This was a fun post to write as it had me browsing my own blog and recalling books and characters that I have read. Listed are six wonderful books I read and discovered while blogging. This list does not include Audiobooks, as I have given them their own top six posts. You can check that out tomorrow. Grab a cup of sweet tea. (yes, I like tea occasionally) and enjoy….
In no particular order here are…..
Six of My Favorite Books Read as A Book Blogger
by Rachel Caine
Series: The Great Library #1
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
In an exhilarating new series, New York Times bestselling author Rachel Caine rewrites history, creating a dangerous world where the Great Library of Alexandria has survived the test of time.…Ruthless and supremely powerful, the Great Library is now a presence in every major city, governing the flow of knowledge to the masses. Alchemy allows the Library to deliver the content of the greatest works of history instantly—but the personal ownership of books is expressly forbidden. Jess Brightwell believes in the value of the Library, but the majority of his knowledge comes from illegal books obtained by his family, who are involved in the thriving black market. Jess has been sent to be his family’s spy, but his loyalties are tested in the final months of his training to enter the Library’s service. When he inadvertently commits heresy by creating a device that could change the world, Jess discovers that those who control the Great Library believe that knowledge is more valuable than any human life—and soon both heretics and books will burn.…
Libraries, automations, brilliant characters and incredible world building have made this series a joy to read. A combination of dystopian and fantasy Caine transports us to a world in which books are banned and kept from the general populations. Read my review of INK AND BONE. Be sure to check out the other books in this series.
by Pierce Brown
Series: Red Rising #3
Source: Purchase
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
Darrow would have lived in peace, but his enemies brought him war. The Gold overlords demanded his obedience, hanged his wife, and enslaved his people. But Darrow is determined to fight back. Risking everything to transform himself and breach Gold society, Darrow has battled to survive the cutthroat rivalries that breed Society's mightiest warriors, climbed the ranks, and waited patiently to unleash the revolution that will tear the hierarchy apart from within. Finally, the time has come. But devotion to honor and hunger for vengeance run deep on both sides. Darrow and his comrades-in-arms face powerful enemies without scruple or mercy. Among them are some Darrow once considered friends. To win, Darrow will need to inspire those shackled in darkness to break their chains, unmake the world their cruel masters have built, and claim a destiny too long denied - and too glorious to surrender.
If you have been following Caffeinated you already know this is one of my favorite trilogies. I have gifted RED RISING more than any other book on the blog. Pierce takes us to Mars and introduces a brilliant dystopian world in this epic fantasy series. The world building is absolutely incredible and it was such a joy watching these characters and author evolve. This book about broke my heart and had me so invested the rest of the world slipped away. Read my review of MORNING STAR then check out the rest of the trilogy.
by Justin Cronin
Series: The Passage,
Genres: Horror, Post-Apocalyptic
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
“It happened fast. Thirty-two minutes for one world to die, another to be born.” First, the unthinkable: a security breach at a secret U.S. government facility unleashes the monstrous product of a chilling military experiment. Then, the unspeakable: a night of chaos and carnage gives way to sunrise on a nation, and ultimately a world, forever altered. All that remains for the stunned survivors is the long fight ahead and a future ruled by fear—of darkness, of death, of a fate far worse. As civilization swiftly crumbles into a primal landscape of predators and prey, two people flee in search of sanctuary. FBI agent Brad Wolgast is a good man haunted by what he’s done in the line of duty. Six-year-old orphan Amy Harper Bellafonte is a refugee from the doomed scientific project that has triggered apocalypse. He is determined to protect her from the horror set loose by her captors. But for Amy, escaping the bloody fallout is only the beginning of a much longer odyssey—spanning miles and decades—towards the time and place where she must finish what should never have begun. With The Passage, award-winning author Justin Cronin has written both a relentlessly suspenseful adventure and an epic chronicle of human endurance in the face of unprecedented catastrophe and unimaginable danger. Its inventive storytelling, masterful prose, and depth of human insight mark it as a crucial and transcendent work of modern fiction.
THE PASSAGE and the entire Passage series is simply brilliant. This trilogy is by far my favorite post-apocalyptic tale. From the characters to the horrors Cronin held me captive. Check out my review THE PASSAGE, then click here and read my thoughts on all of the books in this trilogy.
by Sally Thorne
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Heat Level:
Debut author Sally Thorne bursts on the scene with a hilarious and sexy workplace comedy all about that thin, fine line between hate and love.
Nemesis (n.) 1) An opponent or rival whom a person cannot best or overcome.
2) A person’s undoing
3) Joshua TemplemanLucy Hutton has always been certain that the nice girl can get the corner office. She’s charming and accommodating and prides herself on being loved by everyone at Bexley & Gamin. Everyone except for coldly efficient, impeccably attired, physically intimidating Joshua Templeman. And the feeling is mutual.
Trapped in a shared office together 40 (OK, 50 or 60) hours a week, they’ve become entrenched in an addictive, ridiculous never-ending game of one-upmanship. There’s the Staring Game. The Mirror Game. The HR Game. Lucy can’t let Joshua beat her at anything—especially when a huge new promotion goes up for the taking.
If Lucy wins this game, she’ll be Joshua’s boss. If she loses, she’ll resign. So why is she suddenly having steamy dreams about Joshua, and dressing for work like she’s got a hot date? After a perfectly innocent elevator ride ends with an earth shattering kiss, Lucy starts to wonder whether she’s got Joshua Templeman all wrong.
Maybe Lucy Hutton doesn’t hate Joshua Templeman. And maybe, he doesn’t hate her either. Or maybe this is just another game.
Office romance, competitiveness, snark, wickedly fun banter and adorkableness made this a stand out romance. I found the HATING GAME to be fresh, humorous and swoony. Check out my review of THE HATING GAME
by Patricia Briggs
Series: Mercy Thompson #10
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
In the #1 New York Times bestselling Mercy Thompson novels, the coyote shapeshifter has found her voice in the werewolf pack. But when Mercy's bond with the pack and her mate is broken, she'll learn what it truly means to be alone...
Attacked and abducted in her home territory, Mercy finds herself in the clutches of the most powerful vampire in the world, taken as a weapon to use against alpha werewolf Adam and the ruler of the Tri-Cities vampires. In coyote form, Mercy escapes only to find herself without money, without clothing, and alone in the heart of Europe...
Unable to contact Adam and the rest of the pack, Mercy has allies to find and enemies to fight, and she needs to figure out which is which. Ancient powers stir, and Mercy must be her agile best to avoid causing a war between vampires and werewolves, and between werewolves and werewolves. And in the heart of the ancient city of Prague, old ghosts rise...
I love the Mercy Thompson series and the Alpha & Omega series by Patricia Briggs. SILENCE FALLEN ranks among my favorite. I loved the setting, supernatural encounters, and Doctor Who references. Mercy really shone in this installment. Read my review of SILENCE FALLEN and then check out my reviews of the Mercy Thompson series.
by Ilona Andrews
Series: Hidden Legacy #1
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
#1 New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrews launches a brand new Hidden Legacy series, in which one woman must place her trust in a seductive, dangerous man who sets off an even more dangerous desire… Nevada Baylor is faced with the most challenging case of her detective career—a suicide mission to bring in a suspect in a volatile case. Nevada isn’t sure she has the chops. Her quarry is a Prime, the highest rank of magic user, who can set anyone and anything on fire. Then she’s kidnapped by Connor “Mad” Rogan—a darkly tempting billionaire with equally devastating powers. Torn between wanting to run or surrender to their overwhelming attraction, Nevada must join forces with Rogan to stay alive. Rogan’s after the same target, so he needs Nevada. But she’s getting under his skin, making him care about someone other than himself for a change. And, as Rogan has learned, love can be as perilous as death, especially in the magic world.
Typically I listen to all of Andrews books on audio, and I totally recommend that you try them. However, I read BURN FOR ME and the Hidden Legacy series. Once those character voices are created in my head I stick with the format. This urban fantasy series filled with superheroes was brilliant from beginning to end. Andrews gives us unique, quirky characters, a family to root for and a swoony romance you won’t be able to get enough of. Check out my review of BURN ME and then check out my reviews of the rest of the Hidden Legacy series.
Caffeinated Shares Six Books she loved and read while blogging... Share on X
Six Funny Review Stories
- I once published a review post at Midnight with no review. I had read the book and imagined I wrote the review. What resulted was the fastest review I ever wrote.
- I received two books from the publisher with releases two months apart. I read the first and began to write my review only to realize the synopsis did not match what I read. I had read book three of the trilogy first. No wonder I felt lost for the first 20%. Eek gads.
- I wrote a five-star review and the NY Bestselling author stopped by to say she loved my review but asked who the characters I mentioned were. You know when you read fantasy and the characters have some weird names and you changed them in your head to something like Mac and Claire? No? Ha. I wrote the review with my made up names.
- I accidentally selected two stars when setting up my review and then gave a fan-gushing review. Thankfully folks said something and I changed it the four it was supposed to be.
- I referred to an author with a unisex name as he. Turns out he was a she. Good times 🙂
Share one of your favorite books you’ve read in the past six years.
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
Alwssa
My favorite book from the last 6 years… it’s hard cause I’ve read so many books. I guess Flat-out Love by Jessica Park or I’ve got your number by Sophie Kinsella.
Jennifer
YES. I read The Passage before I was a blogger, but I wrote a review later anyway because I wanted to share how much I loved it.
One time I listened to an audio of a book that was told through a female point of view, and I complained that they used a male narrator. They didn’t. LOL. She just sounded like a man to me… So embarrassing.
Katherine
Love the funny stories! What a fun mix of books! I really want to read Ink and Bone and The Hating Game. They both sound wonderful though very very different! I always struggle with name spellings in audio book reviews. How I think the name should be spelled is very rarely how it is actually spelled!
Vanessa
Hehe, the bloopers. I did some of those to when I was just starting blogging, especially on referring to an author as he haha, sometimes names can be misleading 😉
Danielle Hammelef
One of my favorite books is Banished by Kimberley Griffiths Little.
John Smith
My favorite book, which I discovered last year, is “Coinman” by Pawan Mishra. It is profoundly witty!
ShootingStarsMag
Omg, I love your review stories. I’d probably be one of those people to mess up the character names – I don’t give them new ones, but sometimes I can’t remember them. And I’m always worried about messing up pronouns for authors. I thought Adi Asaid was female for a bit – whoops!
MarthaE
The unisex name is one that can throw any of us. I’ve had some wonderful reads the past six years. I noticed many of my 5 star ratings were audiobooks. I made a point to pick an ebook or print: Kicking Ashe by Pauline Baird Jones which concluded a wonderful series.
https://marthasbookshelf.blogspot.com/2012/03/book-review-and-giveaway-kicking-ashe.html
MarthaE
I forgot to say that your choices are good ones. I am really enjoying the Red Rising series and I love Mercy Thompson too. I have The Passage and will have to get to that someday.
Samantha
One of my favorite books from the past 6 years…hmmmmm….Probably Appealed by Emma Chase. Or The Consequence of Loving Colton by Rachel Van Dyken. Its so hard to chose!
Lark
Thank you for sharing these books! Ink and Bone has been on my list to read for a while; I’m hoping to get to it this fall. And I loved your funny review stories. I’ve made a few of those mistakes myself.
A few favorite books I’ve loved in the last six years of blogging:
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
The River of No Return by Bee Ridgway
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
Uprooted by Naomi Novik
vvb
LOL – funny review stories…
Cyn
Haha blog bloopers. We’ve all been there before! This is a great list! And it looks like a have a few books on my TBR!
Terri M.
Ink & Bone is definitely a book I cannot stop talking about! Love the series.
Lola
I remember seeing all of these books around, but haven’t read any of them. I enjoyed your funny review stories. I had that name issue happen once too. sent the author my review and she said I got the name of the mc wrong, oops.
I am pretty sure the name thing happens more often than I know and nowadays I usually just go for a description of the character or call them a side character if I am not 100% of their name or I pick the book and double check I got the name right.
Veronika B
I have so many favorites it’s hard to choose one. I loved If I Die by Rachel Vincent.
Aleeha
I’ve added all of these books to my list of books to read (which is getting far too long haha)
One of my favourite books is probably we were liars!
Aleeha xXx
http://www.halesaaw.co.uk/
Lorna
I loved The Hating Game, but haven’t read any of the others. And I really enjoyed your blogging bloopers! Fun!
Laura Thomas
Six years. Hmm…..I’d have to say the Chupacabra series by Michael Hebler. Been reading one book each year and they keep getting better. Except he skipped this year to focus on another series. Loving your books and we seem to enjoy many of the same series and authors.
Erin
I have read the Mercy book and Burn for Me – love both series <3
Corinne
I can’t wait to read Ink & Bone! It’s waiting for me on my kindle. My favorite read of the last six years is the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. I can’t wait for her next book to come out!
Samantha D
The lunar chronicles by Marissa Meyer!
Trish
Great recommendations and it must have been so hard to narrow it down to just six. My favourite book from the last 6 years is The Likeness by Tana French. Ohhh and Ink and Bone sounds fab, so I have no idea why I haven’t already read it.
Rosie
I love to hear other people’s favorite books, these all sound good!
Rita
I read Morning Star, on your recommendation, and I read The Passage– loved both. Have read most of Mercy Thompson series but not up to this one yet. Look good!
To name one or six favorite books from past few years? Yikes– tall order. Sorry Kim.. mind blank right now, will get back to you.
Nise'
I discovered paranormal/urban fantasy as a result of blogging. The Black Dagger Brotherhood, Charley Davidson, and Cat and Bones are some of my favorites. Laughing with you not at you about the review bloopers.
Tanya
I have no idea which book to pick! I love the Andrews and Briggs. There are so many books and series I never would have picked up if it hadn’t been for blogging. I love your bloopers! They sound so familiar!
Vi
Thank you for your book information. I found a few that I just put on my wishlist. Was a good idea to share them with us.
Best wishes
Vi @ Inkvotary
Steph
I have been meaning to read Ink and Bone for SO long! One of my favorites has been Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library (Mr. Lemoncello’s Library #1) it is a middle grade book but it was SO MUCH FUN!
Tyler H. Jolley
I knew I’d see Ilona Andrews on the list! Excellent compilation, Kimba.
Carole
I love your list! I have either read or plan to read each of the books on your list. I love all things Patricia Briggs, Ilona Andrews, and Pierce Brown. I just bought the audio for The Hating Game and have copies of the other two ready to go. All of your blunders are so easy to relate to. We have all had some of those kind of moments.
Susan
I recently read Jacqueline Carey’s Dark Currents, the first book in her urban fantasy series. It was really good, fun with points of seriousness.
Adik Miftakhur
The Hunger Games trilogy
Georgiana
That copy of Ink and Bone is so beautiful. I know I`m in minority, but dystopia remains my favourite genre and the plot sounds so promising.
H.Sandrine
OMG ! You read Burn for me too !! It’s one of my favourite read ! (As well as White fot and Wildfire)
Whitney
I still haven’t read the Red Rising Trilogy! I’ve heard wonderful things about it and yet it still languishes on my kindle. I really enjoyed reading your funny review stories, I’m guilty of referring to an author by the wrong gender too, so you are not alone.
Aj
The Passage sounds awesome. I might have to add it to my TBR list. This is such a cool idea for a post. Now I’m thinking about the best books I’ve read since I started blogging.
Michelle
Ink and Bone sounds really good! Super intrigued by the storyline. And I’m just reminded that I have a copy of The Hating Game waiting for me.
Thanks for the giveaway! 🙂
Karen Blue
I love the confessions you shared here! Haha! We all make mistakes and it is nice to see that even you, after 6 years, can look back and laugh at them.
I totally agree about Ink and Bone. I have Morning Star and I need to read it because like you, this was one of my favorite series ever. I am glad to see it made your list! I am also happy to see The Passage on your list. I haven’t read it but the premise really peaked my interest and then I kinda forgot about it. Don’t be surprised if I binge read it now that the whole trilogy is out.
Thanks for sharing these!
Jaime Lester
I haven’t read a single one of these but if these are six of your faves, they are worth giving a chance to!
Ashley Montgomery
I’ve heard such good things about both Patricia Briggs and Ilona Andrews but have yet to read either one of them. Maybe one day….
Angela
Any of the Andrews books. I also loved Frost Burned (Mercy Thompson, #7) by Patricia Briggs
Cali W.
Thanks for the giveaway! I love Silence Fallen. 🙂
Maggie
We share the love for Justin Cronin series – it was awesome, wasn’t it. I am yet to read Red Rising and the others though I think I have almost all of those you mentioned in either Kindle or Print. I am a scatter brain, I have forgotten to write reviews (a few times mind you) and I have had those automatic posts with nothing but the title. There is always someone who makes me aware of it. 🙂
Mary Kirkland
I’ve been meaning to read a couple of those but haven’t at this point. Burn For Me looks quite good though.
I think in the past 6 years the one that sticks out most for me was Styxx by Sherrilyn Kenyon. That was such an emotional read but for those who have read the whole series up to that point it made so much sense.
Darlene
My very first audiobook and the one I recommend most is The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. That’s the one that got me hooked on audiobooks! A great cast of narrators, and an exceptional performance. Another one is Daughter of Smoke & Bone. Happy 6 years! Thanks for the giveaway!
Jess
Ink and Bone has been on my list forever! I have to get to it soon.
One of my favorite books from this past year was Lilac Girls.
Great list! Thanks for the giveaway. 🙂
Linda Townsend
I have too many all-time favs to pick just one… C.L. Wilson’s Tairen Soul series, Julie James’ FBI/US Atty series. A.G. Howard’s Splintered series. Now, I need to check out your selections! I’ve read the Great Library and have every intention of continuing with that series., but I’ve not read the others… Thanks for the recommendations!
Kristin (Book Sniffers Anonymous)
I’ve read Red Rising but haven’t finished the trilogy. I also love the Alpha and Omega series but she doesn’t seem to write in that series too often so I tend to reread the novella of how Charles and Anna met. That novella is my all time favorite because of all the emotion and the connection those two have even though Anna went through a horrible experience. So, I’m going to have to say their novella prequel has been my all time favorite story I’ve read in the last 6 years.
sherry fundin
What a fabulous post. I have never celebrated my blog birthday before, but you are giving me all kinds of ideas for next year. One of my favorite books….oh man, this is a toughie, but Kristine Mason is one of my favorite authors and I recently read her novel, Sinful Deeds, about women vigilantes. I have my fingers and toes crossed for the giveaway.
Sophia Rose
I noted more than one book in your list that sent me out hot-footing it to get a copy and read it. Haha, your review bloopers are ones I can commiserate with as I’ve done the same or similar.
I was trying to think of my six favorites over the last few years. I think the Innkeeper Chronicles (which I got from your reviews), Karen Rose’s Cincinnati series of FBI thriller romances, JR Wards’ The Bourbon Kings trio, CS Harris’ Sebastian St. Cyr series, Nalini Singh’s Psy-Changeling series, and Carolyn Brown’s Cadillac Texas series were my favorites.
Dianne Casey
Great selection of books. My favorite series is The Tradd Street Series by Karen White. They are set in Charleston SC and it’s a really great read.
Emily Heisler
One book that I loved and even now reread occasionally was Rock Chick by Kristen Ashley. It swept me away with the humor and was a reading adventure.
Rowena
I’ve only read two of the books listed. I need to get my act together and get the others read. The Ilona Andrews and Patricia Briggs books are on my TBR list so I am hopeful to get to those soon.
Great list, Kim!
Freda
Sadly, I haven’t read any of them. 🙁 I want to though.
Freda
One of my favorite books from the past 6 years was; Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter. It started this whole I-gotta-read-everything-she’s-written thing in me…. LOL
kindlemom1
I haven’t read the Hating Game but all the others I have and I couldn’t agree more, they are fabulous!
Aly P
I can’t share only 1 book… I’ll go with a few authors 😀
Ilona Andrews: all their work. ALL of it!
Nalini Singh: especially her PNR and UF, but even her contemps are great
Kresley Cole: the Immortals after dark series is full of fun and laughter and crazy characters
Patricia Briggs, Eloisa James, Lorraine Heath, Marie Force, etc
Jenea's Book Obsession
I would love to get my hands on the The Great library Series, but our library doesn’t have it. 🙁
You crack me up with your bloopers.
Lover Of Romance
haha that first funny review story has happened to me too. Where I am so tired and exhausted I don’t even realize that I haven’t written the review and my fingers just fly off the keyboard hehe
Great list of books you have discovered while blogging. I also discovered Hating Game while blogging, and I would never have picked it up if it wasn’t for running a book blog. And I loved that one too!!
Rosie
I’d love to read The Hating Game – wow does it sound good!
Sandy Sch
I think it is more of a series I loved and not just any one book. The SPIRAL OF BLISS series by Nina Lane…the romance and the love between the couple was seductive and sensual…not too many authors can make me feel the way Nina did with this series.
Vanessa
Anything from Ilona Andrews are amazing. The Hating Game sounds fun, I really wanna try it
Nadene
My favorite book since I started blogging. That is a difficult choice, but since I have to choose I will go with Beneath These Scars by Meghan March. Love your blogging bloopers.. Now I know I am not alone.☺
Zoe N
My favourite book from the last couple of years has to be The Martian. I didn’t know what to expect going in but I loved that book.
Loved those bloopers at the end by the way.
Anna
I don’t know what’s better–the books or the icons, telling me where they fall. Wish me luck.
Anna from elements of emaginette
Janie McGaugh
Silver Silence by Nalini Singh is one of my favorite books that I’ve read more recently.
Megan
I really enjoyed want t0 read the hating game I have heard some great things about it. Great picks.
Debbie Haupt
I have read some of those and agree with your assessment there are a few on my wish list and the others are on there now. And LOL about the review stories 🙂
Happy Blogoversary
Kristin
Okay, fantastic list and I’m glad I have Caine’s library book on Audible waiting for me to find the time to listen. BUT HOLY CRAP!!! Those stories about reviews are outstanding!!!!!! Thank you for sharing what only we could imagine you ever did b/c yeah…. we thought you were perfect…. bwahahahahahahahaha…. crap, I’ve got coffee all over me now…. 😉
Nick
Yes! Burn for Me is definitely a series bloggers got me to read as well. I have The Great Library Series to try out when the whole series is out as well. And I need to read Patricia Briggs at some point.
This is a great post idea, Kim!
Geybie's Book Blog
Yay, I LOVE recommendations. I’ll check each one of these books. Ilona Andrews and Patricia Briggs are two authors in my top to-give-a-try list! I can’t wait to read their books. Glad that you recommend them too. ❤️
Melliane
I haven’t read all of them but I love the few I tried! So great choice!
Melliane
I never read the entries before replying… Some of my fave are also Burn for me, Written in Red by Anne Bishop, A deadly affection by Cuyler… but well I don’t have a good memory lol
blodeuedd
Past 6 years! Even i have some good ones from that time 😀 And I am reeeeally picky…and now I can not think of a single one *looks at bookshelves* I will just go with the latest one, Gather the daughters by Jennie Melamed
Kathryn
I love those review bloopers above. So human! So difficult to pick a book from the last 6 years – so many! I’ll pick one among many – The Perfect Son by Barbara Claypole White. Congrats on the 6 years.