Dot's Top Authors for 2017

So, I had this great idea to do a top 10 reads for 2017. Fun, right? Nope. Because I read over 100 books in 2017 - new and old. My list went from 10 to 20 to 30 and I kept going "Ooh, that was a 5 star read, it needs to be on the list." Well, this went on for a week. So today, the second day of the new year, I have decided to just write a list of authors you should be reading and include some of their latest releases or my favorites.


So...HERE GOES.


1. Colleen Hoover
 (No big surprise there.) Hoover released Without Merit in 2017 and I have to admit, this one has been stuck with me sense I read it. It may be bumping Hoover's Confess out of my number one spot for my favorites.


2. Kandi Steiner
If you haven't picked up Steiner yet, I have no idea what you're waiting for. Seriously! There are a few of her books that I have not read yet (older ones), but I will get to them. I am going to sign up for less new releases this year so I can enjoy some of the books sitting on my TBR. Pick up Palm South University: Seasons 1-3 (I seriously hope she's writing more of this), Weightless, On the Way to You, and Revelry... Sure, I want you to get all of her books, but these are a few of my favorites. Steiner gives it to you real and raw. I'm not sure how she does it, but I am in awe of her writing. On the Way to You left me feeling so raw and open, that I wanted to reread it just to make sure that it was real.


3. Marie Skye
I am not sure how I came in contact with Skye, but boy am I glad I did. She has a knack for writing great character development that catapults you into the storyline wishing you had someone speak beautiful words to you. The Incapable Series...whew. But, you want to know something strange? Her short stories in the Anthologies she's participated in were my favorites, thus far. So check out Fourteen Shades of F*cked Up and Six: A Men of the Strip Anthology. Hot reads! So good.


4. Brittainy C. Cherry
All I have to say is Behind the Bars. If you haven't read it, you need to get off of my blog right now and go read it. Like now. I am still working on her Elements Series, but I am loving those too. Cherry is so very talented and I can't wait to read more of her work.


5. Whitney Barbetti
I guess I am just a sucker for a good romance. I was introduced to Barbetti after posting in the Cohort's group that I was in labor and it would be a long night. A nice woman offered to gift me a book and she sent me Into the Tomorrows to give me something to do while I waited for the birth of my beautiful baby boy in June of 2016. After I read this one, I gobbled up each and every one of Barbetti's books. I was a goner. Barbetti writes like she loves words. Like they are the only thing that matters. I remember highlighting things and simply being in awe, saying things like "whoa" or "wow" in the notes sections because the words just spoke to me.


6. Cassie Graham
I stumbled upon Graham through a promo site that I subscribe to. I remember just saying, "Why not," when I clicked yes to Who Needs Air. It was a rerelease of it, I believe. But it was so beautifully written that I was glad I took a chance on it. More people should read it. And let's not forget to mention the Wilder Boys...umm..yes!


7. Staci Hart
She captured my heart in 2017 (officially) with A Little Too Late. I don't know what it was about this story, but I was officially a fan after that. I mean, I loved her clever take on the Greek Gods in her Hearts and Arrows series, but A Little Too Late put that all to shame.


8. S.L. Scott
She's clever and witty and everything you would want in an author. Everest is a must read.


9. Meghan Quinn
Twisted Twosome was funny and exciting. She has a lot more books that I have yet to read, but they are on my TBR waiting for me.


10. Max Monroe
Now, don't you think that because they are number 10 on my list is in any way a depiction of them being at the bottom of the barrel. Save the best for last, ya know? If you like a great love story that makes you laugh out loud?? Max Monore is the duo for you! Even their emails are freaking hilarious! Billionaire Bad Boys, Alex in Wonderland.... THATCH! And word around the street is Quinn is next. Yum...yes..and yum.




Honorable Mentions:
Stylo Fantome (Twin Estates series is bomb)
Annita L. Jackson (New Urban Author with great potential in storytelling)
B. Love (Beautifully written stories)
Latoya Nicole (Her storytelling is good, potential to make the list for 2018 if she works on editing a bit)


There are plenty more, but I hope to have a bigger list for next year!


That's it folks! Happy 2018.


My first read for the year will be The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Queen Bee by Danielle Lewis

• Rating: 3 out of 5
• Recommend: Maybe (I mean that in the kindest way. It wasn't for me, but may be for you.)
• Release date: April 7, 2017
• Triggers: none
• Read time: 2 days
• Genre: Urban Fiction
• Book recommendation from a friend of the writer.

Blurb: (Courtesy of Goodreads):

Ivy Parrish had always taken care of herself, never questioning anything and never asking anyone for help. At nineteen, she was kicked out of her home, onto the streets to fend for herself. She never expected to come across Derek Harris, one of the most dangerous and notorious gangbangers in Atlanta. When Ivy finds that Derek had a Robin Hood complex to his ever growing mystery, she becomes infatuated, and eventually, falls madly in love with him and becomes, as he affectionately liked to call her, his Queen.

Though as their love seems to blossom, sadly, Derek is no longer among the living and Ivy’s kingdom has seemed to shatter. Ivy now must find the strength she thought she lost when she is now, not only mourning the love of her life, but also taking care of their three-year-old son, Drew, whom she remains to claim as her world

It is through a surprising twist that she finds herself not just Derek Harris’s Queen of the streets, but as Ivy, herself, and it’s through the budding love of Julian Harris–Derek’s cousin and only other relative. He is determined to prove to her that he could love her and treat her how she should be treated, but will she yield to finding a new love or keep her loyalties to the one that she lost?

Through, grief, anger, love, confusion, and fear, Ivy Parrish not only demands to find herself again, but to love herself fiercely and unapologetically, and when Ivy demands it of herself, she expects the same attentiveness from others.

After all, She is the Queen.

****

I wasn't going to review this. I actually told the young lady that sent me a request for the book review that I was not sure if the writer wanted me to do it. Honestly, I gave up on Urban Fiction after not being able to stomach so many grammatical errors. Same was true with reading this book. The redeeming qualities were that the story-line was not terribly bad. But I just wish that more writers in the Urban Fiction community would take their time. Know the difference between "to" and "too". Know the proper structure of dialogue. And, my biggest pet pet peeve, know that the phrase is "I couldn't care less"!!! 

It saddens me that I have not much nice to say about this story. There was a point in the book where she may have went back to add more and the story just was not adding up. Or the flow was not right. Something was off about it. Her timeline wasn't adding up. There was names mixed up. I just want to ask if she reread this story or had beta readers who would be honest with her about her work? There were several points where she could have ended it and I would have been more than happy with the ending. I just hope, if she decides to publish more, that she takes her time with the story. Worry over the edits. Stress herself out over it. Read and reread lines. If they don't sound right, rewrite it.

Writing is no easy feat. I appalled Lewis for the effort. But I wish I listened to that side of me that screamed for me not to agree to review this. A small part of me hoped that it would make me want to read more Urban Fiction in the future.

Queen Bee can be purchased on Amazon  *Free for Kindle Unlimited Members*

The One I Gave My Heart To (book 2) By Mercedes G

Rating 4.5 out of 5
Recommend: yes!

This one would have gotten a 5 but there were too many grammatical errors that messed up a perfect score. Now that I am over the language, I just hope she hires a good editor to get her stuff together.

It took me a few hours to finish this one and I can't wait for the next book.

Book 1 left out with a bang. Literally. And this book kept me on the edge of my seat also! Book 3? I will be waiting.

So, if you have not read the first book...do not pass go, don't collect $200. I know you need that money, but now that I can speak freely about things that happened in book 1, go home, you will collect your cash later.

*spoilers ahead*

At the end of book, Mia went to visit Dola (against his wishes) and discovered the love of her life between two vending machines, having sex with a random chic. Yes, honey. He was getting it in and my jaw dropped. Poor Kelsi gets shot in the end of book 1 by Ruth's psycho girlfriend.

Yeah...book 2 makes you fall in deeper with Dola. And all I will hint at is birthday scene...oooh...hot! Lol read it.

The One I Gave My Heart by Mercedes G

Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Recommend: if you need something to read to pass the time. It is a part of a series and the second part is being released on the 15th, I will be reading it. So, I guess it wasn't too bad, right?

Soooo...I love me a good hood book. But I want a hood book that I'm not cringing at every other curse word and "n" word. It's just not for me. So if that bothers you to the point where you can't read it, don't read this book. It was entertaining to read, but there are plenty of grammatical errors (I hope that Mercedes G's career takes off so she can hire her a good editor). But that's my warning to you all.

If you want to be entertained, you will be. About a quarter into the book, I found myself interested in what was going to happen with the rest of the characters. It took me a minute to see past the curse words and actually enjoy the book.

But here's a rundown of the characters:

Mia- she's independent, hardworking and the main character of the book. Even though the book is told from the perspective of different people, it is clear that she is the main focus and everyone else revolves around her. She quickly falls for Dola- he's good looking and everyone knows who he is because...drugs...sigh. *side note mind thought* Can I get you all who write Urban Novels to figure something out and give us more character and substance...thank you... Anyway, Dola. The entire time reading the book I pronounced it Dolla. Shame on me. Doe-la is the correct way. He's a drug dealer. All the ladies want him. He is fine as hell. Blah, blah, blah. Typical mumbo jumbo.

Then there's Mia's friends Terri and Kelsi. Terri is battling with whether or not she wants to be a lesbian, knock her baby daddy in the head, and/or fall for Dola's boy Sy. Meanwhile, Kelsi gives it up to his boy Ruth the morning after meeting him...and...well...drama ensues shortly after. I won't give it away.

I think Mercedes G could do a little better with giving her characters more depth to them. She doesn't describe them all but for Dola's darker member and Mia's thickness and bob. Maybe she calls one of them a linebacker with dreads. I don't know. But yeah. Give me more substance and a little less drama.

Why do I wish to read book 2 if I didn't really care for this one you ask?

Because the cliffhangers at the end of the book need to be answered for me. So now I wait 3 days. Ugh.