We’ve already made it half way through 2018. Can you believe it? Where does the time even go? I’ve had all these goals this year, many of which have been thwarted by various craziness like GDPR and #cockygate. My goal to release 5 books this year is definitely behind schedule, with Big Man Blue being my first book of 2018, releasing at the end of April, and now my second, Two Man Red, coming out in just two short weeks on July 12!
What I have managed to stay semi on target with, though, is my 2018 reading goal. According to GoodReads, I’m only one book behind schedule, which I’d say is pretty good, right?
So here’s a list of my Top 5 Romance Reads (so far) of 2018.
1. The Protector: Men of the North Book 1 by Elin Peer
When I read the blurb for this book … women rule the world and outnumber men 14 to 1, except for a group of strong, burly men who live in the North who refuse to be ruled by women… well, needless to say, I had to read this. And I’ll tell you how much I liked this book. I listened to it TWICE. I nominated it for my monthly book club to read for the month of May, so I did another listen-through of the audio, and it was even better the second time.
I immediately followed this one up with Books 2 and 3, also awesome reads, and I eagerly await Book 4 to be released in audio ASAP! (Please?)
2. Rebel Heir and Rebel Heart by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward
As much as I thought this was going to be a book with a royal type character, Rush was far from royal, but he was super swoon-worthy and as bad-boy as they come. Rush was that one guy that every girl next door has had her heart just completely massacred and shattered into complete and utter devastation by in her early and formative young adult years. (Is that just me?)
And of course, Book 1 ends off on a cliffhanger, so you can’t read one without reading the other, but I swear, I was listening to this audio book every spare moment I could find. It was that good. But with wonder team Keeland and Ward, who would expect anything less?
3. Appion by Elodie Colt
This story will surprise you because it’s going to come out of nowhere and snag you on a new one-click author you’ll never want to miss another book from, who you’ve probably never heard of. This book happens to be a prequel that leads into this author’s Jaylior Series, and if you haven’t read this PNR/UF gem, you’re going to be sorry you waited so long once you do. The action, the steam, the conflict, all I can say is, try this little starter book out, and just see if you don’t need to devour the rest of the series. Because this is just a tiny little taste of what’s waiting!
4. Most Likely to Score by Lauren Blakely
I mean, come on. If you don’t already know this book is going to be awesome just by the author name at the bottom of that book cover, then you must be hiding under a rock somewhere or something. Lauren Blakely books are always an automatic one-click for me, and while I have a few still in queue to read that I haven’t gotten a chance to devour yet, this one was definitely a fun, flirty, super sexy rom-com with the teasing and torture you’re bound to get in typical Blakely fashion. Will they? Won’t they? And the fact that the heroine in this book was a diverse ethnicity made it that much more lovable for me. Bonus points for that!
5. Dirty Exes by Rachel Van Dyken
Is it too early to say this book was kind of awesome? This book happens to be this month’s pick for my Romance Book Club, and I finished it just this past week. How fun is this book? It definitely surprised me, in that it had me starting out thinking it was going to go one way, but ended up going in a completely different but infinitely better way. And can I just say, that the entire book I spent thinking Colin probably looks like my secret man crush, Mr. Brock O’Hurn? With the long, brown hair that he keeps in the man bun? Yeah … Definitely a fun read, and the chemistry between Blaire and Colin was just so fun and kind of heart melting. Yep, that’s right. I said heart melting!
If you read and liked The Matchmaker’s Playbook by this same author, then you’ll probably like this book. It has the same kind of feel to it with Blaire running her own business similar to Ian’s in Matchmaker. Oh yeah, and Blaire happens to be Ian’s sister. 🙂
What’s Next?
Want to know what I’m reading next? You can always follow me on GoodReads to see, or you can join my Romance Book Club, and keep up with our romance read of the month.
I am looking forward to a few books coming out soon or just recently released, and those include:
What about you?
Have you read any of the books I’ve mentioned above? What have your favorite reads been so far this year? Which romance reads are you looking forward to reading that you haven’t gotten to sink your teeth into yet? Be sure to let me know in the comments!