I didn’t get to do a great deal of reading in 2017, but here’s a quick run-down of my favorites from the books I did manage to read this year!
White Hot and Wildfire by Ilona Andrews
If I had to describe the Hidden Legacy series in one go, it would go something like this: crackling chemistry between leads, and super-crafted suspense plot. This is how Urban Fantasy should be written, no questions about it. The husband and wife team writing these books also know how to write some great secondary characters and give them enough backstory to turn them into real three dimensional characters, not just sidekicks. I waited a really long while for White Hot and Wildfire after Burn for Me – nearly three years. Both books came out in 2017 back-to-back, so that helped in relieving the book angst!
Nevada, the central character, comes across as snarky, curvy, loyal, warm and is slowly developing into superhero and powerful head of her own house. Mad Rogan comes across as brash, volatile, and super cunning – but his remote control is, of course, in Nevada’s hands. Enough said.
Buy Now: (White Hot) A/BN/iB/K
Buy Now: (Wildfire) A/BN/iB/K
The Queen and the Cure by Amy Harmon
My preferred genre is traditional fantasy romance, and in the recent years, it’s become a bit difficult to find books in this genre that are really worth their salt. The Queen and the Cure is one such book, however. It’s set in the same universe as Harmon’s earlier The Bird and the Sword, but can be read as a standalone. A slave girl with the seer’s touch has lost hold of her memories and history, and is then saved from certain death by a soldier with the healing gift. But this is just the first layer of the plot, as events transcend into more complexity, and soon the rise and fall of kingdoms is at stake. For me especially, the healer/ seer trope is like catnip, and this one thrilled me to the bone – I read this book in one go and cannot recommend it enough.
Buy Now: A/BN/iB/K
A Lady’s Code of Misconduct by Meredith Duran
What Meredith Duran does best is writing about strong, flawed characters who somehow work best when paired together. The negatives of one character complements the negatives of the other, to make a positive whole, and what makes better reading than that? That’s what happens in A Lady’s Code of Misconduct too, when Jane (the orphaned desperate daughter of a once-great statesman) and a ruthless, ambitious politician lock horns – and then end up “married” to each other due to a myriad of circumstances too complicated to explain (also, plot spoilers!). This book is intense, superbly written, and was definitely my favorite historical fiction of the year.
Buy Now: A/BN/iB/K
Temporary by Sarah Mayberry and Sarina Bowen
An office romance is risky business, and romancing the client even more so. That’s what Grace discovers while temping for an Australian company to catalogue the estate and inventory of a deceased corporate moghul. In walks Callan, the relative of the deceased – and also the son of Grace’s ultimate boss – who is hell-bent on making Grace’s job difficult. It’s a difficult line to toe, to depict a believable romance between two characters whose occupations are diametrically opposed to each other. But the duo of Sarah Mayberry and Sarina Bowen keeps things bright and right, and that’s the best part about this book. You have to admire Grace as she maintains her professionalism till the end, even if love does get in the way. Highly recommended for fans of contemporary romance.
Buy Now: A/BN/iB/K
Aspiring pirate masquerading as a solicitor/ connoisseur of wallpapers, illustrations and quotations/ loves black ink and instrumental music/ would like to own a start-up one day/ suffers from the yo-yo syndrome from time to time.
I definitely need to pick up a Duran soon!
I really liked that Duran, which was my first foray into her works, and Temporary was so so so so good. I’m nervy about urban fantasy – and fantasy in general – but it sounds like Hidden Legacy is worth a go, so I’ll add them to the TBR for genre-stretching purposes. Thanks, Mandy!
The Hidden Legacy series made my list too. Loved those books and have read them multiple times this year as well. I’ll have to check out The Queen and the Cure. I’m always looking for new fantasy romance.
I love the Hidden Legacy series, too. It’s a toss-up which I like better: the Edge or Hidden Legacy.
I also enjoyed Amy Harmon’s book. Harmon’s (non-fantasy) WWII historical set in Italy is very good, too.
I’ve not ever read Illona Andrews and definitely feel as if I’m missing out. My niece has been reading the Kate Daniels books and loves them so much.
The Duran book made my list of best 2017 romances too. I’m so excited for her upcoming new release in February.
Seriously, give the Hidden Legacy books a shot. There are only three (which may be a plus for you). The Andrews team are in their prime as writers so you get to skip the learning curve. Their world building is deft and interesting and just plain fun. They have a really solid handle on action scenes. Secondary characters are an important part of their writing. And, they’ve even made me laugh (which is weirdly rare- I swear I have a healthy sense of humor but most books that are meant to be funny…nope).
I really, really liked the Hidden Legacy books. I think I read book one six times while waiting for two & three. For certain, YMMV but all the buzz the Andrews team gets is definitely not a fluke. Seriously, go to the library. But do not be surprised if you end up buying copies.
As to Kate Daniels- I like them but they are a commitment! Each book is great on its own but there is an overall story arc. I realize that is not to everyone’s taste.
Thanks!! It’s my goal to read them for 2018 now!
I am so not a fan of amnesia plots that the Duran didn’t float my boat as much as many of her others. That said, a Duran is a Duran!
I looooooooooove the Hidden Legacy series so much. I’ve already read it twice this year.
The Duran is on my best of 2017 list, too.