While I was not nearly as successful in my reading goal as I was last year (hides face in shame LOL ?) I did read some really amazing books this year! I found several new authors to love, new favorite books, returned to some genres that I hadn’t read in a long time, plus discovered some new ones. It was hard to narrow down my favorites, but here are my top 15 favorite reads of 2021!
**Books listed in order of when I read them.**
Sing in the Sunlight by Kathleen Denly (New-to-me Author!)
This was my first book to start and finish in 2021 and man was it good! If I were giving out superlatives to books I’ve read this year, this one would win the award for being the biggest surprise favorite. I was asked to read this book for review and really had to indea what to expect from this new-to-me author. But Sing in the Sunlight ended up completely blowing me away! I didn’t want to put it down and the story has stayed with me all year. Check out my full review HERE!
Dawn of Vengeance by Ronie Kendig
This one couldn’t not be on my favorites list! Book 1 in the Droseran Saga, Brand of Light was tied for my top read of 2020 (beside Carry Me Home by Dorothy Adamek) so I was SUPER excited to read book 2. It did not disappoint and I am anxiously–serisouly, anxiously and impatiently awaiting–book 3. Two read my review of Dawn of Vengeance, check out this LINK!
Dreamwalker by Carrie Cotten (New-to-me Author, Indie Author)
OMG I love this book so much! I was a little on the fence about reading it just because I wasn’t sure if it would be my cup of tea. But then Carrie reached out to me about reviewing book 2. I didn’t want to turn her down, so I said let me read book 1 and then I will read book 2 after that. I am SO GLAD I did because now I am obsessed with this series and once again, I need book 3 like yesterday. If you want an exciting read full of action, intrigue, adventure, romance, even some sci-fi, then read this book! HERE’s my full, gushing review!
Dark of Night by Carrie Cotten (Indie Author, New Favorite Author Status)
Book 2 in Carrie Cotten’s Dreamwalker series, which was even better than book 1–need I say more? Just go read these books and you’ll understand why I love them so. HERE is my review!
A Dance of Silver and Shadow by Melanie Cellier (New-to-me Author, Indie Author)
This was another surprising favorite. I decided to give Melanie Cellier’s fairytale retellings a try on audible and ended up listening to her entire Beyond the Four Kingdoms series (6 books in total). I really enjoyed all but one of them, but the first one was THE BEST. I was completely fascinated by it and could not stop listening. HERE is my full review!
The Nature of a Lady be Roseanna M White
At this point, it’s just a given that I’m going to love anything written by Roseanna M. White. I read three of her books this year, but this one was my favorite. It was like escaping to the Isles of Scilly themselves and going on this adventure with the characters, and I loved every second. I still think these books would make a brilliant tv series! A girl can dream, right? Check out my review HERE!
Come Back to Me by Jody Hedlund
THIS BOOK! Yet another one that I was completely obsessed with and could not put down. I started reading it on the way home from my family vacation in May and ended up reading the first half of the book on that car ride (instead of ahem working on my own book like I was supposed to be doing). It’s easily one of my favorite reads of 2021, and if you are even remotely interested in time travel books, then you have to read it. Trust me, you’ll thank me later. Check out my full review HERE!
Between the Wild Branches by Connilyn Cossette
Connilyn Cossette is another author that never disappoints me. She is so good, it’s crazy. But this book… this is her finest work yet, in my opinion. From start to finish, Between the Wild Branches kept me on my toes and gripped my heartstrings with a relentless hold. I loved the characters so much and was so sad to see their story end. If you haven’t read this book yet, you absolutely need to! Read my review HERE to understand even more of why!
Flight of the Raven by Morgan L. Busse
Until this year, it had been a while since I’d read much fantasy. But now I am finding myself gravitating towards it more and more, largely in part because of this series–The Ravenwood saga. I read book 1 last year, liked it, and wanted to read more, but felt kinda casual about the whole thing. But then I read book two and I was HOOKED. My casual like turned into all-out love and I still miss Damien and Selene. I so wish their story wasn’t over! Check out my review HERE!
Cry of the Raven by Morgan L. Busse
Book 3 and the completion of the Ravenwood Saga! It was the perfect ending to this amazing series and I couldn’t have been happier with how it all wrapped up. If you like fantasy book at all, this series is a must read! HERE is my review for Cry of the Raven!
What Remains in the Wilderness by B. R. Goodwin (Debut Author, Indie Author)
I made several new indie author friends this year and B. R. Goodwin is one of the best! I took a chance on reading her book for review, and like with my first read of the year, I ended up being very pleasantly surprised by how much I loved it. This book is short but packs a HUGE punch. I’m still not over that ending and I can’t wait for my friend to release book 2 in 2022! To read more about why I loved this book so much, check out my review HERE!
Heart in the Highlands by Heidi Kimball
The Scotish Highlands, a handsome Scottish laird, a marriage of convenience, enemies to lovers, and adorable Scottish coos?! Yeah this book is the perfect comfort, escapism read and I loved it so much! It was the SWEETEST story and I can’t recommend it to romance lovers enough! Read my full review HERE!
A Time to Seek by Tracy L. Higley (Indie Author)
I’m a sucker for any time travel book and this one has to be one of the most unique ones I’ve read. It was so much fun and kept me guessing until the end. I haven’t read book 2 yet, but I plan to have it be one of my first reads of 2022. Again, if you like time travel stories at all, you NEED to read this!!!! Read my REVIEW to better understand why!
John Eyre by Mimi Matthews
I’ve come to really enjoy Mimi Matthews clean-romance books, especially in audio form. But this one, which is a departure from her usual lighter fare, was next level good. I normally don’t get into anything to do vampires and other creepy things, but this book just sucked me in so much. I listened to it faster than I do most audiobooks and I really wouldn’t mind relistening to it, which isn’t something I would usually say. If you are a Jane Eyre fan and don’t mind the idea of a gender-flipped, gothic-style spin on it, then you should read John Eyre! Check out my review HERE!
Dearest Josephine by Caroline George (New-to-me Author)
And my FAVORITE read of 2021 goes to… Dearest Josephine by Caroline George. This is one of the most unique and enrapturing books I’ve read and my heart is still not recovered from it. It’s hard to know what to say about it that I didn’t already say in my review HERE. Just go read that LOL, and know that this book is an absolute MASTERPIECE! **all the heart eyes**
