My Top 13 Books of 2013

I recently posted my top 13 books of 2013 on The Book Lovers Blog and thought I would share them with you guys on here:

These are in no particular order, as it was difficult enough choosing my top 13, I couldn’t possibly rank them ☺


1. The Life List by Lori Nelson Spielman 

I honestly think everyone should read this. It makes you look at life a little differently. It shows you how you shouldn’t be afraid to do what you really want to. Don’t just do something or stay with something because you think it’s the safe or correct thing to do. It is definitely a feel good book.

2. Fractured by Dani Atkins

This debut novel has caused quite a stir in the blogging community and I was so glad I got a chance to read it. I don’t even want to say anymore as don’t want to give a single thing away, just that this should definitely be on your TBR pile!


3. The Keepers:Archer by Rae Rivers

I absolutely love fantasy novels and this was one of the first review copies I got the chance to read when I started by blog. It is about one witch, her three keepers (protectors) and two warlocks that want to ruin everything good that magic stands for. This is the first in a three-part series, with a prequella and cannot wait for the next one!


4. The Memory Box by Sarah Webb

This was the first book I have ever read by Sarah Webb and needless to say I loved it. Sarah’s writing style is really lovely and she just makes you love all the characters in her story.


5. The Cinderella Moment by Jennifer Kloester

I love fairytales with a modern day twist and this one was just that. I was completely swept away by this tale. The way Jennifer describes every scene has you truly feeling like you are there in the story with the characters. At one point we are whisked away to Paris and I am now craving a visit purely from reading this!


6. Wish Upon A Star by Trisha Ashley

Trisha Ashley is one of my favourite authors. I have read nearly all her books and I was waiting for this one to come out for practically a whole year. I enjoy how some of her novels take us back to the town of Sticklepond and we get to meet up with old characters again, but the novel is still stand-alone. This one introduces us to Cally and her daughter Stella and was just another great story from Trisha.


7. A Cinderella Christmas by Holly Kingston

I was so excited that I was asked to be a part of the blog tour for this wonderful novella. Not only is the cover great, but it completely matches the story. It had me laughing in places, but wanting things to turn out OK for the main character Lucy. A definite read around Christmas time.


8. Perfect Ruin by Lauren Defestano

Having read The Chemical Garden series by Lauren, I was extremely keen to get my hands on her new series The Internment Chronicles. Lauren did not disappoint! This series tells us of a world where the people live in the sky and they are told they must never go towards the edge. But the people of Internment are beginning to question this; what is it that the rulers are hiding from them.


9. Driving Home for Christmas by Emma Hannigan

This was an incredibly festive read and has gone up there with my favourite Christmas books of ALL time! The pretext of this was about a family all coming home for Christmas to the lovely Huntersbrook House. Emma writes beautifully and I fell hopelessly in love with all the characters. I was also especially pleased as quite a few books I have picked up this year with Christmas covers have not been Christmassy at all! But this one was not hiding anything unchristmassy ☺


10. Soul Taken by Katlyn Duncan

This was another fantasy series that had a brilliantly unique story. This one was about the Afterlife and focused on Maggie who was a soul collector. She had had her memories taken away from her when she died as the people of the Afterlife did not want her to remember what she had done in her previous life. Maggie wants to be promoted to The Guard but her wish won’t be granted. However she is soon sent on a mission where more truths come to light.  This is the first in a trilogy and recently finished the second books and now cannot wait for the final in the series!


11.  The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce

I thought this was an absolutely beautiful book. It is about a man called Harold who goes out to post a letter to his old friend Queenie who is dying of cancer. He ends up walking from one end of the country to the other in a bid to save her life. Harold meets all sorts of people on the way, each with their own troubles and we learn a few truths about Harold’s life as well.


12. Party Games by Joe Carnegie

This was brilliant! So much happens in this story that you just cannot put it down as I was desperate to find out what would happen next. This story focuses on three very different women and how their lives interlink and everything that goes on in their small knit community. There is lots of scandal and drama with some brilliant twists and turns.


13. The Language of Spells by Sarah Painter

When I started my blog this year, this was the first ever request I had to review a book from an author and I was incredibly excited. Magical Realism in stories is my absolutely favourite focus in a story. It’s where magic happens but it blends in with the goings on in the village. There was also an element of mystery in this and I genuinely loved it ☺


So there are my top 13 reads of 2013. I hope there are some on there that have peaked your interest. Have a brilliant new year everyone.