Continuing the Top Ten Reads, here's mine in no particular order. I picked all these books because a) I loved them and b) I couldn't stop reading them. I highly recommend all of them.
1. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. This is a phenomenal book---I couldn't stop reading it and actually screamed when I got to the ending.
2. If I Stay by Gayle Forman. A highly emotional read, you'll definitely need tissues at hand. It's about Mia, a talented cellist, who is the only survivor of a horrific accident that killed her family. Mia's outside of her body---her physical self is in a coma---and she has to decide if she should stay or be with her family. I absolutely loved this book when I read it.
3. Practice Makes Perfect by Julie James. Pride and Prejudice set in a law firm. I laughed out loud in many parts of this book---the courtroom scene in particular. Julie knows how to write romantic comedy.
4. The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley. I loved this book. Probably the must read romance book for 2009. I eagerly anticipate the rest of this series; I only wish I didn't have to wait so long.
5. Too Good to be True by Kristan Higgins. I reread this book many times, and I totally fell in love with the hero of this book. Callahan is a sexy name, and I want to steal it for my own writing. Um, don't tell Kristan.
6. Anything for You by Sarah Mayberry. A friend recommended that I read Sarah Mayberry, and I'm so glad I listened to her. This book features the friends to lovers trope. I am now in the process of reading many of her backlist titles.
7. Smooth Talking Stranger by Lisa Kleypas. I usually don't like babies in my romances, but Lisa Kleypas can write anything and make it work. I really loved the romance between Ella and Jack, and how baby Luke was such an individualized character and not just window dressing. I will read anything Lisa Kleypas writes. Anything.
8. Tempt the Devil by Anna Campbell. If Anna Campbell published her grocery list, I'd read it. Campbell has a way of creating images with her masterful writing, and there were many scenes in this book that simply blew me away. I hope one day she writes a book for Erith's daughter. :-)
9. Bound by Your Touch by Meredith Duran. I am a sucker for spinstress/smart heroines and charming scouldrels/Rakes tropes. Duran twists this common trope and breathes new life into it. This is my favorite Duran (so far). I never want to finish Duran's books because I always have to wait, painfully, for the next one to arrive.
10. Not Quite a Husband by Sherry Thomas. Sherry Thomas is my crack. After reading this book, she made me want to write about a divorced couple (in her book, the marriage is annulled) who get back together.
11. Goddess of the Hunt by Tessa Dare. I laughed. I cried. I laughed some more. I loved Lucy. I loved Jeremy. I loved The Look. Dare manages to always find a way to make her characters come vibrantly alive, and I always look forward to her writing because I know I'm getting a story that will pull at my emotions, and Dare always fully immerses me in her world. I want to be friends with all her heroines and sleep with all her heroes.
12. "This Wicked Gift" by Courtney Milan in The Heart of Christmas. A powerful novella that features two working class characters---Milan doesn't hold back in her writing and I really loved both William Q. White and Lavinia Spencer.
Oops. I lied. I feel so horrible because I left off one of my favorite books of 2009. Blame the power failure I had this past weekend and how my brain's been all fuzzy from the partial I just handed into my agent.
13. A Hint of Wicked by Jennifer Haymore. As soon as I started reading this novel, I knew I was in good hands. Haymore's novel is mind-blowingly good, and I've become an insta-fan of hers, reading everything she writes under both Jennifer Haymore and Dawn Halliday. I love her writing, her characters (Sophie, Tristan . . . sigh), and the emotions she pulls from me. A very evocative, sexy writing style.
Also, a book that I read but wasn't pubbed this year but one I consider a must read:
Sunshine and Shadow by Sharon and Tom Curtis. For once, you can judge a book by its cover. I was absolutely blown away by this book. SAS features an Amish widow heroine and a famous Hollywood director, and what happens when their two worlds collide. If you haven't read this book, do yourself a favor and order it used on Amazon. I can't express how much I love this book.
I had a really, really hard time narrowing my lists down. I'm already thinking of other books I've read and loved. (Like Jill Shalvis' Double Play, Eloisa James' A Duke of Her Own, and Nalini Singh's Angel's Blood.) Sigh.
So if you haven't already, share your Top Ten. Or let me know which book on my list you haven't read, but want to and why. I'll select one commentor and gift her/him with a book.
1. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. This is a phenomenal book---I couldn't stop reading it and actually screamed when I got to the ending.
2. If I Stay by Gayle Forman. A highly emotional read, you'll definitely need tissues at hand. It's about Mia, a talented cellist, who is the only survivor of a horrific accident that killed her family. Mia's outside of her body---her physical self is in a coma---and she has to decide if she should stay or be with her family. I absolutely loved this book when I read it.
3. Practice Makes Perfect by Julie James. Pride and Prejudice set in a law firm. I laughed out loud in many parts of this book---the courtroom scene in particular. Julie knows how to write romantic comedy.
4. The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley. I loved this book. Probably the must read romance book for 2009. I eagerly anticipate the rest of this series; I only wish I didn't have to wait so long.
5. Too Good to be True by Kristan Higgins. I reread this book many times, and I totally fell in love with the hero of this book. Callahan is a sexy name, and I want to steal it for my own writing. Um, don't tell Kristan.
6. Anything for You by Sarah Mayberry. A friend recommended that I read Sarah Mayberry, and I'm so glad I listened to her. This book features the friends to lovers trope. I am now in the process of reading many of her backlist titles.
7. Smooth Talking Stranger by Lisa Kleypas. I usually don't like babies in my romances, but Lisa Kleypas can write anything and make it work. I really loved the romance between Ella and Jack, and how baby Luke was such an individualized character and not just window dressing. I will read anything Lisa Kleypas writes. Anything.
8. Tempt the Devil by Anna Campbell. If Anna Campbell published her grocery list, I'd read it. Campbell has a way of creating images with her masterful writing, and there were many scenes in this book that simply blew me away. I hope one day she writes a book for Erith's daughter. :-)
9. Bound by Your Touch by Meredith Duran. I am a sucker for spinstress/smart heroines and charming scouldrels/Rakes tropes. Duran twists this common trope and breathes new life into it. This is my favorite Duran (so far). I never want to finish Duran's books because I always have to wait, painfully, for the next one to arrive.
10. Not Quite a Husband by Sherry Thomas. Sherry Thomas is my crack. After reading this book, she made me want to write about a divorced couple (in her book, the marriage is annulled) who get back together.
11. Goddess of the Hunt by Tessa Dare. I laughed. I cried. I laughed some more. I loved Lucy. I loved Jeremy. I loved The Look. Dare manages to always find a way to make her characters come vibrantly alive, and I always look forward to her writing because I know I'm getting a story that will pull at my emotions, and Dare always fully immerses me in her world. I want to be friends with all her heroines and sleep with all her heroes.
12. "This Wicked Gift" by Courtney Milan in The Heart of Christmas. A powerful novella that features two working class characters---Milan doesn't hold back in her writing and I really loved both William Q. White and Lavinia Spencer.
Oops. I lied. I feel so horrible because I left off one of my favorite books of 2009. Blame the power failure I had this past weekend and how my brain's been all fuzzy from the partial I just handed into my agent.
13. A Hint of Wicked by Jennifer Haymore. As soon as I started reading this novel, I knew I was in good hands. Haymore's novel is mind-blowingly good, and I've become an insta-fan of hers, reading everything she writes under both Jennifer Haymore and Dawn Halliday. I love her writing, her characters (Sophie, Tristan . . . sigh), and the emotions she pulls from me. A very evocative, sexy writing style.
Also, a book that I read but wasn't pubbed this year but one I consider a must read:
Sunshine and Shadow by Sharon and Tom Curtis. For once, you can judge a book by its cover. I was absolutely blown away by this book. SAS features an Amish widow heroine and a famous Hollywood director, and what happens when their two worlds collide. If you haven't read this book, do yourself a favor and order it used on Amazon. I can't express how much I love this book.
I had a really, really hard time narrowing my lists down. I'm already thinking of other books I've read and loved. (Like Jill Shalvis' Double Play, Eloisa James' A Duke of Her Own, and Nalini Singh's Angel's Blood.) Sigh.
So if you haven't already, share your Top Ten. Or let me know which book on my list you haven't read, but want to and why. I'll select one commentor and gift her/him with a book.
18 comments:
It's like thte twelve days before Christmas.
See us Vixens can't choose just ten!
Great list.
I am going to get to that Duran book soon!
I love the line "I want to be friends with the heroine and sleep with the hero." Seeing this as a cover quote now. ;)
So many books, so little time, but If I ever finish the wip I think I deserve some good reading.
I love Lisa too...I loved Tempt Me at Twilight better than STS--but only because I thought it combined the best parts of her contemporaries with her historicals. But I own both. *LOL*
I'm adding If I Stay and Practice Makes Perfect to my library lists!
I'm still on a Lorraine Heath kick this month...and I just finished Hoyt's newest book. I think I liked her beast one better, but it was still really good. Still really yummy.
Oh, such a good list! I haven't read a Duran book but I have every intention of starting after all the wonderful things I've heard about her. BbYT sounds like a very good start! And Practice Makes Perfect is now on my To Immediately Purchase list. P&P? And law? And comedy? Be still my heart!
Wow, Ely, wanna do a small deal on a laundry list or two? Think I could put some together! Hey, here's my shopping list from yesterday! LOL. Actually I shouldn't tease you - that's an amazing list and I'm tickled pink to be included in it. THANK YOU! I haven't read the Ashley but it's been on SO many best of lists, I must grab it.
Happy Christmas, Vixies!
Tiff, I know. I am so bad at narrowing lists down. Sigh.
Maggie, you'll finish the wip! And I think I came up with a cover quote for you for MBMarriage? It might have been: Best. F-ing. Book. Ever. Love to see that on the book, LOL.
MsHellion, it was so hard to choose with Lisa. But she made me love a trope I'm not a fan of, and that's why I went with STS. Plus, I thought Jack was sexxxxy. And I definitely think you would like PMP and IIS. PMP is a laugh out loud book.
StephanieJ, I can't believe you haven't read a Duran book yet. They're so up your alley. I really think you'd get sucked into her world and love her complex writing. And PMP is just a fun, fun read.
Anna, if you get a nice deal for your laundry lists, does that mean I get 15%? ;-) And you so have to read TMOLM!!! It's got that dark grittiness factor, so I think you'd love it.
"Pride and Prejudice set in a law firm." Seriously--forget the back of the book copy and all my rambling descriptions...THAT is the way I'm going to describe PMP from now on. One sentence. ;-)
Thanks for much for including PMP in your Top Twelve list! Honestly, I'm so thrilled you enjoyed the book. And now I really need to pull The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie out of my TBR pile...
You made a good list!! I've read most of them. I would like the Sarah Mayberry book. I keep reading good reviews about her books. Happy Holidays!! Thanks, Sue
Julie, I really loved PMP and I've heard great things about SAY. I really can't wait to read the new book (SAY) in March '10. Oh, I think you'd really love the Ian Mackenzie book---it was stunning. (I also think you would like Sunshine and Shadow.)
SueHuessein, thanks for commenting! The Sarah Mayberry books are great---she has a new one out right now and has one coming out in January.
Hey, I back up everything said about the fabulous Sarah Mayberry. She's one of my discoveries for the year and I've been devouring her backlist like chocolate!
Um, Ely, believe me, should anyone want to buy my laundry list, I'll definitely give you a cut! ;-)
Wow! Thanks for the recommendations. I've only read one of the authors you've listed. I think they all sound FANTASTIC and will be getting quite a few of them! Now, which one will I start with????
Monica.maxie, that's the hardest part is making that decision! I always go with the book that interests me most. :-)
Great list, I've read 8 of these.
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