Best Reads of 2015, according to the Wicked Writer The old adage is that in order to hone your craft as a writer, you have to be a reader first. At the beginning of December, I'm closing in on 200 books read. Not at all my highest yearly quota, but better than last year. Excellent, in fact, since I also wrote 2,100+ pages within 6 books and am currently working on another. 

The more I read, the better I write. Practice makes perfect. 

I'm also a reviewer for Wicked Reads- my brainchild. With the magical Angela G at the helm turning our budding blog into a well-oiled machine, Wicked Reads truly does feed my addiction one book at a time. Most of the books listed below were ARCs offered by the publisher for review, a handful were recommended, and the rest were happy accidents.

A little about my reading style, since we all read differently. INTJ, meaning I'm an introvert who thrives on logic and ethics, and loathes bullshit and small talk. I'm also highly empathetic in person, which is uncomfortable to say the least. To de-stress, as reading IS work for a writer, I'm a gamer, an online shopper, a Facebook stalker, a Food Network foodie. My favorite shows are Black Sails, Game of Thrones, How to Get Away with Murder, Fargo, and Shameless. I'm about to try the Vikings and The Affair. Since I'm a serious person, in books I adore witty banter, dry humor, love-hate relationships, and a slow build to the climatic 'event'. Not a fan of insta-anything, be it love or lust. I'm not much on over-the-top comedy. As a realist, the more lifelike the better.

Page length? I've read books I wish were longer, but I read more where I wish they were shorter.

Call me Goldilocks. I want it just right.  Not too much of anything, especially the overuse of sex to distract the reader from a plot hole or weak storyline. Don't get me wrong, I write sex for a living, and am a HUGE fan of smoking hot between the sheets action. But I'm a character-driven type of reader, so there better be something tying those lusty scenes together. 

As you can see, the majority of my books fit into the LGBTQ category. It's also what I write. Hmm... I don't believe out of 20+ of my creations that I have a single one that is entirely 'straight'- all are a little bit bent, dark, and most certainly twisted. 

What do I seek in a book? What makes it the best? Is it the best book ever written? Nope.

The unexpected. I love to be surprised, because I usually see where the author is headed, can spot where the author unpainted themselves from a corner, or end up playing editor. I tend to give out more 5 star ratings to genres I'd find impossible to write. But, if I was thoroughly entertained, I don't care if the book was lacking.

*Not all titles were released in 2015. My best list includes the books I read in 2015.
*the book titles are linked to the corresponding Goodreads page. Just click the title to be redirected in another tab.
*most books were reviewed for Wicked Reads. If you wish to read the reviews, visit my Goodreads Author profile, or press the buttons to visit Wicked Reads & Wicked Reads: YA Edition for a wide array of reviews from our stable of reviewers. 
* Denoted reviewed means an ARC was provided by the publisher for Wicked Reads, or Wicked Reads purchased a copy for reviewing purposes. Not reviewed is my personal copies, which may or may not have been reviewed on Goodreads, but were rated.

-Erica Chilson Best Book of 2015
MM Dystopian Science fiction Y Negative: Kelly Haworth Most Entertaining Series
MM contemporary Romance Straight Guys
Alessandra Hazard M/M series
​Straight Boy (Straight Guys #0.5)
Just a Bit Twisted (Straight Guys #1)
Just a Bit Obsessed (Straight Guys #2)
Just a Bit Unhealthy (Straight Guys #3) Best Book of 2015
Dystopian Science Fiction Nexis: A.L Davroe Most Read Author Anyta Sunday Rock (standalone) M/M | Young Adult | Taboo |
Taboo for You (Standalone) M/M | GFY | Friends-to-lovers | Mature characters | Children | 

Above were both 5 star reads. The following series received a mixed bag of ratings from me, but I did enjoy it as a whole. 

Enemies to Lovers: #1 - 4 MM Best MM: not reviewed
contemporary romance Carte Blanche: Nash Summers 
​Knights of Ocean Ave: Tara Lane
Knave of Broken Hearts: Tara Lane
The Backup Boyfriend: River James
The Boyfriend Mandate: River James
Family Man: Marie Sexton & Heidi Cullinan
Better Than Good: Lane Hayes (Better Than #1)
Better Than Chance: Lane Hayes (Better Than #2)
Tonight: Karen Stivali Best MM: reviewed
contemporary romance Love on the Web: Neil S. Plakcy
Not my Boyfriend: Monica L. Anderson
The Truth as He Knows it: A.M. Arthur (Perspectives #1)
Borrowing Trouble: Kade Boehme
Taste in Men: Douglas Black 
Blueberry Boys: Vanessa North
Status Update: Annabeth Albert Best Serial: not reviewed
New Adult contemporary Dirty: Cheryl McIntyre 
Getting Dirty (Dirty #1)
Playing Dirty (Dirty #2)
Talking Dirty (Dirty #3)
Fighting Dirty (Dirty #4)
Staying Dirty (Dirty #5) Best MM: reviewed
Historical Parnormal Romance Damon Snow: Olivia Helling
Damon Snow & the Nocturnal Lessons (DS #1)
Damon Snow & the Incubus Rake (DS #2)
Damon Snow & the Viscount Temptation (DS#3)
Damon Snow & the Nocturnal Confessions (#4) Best His-Ro: reviewed
​MM Historical Romance ​One Indulgence: Lydia Gastrell (Indulgence #1)
One Glimpse: Lydia Gastrell (Indulgence #1) Best His-Ro: reviewed
​Historical romance Midnight Meeting: Gina Conkle
Meet the Earl at Midnight (Midnight meetings #1)
Covenant Garden Cubs: Shana Galen
Earls Just Want to Have Fun (Covenant Garden Cubs #1)
​

Best UF|PNR|SF
Urban Fantasy| Paranormal Romance | Science Fiction Wildcats: Rachel Vincent (not reviewed)
Hunt (Wildcats #0.5)
Lion's Share (Wildcats #1)
Black Blade: Jennifer Estep (reviewed)
Dark Heart of Magic: Jennifer Estep (Black Blade #1)
Cold Burn of Magic: Jennifer Estep (Black Blade #2) Wicked Reads Best Young Adult
MM: not reviewed Exiled in Iowa. Send Help. And Couture.
Chris O'Guinn
Gives Light: Rose Christo (Gives Light #1)
Openly Straight: Bill Konigsburg
Simon Vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda: 
Becky Albertalli
Silence: Sara Alva Best Young Adult
reviewed Placid Girl: Brenna Ehrlich 
Welcome to Hickville High: Mary Karlik (Hickville High #1)
Hickville Confessions: Mary Karlik (Hickville High #2)
Paint my Body Red: Heidi R. Kling  Best DARK
reviewed Come Sit By Me: Thomas Hoobler Best DARK
MM: reviewed Mark of Cain: Kate Sherwood
Cravings Creek: Mel Bossa
Spectacularly Broken: Sage C Holloway 
Suicide Watch: Kelley York (not reviewed) HA!HA!
this has to be a joke
Gaygent Brontosaurus: The Butt is Not Enough
Chuck Tingle
​(Click to check out my review on this craptastrophe)

​ Wicked Reads: YA Edition