My Favorite Reads of 2012

Picking a favorite book is like picking a favorite kid! It doesn't help that I read dozens upon dozens of books this year. I've picked each of these according to how they moved me, inspired me, or made me laugh. Some of these books may have been written prior to 2012. I'm putting them in my favorites of 2012 because that is the year that I read them! ;o)

1. By far, the best book I read of 2012, or for any other year for that matter, is Carl Purdon's The Night Train.  I loved this book so much that I ended up buying six paperback copies so that I could share with family and friends. I've not done that for any other book.
     The Night Train is a story about a boy who is abused by his father and ignored by his mother. He is taunted and teased at school, by his classmates and his teacher. He decides he has had enough and runs away on what they call The Night Train. He convinces his only friend in the world to join him. Together, they run away and meet up with a 'hobo' who helps them cross the country, hopping trains, and living hand to mouth.
     This isn't a Disney story. This is Jayrod's story. It is a story about finding courage and strength to persevere, of growing up, of learning that life isn't perfect but there is always hope.
     This is a beautifully written story that had me sobbing by the third page. Carl has a way of not only showing you what is happening, but drawing you in so quickly that in just a few pages, your are completely absorbed. I could not put this book down. Not many authors have the talent to do what Carl does. I envy him, I truly do. If Amazon would have let me give this one ten stars, I would have.

2.  Anything that was written by author Emery Lee, aka, Victoria Vane. Just take your pick. The Wild Night's Bride, or The Virgin Huntress, or The Devil's Match, or The Devil You Know, or Devil In The Making. The entire series is a delight! This is a Regency era series that left me on the edge of my seat, rooting for heroes and heroine's alike. This series is not for the faint of heart or for those who do not like 'steamy' stories. What I love most about this series is that each book stands on its own two feet. They are exciting, captivating, sexy, and just down right good books to read. ;o)

3.  Another favorite series was Katie MacAllister's Noble series! These were not only exciting and sexy, they were hilariously funny. I'm talking the kind of funny where you laugh so hard you pee your pants! I bought one right after the other and read the entire series in about a week. Couldn't put them down. These would be books I'd give more than 5 stars to if Amazon would let me.

4. Ava Stone's Scandalous Series. This is another favorite. Sweet, exciting, and intriguing. I enjoyed each book and am anxiously waiting to read more from this author. ;o) Ava does an excellent job with this Regency series.

5. Maya Banks' Highlander books, The McCabe Trilogy. In Bed with a Highlander, Seduction of a Highland Lass, and Never Love a Highlander. This is the series that made me love Maya and Highlanders even more than I already did! You can get the entire trilogy in one bundle now and it is worth every penny!

6. Lucinda Brant's novel, The Salt Bride. This is another historical romance that had me enthralled and captivated in just the first few sentences. That does not happen too often, but it did with this book. There are parts that left me sobbing with grief for the heroine. It is a HEA (Happily Ever After) but what they have to go through to get there will leave you breathless. ;o)

7.  The Train Station Bride, by Holly Bush. I love historical romances but was never one for Western Historical Romances until I read this book! I loved every page of it. Holly has a beautiful voice and I love how she brought the two main characters together! It is a sweet and funny read and I gave it a 5 star review. ;o)

8. Carmen Caine's The Bedeviled Heart from her Highland Heather and Hearts Series. This is another Highlander series that I absolutely adore. I love Carmen's writing style and her voice. Breathtaking, beautiful, sweet, clean, and chock full of accurate history. You can't miss with any of the books in this series. Carmen is one of the reasons that I write in the genre that I write in. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't be here! ;o) Carmen is one of my top 5 all time favorite authors. Ever.

9. True Highland Spirit, by Amanda Forrester. This is another Highlander Series that I treasure! Amanda has a wonderful voice and way of telling a story. Hilariously funny, sweet, clean, and an all around 5 star book!

10. Come Back To Me, by Melissa Foster. This one folks, is a tear jerker. Don't read without two boxes of Kleenex and a box of chocolates. This is a contemporary romance and one that I couldn't put down. Melissa has a fine voice and this book proves that point. I actually emailed the author while I was reading the book! ;o)

11. Ava, by Ashley Barron. This is a contemporary romance and Ashley's first published novel. I enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading more from Ashley! ;o) This is much more than just a romance novel. It has a good mystery to it as well. This is pretty darned good for a debut novel!

I think I see a trend here. I like historical romance novels especially when they are part of a series. I lean toward Highlanders and Regency. But I also thoroughly enjoy a good contemporary fiction and a good contemporary romance novel.

There were many, many other books that I read this year. Far too many to mention here. These are just a few of those books that stood out for me this year.

Happy New Year to all of you and may God bless you in 2013!!

Hugs and warm wishes,

Suzan

Merry Christmas!

Wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

My wish for each of you is that you are blessed beyond that which you can comprehend. That you always hold on to that child-like wonder, awe, and happiness that is this time of year. May the good Lord bless and hold each and every one of you close and safe.

Thank you all for a most beautiful and wonderful year! You are the best readers any author could ever hope for.

With love and blessings,

Suzan Tisdale

Blizzard Blessings

I hope everyone is safe today. Last night was our first blizzard of the winter of 2012/2013. I'm so very happy that I didn't have to dig out the car, warm it up, find my winter boots, and try to trek to work this morning! I get to stay here where it is nice and warm.  Okay, my DH would have dug out the car, but I think that would be easier than searching the house for winter boots. He knows where the snow is. I haven’t a clue where my winter boots are! ;o)

Yes, I realize many of you do have to dig out and drive on treacherous roads to get to your jobs. I hope that you all remain safe today and that it isn't too bad where you are.

I realized this morning that this will be the first Christmas break in years that I didn't have to take my son to day care or guiltily leave him alone all day. (He's 14-almost 15 now, so he doesn't need day care. Unless my dear husband Kevin is here and then they BOTH need it as they tend to get into too much trouble when left unattended, but I digress!)

This is the first time in years that I will get to enjoy a Christmas break with my son and my husband. We've never been blessed with enjoying a vacation together as a family. The last 'vacation' Kevin and I had together was our honeymoon in 2005. We were always working, but this year is different. Because of past job schedules we’ve simply never had the opportunity to spend more than a three or four day weekend together. 

Now, we are all blessed with new jobs that will allow us to spend the next couple of weeks together. Thankfully, my husband's job (he teaches young men how to become great carpenters) is less than a mile from home. In the past, he's had to drive an hour or more in this awful weather. He's a carpenter, so the location and type of work changed from week to week, and sometimes day to day. 

This afternoon will be the start of our first Christmas break together and I am really looking forward to it. I might change my mind in a few days for I'll now be able to see what they do, or used to do, on these Christmas vacations while I was at work and they were here alone all day! 

Honestly, none of this would be possible if it weren’t for my readers. As you all know, I was able to give up my day job a couple of months ago and now I get to write full time. 

This was actually one of the things I was looking forward to the most, hunkering down and writing while it is snowing outside. It was a romantic notion I had for years, to be tucked inside, safe and warm, typing away at the keyboard, working on a book. Now that day dream has turned into a reality and I owe it all to you. 

Please know that I’m thinking of all of you this holiday season and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and/or a Happy Hanukah! May the good lord bless each and every one of you and may all your dreams come true!

Hugs,

Suzan