Sunday, January 18, 2009

Best of 2008 - Books

I love the reader poll over at All About Romance. It's been pared down a bit - but it always makes me think about the great books I've read this year. Now, here's my problem -- my one brain cell is tired of doing all the heavy lifting in my head and I can't remember all the great books I've read - so I need your help. I'll throw out some of my picks and you remind me what I'm missing ---

Funniest Romance - Unpredictable by Eileen Cook - it killed me. I laughed out loud, I was jealous with rage. I could read it over and over. Loved that book.

Biggest Tearjerker - Irresistible by Susan Mallery? Is that the one with the heroine's sick kid - oh, I cried.

Best Love Scenes -- tough one. Delicious was pretty spicy.

Erotica - I loved Amy Ruttan's Fox's Bride. Was that 2008?

Best Hero??? Really tough one. I dug Stephanie Doyle's hero from Untouchable - I dug Marjorie M Liu's gargoyle in The Wild Road

Heroine - I loved Michele Ann Young's Lucinda.

Best Romance Couple - Delicious? Not sure. Ideas?

Guiltiest Pleasure -- Gotta be JR Ward. I love those books more than anyone should.

Historical Romance in the UK? - I still can't think of anything better than Delicious. What am I blanking on?

Out of the UK? Duke of Shadows. For Sure.

Contemporary Romance - Irresistible by Susan Mallery -- what else am I missing?

Paranormal - Wild Road? Lover Enshrined?

Best Romantic Suspense? Absolutely Eve Kenin's Hidden.

Author I gave up on - Eloisa James - I give up on her every year and every year she pulls me back in.

Best Romance of the year -- in terms of world building and my sheer adoration of the series, not because the romance was all that spectacular - Lover Enshrined.

Chick Lit - Love Walked In - what a book. Not totally done, but man, what a book.

So, what am I missing?

15 comments:

Amy Ruttan said...

And Blogger ate my comment. Grrrr.

I'm really blushing. Thanks Maureen! Yep it was 2008. Hard to believe since it was my 2006 NaNo winner.

I loved Michelle's Lucinda, so did my mother. Michelle won over my mom who is a very picky reader. :)

I was very slack on my 2008 reads. Duke of Shadows, most definitely.

I read Kelley Armstrongs The Summoning, which is a YA and I loved it. I don't read much YA, but Kelley's little world of Supernatural Powers is worth watching.

I also just read the Twilight Saga in a five day sitting. I was reluctant, but I was finally convinced and glad that I did. Absolutely excellent. Glad I haven't seen the movie yet.

Molly O'Keefe said...

I realized I totally forgot Joanne Bourne -- and Private Arrangements was 2009, so replace all my Delicious entries with Private Arrangements.

Molly O'Keefe said...

I mean 2008. See, that one brain cell is going on strike.

Anonymous said...

I can't think of funny - But now I know to read Eileen Cook.

Tearjerker - Worth Fighting For (I already told Molly it made me cry)

Best Love Scene - I'm going with the Blay Quinn kiss in Enshrined - I'm sorry that was hot.

Hero - Cade from (don't make me say the name) Kresely Cole's book.

Heroine - I'll go with Sherry T's Delicious - although I forget her name. (that can't be good)

Paranormal - Tie btw Enshrined and the oddly titled Kresely Cole book. (I'm going to confess - I'm not the biggest Lui fan out there. The gargoyle was too brooding for me.)

Author I would consider giving up on (but I know I won't) Julia Quinn for that crap that was those two 1/2 books. If either are up for a RITA - I'm launching an official protest.

Anonymous said...

Ditto on Best Historical - being Joanna Bourne.

But I wasn't a huge PA fan. It was good - but not a keeper for me. I liked Delicious way more.

Amy Ruttan said...

I said Maureen instead of Molly. Thanks Molly, but I know just having a kid you'll understand my brain lapse. LOL.

Julia Phillips Smith said...

*applause* for Amy Ruttan's 'Fox's Bride' - I loved it, too.

I still haven't read J.R. Ward, but I know it's something I'll savour, once I do.

Anonymous said...

well, I'll grab this chance to say I just read what I consider a real winner, Molly's The Son Between Them. Great characters, great set-up, and she just keeps piling on the tension.

Maureen McGowan said...

Ha! Amy, you thanked me, but it was Molly who paid you the compliment. Not that I wouldn't have... But credit where credit's due.

Maureen McGowan said...

Stephanie, every one of Molly's books makes me cry at some point... Even as I laugh out loud at least once a chapter.
But there was really something about that family of Mitchell brothers (and their parents) that really brought out the tissues.

I must pull out the books and get the right title and character names for the books released last year... As a CP, I'm always about four books ahead with Molly's stuff... so read the books released in 2008 in 2006-7.

But she so completely deserves all the accolades she's getting.

BTW LOVED the poison skinned heroine in UNTOUCHABLE, Stephanie.

Maureen McGowan said...

Beyond that... I don't have any books to add to this list.

99% of the romance titles I read these days are recommended to me by Molly or Sinead... so it's no coincidence that my best-of list will be similar to theirs. (Although I think I can take credit for introducing Eileen Cook to them. She's got a YA just out, by the way, which sounds great.)

Anonymous said...

Ok, how did I miss reading the Eileen Cook book? Must get that right away.
As for Molly's books, I'm the same as Maureen, a few ahead, and all are wonderful, but the one she just finished I think might be my fav... The hero is delicious,

And Private Arrangements was hands down my favourite historical and heroine...
JR Ward for paranormal

And Amy, I'm behind, but I cannot wait to read your book... I could use some steamy in my life.

Amy Ruttan said...

I know Maureen. I corrected myself, I swear I read this at 8 a.m., and brain was leaking out of ear.

Seriously though y'all rock.

Amy Ruttan said...

Thanks Sinead! :)

Molly O'Keefe said...

oh Battlestar - how you totally are the best show ever. Seriously. That was amazing.

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