Oh hey! 👋🏽 Happy Sunday! I'm actually really excited to write this post because books are my first true love. I've always loved movies but I didn't know I loved them until much later in life. With books, when I fell, I fell hard. With that, let's get to it.
If you all read my very first post, "Why writing?," you know I fell in love with reading in the 7th grade. From then on, I couldn't get enough. I rented book after book from the library (#minimatildainthehouse). Then that changed to needing to own the books because if I loved it (even liked it a little bit), I wanted to add it to my growing library. It is safe to say Half Price Books, Borders, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble owned my paychecks for a few years. #RIPBorders
This 👇🏽is the fruit of my labor.
It's more than most have and I remember when I only had a few books on the top of my dresser. But long term goal is to fill this case up. Longest term goal - to fill a whole wall and to have actually read them all. Channeling Beauty and the Beast vibes here.
Anywhoo, my book tastes revolve around my life themes: Love. Magic. Passion. Possibilities. So diving deeper, my specific genres are romance, romance, and romance. Fantasy with romance and sci-fi with romance. Long story short, there HAS to be a serious love connection happening in the pages. I enjoy normal fiction but unless it pulls at my heartstrings (could NOT be in a romantic way) or I am required to read it, (#bookclub) I would probably pass. I'm also not a fan of non-fiction or self-help. My life is non-fiction. I want to escape into worlds unknown and experience the adventure of a lifetime. This brings me to my all-time favorite books (to date).
What constitutes a "favorite book?"
Well, let me explain:
Wanting to/having read the book more than once
Not being able to put it down while reading
Obsessing over its contents during and after reading
Emitting an emotional or physical response from me while reading (My husband could tell you stories . . .🤦🏽♀️)
Inspiring me to . . . (fill in the ______ ) 🤓
☝🏽list brings me to this list 👇🏽:
Nine books. All different yet they all hold a special place in heart. They have shaped me into the writer I have become as well as the writer I want to be.
Ready for the breakdown? Cue DJ air horns!!!!
1. "To Pleasure a Prince"(Royal Brotherhood #2) by Sabrina Jeffries
This historical romance was one of the first (HR) series I fell in love with. In a time where women were courted, status mattered and propriety was everything - this book has it all. What I loved about it most was that the main characters were not typical for the time period. The hero was an ass and pretty much shunned by society due to the fact that he was one of the bastard sons of the Prince of Wales (this is "secret" in the book). I guess that's pretty typical but he was an extra grumpy old man with who never knew love. #heartstringspulled And the heroine was a stubborn cookie who didn't tolerate any shit. Yet these two characters found their way to each other with love and a little naughtiness mixed in. The scene that cemented this book into my heart was towards the end after the big hero f'up (because you KNOW the man done took it too far). Watching a grown man cry does something to me, especially when that man never shows a sensitive side or is really hurt and can't help his vulnerability. But if I can feel that while reading? 😫Cue the sob. I thought the story was well written, it was hot and I got my #HEA (happily ever after).
2. "The Highlander's Touch" (Highlander #3) by Karen Marie Moning
How do I even begin here? Do I come in hot 🔥? Okay, let's do it.
Karen Marie Moning is easily my favorite author. There. I said it.
I own every book she's written minus her latest release and have read everything sub two books. That's over 20 works and I will continue to buy every single thing she writes. On a personal level I connect with her because she didn't start getting serious with her writing until the age of 30. In regards to her actual writing - maaaaan, can that women tell a story.
KMM has two major book series - Highlander and Fever. The best thing about the two series is that they are connected. You don't have to read the Highlander series to get into the Fever series (and vice versa) but you learn more about both when you do. The Fever series is another beast entirely and freaking epic but we're here to discuss the Highlander series and why I love it so much.
The Highlander's Touch is the 3rd book in the series. They are all amazing (especially #4 & #7. They probably tie with #3 as my favorites but I didn't want to bombard you). This series is also a historical romance but that is where the simpleness ends. This story is about a 21st century girl who accidentally time travels and ends up in the arms of an immortal laird in Scotland. A whole century prior. *eyebrow wag* Between the fantastical aspects, the visuals, the sexual tension/buildup, the character development, the stakes, the love story, and the sex? 💣💥MAGIC. I've probably read each book in the series about 4x. Maybe #3, #4, & #7 about 7x. It gives you everything you want in romance novel, the sex is hot-hot-hot, the world building is superb and man, does it make you want to go visit Scotland. There's a reason why this particular book won the RITA award in 2001. For those of you who don't know, the RITA is the highest award of distinction in romance fiction. Just saying. #goals
3. "Wait for You" by J.Lynn (or Jennifer L. Armentrout)
This contemporary romance is a heart wrenching, slow build, that had me turning the pages faster and faster. An adorably cute story with some real life trauma to connect you to the character (s). What you need to know about me as a whole is that I love the good guy. He doesn't have to be straight and narrow but if he's sweet, thoughtful and listens to what you say - I'm a goner. Every time. The hero in this book is just that. Freaking baking, star-gazing, truck driving, sweetheart calling, confident ass sexual deviant with patience for days.
“While the idea of taking you right now, against the wall, is enough to make me lose control, I want you to know that I’m serious. You’re not a hook up. You’re not a friend with benefits. You’re more than that to me.”
[She] closed my eyes, breathing heavily. “Well, that was…really sort of perfect.”
“I’m really sort of perfect … Everyone else knows that. You’re just a little slow on the uptake.”
I MEANNNNN???? Come on! What I loved most about the book was that it was realistic in its pace. The main characters became friends first which allowed the romance to be that much more satisfying. 😍
4. "Ten Tiny Breaths" by K.A. Tucker
There are some novels you can never forget. I have three of them: "Michael, Wait For Me" by Patricia Calvert, "These Things Hidden" by Heather Gudenkauf and Ten Tiny Breaths. In this new adult romance, the heroine's life is turned upside down by a drunk driving accident. Because her next of kin are pieces of shit, she runs away with her little sister to start over. When she moves into this rinky-dink apartment complex in Miami, she mets the hero and their chemistry is immediate. The male character is so smooth and confident but he also has this patience that is so attractive.
“You hate me don't you? You must hate me. I can't help it. I'm broken."
Trent squeezes me close to him. "I don't hate you. I could never hate you. Give me your heart, Kacey. I'll take everything that comes with it." I start to cry. Uncontrollably, for the first time in four years.
And he needs every bit of it because the heroine has trust issues. Cue Drake. The problem is the guy is carrying an atomic bomb of a secret and the girl is so resistant to change that they become a bomb themselves. Before this happens, they fall in love, find family in strangers and make tough decisions. It didn't detail the sexy parts as much as I would have liked but this book still made my top nine. What does that say?
Because there are five more books to go over and I don't want to keep you any longer, you can read Pt. 2 of this blog next Sunday.
~Each book title is linked to its full length description on www.amazon.com for further information.
Thank you for reading!
Ilia out. 🌙
Love. Magic. Passion. Possibilities.