Rabid Reader’s Reviews – Best Reads 2012

2012 was a great year for me. I started my book review blog in February and have since met a number of wonderful people and reviewed 97 novels. Some of the novels were great and some…well, I’ve never met a book I regret reading because as a side benefit of age, I can always forget with time. High lighted in this post are the seven best Indie books that I’ve read this year.

 

Best Indie Novels of 2012
(in no particular order)

American Goddesses by Gary Henry

[easyazon-image align=”left” asin=”B0086XGFTS” locale=”us” height=”160″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51UTKJX8igL._SL160_.jpg” width=”110″]Two women are chosen for a program that gives them superpowers. Henry’s American Goddesses gives the new superheroes a super-baddie who causes problems for the women in an unexpected way. The twists and turns in this story were astoundingly clever as were the ways in which Henry addresses the problems that arise in their daily life as a result.

Henry is working on the second book in this series.

 

Sedition: A Political Thriller by Tom Abrahams

[easyazon-image align=”left” asin=”1480107336″ locale=”us” height=”160″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41lMXpTTG1L._SL160_.jpg” width=”107″]The President dies unexpectedly shortly after the Vice President’s demise. A tough, smart, female Speaker of the House is poised to take the main seat while the not yet sworn in, replacement, Vice President challenges her right. On the other side, an anarchist group sees this as their perfect opportunity to make their move (based on a real 1820 British plot). With an author who has spent many years as a political reporter, you can expect and get the best of the best political thriller.

In a Silva-esque move, Abrahams’s website gives us a look into the real places highlighted in Sedition: A Political Thriller.

 

Creator Class (The Creator Class Series) by K.M. Breakey

[easyazon-image align=”left” asin=”B009RAZ9AA” locale=”us” height=”160″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51i6K1dGHgL._SL160_.jpg” width=”100″]This book just squeaked in under the 2012 wire but would have certainly been on the 2013 list.

Shawn Lowe is a P-class 18-year-old who knows that there’s more out there than he can see. The Laws of Earthism that must be obeyed aren’t for him. Why can he only compete in the gaming rooms? Why can’t someone be recognized as the best at something? His Nana knows and she tries to tell him but talking about Pre-Great Transformation events is strictly prohibited. Up in C-class, unknown to Shawn, a 14-year-old girl watches. When she believes that Shawn will be terminated for blasphemous speech, she tries to warn and his friends in high places see this as a perfect chance to bring him to their world. Going to C-class may save Shawn’s life but the cost to him personally is great. Creator Class (The Creator Class Series) is thought-provoking and poignant.

Action packed and entertaining, I can’t wait to read the next book in the series which is due out in 2013.

Alien Invasion of the Zombie Apocalypse by Ford Forkum

 [easyazon-image align=”left” asin=”B00806SB5W” locale=”us” height=”160″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41dx8D1LEyL._SL160_.jpg” width=”120″]Aliens, who don’t have enough going on in their own world, decide to invade Earth only to find it in the midst of a Zombie Apocalypse. As a huge fan of both Douglas Adams and Dr. Who, I found this story reminiscent of their spirit. Short but wacky, the little Teddy Bear like aliens would be perfect for the small screen. I once again appeal to the producers of “Dr. Who” to hire Ford Forkum immediately – and to bring David Tennant back.

 

The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap by Paulette Mauhrin

 [easyazon-image align=”left” asin=”097718661X” locale=”us” height=”160″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51dJYvThKeL._SL160_.jpg” width=”107″]In the wake of Oscar Wilde’s 1985 conviction, Mildred Dunlap hatches a plan to distract curiosity away from her own relationship with her female cousin and lover. What results in this novel is an appeal to the reading audience to reevaluate the way they look at the world and people who choose (or are born to) a lifestyle different from their own. Mildred may be the main character of title but, really, the object of her faked affection stands as the audience. Will he endanger Mildred once he knows her secret or understand that sometimes life is more than we can comprehend?

Profits from this novel go to the Ventura County Shelter, a no-kill animal shelter.

 

A Darkness Shattered (The Darkmind Saga) by Bruce Clothier

 [easyazon-image align=”left” asin=”B007R07NW4″ locale=”us” height=”160″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51XApfRgX%2BL._SL160_.jpg” width=”115″]Clothier’s book was one of the first I read when starting to review Indie novels and it has stuck with me all this time. A teenage boy who has been sheltered and coddled his whole life is home when the Zombie Apocalypse happens and realizes that he must leave his home or die. He makes it out of the city just before bombs are dropped and meets up with a teen girl, also fleeing the gathering zombies as well as those who are taking the opportunity to attempt to victimize her. Together they start a journey to his grandparents home some several hundred miles away. I generally enjoy zombie tales but A Darkness Shattered (The Darkmind Saga) was one of the more human driven stories I’ve read. Clothier honors the life the zombies led before their death and provides us with an entertaining coming of age story in an impossible time.

 

The Other Guy by Cary Attwell

 [easyazon-image align=”left” asin=”B009XWXBK2″ locale=”us” height=”160″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51nOl6teEWL._SL160_.jpg” width=”120″]Emery James is left at the alter and goes on his honeymoon alone. While away, he meets a new friend and finds himself deeply attracted to the other man. What follows is a beautiful, same sex, love story. Emery must come to terms with his new attraction. The Other Guy was emotionally fluid with a plot that made sense and characters with whom there was a deep connection. I have since recommended this novel to many of my gay (and straight) friends who say that there’s so little in the way of love stories out there for them.

 

This was a great year. Thank you to everyone who has been with me along in the way whether you’re reading my website, liked my Facebook page or given me the massive support and help I needed when launching (this one is for you, Rangewoman Inc). I hope that everyone has had a wonderful 2012. Rabid Reader’s Reviews will have great things to come in 2013.
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