This is not a list of books published in 2013. It’s a list of my favorite books read this past year. You may notice that there are no paranormal or scifi books on the list. That’s not for lack of trying. I did read some. They just didn’t make the cut.
As I’ve said many times, before I began writing fiction I read every paranormal and paranormal romance that was of any consequence. Perhaps it was inevitable that I would become either saturated or bored. I have a low tolerance for repetition. Enough said. So this was a year dominated by
1. HOW TO KILL A ROCK STAR by Tiffanie DeBartolo
Published in 2005, this was NEW ADULT years before there was a label for it. Eight years out, but new to me. This is my Number One for 2013. If you love angst, neurotic characters, music and a flawless plot, I suggest you hurry to get this book. My ONLY criticism is that the author hasn’t published anything since.
http://www.amazon.com/Kill-Rock-Star-Tiffanie-DeBartolo-ebook/dp/B003H29CJI
2. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Published in 2004, this book had been recommended to me dozens of times by friends over the years and for some reason I ignored them. Then one day one of my street team members (Dee Bowerman) mentioned it in response to a Facebook question about what man (as opposed to boy) occupies your real man fantasies. I picked it up ($1.99 Kindle for an incredible 894 pages!!) and read the entire series nonstop. I have now been responsible for several friends finding a new series to cherish. This is a reread waiting to happen – probably several times.
There are really good reasons why – after nine years – it is still ranked… WOW!!
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #14 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
- #1 in Books > Romance > Time Travel
- #1 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Historical
- #1 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Historical
http://www.amazon.com/Outlander-Bonus-Content-Diana-Gabaldon-ebook/dp/B000FC2L1O
3.
Boy in a Band by Lisa Loomis
This book got my prize for most gut-wrenching story I ever read. I walked around in a funk for three days afterward. This is (I strongly suspect.) a true story disguised as fiction. Knowing that makes the emotional roller coaster almost unbearable. This book was painful and yet I’m not sorry I read it. I’m including a link to my full review.
MY FULL REVIEW… http://victoriadanann.me/2013/11/24/2609/
BUY ON AMAZON… http://www.amazon.com/Boy-Band-Morgan-Mallory-story-ebook/dp/B007F1VSLW
4. Motorcycle Man by Kristen Ashley
I have to classify this book as a guilty pleasure. On one level I’m ashamed that I liked it because, as a feminist, I shouldn’t enjoy anything that goes on my “overbearing bad boys” shelf in Goodreads. But underneath the couple’s power struggle there was a charming, sweet and real romance, the kind you rarely get in books, wherein two people are trying to work through the dynamics of melding radically different backgrounds, perspectives, and priorities into a shared life that is exciting and harmonious.
BUY ON AMAZON… http://www.amazon.com/Motorcycle-Man-Dream-Kristen-Ashley-ebook/dp/B00AHFJACM
5. The Thoughtless Trilogy by S.C. Stephens
Riddled with flaws, but still so compelling. This book is categorized as New Adult, but should be paranormal romance because the male lead does not exist in our reality. So long as we give ourselves permission to accept that, just as we do in paranormal, we are freed to relax and enjoy. (Except for all the smacking.)
MY FULL REVIEW… http://victoriadanann.me/2013/04/04/thoughtless-book-one-thoughtless/
BUY ON AMAZON… http://www.amazon.com/Thoughtless-1-S-C-Stephens-ebook/dp/B008Y405NG
My favorite books of the Year:
This is the year I found the Black Swan Saga!
I have also enjoyed the Mystics and Mayhem series by AJ Myers, The Marnie Baranuik Files by AJ Aalto and the Coffin Girls series by Aneesa Price.
Okay. Will check them out.
The Knights of the Black Swan series by Victoria Danann , Immortals Of New Orleans series by Kym Grosso, Men of Steel by MJ Fields, Moonlight by Lisa Kessler, MC Sinners series by Bella Jewel
“Not a Sparrow Falls” -Linda Nicols
“Thicker Than Blood”-CJ Darlington
“The Artist Trilogy” -Karina Halle
“Just Evil”-Vickie McKeehan
“The Senses series”-Cindy Patterson
And of course The Knights of the Black Swan series!
Black Swan for sure! Also The Academy books by C.L. Stone.
Humpty Dumpty by, Carolyn McCray
Kade’s Dark Embrace by, Kim Grosso
External Breath of Darkness by, Candice Stauffer
Don’t Read After Dark series by, Carolyn McCray
Blood Type by, Melissa Garrett
I’ve read your number #1,2, and 5. I agree that they are great books. My all time favorites are Outlander and Son of the Morning by Howard.
Besides The Knights of The Black Swan Series I have read and liked Vampire Elite By Irina Argo, The Elemental Series by Elizabeth Hunter, The Wheel of Time Series by The Late Robert Jordan with Brandon Sanderson, The Immortals of New Orleans series by Kym Grosso, and of course The Outlander series By Diana Gabaldon (again).All of these I highly reccomend as AWESOME reads!
I found the Knights of the Black Swan saga and just fell in love! I have Kym Grosso’s Immortals of New Orleans to start 2014 off right and begin reading tomorrow.
The Knights of the Black Swan of course
Tiffinie Helmer’s Wild Men of Alaska and Romance on the Edge books
A New Dream by CJ Baty
The Love at Stakes series by Kerrelyn Sparks
Inn Boonsboro Trilolgy by Nora Roberts
Dark Witch (Book 1-Cousins O’Dwyer Triolgy) by Nora Robers
Thanks for this list, these are all actually on my TBR and look forward to reading them.
This year, I have read mostly contemporary romance, but a little free book recommended on Goodreads earlier this year, sent me back to Paranormal Romance again, buying all her other books!! The Black Swan series, by Victoria a Danann, have you heard of her? She makes my top 5 for 2013. Also, Night Owl from M. Pierce, Samantha Young’s Dublin Street series, Karina Halle’s Experiment in Terror series, Lick from Kylie Scott – oh is that 5 already??
Besides The Knight’s of The Black Swan series. I enjoyed The Immortals of New Orleans by Kim Grosso. The Moon Series by Lisa Kessler. Craving More by Brandy Walker. Just Desserts by Barbara Bretton
I just spent an hour looking up and buying some of all of these authors/books. Thank you! I love:
diane henders
nicky charles
sygnet
isabelle arocho
quinn loftis
j.c. phelps
Hope you all have a wonderful 2014
LOVELY! Reposting your comment on Facebook.
As I thought about this the top of the list is The Black Swan series. I thought it would be easier to list the book or books that put me on an emotional roller-coaster. The Rock And Roll Never Forgets trilogy by Barbara Stewart. The first book Rock And Roll Never Forgets was a free book and grabbed me and pulled me in. The second book When I Look To The Sky made me cry to the point my eye lids where chapped. The third book completed my emotional circle and left me feeling free of all the garbage that I had been holding on to. There are many more that I could list since 2013 count of books read totaled 783 but I will leave it at that.
One of my favorite series is the All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness. The third one isn’t out yet but the first two is Discovery of Witches and Shadow of Knight 🙂
She’s a history professor so it takes a bit for her books to come out
I’m going to rent Outlander at the library! and if I like it I will buy it 😉 I’m a bit nervous about buying new books since I’m a bit picky
My faves this year are anything by these authors:
Victoria Danann
Kym Grosso
Larissa Ione
Lizzy Ford
Elizabeth Hunter
and to many more to count. lol
I found the Black Swan Saga, The Charmed Trilogy and Men of Brahm Hill by Christine Wenrick, All of Valerie Twombly’s books, All of Renea Mason’s books, The Discord Trilogy by Lauren Hodge, The V V Inn Series by C.J. Ellison, The PSS Chronicles by Ripley Patton, Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead, Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyers, Beautiful Creatures Series by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, Order of the Spirit Realm by K.C. Blake, All Series by Marie Wathen, The Hunting Tree Trilogy Series by Ike Hamill, A Tethered Novel Series by Jennifer Snyder….this list keeps going but these are the ones that are my absolute favorite that I read in 2013