N. N. Light
Dec 15, 20234 min
The staff at N. N. Light's Book Heaven review a wide variety of books and 2023 was no different. We read and reviewed 1,200 books this year. As the year draws to a close, we award the best books of the year (December 2022 - November 2023). Each of these books was given a 5 star or 5+ or 5++ star review by the reviewers at N. N. Light's Book Heaven and they are highly recommended reads. Narrowing down to these finalists was a rigorous process for the staff of N. N. Light's Book Heaven debating which books deserved the coveted finalist and winner awards. These are the finalists:
Action/Adventure Fiction/Romance:
Rescuing Freedom by Ellis Summers
Audiobooks:
Cobra Pose by Susan Rogers and John Roosen
Haunted Water by Jo A. Hiestand
The Last Descendant by Shirley McCoy
Children’s Books:
Nina Loves the Forest by Heider Broisler
The Little Boy Who Craved Thanksgiving Leftovers by Shani T. Night
Contemporary Romance:
Twice Baked by Katrina Coll
How to Spot a Fake by Rachelle Paige Campbell
Any Fin for Love by Petie McCarty
Cozy Mystery:
Trip the Light Phantasmic by Judith Sterling
Tea and Trouble by Lucinda Race
Death by Cutting Table by Susie Black
Dark Fantasy:
Rotten Apple by Marilyn Barr
Crystal Moth Conspiracy by Konn Lavery
Dark Romance/Romantic Suspense:
Royal Caleva: Gabriel: Duke of Bencalor by Nancy Herkness
Reign Of Loyalty by AG Kirkham
Wildcard by AG Kirkham
Erotic Romance/Romantic Suspense:
Tempt by Marie Tuhart
Blue Steel Hearts by Eve Lyn
Unwrapped in Røros by Hanna Park
Fantasy Romance/Romantic Fantasy:
Taking Medusa by SM McCoy
For Love of Medusa by Lianne Kelly
Sea Hunter by D.V. Stone
Fiction:
Remnants of Fire by Alana Lorens
Towers of the Hungry Ghosts by Lee Kaiser
Historical Fiction:
Outcast Artist in Bretagne by Diane Scott Lewis
The Starlet in Cabin Number Seven by Chrysteen Braun
Censored Angel by Joan Koster
Historical Romance:
If I Loved You by Cerise DeLand
Minuet at Midnight by Collette Cameron
The Scottish Selkie by Cornelia Amiri
Holiday Romance:
Holiday Queen by Claire Marti
Lights of Love: A Dickens Holiday Romance by Morgan Malone
Sugar Plum Inn by Lucinda Race
Horror:
The Helios Syndrome by Vivian Shaw
The Boy in the Bubble by Stephen B. King
Spine Chilling by Michelle Godard Richer
Inspirational Fiction/Romance:
Audrey: Christmas Quilt Brides by Nancy Fraser
Painted with Good Intentions by Dorothy Robey
Later in Life Romance/Romantic Suspense:
Vulnerable by Marsha R West
The Last Enemy by Pauline Baird Jones
Literary Fiction:
Where the Ocean Meets the Sky by AR Hadley
Wild Asses of the Mojave Desert by Lis Anna-Langston
Enfant Terrible: Opening Acts by Gwydhar Gebien
Medieval Romance:
The Emerald Fairy and the Dragon Knight by Jennifer Ivy Walker
Shadows in the Mist by Virginie Marconato
Promise Me Christmas by Gini Rifkin
Memoir:
The Italian Dance Quest by Anna Harsh
Thank Goliath by Domenic Aversa
Mystery:
Chasing Favors by Mark Love
Cruel Lessons by Randy Overbeck
The Cottage by Jo A. Hiestand
Nonfiction:
How to Construct Chat AI prompts to Help you Write your Novel: a manual with sample prompts for writers by Ashley Parker Owens
Paranormal/Paranormal Fantasy:
A Flock of Vampires by Everlyn Thompson
Witch Ever Way You Go: A Seattle Coven Tale by Robert Herold
Raising Hell: How to Survive the Terrible Twos by Katie Zaber
Paranormal Mystery:
Manatee Soul by Terry Segan
Paranormal Romance:
Rewrites of the Heart by Terry Newman
Ghosts of New England: Last Light Point by Nancy Fraser, Kathryn Hills, Peggy Jaeger and Lisa A. Olech
The Vampire Billionaire’s Secret Baby by Sharon Buchbinder
Post-apocalyptic Fiction/Romance:
Saffron by PL Parker
Poppy by PL Parker
Regency Romance:
Captivated by His Countess by Kathy L Wheeler
Wolf in Duke’s Clothing by Debra Elizabeth
The Creole Duchess by Rue Allyn
Rockstar Romance:
Lead Me On by MJ Schiller
True Stars Collide by Claire Marti
Romantic Suspense/Thriller:
Key of Silence by Judy Kentrus
Gullible by Rosemary Kubli
Chasing the Diamonds by Mary Martinez
Science Fiction/Romantic Science Fiction:
AzumC by Pauline Baird Jones
The Surge by Monica Abbott
Steamy Romance:
Snowfire by Charlotte O’Shay
Simon by Dania Voss
Just You and Me by Evelyn Jeannine Hall
Suspense:
Sound and Deception by Nancy E. Polin
Tangled Lies by Sue Jaskula
Sweet Romance:
Sophia’s Magic Beans by DV Stone
Meet Me in River’s Edge by Nan Reinhardt
Thriller:
Into the Fog by Michelle Godard-Richer
Fatal Witness by Michelle Godard
Sea of Shadows (USS Towers Trilogy Book 1) by Jeff Edwards
Time Travel/Time Travel Romance:
A Tryst in Paris by Anne Armistead
Rise Like a Phoenix by Tammy Lowe
Time Swept by Casi McLean
Urban Fantasy:
The Cane, The Puzzle, and Magic by Vicky Burkholder
Flame & Shadow by AK Nevermore
Raven Crosses the Line by JB Dane
Western Fantasy/Romance:
Moonlight Over Montana by Lucinda Race
Smoke, And Other Storms by J.L. Delavega
Leaving Noah by Maddie James
Women’s Fiction:
Rag Lady by Susie Black
Reinventing Rita by Nancy Christie
The Key to Circus Mom Highway by Allyson Rice
Young Adult:
Griselda Rella by Lee Renwick Steele
The Blood of Faeries by Dan Rice
Best Audiobook Narrator of the Year:
Cobra Pose by Susan Rogers and John Roosen
Haunted Water by Jo A. Hiestand
The Last Descendant by Shirley McCoy
Best Book Cover of the Year:
The Italian Dance Quest by Anna Harsh
A Gentleman Will Never Forget a Lady by Emily Windsor
Bonded for Life by Sharon Buchbinder
Best Book of the Year:
The Helios Syndrome by Vivian Shaw
Key of Silence by Judy Kentrus
A Flock of Vampires by Everlyn Thompson
Best Indie Book of the Year:
Trip the Light Phantasmic by Judith Sterling
Saffron by P.L. Parker
Snowfire by Charlotte O’Shay
Best US Author of the Year
Lucinda Race
Judy Kentrus
Nicki Pascarella
Best Canada Author of the Year
Everlyn Thompson
Michelle Godard-Richer
Konn Lavery
Best International Author of the Year
Susan Rogers and John Roosen
Emily Windsor
Stephen B. King
Congratulations to all the finalists.
The winners will be announced on Friday, December 22, 2023.