Donna's 5 star reads ~ 2016

So another book year has come to a close. Every year I am blown away by some amazing reads from some amazingly talented authors and 2016 was no different. I read 364 books by over 200 different authors in 2016 of which 44 were five star reads. 44 books that made my ever stingy fingers click on that 5 star rating. 44 books that are totally different in their own way but share one thing in common, for me they were exceptional. Whether it be emotional, suspenseful, hilarious or thrilling, each of these books, for me, were perfect and touched me in some form or another.

I posted my top 20 a few days ago (click the link) Donna's Top 20 and these are included below, but I have added the other 24 that complete another outstanding list.

As I said a few days ago, the authors are delivering and are pushing our expectations and laying new benchmarks to rate other books. This is a good thing though, authors are honing their craft and making their books stand out. A win win for us readers.

And for that "author" my list includes both published and indie and if it wasn't for those indie reads, my year wouldn't have been half as fulfilling or entertaining.

So in close I would like to thank all those authors that have contributed to another fantastic reading year, thank you for your blood, sweat and tears that have been poured into every book, every page and every word. This reader appreciates it.

Some fun facts:-

1) According to Goodreads I have read over 81,000 pages (I question it's accuracy though)

2) According to Goodreads my average rating is 3.9

3) My most read author in 2016 with 7 novels/serial is Andrea Smith, closely followed by Aleatha Romig and Sawyer Bennett with 6 novels and then Ella Frank, K Webster, Kate Stewart, Meghan Quinn and Penny Reid with 5 a piece.

4) Kate Stewart is on my 5 star reads list with 4 books this year, this has NEVER happened, Kate Stewart has had a truly outstanding year.

Anything But Minor (Balls in Play #1) and Major Love (Balls in Play #2) by Kate Stewart

My review: Anything but Minor: http://www.theromancecover.com/2016/07/release-day-blitz-review-anything-but.html

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/29RFtMJ

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/29Fq1zk

My review: Major Love http://www.theromancecover.com/2016/11/release-day-blitz-review-major-love.html

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2fVQhZI

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2fCrSXZ

From Sand and Ash by Amy Harmon

My review: http://www.theromancecover.com/2016/12/review-from-sand-and-ash-by-amy-harmon.html

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2gC6a70

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2fOLvLz

All the Ugly & Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood

My review: http://www.theromancecover.com/2016/08/review-giveaway-all-ugly-and-wonderful.html

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2bpwFNA

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2bp0FGB

The Bird and the Sword by Amy Harmon

My review: http://www.theromancecover.com/2016/05/new-release-and-review-bird-and-sword.html

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1rHiV51

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/23JoVGc

Memoirs Aren't Fairytales and Scars from a Memoir by Marni Mann

My review: http://www.theromancecover.com/2016/06/double-review-memoirs-arent-fairytales.html

Memoir's Aren't Fairytales

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1Xk9fLl

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1Xk8ceq

Scars of a Memoir

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1UhwEGh

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1X0lw6O

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

My review: http://www.theromancecover.com/2016/09/review-hating-game-by-sally-thorne.html

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2ctLKjo

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2d02DlA

Win Some, Lose Some by Shay Savage

My review: http://www.theromancecover.com/2016/10/review-win-some-lose-some-by-shay-savage.html

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2eihUPi

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2dL1nhL

Swear on this Life by Renee Carlino

My review: http://www.theromancecover.com/2016/08/release-day-review-swear-on-this-life.html

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1X6ITrP

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1U7bbDj

Wild Abandon by Jeannine Colette

My review: http://www.theromancecover.com/2016/06/review-wild-abandon-by-jeannine-colette.html

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/293xpWw

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2937lIQ

Happinesss for Beginners by Katherine Center

My review: http://www.theromancecover.com/2016/04/review-happiness-for-beginners-novel-by.html

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1SJdAzz

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1VwskZO

Wicked Dix (Hard Love #2) by Monica James

My review: http://www.theromancecover.com/2016/03/release-day-blitz-review-wicked-dix.html

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1oY9xJa

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1UycrQs

Isadora (Masters Among Monsters #2) by Ella Frank

My review: http://www.theromancecover.com/2016/01/blog-tour-excerpt-review-author.html

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1W4ArJY

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1mV8eJQ

Down to my Soul (Soul #2) by Kennedy Ryan

My review: http://www.theromancecover.com/2016/03/release-day-blitz-excerpt-review-down.html

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1NxycZB

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1O9ApNt

The Mind (Reluctant Romantics #1.5) and The Heart (Reluctant Romantics #2) by Kate Stewart

My review The Mind: http://www.theromancecover.com/2016/02/book-description-we-fell-in-love-in.html

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1U2ThC5

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1Pz2leI

My review The Heart: http://www.theromancecover.com/2016/04/release-day-blitz-review-heart.html

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1WZnx27

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/21llIgm

Elude (Eagle Elite #6) by Rachel Van Dyken

My review: http://www.theromancecover.com/2016/05/review-elude-eagle-elite-6-by-rachel.html

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1q192gR

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1X9eHix

Stroked Long (Stroked #2) by Meghan Quinn

My review: http://www.theromancecover.com/2016/09/blog-tour-review-giveaway-stroked-long.html

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2cgngbj

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2cwFEKy

A Love Letter to Whiskey by Kandi Steiner

My review: http://www.theromancecover.com/2016/10/release-day-blitz-review-excerpt-love.html

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2d27Bxo

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2einPm6

Legend (Real #6) by Katy Evans

My review: http://www.theromancecover.com/2016/02/release-day-blitz-excerpt-review-legend.html

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1gJWEOg

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1HEtQ2E

For All the Evers by Debra Anastasia

My review: http://www.theromancecover.com/2016/12/release-day-blitz-review-excerpt.html

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2hI1Hkj

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2hewBzy

Undecided by Julianna Keyes

My review: http://www.theromancecover.com/2016/07/review-undecided-by-julianna-keyes.html

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/29D1BHk

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/29D0UxR

The Bourbon Thief by Tiffany Reisz

My review: http://www.theromancecover.com/2016/06/release-day-review-bourbon-thief-by.html

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1muqOHC

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1PETiXy

Mr President (White House #1) by Katy Evans

My review: http://www.theromancecover.com/2016/10/release-day-blitz-review-mr-president.html

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2dv7Y19

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2cSXVAf

Grin & Beard It (Winston Brothers #2) and Beard Science (Winston Brothers #3) by Penny Reid

My review: Grin & Beard It http://www.theromancecover.com/2016/06/blog-tour-excerpt-review-giveaway-grin.html

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1Uqyw28

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/24hw0hu

My review: Beard Science http://www.theromancecover.com/2016/10/blog-tour-review-excerpt-giveaway-beard_28.html

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2dIxpQQ

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2d9IB2i

The Spiral Down (The Fall Up #2) by Aly Martinez

My review: http://www.theromancecover.com/2016/05/blog-tour-excerpt-review-giveaway_17.html

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1NvufuO

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/24UqGTl

A Thousand Boy Kisses by Tillie Cole

My review: http://www.theromancecover.com/2016/03/blog-tour-review-thousand-boy-kisses-by.html

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/21qPMFR

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1M1IVkq

Southern Comfort by Andrea Smith

My review: http://www.theromancecover.com/2016/06/release-blitz-review-southern-comfort.html

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1ZW9SrT

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1XZeOyY

F*ck Love by Tarryn Fisher

My review: http://www.theromancecover.com/2016/01/review-fck-love-by-tarryn-fisher.html

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1OwrJhz

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1mnHbqe

The Silent Waters (Elements #3) by Brittainy C Cherry

My review: http://www.theromancecover.com/2016/09/release-day-blitz-review-silent-waters.html

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2d3d9W2

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2cqhnsK

So Much More by Kim Holden

My review: http://www.theromancecover.com/2016/04/review-so-much-more-by-kim-holden.html

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1oQ6sKV

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1QEEnfz

Dawn of Forever (Jack & Jill #3) by Jewel E Ann

My review: http://www.theromancecover.com/2016/02/release-day-blitz-review-giveaway-dawn.html

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2023Y9w

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1Q048t3

Ladies Man (Manwhore #3) by Katy Evans

My review: http://www.theromancecover.com/2016/04/release-day-review-ladies-man-manwhore.html

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/23Ydobk

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1TaKhXr

For the Love of English by AM Hargrove 

My review: http://www.theromancecover.com/2016/09/release-day-blitz-review-for-love-of.html

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2bKRhw6

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2ctdYun

The Score (Off Campus #3) by Elle Kennedy

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27252717-the-score?ac=1&from_search=true

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1XriMgv

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1WbZnxw

Paper Princess (The Royals #1) by Erin Watt

My review: http://www.theromancecover.com/2016/04/review-paper-princess-by-erin-watt-elle.html

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1W5TjtN

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1M9M8yI

It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

My review: http://www.theromancecover.com/2016/08/review-it-ends-with-us-by-colleen-hoover.html

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2aJPb2z

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2aJCOUy

One Day Soon by A Meredith Walters

My review: http://www.theromancecover.com/2016/02/review-one-day-soon-by-meredith-walters.html

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1Togiyy

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1Ts2Mv8

Down Shift (Driven #8) by Kristy Bromberg

My review: http://www.theromancecover.com/2016/10/blog-tour-review-excerpt-down-shift.html

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1RWqUpE

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1T9CxbP

Collared by Nicole Williams

My review: http://www.theromancecover.com/2016/03/review-collared-by-nicole-williams.html

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1QM7XUJ

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1pcBv36

Black Swan Affair by KL Kreig

My review: http://www.theromancecover.com/2016/10/release-day-blitz-review-black-swan.html

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2duEykJ

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2el601T

Into the Light by Aleatha Romig

My review: http://www.theromancecover.com/2016/06/review-into-light-light-1-by-aleatha.html

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1KpKIPu

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1VUJfV9