Top 5 Books of 2013

I read nearly 120 books in 2013 and, needless to say, that made it hard to choose just five books for this list. However, there were some books that stood out and I thought about long after I had read them. There were also books that had the right elements to make them better than other books I had read last year. I do want to point out that not all of these books were published in 2013, they are just books that I read in 2013. So, without further ado, here are my picks for the Top 5 Books of 2013, plus 5 Honorable Mentions - and no they aren't in any particular order, they were all awesome.

Dead Vampires Don't Date by Meredith Allen Conner
$2.99

This book has all the right elements to make it urban fantasy gold. You've got a royal vampire whose gone missing, a talking Chihuahua that's channeling the spirit of dead hit man, and a witch who makes a living with a matchmaking business that caters to both paranormal and human customers. Dead Vampires Don't Date was a debut novel from Meredith Allen Conner and I can't wait to read more from this author.

Super Dark Book 1 by Tanith Morse
FREE

I'm a huge, huge fan of Twilight and this is the first series I've read that comes close to being as good. Super Dark is about a young girl who is haunted by the memory of a fateful Halloween when her best friend in the entire world was kidnapped. She lives with the guilt that he gave up his life for her own. The book is masterfully written and one that fans of the young adult genre shouldn't miss.

How (Not) to Kiss a Toad (Cindy Eller #1) by Elizabeth A. Reeves
$2.99 or FREE for Prime Members

This was such a fun, imaginative beginning for a series. Not only do you have an amazing character with the God awful, but real, name of Cindy Eller, but she has the horrible curse of turning every man she kisses into a toad. When she finds true love, she's afraid to get too close, but begins to think that true love can end the curse. Maybe, just maybe, he's THE one. If you love urban fantasy with a touch of whimsy, read this book!

New England Witch Chronicles by Chelsea Bellingeri
$0.99 or FREE for Prime Members

I loved, loved, loved this book. It the perfect combination of paranormal fantasy and young adult. New England Witch Chronicles is about a young girl who's life is made more difficult with the coming of her 17th birthday. Soon, she'll discover that the history of Salem may not have been so far-fetched and she may be a direct decedent of witches. If you love witch novels, you simply must read this one!

Ghostly Guardian (Witches of the Demon Isle) by Rachel Humphrey - D'Aigle
FREE

What I loved most about this book was the cast of characters. The author does an amazing job at creating well-developed characters. The story is also quite imaginative and well thought out. In Ghostly Guardian, the characters work to protect the Demon Isle residents from the paranormal creatures that lurk in the dark, but one case may be more prove to be more than they can handle. This is a young adult, paranormal fantasy that is fast-paced and impossible to put down.

Honorable Mentions

Cursed (Howl, Book 6) by Jody Morse and Jayme Morse - Wonderful ending to an amazing series!
Keep Me Ghosted (Sophie Rhodes Romantic Comedy #1) by Karen Cantwell - Imaginative, fun read!
Hellhounds Are for Suckers (San Francisco Vampire Series #2) by Jessica McBrayer - Awesome story!
Death Dealer (A Death Angel Novella, Book 1) by Ashley Robertson - Great fantasy!
Cursed Casino by Sara Brooke - Impossible to put down horror novel!