Top Ten Reads of 2014

I've been immersed in reading everyone's best of lists and all of a sudden realized that I hadn't written my own.  It is so easy to get distracted and I've been adding books to my TBR list like crazy!  I adore this time of the year.  Fresh starts, new possibilities.....but I still love looking over my reading for the year and figuring out which books were the best.  I had a really good reading year in 2014 even though I didn't quite make my Goodread's goal.  I am ending the year having read 73 books which I'm pretty proud of!  Life gets busier and busier as the kids grow but I still am finding plenty of time to read (while enjoying tons of time with the family too!).  Without further ado though, here are the best of the best (or my favorite reads of 2014):

The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon cemented my love for this author's books!  Last year one of her books made my top reads list and this year one did as well.  This book was the perfect read on a cold winter's evening and left me chilled to the bone at certain points.  I will be reading anything this author writes and plan on getting my hands on all of her books.  It is that simple. 

Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters begins one of my favorite mystery series.  It wouldn't be fair to list all three of the books on my list for this year but really I could have included any/all of them.  I adore the characters in these books, find myself laughing out loud in various spots, and just can not get enough of this series.  I feel like more readers should be reading and loving these books just like I am.  Ha!

Blood Harvest by S.J. Bolton was one of those books that I instantly knew would make my top reads list as soon as I finished the last page.  Haunting and filled with suspense, I couldn't put this book down and loved every thrilling moment.  Bolton's another of my favorite authors, and as I work my way through all of her books I've yet to be disappointed.  My favorite thriller of the year hands down!

Dawn's Early Light by Pip Ballantine & Tee Morris was such a pleasure to read and is a part of the best steampunk series out there!  I love this series and the characters, and each book is a joy to read as we watch our dynamic duo on their crazy adventures.  The taste of romance that we got in this book just makes this series even better in my opinion!  I love this series and am impatiently waiting for the next book to release!

Burn For Me by Ilona Andrews was the best romance I read this year by far (although to be honest it felt more like urban fantasy to me but...)!  2014 has been the year of me reading Andrew's books but when all was said and done this was my favorite!  This book felt fresh and original with characters that I instantly found myself attached to.  I will be doing the waiting thing yet again as I pine for the next book in this series in 2015. 

The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith was one of those books that I just immediately found myself immersed in.  I was super nervous to read this one as how could it ever live up to the love for the Harry Potter books that I have?!? This book took my expectations and shattered them giving me a mystery and characters that I couldn't get enough of.  I will be reading the next book in this series in 2015!

Dirty Magic by Jaye Wells begins a new urban fantasy series by one of my favorite authors.  Are you noticing a trend yet?  This gritty, dark world that Wells has created was highly addictive.  I never know what to expect with this author's books other than I am in for a wild ride!  And this WAS one wild ride!  This book was just as good as I hoped it would be if not better.  I'm so excited that I have the second book to look forward to in 2015 with no wait!

Nine Coaches Waiting by Mary Stewart was such a delight to read!  Filled with gothic undertones, I spent my time reading this book wondering what was going to happen next.  I loved the entire reading experience!  I have a special spot in my heart for books just like this: talk about an old house filled with secrets, characters that always seem to be hiding something, and a bit of romance and I'm there.  Yet another author whose backlist of books I plan on reading in its entirety!

A Share in Death by Deborah Crombie was another mystery series that I found this year and just could not get enough of.  With two characters that I instantly adored and whodunnits that were throwbacks to Agatha Christie, I instantly fell in love with this series and this book!  I keep saying this but I've found yet another author to read all of her books.

The Waking Dark by Robin Wasserman was by far the creepiest book that I read in 2014.  Both dark and disturbing at times, this was one of those books that I just could not set down.  It left me thinking about it long after we finished.  I finished this one early in 2014 but it still gives me the shivers when I think about it.

Honorable mentions this year include the following:

• Hysteria by Megan Miranda
• The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
• Mira Grant's Newsflesh trilogy (again)
• Mind of Winter by Laura Kasischke

And so many more when I start to think about it!  I had a wonderful year of reading in 2014 and am looking forward to all of the new possibilities in 2015! I hope that all of you have had a great end of the year and are as excited as I am about this new year!  Thank you for taking the time to visit and comment on my little blog! 

Happy Reading!