Lets start by saying that in my real life 2024 was set to be a cracker. I was 66 in April and finally entitled to my state pension, so that meant I could afford to put down my pen, step away from the office keyboard and retire. Hurray!! My OH was in the process of selling the business and we had plans to finally do the things being employed had restricted us from doing. The Universe, however, had other plans. The fact that I had to cancel my birthday dinner due to illness presaged the start of a descent into months of multi-layered stress. Don\u2019t worry, I\u2019m not going to regale you with everything that followed on, but just to let you know that books saved my sanity in 2024 and I was so thankful for the escape they offered.<\/p>\n
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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nThe year got off to a cracking start with an exceptional 23 reads in January, and that included 4 of my best books of the year, so I had high hopes. Though I never managed such a monthly high again, I was bouyed by all the books I enjoyed going forward. They became a welcome escape from reality and as in the previous year, almost all were romances. I\u2019ve been happily sustained by a wide range of book boyfriends who have given me all the swoons and happy endings that I yearned for. Just for the avoidance of doubt, and to spare any awkward glances at my OH should you ever meet, none of the desire to escape can be laid at his door. He\u2019s been a rock this year and just as much at the receiving end of all the madness and chaos as me.<\/p>\n
According to Goodreads I managed to read 182 books, comprising 67,727 pages. The longest of those was Mile High<\/a><\/em><\/strong> by Liz Tomforde at 603 pages (reminder to self \u2013 get the rest of the series read), and the average length was 344 pages. The most popular of my reads was The Love Hypothesis<\/a><\/em><\/strong> by Ali Hazelwood, who also made several other appearances on my reading list and I\u2019ve no doubt will also be appearing this year. I suspect I managed a few more than 182 but not all made Goodreads as I didn\u2019t list them. I\u2019ll only list the books I\u2019ve enjoyed. It\u2019s worth saying at this point, that I largely love all that I read, because like many avid readers I\u2019ve become adept at knowing what I\u2019ll like and picking what suits. That latter point is also why I won\u2019t normally bad mouth a book\/author because what I like isn\u2019t always going to be what someone else likes and vice versa. If I \u2018don\u2019t like\u2019 a book it\u2019s not me saying it\u2019s a bad book, it\u2019s me saying it simply didn\u2019t suit me, at that time. I just like to share the books that gave me joy, in whatever form I might have consumed them. Ebook or hard copy, take your pick, I\u2019m reading for the content not the medium, so I have no preferences. Yes I enjoy the feel and weight of a \u2018real\u2019 book but I appreciate the ease and convenience of an eBook. While I\u2019m here I might as well weigh in other related pet peeves \u2013 yes, audiobooks count as reading, graphic novels are also reading and if someone wants to read a comic and gets pleasure from it \u2013 that\u2019s all that counts. It\u2019s the reading for pleasure\/recreation that\u2019s important and not getting too bogged down by the how and what. With my ex librarian\u2019s hat on, if someone is reading they can always refine what they read or become more discerning (should they wish) as they gain experience, but none of that can happen if they\u2019re not reading at all. Sadly, reading for pleasure is declining among children and young people,<\/a> so we need to be encouraging reading not putting up arbitary barriers to enjoyment. Whilst I\u2019m not of the opinion that waving a book about on TikTok counts as a review, and some of the \u2018endorsements\u2019 are not as impartial as they seem, at least it puts books back in front of younger people. Anyway, ramble over, this is what happens when I step away from the keyboard for any length of time, I feel inclined to make up for it!<\/p>\n I went down several rabbit reading holes this year and got waylaid by cowboys (again); met more American sporting heroes (though still don\u2019t understand the rules of NHL or NFL); dipped my toe into the omegaverse with a \u2018fated mate\u2019 werewolf meeting (let\u2019s just say I haven\u2019t repeated that experience \u2013 yet) and ventured into the paranormal as well as time slip territory \u2013 and yes, I did enjoy them. Given that I read so many and I\u2019m usually pretty stingy with handing out 5 stars I was wondering how to put this post together so as to give a shout out to as many books\/authors as possible. So as well as being my \u2018best of\u2019 in terms of standout books, it will also feature \u2018stand out series\/themes\u2019 that kept me thoroughly engrossed and entertained this year. Hopefully, it will make sense, but then as nothing else made sense last year, I\u2019ll just plough on regardless and hope you\u2019ll be understanding.<\/p>\n Home, Home on the Range<\/strong>\u2026<\/p>\n Yes, I\u2019m as surprised as anyone that I\u2019ve become addicted to cowboy romance. The reality is a ranch is just a setting and a \u2018cowboy\u2019 is another occupation\/way of life. What I get invested in is the family dynamic that usually accompanies our resident hero. The ranch is usually home to several siblings, (\u2018cos they all need they\u2019re own story) and Dad is usually retired (or retiring) . He\u2019s normally despairing of his wayward offspring ever settling down to take over the ranch when along comes a surprise, feisty female ready to tackle one into submission, followed by more for all the others. Each book is brimming with all the tropes, to keep every romance reader happy. I know I\u2019m over simplifying and being flippant but I\u2019ll admit that to the uninitiated reader they do largely all look the same. But then again don\u2019t many genre books? In this case, as every romance reader knows, it\u2019s how the scene is set and the characters develop that make the story. Without that we\u2019ve simply got boy meets girl, they fall in love and all ends happily ever after. We know we\u2019re going to get that before we start reading, we want to see it happen on the page (and I don\u2019t mean that graphically, although that often happens too).<\/p>\n This year my go to ranch has been Elsie Silver\u2019s<\/strong> Chestnut Springs<\/a> <\/em><\/strong>with the Eaton family (both real and extended). It has humour and emotion in spades as well as some pretty swoonworthy cowboys. Having said I\u2019m surprised by my addiction, I shouldn\u2019t be because I grew up on a diet of TV cowboys starting with Clint Eastwood as \u2018Rowdy Yates\u2019 in Rawhide<\/strong>. Throw in the Cartwright clan on the Ponderosa Ranch in Bonanza<\/strong>; the Barkley Ranch in The Big Valley<\/strong>; the Shiloh Ranch in The Virginian <\/strong>and last, but not least The High Chaparral<\/strong> and cowboys are virtually in my blood! With Scott Eastwood routinely being put forward as an ideal candidate to play one of the Eaton clan, it brings things full circle. I initially started reading Elsie\u2019s series via Kindle Unlimited but decided I\u2019d like a set to keep and bought the paperbacks from The Works. Amazon are currently price matching the paperbacks at \u00a32.50 each. I also paid a visit to her Gold Rush Ranch<\/em><\/strong><\/a> and I\u2019m now collecting those in hard copy.<\/p>\n Another recommended ranch I\u2019ve visited and will be going back to is Lyla Sage\u2019s<\/strong> Rebel Blue Ranch<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n This year I\u2019ll be paying a visit to Elsie\u2019s latest \u2018Rose Hill<\/em><\/strong><\/a>\u2018 ranch, having already bought books 1 & 2 in paperback with book 3 due in March. Other intended visits are Paisley Hope\u2019s <\/strong>Silver Pines<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, Alexandra Banks\u2019s <\/strong>Rosewood Ranch<\/strong><\/em><\/a>, Elliot Rose\u2019s<\/strong> Crimson Ridge<\/a><\/em><\/strong> and Maggie Gates\u2019s<\/strong> Griffith Brothers<\/a><\/em><\/strong>. So it looks like I\u2019ll still be in cowboy era in 2025!<\/p>\n Just a Small Town Girl \u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n I do enjoy a small town setting for a romance. The location is often as much a character as its real life inhabitants and it\u2019s easy to get caught up in everyone\u2019s lives, and not just those of our would be hero\/heroine. Debbie Macomber\u2019s<\/strong> Cedar Cove series<\/em><\/strong><\/a> is a prime example. I started reading her Blossom Street<\/em><\/strong> <\/a>series back in the \u2018noughties\u2019 and dipped into Cedar Cove but never finished. I started a reread in 2023 and finished the series at the beginning of 2024. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there but after 12 books it was a fitting time to say goodbye. I did buy the eBook boxed set of the Blossom Street series so maybe this will be the year I go back and catch up.<\/p>\n The Macomber books, are a bit of a palate cleanser as they are definitely on the closed door and more wholesome side of the romance spectrum. My other small town reads this year have been a bit more realistic on the \u2018activity\u2019 front and I don\u2019t have a problem with that. It\u2019s a natural part of the process and as I don\u2019t intentionally stray into \u2018dark romance\u2019 territory I\u2019m comfortable with an open door. In January I paid a visit to BK Borison\u2019s Lovelight Farms<\/strong><\/em><\/a> and kept returning for books 2 and 3. I\u2019ve still got the final instalment to read so that\u2019s definitely on my radar for this year.<\/p>\n Another small town series started was that of the Speakeasy Taproom<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong> A linked series by different authors set in Colebury Vermont\u2019s newest brewery and gastropub! Come for the food and the brews\u2026 stay for the stories, the gossip and the good times! Well, with an invitation like that, how could I refuse? I\u2019m three book into the 9 book series so I\u2019ll also need to go back there at some point. Having read Lucy Score\u2019s Pretend Your Mine<\/strong> in 2023, I got drawn back to Benevolence, Maryland<\/em><\/strong><\/a> to finish books 2 & 3 and I wasn\u2019t disappointed. I now want to start her Knockemout<\/em><\/strong><\/a> series as I have books 1 & 2 waiting. I\u2019m also keen to make a visit to Bootleg Springs<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, the series she co-wrote with Claire Kingsley.<\/p>\n The Momcoms<\/strong><\/p>\n This year I spent more time trying to get to grips with Instagram \u2013 for the record I think I failed but a quick lesson from my more savvy brother will hopefully see an improvement going forward. All I say on that front though is don\u2019t hold your breathe! Though I\u2019m rubbish with posting I seem to spend a lot of time So Britanee Nicole<\/strong>, Jenni Bara<\/strong>, Swati MH<\/strong> and Daphne Elliott<\/strong> take a bow, you kept me thoroughly entertained. You also led me to picking up more of your books for my reading list. I\u2019ve already started Daphne Elliott\u2019s<\/strong> Maine Lumberjacks<\/a> <\/em><\/strong>series, I\u2019m keen to start Jenni Bara\u2019s<\/strong> Boston Revs<\/a> <\/em><\/strong>series and I\u2019m already invested in Britanne Nicole\u2019s<\/strong> Boston Bolts<\/em><\/strong><\/a> series.<\/p>\n What the Puck?<\/strong><\/p>\n Despite the fact I have never watched a game of ice hockey in my life I seem to spend a lot of time reading about the fictional exploits of hockey players. I use the work \u2018players\u2019 in more than one sense as as it seems that the majority are nothing short than man whores until they are brought to their knees by the love of their lives. All I seemed to have learned about ice hockey is that the goalies are \u2018Gods\u2019 and normally of Viking proportions; the players seem to spend an inordinate amount of time in the sin bin for on field brawling and they generally couldn\u2019t give a \u2018puck\u2019 about their image \u2013 until they\u2019re forced too. And it appears, I\u2019m a sucker for them. I think it\u2019s less the sport and more the world that each author creates. It harks back to the small town feel and cowboy brotherhood. The books create a world of friends and found family, it\u2019s about the team and supporting each each other and of course, it\u2019s always humbling to see an arrogant, cocky player finally seeing the light. As the majority of the books form a series, it\u2019s nice to see previous characters dropping in, like meeting old friends for a catch up. I don\u2019t envisage that this year I\u2019ll be any less enamoured with my \u2018puck\u2019 boys as I\u2019ve already gone back to The Boston Bolts <\/strong><\/em><\/a>for my next instalment. <\/p>\n So thanks to Britanee Nicole <\/strong>for her Revenge Games<\/em><\/strong><\/a> and Boston Bolts<\/a><\/em><\/strong>, to Helena Hunting<\/strong> for her Toronto Terror <\/a><\/em><\/strong>series and Lulu Moore<\/strong> for starting me on her New York Players<\/em><\/strong><\/a> series \u2013 I\u2019ve bought them all, so I\u2019ll be continuing with those this year <\/p>\n Although hockey seemed to be my default sport I did venture further afield and tackled a few other games. I continued with Lyndsey Gallagher\u2019s<\/strong> Professional Players<\/em><\/strong><\/a> series (Irish Rugby), got involved with Amy Daws\u2019s Harris Brothers <\/em><\/strong><\/a>(Premier League Football) and dabbled with baseball with Lulu Moore\u2019s New York Lions<\/em><\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n BookTok\/Facebook\/Insta Made Me \u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n Well clearly, I don\u2019t mean this literally, but with sponsored posts it becomes hard to avoid certain titles. There were also certain books that were constantly being mentioned in forum groups and taking centre stage in book shop displays. So using that as a prompt it allows me to include the books that were being lauded in 2024 that I succumbed too \u2013 and enjoyed of course. <\/p>\n I started the year with Ali Hazelwood\u2019s<\/strong> Love Theoretically<\/strong><\/em><\/a> one of her contemporary romcom novels about women in STEM and academia and I followed this up with The Love Hypothesis<\/a><\/strong><\/em> and Check & Mate <\/a><\/em><\/strong> I also bought her departure novel Bride<\/em><\/strong><\/a> about a Vampyre bride and an Alpha werewolf. I haven\u2019t felt like tackling that one yet. My one outing with a werewolf this year left me undecided as to whether me and the omegaverse are a natural fit! I obviously had to try Becka Mack\u2019s<\/strong> Playing for Keeps<\/em><\/strong><\/a> series as it took my back to hockey world and I\u2019ve got another two of those already lined up for this year. Liz Tomford\u2019s<\/strong> Windy City <\/em><\/strong><\/a>series covers off a variety of sports starting with hockey, then basketball to baseball. It\u2019s another series I need to finish. Another series I started, largely because of the hype, was Hannah Grace\u2019s<\/strong> Maple Hills<\/strong><\/em><\/a> books. Possibly more YA than my other reads but romance is romance and I enjoyed them. I\u2019m two down with one to go! <\/p>\n My Rare Reviews<\/strong><\/p>\n My reviews these days are few and far between. They tend to be for books I have chosen to review and have requested via NetGalley, or authors whose books I love and have had the chance to get an ARC for. I still don\u2019t like the pressure that comes with accepting books for review, so don\u2019t envisage that 2025 will see my output increase. Happily, all the books I reviewed I loved and have absolutely no hesitation in recommending. The link on each title will take you to my review so I\u2019ve not gone into detail here.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/jillsbookcafe.blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/2024-booklist.jpg\")
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<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\nwasting<\/s> browsing on there and went through period of being bombarded with posts for a series of books referred to as The Momcoms<\/em><\/strong><\/a>. As I had Kindle Unlimited at the time I decided to give them a go. The series of four titles (Mother Faker<\/em><\/strong>, Mother Maker<\/em><\/strong>, Mother Pucker<\/em><\/strong> and Mother Hater<\/em><\/strong>) are all written by different authors and follow the fortunes of 4 single mums who pool resources to buy a Boston brownstone and live together as one happy family. Of course, these are romances so each book follows the story of each one as they find their own happy ending. Needless to say I was quickly hooked and ate them up. They were hilariously funny but yet still romantic with all the feels. The characters are seamlessly written as each book meshed into the world that had been created so that all 4 individual stories made a perfect whole. What I also got invested in was the wider world that was created as the MMC in the first story was Beckett Langfield of Langfield Corp, he heads up the baseball team. His brother Gavin manages the Boston Bolts ice hockey team and the remaining brothers both play ice hockey. They all appear not only throughout this series but in their own spin off series \u2013 of which more later. <\/p>\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/m.media-amazon.com\/images\/I\/41Ac8kazZPL._SY445_SX342_PQ25_.jpg\")
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