My Favorite Reads of 2013
By OBS staff member Heidi
The New Year is now upon us. A fresh start to do amazing things. Another chance at those resolutions we make each year! But not only is the New Year a time for fresh beginnings, but also a time of reflection. It’s a great time to look at the highs and lows of the previous year. And, for me being a reviewer here at Open Book Society, it means a time to look back at my favorite books I read during 2013!
I read some AMAZING books this past year!! Some where new releases and some where just new to me! One thing that I won’t forget is discovering Nalini Singh! I know several of you have been familiar with her work for some time, but I just stumbled upon her last year and quickly fell in love and you will see that I have several of her books listed on my best of 2013 list! I also found some new to me authors such as Laura Spinella, that I would have never found if I hadn’t been reviewing for OBS! Thanks to all the authors and publishers that have sent me (and the other reviewers on staff) these amazing works for review! This site would not be what it is without you!
So without further adieu, here are my favorite reads of the past year, in no particular order!
New Releases in 2013
Heart of Obsidian by Nalini Singh
Wow! Just wow! Kaleb was so much sweeter then I ever expected him to be! So much for a cold Psy on Psy relationship! This book could not have been further from that assumption! I adored this relationship and this book is a complete game-changer for the entire series. Heart of Obsidian left me in a good book hangover for days!!
Fifth Grave Past the Light by Darynda Jones
Even though I found this book to be a completely different story than what the synopsis implied, I couldn’t have loved it more! Two words sum up why I loved it so much: Reyes Farrow. Do I really need to say more? Charley and him really come together in this one and I loved every moment of it and can’t wait for the next installment.
The Heist by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg
The ideas behind this new series is genius! A conman so fun and charismatic that he can seduce anybody into doing what he wants and can even con the government to let him go and be an undercover agent after they finally catch him! And, be forced to work with the one who has made it her life’s ambition to catch him only makes the series that much more enjoyable!
Midnight’s Promise by Donna Grant
I have loved Malcolm for so long, and have waited for his book for what seemed like an eternity. The book was amazing and so worth the wait! Emotion, Sex, and an amazingly hot Highlander, what more could a girl ask for? I’m just sad to see that it’s the final book in the Dark Warriors series!
Perfect Timing by Laura Spinella
A young couple just starting to realize their potential. A tragedy comes ripping them apart complete with the young boy being wrongly accused of the crime. The young girl being forced to make the ultimate sacrifice so he can see his rock star dreams come true.
Ahh so emotion packed and swoon-worthy! I really could not get enough of this book! It left me wanting to go find a rock star hunk of my very own … no it left me wanting *this* rock star, but who’s counting?
Up From the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
This book is not being released until the end of January 2014, but I was lucky enough to get my hands on it early and I absolutely loved it! Frost said this book is for the fans, and she wasn’t kidding. We get to see all our favorite characters, Ian, Spade, Mencheres, Vlad, and did I say Ian? Love him! The book was amazing, I only wish that it wasn’t the end of this great series!
Best New to Me Books of 2013
Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh
This was an awesome Psy-Changeling novel that centered around the Feline Alpha, Lucas and his Psy mate, Sascha. It was obvious early on that these two would end up mating, but the book was just so much fun and one that I just couldn’t put down. Singh has quickly become one of my favorite authors this year!
Kiss of Snow by Nalini Singh
This was another great Psy-Changeling novel. This one centering around the wolf Alpha, Hawke and eventual Psy mate, Sienna. Hawke didn’t come to this relationship easily and it was fun watching Sienna wear him down a bit! Her antics were fun and this book not only made me fall in love with this couple, but Sienna’s cat friend, Kit, as well!
Archangel’s Blade by Nalini Singh
I’m switching Nalini Singh gears on this one and going to her Guild Hunter series, where we get a detailed glimpse of Raphael’s right hand man, Dmitri! I knew his book would be good, but this exceeded my expectations by leaps and bounds! It was amazing seeing a softer side of the seemingly cold-hearted vampire that we’ve all come to know and love!
Kiss of Heat by Lora Leigh
I *finally* got to read the book in the Breeds series, I’ve most been waiting for! Kane and Sherra’s story was just as great, emotional, and powerful as I expected it to be! I just couldn’t put it down!!
Ok so that’s my list of my favorites! But I would love to hear what some of yours were? Feel free to tell us in the comments section below! Happy Reading!
