Booklover Judy Lynn's Best Reads of 2020

 

2020 Wrap-Up

This “Best of 2020” list is determined entirely by the books I personally read for the first time in 2020.  Some were released in 2020, and some are older.  I have added a lot of books to my TBR this year that I was unable to read yet, so they may end up on a future “Best of” list.  This list is based 100% on my personal opinions of the books that stood out to me in each category.

2020 was an interesting year.  I have had a lot of time at home alone.  It allowed me to read, work on building an Instagram, and start a book blog. I read more books in 2020 than I ever have.  I am ending the year with 371 books.  I can tell that I am getting better at picking what I read because a higher percentage of those were 5-star reads than ever before.  That does, however, make this “best-of” list more challenging for me because so many books were so good.  I read 60 new-to-me authors, many of which were excellent.  I stepped out of my comfort zone into some sub-genres I had never read before but discovered that I really enjoyed.  I feel like I have been able to become more involved in the book communities on Facebook and get to know other readers better as a result.  I have really enjoyed having more time to interact with authors and to help promote a lot of the excellent work these talented artists have provided for my entertainment.  I have discovered that there are some tropes that I naturally gravitate to, making that category extremely difficult to narrow to 5 nominees and nearly impossible to pick one winner.  In some categories, I only read a few books that would qualify or only was a five-star book for me in that category, making the best-of selection easy.  With that said, here are the top books I read in each of the following categories during the year of 2020.

You can find reviews for all of the books on this list on my Goodreads profile: 

Purchase links are provided in the list.  If a book is in Kindle Unlimited, I have listed the Amazon link.  If a book is not in Kindle Unlimited, I have listed to BookBub link so readers can access other retailers also.

Paranormal Romance is an entirely new category of reading for me, and I discovered that there is a lot to love about them. 

Paranormal Romance:

Ghost: 

*Before You Ghost* by Debra Anastasia & Helena Hunting

Vampire: 

*License to Bite (New Orleans Nocturnes #1)* by Carrie Pulkinen

Witch: 

*Shift Happens (New Orleans Nocturnes #2)* by Carrie Pulkinen

Time Travel: 

*Silent Vows (MacCoinnich Time Travels #2)* by Catherine Bybee

Psychic: 

*Riley Thorn and the Dead Guy Next Door* by Lucy Score

Shifter:

*Just Right (Northern Circle) *by Bronwyn Green

Highland Shifter (MacCoinnich Time Travels #4) by Catherine Bybee

The Werewolf Meets His Match (Nocturne Falls #2) by Kristen Painter

Shift Happens (New Orleans Nocturnes #2) by Carrie Pulkinen

    Romantic Mystery:

*Riley Thorn and the Dead Guy Next Door* by Lucy Score

    

Sci-Fi Romance:

*Barbarian’s Touch (Ice Planet Barbarians #8)* by Ruby Dixon

Ice Planet Barbarians (Ice Planet Barbarians #1) by Ruby Dixon

Barbarian’s Lover (Ice Planet Barbarians #3) by Ruby Dixon

Barbarian’s Mate (Ice Planet Barbarians #7) by Ruby Dixon

Barbarian’s Taming (Ice Planet Barbarians #9) by    Fantasy Romance:

*The Fae King’s Dream (Between Dawn and Dusk #2)* by Jamie Schlosser

The Fae King’s Curse (Between Dawn and Dusk #1) by Jamie Schlosser

Between Dawn and Dusk (Between Dawn and Dusk: A Prequel) by Jamie Schlosser

   

Ex-Con Romance:

*Fighting for Us (The Bailey Brothers #2)* by Claire Kingsley

Hot for the Handyman (Single Moms of Seattle #3) by Whitley Cox 

Guilty as Charged by Harlow James

This Much Is True by Tia Louise

1.Debut Novels: (with year of original publication)

*The Honeymoon Trap * by Christina Hovland (2018)

Best Laid Plans by Erin Hawkins (2020)

The Scale by Mika Jolie (2015)

Home (The Fated Series #1) by H.L. Packer (2020)

The Duke I Tempted (The Secrets of Charlotte Street #1) by Scarlett Packham (2018)

 Military Romance:

*Her Rebel Heart (Officers’ Ex-Wives Club #1)* by Jamie Farrell/Pippa Grant 

Missing in Action (Walsh Series Spinoff #2) by Kate Canterbary

Southern Fried Blues (Officers’ Ex-Wives Club #2) by Jamie Farrell/Pipa Grant

Marine for Hire (Front and Center #1) by Tawna Fenske

Down to Fall (Love Happens #5) by Jodi Watters

 Male/Male Romance:

*The Hardest Goodbyes (McLendon Family Saga #5)* by D.L. Roan

One Time Only (One Time Only#1) by Lauren Blakely

Missing in Action (Walsh Series Spinoff #2) by Kate Canterbary

Orientation (Benchmarks #2) by Kate Canterbary

Defenseman No. 9 (Hockey Gods #4) by Xavier Neal

Reverse Harem:

 *Heart of Falcon Ridge (McLendon Family Saga #1)* by D.L. Roan

Romantic Suspense:

*In the Clear (Codex #3)* by Kathryn Nolan 

Shaken (Severton Search & Rescue #4) by Annie Dyer

Under the Rose (Codex #2) by Kathryn Nolan

Every Breath (Final Hour #1) by Juno Rushdan

Next Stop: You by Danica Raimz

Historical Romance:

*The Duke I Tempted (The Secrets of Charlotte Street #1)* by Scarlett Packham

The Duchess Deal (Girl Meets Duke #1) by Tessa Dare

The Governess Game (Girl Meets Duke #2) by Tessa Dare

The Wallflower Wager (Girl Meets Duke #3) by Tessa Dare

Wild in Winter (The Wicked Winters #6) by Scarlett Scott

Holiday Romance:

*Home for Christmas* by Mika Jolie

Evergreen (Callaghan Green Series) by Annie Dyer

McKenzie’s Turn to Fall by Harlow James

A Very Bossy Christmas by Kayley Loring

Pining (Never Too Late #3) by Stephanie Rose

Sports Romance:

*Jock Blocked (Copper Valley Fireballs #1)* by Pippa Grant

Homecoming King by Jami Albright

Real Fake Love (Copper Valley Fireballs #2) by Pippa Grant

Pucked Off (The Pucked Series,#6) by Helena Hunting

Protective Instinct/Unruly Behavior  (The Unlovabulls #1) by Tricia Lynne

Fake Relationship:

*Real Fake Love (Copper Valley Fireballs #2)* by Pippa Grant

The Duchess Deal (Girl Meets Duke #1) by Tessa Dare

Take A Number (Wait with Me #4) by Amy Daws

The Boyfriend (Platonically Complicated #1) by Mika Jolie

Best Fake Fiancé (Loveless Brothers #2) by Roxie Noir

 Second Chance Romance:

*Home for Christmas* by Mika Jolie

Running from the Law (Brides on the Run #3) by Jami Albright

Do Me A Favor (Mile High Matched #4) by Christina Hovland

Broken Miles (Miles Family #1) by Claire Kingsley

Operation get Her Back (Jetty Beach #4) by Claire Kingsley

 Brother’s Best Friend:

*Forbidden Miles (Miles Family #2)* by Claire Kingsley

Full Package (Big Rock #4) by Lauren Blakely

Next in Line (Wait with Me #2) by Amy Daws

Break the Rules (Loveless Brothers #3) by Roxie Noir

The Secret to Dating Your Best Friend’s Sister (The Bromance Club #1) by Meghan Quinn

 Age Gap/Forbidden Romance:

*Crush* by Mae Wood

Voyeur (Voyeur #1) by Fiona Cole

Christmas of White (The Bright Series #3) by K.D. Elizabeth

McKenzie’s Turn to Fall by Harlow James

The Hook Up Equation (Loveless Brothers #4) by Roxie Noir

  Music Star Romance:

*One Time Only (One Time Only #1)* by Lauren Blakely

Running After the Heartbreaker(Brides on the Run #4) by Jami Albright

Nashville Days (Music City Lovers #1) by Julie Capulet

Melted Hearts (Callaghan Green #8) by Annie Dyer

The Bangover (The Bangover #1) by Lili Valente

Movie Star Romance:

*Taming Hollywood’s Baddest Boy (The Hollywood Collection #1)* by Max Monroe

Sleeper by Kayley Loring

Hate the Player (The Hollywood Collection#3) by Max Monroe

Changing Roles by Melanie Moreland

Happily Ever Hers (Singletree#2) by Delancey Stewart

 Opposites Attract Romance:

*Unraveling Him (The Bailey Brothers #3)* by Claire Kingsley

Love at First Light (Lost Harbor, Alaska #6) by Jennifer Bernard

Cocky Roommate (Book Boyfriends #2) by Claire Kingsley

Tangle (Dogwood Lane #2) by Adriana Locke

This Much Is True by Tia Louise

 Enemies-To-Lovers Romance:

Tie for 1st

*Falling for My Enemy (Dirty Martini Running Club #2)* by Claire Kingsley

*By A Thread* by Lucy Score

Under the Rose (Codex #2) by Kathryn Nolan

Southern Hotshot (North Carolina Highlands #2) by Jessica Peterson

Love Bank (Jobs from Hell #1) by Marika Ray

Friends-to-Lovers Romance:

Tie For 1^st

*Best Friends Don’t Kiss* by Max Monroe

*One Take Only (Brighton Rocks #2)* by Lynsey M. Stewart

Good Girl Next Door (Jetty Beach #6) by Claire Kingsley

Best Fake Fiancé (Loveless Brothers #2) by Roxie Noir

Southern Seducer (North Carolina Highlands #1) by Jessica Peterson

Workplace Romance:

Tie for 1^st

*Southern Hotshot (North Carolina Highlands #2)* by Jessica Peterson

       *By A Thread* by Lucy Score

Good Girl by Jana Aston

 Liar, Liar, Hearts on Fire (BroCode #3) by Pippa G

            Boss Man Bridegroom (The Bromance #3) by Meghan Quinn

Royal Romance:

*Royal Catch (The Rourkes #1)* by Kylie Gilmore

Royal Hottie (The Rourkes #2) by Kylie Gilmore

Royal Darling (The Rourkes #3) by Kylie Gilmore

Royal Charmer (The Rourkes #4) by Kylie Gilmore

A Princess for Christmas by Jenny Holiday

Healing Love Romance:

*Hidden Miles (Miles Family #4)* by Claire Kingsley

The Duchess Deal (Girl Meets Duke #1) by Tessa Dare

Endless Blue Seas by Annie Dyer

Pucked Off (The Pucked Series,#6) by Helena Hunting

The Path to You (Jetty Beach #7) by Claire Kingsley

  Single Dad Romance:

Tie for First

*Liar, Liar, Hearts on Fire (Bro Code #3)* by Pippa Grant

*Single Dad Seeks Juliet* by Max Monroe

Happily Letter After by Vi Keeland & Penelope Ward

Troublemaker by Kayley Loring

Next Stop: You by Danica Raimz

 Single Mom Romance:

*Southern Seducer (North Carolina Highlands #1)* by Jessica Peterson

Mine Until Moonrise (Lost Harbor,Alaska #1) by Jennifer Bernard

Redeeming Vows (MacCoinnich Time Travels #3) by Catherine Bybee

Hot for The Handyman (SingleMom’s of Seattle #3) by Whitley Cox

Dare You to Love Me (NOLAHearts #3) by Maria Luis

Surprise Pregnancy Romance:

*Marrying My Billionaire Hookup* by Nadia Lee

Best Laid Plans by Erin Hawkins

Ready for It (MacAteer Brothers #2) by M.L. Nystrom

Pit Stop: Baby (Crescent Cove #4) by Taryn Quinn

Rockstar Baby (Crescent Cove #6)   by Taryn Quinn

 First Responders: Cop or Firefighter Romance

*Protecting What’s Mine (Benevolence #3)* by Lucy Score

Hot for a Cop (Single Moms of Seattle #2) by Whitley Cox

Shaken (Severton Search & Rescue #4) by Annie Dyer

Take a Chance on Me (NOLA Hearts #2) by Maria Luis

Tempt Me with Forever (NOLA Hearts #4) by Maria Luis

For best series, let me qualify that I had to narrow the field with the following requirements:

1. The series had to be complete. 

2. I had to have read all the books in the series during 2020. 

There are many excellent series that I have read part of this year, that started last year and finished this year, or that are currently in progress that are not included in this category because of those qualifications. 

 Best Series:

*The Miles Family* by Claire Kingsley

The Pucked Series by Helena Hunting

Jetty Beach by Claire Kingsley

NOLA Hearts by Maria Luis

The Loveless Brothers by Roxie Noir

Thank you to everyone who has helped me promote my blog.  I am looking forward into 2021 and looking forward to reading all of the wonderful books on my list, new and old.