Oh how to choose the best books I read this year? I’ve decided to get tough, and I am sharing with you today only twelve books I adored in 2012. These are personal favorites, those that stood out above the crowd. I’m sorry to say some favorite authors of mine didn’t make the list this year (better luck next year, ladies!) and yes, many of my favorites you’re likely to see on other smexy lists this year.

Without further ado, here are twelve books I give my hearty stamp of approval and highest honors to:

Iced by Karen Marie Moning

This book wins #1 spot, and is the only book on this list I’ll rank. Seriously, I’m still talking about this book and series. It caused an “Iced hangover” that lasted weeks where no book could come close. I’ve re-read it already. It’s not for everyone of course. KMM is really dark. Her world is post-apocalyptic and twisted. But for me, it works. She’s an amazing writer and I loved every single page, detail, clue, and teaser. (review)

Demon Forged by Meljean Brook

Oh Irena, you may be my favorite heroine of the year. I absolutely adored this book, and the hardened warrior woman that demanded my respect and attention. I would read this series all over again just to get to this book. (2009 release)

Widow’s Web  by Jennifer Estep

A hard book to read, Widow’s Web is one of the best in the Elemental Assassin series. Gin has some serious sh*t to deal with in the future, and I applaud Estep for the choices she’s made, and I look forward to how she resolves things in books yet to come. (review)

Charlie Madigan series by Kelly Gay

A shout-out to Tori who recommended this series to me! Wow. I hope there will be more of these books, but if not the four that do exist are an amazing and tense series I couldn’t get enough of. Incredibly dark, with just a hint of romance and everything I like in UF. (review)

Gunmetal Magic by Ilona Andrews

I would read anything this writing team puts out – because they are freaking amazing. I had my doubts about this book and Andrea as a leading lady – color me corrected. This was an amazing read! I will add here that I also wholeheartedly endorse the edge series by Ilona Andrews – I recommend those almost as much as the Kate Daniels series Gunmetal is based in. (review)

The World is a Stage by Tamara Morgan

Congrats to Tamara Morgan for being my only must-read contemporary author in 2012! This book was silly. It had dirty jokes. Plays on the Taming of the Shrew trope. I loved every page. (review)

The Witness by Nora Roberts

When Nora Roberts gets things right, nobody is better. She proved this with her romantic suspense book The Witness this year – and I hope it’s a sign of things to come from her. After witnessing a double murder her heroine goes into hiding… that is until someone in her new small town just can’t walk away and leave her alone. (review)

A Lady by Midnight by Tessa Dare

Red hot is how I’d describe Tessa Dare these days. She’s on fire with her Spindle Cove series, and she never disappoints. How she manages tender emotional moments, humor, characters you can’t help but love, and stories you want to re-read over and over. This story had it all, and between the quiet corporal and the orphaned piano teacher I couldn’t help but fall in love. (review)

Steel’s Edge by Ilona Andrews

This is a bittersweet one, as it is the final Edge book this writing team has contracted (for now, at least). What bumps this into the top 12, is that the authors really went for it with this book. It holds nothing back, and is such a fantastic urban fantasty adventure that I want to read it again already – and I will cross my fingers that in a few years (Or less?) we see this world revisited in some (ANY) way. (review)

Killing Time by Cindy Gerard

This book will be available soon. I dropped everything and read it the instant it became available to me as an advance review copy and oh my. This is a new series from Gerard, but it features a man we’ve seen here and there in her BOI series and ladies prepare to fall in serious love. Gerard is the one and only romantic suspense author I simply MUST read, and the only one I recommend this highly. She continues to rock. (2013 release)

Blade Song by J.C. Daniels

Run and buy this right now. No, seriously. If you’re looking for a new Urban Fantasy series this is where to run. The world is fascinating, full of possibility, and I can’t wait for book 2. Such a strong heroine, intriguing male lead, and without question one of my top 5 favorite reads of this year. It is one of those books where you aren’t sure where the world will lead – but there is no doubt that it’s going to be exciting and awesome and kickass. LOVED this book.

Proven Guilty by Jim Butcher

Oh Harry Dresden, you are my favorite. This book is #8 in the series and yes I’m way behind, but it was absolutely epic. Not sure how Butcher keeps writing even better books and topping himself, but this is one amazing series!! I am pacing myself because the thought of ever catching up and having to wait for a new adventure is something I don’t want to do. (2005 release)

 

Urban Fantasy clearly dominates my 2012 list, and it makes me wonder if it will continue to do so in the new year, or if contemporary, mystery, historical, and other genres will make come-backs and take back some of the top spots next year…