Best Books You've Read In 2017 So Far 

brought to you by: the broke and the bookish

1. Serafina and the Splintered Heart by Robert Beatty:

Third book in his Serafina series. Great middle grade read an adult can enjoy. I loved the first two books and the third one was just as amazing. 

2. Attachments by Rainbow Rowell: 

I’ve never read a Rainbow Rowell book and my friend recommended this book to me. It was a fun fast read which are the best kind of beach reads. Perfect for my weekend on the lake. 

3. Mischief and Manors by Ashton Newbold: 

My daughter and I picked this book up before a vacation and we each read it in the same day. I started it in the morning and couldn’t put it down and she started in the afternoon and read till bedtime. If you liked Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson you would enjoy this book. Loved it!!!!

4. Wrath of the Storm by Jennifer A. Nielsen:

The conclusion to the Mark of a Thief trilogy. Another great middle grade read. We love this author at our house. She is a local author so we have had the opportunity to meet her a couple of times. My daughters are always inspired by her speeches. She gives great advice to aspiring writers plus her books are amazing. We highly recommend anything she has written. 

5. A Fine Gentleman by Sarah M. Eden

Another local author we have had the chance of meeting. We love her Jonquill series and this book is #4. My daughters loved the character Mariposa. 

6. Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullally Hunt

One of my favorite middle grade reads this year. Her first book One for the Murphy’s is worth checking out too.

7. A Stranger at Fellsworth by Sarah L. Ladd: 

The third book in the Treasures of Surrey series.

8. Caraval by Stephanie Garber:

 My sister bought this book for my birthday. I enjoyed it. I didn’t realize that is was going to be a series so the ending was a bit disappointing but it was  a very entertaining book. 

9. Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson 

I read this is one sitting and then immediately begged my daughters to read it so I could talk to someone about it. Such a great book. 

10. A Man Called Ove by Fredrick Backman

 I read this on the plane home from Tennessee and wanted to share it with everyone. I’m not sure I’ll watch the movie because sometimes movies ruin a really great book for me. I think I want to remember it just the way I read it. 

Top Ten Series I've Been Meaning To Start But Haven't 

                                          brought to you by: the broke and the bookish

1. Razorland series by Ann Aguirre 

2. Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi: My niece loved this series. 

3.  The Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan: I read the Percy Jacksons series but when this series came out I said I was going to wait until he was finished with the whole series. He finished them and started two other series. I am falling far behind. 

4. The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan: My dad has been recommending this series for years. The good thing is it that the series is complete. 

5. A Song of Ice and Fire (aka A Game of Thrones) by: My friends have recommended this series. I bought the first book but something keeps holding me back from reading them. 

Series I need to finish

6. The Winner's Trilogy by Marie Rutkoski : I read the first book right when it came out and loved it but didn’t finish the series. 

7. The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting: Another series where I just read the first book. 

8. The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer: I haven’t read Winter. I think I just loved this series too much that reading the last book is going to be sad. My sister is still upset that I haven't finished the series yet. 

9. John Clever by Dan Wells The first two books creeped me out just a little bit so I promised I would read the other books when he finished the series. Today is the release date for his finale.  I well make sure to read these during the day in a well lit area.

10.The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher: I actually enjoyed the first book in this series. One day I need to finish them all. I think the series is up to 18 books now. Yikes! 

Top Ten Books I’ve recently added to my TBR list

brought to you by: the broke and the bookish

1. The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden 

A Russian fairy tale retelling so I’m definitely in. I can’t wait to read it. 

2. No book cover yet but the new book by Susanna Kearsley I can’t wait to read it. 

Bellewether

3. The Black Prism by Brent Weeks

Some of my friends have been talking about the new book in this series and it seems good so I need to start at the beginning.

4. Lucky in Love by Kasie West

She is always a buy for me. My girls can’t wait for this to come out. 

5. By Your Side by Kasie West

Can’t wait!!!!!

6. An Uncommon Courtship by Kristi Ann Hunter

I’ve loved her other three books and have already preordered this one. My girls are already fighting on which one of us gets to read it first. 

7.  A Stranger at Fellsworth by Sarah E. Ladd

This is another author I preorder every book. If you like historical fiction definitely give Sarah Ladd a chance. She is amazing. 

8. Pip Bartlett’s Guide to Unicorn Training by Jackson Pearce and Maggie Stiefvater

My little book club girls loved the first book and we’ve been waiting for this one. 

9. The Name They Gave Us by Emery Lord

I wasn’t a big fan of her last novel but I think I’ll try reading this one. 

10. The Row by J.R. Johansson: I recently went to a Kassie West book signing and this author was there. She was so funny that I hope her books have a little of her humor since they are slightly scarier books. 

Top Ten Tuesday:

Ten Books On My Spring TBR

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Jeni’s Picks

1.Winners Kiss by Marie Rutkoski: I feel like I’ve been waiting forever to read this book. March 29th can’t come fast enough. 

2. Shadow in the Sea by Shiela Nielsen: This was meant to be a Winter read but I needed a gift for a good friend and new she would love this so I gave it away before I read it and promised myself I’d buy another copy. 

3.My fair Gentleman by Nancy Campbell Allen: My friend recommended this to me because I love historical fiction. It is supposedly a twist on My Fair Lady.

4.The Lost Kingdom by Matthew Kirby: 

Matthew Kirby is a middle grade author and I’ve loved all his other books. Somehow I forgot to read this one. 

5 Summerlost by Ally Condie: Her first middle grade book. 

I’m going to the book launch with my girls. 

6.Grave Visions by Kalyna Price: This is the 4th book in the Alex Craft novels and it has been one heck of a wait. I got so tired of checking when it would be out that I didn’t realize it was released. 

7.Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman: I bought this book when it came out and put it on my bedside table. I need to read it. 

8. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls: My friends can’t believe that I haven’t read this book. I promised I would read it this month. 

9.Swan and Shadow by Kaki Olsen: A Swan lake retelling. 

10. Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty: My daughter just finished this and loved it. She is begging me to read it so she can discuss it with someone. 

 Ten Books To Read If You Are In The Mood For 

Historical Fiction Romance

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Jeni's Picks:

1. The Painters Daughter by  Julie Klassen

2. Lady Maybe by  Julie Klaassen

3. Becoming Lady Lockwood by  Jennifer Moore

4. Out of Ashes by Alicia Buck: This is a cinderella retelling. 

5. Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson

6. Friends and Foes by Sarah M. Eden

7. A Desperate Fortune by Susanna Kearsley: This one is set in two time periods, now and the late 1700’s. 

8. The Curiosity keeper by Sarah E. Ladd 

9. Prelude for a Lord by Camille Elliot

10. A Heart Revealed by Josi S. Kilpack

Top Ten Tuesday Books We love to Recommend

brought to you by: the broke and the bookish

Jeni's Picks:

Historical Fiction Lovers: 

1. Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson: This book makes my all time favorite books. I’ve reread so many times. If I’m in a reading slump this is my go to book. 

2.The Painter’s Daughter by Julie Klassen: Okay I actually recommend all her books. She is my favorite writer in this genre. I preorder every book. 

YA Contemporary

3. If I Stay by Gayle Forman: This book sat on my shelf for a long time before I finally picked it up to read. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it. 

4. The Only Alien on the Planet by Kristen Randle: This is a book that needs more attention. It is seriously a great read. If I know teenager that likes to read I buy them this book. 

YA Paranormal

5. Hex Hall Series by Rachel Hawkins: This is a fun series. My sister and I recommend it a lot. 

Urban Fantasy

6. Mercy Thompson Series Patricia Briggs: My sister Emily introduced me to this series a couple years ago and I loved it. 

7. Written in Red by Anne Bishop: The world building in this book was amazing. I highly recommend it. 

Fantasy

8. Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson: I'm not a hug fantasy reader but I do venture into this genre every once in awhile. My dad and sister recommended this series. I recommend this book to reluctant fantasy readers all the time. 

9. The Green Rider by Kristen Britain: Another great fantasy series. The only problem with this one is that Kristen Britain writes slow. So if you have a hard time waiting for the next book. I recommend to wait until she is done with the series because she has some crazy cliff hangers that will drive you crazy.

Non Fiction
10. Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand: If you like stories of survival and WWII this book is perfect for you. If you haven't already read it:) The movie was okay but the book was definitely 5 stars.

Top Ten Tuesday: Books Recently Added to ourTBR List

brought to you by: the broke and the bookish

Jeni's Picks: I host a book club for girls 8-12 so many of my recently TBR are middle grades. 

Emily's Picks