“I took hold of that scourge -filled ship and crushed it between my limbs, hurtling it into the second sun, the red one that gave me strength. But I was too late." Terraformer
It’s that time of year when I celebrate a milestone. Not only have I published two books this year, my 8th and 9th, but I have two coming in 2018. Tiger’s Dream is finally coming in March and then in the fall, my retelling of the headless horseman story, The Lantern’s Ember, my 11th book, will be released on September 11th.
2017 was a good year!
2018 will be even better!
As cool as that is, it’s not the milestone I’m talking about. For the first time ever, I met my Goodreads goal of reading 125 books! I read 100 in 2015 and 2016 but I decided to push myself and I’m so proud to accomplish that goal. It was a tough one and I think 125 is going to end up being my max. I wish I could do more! There’s not enough time to read all the books on my wish list.
For those of you looking for a last minute gift, here are my picks for best reads of the year. Now, understand, some of these books were not released in 2017. It just happens that I read them this year. I’ve got four lists for you-Book Boyfriends, Cover Love, Best Reads, and my TBR list for next year.
BOOK BOYFRIENDS
If you, like me, enjoy reading swoonworthy guys, here are my picks this year. My list includes:
Deven from POISON’S KISS by Breeana Shields
Rafael from DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY by Brodi Ashton
Elijah from HOW TO HANG A WITCH by Adriana Mather
Kadesh from FORBIDDEN by Kimberley Little
Sebastian from THE WISH GRANTER by C. J. Redwine
Dane from BLOOD AND SALT by Kim Liggett
Zane from THE THIRD TWIN by CJ Omololu
Prince Christian from PRINCESS OF GLASS by Jessica Day George
Mathias from ZODIAC by Romina Russell
Riley from LEGION by Julie Kagawa
BOOK COVERS
DARK BREAKS THE DAWN by Sara B. Larson
RISE OF FIRE by Sophie Jordan
POISON’S KISS by Breeana Shields
A CROWN OF WISHES by Roshani Chokshi
RETRIBUTION RAILS by Erin Bowman
LONG MAY SHE REIGN by Rhiannon Thomas
THE CONJURER’S RIDDLE by Andrea Cremer
FLAME IN THE MIST by Renee Ahdieh
THE THOUSANDTH FLOOR by Katharine Mcgee
THE LAST MAGICIAN by Lisa Maxwell
MY FAVORITE READS OF 2017
THE WINNER’S CURSE by Marie Rutkoski
DARK BREAKS THE DAWN by Sara B. Larson
SALT TO THE SEA by Ruta Sepetys
RETRIBUTION RAILS by Erin Bowman
POISON’S KISS by Breeana Shields
PAWN by Aimee Carter
HEARTLESS by Marissa Meyer
FLAME IN THE MIST by Renee Ahdieh
THE WISH GRANTER by C. J. Redwine
THE QUEEN OF BLOOD by Sarah Beth Durst
MY PLAIN JANE by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows
REAPER AT THE GATES by Sabaa Tahir
REIGN THE EARTH by A. C. Gaugen
DANCE OF THIEVES by Mary E. Pearson
LEGENDARY by Stephanie Garber
INFERNO by Julie Kagawa
EVERLESS by Sara Holland
THE TRAITOR PRINCE by C. J. Redwine
POISON’S CAGE by Breeana Shields
RESTORE ME by Tahereh Mafi
SKY IN THE DEEP by Adrienne Young
GUNSLINGER GIRL by Lyndsay Ely
SHATTER by Aprilynne Pike
THE FATES DIVIDE by Veronica Roth
THE QUEEN OF SORROW by Sarah Beth Durst
OBSIDIO by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
THE BELLES by Dhonielle Clayton
ASH PRINCESS by Laura Sebastian
UNEARTHED by Aime Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
CONTAGION by Erin Bowman
These are just the first twenty I’ve found but, rest assured, I have a lot more books on my TBR list than just these.
I am very much looking forward to 2018 and I hope you are too. Give the gift of reading this season and don’t forget, the best present you can give an author is a review and adding their next book to your “to be read” pile. It costs nothing but it means so much.
Have a happy and safe holiday season. Love and hugs to you all!
Colleen
This entry was posted in Featuring Authors, Top Ten Lists.
New York Times Bestselling author Colleen Houck is a lifelong reader whose literary interests include action, adventure, paranormal, science fiction, and romance. When she's not busy writing, she likes to spend time chatting on the phone with one of her six siblings, watching plays, and shopping online. Colleen has lived in Arizona, Idaho, Utah, California, and North Carolina and is now permanently settled in Salem, Oregon with her husband and a huge assortment of plush tigers.