Top 20 Books of 2024!

2024 was an amazing year for books! I laughed.. I cried.. I got so angry I wanted to throw my kindle across the room.. I let out a lot of dreamy sighs.. and I loved every minute of it! I found new authors that I absolutely adore and wait with great anticipation for their next book baby to be released! I was able to read over 100 books and I finished BOTH of my Reading Challenges!

Before I look ahead to the New Year and new books, I thought I would pay tribute to some of these favorites that I fell in love with in 2024. I decided to put the books in alphabetical since there is no way I'd ever be able to rank them. I just love them all way too much! 

So... without further ado... here are my TOP 20 of 2024!

What are some of your favorites of 2024?

Beauty and the Beach by Gracie Ruth Mitchell

Synopsis:

Phoenix Park is the man I fantasize about...hitting with my car, that is.

He's rich. He's sexy. He's the absolute worst. But after I fall prey to an internet scam and lose every last penny in my account (please don’t ask), it’s Phoenix who swoops in with an offer I can’t refuse. I’ll marry him for the summer so he can inherit the family company from his dying grandmother, and in return, he’ll drop a hefty sum of money into my bank account.

Buy me a pair of sweatpants with GOLD DIGGER across the butt, because I’m just desperate enough to agree.

Our arrangement is only supposed to be for a few months, until Phoenix’s poor grandmother passes. I can pretend for that long. I can stop insulting him long enough to force a few smiles and some lovey-dovey glances. But with every touch we share, with every kiss we fake, I find the walls around my heart beginning to crack—letting in feelings I'm not prepared for.

And when Phoenix’s grandmother makes a miraculous recovery, leaving us stuck indefinitely in this charade of holy matrimony? That’s when I know I’m really in trouble.

My Review: 5 Stars!

Hi! It's me! Late to the party again! Why do I always do this to myself? Why do I always wait so long to read amazing books?! Why?! I just don't get it! *le sigh* I guess it's better late than never, right?!

Now. Raise your hand if you're like me and haven't read this book yet. You? And you? Yes.. I see you. Now come here. It's okay. But I want you to do me a favor. Stop reading my review, right now, and run, don't walk, over to Amazon and grab this book. Trust me! You don't really need to read my review. You really need to read this book. My review can wait. I promise! Now hurry! Go... go... go! You can thank me later! 

*deep breath* Crisis adverted. *whew* 

Y'all. I don't even know where to begin with this review. It has everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, that I crave and adore in books! I know I've done this in a few reviews but I just have to let you know why this is a MUST read! All the feels? ✓ Swoony? ✓ Lots of kisses? ✓ Giggled/laughed out loud? ✓ Let out all the little dreamy sighs? ✓ Witty Banter? ✓ Sweet moments between characters? ✓ Counted down the minutes until I could pick the book back up? ✓

I honestly could not get enough of Holland and Phoenix. These two quickly stole my heart and I was invested from the very beginning. I kept reaching out to bookish friends at various stages of the book because I just could NOT with these two! Let's just say there's a fine line between hate and love and these two were definitely straddling that line. Their chemistry was off the charts! Their first kiss? WOWZERS! All I can say is sit down, buckle up, and enjoy the rollercoaster ride called Holland and Phoenix! And let me just tell you... what a wild ride it was! *dreamy sigh*

Ms. Mitchell has definitely earned her spot on my favorite authors list. I have loved every single book of hers I've read so far and can't wait to read the rest. Any author who can kidnap me and hold me hostage until the end of their book and then makes me want to read it all over again is a definite keeper! If you haven't read any of her books yet, I highly recommend that you grab one today! You can thank me later. 

And now... my casting... y'all. I. Am. In. LOVE! What do you think?! 

2024 Swoony Award Winners

2024 has been an AMAZING year for The Swoony Awards! With almost 700 books nominated and thousands of voters per round, we are in awe of all your continued support. We LOVED seeing all the posts by authors and readers alike, promoting all these wonderful books we all love so much! We wouldn't be able to do this with out all of you! 

And now, without further ado, here are the 2024 SWOONY AWARD WINNERS!

BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

Falling in Line by Kasey Stockton

BEST CELEBRITY ROMANCE

One Happy Summer by Becky Monson

BEST CHRISTMAS ROMANCE

Season's Schemings by Katie Bailey

BEST CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

Falling in Line by Kasey Stockton

BEST CONTEMPORARY YA

Goalies Don't Date Ice Princesses by Clara Nielsen

BEST DEBUT AUTHOR

Tested by Sarah Carlisle

BEST FAIRYTALE ROMANCE

The Abandoned Princess by Melanie Cellier

BEST HIGH FANTASY ROMANCE

Mountain of Dragon and Sacrifice by Tara Grayce

BEST HISTROICAL ROMANCE

A Provincial Peer by Sian Ann Bessey

BEST REGENCY ROMANCE

To Charm a Lady by Joanna Barker

BEST ROMANTIC COMEDY

Rebel Summer by Cindy Steel

BEST ROMANTIC SUSPENSE

Disconnect by Traci Hunter Abramson

BEST ROYAL ROMANCE

The Backup Princess by Kate O'Keeffe

BEST SPORTS ROMANCE

My Lucky Charm by Courtney Walsh

BEST SPY ROMCOM

The Spy Who Ghosted Me by Jennifer Peel

BEST URBAN FANTASY ROMANCE

The Lies of Vampires and Slayers by K.M. Shea

BEST VICTORIAN ROMANCE

There Goes the Groom by Esther Hatch

KATHY'S CHOICE - HOST AWARD

A Tribute of Fire by Sariah Wilson

KATIE'S CHOICE - HOST AWARD

Miles Bailey Gets Down On One Knee by Jen Atkinson

KJ'S CHOICE - HOST AWARD

The Relationship Clause by Emily Evermore

HEIDI'S CHOICE - HOST AWARD

A Proper Facade by Esther Hatch

We wanted to thank everyone for participating this year, especially to all the authors who wrote such amazing books for us to enjoy! 

My Lucky Charm by Courtney Walsh

 

Synopsis:

A humiliating break-up leads to an impulsive New Year’s Kiss with a complete stranger.
What could possibly go wrong?

It’s no secret that I love life. And Dr. Pepper. But also, I love a challenge. . .

So when the coach of the Chicago Comets gives me the opportunity to help their star player, newly traded to their team, acclimate to life in Chicago, I'm all in.

I have to be. After my last job went up in flames, I have something to prove.

It turns out that the player, Grayson Hawke, is the rudest, most off-putting, reclusive guy I’ve ever met.

It also turns out that he is the beautiful stranger I kissed on New Year’s Eve.

I can do this job. I can do this job. I can do this job.

And I can. Really well.

I can make Gray’s life easier, show him all the reasons to fall in love with this city, and in the process, hopefully completely forget that the amazing kiss ever happened.

How hard can it be? We’re total opposites anyway.

I love people . . . and all their stories. Gray loves hockey . . . and nothing else.

I love to talk. Gray only stares.

I’m happy-go-lucky. Gray’s all work and no play.

There’s just one problem. The more time I spend with Grayson Hawke, the more I start to see that underneath his bristly, standoffish exterior, he’s nothing like the man everyone thinks he is.

And suddenly, all the reasons for keeping my distance, staying professional, and not falling for someone again. . . are impossible to remember.

My Review: 5 Stars

Y'all. I am a sucker for a grumpy/sunshine love story. I don't know why but they just make me happy. And this one did not disappoint! 

If I had to describe this book in one word it would be AMAZING! From the moment I picked it up, I was transported back to Loveland where I lived and breathed all things Eloise and Gray. Their journey was full of ups and downs. It was heartachingly beautiful and had me feeling all the feels, while letting out all the dreamy little sighs. I will admit that I was extremely frustrated with Gray at times. I may or may not have wanted to Gibbs slap him a time or two. But in the end, he realized what he wanted, needed, and deserved, and set about getting his HEA with the phenomenal woman who was made just for him. 

I hardly ever read reviews or descriptions any more so it was fun to discover a little surprise by the name of Scarlett (with two t's) in the story. Y'all. That sweet, sassy little girl stole my heart the moment she entered the picture. I loved seeing her with not only Gray, but with Eloise as well. Their bonds were precious. 

I loved seeing old friends and meeting new ones. Side characters are seriously my jam. They just make the book that much better. I can't wait to get my hands on Raya's book. Y'all. She is one tough cookie and I have a feeling her story is going to be the most emotional one out of the Hart sisters. It's going to take someone pretty special to sweep that girl off her feet. 

Can someone please tell me why I've waited so long to read Ms. Walsh's books? Like seriously. Why have I waited? Her books are what I crave when it comes to reading. She's quickly becoming a favorite of mine. I can't wait to read more by her!

And we all know that I can't forget my casting. Again, I am in love with these two! What do you think?

My Phony Valentine by Courtney Walsh

Synopsis:

A chance meeting. A hunky hockey player. A fake romance.
Hardly an ordinary day in the life of Poppy Hart.

My days usually consist of agonizing over my failing restaurant, worrying about my mountain of debt and nursing my broken heart.

Everything changes when I bump into a man in the coffee shop and claim him as my new boyfriend. To my absolute horror, he turns out to be hockey’s most renowned bad boy, Dallas Burke. To my absolute delight, he goes along with my story.

When his no-nonsense manager and meddling grandmother jump in the picture, they see a win-win solution for my failing restaurant and Dallas’s less-than-stellar reputation.

A full-fledged fake romance complete with contract negotiations, pretend dates and phony PDA.

But as I get to know the real Dallas Burke, who is not the man the press says he is, it becomes clear that if this isn’t real. . . someone better tell it to my heart.

My Review: 5 Stars

Oh my heart! Guys... get ready for all the feels in this one! And I mean All. The. Feels! Once I started this book, there was no turning back. I was hooked!

Poppy and Dallas are perfection! Oh how I adored these two! I loved watching their relationship grow from friendship into love. I quickly fell in love with these two and found myself rooting them on from the very beginning. They both had things in their past that haunted them and held them back from finding love. But if ever two souls belonged together, it would be these two. They balanced each other out and were there for each other during the hard times. Their HEA was absolutely beautiful!

Now lets take a moment to discuss the off the charts chemistry and swoony kisses. YOWZERS! It was hot, hot, hot! I may or may not have turned into a big ol' pile of ooey gooey goodness. This girl had all the heart eyes and dreamy sighs for all things Poppy and Dallas. I seriously did not want this book to end! 

Y'all know how much I love me some amazing side characters and this book was full of them! Gram was probably my favorite. I loved her feistiness. She had me rolling at times. Everyone needs a Gram in their life! I also adored the relationship Poppy had with her sisters. I can't wait to read their stories! 

This is my first book by Ms. Walsh and it definitely won't be my last. I was so engrossed in the book that I didn't even realize I was doing the same thing the characters were doing. I found myself getting teary-eyed, laughing out loud, giggling, and letting out all kinds of little dreamy sighs. I love when an author can make me feel like I am right there with the characters, listening to them tell me their story. And she had me doing just that. I can't wait to dive into more of her books! 

As for my casting. Y'all. I just can't with how much I love these two! What do you think? 

Covert Mission by Rebecca Deel

Synopsis:

Brutally attacked and left for dead was not the way second-generation cop Seth Dixon wanted to start his day. When he's set up for the murder of his confidential informant, Seth figures his chances of scoring a date with his beautiful running partner are slim to none.

After discovering the murder is connected to a deadly militia brewing big plans, the Feds ask Seth to infiltrate the group. His partner is none other than the woman who stars in his dreams, the mysterious Teagan.

Tasked with unraveling a conspiracy leading to the nation's capital, Seth plays a deadly game of cat and mouse with men who will stop at nothing to achieve their goals. Protecting Teagan and preventing an assassination become the most important missions of his life. Failure will be fatal.

Fortress Security operative Teagan Paloni thought she left the past behind, but some shadows refuse to stay buried. After spending years rebuilding her life, she plunges into the depths of her worst nightmare to protect the man she loves. With the stakes higher than ever, Teagan must defeat her demons and foil a plot to throw the country into chaos. One misstep, and Teagan will lose everything, including the man with whom she longs to build a life.

My Review: 5 Stars!

Confession. I was scared to death to start this book. With an all female Black Ops group who blends into the shadows and are considered myths within Fortress Security, my mind could only see them with heroes who were just as tough as them. I could not see them with a principle. It just would not have worked in my eyes. 

After hinting that Teagan had something going on with another operative that never came to fruition, I was kind of disappointed and felt she got gypped. But then I met Seth. 

Y'all. That man perfectly matched who Teagan needed in her life. I fell in love with the way he loved her, the way he treated her, the way he protected her, the way he lifted her up and promised to always be there for her. And Teagan was the same way with him. Their relationship was perfectly balanced. They strengthened each other and were just better together. I seriously loved all things Teagan and Seth! 

One of the things I enjoy about the Fortress Universe is getting to see and catch up with old friends. I loved seeing Phantom, Zane and Brent. I also loved meeting new characters. Seth's team were pivotal in this book and I think they would make a great addition to the Fortress Universe. IYKYK.

Ms. Deel's books have been hit or miss for me this year. If I'm being honest, more misses than hits. But this one was most definitely a hit! I was sucked in from the very beginning and could not put this book down. I absolutely loved it and finished it in less than a day. This book is a prime example of why Ms. Deel is a favorite of mine. I can't wait to see what happens next!

As for my casting, these two are all me and I am absolutely in love with them! What do you think?