Friday, January 12

The Favorites...

I was going to do a Top 10 From 2006 but decided to just list my favorites, I had a hard time cutting it down to 10, on any given day the list might change anyway--LOL.
  • Ride the Fire by Pamela Clare--the time period was so refreshing, story telling and writing strong.
  • Lady of Sin by Madeline Hunter--character driven
  • Winter Garden by Adele Ashworth--character driven
  • Pleasure for Pleasure by Eloisa James--character driven
  • The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt--Georgian!! a really good debut novel
  • Angel Falls by Nora Roberts--loved the heroines insecurities and the heros firm belief in the her despite all her anxieties and obsessions.
  • Vanquished by Hope Tarr--this may be my favorite book from last year and I didn't rate it a "Great", this was one of those books that stuck with me long after I read it.
  • Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh--wonderful writing voice and world building
  • Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas--love an ambiguous hero
  • Demon Angel by Meljean Brook--amazing world building, amazing couple
  • Twilight by Stephanie Meyers--excellent YA book
  • The Gladiator's Honor by Michelle Styles--fantastic time period and really strong storytelling
  • The Turning by Jennifer Armintrout--nice debut novel, paranormal with a horror feel
  • Dark Need by Lynn Viehl--paranormal romance that borders on horror
  • I See You by Holly Lisle--nice suspense, interesting paranormal twist
  • Simply Unforgettable by Mary Balogh--well, gee it's a Balogh of course it's good
  • The Devil's Waltz Anne Stuart--ambiguous hero, strong heroine--really good book
  • Darcy's Story by Janet Aylmers--P & P from Darcy's point of view--love that.

Favorite series/trilogy--Susan Carroll--The Courtesan, Dark Queen and The Silver Rose--actually I read the first 2 in 2005, but the series finished with The Silver Rose in 2006, she did an amazing job redeeming a questionable hero.

Favorite catergory--Goes Down Easy by Alison Kent, I don't read many category romances, but this one worked completely for me.

The book that stuck with me even though I gave it an "okay" grade--Entertaining Mr. Stone by Portia DaCosta--there's something about Maria and Mr. Stone (Clever Bobby) that really work for me as a couple, maybe it's the May/December thing--I don't know--LOL.

Favorite Re-reads:

  • Open Season by Linda Howard--If I'm honest I probably reread this 10 times last year. It sat on my nightstand and I picked up whenever I had "nothing" to read.
  • His Wicked Ways by Eloisa James--either you love it or hate it, it works for me. I'll also admit I read Pleasure for Pleasure three times in December--LOL.
  • Mackenzies... by Lida Howard--what can I say I love the Mackenzies.
  • Years by Lavryle Spencer--one of my all time favorite books--Teddy and Linnea--I may have to reread it again.
  • Mr. Impossible by Loretta Chase--Rupert is probably one of my absolutely favorite heros.
  • The Laird by Juliana Garnett--I think this was published in 1998, one of my favorite authors, love her style, voice and storytelling.
  • Night in Eden by Candice Proctor--my favorite Proctor, wish she was still writing romance.

That's it, I'm done boring you with my favorites--LOL.

11 comments:

CindyS said...

YOU'RE the one with the YTD stuff on your blog. I knew I copied that from somewhere. I can't believe you're at 6 already. I'm such a slacker!

You've intrigued me with Angel Falls so I might just have to pick that one up! I just started The Raven Prince and it's keeping my attention so I'm very happy. I have Vanquished in the TBR pile as well as Twilight.

The Susan Carroll series - is it one couple for all three books or are they three different romances. Whenever I see the covers I always think 'historical fiction'. Bad Cindy.

CindyS

Anonymous said...

"I want some more!"

I realy liked your list. it wasnt just a book was bad or good but what it had to give the reader , i like that.
i like characters , world building , different flavors to heroes , couple so on. sometime a book is like not so great but character and setting and world building in one make up for it . i really like the list. it make me want to read most of them. was surprised not to see emma holly demon series , did you read them or not? i think it right up your alley . i havent but i have read diff other books though . nnnn raven prince and nora roberts recent trilogy publised in 2006 are on mh to read list now heh. nr about witches goddess and vamps i think.
like to see more about what you liked about books in 2006. limiting your list is impratical when you have so many you think were good and liked .
you have a good good weekend.
i hope to get ot my ebook soon .
mamx from canada

Rosario said...

Boring us? No way! I loved your list, I agree with you about many books, and I'm writing down others you listed, like the Tarr, the Lisle and the Armintrout.

Tara Marie said...

Cindy--If you click on my "Just the books Link it'll give you lists of books for the last year and a half.

I'm a Nora fan, I read everything except the in Death series and honestly I probably got 10 books into it before putting it down, and I'm seriously starting about picking them back up.

The Raven Prince--really good.
Vanquished--I like this more than some other readers.
Twilight--YA at it's best.

Mamx--glad you liked my list

Rosario--I know we're not boring--LOL. But all those books might be a little over the top. When I read your list I realized we have very similar taste, look forward to your thoughts on Tarr, Lisle and Armintrout (she has a new book out in Feb, second in the series.)

Tara Marie said...

Cindy--sorry--the Carroll series is about three sisters, not the same couple. It's funny the Carroll books are sold in General Fiction not romance, but they're definitely romance.

Kristie (J) said...

I agree with you on a lot of these - most notable Ride the Fire *g*. I'm trying to get as many 2006 books in before voting at AAR - so thanks for the reminder of Vanquished. I have that one TBR and have really enjoyed Hope Tarr in the past.

Tara Marie said...

Kristie, I've noticed we have similar taste especially when it comes to historicals. Hope you enjoy the Tarr.

Lori said...

Oh, I forgot all about The Devil's Waltz when I did my list this year. What a good book. *sigh* She does write the best dark heroes, doesn't she? I did have another one of hers on my list, though...

Great list.

Jenster said...

The Susan Carroll series was easily my favorite series of the year as well. Hm. I wonder what she's working on now...

I agree with your assessment of Mr. Impossible. How can anyone NOT love Rupert??? He just made me smile. Though I liked his brother in Lord Perfect an awful lot, too. There were times his actions were so contrary to his character and I couldn't help but laugh out loud. When's the next Carsington book, I wonder...

I have the first two Eloisa James books, but I haven't read them yet. So was Pleasure for Pleasure your favorite of the series?

Jenster said...

Okay. I'm back from snooping and here's my limited information.

Loretta Chase's "Not Quite a Lady" is due for release in April. Susan Carroll's "The Huntress" is due out at the end of July.

I haven't had any luck with a synopsis for either one, though. "The Huntress" has another great cover like the "Dark Queen" series.

My work here is done.

Tara Marie said...

Lori, Anne Stuart is so consistant.

Jen, April--good to know. I wonder if the new Carroll will be in Fiction or Romance??