The staff at N. N. Light's Book Heaven review a wide variety of books and 2022 was no different. We read and reviewed over 1,000 books this year. As the year draws to a close, we award the best books of the year (December 2021 - November 2022). 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 for the staff from N. N. Light's Book Heaven debating which books deserved the coveted finalist and winner awards. These are the finalists:
Audiobooks:
Hide and Seek by Jo Hiestand
Home in Wylder by Jane Lewis
Trial of a Warrior by Mary Morgan
Beach Read:
Sand, Salt & Spirits by Kathryn Hills
Matt’s Mystic Connection by Katie O’Sullivan
Children’s Books:
Paula the Busy Bee by Shani Night
The Heart of a Lion by Shani Night
Contemporary Romance:
Rocked by Grace by M.J. Schiller
Wild at Heart by Stacy Gold
Win Place Show by Liz Crowe
Cozy Mystery:
Hidden Gem: The Secret of St. Augustine by M.S. Spencer
Diamonds, Dunes & Death by Louise Stevens
The Case of the Missing Botticelli by Marilyn Baron
Dark Romance:
Reign of Desire by A.G. Kirkham
Ghost by AG Kirkham
Reign of Rapture by A.G. Kirkham
Erotic Romance/Romantic Suspense:
Temporary Nanny for the Tycoon by Marie Tuhart
Sorrento Seduction by Hanna Park
Deceptive Hearts by Kristal Dawn Harris
Fantasy Romance/Romantic Fantasy:
Heavy Heart by Rochelle Wilcox
Salted Caramel Bliss with a Wedding Kiss by Cherie Colyer
The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven by Jennifer Ivy Walker
Fiction/Literary Fiction:
The Lighthouse by Christopher Parker
The Ultimate Village Game by Beth Merwood
Ursamer by Karina McRoberts
Historical Fiction:
Winds of Discontent by Don Meyer
That Dickinson Girl by Joan Koster
Destiny of Determination: Faith and Family by Cathy Burnham Martin
Historical Romance:
Superstar by Beth Henderson
A Governess Should Never…Deny a Duke by Emily Windsor
False Pretences by Rosemary Morris
Historical Western Romance:
Felicity’s Fortune by Kara O’Neal
Sound of a Wylder Silence by Marilyn Barr
Break Heart Canyon by Gini Rifkin
Holiday Romance:
Saturday Santa by Kate Moore – best book of the year 1
Meringue Snowflake Magic by Tena Stetler best book of the year 1
Sasha’s Secret Santa by Peggy Jaeger
Horror:
The Seven Hungers: Blood Grove by Morgan Quaid
Web of the Succubus by Andrew P. Weston
LGBTQ:
Witch’s Knight by Evelyn Silver
Defending Jessica by Benna Bos
Memoir:
20th Century Man: Carl Yeary by Carlene Havel
Finding Karen Black by Diane Bay
Travels with Maurice by Gary Orleck
Middle Grade:
Space Kids - The Journey of Hope by Alan Nettleton – best book of the year
Atticus Everheart, Fifth Grade Tutor and Monster Hunter? by C.L. Colyer
Shadows by the Lighthouse by Melissa Puritis
Nonfiction:
Driveway Detailing Warrior by S.L. Lucas
The 2-hour cocktail party by Nick Gray
How to Write a Funny Mystery by Beth Daniels
Paranormal/Paranormal Fantasy:
The Spear Alight by Judith Sterling
Paranormal Romance:
Go Scorch Yourself by Marilyn Barr
Syre by KyAnn Waters
The Gryphon and His Thief by Karen Michelle Nutt
Regency Romance:
When We Dance by Alanna Lucas
Desperate Daughters by Alina K Field et al
The Forgotten Daughter by Caroline Warfield
Romantic Suspense/Thriller:
Curse of Wolf Falls by Brenda Whiteside
Shattered Promises by Linda Trout
Jagged Feathers by Jan Sikes
Short Story:
My Weekend with Death by Angelique Migliore
The Race by John Russo
The Family Way by Pauline Baird Jones
Steamy Romance:
Ask Me Nicely by Dania Voss
Securing His Mate by Laura M. Baird
The Bar Scene by Ginny Frost
Sweet Romance:
Reinventing Riley by Liz Flaherty
Everything’s Coming up Daisy by Nancy Fraser
Ella by Nancy Fraser
Thriller
Deadly Deception by Mary Martinez
Fatal Hunt by Michelle Godard-Richer
The Swords of Blood & Gold by JCR Paulino
Time Travel/Time Travel Romance:
Tremors Through Time by Anastasia Abboud
An Angel’s Wylder Assignment by Tena Stetler
In Time for Christmas by Casi McLean
Urban Fantasy:
Raven’s Edge by JD Dane
The Silver Double Cross by Debra Martin
Warzone: The First Mission by Deandre Kralevic
Vampire Romance:
Bloodbane by Sydney Winward
Destiny’s Rogue by Linda J. Parisi
Young Adult:
Jexter Bladebrace and the Exalted Kingdom by Jamie Smartkins
Chosen by Night by CC Bolick
Discovery of the five senses by KN Smith
Best Audiobook Narrator of the Year
Callum Hale
Dawson McBride
Alan Manson
Best Book Cover of the Year
Waltzing with the Earl by Alanna Lucas
A Drizzle of Trouble by Jo A. Hiestand
A Portion of Malice by Lloyd Jeffries
Best Book of the Year
The Spear Alight by Judith Sterling
Jexter Bladebrace and the Exalted Kingdom by Jamie Smartkins
Meringue Snowflake Magic by Tena Stetler
Best Indie Book of the Year
Space Kids - The Journey of Hope by Alan Nettleton
Heavy Heart by Rochelle Wilcox
Curse of Wolf Falls by Brenda Whiteside
Best US Author of the Year
Lucinda Race
Judith Sterling
Best Canada Author of the Year
A.G. Kirkham
Michelle Godard-Richer
Nancy Fraser
Best International Author of the Year
Andrew P. Weston
Alan Nettleton
Jamie Smartkins
Congratulations to all the finalists.
The winners will be announced on Thursday, December 22, 2022.