2013 and The Books I've Read

I may not have had a stellar month of reading in November (or December), but then again, I published my fourth novel, so cut me some slack! Here are the books I actually finished in 2013 (I started plenty more - some I couldn't finish and some I'm still reading):

1. Wishin' and Hopin' by Wally Lamb. 1/3/2013.
2. I Heart Ed Small by Shirley Johnson. 1/4/2013.
3. Rule Number One by Nan Reinhardt. 1/19/2013.
4. The Fall of the Misanthrope by Louise Wise. 2/3/2013.
5. The Girl, the Gold Tooth, & Everything by Francine LaSala. 2/13/2013.
6. Christmas in Wine Country by Addison Westlake. 2/16/2013.
7. Champagne Toast by Melissa Brown. 2/23/2013.
8. Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City by Nelson Johnson. 2/23/2013.
9. The Obituary Writer by Ann Hood. 2/27/2013.
10. A State of Jane by Meredith Schorr. 3/3/2013.
11. Unmasking Maya by Libby Mercer. 3/18/2013.
12. The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb. 3/18/2013.
13. In Need of Therapy by Tracie Banister. 3/27/2013.
14. Social Insecurity by Kate Eileen Shannon. 4/6/2013.
15. Way Out West by Blanche Marriott. 4/13/2013.
16. Viewer Discretion Advised by Cindy Roesel. 4/14/2013.
17. Maid for Love by Marie Force. 4/19/2013.
18. Daydreamer by Brea Brown. 4/23/2013.
19. Is This All There Is? by Patricia Mann. 4/27/2013.
20. Wild for You by Sophia Knightly. 4/28/2013.
21. Eyes of the Many by Kelly Graham. 5/3/2013.
22. Hopeless by Colleen Hoover. 5/7/2013.
23. The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap by Paulette Mahurin. 5/11/2013.
24. Rita Hayworth's Shoes by Francine LaSala. 5/20/2013.
25. Fatty Patty by Kathleen Irene Paterka. 5/27/2013.
26. The Secret Keeper (#1) by Brea Brown. 5/27/2013.
27. The Karmic Connection by Libby Mercer. 5/31/2013.
28. When You Were Older by Catherine Ryan Hyde. 6/2/2013.
29. Midnight Train to Paris by Juliette Sobanet. 6/18/2013.
30. The Gatsby Game by Anne R. Allen. 6/22/2013.
31. Saving Saffron Sweeting by Pauline Wiles. 7/6/2013.
32. The Sunset Witness by Gayle Hayes. 7/16/2013.
33. The Secret Keeper Confined (#2) by Brea Brown. 7/20/2013.
34. Amy and Isabelle by Elizabeth Strout. 7/30/2013.
35. The Secret Keeper Up All Night (#3) by Brea Brown. 8/9/2013.
36. The Wednesday Sisters by Meg Waite Clayton. 8/15/2013.
37. Where We Belong by Catherine Ryan Hyde. 9/8/2013.
38. The Illegal Gardener by Sara Alexi. 9/12/2013.
39. The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman. 9/13/2013.
40. Thin Rich Bitches by Janet Eve Josselyn. 9/14/2013.
41. Men in my Town by Keith Smith. 9/16/2013.
42. Chasing Memories by Tia Silverthorne Bach. 9/27/2013.
43. Don't Let Me Go by Catherine Ryan Hyde. 10/3/2013.
44. For I Have Sinned by Kathleen Irene Paterka. 10/8/2013.
45. Fifty Ways to Leave Your Husband by KC Wilder. 10/20/2013.
46. Oxygen by Carol Cassella. 10/25/2013.
47. Merry Chick Lit by various authors. 11/24/2013.
48. Merry & Bright by various authors. 11/24/2013.

My favorites from this list? In no particular order, the books that affected me most this year were:

• The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb. A masterpiece.
• Daydreamer by Brea Brown. I'm proud to call this talented author a friend.
• When You Were Older by Catherine Ryan Hyde. I read three of her books this year, but this one still resonates.
• Saving Saffron Sweeting by Pauline Wiles. I just lost myself in this sweet story.
• Amy and Isabelle by Elizabeth Strout. Oh, Ms. Strout. I am simply in awe.
• The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman. The prose is simply gorgeous, the story is gripping.

I don't usually jump on the NYT best-seller bandwagon. In fact, I'd rather support indie authors, being one myself. Many of the books listed above are indie-published, and well worth your time. Read the blurb, check out some of the reviews, and find yourself some good books!