Everyone at N. N. Light's Book Heaven reviews a wide variety of books and 2021 was no different. We read and reviewed over 1,800 books this year. As the year draws to a close, we award the best books of the year (December 2020 - November 2021). Each of these books was given a 5 star or 5+ star review by N. N. Light's Book Heaven and they are highly recommended reads. Narrowing down to these finalists was a difficult process with the staff from N. N. Light's Book Heaven debating which books deserved the coveted finalist and winner awards. These are the finalists:
Action/Adventure:
Releasing the Catch by Jeny Heckman
Anthology/Boxed Set:
Storm & Shelter by Alina K. Field and other authors
SOUL DEEP: Perspectives on Race, Relationships, Social Justice, and Hope by Stephany Tullis et. al.
Tinsel and Tatas by Claire Marti et. al.
Audiobooks:
No Known Address by Jo A Hiestand
The Romanov Legacy by Marilyn Baron
Charlotte Redbird, Ghost Coach by Sharon Buchbinder
Beach Read:
Return of the Runaway Bride by Nancy Fraser
Sundae My Love by Debby Grahl
Smoother Than Spumoni by Marilyn Barr
Children’s Books:
Charles McCheese: And The Childhood News Network by Emma Jean
Sticky Icky Vicky – Courage Over Fear by Alysia Ssentamu
Christian Fiction/Romance/Thriller:
A Measure of Madness by Kim McMahill
The Reluctant Queen by Lin Wilder
Coming of Age:
The Search for Synergy by Brett Salter
The Five Things by Beth Merwood
Moon Puddles by Robert Gamble
Contemporary Romance:
Breathe by Lucinda Race
Baked With Love by Peggy Jaeger
Unexpected by Jana Richards
Cozy Mystery:
Death by Sample Size by Susie Black
An Embarrassment of Itches by M.K. Dean
Penthouse, Pools & Poison by Louise Stevens
Dark Romance:
Reign of Temptation by A.G. Kirkham
Saint by A.G. Kirkham
Reign of Turbulence by A.G. Kirkham
Dystopian:
Heart of a Traitor by CC Bolick
After the End by Joshua V. Scher
Erotic Romance:
Finding Tiegan by Hanna Park
Heart Throb by Janet Lane Walters
Harlow by Cadence Vonn
Erotic Romantic Suspense:
Desire and Deception by Sharon Buchbinder
The Horse List by Anna Lores
Houston by Cadence Vonn
Fantasy:
Celtic Myst by M.L. Foxx
The Scarlet Queen by Mitch Reinhardt
Bloodstone: A Paranormal Fantasy Adventure by M.J. Mallon
Fantasy Romance:
In Mage We Trust by Heidi Vanlandingham
Lord of Druemarwin by Helen C. Johannes
A Breath of Sunlight by Sydney Winward
Fiction/Literary Fiction:
The Goalie by Angelo R. Lopez
Lineage: A History in Faith by Michelle Thompson
Historical Fiction:
Through Forests and Mountains by Margaret Walker
Tiponi by Evelyn Timidaiski
Historical Romance:
The Redemption of Heathcliff by Alanna Lucas
Spirit of the Winds by Judy Kentrus
The Price of Glory by Caroline Warfield
Historical Western Fiction/Romance:
The Three Widows of Wylder by Julie Howard
Until by Beth Henderson
Home in Wylder by Jane Lewis
Holiday Romance:
Merry Little Wishing Spritz by Cherie Colyer
Fixing Christmas by Peggy Jaeger
Red Velvet Crinkles by Maria Imbalzano
Horror:
Hungry Business: A Short Story by Maria DeBlassie
Moonlight Becomes You by Robert Herold
Into the Macrocosm by Konn Lavery
Later in Life Romance:
Compromise by Marsha R. West
A Fox for Faith by DE Haggerty
Broken Halo by Rhonda Lee Carver
LGBTQ:
There’s So Much I Need to Say to You by Sutton Tell
Vintage by Steve Berman
The Bloodshed of the Betrayed by A.L. Slade
Medieval Fiction/Romance:
Rorik by Mary Morgan
Memoir:
The Awkward Armadillo by Aimee Larson
A Backpack, A Chair and a Beard by Eamon Wood
Playing Soldier by F. Scott Service
Middle Grade:
Mall Girl Meets the Shadow Vandal by Kimberly Baer
Agent Sam Carter and the Mystery at High Pointe Tower by D.V. Stone
Friends to the End by C.L. Colyer
Military Fiction/Romance:
Northern Dawn by Daniel Greene
A Soldier for Suzie by D.E. Haggerty
Mystery:
Haunted Water by Jo A. Hiestand
The Visitor by Terry Tyler
Shopping can be Deadly by Charlotte Stuart
Nonfiction:
The Successful Manager: Practical Approaches for Building and Leading High-Performing Teams by James Potter and Mike Kavanagh
Sri Sai Sat Charitra for Kids: Miracles and Teachings of Sai Baba by Ishwar Joshi Awalgaonkar
Heptagram: The 7-Pillar Business Design System for the 21st Century by Pamela Ayuso
Paranormal:
Damned When I Didn’t by Cherie Colyer
Secret Spirit Guardians of Santa Fe by C.A. Masterson
Zoraida Grey and the Voodoo Queen by Sorchia DuBois
Paranormal Mystery:
The Spiricom by Roslyn Reid
Scarlet at Crystal River by Randy Overbeck
Paranormal Romance:
Redeemed by Fire by C.J. Bahr
Healed With a Kiss by Sharon Buchbinder
The Witch of Rathborne Castle by Virginia Barlow
Regency Romance:
A Bonny Pretender by Aubrey Wynne
Fated Hearts by Alina K. Field
Romantic Comedy:
Dibs by Allison Hubbard
A Protector for Phoebe by D.E. Haggerty
Romantic Suspense/Thriller:
Fatal Recall by Gini Rifkin
Twisted Lies by C.B. Clark
Defending Sophie by Desiree Holt
Science Fiction:
Legacy of Power Season 1 by C.C. Bolick
Science Fiction Romance:
Steam Tinker by Laura Strickland
Requiem by PL Parker
Cosmic Boom by Pauline Baird Jones
Scottish Romance:
An Echo in the Glen by Michelle Deerwester-Dalrymple
Keeper of My Dreams by Susan Leigh Furlong
Self-Help/Motivation/Inspiration:
Drink Water Mind Your Business: A Simple Way To Focus And Get Started by Andrew Stuart
Original Wisdom: Harness the Power of the Authentic You by Donna Bond
Transcending Depression by Larry Godwin
Suspense:
The Victim’s Child by Vickie Britton and Loretta Jackson
Short Stories:
Dark Tales and Twisted Verse by A.L. Butcher
A Whisper on the Wind by Julie A. D’Arcy
Sports Romance:
GOAT by Liz Crowe
Numbers Game by Desiree Holt and Liz Crowe
Steamy Romance:
Andrew by Dania Voss
Never Enough by Nancy Fraser
I am not for Sale by Adriana Kraft
Sweet Romance:
Hope for the Holidays by Rachelle Paige Campbell
Time Travel/Time Travel Romance:
Return of the Raven by Judith Sterling
Spirit in Time by Julie Howard
Time of the Wolf by Julie D’Arcy
Urban Fantasy:
To the North by Evan L. Grove
Marked Raven by JB Dane
Dragon€ Baby Gone by Robert Gainey
Vampire Romance:
Honorable Rogue by Linda J. Parisi
Yes, Your Majesty by Jennifer Ann Shore
Smoke and Mirrors by Elise Nelson
Western Romance:
Cowboy August by Rhonda Lee Carver
Cowboy Boone by Rhonda Lee Carver
Cowboy Luke by Rhonda Lee Carver
Women’s Fiction:
Four Sisters by Mary Martinez
Heads Carolina by Grea Warner
Balance by Peggy Jaeger
Young Adult:
The Stillness Before the Start by Jennifer Ann Shore
Beyond the Dragonheads by Kelly Nichols and Alyn Rockwood
Perfect Little Flaws by Jennifer Ann Shore
Best Audiobook Narrator of the Year:
The Romanov Legacy by Marilyn Baron
No Known Address by Jo A Hiestand
Crying Woman Bridge by Vickie Britton
Best Book Cover of the Year:
Merry Little Wishing Spritz by Cherie Colyer
Legacy of Power Season 1 by C.C. Bolick
The Redemption of Heathcliff by Alanna Lucas
Best Book of the Year:
To the North by Evan L. Grove
Releasing the Catch by Jeny Heckman
Best US Author of the Year:
Susie Black
Sharon Buchbinder
Sydney Winward
Best Canada Author of the Year:
Nancy Fraser
Jana Richards
Sue Jaskula
Best International Author of the Year:
D.E. Haggerty
Alysia Ssentamu
M.J. Mallon
Congratulations to all the finalists.
The winners will be announced on Thursday, December 16, 2021.