Well, it’s that time of year again, the time of year when we all wonder where the days and weeks and months have gone, the time to reflect on some of the great books we’ve read throughout the year, the time of year I scratch my head and wonder if I’ll ever live long enough to read all the books I want to read (The answer? Pfft. No.), the time of year I wonder how the flip I manage to read as many books as I do in an entire year, and then wonder how I’m supposed to compile a list of favorites that doesn’t include more books than some people read in a year’s time. Top Ten? Piffles. I can barely pick the top ten in a single sub-genre, let along manage it for an across the board list. So, do I get a little creative in my selection methods? Probably. Is it honest? Definitely. Do I feel badly for leaving some amazing books off my list? Certainly. But I have to draw the line somewhere. ::sighs:: And for that I apologize to all the very deserving authors out there who should be recognized and celebrated for their brilliant work.
Quite a few of the books that made my list this year weren’t even published in 2012; that’s just when I finally got around to reading them. ::slow:: There is one book, however, that was published in 2012 that has managed to make me do something I’ve never been able to do in three years of putting together a year in reviews list: name a top pick for Best Book of the Year. Yep, that’s a first for me.
And since I’m always looking for the “next great read”, if there are books you’ve read this year that didn’t make my list, leave a comment and share so I can add it to my ginormous reading pile. :)
So, without further ado, here’s my list of Favorite Books of 2012:
Category One: Best Contemporary by a New To Me author –
1. Shattered Glass by Dani Alexander
2. A Reason to Believe by Diana Copland
3. Aaron by J.P. Barnaby
*Honorable Mention: Inertia and Acceleration by Amelia C. Gormley*
Category Two: Best Contemporary by a Favorite Author –
1. Armed & Dangerous by Abigail Roux
2. Sidecar by Amy Lane
3. Acrobat by Mary Calmes
*Honorable Mention: The Rare Event by P.D. Singer and One Small Thing by Piper Vaughn and M.J. O’Shea*
Category Three: Best Historical – 20th Century
1. Skybound by Aleksandr Voinov
2. Protection by S.A. Reid
3. Roses in the Devil’s Garden by Charlie Cochet
*Honorable Mention: Into Deep Waters by Kaje Harper
Category Four: Best Historical – 19th Century or earlier
1. As Meat Loves Salt by Maria McCann
2. When the Music Stops by John T. Fuller
3. The Affair of the Porcelain Dog by Jess Faraday
*Honorable Mention – His Client by Ava March
Category Five: – Best Young Adult/Coming of Age (Contemporary)
1. End of the Innocence by John Goode
2. Don’t Let Me Go by J.H. Trimble
3. How to Repair a Mechanical Heart by J.C. Lillis
*Honorable Mention – Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz*
Category Six: – Best Young Adult/Coming of Age (Fantasy and/or Historical)
1. The 7th of London by Beau Schemery
2. The Winter Garden and Other Stories by Hayden Thorne
3. (In)visible by Anyta Sunday
Category Seven: – Best AU/UF/Fantasy
1. Infected: Shift by Andrea Speed
2. Mnevermind 1: The Persistence of Memory by Jordan Castillo Price
3. A Token of Time by Ethan Day
*Honorable Mention: Irregulars by Nicole Kimberling, Josh Lanyon, Ginn Hale & Astrid Amara*
Category Eight – Best Short Stories/Novelettes – All Sub-Genres
1. Clouds’ Illusions by Hayden Thorne
2. Bounty Hunter by Cornelia Grey
3. Zones by Elyan Smith
4. Portside by Elyan Smith
5. The War at the End of the World by Heidi Belleau and Violetta Vane
6. Same Time Next Year by Eden Winters
7. Tinsel and Frost by Eden Winters
8. Oscar’s Soul by Missy Welch
9. Singing Alone by Jennifer Cierra
10. The View from 16 Podwale Street by Paul Alan Fahey
Category Nine: Best LGBT Non-Romance
1. Fontana by Joshua Martino
2. The Infernal Republic by Marshall Moore
Category Ten: Best Series – AU/Fantasy
1. The Wolf’s-own Series by Carole Cummings
2. The Rifter Series by Ginn Hale
3. The Infected Series by Andrea Speed
Category Eleven: – Best Series – Mystery/Suspense
1. The Cut & Run Series by Abigail Roux
2. The Cole McGinnis Mysteries Series by Rhys Ford
3. The Romano and Albright Series by L.B. Gregg
Category Twelve: Best Series – Erotic/Kink/BDSM
1. The Dark Soul Series by Aleksandr Voinov
2. The Bound Series by Ava March
Category Thirteen Best Series – Contemporary
Tied for First place: (Seriously, I can’t choose)
1. The St. Nacho’s Series by Z.A. Maxfield
1. The Johnnies Series by Amy Lane
1. The A Matter of Time Series by Mary Calmes
1. The Tales From Foster High Series by John Goode
And now….
Finally, it comes down to my choice for Best Book of 2012, which goes to the brilliant and beautiful King Perry by Edmond Manning. I can say, with all honesty, I’ve never read a book quite like it in my entire life. Simply put, it is the reason I read and read and read, because every so often I find a book that leaves me both speechless and wanting to shout its praises from the rooftops at the same time. If you haven’t read it yet, do. Soon. Like maybe right now, soon. :)
Now it’s time to get to work on adding to my list for next year!
HEH. I agree with most of your choices *winks*
Well, since I know you haven’t read any of the YA, I know you don’t agree with those. The others I can guess at. :-D ::mwah::
heh heh heh :D
What a fantastic list! I’m so honored to be on there among such a host of amazing folks! There are so many of these I still need to get around to, I don’t know how you do it.
It’s been an incredible year. Here’s to 2013, may it bring even more great things! Hugs!
Hi Charlie!
It has been an incredible year. And let me tell you, I had Chance on the list in the beginning too–my initial list was a mile long–but in the end, I had to go with Roses. :)
Hugs!
That is an awesome list. I found some books that I missed and can’t wait to tackle them during the Holidays Seasons. On your last category (13), you have A Moment in Time Series by Mary Calmes. It that the same as A Matter of Time Series?
It has been a good year and hope after December 21st, we can look forward to 2013:)
Thanks, Anna! :-)
And UGH! Yes, I meant the A Matter of Time Series, and I know better. :-P My poor wee brain was swimming in too many books this morning. :-D
I think I need to take the rest of the year off…
Thanks so much for the honor! I’ve read a number of the other books on this list and agree with your assessments, and my TBR pile just got a whole lot deeper, because I’ve missed some.
Well, Pam, you know how much I love Ricky and Jon. And I adore Jake and Kurt too. I wanted to put so many more books on this list. You don’t even know how hard it was for me to whittle down the hundreds of books I’ve read this year into something even slightly manageable. It was hard! :-P
Wow…wow! You have absolutely delighted and floored me. I’m so honored I am uncharacteristically speechless. You humble me. I’m so delighted Vin an Perry delighted you and I will strive to make your next encounter with Vin equally as rewarding. Thank you, my queen.
Oh, Edmond, you have no idea. Seriously. I mean, I read a lot, we’re talking to the point that it’s an obsession. I’ve read/reviewed something like 270 books this year. Yeah, Vin and Perry left an impression on both my mind and my heart.
Thank you for Queening me. :)
*sniff* You always make me want to hug you. And you also always make me wonder how you do it, since I see you on Facebook all the time and I know you have a life. You are a wonder, my dear. Thanks for doing what you do. <3
Oh, Carole, you know how much I love Fen and Mal, and Wil and Dallin. I hope your Muse is inspiring you daily. =)
Hugs to you!