Even though the year isn't *quite* over yet—thank goodness, since I've still got 50 books to read to reach my goal of 200!—I'm going to play along today and talk about the best reads I enjoyed in 2017.  In the "Books Read in 2017" section at the bottom of my blog, you can see that I starred 22 books as favorites, so I'll have to narrow it down to my 10 most favorite. Before we get to that, though, I want to mention two things:

(1)  I'm hosting a fun giveaway that hasn't received a lot of entries yet.  This means your chances of winning a copy of Celebrate Every Season with Six Sisters' Stuff are really, really good!  Thick and glossy, this cookbook retails for $22.99.  It's full of yummy recipes, easy crafts, and fun ideas for every season of the year.  Whether you want this for yourself or for Christmas giving, you have to enter to win.  Take a look at this post for more details.  Good luck!

(2)  Top Ten Tuesday is a fun weekly meme.  It's a great way to discover new blogs, give some love to those you already visit, and, of course, add some intriguing new reads to Ole Mount TBR.  To join in, all you have to do is click on over to The Broke and the Bookish, read a few guidelines, make your own list, then have a good time hopping around the book blogosphere.  If you want to add some pizzazz to your Tuesday, TTT is the ticket.

Okay, here we go with my Top Ten Favorite Books of 2017:

1.  The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny—I adore the Chief Inspector Gamache series, so it's not surprising that both installments I read this year made it to my favorites list.  All the books are excellent.  This one, eighth in the series, is an especially intriguing "locked room" mystery set in a remote monastery that does not allow visits by outsiders.  Until a monk turns up dead.  Gamache and his right-hand man are called in to find the killer.

2.  How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny—This mystery, ninth in the series, revolves around a dead woman who—Gamache is surprised to discover—is not just any old lady, but a celebrity with a very, very interesting history.  As he investigates her murder, Gamache also has to deal with personal and professional turmoil, all of which make this novel difficult to put down.

3.  The Forgetting by Sharon Cameron—This was the first book I read in 2017 and boy, did it start my reading year off right!  This YA novel is unique and intriguing.  The less you know about it going in, the better.  Trust me, though, it's worth the read. 

4.  The Passion of Dolssa by Julie Berry—I read this one, an even more unique YA novel, because it was nominated for a Whitney Award.  It ended up winning in the YA General category and also being selected as a Michael L. Printz Honor title, neither of which surprised me at all.  It's a lovely historical that's interesting, exciting, and well-written.

5.  Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate—Adoption stories always reel me in, and this one was no exception.  The novel tells a heartbreaking story based on the real-life antics of Georgia Tann, a money-hungry woman who basically sold babies for her own profit and gain during the 1930s and 40s.  Ultimately hopeful, it makes for an engrossing read.

6.  Worth the Wrestle by Sheri Dew—I loved this inspirational book about wrestling with your questions and doubts.  Dew writes in an uplifting, engaging way that just speaks right to my soul.  This is a life-changing book, which I absolutely adored.

7.  You May Already Be a Winner by Ann Dee Ellis—I enjoyed this quirky MG novel set in a locale (Provo, Utah) with which I'm very familiar.  It's about a young girl living in a trailer park who dreams of winning the lottery and making a better life for herself, her mother, and her younger sister.  It's a sweet read about appreciating what you have—even, maybe especially, when it seems like you don't have much at all.

8.  Wool by Hugh Howey—This dystopian chunkster may look intimidating, but it's actually very readable.  The world it introduces is complex and fascinating.  I loved immersing myself in this one.

9.  Lemons by Melissa Savage—This MG novel is as bright and enjoyable as it sounds.  It stars two Bigfoot hunters who make a startling discovery right in their own backyard!

10.  My Bonny Light Horseman by L.A. Meyer—I've long been a fan of the irresistible Jacqueline "Jacky" Faber.  Her adventures never fail to make me smile.  Since her creator passed away suddenly in 2014, I am reading the series slowly, savoring each book, knowing there will be no more.  This one, sixth in the series, is just as delightful as all the rest.

There you go, my Top Ten.  You can see the other 12 books I enjoyed most this year by scrolling to the bottom of my blog and checking out the titles on my "Books Read in 2017" list that have asterisks.  So, what do you think of my list?  Have you read any of these?  What were the best books you read this year?  I'd love to know.  Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor.

Happy TTT!        

 

(Image from Barnes & Noble)

As if watching her mom waste away from the effects of cancer wasn't awful enough, 10-year-old Lemonade "Lem" Witt is now being forced to leave the only home she's ever known.  She's already lost her mother, does she really have to give up San Francisco, with all its beauty, bustle, and memories?  Apparently so.  Lem's being sent to live with her maternal grandfather—a man she's never met—way up in northern California.  Good thing she's not planning to stay in tiny, leafy Willow Creek.  The minute another guardian is found for her, Lem will be heading right back to the City by the Bay.

When Lem meets Tobin Sky, her grandfather's 10-year-old neighbor, she's even more convinced that she's landed on an alien planet.  Obsessed with Bigfoot, the boy can talk of little else.  When Tobin "hires" her to be his assistant at Bigfoot Detectives Inc, Lem reluctantly goes along with it.  After all, Podunkville offers very little in the way of scintillating entertainment.  As the duo traipses all over town in an attempt to catch the elusive creature on film, they form a bond that will change both of them.  Together, they learn some very important lessons about loss, love, family, and the life-altering power of a Twinkie offered in friendship.

Lemons, a debut novel by child and family therapist Melissa Savage, is a bright, enjoyable book that explores the idea of turning the sour experiences of life into something sweet.  All of the main characters have suffered in some way or another and every one of them must find a way to cope.  As Lem learns how to deal with her own grief, she helps others face their own demons.  This makes her a very empathetic heroine.  She's also funny, brave, and loyal, which means she's the perfect narrator for this engaging story.  The tale deals with tough subjects, yes, but its overall tone is hopeful and uplifting.  Its a fun adventure that will appeal to anyone looking for a sunny summer read about turning lemons into lemonade.  

(Readalikes: Um, I can't think of anything.  Can you?)

Grade:

 

If this were a movie, it would be rated:

 

for brief, mild violence and some mildly scary images

To the FTC, with love:  I received an ARC of Lemons from the generous folks at Crown Books for Young Readers.  Thank you!

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Want more opinions on Lemons?  Check out the books other tour stops below: