Best of 2013 Reads
I’ve managed to read 160+
books in 2013 and it was really hard to get my “Best of” list down to just 20
books. Honestly, I really didn’t make it happen, as I picked a couple of books
for a couple of the authors. However, when I went back and looked at all the
books I’d read, even getting my list down to just these books was really hard.
1. Dare to Love
by Carly Phiilps
I’m so excited that Carly
Phillips is now an indie published author. I’ve been a fan of her books for
years and loved with Dare to Love she
went hotter than her usual books. I loved Dare and Riley as a couple and
readers were given an awesome book to start this new series. I’ve already read
this book multiple times and even gifted it to friends and family to get the
word out more about the series.
2. The Mistress
by Tiffany Reisz
Tiffany had said, “trust me”
many times as I was reading the first 3 books in the Original Sinners series that everything would turn out how it
should. I’m so glad I kept reading with
this series. One of my favorites ever and I can’t wait to read the 4 prequel
books in the series starting with The
Saint next year.
3. One & Only
by Viv Daniels
I read many books in the NA
genre this year and honestly loved each of the authors’ books I read. However, One & Only was my favorite of the
books I read in the genre. I loved Tess from the very first and think she and
Dylan were the perfect couple. This book
pulled so many emotions from me and I pretty much had to re-read it as soon as
I finished reading it the first time. I can’t wait to read Sweet & Wild, when it comes out next year.
4. Love Irresistibly by Julie James
I’ve had Julie James on my
auto-buy list since I read her very first book. She has never disappointed me
and I buy her new book each year as soon as it is available for order. Cade and
Brooke’s love story was so fun to read, as they both are total control freaks
and it was fun to watch them figure out how to make a relationship work.
5. Don’t Look Away
by Leslie Kelly
Leslie Kelly is another
auto-buy author for me. I love her super sexy books as well as her darker
books. Don’t Look Away is one of her
darker romantic suspense thrillers. It kept me on the edge of my seat and I
loved it!
6. The Marriage Diaries Volumes 1-4 by
Erika Wilde
I’ve loved each and every one
of the episodes in The Marriage Diaries so far. I love reading about a happily
married couple that has decided to explore their sexual fantasies together.
Dean and Jillian are so sexy together and I can’t wait for more episodes in
this series.
7. Night Blade
by J.C. Daniels
This book killed me yet I
still loved it so much. Seriously had to have tissues with me to get me through
this book. I love the Kit Colbana series so much and countdown until the
release of each book.
8. Fifth Grave Past the Light by Darynda Jones
I love the Charley Davidson
series so much! Charley is one of the funniest characters ever. I love so many
of the other characters from this series, especially Reyes. If you’ve never
tried audiobooks before, this is the perfect series for audiobooks.
9. Beyond Control
& Beyond Pain by Kit Rocha
I couldn’t pick just one of
the books from Kit Rocha. I loved them both so much. I was super excited to get Dallas & Lex’s
book so early in the series. Bonus was getting to read Six & Bren’s story
this year too. I’m so glad my friends on twitter introduced me to the Kit Rocha
books in 2012, and they are now auto-buy books for me.
10. Barefoot by the Sea by Roxanne St. Claire
Roxanne St. Claire is another
auto-buy author for me. I’ve been a fan since I found her Bullet Catcher books.
I love her romantic suspense, but have totally fallen in love with her
contemporary romances. I’ve really loved
each of the books in the Barefoot Bay
series, but Tessa and Ian/John’s book is my favorite. Yet another book that
pulled all the emotions from me this year.
11. Rumor Has It
by Jill Shalvis
We had another year of
awesome books from Jill Shalvis. However, my most favorite book this year from
her was Rumor Has It. I loved
watching Griff fall in love with Kate. I loved it so much that Griff almost
knocked Ford off my top Jill Shalvis hero ever list.
12. Anything For You & I’ll Be Home For Christmas
by Jessica Scott
I’m a huge Jessica Scott fan.
I love her Coming Home series so
much! I’ve fallen for all the characters in this series and look forward to
visiting with each of the characters again and again with each new book.
13. Perfect Fling
by Carly Phillips
There was no way I could
leave out Erin and Cole’s book on my best of list. Hands down one of the best
books ever from Carly Phillips and my favorite in her Serendipity’s Finest series.
14. Starting From Scratch by Stacy Gail
I found this book thanks to
so many of my friends on twitter talking about it. I’ll totally quote from
You’ve Got Mail and say “read it with a box of tissues”. One of the most
emotional books I’ve read this year, and I loved it.
15. Kissing Under the Mistletoe by Bella Andre
I was so excited to finally
get to read Mary & Jack’s story. While I’ve loved each of the books about
the Sullivan siblings, Jack & Mary’s story is my favorite in the series so
far. My favorite scene in the book is when Mary is putting all the Christmas
ornaments her children made over the years and remembering each instance.
Tissues were required.
16. Making It Last
by Ruthie Knox
I loved seeing Amber and Tony
14 years after they were married. I loved most of all that they had a normal
life. They still had daily concerns with
kids, jobs and just everyday life. It killed me that spending time together had
moved to the back burner, but once they were together, their chemistry was just
as strong as when they were first together. This was yet another book I read
that required tissues.
17. United We Spy
by Ally Carter
I’ve been a fan of the Gallagher Girl series from Ally Carter
since I found the very first book. I knew going in that this was the final book
and have to say that the wrap up was done flawlessly. I did figure out a few
things before Cammie and her friends, but still loved every single thing about
this book.
18. The Practice Proposal by Tracy March
The
Practice Proposal was my first book from Tracy March, but it won’t be my
last. I love her writing style and really hope she writes more sports romances
in the future. I’m a huge fan of sports, but baseball holds a special place in
my heart since I grew up watching games with my mom. I loved the chemistry
between Cole and Liza and really loved watching them fall for one another.
19. Personal
Assets by Kelsey Browning
I fell in love with Allie and Cameron as a couple the more time
they spent together. Not that everything was smooth sailing between them, but
there was never a lack of emotion as I read this story. I loved Personal Assets
so much. This book is laugh out loud funny at times. Add in the sinfully sexy
moments between Cameron and Allie, and this book is a winner all around.
20. All He Ever
Dreamed by Shannon Stacey
We were lucky enough to get 2
Kowalski books from Shannon Stacey this year. I have to say reading about Josh
and Katie falling head over heels in love was the best. I loved how they moved
from friends to lovers and thought it was done perfectly.
There were so many other
books I wanted to include on my list this year, but I made myself limit to the
ones above. However, I’d be remiss in not mentioning a few other authors whose
books I also loved this year. Lily Everett’s Sanctuary Island series, Silver
James’ Penumbra Papers series, Julie Leto’s Dirty Dare series, Toni Aleo’s
Nashville Assassin’s series, Alannah Lynne’s Heat Wave series, and Heather
Lire’s Holiday, Vermont series. I loved them all, but made myself end my list
with 20 books.
Great list Liza! A few I haven't read - I'm taking notes :)
ReplyDeletegreat list liza! ive read most of these! but a few i havent heard of! :-) going to write it down! I have a huge tbr pile right now! i hope to get caught up soon!
ReplyDeletei dont know how you found time for 160 books Might have gotten 75 this year but I dont count maybe I should? december was terrible month for reading! busy busy busy! :- )
Thanks so much for the shout-out about Personal Assets, Liza!
ReplyDeleteKelsey
AH! I've only read two of these titles! (And you know which ones they are!!) But those two are awesome! I need to get off my butt and make my best of list! I actually read over 100 books this year for the first time! Woot! Looking forward to seeing what's coming in 2014.
ReplyDelete