2010 Reading List

I had the pleasure to read many awesome books in 2010. In a lot of ways, I think it was a notable year for several favorite authors and I had the pleasure of discovering a number of new authors for my auto-buy list. Here's a list of my favorite 2010 titles:

BEST CONTEMPORARY/ROMANTIC SUSPENSE - Hands-down, the SEALs trilogy. I'd really like to know where Stephanie Tyler's military heroes have been all my life. Hold on Tight was Chris's book and the final installment in Tyler's first trilogy. I read it in a day and a half...and I'm slow. Chris's character completely rocked his purple cover. Just look at that! Do I really need to say more? Sorry, I have to. Mostly because I felt that Chris's character was remarkable. He exemplified the wounded hero without losing his an ounce of his alpha-ness. I unfortunately have not read any of Tyler's new Shadow Force books, but if her SEALs trilogy is any indication, I will not be disappointed.

BEST PARANORMAL - It comes down to a mind-blowing tie. This is the first time my favorite paranormal authors have not shifted year-to-year, and of course those are the outstanding likes of J.R. Ward and Larissa Ione.

With Ward's Lover Mine, she continues the awesomeness that is the Black Dagger Brotherhood while telling the love story of my favorite character, John Matthew. This might have been my favorite book of the year because it lived up to its highly-anticipated hype and set the bar extremely high for the next book in the series.

Ione delivers! It's a phrase fans of the Demonica series have said from day one. Sin Undone is the final book in the Demonica series and talk about living up to the hype! I really didn't think Sin's book would like up to Wraith's, but I was so, so wrong. It had all the ingredients I've come to love about Ione's dark paranormals and more. I cannot wait until her next series launch in 2011.

BEST HISTORICAL - I read more historical romance in 2010 than anything else and two stand out more than any other. Both the authors are new to me and I was thrilled to add them to my auto-buy list.

The first is by established historical author Rosemary Rogers. Scoundrel's Honor explores the intriguing streets of St. Petersburg while delving into the life of the Beggar Czar, Russia's most notorious criminal. The hero reminds me of a historical Roarke. And it's rare that I love both the hero and heroine in equal measure.

The second is by author Veronica Wolff and is the first book in her Clan MacAlpin series. I've never fallen in love with a Highlander romance faster than I fell for Devil's Highlander. The story is textured richly and the characters are delightful. The hero, Cormac, is to die for - the epitome of both the alpha and Highlander hero. I can't wait to read the next book in the series, Devil's Own, in March.

BEST GENRE-DEFYING NOVEL - Zoe Archer's Blades of the Rose series is historical. But it also has deep roots in the paranormal. And romance. And adventure. Suffice it to say, these books are in a league of their own. Zoe Archer gets five stars for originality alone. The first book in the Blades of the Rose, Warrior, which launched in September, was absolutely outstanding. It would seem impossible to combine so many different sub-genres without one overwhelming another. That's what makes Warrior so unique. The historical frontier of Mongolia proved to be exciting new terrain for romance. And the romance - ooh la la! Absolutely nothing was lost there. The characters are as lovable as can be. The hero struck me as particularly three-dimensional. The elements of paranormal and adventure wove the plot together and the ending was so satisfying I immediately wanted to dive into the second Blades of the Rose title, Scoundrel.

Other 2010 notables include Alexandra Hawkins's Lords of Vice series, which will be continuing with its third installment in 2011. I also discovered the guilty pleasure that is Christine Wells's suspenseful historical. Ann Agguire's butt-kicking, sci-fi heroine, Sirantha Jax, became a must-read. And Cynthia Eden delighted fans by crossing over into romantic suspense.

Readers, it's your turn! What were your favorite titles of 2010?

Historical Recommended Reads

Hi Cozies! I've decided to do two Recommended Reads posts for the third quarter of 2010 because it seems I've read quite a bit in the last three months. Quite a few books wound up on my keeper shelf and to avoid a post that just keeps going and going, I'm doing historicals today and highlighting contemporaries and paranormals on the 16th. Keep in mind that not all these books were published this year. I believe strongly in trying both recent titles and not-so-recent titles. Most titles listed today were reviewed for The Season. (Note: Books reviewed for The Season are ranked on a scale of 1-10 while personal reviews are ranked on a 1-5 scale.)



Devil's Highlander by Veronica Wolff (My Review: LOVE) - This book begins a new saga, Clan MacAlpin, for author Veronica Wolff. And an exciting series launch it is! From the first page to the last, I was completely swept away by Devil's Highlander and enjoyed every moment lost in Cormac and Marjorie’s tale. I felt that it is also a unique tale, a departure from the usual Highlander romance setting and plotline. Amidst the well-researched streets and docks of Aberdeen, the book takes on weighty issues like human bondage and child labor as well as explores the depths to which guilt and blame can destroy lives. I look forward to the next story in the Clan MacAlpin saga. Meanwhile, Devil’s Highlander has all the right ingredients for a must-read historical romance.... (Read the full review at The Season)

Never A Bride by Amelia Grey (My Review: 8/10) - Clever characters, smooth prose, and a fluid pace make Amelia Grey’s Never A Bride an enjoyable read. This book is both romance and mystery as the heroine, Mirabella Whittingham, risks her reputation to find the scoundrel who led her family’s ward, Sarah, to an untimely death. To do so, she must kiss every titled bachelor who fits the description Sarah left behind of her “Prince Charming.” Conflict ensues when the fiancé who abandoned Mirabella for America returns. Grey’s voice and writing style are on par with Julia Quinn’s. My only issue with it is the tendency to repeat information the reader already knows. Her love of the Regency time period radiates from the pages of this book. It’s everything I love about romance in Regency times and I highly recommend it to fellow lovers of the genre.... (Read the full review at The Season)

All Night with a Rogue by Alexandra Hawkins (My Review: 5/5) - I read this first book in the Lords of Vice series after the second, Till Dawn with the Devil (below). Although both books are standout Regency romances, the Lords of Vice debut is superb! I enjoyed every moment with both the hero, an unrepentent rake, and the heroine. I've mentioned before that it's hard to find a romance where I enjoy the main characters in equal measure. I thought the villains of this book were also well-written.

Till Dawn with the Devil by Alexandra Hawkins (My Review: 8/10) -

This is a page-turning read that turns out a most unexpected villain. Still, the story resolved itself quite nicely and I was satisfied with the outcome. There is no doubt that Alexandra Hawkins is making a splash in historical romance and fans of the genre who haven’t read the Lords of Vice series should sit up and take notice. These men are downright delicious. I haven’t been this excited about Regency heroes in some time. They are the ultimate bad boys of the ton, rogues and scoundrels to the last, but fresh and addictive, adding their own brand of devilry to the Regency scene. I cannot wait for more in this series and have already scoped out the next title, due out early next year.... (Read the full review at The Season)

Something About Her by Jeannie Ruesch (My Review: 4/5) - I was eager to read this author's debut because it was presented so well in all the advertising I saw on it. The story was not without a few issues, but overall I had fun reading this Regency. Ruesch's voice flows well and is almost light-hearted. I liked the heroine and learned to love the hero. There are several sub-plots and villains, but they are all tied up in the end. The prose is smart and polished, but it was the ending that really got me on an emotional level. I look forward to seeing Jeannie's Ruesch's future works!

Scandalous by Candace Camp (My Review: 6.5/10) - Within the first few pages, this book didn't waste any time sweeping me along for the ride. In Scandalous, the reader gets a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the Hamilton family and the mystery of John Wolfe's identity. The book expands on that, weaving the motivations and colorful personalities of neighbors and friends into the fabric of the story and its suspenseful elements. Despite a few story issues, it isn't hard at all to imagine why Candace Camp is a historical favorite. Her writing is exquisite, the work of a consummate professional. Scandalous is written in so well a hand and so well-paced I was almost surprised to find myself flipping pages so fast. Suffice it to say, I could hardly put this book down once I became immersed in the story. The sub-plots and arcs were no doubt a complex balancing act, but Camp fashions it all together beautifully, crafting this suspenseful historical with finesse.

My Life in France by Julia Child and Alex Prud'homme (My Review: 5/5) - I always like to toss in a little non-fiction, just to mix things up every quarter. After seeing Julie & Julia this past spring, I couldn't help but pick up Julia Child's memoirs. I knew it would be a treat, but it went so much further than I thought in terms of depth of emotion and political overview. I loved this book mostly because Julia Child wasn't just an innovative chef - she was also a highly disciplined writer. I could not put this book down once it started and I didn't want it to end. It's one of the best memoirs I've read in some time. The most fascinating thing about it was the glimpse into post-war France. It wasn't just the food that left me hungry at the end of of every page; it was the colorful descriptions of Paris and the French countryside.

Be sure to check out The Season for upcoming fourth quarter historical romance reviews....

Stay tuned for more third quarter recommended reads later this week! And readers, I'd love to hear your recommended reads from July, August, and September!