Choosing a favorite book is like choosing a body part I can’t live without. I need them all to survive. 2012 was a fabulous and turbulent year for bibliophiles and bookworms alike. We watched normally sane authors engage in dubious behavior, we saw FanFic hit the NY best sellers list, and we watched a few new genres appear while old favorites take a turn for the worse.
I read over 500 books this year and found myself extremely hard pressed to pick just a few to share as my favorites. As you can see, I have over 30 books on my list. This is less than 10% of my total yearly reading, so I think I did rather well. Some were A listers, some were not, but all I feel are worth reading.
PNR
–Bear Meets Girl by Shelly Laurenston. Once again Laurenston entertains us with her crazy shifters when bear shifter Lou “Crush” Crushek and tiger shifter Marcella Malone embark on a “pretend” relationship that yields some very real results. (review)
-Moonglow by Kristen Callihan (review)
-Lethal Rider by Larissa Ione (review)
–Tangle Of Need by Nalini Singh (review)
Urban Fantasy
-Still Life With Shapeshifter by Sharon Shinn-Shinn revisits her Shifting Circle series with an incredibly poignant and bittersweet story of love, loss and family. Smoothly written and emotionally charged, this story takes us beyond the horror and carnage normally found in paranormal stories and instead focuses on the humanity of those who straddle the line between the human and immortal worlds — and those who love them. (review)
-Gunmetal Magic by Ilona Andrews (review)
-By A Thread by Jennifer Estep (review)
-Shadow Fall by Dianne Sylvan
–Night Seeker by Yasmine Galenorn (review)
-Third Grave Dead Ahead by Darynda Jones (review)
-Chasing Magic by Stacia Kane (review)
Horror
–The Kingdom by Amanda Stevens– The second in her bone chilling Graveyard Queen series, Ms. Stevens’s once again submerges us into her world of gothic horror, infused with the slick heat and superstitions of the South. Dark poetic descriptions hold you hostage in it’s insidious embrace as we are gently guided through the story. (review)
Fantasy
-The Kingmakers by Clay & Susan Griffith (review)
–Riveted by Meljean Brooks (review)
Romance (Hist., Contemp., Suspense)
–Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas-though not a new release, I read this for the first time this year and fell in love with the characters and the story. Dreaming of You is a powerful and emotional love story about two completely different people who meet and discover the missing pieces to their soul. (review)
–The Carny by Brooke Moss (review)
-Damaged Goods by Alexandra Allred (this is more contemporary fiction)
–The Bro Magnet by Lauren Baratz-Logsted
-Star Crossed by Kele Moon (review)
-Ride With Me by Ruthie Knox
Erotic Romance
-Beyond Shame by Kit Rocha
-By Private Invitation by Stephanie Julian (review)
–Deep Desires by Charlotte Stein (review)
LGBT
–Dark Soul The Complete Collection by Aleksandr Voinov-A dark and emotional turbulent story about a man who must choose between his life and his lover. (review)
-Cost Of Repairs by A.M. Arthur (review)
Memoirs
-Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson-Let’s Pretend This Never Happened is the mostly true memoir of blogger Jenny Lawson’s life and it kept me laughing, crying, and choking to the end as we read of her less than stellar upbringing in rural Texas to her life now. (review)
YA
–Find You In The Dark by A. Meredith Walters-A raw, emotional, turbulent, and honest YA that tells the story of loving someone who is bi polar. Love, loss, sorrow, and joy all present in this impossible love story.
-Angelfall by Susan Ee (review)
–Confessions Of An Angry Girl by Louise Rozett (review)
-Crimson Frost by Jennifer Estep (review to come)
New Adult
-Easy by Tammara Webber
–Forever My Girl by Heidi Mclaughlin
Honorable Mentions:
ANYTHING non paranormal by Kristen Ashley
Wicked As They Come by Delilah S. Dawson
The DUFF -Designated Ugly Fat Friend by Kody Keplinger
Wallbanger by Alice Clayton
The Ash Trilogy by Shiloh Walker
Matter Of Time series by Mary Calmes
The Ripple Effect by J.A. Saare
Hot Head by Damon Suede
Consequences by Aleatha Romig
Hey Tori!
Thanks for this list. I love the recommendations, and I just added a bunch of these titles to my TBR, but I can’t find Forever My Girl on Amazon. Do you remember where you got it?
Hi Missie,
So glad you got some recs you like. Forever My Girl releases tomorrow (12/27) on Amazon.
Thanks!
I’m always so impressed by the variety in your book cache! And I see many books I should have read this year! Well done!
Thank you, sweetie. It was a good year. 2013 promises to be even BETTAH!
I was reading your list and nodding… Great choices.
This was a year of new discoveries in erotic romances for me= Ruthie Knox, Samantha Young, Tiffany Reizs.
In my Top Ten this year is one thriller- Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.
Thank you. :)
Yes, all good authors. I actually am getting ready to start Samantha Young’s YA books. I have Gone Girl but haven’t started yet. I’ve heard it’s fantastic.
You read that many books? Wow 0_0
I have no life. lol About 100 or so were re reads.
Great list! I saw some of my favorites from this year like Angelfall, Easy, and Hot Head. I also have a lot to add to my wishlist now like Star Crossed and Cost of Repairs.
I can’t wait for book 2 of Angelfall. I love Kele Moon’s UFC series. Have you read the first one? Just as good.
I haven’t actually read any Kele Moon yet, but she is a top priority for 2013.
Choosing a favorite book is like choosing a body part I can’t live without. I need them all to survive.
LOL! Great list Tori! Here’s to a great year of reading in 2013 :)
I read over 500 books this year…
Well now don’t I feel lazy! (Also, great list)