Best Books of 2017: Maryann’s Picks and a Giveaway

Happy Saturday, friends, and welcome to another of our lists of outstanding reads of 2017, this one from Maryann. She’s got some great titles to recommend, so check them out and then enter for the chance to win two eBooks from her picks via the Rafflecopter widget below!

Psycho Romeo by Jocelynn Drake and Rinda Elliott – Psycho Romeo is a great debut in the Ward Security series by Jocelynn Drake and Rinda Elliott, and the cover by Stephen Drake fits the storyline. I have to confess I stayed away from the little excerpts/peeks the authors gave to their group, so I was really surprised. I had a totally different impression of Sven and Geoffrey, and I’m seeing them in a different light now. This is an in-depth look into both of these men’s lives; they had been a big part of the Unbreakable Bonds series. The plot was suspenseful and has a lot to do with social media. Quinn is in the spotlight with his expertise in IT, and I thought the concept of the new app Geoffrey was creating was unique (I don’t know if there is such a thing, but it would be nice to have a site where you can connect with just authors or music artists without all the ads, politics, and miscellaneous noise). When Geoffrey’s stalker becomes a more serious issue, we get a deeper look at some of the other Ward Security team—Royce, Dominic, and Quinn, just to name a few.

Devour by Jocelynn Drake and Rinda Elliott – The writing team of Drake and Elliott never failed to keep me wanting more throughout the Unbreakable Bonds series, and they saved the best for last. The series includes some of the most well written lines, filled with overwhelming emotion, and there’s also the humor to give readers time to breathe. This fourth and final novel takes you on a roller coaster ride of emotions. The action, suspense and danger kept me on edge, never knowing where the enemy was going to strike next. No matter how many bumps in the road this amazing group of characters faced, they always had a strong sense of camaraderie. And, with some of the surprises in Devour, and for the series’ secondary characters, we are sure to see some spin-offs.

As Sure as the Sun by Elle Keaton – Elle Keaton really surprised me with this fourth installment of the Accidental Roots series. As Sure As The Sun takes a different turn from the previous books, as there aren’t any FBI cases to be concerned about, and I had no idea that the storyline would bring Seth and Sacha together. They have a sort of quiet but passionate connection, and it was interesting how both their childhoods had so much conflict and insecurity. I really liked Seth’s determination to do as much as he could to find Owen and TG, and Sacha supported his determination in his own way. I could not see either Seth or Sacha being any different than the way they were created.

If you follow this series, Adam and Noah make an appearance along with many of the characters from previous novels, which is always fun and interesting.

Kill Game by Cordelia Kingsbridge – Kill Game is an excellent start to the new Seven of Spades series by Cordelia Kingsbridge. It gives a good, in-depth look at the main characters, and some secondary characters too. One thing about Dominic and Levi that works is that their chemistry is there in full force. I just adored Dominic Russo; he’s big, burly and a patient sweetheart of a man who’s always concerned about Levi’s feelings. I liked his family connection and the love his family shares, and Rebel, his brave and adorable companion. But Dominic does have an addiction, which he handles by not running away.

Suspicious Behavior by L.A. Witt and Cari Z. – This sequel to Bad Behavior is definitely a more emotional storyline. Both Darren and Andreas are facing family issues, but I found Darren’s to be just heartrending. His love for his brother is so great, and to have it deteriorate before his eyes breaks his heart. Both Darren and Corliss are physically and mentally exhausted, and the beginning of their relationship hangs in the balance.

As for the homicide plot, again it’s suspenseful, action packed, and we get to watch Corliss and Darren go through the pains of staying focused and following the process of investigating a mind-boggling murder spree. I have to admit the first novel in this series was good, but L.A. Witt and Cari Z. outdid themselves with Suspicious Behavior.

The Mystery of the Curiosities by C.S. Poe – While Sebastian and Calvin are slowly but surely progressing with their relationship, they are also each dealing with their vulnerabilities—you can feel the fear that Sebastian has about losing Calvin. I really liked book one in this series, The Mystery of Nevermore, because I was familiar with Edgar Allan Poe, but with this sequel, the series gets even better. Max Ridley, Sebastian’s assistant, gets wrapped up in this mystery too, which I thought was fun because his character brings a lot of humor to the story. I was also intrigued because I knew of P.T. Barnum—the first thought when you hear the name is always the circus, but he brought us the “curiosities” too, which were bizarre, and it was interesting to see how C.S. Poe constructed a fantastic plot around them.

Broken Sun by B.D. Roca – B.D. Roca delivers the type of novel I crave. It’s gritty, suspenseful, violent, dark, and offers many emotional and powerful moments between Morgan and Luc. For both Morgan and Luc, family is an issue on different levels, and both have to deal with the turmoil in their own way. The series is set in Australia: Parts one and two are set in the past. Part three is many years later. I felt the way the story flowed just added to the intriguing plot.

The first novella in the City to City series is Happy Birthday. Don’t let the title fool you. It tells the story of Morgan’s nephew Nick, and Jake. As for me, I will be watching out for the next installment in this gritty series.

Tramps and Thieves by Rhys Ford – Rhys Ford is just amazing with the written word and storytelling. There are quite a few parts in this novel where the writing in just poetic and is very emotional. The plot will definitely keep you on edge with all its crazy twists and turns. Tramps and Thieves is an excellent murder mystery that will keep you guessing with every turn of the page. You never know when the next shot will be fired or the next body—or body parts—will show up. This novel has an abundance of well-written characters, some you’ll love and, of course, some you’ll hate. Hank Camden, Dante’s partner, made me like him this time around. He’s funny, snarky and gruff, but his soft side really came through in this second installment of the Murder and Mayhem series. As for me, I’m ready for the next book. Just what will Rook do?

A Matter of Duty by J.C. Long – A Matter of Duty was an unexpected surprise. J.C. Long takes readers to Hong Kong and into a world of deceit, corruption, discrimination, not knowing who to trust, and mysterious disappearances. I was hooked from the very start; the story is well plotted, and there’s an abundance of interesting characters. I liked the gradual build of Lianne’s mystery, and learning about Noah and his sister’s life, growing up, as well as Wei’s plight to protect everyone around him. This was my first time reading J.C. Long, and I look forward to more.

Comes a Horseman by Anne Barwell – Anne Barwell delivers such an emotional and intense ending to her Echoes Rising series. This WWII historical drama has danger, chaos, betrayal, bigotry, revenge, and suspenseful moments that will keep you on edge. It’s also a tale that offers camaraderie among different allies and the sadness of those who fought and lost their lives. The characters are so filled with hope and love, even at the worst of times, it just overwhelms your heart. With their friendships and heartbreak, their fears and their faults and relationships, these characters continue to grow. It was sad to have the series come to an end. It is so well written and told with so much heart; it grabs you from the very beginning with its in-depth characterizations and their fight to save humanity. I highly recommend reading the entire Echoes Rising series, beginning with Shadowboxing and Winter Duet.

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