Oct 5, 2016

Lovecats' favourite reads of 2016 (so far...)

We thought we'd share some stand out book love today!

Asking an avid reader what is their favourite book is liking asking a parent which is their favourite child...too hard!!! But some of the lovecats have managed to narrow down their faves of the year so far.  Here's hoping you'll get some great suggestions to add to your TBR shelf/pile, and maybe try some new authors.

Annie West

I can’t pick a favourite read for the year so instead am choosing the one that stood out as being so completely different from anything else I’ve been reading (and thank you to the fellow authors and readers who suggested it). ‘Rivers of London’ by Ben Aaronovitch is a cross between ‘The Bill’ and ‘Harry Potter’ with a lot of lovely wit and humour thrown in. The plot is fantastic (in both senses) so if you don’t like a touch of make believe, don’t pick it up. I found myself swept away by the story, the characters and the tension and have now enjoyed the later books in this series too. 







Sue Mackay

I'm a huge fan of Kristin Hannah. She just keeps getting better and better.

This is a story a girl and the family who befriended her, and the tragedy that came from that. Told through two people's POV it is unputdownable.











Stefanie London

Mine has been Melt Into You by Roni Loren this is not only my fave book of the year so far but hands down my favourite erotic romance series of all time. It's sexy, emotional and beautifully written. Can't praise it highly enough!










Amy Andrews

My stand out find this year has been Eve Dangerfield – a Melbourne author.

Locked Box is awesome












Helen Lacey

My favorite book so far this year is Neighbor Dearest by Penelope Ward. Love it! Fast and sexy and the hero was divine. Great chemistry between the two lead characters.











Bronwyn Jameson

My favourite recent read is The Hating Game by Sally Thorne (single title contemporary romance, first book, Australian author, although the book is set in an anonymous American city.)  It’s first person with only the heroine's viewpoint, and not knowing what was going on in the hero’s head worked beautifully for this story.  Lucy and Joshua are competitive co-workers at a publishing house; their relationship is antagonistic (understatement!); their banter is a thing of beauty.  I loved the writing, the fresh take on office romance, the love-hate dynamic, and the conflict resolution. 






Kandy Shepherd

One of my favourite reads this year is Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling)  It’s a crime story not a romance. But author has created two quirky, memorable characters in private investigator Cormoran Strike and his sidekick Robin Ellacott. Over the three books (so far) in the series, a romance of the type when the reader really wants for them to get together is building. I initially resisted these books (book one, The Cuckoo’s Calling and book two The Silkworm) because of the hype about the author’s attempt at anonymity. But once tried, like the Harry Potter books, they immediately became addictive.



Yvonne Lindsay

My standout book so far this year has been Linda Howard’s, Troublemaker. Linda Howard has been an autobuy author of mine for many years and her heroes are just so larger than life and so intensely perfect for her heroines that her books are an absolute pleasure to read. It’s rare for me to be able to suspend my inner author voice when I’m reading a book, y’know, the one that is sometimes prompted to think, “Hmm, I wouldn’t have written that line that way,” but with this book I could simply be a reader and enjoy someone else’s hard work for a change.



What have been your standout reads so far this year?

12 comments:

  1. Annie, I adored Rivers of London! From the very first paragraph I knew I was in for something special and boy did it deliver. Great fun.

    Kandy, I love the Robert Golbraith books. Super characters, great mysteries, glorious writing. Harry Potter was no fluke :).

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  2. Sue, I'm a Kristin Hannah fan as well and Night Road is my absolute favourite. Like you, I COULD NOT put it down. I love her flawed people, always motivated so you understand exactly why they acted that way.

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  3. Ally, how great that you loved Rivers of London too. I've read all the rest now and am waiting...

    Thanks LoveCats for all these suggestions. It's wonderful to have more recommendations. Kandy, I missed the Robert G books totally! Must have had my head down, writing. :)

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  4. I'm making notes and adding several of these to my TBR list! Argh! So many books, so little time. I need house staff so when I'm done writing for the day I can just loll about and read all these great stories!

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  5. I'm making notes and adding several of these to my TBR list! Argh! So many books, so little time. I need house staff so when I'm done writing for the day I can just loll about and read all these great stories!

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  6. Oh, my, what a glorious set of recommendations! I *so* have to read "Rivers of London." And I heard lots of great things about "The Hating Game Too." And I really need to explore those Robert Galbraith's. And... oh, I'm stopping now.

    My recommendation for the year thus far is The Ashley Gardner Captain Lacey Regency mystery series. Book One is free on Amazon at the moment...just sayin'. ;-)

    https://www.amazon.com/Hanover-Square-Captain-Regency-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B004O4C1AK/ref=sr_1_5?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1475629569&sr=1-5&keywords=ashley+gardner+captain+lacey+series

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  7. I've loved 2 of the 3 Galbraith books (the second one was a bit weird) and I love her writing style-like a cosy mystery that draws you in completely..
    I've tried Kristin Hannah before and couldn't get into her books, but I might try Night Road and Yvonne is always such a fan of Linda Howard I MUST get this book.
    Two recs for Rivers of London...a definite on my list, sounds like my kind of thing.
    So many great reads, so little time....

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  8. I have the first Galbraith book on my book shelf - I really need to get around to reading it! It's just such a hunk of a book that I get a bit commitment-phobic every time I go to pick it up lol

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  9. This is such a hard question for me I have read a lot of books this year and loved but I will try

    The Wife's Tale Christine Wells
    The Grazier's Wife Barbara Hannay
    The House by The Lake Ella Carey

    have Fun
    Helen

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  10. Such a great list. So many book, so little time. I really have to find a way to read more!!

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  11. Sue Gerhardt GriffithsOctober 6, 2016 at 4:15 PM

    Annie, I also have read most of the Rivers of London series and have enjoyed them but I thought Broken Homes was a tad boring and not as good as his first three but I will continue with the series I need to find out what happens to Lesley.

    Hi Sue, I haven't read any Kristin Hannah in a long while but what I have read has been amazing. I might find some of hers at the Lifeline Book Fair tomorrow held over 3 days at the stadium just behind where I live.

    Hi Yvonne, I love Linda Howards books she writes great thriller suspense novels.

    My standout book so far this year has to be Black Diamonds by Kim Kelly. A phenomenal read.

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