beautifully written and the story sucks you in from beginning to end. It’s the kind of story that will have you insisting your family eat pop tarts for lunch and drink CapriSun (because they can get those things themselves without your help!)

Honestly, we had put off starting this book, but when Colleen Hoover makes a recommendation, you just have to go with it. We’re so happy that we put it on the TBR list. And, be sure to check out the soul stirring play list on Spotify!

When it was all over, here’s what K sent to A:

K to A: I don’t know if that was one of the best books I’ve ever read or one of the worst.

We may be conflicted, but it is still a 5 overall!

More About the Author:

New York Times bestselling author Tarryn Fisher is cooler than you, but not one to rub it in your face. She sleeps little, reads a lot and is an emotional slave to Starbucks. She is a lover of human nature and tells stories in which the darkest parts of human nature reside. Her heart is dark, but she loves you with it. Currently she lives in Washington with her family.

visit her website at http://www.tarrynfisher.com

Or she’s on Instagram and Facebook @Tarrynfisher!