Top Ten Reads for 2010

Finally, the post in which I choose the best books I read that were published in 2010. First though, before I get to the list I want to tell you a little about my stats.

Total books read with 2010 pub date: 67
Romantic Suspense: 5
Urban Fantasy: 5
Historical: Regency 20, Western 1, Medieval 3
Contemporary: 13
Paranormal: 17
Thriller: 1
Erotic: 2

I am really proud of the fact that half of the books I read last year were published in 2010. That was a goal I wanted to obtain and I managed it! I am surprised that the number of paranormal romances was so high. I would have thought that number would have been lower with me reading more urban fantasy. Paranormal is the one genre that has been on the outs with me, but these numbers don't reflect that at all. I am not at all surprised about historical being so high. I have been on a historical romance kick and it doesn't look like that will be letting up any time soon.

Now, on to the good stuff!

Romance Rookie's 2010 Top Ten Reads

To Purchase

My Review

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To Purchase

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To Purchase

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To Purchase

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To Purchase

My Review

How about you?  What were your favorite books from this year?  I have been watching the internet to see what others are putting as their favorites and if I didn't read the book then I am going to add it to my list.  Are their any books that you didn't see me review that you enjoyed in particular?

The Best of 2002

Another one of my "best of" posts.

Here are the top books for 2002 according to RWA and AAR.

***Bold means I read it - and () is my personal grade for that book. At the bottom will be my top picks for this year, based on what books I read.

Lets see how things compare...

RWA's 2002 RITA Winners
Shades of Honor by Wendy Lindstrom
No Place Like Home by Barbara Samuel
Never Say Goodbye by Irene Hannon
Taking Cover by Catherine Mann
Stealing Heaven by Madeline Hunter (B)
Contact by Susan Grant (B)
A Debt To Delia by Barbara Metzger
Three Fates by Nora Roberts
Taming The Outlaw by Cindy Kay Gerard
The Bride Fair by Cheryl Reavis
The Christmas Basket by Debbie Macomber

All About Romance - Reader's Poll
Out of Control by Suzanne Brockmann (B+)
Faking It by Jennifer Crusie
No Place Like Home by Barbara Samuel
Beyond Seduction by Emma Holly
No True Gentleman by Liz Carlyle
Stealing Heaven by Madeline Hunter (B)
Untie My Heart by Judith Ivory (A-)
The Wedding Journey by Carla Kelly
Prairie Moon by Maggie Osborne
The Older Woman by Cheryl Reavis
Contact by Susan Grant (B)

Romance Rookie's Top Picks
Let Me Be the One by Jo Goodman (A)
Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris (A)
Behind Closed Doors by Shannon McKenna (A-)
Untie my Heart by Judith Ivory (A-)
Bitten by Kelley Armstrong (B+)
Out of Control by Suzanne Brockman (B+)
Lord of Fire by Gaelen Foley (B+)
Lord of Ice by Gaelen Foley (B+)
Killjoy by Julie Garwood (B+)
The Dark Highlander by Karen Marie Moning (B+)
Romancing Mr. bridgerton by Julia Quinn (B+)
The Lady's Tutor by Robin Schone (B+)
Ravyn's Flight by Patti O'Shea (B+)
Hard Eight by Janet Evanovich (B+)

Some things of note:

• I only read a total of 37 books published in this year.
• No Place Like Home by Barbara Samuel made both the RWA and AAR lists.  Hmmm.. I might have to give that one a try.
• Cheryl Reavis made both the RWA and AAR lists but with different books.  I haven't ever tried her but I might be changing that.

How about you? Any particular books that stood out in 2002? Agree or disagree with this list?

Best of 2000

Okay, I have decided to do a series of posts that will encompass the past ten years of my reading progress and what I deem the best romance books from those years. I have been wanting to compile my own "top list" for each year and a 100 list for a while now. I just haven't gotten around to it for various reasons. Most of those pertaining to the fact that I want everything to be perfect and have nice, little neat categories to fit everything into. Alas, it just doesn't work out that way so I am going to do the best that I can with what I currently have.

Each post will revolve around a year, for the past ten years starting with 2000. I will post what were the popular books that year using information from RT (Romantic Times Magazine), RWA (Romance Writers of America) and AAR (All About Romance). From there I will compare what books were top of the heap with them and how that compares to my own reading experience.

***Bold means I read it - and () is my personal grade for that book. At the bottom will be my top picks for this year, based on what books I read.

AAR'S READER'S CHOICE - TOP PICKS
Winter Garden, Adele Ashworth
Welcome to Temptation - Jennifer Crusie (B+)
The Viscount Who Loved Me - Julia Quinn (B+)
The Unsung Hero - Suzanne Brockmann (A-)
Where Dreams Begin - Lisa Kleypas
A Secret Love - Stephanie Laurens
By Arrangement - Madeline Hunter
I Do, I Do, I Do - Maggie Osborne
Never Love a Cowboy - Lorraine Heath
The Star King - Susan Grant
Dark Magic - Christine Feehan (C)
Dark Challenge - Christine Feehan (B)

RITA AWARDS - RWA
A Man Like Mac - Fay Robinson
First Lady - Susan Elizabeth Phillips
The Shepherd's Voice - Robin Lee Hatcher
Rogue's Reform - Marilyn Pappano
Devilish - Jo Beverley (B-)
The Highlander's Touch - Karen Marie Moning (C)
A Grand Design - Emma Jensen
Carolina Moon - Nora Roberts
It Takes A Rebel - Stephanie Bond
The Mistress - Susan Wiggs
The Best Man & The Bridesmaid - Liz Fielding

ROMANCE ROOKIE'S TOP PICKS
The Duke by Gaelen Foley (A)
The Unsung Hero by Suzanne Brockman (A-)
Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard (A-)
Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Crusie (B+)
Dark Desire by Christine Feehan (B+)
All the Queen's Men by Linda Howard (B+)
The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn (B+)
Tears of the Moon by Nora Roberts (B+)

A couple of things of note:

• I read a total of 30 books published in 2000.  It's not a lot and my goal is to have read at least 50 books to make my list "mean something".
• The Star King is being offered as a free ebook by borders right now.
• I thought I had read everything by Lisa Kleypas, so how in the world did Where Dreams Begin drop off my radar?

Any books from this year that are your favorites that I should make a point to read?  Agreements, disagreements with my list?

Kathleen Winsor Tribute - Top 16 Romances

Maili and Jessica are paying tribute to Kathleen Winsor, author of the infamous novel Forever Amber by creating their top 16 romance novels. If still alive Winsor would have been 90 today. I have actually read Forever Amber. I think it was about five or six years ago. It was one of those books that has been talked about with lots of controversy surrounding it, so naturally I was intrigued. It was second to only Gone with the Wind for shocking popularity during the 1940s. I could see why it was a shocking story, especially during that time period. It was written in 1945.

Amber, the main character was a very promiscuous woman willing to do what she thought was necessary in order to survive. I have to admit I didn't like her very much, nor the man she loved Bruce. Both were extremely selfish individuals. If was to review the book it would have been a difficult one to rate. I would have given it a "D" just based on the characters personalities and their shameless behavior. More than once I wanted to throw the book at the wall. The story itself is a sweeping saga that, if I remember correctly spans something like 15 years. It's not even really a romance because there is no happy ending and Amber sleeps with so many men, I lost count. I guess I am glad I can say I read it. Was it worth it? Absolutely not, LOL.

So this is turning out to be some tribute! Now for the fun stuff. It was difficult to do, but some how I managed to come up with a list of my top 16 romances. These are not in any particular order. That would be impossible.

1. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
2. Annie's Song by Catherine Andersen
3. Morning Glory by LaVyrle Spencer
4. Shadow Touch by Marjorie M. Liu
5. Spell of the Highlander by Karen Marie Moning
6. Heaven Texas by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
7. Warprize by Elizabeth Vaughan
8. Dark Desires After Dusk by Kresley Cole
9. The Shadow and The Star by Laura Kinsale
10. Over the Edge by Suzanne Brockman
11. Heiress for Hire by Erin McCarty
12. Prince of Dreams by Lisa Kleypas
13. Cry No More by Linda Howard
14. A Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught
15. The Duke by Gaelen Foley