2013 ran the literary gauntlet from incredible never to be forgotten stories to crap I wouldn’t line my rabbit cage with. We saw the rise of emotionally angsty New Adult, erotic moody billionaire alpha hole trilogies, and intense “omg they di’nt” biker MC romances. Self publishing began to lose it’s stigma and take a larger share of the market while also contributing to the rash of plagiarism that flooded the internet. It was a crazy wild year for publishing.

Below is a list of what rocked my world in 2013. Though there were a lot that made me giddy this year, I wanted my list to reflect not just the expected popular books. Some extremely good reads for me aren’t on here because you all KNOW they were good and everyone else has listed them. I wanted to put some on here whose exceptional writing and stories came at me from out of the blue. Some where the release wasn’t fangirled to death or wasn’t made popular just because the series is so beloved. I didn’t expect them to engage me like they did.

Written in Red (The Others, #1) by Anne Bishop. Anne Bishop has once again shown herself to be the Queen of fantasy. A deceptively complex urban fantasy that takes the sensitive issues of racism and abuse and wraps them in a vibrantly magical world with a realistic core. Teeming with intrigue, suspense, and hints of romance, Ms. Bishop’s world building skills continue to astound and enchant. Review l Goodreads l Kindle

The Tin Box by Kim Fielding. An emotional coming of age love story that brings the past and present together for a man caught between what he wants in life and what he’s been taught is permissible. Steady pacing, engaging dialogue, and a well plotted storyline keeps you firmly entrenched until the very end. A wonderful thread of humor allows for joy and happiness to permeate the heartbreaking subject matter. Review l Goodreads l Kindle

Fever Dream by Annabel Joseph-A delightfully funny, erotic, romantic and eye opening story about two ballet stars whose initial dislike of one another blossoms into a sensual S/M romance. A suspenseful stalker subplot adds a bite of angst and turmoil to the story. This one took me out of my comfort zone and I’m glad. To often S/M relationships are written as angsty and based on past abuse. I enjoyed this was consensual and the need to give & receive pain wasn’t used as a crutch. Goodreads l Kindle

Magic Rises by Ilona Andrews. Magic Rises more then rises to the occasion in this delightfully funny, dark, high octane action packed installment that addresses love, loss, and choices. The storylines and direction they take are top-notch. The way it ends opens up a new future and I am sure a new set of troubles for Kate to drag Curran and the pack into. Review l Goodreads l Kindle

Tiger Magic-While I enjoy all of Jennifer Ashley’s books, this one really appealed to me. A tortured hero whose innocence and lowkey alpha-ness hit every one of my protective instincts. Hawt playful love scenes and some serious arse kicking made this a winner across the board for me. Review l Goodreads l Kindle

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell. A beautifully written YA contemporary about first love. Told in alternating POVs, our hero and heroine meet on the school bus and begin a tentative friendship that blossoms into love. Rowell addresses abuse, drug use, and bullying in a realistic manner, harking to the social norms of avoidance and having the courage to speak out. Goodreads l Kindle

Uncommon Passion by Anne Calhoun. An uncommonly good erotic romance between a sheltered woman and a man whose emotional walls barricade him from life. Rich in nuance and passion, Calhoun breaks her readers hearts as you follow the journey of her protagonists into a world of erotic delights and heartache.  Review l Goodreads l Kindle

Sex & Violence by Carrie Mesrobian. Every teen should read this. Carrie Mesrobian’s debut, Sex & Violence, is a thought provoking coming of age story that features a male protagonist placed in a traditional female role as the victim of sexual assault. Dry wit balances against the protag’s dispassionate voice as we learn of his assault, the events leading to it, and the steps he makes to heal and let go of the guilt. Goodreads l Kindle

Night Blade by JC Daniels. Heavily character driven with deceptively mild world building, I find the balance of power and vulnerability to be an addictive draw. Ms. Daniels is not afraid to extract her pound of flesh from her characters and situations arise that will leave you wondering what more will she demand. Heavy plot action and ripe tension is tempered with snarky humor and everyday life; allowing you a respite from it’s heavy undertones. The story reads fast as we are sucked into a vortex of deception, betrayal, sorrow, and overwhelming horror. Have plenty of kleenex on hand because only the heartless will be left unaffected. Goodreads l Kindle

Hydraulic Level Five-Sarah Latchaw. An impassioned, humorous, enlightening story about second chance love. What I truly enjoyed about this story is the lack of formula. As I started reading I became fully invested in Samuel and Kaye’s love story. It is an emotional, honest journey of love, loss, regret, guilt, and forgiveness. Well written with a smooth storyline, well plotted conflicts, and an underlying message of forgiveness that forces our couple to look deep inside themselves for the answers to their questions. Strong realistic characters will sweep you up and break your heart as you follow this tremulous love story. Goodreads l Kindle

Down London Road (On Dublin Street, #2) by Samantha Young. Young’s second book divulges into a more emotional status then book one. I found the connection between the h/H a realistic one that didn’t follow a predetermined path. A deceptively complex romantic contemporary that will have you laughing, crying, and swooning with delight. Goodreads l Kindle

True Love Story by Willow Aster-Lordy, lordy. What a book. This NA puts you through the ringer. Like our heroine, you’ll fall in love with the hero, and when the big reveal comes, your all flailing around, trying to catch your breathe as your heart shatters. Though not a fan of overly emotional, angsty NA’s, this one hit all my buttons. Goodreads l Kindle

Honorable mentions:
The Confession series by Louise Rozett (YA)
The Beyond Series by Kit Rocha (ER)
The Transplanted Tales by Kate SeRine (PNR)
Neanderthal Seeks Human: A Smart Romance (Knitting in the City, #1) by Penny Reid (RC)
Provoked by Joanne Chamber (HR-M/M)
Wait For You (Wait for You, #1) by J. Lynn (NA)
Lick by Kylie Scott (NA)
Generation V (American Vampire, #1) by M.L. Brennan (UF)
The Demonica/Lords of Deliverance series by Larissa Ione
Phy/Changing series by Nalini Singh
Darkest London Series by Kristen Callihan
The Elemental Assassin series by Jennifer Estep