Anne’s Best Books of 2012

My Top Ten of 2012 list includes books I read this year. Not all of them were originally published this year;  these are the books that stand out in my memory.  Clearly contemporary is my favorite genre.

1.  Willing Victim by Cara McKenna  (contemporary)

2. Beyond Shame by Kit Rocha  (contemporary)

3. Celebrity in Death by J.D. Robb (audio, futuristic, mystery)

4.Deep Desires by Charlotte Stein (contemporary, novella)

5. Tigers and Devils by Sean Kennedy (contemporary, m/m)

6. Delicious (in Cherished) by Lauren Dane (contemporary, novella)

7. Tart by Lauren Dane (contemporary)

8. Lover Reborn by J.R. Ward (paranormal)

9. Riveted by Meljean Brook  (steampunk)

10.Beguilement (The Sharing Knife #1) by Lois McMaster Bujold (audio, fantasy)

 

 

Adrien English series by Josh Lanyon (contemporary, mystery, m/m)

The Witness by Nora Roberts (audio, contemporary)

All He Ever Needed and All He Ever Desired by Shannon Stacey (contemporary)

Slow Summer Kisses by Shannon Stacey (contemporary, novella)

Playing for Keeps by R.L. Mathewson (contemporary)

Bear Meets Girl and Howl for It (novella) by Shelly Laurenston (paranormal)

Forever and a Day (Lucky Harbor #6) by Jill Shalvis (contemporary)

The Theory of Attraction by Delphine Dryden (contemporary, novella)

Never Have I Ever by Alisha Rai (contemporary/paranormal, novella)

Unleashed by Cherrie Lynn

Unleashed (Ross Siblings, #1)
Grade-C+
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-None
Series-Ross Siblings #1
Reviewed by Kay

Evan Ross is a prosecuting attorney who works very hard to represent his clients. He’s a genuinely good guy. Not to mention he’s very handsome and comes from money. He has had two best friend’s in his life, Todd and Kelsey. He introduced them back when he was in college with Kelsey. Todd was his best friend from his youth. This introduction led to Todd and Kelsey getting married. Evan moved on and got engaged to Courtney. The two couples maintained a friendship and did things together.

Eight years later and six months before Evan’s wedding he gets a phone call from a hysterical Kelsey saying she just walked in on Todd and Courtney having sex. From then on life was a whirlwind. Todd and Kelsey’s divorce and his break-up with Courtney. Due to the hurt feelings of them both, Evan and Kelsey didn’t speak for a while.

These two friends get reconnected and begin their friendship again. Evan has a two week trip to Hawaii he has to use or lose it. It was supposed to be his honeymoon gift from his parents. He asks Kelsey if she wants to go with him. She’s a little weary of it but decides to go.

This story was sweet and touching. Two people who have healed or are trying to heal over the pain of the past. It was nice to see their friendship grow into love. You get to see the past from both points of view. It’s a moving read about acceptance and forgiveness, not only of others but of one’s self.

Kate’s Best Books of 2012

When putting my list together, I realized that my favorites came from all sorts of genres. And how can I pick just one to be number one? How can you compare a shifter to a m/m to a historical? You see my dilemma, right? So here is my top ten list of books I’ve read this year, by genre, in no particular order.

Sci-fi: To the Princess Bound by Sara King

Contemporary: Sweet Inspiration (Klaus Brothers #1) by Penny Watson (a holiday story)

Alternative (m/m): No Souvenirs by K.A. Mitchell

Pirate/Seafaring: Castaway Dreams by Darlene Marshall

Menage: Southern Seduction (Bride Train #8) by Reece Butler

BDSM: To Command and Collar (Shadowlands #6) by Cherise Sinclair

Paranormal/Shifter: Bear Meets Girl by Shelly Laurenston

Historical: Marry Me by Jo Goodman

Short Story: Tales from the Hotel Bentmoore by Shelby Cross (BDSM short stories)

YA Romance: Wrecked by Elle Casey

Honorable Mention: Kissin’ Tell (Rough Riders #13) by Lorelei James for the creative-and unforgettable-use of a trampoline