These Are A Few Of My Favorite...Books! My Favorite Books of 2016

I wasn't going to do a top books or best of books post this year but, on a whim, I changed my mind. These aren't necessarily the best books I read this year but they are the ones I liked the best. They made me happy when I read them and they make me happy re-reading them; they call to me, stay in mind and I think about them from time to time. I've recommended and talked about them until people run and hide when they see me coming.  😁 Most, but not all, were released this year.

The links go to my reviews, some on the blog and some on goodreads.


In no particular, here are (some of) my favorite books of this year:

Rejected Princesses: Tales of History's Boldest Heroines, Hellions, and Heretics, by Jason Porath

A non-fiction book with gorgeous Disney animation style illustrations, the book is chock-full of information about women form around the world, through the ages. The style is fun, a little snarky, and chatty while being full of info. I'm still perusing the book (it's bog) but every time I read, I learn something. The world is full of some damn amazing women and Porath has collected dozens of them in this book.

The entire Search and Rescue series by Katie Ruggle

I hadn't read Ruggle before starting this series but she's got a loyal and happy reader in me now. Full of interesting and wonderful characters, I even liked some of the villains. The books were a fun mix of romance, action, humor, and strong characters. The humor and the characters are what really make the books for me.

#.5 On His Watch
#1 Hold Your Breath
#2 Fan the Flames
#3 Gone Too Deep
#4 In Safe Hands

This one's not out until next year but I was fortunate enough to get an ARC, Etched in Bone by Anne Bishop

This series is not without its problems but I am so in love with some of the characters, particularly Meg, Montgomery, Henry, and the ponies. The world building is amazing, even with all its flaws, but the  characters are the highlight. I've been skimming and re-reading some of my favorite parts. Expect a full blog review closer to its March 2017 release date.

I Ain't Gonna Paint No More! by Karen Beaumont and David Catrow

A fun, exuberant book about a child whose just gotta paint, that I've read a bazillion times to my class of toddlers. The rhyme and the pictures and the sheer joy of the child in the book make me smile every time I pick it up. I really need to get my pwn copy.

"I ain't gonna paint no more, no more. I ain't gonna paint no more. That's what I say, but there ain't no way that I ain't gonna paint no more!"

And another children's book, Dragon Was Terrible! by Kelly DiPucchio and Greg Pizzoli

I think I enjoyed this more than my children but a few of them really enjoyed it. Lots of fun and a sweet message combined with delightful artwork made this book a joy to read.

Silver Belles: An Over-40 Holiday Anthology by Sarah M. Anderson, Ros Clarke, Laura K. Curtis, Yasmine Galenorn, and Suleikha Snyder

The stories celebrate several religious winter holidays, not just Christmas, which was a huge part of the appeal for me. The other huge appeal was that the leads were all 40 0r older. They were strong, interesting characters who rated their own romances instead of being relegated to side kicks or minor characters. I enjoyed all but one of the stories; the writing styles varied and the stories were, I thought, good introductions to the different authors.

So, there you go; a peak at my favorite books for the year. Each of these books got 4 or 5 stars from me on goodreads but there are other 4 or 5 star books I read this year that didn't make the cut for one reason or another.

Have you read any of these? What did you think of them?

What were some of your favorite reads this year? Share the love!