The Book Blog's 2013 List of Favorites

We wanted to share with you our list of TOP reads for 2013. These are the books that spoke to us, stayed with us and left us wanting to stay with them. So, without further ado...

Sandy B’s Top 13 of 2013

These were books I read in 2013 – not necessarily released in 2013

Every single one of these reads rocked my world, made me laugh, made me cry, made me want to fling my Kindle, made me bite my fingernails and a couple even drove me to tequila. Some of them, I’m sure, are familiar to all of you.  Others, I’m really hoping will be new to you.  There is nothing that I love more than to help readers find a great new author to enjoy.  Well - I also love to turn people on to the magic of the Amazon Kindle app on their electronic devices if they don’t own a Kindle. J

These are in author last name order – not in order of preference – because truth be told I loved them all.  EACH AND EVERY SINGLE ONE.

1.            Arsen by Mia Asher - http://amzn.to/1dSlftP

The book that drove me into the arms of Jose Cuervo. It broke my soul reading this one but boy was it worth the ride!  Who would believe this is Mia’s first book – masterful!  READ IT!

2.            Promise Me by Barbie Bohrman - http://amzn.to/17RZMA

What if you could go back to what seemed like the bad boy but really turned out to be the good guy.  What if this read contained two EPIC tell off scenes that I relished so much I read them 3 times?  Loved it!  

3.            Wallbanger  by Alice Clayton - http://amzn.to/1kjrFIV

What genius writing by Alice Clayton.  Not only was Wallbanger very smart and very sexy – it was laugh out loud funny fabulous writing.  One word – CLIVE!  Read it and you will understand.

4.            Darkness Series by Claire Contreras

Oh the mind blowing twists and turns that the Darkness Series took me on.  I actually had to close my Kindle and walk away at one point cause I was so pissed off!  But oh my goodness you will never forget Cole Murphy.  You will love him “to the moon and back”.  He is bare naked romance personified.

There is No Light in Darkness (Book #1) - http://amzn.to/1hIS3us

Darkness Before Dawn (Book #2) - http://amzn.to/1iEavUD

5.            Real Series by Katy Evans

Oh Remington Tate!  The only BBF that in my mind/heart comes close to stealing my love away from Gideon Cross (Crossfire Series by Sylvia Day).  Remy is intense, he is overpowering, he is oh so ridiculously sexy that from the moment he comes on the page – you can’t get enough of him.

Real (Real Series Book #1) - http://amzn.to/1i64VHQ

Mine (Real Series #2) - http://amzn.to/19xSVMv

Remy (Real Series #3) - http://amzn.to/17D2Pyd

6.       The Leaves Series by J.B. Hartnett

I sobbed when I discovered why Anika is called Inky. Once I read Inky I totally understood the cover. Compelling writing, a story of heartbreak, revenge and the healing power of love.  Adored it.  

Inky (The Leaves Book #1) - http://amzn.to/17f0FST 

Cole (The Leaves Book #2)  - http://amzn.to/1dKBo42

7.         Hopeless by Colleen Hoover – http://amzn.to/19tSd37

SOUL SEARING!  The book hangover this one gave me lasted for weeks.  I still think about it and smile. The non-kiss kissing scene was one of the hottest things I’ve ever read. Colleen Hoover is a genius!    

8.            Fear of Falling – http://amzn.to/1cPelbD

Some of the most beautiful writing that I have ever read.  Lyrically beautiful, heart rendering kind of beautiful,

the more you read the more you love kind of beautiful. S.L. Jennings stole my heart forever and I'm not ashamed to admit it. Not one little bit.

9.            Very Bad Things by Ilsa Madden-Mills – http://amzn.to/1bdv854

Everything seems perfect on the outside – what’s underneath the glossiness of perfection is ugly.  Nora and Leo are so great!  A drunk gossip girl, a guy who wants nothing to do with her but can’t stay away, the little brother who has more wisdom than the two of them put together. Loved the surrounding cast of characters and look forward to their stories too.     

10.            Unbreak Me by Lexi Ryan – http://amzn.to/1i63uZL

This girl has no illusions about who she is or what she is – she’s no goody two shoes. Small time slut with too much baggage is how Maggie sees herself.  She’s back in town to attend her sister’s wedding. Maggie’s sister is marrying William Bailey – Maggie’s ex-fiance!  Yea, you want to read this one for sure.

11.            Chocolate Lovers Series by Tara Sivec

I started Seduction and Snacks on my commute to work. People on the bus must have thought I was crazy because I laughed out loud over and over again. Tara Sivec is genius!  She tells the truth of motherhood that many would not dare admit without forgetting the sexy. Fabulously entertaining in every single way.

Seduction and Snacks (Chocolate Lovers Series Book #1) - http://amzn.to/1kjv6PF

Futures and Frosting (Chocolate Lovers Series Book #2) - http://amzn.to/1gzwHfi

Troubles and Treats (Chocolate Lovers Series Book #3) - http://amzn.to/1i6dLoZ

Hearts and Llamas (Chocolate Lovers Series Book #3.5) - http://amzn.to/1ljkE90

12.            Carter Reed by Tijan – http://amzn.to/1eyfj8L

The beginning of this book will get your heart racing.  Make no mistake Carter Reed is not a nice guy.  As a matter of fact he has a penchant for taking out anyone that gets in his way.  He is the anti-hero for sure but I DO NOT care. I loved him.  He made his best friend a promise and he is going to keep it- no matter what it takes.

13.            The Ever Trilogy by Jasinda Wilder

Jasinda took my heart and broke it, put it back together and broke it again!  I laughed, I rejoiced, I cried and I couldn’t put them down. 

Forever & Always - http://amzn.to/1bU2B0v

After Forever - http://amzn.to/19YGAxR

Lesley's TOP 13 of 2013

I’m sure there is something we love about each and every book we read.(even the ones that don’t rate that well) Each one becomes a little piece of treasure we keep stowed in our kindles or book shelves. So, when asked to narrow those favorites down, I broke out into a sweat. That’s just totally bananas only 13…….. It’s a bitter-sweet list for I know I ADORED way more than these 13. But for one reason or another I have picked these.

1)When It Rains by Lisa De Jong

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1klWH2S

2) The Dark Prince by S.L. Jennings

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1blkndr

3) The Last Hour by Charles Sheehan-Miles

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1klWNrh

4) Gabriel’s Inferno Trilogy by Sylvain Reynard

Book 1: http://amzn.to/1da3jNY

Book 2: http://amzn.to/18XGMRh

Book 3: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00D3CRZFK

5)The Bronze Horseman Trilogy by Paulina Simons

The Bronze Horseman: http://amzn.to/JY7aAA

Tatiana and Alexander: http://amzn.to/1eC1Tst

The Summer Garden: http://amzn.to/1efgNnQ

6) The Scribe by Elizabeth Hunter

http://amzn.to/178BZIq

7) REAL series by Katy Evans

Real: http://amzn.to/1i64VHQ

Mine: http://amzn.to/19xSVMv

Remy: http://amzn.to/KwaTXl

8) The Fae Chronicles by Amelia Hutchins

Fighting Destiny: http://amzn.to/1cw6MDz

Taunting Destiny: http://amzn.to/1lKw4Qt

9) Very Bad Things by Ilsa Madden-Mills

http://amzn.to/1bdv854

10) Accidentally on Purpose Series by L.D. Davis

http://amzn.to/1cTfJrK

11) Darkness before Dawn by Claire Contreras

http://amzn.to/1iEavUD

12) This Man Series by Jodi Ellen Malpas

This Man: http://amzn.to/1km0zAR

Beneath This Man: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FOWA5JK

This Man Confessed: http://amzn.to/1da7Xvi

13)UnBeautifully by Madeline Sheehan

http://amzn.to/19MDKlr

Jenn's TOP 13 of 2013

With so many great books, I had a hard time! Several are from a series or the entire series. They made me laugh, cry and swoon and rereading them has or will happen. Something I love even more, getting to tell the author of said book what the story meant to me. I honestly don't think that will ever get old. My list is in no particular order. If you've read any on our list, let us know what you thought about the book. You know we can sit and talk about books all day long!

When it Rains by Lisa De Jong

http://amzn.to/1klWH2S

The Fae Chronicles by Amelia Hutchins

Fighting Destiny: http://amzn.to/1cw6MDz

Taunting Destiny: http://amzn.to/1lKw4Qt

Spiral of Bliss Series by Nina Lane

Arouse: http://amzn.to/1efkBpg

Allure: http://amzn.to/JYhHM7

Games of the Heart (The 'Burg Series) by Kristen Ashley

http://amzn.to/1da7yc8

Beautiful Stranger and Beautiful Player by Christina Lauren

Beautiful Stranger: http://amzn.to/1km2024

Beautiful Player: http://amzn.to/1cGZOZ9

Real (The Real Series) by Katy Evans

http://amzn.to/1i64VHQ

This Man Confessed by Jodi Ellen Malpas

http://amzn.to/1da7Xvi

Connected by Kim Karr

http://amzn.to/1aAXwei

Skipping Stones by J.B. McGee

http://amzn.to/18ivEdU

With Me in Seattle Series by Kristen Proby

Come Away with Me: http://amzn.to/KwfyIJ

Fight with Me: http://amzn.to/1gbF3sL

Play with Me: http://amzn.to/1dJ6z11

Rock with Me: http://amzn.to/1km2C89

Safe with Me: http://amzn.to/1da8jBX

The Dark Prince and Fear of Falling by S.L. Jennings

TDP: http://amzn.to/1blkndr

Fear of Falling: http://amzn.to/1cPelbD

Raid (The Unfinished Hero Series) by Kristen Ashley

http://amzn.to/1aadCz6

True Love Story by Willow Aster

http://amzn.to/1cwav3X