Sooz's Top 10 Books of 2012

Morning. Well, I hope it's nicer where you are. 70mph winds and driving, torrential rain are not my idea of fun and unfortunately I need to go out in it later...bleurgh!
Anyway, if you can cosy up beside your fireside, have a look at my top 10 books this year. Enjoy!
(they are in no particular order) I've also given you the link to the reviews I have done, so you can see my thoughts!

Emily Barr - Stranded - Even better than expected - strongly recommend - Suspense/Mystery
I had read a few of Emily's other books, including The First Wife and The Perfect Lie, which I loved. Stranded was very different, but I loved it.
http://amzn.to/Rez60w

 

Joanna Rees - A Twist of Fate  - Gripping contemporary saga - best book have read this year - Family Saga

Over the past 10 years, I had read all of Joanna's books which she had written with her husband, Emlyn Rees in the chicklit genre, so I really wanted to check out the new niche she had carved for herself. I wasn't disappointed.

http://amzn.to/UTbroI

 

 

 

 

Tracie Banister - Blame it on the Fame - Lashings of glitz and fiery personalities - chick lit at its best - Chicklit

I had already read Tracie's In Need of Therapy and quite frankly, if I had written my top 12, it would have been there, as I loved it too. I then read her debut novel, BIOTF and was very pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed it, as I am not a fashion, designer labels girl and this was about the Oscars. Fa book and excellent new discovery in this author for me.

http://amzn.to/WySA3U

 

 

 

Mikkel Birkegaard - The Library of Shadows - I bought it because it contained the word Library!

Mystery/Paranormal

A charity shop bargain which introduced me to a fab author. I love books about books!

http://bit.ly/TeSnDl

 

 

 

 

Terry Tyler - Nobody's Fault - Excellent read if you like mystery and twists!

Romantic Suspense

This was the first Terry Tyler novel I read and it's still my favourite, although I have since read the other three and am waiting (impatiently) on novel nr 5! Again, delighted to have found this author this year.

http://amzn.to/WySPMa

 

 

 

Jojo Moyes - Me Before You - Not as chicklit as the cover suggests, but so much better for it!

Contemporary drama/Romance  This is the first Jojo Moyes novel which I have read and I had been meaning to for 4 or 5 months, only getting around to it, when I went on holiday last month. Unfortunately I haven't done a review for it - very remiss I know. I did, however, rate it 5 stars and have asked for 2 of her other books for Christmas. Kinda speaks for itself. Here's the synopsis.

 

Lou Clark knows lots of things. She knows how many footsteps there are between the bus stop and home. She knows she likes working in The Buttered Bun tea shop and she knows she might not love her boyfriend Patrick.
What Lou doesn't know is she's about to lose her job or that knowing what's coming is what keeps her sane.
Will Traynor knows his motorcycle accident took away his desire to live. He knows everything feels very small and rather joyless now and he knows exactly how he's going to put a stop to that.
What Will doesn't know is that Lou is about to burst into his world in a riot of colour. And neither of them knows they're going to change the other for all time.

 

 

Maria Savva - Coincidences - a family drama which has you fighting Alice's corner

Family Drama

The first Maria Savva novel which I read (I've since also read Haunted, a psychological thriller ,which I thoroughly enjoyed, too, and I am getting a few others, including The Dream and Pieces of A Rainbow, with my Christmas Amazon voucher!)

Yet another author that I am delighted to have discovered this year. It's been quite a year!

http://amzn.to/UgsHpK

 

 

 

Samantha Stroh-Bailey - Finding Lucas - If you liked Bridget Jones, you will love this!

Chicklit

Another new author. Glad she's already working on a second. It reminded me of a more sweary Bridget Jones' Diary - basically, imagine that Shazza (Bridget's friend) appears more often and you ge the picture. And I loved the trying to track down the one guy from your past thing that you could consider getting together with again. One to watch!

http://bit.ly/TeT7sb

 

 

 

Carlos Ruiz Zafon - The Prisoner of Heaven - another winner from Zafon! 5 stars!

Mystery

Third in The Shadow of the Wind series. Much anticipated. Sadly I haven't reviewed this yet either, but if you are a fan of Daniel and Fermin and have read Shadow and The Angel's Game, don't delay in getting this. The usual  humour, historical references and shady mystery abound. If you haven't read Shadow, where have you been? Get your paws on it now!

http://amzn.to/VXkC6w

 

 

 

Susan Louineau - The Chapel in the Woods - Suspense, Intrigue, History & French Village Life

Historical drama

Yet another new author discovery. But boy once I started was I hooked. In the vein of Joanne Harris, but with her own slant and style, Susan Louineau is one to look out for. Amazing novel, interweaving three historical time periods and lots of references to French food too - made me hungry!

http://amzn.to/VXkOCI

 

 

 

And that's it from me. Hope you enjoy the recommendations as much as I did and I would love for you all to leave comments on the blog, telling me about your favourite books from 2012.

For now, have a wonderful Christmas and hope Santa is good to you! TWO more sleeps!
Sooz x