Hello there bookworms and happy Monday! I hope you all had a fantastic holiday and Christmas season. I was initially going to jump on here and bring you my latest book review, but I figured with a new year rapidly approaching, I’d do a recap of my top 10 favorite reads of this past year instead.

It’s no secret that 2020 was a year that did not go how any of us could have planned or imagined. A global pandemic has affected so much for each of us. People have lost jobs, loved ones, fallen on hard times, and have had to quickly adapt to a new normal. It’s left many of us feeling out of our element and even our hobbies (such as reading) have flown out the window because we’re just not in the headspace to fully absorb the idea that we’re escaping to a different world for awhile. There’s just too many concerns festering in our brains, even in our down time.

It’s certainly okay to not feel like yourself during such a time. It’s been ages since this whole thing has taken over our every day lives, and I’m not sure about all of you, but I’m starting to forget what life was like before. Crazy, right?

Anyway, I’m hopeful and keeping fingers crossed for the future. We’re already starting to see some positive news here and there for medical advances and ways to cope and keep plugging along. That being said, I’m going to offer a bit of a distraction and dive into some of my favorite books of 2020.

One of the things I am grateful for is that we still have books when we need them. When I could, I got to lose myself among some pretty cool characters and time periods, and while I have NOT reviewed all of these books for you in full just yet, I can safely say they’ve all made my top favorites for the year and if you haven’t already, you should add them to your TBR for the coming year.

In no particular order, let’s get started! (NOTE: For those books that are part of a series, I’m only going to share the synopsis of book 1 just to save some space and time).

The Royal Elite Series by Rina Kent

I enjoyed these books on Audible while working remotely. You’ll notice a running theme of Shane East audio books on my list. He’s a favorite of mine so I’ve been able to enjoy a lot of stories and new authors thanks to his talent. While there are 5 books in this series, I’ve only listened to/read the first 3 so far, so once I’m done, I’ll be able to write my full review!

The villain isn’t supposed to be king 

I have a simple plan.
Finish Royal Elite School and get into my dream university.

One glance from the school’s king blows my plan up in smoke.
One glance and he suffocates my air.
One glance and he issues his death sentence.

His first words spiral my life into irreparable chaos.
“I will destroy you.”

Everything about Aiden King is black.
Black mind.
Black heart.
Black soul.

I should’ve remained quiet and endured the time I have left.
I didn’t.

I made the irrevocable mistake of provoking the king on his throne.
The devil in his hell.

And now, I’ll pay the price.

Being hated by Aiden King is dangerous. 
But being wanted by him is lethal.

Deviant King is book one of Royal Elite Series. This is a dark high school bully romance, mature new adult, and contains dubious situations that some readers might find offensive. Aiden isn’t the normal romance hero. In fact, he’s not a hero at ALL. So please don’t read this if any of that bothers you.

Royal Elite Series:
#1 Deviant King
#2 Steel Princess
#3 Twisted Kingdom

Hopeless Romantics Series by Nina Bocci

These books are just cozy, feel-good reading. Each installment focuses on and stars different characters. The romance is sweet and the comic relief and gossip just makes Hope Lake all the more robust and enjoyable. Reading these books felt like finding home and even 4 books later, I couldn’t get enough!

For fans of Christina Lauren and Lauren Layne comes a delightfully sassy and sexy romance about a campaign manager who reluctantly works with the local Lothario to help revamp his image for the upcoming mayoral elections, only to discover that he’s hiding something that can turn both their lives upside down.

What’s a campaign manager’s worst nightmare? A smooth-talking charmer who’s never met a scandal that he didn’t like.

When Emmanuelle Peroni’s father—and mayor of her town—asks her to help rehab Cooper Endicott’s image, she’s horrified. Cooper drives her crazy in every way possible. But he’s also her father’s protégé, and she can’t say no to him without him finding out the reason why: Cooper and her have a messy past. So Emmanuelle reluctantly launches her father’s grand plan to get this Casanova someone to settle down with and help him lose his lothario reputation.

Cooper Endicott wanted to run for Mayor, but he never wanted the drama that went with it. Now that he’s on the political hamster wheel, the other candidates are digging up everything from his past. Even though he’s doing all the right things, his colorful love life is the sticking point for many of the conservative voters. He wants to win, badly, and he knows that if he wants any chance of getting a vote from the female population, he needs to change his image. The only problem? He might just be falling in love with the one person he promised not to pursue: the Mayor’s off-limits daughter.

A perfect blend of humor and heart, On the Corner of Love and Hate is the first in a new series from USA TODAY bestselling author Nina Bocci.

Jingle Wars by R. Holmes and Veronica Eden

One of my Christmas reads this year, this story had humor, heart, and a very festive donkey. The tension and chemistry was off the charts at times that I kept waiting for the snow to melt. Covered in Christmas cheer, this book has all the elements you’re looking to curl up by the fire with on a crisp winter day.

From bestselling authors R. Holmes & Veronica Eden comes an all-new steamy new adult enemies-to-lovers holiday romcom standalone.

Two inns, one town, and there’s not enough room for the both of them.

Add in a reindeer-ish donkey, a Christmas competition, and a rivalry to end all rivalries and you’re bound to end up in disaster, right?

Finn Mayberry has enough on his plate trying to keep his Grandparents inn afloat. The last thing he needed was some California state of mind starlet bulldozing into his town and throwing up a five-star resort right next to his family’s inn.

But, now she’s here and he can’t get her out of his town or his head.

Freya Anderson took one look at the snowcapped mountains of Hollyridge and fell in love. She’s finally here and ready to take on the task of proving to her father that she can handle running Alpine.

She never expected to make enemies with the sinfully delicious lumberjack of a man who runs the inn next door. He’s moody, impossible and completely off limits.

There can only be one winner, but you know what they say. All is fair in love and… Jingle Wars?

A Guy Walks Into My Bar by Lauren Blakely

This is another Shane East audible, only this time he teamed up with another popular male audio star – Joe Arden. Together, they deliver one smoking read. I had headphones in the whole time (thankfully), because their banter and dirty talk was never-ending… and I enjoyed every minute of it!

A sexy, passionate, utterly addictive standalone MM romance from #1 NYT Bestseller Lauren Blakely!

Every bartender should follow one simple rule—don’t go home with the customers.

That’s been easy for me to stick to, until the night a cocky, confident, and sinfully charming hockey star walks into my bar. This sexy athlete is too hard to resist, especially when he makes it clear how much he wants the “sarcastic, witty, hot AF” guy behind the bar—also known as me.

Still, I’m not keen on breaking my own rules since I know where that can lead—no place good.

But when that man makes his case with one bone-searing kiss on the streets of London, I throw resistance out the window.

What could go wrong with a hot, dirty, no-strings-attached fling before he leaves town in five days? 

Trouble is, soon our nights together lead to days, to long conversations, to getting to know each other, and to something I never expected—falling ridiculously hard for a man who’s getting on a plane to America when I live a world away. 

My life is here. His is there. And no amount of falling or feeling will change that one big problem. 

Warning: contains hot hotel sex, loads of dirty talk, PDA all over London, and two sexy, witty, charming alpha heroes… 

Where the Lost Wander by Amy Harmon

This is a beautifully told historical fiction romance. If you know me or follow this blog, you know I love my history reads. This one sucked me in from page one hook, line, and sinker. From the characters, to the plot, to the descriptive text, this was one of those books that allowed me to close my eyes and become fully transported to another time and place – no distractions!

In this epic and haunting love story set on the Oregon Trail, a family and their unlikely protector find their way through peril, uncertainty, and loss.

The Overland Trail, 1853: Naomi May never expected to be widowed at twenty. Eager to leave her grief behind, she sets off with her family for a life out West. On the trail, she forms an instant connection with John Lowry, a half-Pawnee man straddling two worlds and a stranger in both.

But life in a wagon train is fraught with hardship, fear, and death. Even as John and Naomi are drawn to each other, the trials of the journey and their disparate pasts work to keep them apart. John’s heritage gains them safe passage through hostile territory only to come between them as they seek to build a life together.

When a horrific tragedy strikes, decimating Naomi’s family and separating her from John, the promises they made are all they have left. Ripped apart, they can’t turn back, they can’t go on, and they can’t let go. Both will have to make terrible sacrifices to find each other, save each other, and eventually…make peace with who they are.

Queen Move by Kennedy Ryan

Kennedy Ryan knows how deliver. Her words are poetic, her characters bring you on a roller coaster of emotions, and her stories capture all sorts of drama and sensuality that really create such wonderful page-turners. She’s never written a book I didn’t like and I can’t wait to read more in the future!

The boy who always felt like mine is now the man I can’t have… 

Dig a little and you’ll find photos of me in the bathtub with Ezra Stern.
Get your mind out of the gutter. We were six months old.
Pry and one of us might confess we saved our first kiss for each other. 
The most clumsy, wet, sloppy . . . spectacular thirty seconds of my adolescence.
Get into our business and you’ll see two families, closer than blood, torn apart in an instant.
Twenty years later, my “awkward duckling” best friend from childhood, the boy no one noticed, is a man no one can ignore.

Finer. Fiercer. Smarter. 
Taken.

The boy who always felt like mine is now the man I can’t have… 

Dig a little and you’ll find photos of me in the bathtub with Ezra Stern.
Get your mind out of the gutter. We were six months old.
Pry and one of us might confess we saved our first kiss for each other. 
The most clumsy, wet, sloppy . . . spectacular thirty seconds of my adolescence.
Get into our business and you’ll see two families, closer than blood, torn apart in an instant.
Twenty years later, my “awkward duckling” best friend from childhood, the boy no one noticed, is a man no one can ignore.

Finer. Fiercer. Smarter. 
Taken.

Tell me it’s wrong. 
Tell me the boy who always felt like mine is now the man I can’t have. 
When we find each other again, everything stands in our way–secrets, lies, promises.
But we didn’t come this far to give up now. 
And I know just the move to make if I want to make him mine.

Gabriel’s Promise by Sylvain Reynard

Of course my favorite professor and his beloved make a cameo on this list – because they got another book. I always love more from Gabriel and Julianne and I’m thankful that the book ended in a way that leaves more to be imagined, so hopefully I get more from them in the future! Until then, at least we get to enjoy Gabriel’s Inferno on screen thanks to Passionflix. If you haven’t watched it yet, go check it out now. You won’t be disappointed!

New York Times bestselling author Sylvain Reynard returns with the fourth installment of the beloved Gabriel’s Inferno series.

When Gabriel and Julia Emerson first lay eyes on their newborn daughter, Clare, they realize life as they know it will never be the same. Gabriel has vowed to be a good father when he suddenly receives an invitation to give a series of lectures in Edinburgh, Scotland—an opportunity of high prestige—but that would mean leaving his wife and child in Boston. Hesitant to bring it up, he keeps the opportunity from Julia as long as he can, not knowing she has a secret of her own.

When a frightening situation arises that threatens their new family, both parents must make sacrifices. With the family in danger, the looming question remains: Will Gabriel pursue his lectureship in Edinburgh, leaving Julia and Clare vulnerable in Boston, or will he abandon the chance of a lifetime in order to ensure his family’s safety?

The Off Balance Series by Lucia Franco

Oh what can I say about Kova and Gia. Forbidden romance, high stakes sports, and an age gap. There’s so many aspects of this story that are darker than most romances I read, but I got completely absorbed and obsessed anyway!

Adrianna Rossi is no stranger to the rigorous demands required of her body. Years of pain and determination make her one of the best. Olympic glory is the ultimate goal, and she’ll do anything to achieve it. Even if that means leaving home to attend World Cup Academy of Gymnastics, a training center that serves one purpose—producing champions. 

Perfection, precision, and dedication are required of his athletes. When two time Olympian Konstantin Kournakova is persuaded into training the young hopeful, he immediately regrets it. She doesn’t come close to his high standards. As the relentless pursuit of her dream keeps her striving, a passion is ignited within him.

Kova’s power and domination, coupled with Adrianna’s fierce tenacity, reveal there is more for her body to learn. Every interaction can be misconstrued, but there’s no mistaking the darkening of his gaze, the lingering of his touch, or the illicit image of his bare skin pressed against hers. Integrity is on the line. One toe off the beam and their forbidden desires could ruin everything they’ve worked for, throwing it all off balance. 

WARNING: This novel contains explicit content.

One Hot Italian Summer by Karina Halle

This story is covered in pure escapism. If you want/need a mental getaway, you can’t get any better than the gorgeous landscape and culture of Italy in the summer time. Top that off with a gorgeous single dad and you’ll be smitten.

After the death of her best friend and writing partner, Grace Harper is struggling both with grief, and with her next novel, the first one she’ll have to write alone.

Fortunately, her new powerhouse agent, the formidable Jana Lee, has a solution for her. She can stay at her villa in Tuscany for a month, soak in the sunshine, relax, and find her confidence again. After all, Jana has a lot riding on Grace’s next book, and the last thing she wants is for her reputation as a “super-agent” to be tarnished.

At first the villa is a dream come true for Grace – that is until Claudio Romano shows up one day with his ten-year old son, Vanni, in tow. Turns out, this is Claudio’s house, and Claudio happens to be her agent’s ex-husband from long ago. Thanks to their annual father and son bonding trip being cancelled, Claudio and Vanni are here to stay.

So is Grace.

With the three of them sharing the same house, Grace’s writing plans are thrown out the window. But even if she’s not pounding the keyboard, she’s still finding beauty and inspiration… in none other than Claudio. He’s unlike any man Grace has met before. He’s smart, charming, and wickedly sexy, plus a great father to Vanni. He’d be the perfect summer fling – if only he wasn’t completely off-limits.

But as the hot Italian summer wears on, Grace and Claudio are destined to succumb to the heat, no matter how hard they try to resist each other. One steamy encounter with Claudio could affect Grace’s chances of starting her career over.

Or he could be exactly what she needs.

The Rebels and Redcoats Saga by T.J. London

Another Shane East audible (haha)! Still, I love the era of the revolution so I picked this one up based more on plot than narrator. I admire historical fiction writers who do their research and T.J. London did her homework. It wasn’t even about the places or events for me, but more about the ambiance the dialogue and characters created. I lost myself in a whole mood with this book and immediately ordered all the paperbacks online. While I have yet to read books 2-4, this series has already proved itself to me and I can’t wait to dive back in for more!

It is the winter of 1776, and Captain John Carlisle, one of His Majesty’s not-so-finest, has gone back to the scene of the crime to right a wrong so dark it left a permanent stain on what was once an illustrious career and left a man broken, defeated, in search of justice…

In an effort to win back his commission, he must discover the true nature of the relationship between the Six Nations of the Iroquois and the Colonial Army. Undercover as a war profiteer, John travels to the treacherous Mohawk River Valley and infiltrates local society, making friends with those he’s come to betray. 

But a chance meeting with a beautiful half Oneida innkeeper, whose tragic history is integrally linked to his own, will provide him with the intelligence he needs to complete his mission—and devastate her people. 

Now, as the flames of war threaten to consume the Mohawk Valley, John has the chance to not only serve King and country, but to clear his name. When the truth he uncovers ties his own secrets to those in the highest positions of the British military and threatens the very life of the woman he’s come to love, he will be forced to make a choice…

Well, that’s all for now! I look forward to sharing more reviews and bookish topics with you in 2021!

Until next time, stay safe and cozy and enjoy lots of great stories.

Happy New Year and Happy reading! xx