Top Ten Tuesday

Top ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish! This weeks theme is a freebie, so I thought I'd do my top 10 favorite book surprises from this past year. These are books I picked up on a whim, or because of others recommending them. I didn't go into the book expecting anything special, but a lot of these books are now on my favorites lists. So without further ado, my favorite surprises from the past year!!

Mystery Man by Kristen Ashley. Oh my goodness, this author became a favorite author this year, and it all began with this book. It was like 11 PM at night and I was trying to choose a new book to read... apparently the 1000+ on my to-read list just weren't enough to pick from. So I pulled up my goodreads recommendations and grabbed this one on a whim. The ebook was cheap, so I figured why not? Well 6 hours later I finally went to bed... thinking only about getting up and continuing the book. It was amazing!! And her men, oh man Kristen knows how to write a man. A hot man steamy man that I really really need to meet. Since I read this book I have read 15 more of her books... and I haven't found a miss yet. She's just amazing. I highly recommend her to, well, everyone.

Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin. I received this one as an ARC early in the year. I hadn't ever read any steampunk before, so I really wasn't sure to expect. Well, this book made me a fan of the genre (although I have yet to return to it). This was a great story set in the future, with a distinct black death feel to the story. Griffin really draws you into the story and it was over way before I was ready for it to end. In fact, when it ended I was mad at myself because I had to wait another year and three months before I can read the second book in the series... So if anyone related to the publishing or writing of this series stumbles upon this blog.... I'd kill for another ARC of the second book!!! If you like dystopia books, then you'll love this one!! This was seriously a great read.

Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison. This one was recommended to me in a challenge. I loved the cover, but wasn't sure I'd really enjoy the story. However, this turned out to be a great book! The characters are shifters.. not particularly something I enjoy often, but Thea Harrison pulled them off well. Then main hero in this book is a dragon and king of the shifters or something like that (I read this at the beginning of the year). Anyways, he is hot, and protective, and 100% alpha. Have I mentioned how much I love alpha men... in books anyways. In life I would never let I gut walk all over me... but in books -sigh- I'll do whatever you say. I also loved the supporting cast in this book! Which is great since it's the first in a series and the rest have their own stories. This is a series that I keep meaning to pick back up, but it keeps evading me. Too many books too little time!!

Born at Midnight by C.C. Hunter. I love this series... I mean love love love this series. I picked this one up because I saw a pretty cover... and it was on sale. As soon as I started reading it I was in love... and I have stayed in love. Hunter knows how to write a cast that you love. I love every single character... especially Kylie, our main girl. I guess the series is similiar to Hex Hall if you've read that (I haven't). It has lots of different paranormal creatures who have come together for summer camp. I'm not going to lie. The book is very similar to the other 9000 paranormal/fantasy YA books out there. But, the cast makes it. I love both boys in the love triangle (don't know who I want her to pick), I love her friends, I even fell in love with the bad guys... C.C. Hunter just creates great characters... and they really make the series worth the read.

Something About You by Julie James. I don't know why I didn't expect to like this book. I think I just dislike political type books. I heard all the hype about how great an author she was blah blah blah... and just wasn't interested. But, once again someone recommended this one to me and I figured I might as well at least give it a try. Thank goodness I did!! This book was hilarious! And Sweet! And sexy!! and just everything I love in a contemporary romance book!!! If you are like me and are not interested in political books... just give this one a try. Julie James knows her stuff.. I'm pretty sure she used to be a lawyer once upon a time. But, she doesn't overload you with the boring politics and criminal stuff at all. These people aren't stodgy, or boring, or anything! This was really just a great fun read! I read the rest in the series, and I'm once again eagerly awaiting the next book in the series... which doesn't come out until April sadly. :(

Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout. I know I was just going gah gah over this series in my last post, but can we ever get enough of Daemon loving?! This book... like a lot on this list has really convinced me that I need to set my prejudices aside and just give books a chance. Because, after I am Number Four I was so done with alien books. I didn't dislike that book.. but aliens just once again weren't my thing. This book just kept catching my interest though. So Finally, two weeks ago, I started reading it... and I loved it. Daemon is just so hot. I'm in the 3rd book now and I still get all happy and giggly whenever he's on the page. I think it annoys my boyfriend... apparently I get this weird smile on my face or something. But, these books deserve it because they are just that great!

Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard. This is an older book, which sadly made me unlikely to ever read it. There are always so many new books I want to read... that all of the older ones tend to be shoved to the side. This one somehow squeezed through and ended up in my hand though. I'm gad it did, it was probably one of my favorite romantic suspense books that I have ever read!! The book was nonstop fun and action! Something I enjoy on lazy summer days which was when I read this. Also, I'm one of those people who can't stand not knowing whodidit... but this one kept me stumped! I thought I had it figured out but BAM!! I never expected the ending that I got. It was just amazing! I now know why Linda Howard is considered a great romance writer!

Easy by Tammara Webber. I read this one at a time when I had given up on contemporary YA and NA. I couldn't seem to enjoy the books the way that I used to.. I figured that I was getting too old and could no longer relate to the characters or something. So what if I'm only 22... everyone tells me I act like I'm 40... I'm that boring responsible person. Anyways, this book helped restore my faith in contemporary YA/NA again! I was in love with it! The story is just so sweet... and sad kind of in a way. I think it was such a real story that I couldn't help but feel connected to everything that was happening. I really, really wish Tammara Webber would write a sequel. I want to see more of Kellan and Jacqueline! I really want to see more of them! They are wonderful!

Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis. I would be lying if I said this book was really a surprise for me. I love Jill Shalvis.. I think her books are hilarious, and cute, and hot, and just everything I love in a book. I loved her before this year already... but this series cemented my worship to Jill Shalvis for the next thousand years. I love the town of Lucky Harbor that she created! I love the towns people! I love the setting! This book was a great start to the series, and it has only gotten better as it goes along. I was going on about the short Christmas novella she wrote in my last post, but the full length novels are so so so so so much better. Yummy men, and fun girls all over the place. I have a pattern. I like alpha men mixed with hilarious, 'I can do it myself' girls... none of these books is lacking in that department. These are just plain fun books to read and enjoy!

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting. I received this as a Christmas present last year, and didn't get a chance to look at it until early February. I think I opened it. Curled up in a chair and read all day.. and night.. until I finished it. I'm not sure I even ate that day. I just remember moving from my comfy pink chair, to my couch, to my bed... all with the book smooshed in my face. I think I've said it before, but psychological books are probably my favorite genres. I love the ideas of psychics... they are normal people... but with just one slight twist. I've read the other two in this series as well, and they've all enthralled me. They remind me of favorites from my actual teen years.. Like The Third Eye by Louis Duncan? That was a great book about a girl who can find missing children. This one is kind of similar, except this poor girl senses dead bodies. The books are just great! I can't wait until the next in this series releases this upcoming April.

Well there are my ten for this week! I hope you enjoyed my mindless rants. They probably make very little sense, but oh well! If I don't care... then neither should you. ;) I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas! I got lots of new work clothes, and some things for my kitchen. I miss being young and getting fun gifts, but I guess it happens to the best of us!