There are many reasons why these books made it into the top 5; they were ugly cries that made a difference to me (Bright Side), a continuation of my favorite series and so wonderful (Undeniably Chosen), another ugly cry that I couldn't forget about the first time I read it so I read it again (Taking Chances), a book that really made me think about myself (Is This Me?), and two books of a series that got me to like paranormal (Turn of the Moon and Resisting the Moon).
1. Bright Side by Kim Holden
Blurb
Secrets.
Everyone has one.
Some are bigger than others.
And when secrets are revealed,
Some will heal you ...
And some will end you.
Kate Sedgwick’s life has been anything but typical. She’s endured hardship and tragedy, but throughout it all she remains happy and optimistic (there’s a reason her best friend Gus calls her Bright Side). Kate is strong-willed, funny, smart, and musically gifted. She’s also never believed in love. So when Kate leaves San Diego to attend college in the small town of Grant, Minnesota, the last thing she expects is to fall in love with Keller Banks.
They both feel it.
But they each have a reason to fight it.
They each have a secret.
And when secrets are revealed,
Some will heal you …
And some will end you.
Everyone has one.
Some are bigger than others.
And when secrets are revealed,
Some will heal you ...
And some will end you.
Kate Sedgwick’s life has been anything but typical. She’s endured hardship and tragedy, but throughout it all she remains happy and optimistic (there’s a reason her best friend Gus calls her Bright Side). Kate is strong-willed, funny, smart, and musically gifted. She’s also never believed in love. So when Kate leaves San Diego to attend college in the small town of Grant, Minnesota, the last thing she expects is to fall in love with Keller Banks.
They both feel it.
But they each have a reason to fight it.
They each have a secret.
And when secrets are revealed,
Some will heal you …
And some will end you.
If you've already read Bright Side, did you know that Gus has his own story? I have yet to read it, but I've heard great things about Gus. I got to meet Kim Holden at UtopYA and got many pictures with her.
2. Undeniably Chosen by Shelly Crane
Blurb
Ava has watched her parents,
Caleb and Maggie, live the perfect fairy tale, the perfect love story, played
out in front of her eyes her entire life. Her family is love, life, and
happiness. The Jacobsons are everything a family should be and Ava is loved and
well taken care of. But the one thing that’s missing from her life is the one
thing she’s waited for every day, the one thing her kind knows will make them
complete, the one thing they thought was gone and lost forever.
Her significant.
Seth has lived with the Watsons his entire life. They’re the only family he knows, but he knows that there are things they keep from him. He knows that they lie and they do unspeakable evil, things from when he was a child that he can barely remember that cling to the edges of his memory. He barely remembers his real mother and all he knows is what he’s told. He doesn’t know what to trust. He wants to believe that the Watsons love and care for him, have his best interest at heart, but isn’t so sure of that anymore when he finally—after a lifetime of waiting for her—meets his soulmate, and the Watson’s first act is to try to take her away from him.
The Virtuoso worlds collide, hearts are exposed, humans are endangered, and the lives of Seth and Ava are changed forever. They’ll have to love without judgment or reservation, they’ll have to be wise and accepting beyond their years, they’ll have to forgive for things before they’ve even happened, they’ll have to trust without seeing, have faith without knowing, and they’ll have to light their own way in the dark when everyone else is blind to show them the way. And more than anything else… they’ll fight like hell to keep each other.
Her significant.
Seth has lived with the Watsons his entire life. They’re the only family he knows, but he knows that there are things they keep from him. He knows that they lie and they do unspeakable evil, things from when he was a child that he can barely remember that cling to the edges of his memory. He barely remembers his real mother and all he knows is what he’s told. He doesn’t know what to trust. He wants to believe that the Watsons love and care for him, have his best interest at heart, but isn’t so sure of that anymore when he finally—after a lifetime of waiting for her—meets his soulmate, and the Watson’s first act is to try to take her away from him.
The Virtuoso worlds collide, hearts are exposed, humans are endangered, and the lives of Seth and Ava are changed forever. They’ll have to love without judgment or reservation, they’ll have to be wise and accepting beyond their years, they’ll have to forgive for things before they’ve even happened, they’ll have to trust without seeing, have faith without knowing, and they’ll have to light their own way in the dark when everyone else is blind to show them the way. And more than anything else… they’ll fight like hell to keep each other.
3. Is This Me? By Tricia Copeland
Blurb
Have you ever chosen a path that
led you astray?
Amanda has no trouble choosing a college or picking a major. What she does have a problem with is what she would have least expected, a guy. Smart and sexy, Doug is focused on school responsibilities and post-graduation plans. Their paths intersect and Amanda must accept his help or risk losing her scholarship. Determined to maintain appearances, Amanda begins to lie to family and friends. The ease at which she repeatedly deceives those closest becomes disturbing and leaves her questioning: “Is this me?”
Can Amanda find her way out of her contrived world?
Amanda has no trouble choosing a college or picking a major. What she does have a problem with is what she would have least expected, a guy. Smart and sexy, Doug is focused on school responsibilities and post-graduation plans. Their paths intersect and Amanda must accept his help or risk losing her scholarship. Determined to maintain appearances, Amanda begins to lie to family and friends. The ease at which she repeatedly deceives those closest becomes disturbing and leaves her questioning: “Is this me?”
Can Amanda find her way out of her contrived world?
Following Is This Me? is If I Could Fly which released in November, I am currently reading this book.
I got to meet Tricia Copeland at UtopYA, but unfortunately, I did not get a picture with her (I can't believe that!).
4. Taking Chances by Molly McAdams
Blurb
Her first year away is
turning out to be nearly perfect, but one weekend of giving in to heated
passion will change everything.Eighteen-year-old Harper has grown up under the thumb of her career marine father. Ready to live life her own way and to experience things she's only ever heard of from the jarheads in her father's unit, she's on her way to college at San Diego State University.
Thanks to her new roommate, Harper is introduced to a world of parties, gorgeous guys, family, and emotions. She finds herself being torn in two as she quickly falls in love with both her new boyfriend, Brandon, and her roommate's brother, Chase. Despite their dangerous looks and histories, both men adore Harper and would do anything for her, including taking a step back if it would mean she'd be happy.
Well, I finally read Stealing Harper as one of my last books of 2015 on 12/30-12/31. Just like when reading Taking Chances, I had tears. I finished Stealing Harper at 1:20 in the morning and even messaged Molly McAdams that I had finally read it and was crying. So I am adding the blurb and cover for Stealing Harper.
Stealing Harper
Blurb
This is Chase's POV from Taking Chances.Chase Grayson has never been interested in having a relationship that lasts longer than it takes for him and his date to get dressed again. But then he stumbles into a gray-eyed girl whose innocence pours off her, and everything changes. From the minute Harper opens her mouth to let him know just how much he disgusts her, he's hooked.
But a princess deserves a Prince Charming who can make her dreams come true. Not a guy who can turn her life into a nightmare.
All good intentions go out the window when Harper starts to fall for the guy Chase has come to view as a brother. He wanted to protect her by keeping her away, but he can't stand to see her with anyone else, and he'll do anything to make her his. But when it comes down to Harper choosing between the two, will Chase have the strength to step back from the girl who has become his whole world if it means she's happy?
Lines will be crossed. Friendships will be put to the test. And hearts will be shattered.
CAUTION: DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE NOT READ TAKING CHANCES
5. Royal Shifters by LP Dover
Turn of the Moon (Book #1)
Blurb
One girl. Two wolves. Promised
to one. Destined for the other. To escape the cruel, overbearing, Kade, the Yukon Pack alpha she’s been promised to, Bailey Whitehill flees her home in search of a new life, one of freedom where she can make her own choices. However, Kade will stop at nothing to make her his and begins the hunt.
As Bailey starts her new life, everything she’s known to be true, is not. Time is of the essence and choices have to be made or consequences suffered. Not only does Bailey fear Kade, but another danger lurks deep in the recesses of the forest. Unbeknownst to her, that danger is what she’s been searching for all along. At the turn of the moon, her fate hangs in the balance . . . and it’s up to her to make the right choice.
Resisting the Moon (Book #2)
Blurb
The past was pain. The present unclear.
For Tyla Rand, her future couldn’t be bleaker. Death follows her everywhere, especially to those she loves. Being a member of the royal pack, she believes her time of happiness will come. That is, until wolves from her old pack show up missing. Her mission is to find them, but she won’t be going alone.
Sebastian Lyall, a true born royal and the one man Tyla loathes, has offered to help in her quest. Their journey not only brings out their true desires, but attracts the attention of another, someone from Tyla’s past. However, nothing is as it seems. Death is not done with her and now he wants her to pay. He won’t be satisfied until he’s taken everything away . . . including those she loves.
There you go! All of my top reads in 2015 in 6 posts. Here is the banner I made with almost all of the covers on it.
