{"id":1328,"date":"2017-06-22T00:43:01","date_gmt":"2017-06-22T06:43:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.corividae.com\/shiny\/?p=1328"},"modified":"2017-06-13T12:03:24","modified_gmt":"2017-06-13T18:03:24","slug":"sara-dobie-bauers-best-books-of-2017-so-far","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.corividae.com\/shiny\/sara-dobie-bauers-best-books-of-2017-so-far\/","title":{"rendered":"Sara Dobie Bauer\u2019s Best Books of 2017 (so far)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In celebration of the release of <em>Bite Somebody Else<\/em>, I look back on the books I\u2019ve read since January and what really tickled my fancy. (In some cases, literally.) So far this year, I\u2019ve read thirty-seven books. Of those thirty-seven, here are the top five in no particular order.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><em><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-1329\" src=\"http:\/\/www.corividae.com\/shiny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Gun-to-My-Head-188x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"188\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.corividae.com\/shiny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Gun-to-My-Head-188x300.jpg 188w, http:\/\/www.corividae.com\/shiny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Gun-to-My-Head.jpg 297w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 188px) 100vw, 188px\" \/>Gun to My Head<\/em> by Dira Lewis<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Gun-My-Head-Dira-Lewis\/dp\/1620047896\/\"><strong>https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Gun-My-Head-Dira-Lewis\/dp\/1620047896\/<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>When I met Dira at a convention, she told me\u2014in no uncertain terms\u2014that<em> Gun to My Head <\/em>was not a romance. Okay, but it is \u2026 if you squint. Injured vampire Sin is on the run when he meets lonely Dominic and imprints on the heartbroken young man. Now, they\u2019re bound together, even as other vampires hunt Dominic. Even as Sin does some horrible things to his sort of \u201cboyfriend.\u201d Even though Dominic is pretty much willing to die for Sin. So maybe it\u2019s not exactly a romance, but it\u2019s action-packed, featuring a complicated relationship between a vampire and his human. I loved this gritty vampire book so much, I had to limit myself to a certain number of pages a night. So worth the read.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><em><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-1330\" src=\"http:\/\/www.corividae.com\/shiny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Read-Bottom-Up-198x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"198\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.corividae.com\/shiny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Read-Bottom-Up-198x300.jpg 198w, http:\/\/www.corividae.com\/shiny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Read-Bottom-Up.jpg 316w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 198px) 100vw, 198px\" \/>Read Bottom Up<\/em> by Neel Shah and Skye Chatham <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Read-Bottom-Up-Neel-Shah\/dp\/0062262181\/\"><strong>https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Read-Bottom-Up-Neel-Shah\/dp\/0062262181\/<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>A love story told entirely via text messages, emails, and social media stalking, I\u2019ve never read a romance novel that better mimics our modern idea of \u201cdating.\u201d Madeline and Elliot meet at a New York City restaurant opening, and so begins their psychotic adventure. Why psychotic? Because, in relationships, we\u2019re all nuts\u2014as evidenced by the overly analytical email exchanges between Madeline and her best friend and Elliot and his. (\u201cHe did this, but did he mean that?\u201d) We\u2019ve all fielded the madly insecure ramblings of a friend in a new relationship. I want to make this required reading for all college students. Not only does it show you what not to do in a relationship, but it commiserates with the madness we\u2019ve all felt while searching blindly for The One.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><em><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-1331\" src=\"http:\/\/www.corividae.com\/shiny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/An-Unattractive-Vampire-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.corividae.com\/shiny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/An-Unattractive-Vampire-200x300.jpg 200w, http:\/\/www.corividae.com\/shiny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/An-Unattractive-Vampire.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>An Unattractive Vampire<\/em> by Jim McDoniel<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Unattractive-Vampire-Jim-McDoniel\/dp\/1941758649\/\"><strong>https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Unattractive-Vampire-Jim-McDoniel\/dp\/1941758649\/<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This book had me snort laughing for sure. Ancient vampire Yulric Bile has been sleeping underground for three hundred years. When he wakes, he finds the world has become a stupid, terrifying place filled with stupid, beautiful vampires who have no idea how to be monsters. Modern vampires are apparently attractive, much to Yulric\u2019s distaste since he\u2019s one ugly dude. Think Nosferatu, creeping around, sucking blood and stuff. Now, with the help of an unlikely duo, he hunts the doofus responsible for this pretty vampire trend\u2014with hilarious results. A book (much like <em>Bite Somebody Else<\/em>) that does not take itself seriously, I don\u2019t suggest you read this in public because your insane laughter might scare people.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><em><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-1332\" src=\"http:\/\/www.corividae.com\/shiny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Sublime-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.corividae.com\/shiny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Sublime-200x300.jpg 200w, http:\/\/www.corividae.com\/shiny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Sublime.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>Sublime<\/em> by Christina Lauren<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Sublime-Christina-Lauren\/dp\/1481413694\/\"><strong>https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Sublime-Christina-Lauren\/dp\/1481413694\/<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Disclaimer: I got rid of this book as soon as I finished reading it because I will never, ever read it again. Need I explain? All right. In <em>Sublime<\/em>, ghost girl Lucy wakes up years after her death on the grounds of a private high school. She is immediately drawn to handsome Colin, the resident orphaned thrill seeker. Soon, they\u2019re more than drawn to each other; they\u2019re obsessed with each other, and it looks as though Lucy has come back for Colin. But why? Is she there to save him or destroy him? Halfway though this novel, I called the friend who sent it to me and asked, \u201cIs the end of this book going to ruin me?\u201d Basically, yes. <em>Sublime<\/em> is beautifully written with amazing characters\u2014but it is sad enough to make your eyes bleed, which is why I will never read it again. If you like tragic love stories, this is the book for you. You\u2019ve been warned!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><em><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-1333\" src=\"http:\/\/www.corividae.com\/shiny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/The-Magpie-Lord-197x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"197\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.corividae.com\/shiny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/The-Magpie-Lord-197x300.jpg 197w, http:\/\/www.corividae.com\/shiny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/The-Magpie-Lord.jpg 312w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 197px) 100vw, 197px\" \/>The Magpie Lord<\/em> by KJ Charles<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Magpie-Lord-Charm-Magpies-ebook\/dp\/B06XW9174G\/\"><strong>https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Magpie-Lord-Charm-Magpies-ebook\/dp\/B06XW9174G\/<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I read this in one day, probably because I love a good Victorian ghost story slash romance featuring a super hot dude. (Who doesn\u2019t?) Following the deaths of his odious father and brother, Lucien Vaudrey returns home to accept his legacy as Lord Crane. Too bad someone attempts his murder using magic. He calls in a specialist: magician Stephen Day. Whereas Lucian is walking sex, Stephen is a strange little man whose contempt for the new Lord Crane soon turns to lust. (Crane\u2019s tattoos sure do help.) Together, they have to figure out the mystery of the magpies and find Crane\u2019s would-be killer before they both end up dead. If there\u2019s extra time for some heated M\/M sex, all the better! Meow.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Author bio: <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-1012\" src=\"http:\/\/www.corividae.com\/shiny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Sara-Dobie-Bauer-Author-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/>Sara Dobie Bauer is a writer, model, and mental health advocate with a creative writing degree from Ohio University. Her short story, \u201cDon\u2019t Ball the Boss,\u201d was nominated for the Pushcart Prize, inspired by her shameless crush on Benedict Cumberbatch. She lives with her hottie husband and two precious pups in Northeast Ohio, although she\u2019d really like to live in a Tim Burton film. She is a member of RWA and author of the paranormal rom-com\u00a0<em>Bite Somebody<\/em>, among other ridiculously entertaining things.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1283\" src=\"http:\/\/www.corividae.com\/shiny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/BiteSomebodyElse_final-1-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.corividae.com\/shiny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/BiteSomebodyElse_final-1-200x300.jpg 200w, http:\/\/www.corividae.com\/shiny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/BiteSomebodyElse_final-1-768x1151.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.corividae.com\/shiny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/BiteSomebodyElse_final-1-683x1024.jpg 683w, http:\/\/www.corividae.com\/shiny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/BiteSomebodyElse_final-1.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>About <em>Bite Somebody Else<\/em> (Book 2 in the <em>Bite Somebody<\/em> series):<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Imogene helped her newbie vampire friend Celia hook up with an adorable human, but now Celia has dropped an atomic bomb of surprise: she has a possibly blood-sucking baby on the way. Imogene is not pleased, especially when a mysterious, ancient, and annoyingly gorgeous vampire historian shows up to monitor Celia&#8217;s unprecedented pregnancy.<\/p>\n<p>Lord Nicholas Christopher Cuthbert III is everything Imogene hates: posh, mannerly, and totally uninterested in her. Plus, she thinks he&#8217;s hiding something. So what if he smells like a fresh garden and looks like a rich boarding school kid just begging to be debauched? Imogene has self-control. Or something.<\/p>\n<p>As Celia&#8217;s pregnancy progresses at a freakishly fast pace, Imogene and Nicholas play an ever-escalating game of will they or won&#8217;t they, until his sexy maker shows up on Admiral Key, forcing Nicholas to reveal his true intentions toward Celia&#8217;s soon-to-arrive infant.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Links:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Website: <a href=\"http:\/\/SaraDobieBauer.com\">http:\/\/SaraDobieBauer.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Amazon: <a href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/2rnSvoC\">http:\/\/amzn.to\/2rnSvoC<\/a><\/p>\n<p>World Weaver Press: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.worldweaverpress.com\/store\/p125\/Bite_Somebody_Else.html\">http:\/\/www.worldweaverpress.com\/store\/p125\/Bite_Somebody_Else.html<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Facebook: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/AuthorSaraDobieBauer\">https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/AuthorSaraDobieBauer<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Twitter: <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SaraDobie\">https:\/\/twitter.com\/SaraDobie<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Instagram: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/saradobiebauer\/\">https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/saradobiebauer\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In celebration of the release of Bite Somebody Else, I look back on the books I\u2019ve read since January and what really tickled my fancy. (In some cases, literally.) So far this year, I\u2019ve read thirty-seven books. Of those thirty-seven, &hellip; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.corividae.com\/shiny\/sara-dobie-bauers-best-books-of-2017-so-far\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1283,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[130],"tags":[268,267,209],"class_list":["post-1328","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guest-blog-3","tag-bite-somebody-else","tag-guest-post","tag-sara-dobie-bauer"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.corividae.com\/shiny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1328","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.corividae.com\/shiny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.corividae.com\/shiny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.corividae.com\/shiny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.corividae.com\/shiny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1328"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.corividae.com\/shiny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1328\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1334,"href":"http:\/\/www.corividae.com\/shiny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1328\/revisions\/1334"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.corividae.com\/shiny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1283"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.corividae.com\/shiny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1328"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.corividae.com\/shiny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1328"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.corividae.com\/shiny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1328"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}