The Blue Rose Review's Top 20 Books of 2013

1) Into This River I Drown by Tj Klune - This book will always stay with me. This makes the top of my list for two reasons. First because Tj describes mourning on a whole new level, very poetic like. Second, it gives us a look into the window of the soul belonging to the author. One of the best stories I have ever read. (I read A LOT)

2) Billy's Bones by Jamie Fessenden -  This book is about a man who suffered from abuse and blocked out a heinous crime from his mind. This subject is not an easy thing to write about. You always have to worry whether you're sending your reader towards a downward spiral with the words you write. It's not easy to find the balance between a nightmare and happy feelings. I believe this book has done that and I just fell in love with the main characters, it's hard not to.

3) Murderous Requiem also by Jamie Fessenden - I was told that this book wasn't as popular. I absolutely loved it. Sure, it had to do with the occult but it wasn't an occult worship manual. And sure, I had to look a few things up but isn't that part of what a book is supposed to do, teach you? I suppose this one for the nerds. Well I'll proudly announce that I'm a nerd because I really enjoyed this one. I cannot wait for more.

4) Intervention by Mia Kerick- I'm not sure what I can say about this book to give it justice. All I can say is music is power, music is healing and when words are not enough, start playing the music. It's a fantastic form of communication.

5) The Broken Road Cafe by T.A. Webb (Tom Webb) - I just love Dan and his ability to pick himself up and dust himself off. I love the community that helped him do it and I love the burly Nick that Dan likes to argue with. This is a well written story like all of Tom's books. It'll make you cry and then it'll make you laugh.

6) Serenading Stanley by John Inman - I couldn't think of another reason why I love this book so I stole the review I wrote for the book. I cannot say I have a favorite character in this story which is a first for me. There is always a character that stands out above the rest that the reader takes notice of, this is usually the main character. Serenading Stanley has no such character because they all stand out. This is the most colorful cast of characters I have ever read. From an over-weight, hairy drag queen to a timid STRAIGHT accountant there's a hodge-podge a different personalities. Want to know the in between then you have to read it. It will make you laugh in one breath and make you cry in another

7) The Tin Box by Kim Fielding - Kim made my list last year with Speechless and here she is again. This story tells a story within a story of what it was like to be gay years back compared to now. It's heartwrenching at times. While he's telling someone else's story, William's story unfolds around him to happy endings and closure.

8) The Chalk Butterfly Trilogy by Audra Red - The story is basically more than one book but I purchased it as one and it reads that way. So now having said that this book will stay with me until I take my last breath. It is beautiful. I will leave you with a part from the book. "You don't understand," Alexander replied slowly. "This is my life, this grief." Immense sadness filled Alexander's eyes and he held up his bandaged hands once again. "My skin is as delicate as butterfly wings. They call us butterfly children, how easily we are rendered flightless."

9) Curious Sustenance by Charley Descoteaux - This book is just simply delicious..enough said. It does have a message though :-)

10) Junk by Josephine Myles- Some people are hoarders. Some look at these people with distain but there is always a reason for it. Jasper is hiding something behind all of that stuff. With the love and support of Lewis, he unearths what he was hiding and hiding from. Love this book!

11) Tell Me It's Real by Tj Klune - What can I say? It's down to earth and well very real.

12) I Can See For Miles by Lisa Worrall - I love to read about strong characters. Josh Daniels is as strong as they get.

13) Unbreak My Heart by K-lee Klein- I cannot pinpoint why I love this book, I just do. The characters are well written. You can just feel the pain and the love rising from the pages.

14 & 15) Goes to  B.G. Thomas because these two books go hand in hand. Anything Could Happen and Boy Who Came in From the Cold. - I love these books so much, I've read them over and over. It's embarrassing.

16) You Were Always the One by Hollis Shiloh - I enjoy books that deal with love that lasts through everything even if they're not with the person at the time.

17) Love, Like Water by Rowan Speedwell - It's in New Mexico. Enough said. Seriously this is a terrific book.

18) Play Me, I'm Yours by Madison Parker - another one of those books where music speaks volumes when words cannot be used.

19) Designs of Desire by Tempest O'Riley - Ok, I admit it, the first thing that drew me to this book was the main character walked on crutches like I do. It doesn't matter what attracted me to it, I'm just so glad I found it.

20) Puzzle Me This by Eli Easton- I was drawn to this at first because a character has Spina Bifida, that is what I have. I've heard Eli has been getting flack for not portraying a person with Spina Bifida correctly. I found no fault in it. There is no one way to deal with Spina Bifida. Everyone is different depending on their level of disability. I LOVED this book.

I apologize to those who didn't make it on the list. It was hard to narrow it down but at the end of the day I picked the ones that stuck in my brain, were unusual or had a deep message. Doesn't mean I love other books I've read any less. Love my shifters and cowboys ;-)

Lots of Love and Hugs. Happy New Year.

PS. It has come to my attention that The Chalk Butterfly Trilogy by Audra Red was published in 2012 but I didn't read it till 2013. So here is one for the list to replace it that was published in 2013. I'm going to put it here because I still want to put that book on the list. So to finish off my list for best of 2013 is A Heart Without Borders by Andrew Grey. I really loved this book, it is different than his others so I had to get used to that but he's still dealing with the subject of broken and lost people finding their way through the love someone gives them. This is such a must read book. Ok, I'm done.