This year the list is small. Very, very small compared to last year which had enough for over a book a week. This year was filled with researching and writing a book of my own, leaving me little time for reading all the brain candy I love so well. You can tell when I finished my own writing, because that is when my reading picks back up. Because there were fewer books than normal this year, I have decided to give all of them a one sentence review or comment.
A few highlights:
Books read: 33
Most read in one month: June, 8
Best new (to me) book: The Stand (April)
Best new series: The Hunger Games (October)
Best reread: I reread two great books this year, but My Sweet Folley by Laura Kinsale (September) takes the cake
Worst book read: tie between Stolen by the Sheikh (May) and How to Wed a Baron (October) both were WowBad for their own reasons
January
Here Be Dragons by Sharon Kay Penman – One of my favorite historical fiction authors and a decent read. I liked When Christ and His Saints Slept better though.
April
The Stand by Stephen King – I kept getting this book recommended to me and now I know why. It was fantastic.
Memories of the Future by Wil Wheaton – Snort your drink funny, a must read for any STNG fan. I can not wait for the next installment.
May
Beyond Heaving Bosoms by Sarah Wendell and Candy Tam – Exactly the mix of high and low brow humor and commentary I expect from these ladies and a must read for anyone who loves romance or wants to know why so many other people do.
Stolen By the Sheikh by Trish Morey – Train wreck. It was so bad I could not stop reading it.
June
White Witch, Black Curse by Kim Harrison – A great book in The Hallows series with all the fun you expect from Harrison.
His Lady Mistress by Elizabeth Rolls – Amusing but not great. One of those romances that makes you want to shake the main characters a bit.
Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr – An interesting take on the fairy world.
A Bride Most Begrudging by Deeanne Gist – A good read and, though labeled as inspirational romance, it was not annoyingly so. I liked it.
Victory of Eagles by Naomi Novik – I love, love this series so I loved this book as well.
Castle of the Wolf by Sandra Schwab – An almost yearly reread for me now and always worth it.
What a Scoundrel Wants by Carrie Lofty – A sort of meh romance involving Will Scarlet of Robin Hood.
Jungle Heat by Bonnie Dee – This was my first, and probably only, foray into the male/male romance arena. While the story was ok, I read the sexy bits pretty fast. I guess this sub-genre is not for me. 😉
July
Chew: vol. 1 – Taster’s Choice – A great graphic novel about a guy who is clairvoyant when he eats things, including people. Yum!
Chew: vol. 2 – International Flavor – A great second part to the series. I am going to have to finish these.
Hexed by Michael Alan Nelson – Fabulous graphic novel about a young thief named Lucifer. I loved it! More please. Plus, I actually got to meet the author and he was lovely.
Song of Seduction by Carrie Lofty – The writing was superb and the weaving of the musical elements was nice, even if the main characters made me batty at times.
August
Exclusively Yours by Shannon Stacy – I will never look at an ATV in the same way again. The supporting characters in this one were well developed.
The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan – I was really disappointed by this book, mainly because the main character is so selfish.
Pegasus by Robin McKinley – Wonderful. Please hurry and write the next part, please!
September
The Red Tree by Caitlin R. Kiernan – Spooky with some fun twists. Read by yourself in the country if you can handle it.
Tomboy Bride by Harriet Fish Backus – A true story of a woman who followed her assayer husband to some of the more famous mining communities in North America. Very interesting.
My Sweet Folly by Laura Kinsale – A reread with Kinsale is always a good one.
Kansas Troubles by Earlene Fowler – Another fun mystery and quick read in the Benni Harper series.
October
How to Wed a Baron by Kasey Michaels -Pick any annoying romance trope and this book has it plus a heroine that is so annoyingly virginal I almost threw up a few times.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins – Great, fabulous, loved it. Post-apocalypse meets Lord of the Flies. Awesome.
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins – I read the whole series in about a week.
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins – 🙂
Heat Wave by Richard Castle – I got this as a gift and never would have bought it, but it was actually very amusing. It was like reading a Castle episode and I love me some Castle.
November
There Is A God by Anthony Flew – A notorious atheist writes about his journey to God and the rationale behind it. Great book and very readable.
Uncertain Magic by Laura Kinsale – I have read a lot of Kinsale and this was the first one that I have been meh about. Definitely skip this one in favor of one of her other ones.
December
Black Sanction Magic by Kim Harrison – Another good Hallows book.
Rakes and Radishes by Susanna Ives – I wrote a long review for this book and I really enjoyed it. A fun read.