My Top Ten Favorite Books for 2017

I've always loved top ten lists, so why not make one? Here are my top ten favorite reads from this year, in alphabetical order, since I can't pick among faves.


10. All's Fair in Love, War, and High School by Janette Rallison



I love all Janette Rallison's YA books (with the exception of Son of War, Daughter of Chaos, but that's a whole other post). They are funny, easy to relate to, and with flawed, but lovable characters with hilarious insight into life. This one is no exception.


9. Beyond the Rising Tide by Sarah Beard



This is a YA romance book, but also a book about the afterlife, regrets, being a hero, survival guilt... so much to think about. Really enjoyed this.

8. Edgewood by Karen McQuestion



This is a YA Fantasy series about teens that develop powers. And yes, that's kinda been overdone, but the characters are an interesting group and I have to say, book 2 was amazing. The relationship between Russ and Nadia is very unique and seeing things from different character perspectives really changed how I felt about the characters in book 1.


7. House of Oak 1-5 by Nichole Van



You're going to want to read all five, might as well get the boxed set. Nichole Van seamlessly intertwines a contemporary romance novel with an Austen-like regency novel. Each can be read as a stand-alone, but they work better if you read in order.

6. Isabella and the Slipper by Victorine E. Lieske



I got to beta read this, and I have to say this hit the sweet spot of using a fairy tale to tell a compelling YA love story.

5. Love and Fat-Free Cheese by Crissy Sharp



This is both a satisfying clean romance and a suspense mystery wrapped in one. Really loved this book.

4. Moss Forest Orchid by Shari L Tapscott



I'm still a little miffed that this ended in a cliff-hanger, but I really, really loved all the adventure and romance and fantasy elements like pocket dragons. Everything Shari L Tapscott writes is amazing.

3. P.S. I Like You by Kasie West



Kasie West is like the queen of YA. This one is especially fun because it's a passing notes, mystery admirer kind of story.

2. The Princess Fugitive by Melanie Cellier



This is another book where the main character was an unlikable side character in a previous book, until she gets her own story and you learn about her past. Full of adventure and clean romance.

1. The Student and the Slave by Annie Douglas Lima



This was another beta read and a great culmination to the three book series. This is YA, but otherwise hard to categorize in that it's alternative reality with no magic. And about martial arts. Definitely different than what I write or usually read, but engaging all the same.

The Girl Who Heard Demons, by Janette Rallison

Adelle is starting over at a new school for her senior year, in a new state, living with her aunt. The reason: She hears demons, and telling people hasn't gone well in the past. She plans to lay low and keep it a secret, until getting wrapped up in protecting the cute quarterback, Levi.

I'm a huge fan, and maybe that's why this one threw me. I would say that while The Girl Who Heard Demons was entertaining and I devoured it in two days, this is my least favorite Janette Rallison novel. It wasn't too dark, but darker than I'm used to from her, with authentic teenage language full of innuendo. It was funny, but not as funny as I'm used to. And while it was a mystery, it wasn't too hard to figure out what was going on well before the end.

My Fairly Dangerous Godmother, by Janette Rallison

Having read My Fair Godmother previously, I kinda knew what to expect going into this. Crazy teenage Godmother, check. Teen who gets more (or less) than she asked for, check. Cute romance that (almost) makes you want to be a teen again, check. Lots of humor, check. Janette Rallison is the perfect author for a mom and daughter who want to be able to share books. Nothing offensive, but it never feels sanitized either. In this version, Sadie Ramirez has a horrible brush with fame, and suddenly qualifies for a pitiful damsel in distress program. With Miss Everstar as her Godmother, that basically means she has to endure being The Little Mermaid and one of the 12 Dancing Princesses. Enjoyable throughout. I saved this for my monthly Prime book choice to borrow. Or it's 4.99 to buy from Amazon.

My Double Life, by Janette Rallison

It's hard to be disappointed with a Janette Rallison novel. They're always entertaining, with super strong female protagonists and funny moments. This one, about a teenage girl who becomes the double for a celebrity was actually a little more serious than Rallison's other novels. There was a lot of confused feelings about being poor, not growing up with a dad, fickle boys and topics like compulsive gambling and trust issues. I loved that Alexia made the connection early on about who her Dad was. I have trust issues with authors who make ditzy main characters. Making rash choices okay, being clueless long past when the reader figures things out, not okay. $2.99 for Amazon Kindle. A recommended read.

A Longtime (and at one point illegal) Crush, by Janette Rallison

This author cracks me up. I am a huge fan. This was one I borrowed using the Kindle Lending Library and is only 99 cents to buy. If you get a bit creeped out by a May-Dec romance you may want to skip. Basically, a girl returns to her hometown from college, only to face her older brother's best friend who was also her high school math teacher. And, she had a HUGE crush. Fun read.