Holiday Buying Guide 2012

Last year's Holiday Buying Guide was a huge hit. I'm back this year with another 10 titles. Whether you are making a list of gifts to buy or receive, I have suggestions for every book lover. (Click on the book titles to read my review of each book)

For the family:

I highly recommend The Gateway Chronicles by K. B. Hoyle. The entire family will enjoy sharing this fantasy series. The Enchanted is the most recent title, but make sure to pick up The Six, The Oracle, and The White Thread if you are new to the series. Also, you can see what my niece thinks of the series in her Kid Who Reads column.

Get The Enchanted at Amazon  (on Friday, Nov. 23, the publisher will have the ebooks marked down to $4.99 on their site)

For Young Readers:

I haven't had the chance to pick up the other books in this series, but 13 Gifts by Wendy Mass was one of the best children's books I've read. It was fun, yet didn't talk down to kids. The audio version was great. 

Get 13 Gifts at Amazon and IndieBound

See Kid Fiction and Kid Who Reads for more young reader suggestions

For the Young Adult/New Adult:

Untraceable by S. R. Johannes is a thrilling wilderness adventure high school and college students will enjoy. If they are into conservation and ecotourism,, then it is a MUST HAVE.

Get Untraceable at Amazon and IndieBound

A strong female character swept into the unknown forces of nature is the highlight of Downburst, a thrilling read that will have you on the edge of your seat.

Get Downburst at Amazon and IndieBound

More young adult/new adult suggestions

For Adults:

Sylvain Reynard's Gabriel's Inferno and its sequel Gabriel's Rapture are perhaps the HOTTEST romance novels of 2012. It was purchased a few months ago by a Penguin imprint and is now available around the world in several languages. 

Get Gabriel's Inferno at Amazon and IndieBound

I loved every book I've read by Heather Huffman. Devil in Disguise is a great mix of romance and suspense. For readers who are interested in human rights and trafficking issues will want this book.

Get Devil in Disguise at Amazon and IndieBound

What all must one family sacrifice to set one girl free? Similar to Devil in Disguise, for those wanting an edgier read I recommend Sempre by J. M. Darhower.

Get Sempre at Amazon and IndieBound

Do you have a Harry Potter fan who is all grown up now? Discovery of Witches and Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness will satisfy their craving for magical fantasy and the adventure to a world beyond the one we see.

Get Shadow of Night at Amazon and IndieBound

Murder and mayhem is on the menu for T. A. Reddick in Lowcountry Punch by Boo Walker. It will appeal to all the mystery and suspense readers on your list, male and female.

Get more info at http://boowalker.com/books

I saved the best for last. If I did write a "Best of" list, Further Confessions of a Slightly Neurotic Hitwoman would be in the number 1 spot. I didn't think J. B. Lynn could improve upon the first book in the series, Confessions of a Slightly Neurotic Hitwoman. I was delightfully proven wrong. I have never laughed so loudly while reading a book.

Get Further Confessions of a Slightly Neurotic Hitwoman at Amazon and IndieBound

Bonus: A Giveaway!

Thanks to Crown Publishing Group, I have a book to get you in the Christmas spirit! Enter the Rafflecopter for your chance to win A Christams Home by Greg Kincaid (open to US/Canada only).

Todd McCray, hero of A Dog Named Christmas, is now twenty-four years old and working at a local animal shelter, where he meets and quickly becomes best friends with Laura, a young volunteer. Laura, like Todd, has disabilities of her own, but her struggles are more physical than developmental. Their friendship is sealed when Todd—with the help of his trusted companion, the tenacious Labrador retriever named Christmas—trains a beautiful dog named Gracie to help Laura with the day-to-day life tasks that are difficult for her. 

Life seems good for Todd, but all is not well in his hometown. Struggling families unable to make ends meet are abandoning more and more dogs, and the shelter is swelling to capacity.  The local government is struggling to meet its obligations too, and in early December, on the cusp of another holiday season, Todd’s boss delivers the bad news.  Due to funding problems, the shelter will close its doors before the end of the year.  But what will happen to all the animals?

As the Christmas holiday approaches, Todd has limited time to find homes for all the dogs. Not to mention that he needs to secure a new job and figure out what to do when his friendship with Laura takes an unexpected romantic turn. All this seems overwhelming unless you’ve got a loving family, dedicated friends, and a couple of very special dogs behind you. In which case, nothing is impossible.

Goodreads, Amazon, IndieBound

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Girl Who Reads is an advertising affiliate with Amazon and IndieBound; a small fee is earned when purchases are made using the above links.

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