2019 was a pretty good reading year for me. I was able to finish 92 books. The majority of those were fiction and there were 3 books that I did not finish. Most of the books I read were digital ARCs and I participated in a lot more blog tours this year. And it seems this year as if female authors dominated my reading. I had 11 five stars books this year, 39 four star books, 15 three and a half stars, 24 three stars, and three 2.5 stars.
Here are the titles that I gave five stars this year. Click on the titles to read the full review.
Annika Rose is a beautiful woman living in downtown Chicago. She is 32 years old and she is pretty happy with her life. When she is reunited with Jonathan, her first boyfriend who had disappeared from her life 10 years ago, her world is turned upside down. She has grown so much since the last time she saw Jonathan, but she still has feelings for him. When they decide to give things another try, Annika and Jonathan learn more about themselves and each other than ever before. Will love win this time, and is Annika really different from the girl he used to know.
Maggie and Noah have been married for a few years. Noah has a son from a previous marriage and Maggie has a daughter, but Maggie hasn't seen her daughter, Anna, since she was 6 months old. When Anna, decides she wants to be a part of Maggie's life, Maggie is over the moon. This is something she has wanted for the past 16 years. But as soon as Anna enters their lives, everything gets turned upside down. Noah is accused of molesting and killing Anna and Maggie isn't sure who to believe, her husband of a few years or the daughter who she has desperately has wanted in her life.
When Jessica Farris decides to sneak her way into a psychological study, she thinks the extra money will be good to help out her family and her own struggling finances. Dr. Shields seems like a caring doctor who while going through the study seems to be helping Jess with her own issues. But she's in for more than she bargained for. When the Q&A portion of the study is over, Dr. Shields sends Jess on different tasks throughout the city some of which turn out to be dangerous. Will she be able to get herself out of this situation before it takes a turn she can't undo?
Cosy Felton is almost done with school and ready for her next adventure. She's 22, living in Las Vegas and about to get her degree in hotel management. Currently, though, she is working at a sex toy shop to help with her bills and when Griffin Mills walks in, she can tell he is a fish out of water. Griffin drew the short straw when he has to go and buy toys for his friend's bachelor party, but he doesn't mind when he sees Cosy. Cosy is not interested in dating a customer, but this customer is insanely good looking and easy to talk. Griffin isn't in town for long, so this will just be fling, or will it?
Wren has been hired by the Moorehead family to handle the youngest of the family, Armstrong who is a PR nightmare. When the patriarch of the family passes away suddenly, the older son, Lincoln returns for the funeral. What he's not expecting is for his grandmother and mother to ask him to take over the company. Being a CEO has never been in Lincoln's mind, but he made a promise that he would stay for 6 months. Wren is then tasked with helping Lincoln to become the face of the company, which will be difficult since he's covered in fur. When Lincoln first meets Wren, he thinks she nothing but a high paid babysitter, but there is something about her that has sparked his interest and finds that he enjoys her being around. Wren feels it too, but knows her job is more important. Will they be able to keep their feelings to themselves, or will it all be too much?
Ove is a cranky old man who has recently lost his wife. He would like nothing more than to join her in the afterlife. He has made all of the arrangements, paid all of the bills, now he just has to find the best way to off himself. But when the neighbors seem to take a new interest in Ove, his plans keep getting thwarted. Will he be able to go through with his plans or will the neighbors have other plans?
I listened to this book and at first I wasn't sure if I was going to like it. But slowly Ove started to grow on me. He's the kind of guy who you know is stuck in his ways and there is nothing that you can say or do that will change that. But eventually you see a change, not one that is at first noticeable, but a slight softening.
Caroline Stark has been married to her husband, Jason, for 20 years. They have one daughter, Hannah, who is a freshman in college. When Caroline's husband brings his mistress to their housewarming party, Caroline is beside herself. In order to get back at Jason, she decides to have a one-night stand with a local bartender, Aidan, who also just happens to be the stranger who likes to stand on the beach and stare at her house for hours. But the events that follow that one night are far more than Caroline bargained for. Even stranger her story and Aidan's story seem completely different. Who is telling the truth? And who will you believe?
Stella Lane is an econometrician for whom, math is the most important thing. For Stella, her relationships with people aren't as great. Nearing her 30s and at the top of her game at work, her parents are encouraging her to find a boyfriend. But Stella has been on a few dates and even had sex, but none of it interests her. She doesn't like to be touched or to be dirty, so that complicates matters as well. On top of all of that, she as Asperger's, a form of autism. In order to get better at sex and people, Stella decides to hire and escort. When she meets Michael, things are a lot different with him. Is it because she is paying him or is it something else?
Zuri Benitez is one of five daughters living in Bushwick, Brooklyn, New York. She has lived in the same house her entire life. When the Darcy's move in across the street, it's clear right from the start to Zuri, that they are from different worlds. But there is something about Darius Darcy that makes her curious. When her sister Jenay starts dating older brother, Ansley, Zuri is forced to face Darius more than she wants. Will she discover that they have more in common than she originally thought?
Jules has just lost her job, her boyfriend and her home all in the same day. She is currently living with her best friend, Chloe. When the opportunity presents itself for her to live in one of the most exclusive apartment buildings in New York City, The Bartholomew, she can't pass up on the chance. Not only does she get to live there, she's getting paid to do so as an apartment sitter. This is an opportunity Jules can not pass up despite the protestations of Chloe, she has to get back on her feet. So she takes the job even though the rules are a little strict. Shortly after moving in, Jules meets another apartment sitter, Ingrid, who is unsure about continuing to live at The Bartholomew. When Jules is ready to ask her about it, Ingrid disappears without a trace. What happened to Ingrid and other apartment sitters that have gone missing? What dark secrets lie within The Bartholomew?
The Goode School is a school for girls in Marchburg, VA. Most of the students are daughters, of wealthy people in the Washington, DC area. The school is built on the Honor Code and Goode girls don't lie. The school has been around for generations. After the death of her parents, Ash Carlisle is sent to Goode. She really has no other place to go. But Dean Westhaven thinks there is something a little off about the Ash who is at her school compared to the Ash she interviewed as part of the application process. She can't really put her finger on why. When strange things start to happen, the dean has to wonder if bringing Ash to Goode was a good idea.
What I'm Lookin' Forward to in 2020
I have already received a few ARCs that are sure to keep my busy at least the first half of the year. My bookish resolution is to whittle down my ARC pile as much as I can.
Here are a few titles I'm looking forward to.
A Love Hate Thing by Whitney Grandison
Tweet Cute by Emma Lord
The Look-Alike by Erica Spindler
A Favor for a Favor by Helena Hunting
Things in Jars by Jess Kidd
Been There, Married That by Gigi Levangie Grazer
You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen
The Red Lotus by Chris Bohjalian
Strike Me Down by Mindy Mejia
The New Husband by D.J. Palmer
Home Before Dark by Riley Sager
**Click book covers above to pre-order these titles**
Looks like 2020 is going to start with a bang. I hope to keep you all intrigued with upcoming posts. I plan to do a Throwback Thursday post twice a month to show you my favorite books over the past decade. More Winning Wednesday posts and of course as many reviews as I can.
I thank you all for spending a part of your year with me and I wish you all a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!!
To learn more about my favorites from this year or to order them, click the book covers below:
