I went through my kindle library this morning to pick out my favourite reads of the past year so that I could share them with you lovely people. For someone with an online presence, I’m terribly guilty of reading books, absolutely loving them but completely forgetting to recommend them to others. Usually I pick my books based on people suggesting them to me, other times I’m ashamed to say I just scan the Amazon bestsellers and see what tickles my fancy. So, these are the ones that tickled my proverbial fancy this year.

Horns by Joe Hill (Horror) – This book was one that I couldn’t put down, kind of in the same way that you can’t stop staring at a car crash. The main character wakes up one morning with a hangover, looks in the mirror and finds he’s grown two horns on his forehead. From there on out whenever he talks to people they can’t help but to tell him their deepest darkest secrets and desires. Also, the author is no other than Steven King’s son, so you know it’s gonna be good.

Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson (Historical Romance) – Edenbrooke was one of those throwbacks to the Jane Austen days books and I loved every minute of it! It has a very Darcy-esque leading man and will leave you feeling completely satisfied, loved up and generally happy about life by the end.

Vain by Fisher Amelie  (New Adult Romance) – Oh, how I loved this one and how I was envious of what a beautiful writer Fisher Amelie is. The title alone sucked me in. Vain tells the tale of Sophie Price, a rich girl who has it all, loses it and then realises that everything she ever wanted never cost a penny to begin with.

Very Bad Things by Ilsa Madden-Mills (New Adult Romance) – This one reminded me a little of Vain, but it was very much its own unique story, too. Nora Blakely is a girl who on the surface seems like she has the perfect life, but underneath it is a broken, hurting soul. This book was pretty steamy in that kind of way where the hero and heroine are dying to be together but keep denying themselves…and then when they finally get together? EXPLOSIVE. I really loved it.

Neanderthal Seeks Human by Penny Reid (Romance) – Aw, this one put a smile on my face so many times while I was reading. Janie was certainly my kind of heroine and I laughed out loud more times than I can count. In the space of a day she loses her boyfriend, her job and her apartment, but all is not so bad as the hot security guard from her workplace keeps showing up and helping her out.

The Artists Trilogy by Karina Halle (Romantic Suspense) – I’m putting this entry in as the whole trilogy because I seriously loved it and now that it’s over I’m still missing the characters. These books are so action packed that you won’t want to stop turning the pages to see what happens next. They also have a whopper of a love triangle, which is always fun!

Bet in the Dark by Rachel Higginson (New Adult Romance) – This book has a great sarcastic and funny heroine. Ellie Harris’ college roommate steals her identity, drums up a shitload of debt and then disappears, leaving her to face the consequences. And those consequences come in the form of sexy Fin Hunter who shows up demanding his money be paid back. Teehee!

The Bronze Horseman by Paulina Simmons (Historical Romance) – I read all three of these books in the space of about a week and a half, which given that they’re so long means I basically neglected my entire life because I couldn’t stop reading them. They broke my fucking heart a million times but I just. couldn’t. stop. The first was definitely my favourite. The next two left me sort of emotionally scarred, but you know what, that’s the sign of an amazing writer. I was so engrossed in these books that I literally felt like I was living them. When Tatiana was starving I felt like I was starving, when she was heartbroken I left like I was heartbroken.

Wildest Dreams by Kristen Ashley (Fantasy Romance) – This story was realllllly long, but it was fun every step of the way. It kept me brilliantly entertained for a good few cold winter nights. Finnie decides that she wants an adventure and that adventure entails switching places with her twin from another world and living her life for a whole year. What she doesn’t know is that her twin is a princess who is set to marry The Drakkar, a gorgeous scary powerful man, who also happens to hate her twin with a vengeance. For some reason I kept imagining Daenerys and Khal Drogo from Game of Thrones, lol.

So, there they are, my top reads of 2013. Fingers crossed I read some great ones in 2014, too. Right now I’ve sequestered myself away to write my next book, which is a contemporary romance called Still Life with Strings and is set in an orchestra. More details on that to come!