Thursday, January 02, 2014

2013 Best of the Best in Books


In 2013 I:

read 100 books (97 fiction & 3 non-fiction)

completed 4 reading challenges and bombed out on 1 :)

became a Pinterest addict

improved health with the right heart medication

learnt to navigate Windows 8.1 (ok that's a work in progress)

turned 45

attended my first ever Australian Romance Readers Convention

saw Pink in concert 

got a fitbit, recommenced walking, became fitter (another WIP)

holidayed in Bali

read even more Australian fiction (5 Australian authors** on the best of the best list)


THE BEST OF THE BEST IN 2013


Contemporary Fiction:

 LOOKING FOR ME by Beth Hoffman ~ pure delight!!

THE HUSBAND'S SECRET by Liane Moriarty** ~ funny, poignant, shocking, heartbreaking. 
PAPER CHAINS by Nicola Moriarty** ~ insightful, heartwarming journey of serendipity. 

Historical Fiction:


THE WILD GIRL by Kate Forsyth** ~ a gift of storytelling about storytelling ... haunting, breathtaking, evocative.








DAUGHTERS OF THE NILE by Stephanie Dray ~ big and lush, it's a story to savour.




MY NOTORIOUS LIFE by Kate Manning ~ emotionally harrowing, one of the best I've read.








SPARTACUS REBELLION by Ben Kane ~ a damn fine read.









Suspense/Thriller:


DARK HORSE by Honey Brown** ~ best psychological thriller I've read in years. Intense, edgy, tight.

WEB OF DECEIT by Katherine Howell** ~ Gritty realism, wicked pace and a gnarly plot.

Young Adult: 

THE SEA OF TRANQUILITY by Katja Millay ~ realisations & second chances, beautiful and heartachey.

IF I DIE by Rachel Vincent ~ hyperventilating awesomeness!

THE SWEETEST DARK by Shana Abe ~ ageless, exquisite and intoxicating. 










And I have to include one of Karen's "best of the best" to round out our bakers dozen best of 2013 here on The Eclectic Reader :)

Romance:

THE PERFECT MATCH by Kristan Higgins ~ laughs, tears, chemistry ... quirky goodness.










Have you done a favourites post? Leave me link ... I love to add to my groaning TBR pile ;)


20 comments:

  1. Would love to attend a romance reader's convention, maybe when I retire I might go either to Australia or USA to one! Don't think NZ has them. Your top two books are ones I must read in 2014.
    My year in review

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    1. I'd love to go to one in the US Kathryn but that could be a long way off lol. You are going to love those two books, hope they make your 2014 favourite list :)

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  2. I only shared my fave projects I made today! LOL!! Of course it would probably be a good idea to list my fave books too since I got my Kindle last January ... so I have had it for one year now! Happy New Year!!!

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    1. Happy New Year Julie, I'll be by to have a look at your favourite projects and yes another post for books ... get to it lol

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  3. You had a great year. Looking For Me is also on my favorites list.

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    1. so happy to see it was a fave on many of my friend's lists!!

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  4. We both have The Husband's Secret on our lists :)

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  5. I loved The Husband's Secret and Looking For Me. The Sea of Tranquility was really good too.

    I did a post of ten of my favorites: http://reading-extensively.blogspot.com/2013/12/top-ten-books-i-read-in-2013.html

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    1. We had a lot of books in common last year Christina, looking forward to your book choices (and more 'must-reads') in 2014 :)

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  6. Great list. Looking for Me was one of my favorites last year. I also enjoyed The Husband's Secret as well as The Best Man. My list is up at http://wp.me/ptXKB-2zP
    Happy New Year!

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    1. Yours was a fab list too Mary, I love getting audiobook recommendations from you :)

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  7. I so want to read the Hoffmna book, oh maybe I will get it this year

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  8. Can't believe I haven't read any of your top 2013 reads! Enjoy your 2014 reading.
    Harvee
    Book Dilettante

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  9. A wonderful group of book choices I have read some of them and agree :)

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  10. Several of your books are on my TBR, but I haven't read any of these yet. I'm glad you accomplished so many positive things in 2013! Here's to 2014 being even better :)

    Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews

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  11. I love so many of your picks! The two Moriartys, the kristan higgings, and I just reserved the new Honey Brown. So many of your faves are Aussie authors which is really cool!

    I am trying to put together my best reads post now -- it';s so hard as I am bad at making decisions, haha. Thanks for all the recs and I hope you find some more really outstanding books this year!

    x Nomes

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