Allison: Top Ten New-To-Me Authors In 2017

Hey everyone!

2017 was a crazy busy year for me both professionally and personally. Thus explaining why I wasn’t on Good Books and Good Wine a lot. Luckily for me, I’ve got a wonderful friend in April who understood why I was so absent and encouraged me to do what I needed to do and post when I was able to do. My goal for this year is to once again become more active on the blog and within the book blogging community. I’ve missed all of you! That being said, what better way then to start off with the first Top Ten Tuesday of the year?

Here we go!

Top Ten New-To-Me Authors I Read In 2017

1) Sherryl Woods – After reading The Inn at Eagle Point during the Dewey Read-a-thon in October, I was hooked on wanting to know more about the families of Chesapeake Shores. Each book follows one couple as they work through the trials and tribulations of their relationship and interact with their families and friends within the community. Currently, there are 14 books in the series, and I’ve read 10 of them, and have enjoyed each one immensely. For me, it’s one of those series where I can’t wait to read the next one just so I can come back to the small town of Chesapeake Shores, and fall in love all over again.

2) Rebecca Phillips – In June I got a wonderful surprise in my in-box from agent extraordinaire Eric Smith was pitching his newest author Rebecca Phillips and her newest book These Things I’ve Done. Now I’d worked with Eric many times in the past when he was at Quirk Books, and he had never steered me in the wrong direction before, so it was an easy from me to check this one out. AND I AM SO GLAD I DID! These Things I’ve Done was such a wonderful emotionally driven surprise, and made it easy for me add Rebecca Phillips to my authors to watch for radar.

3) Samantha Chase – I stumbled upon Samantha Chase’s books at my local library when I was browsing trying to find something new to read at the beginning of the year. My first introduction was Made For Us, which is the first book in her Shaughnessy brother’s series, and since then I’ve read 3 of the 6 books in the series. I’ve also all of read her Montgomery Brother’s series, and her stand-alone Jordan’s Return, all of which I enjoyed. To me her books are those kind where you can sit down & spend an afternoon just getting lost in a good story.

4) Emma Douglas – To be honest, August was probably the worst month of the last year for me personally. Two days after my 30th birthday my paternal grandmother passed away after a brief hospitalization which was absolutely devastating for me. In some ways, it felt like I was losing my dad all over again because I was losing another connection to who he was as a person. Plus, I’m the oldest of 10 grandchildren, which has carried a lot of responsibility in my family. Luckily for me, being able to take part of the Need You Now tour for Emma Douglas’ debut novel was exactly the distraction I needed. I quickly fell in love with the world of Cloud Bay, its quirky characters, and fun music scene so much so that I’ve already read the second book in the series A Season of You, and can’t wait for the next one!

5) Maisey Yates – Maisey Yates was another author that I stumbled upon at my local library in 2017. Slow Burn Cowboy was a nice introduction to the world of Cooper Ridge, Oregon. Although it was in the middle of series, it felt as if it could be read as a stand-alone as it was the first story for the Donnelly family. I really felt like I could visualize the scenery as it was being described even though I’ve never actually been to Oregon before (although my uncle and his husband so live out there who want me to come visit), and I feel like the dynamics of the Donnelly family are ones that I’d like to come back and revisit again.

6) Katie Heaney – I really think there is a trend with this Top Ten Tuesday as Katie Heaney is another author who I stumbled upon at my local library. Her book Public Relations was absolutely hilarious, and was such an addicting read. I really want a movie made out of it because I think it would make the perfect romantic comedy! It’s the perfect combination of a slow-burn romance, a fauxmance, and a fun look into the world of entertainment public relations.

7) Manda Collins – As most of you may remember, historical romances have a very special place in my heart so I’m always looking for a new author to check out. This year it was Manda Collins with her Studies in Scandal series. I’ve only read one book in the series, Duke With Benefits, which was friends-to-lovers type of scenario between a handsome Duke and an eccentric educated Lady. It was a fun romance that was tied in with a life or death mystery solving setting that had me hooked till the very end!

8) Donna Alward – Donna Alward was an author that I had heard of before but had never really checked out before. In some ways, I can’t help but wonder if I was instinctively waiting for her to release her Darling, VT series, because it really was the perfect introduction of her writing for me. The first book, Somebody Like You, is a book with a wonderful sense of heart that made me excited to check out the other books in the series once they are released.

9) Glennon Doyle – Every year I try to find someone new who will inspire me to do better and be a better person. In 2017, that person was Glennon Doyle. Since 2012, her non-profit organization Rising Together has raised over eight million dollars for women, families, and communities around the world. As a woman and as an advocate, she unapologetically lives her whole truth, and encourages others to do the same. My first experience with her was listening to her book Carry On Warrior which is hilarious and heartfelt and just simply relatable. I’ve also read her memoir Love Warrior, which was an open and honest portrayal of a woman who has struggled who has learned from her struggles, and who isn’t afraid to encourage others to do the same. I also follow her on Instagram and when she’s not sharing pictures from her life, she’s sharing the most inspirational posts which make me think, and make me strive to want to do better for myself and for all of those around me.

10) Hillary Rodham Clinton – To say 2017 was a heated political year, I think would be an understatement. Like so many of you, I have found myself questioning my place in society especially in light of everything that is going on with current leaders and their appalling belief systems. So where does one go when they are looking for inspiration? Why, to the woman who would have made a damn good president, of course. Yes, I’m still with her. Listening to Hillary’s first two books has been a life changing experience for me personally. I’ve always kind of known where I stand politically but now I feel reborn in a sense because I’m fueled by the notion that we could have and hopefully in the future we will be able to do better. I’m very much looking forward to listening to What Happened very soon as I have finally been able to acquire it from my local library!

So, have you read any of the authors listed on this list? What are your thoughts on their books?

Do you have any suggestions for similar authors that I could check out?

As always Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke And The Bookish