I’ve about 280 books this year, and it just so happens that 20 of them were five star reads for me. Some of them are books released prior to 2011, but all of them were read this year.
Contemporary:
Sweet as Sin by Inez Kelley (Review)
This book is surprisingly dark with such a tortured hero. He is brutal and not always easy to like, but written so well.
The Reluctant Nude by Meg Maguire (Review)
This book hit me hard. So many emotions went through me as I read and it is one of the most intimate books I think I’ve read in a very long time. 
Butterfly Tattoo by Deidre Knight
Very dark contemporary (This is a theme with my contemps this year!) about a man who lost his partner is a car accident, and then becomes attracted to a woman. It’s so very different, and done really well.
Urban Fantasy:
Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning (Review)
The most anticipated book by me…ever, and it lived up to every expectation. Easily, my favorite urban fantasy series. Sad that it is concluded, but excited to reread it again, and again.
Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews (Review)
Hands down, Kate Daniels is my favorite heroine. I love her. It also doesn’t hurt that she is mated to a lion shifter. Rawr baby.
Romantic Suspense:
Show No Mercy by Cindy Gerard
This is book on in her Black Ops suspense series. May rec’d these to me and I devoured them like crazy. They are over the top in terms of the crazy action that happens and the team of totally alpha men who work together. They are so much fun to read and are really sexy.
M/M Romance:
Strawberries for Dessert by Marie Sexton
I absolutely adore the Coda series and when we got to Jonathan and Cole’s book, I wasn’t sure I would like them together – but OMG. I was so wrong. Cole stole my heart.
Divide & Conquer by Madeleine Urban and Abigail Roux (Review)
I can’t say enough how much I love this series. Each book leaves me wrecked for days (in a good way). So emotionally draining with two of the most crazy, sexy, stubborn men…who love each other.
PNR:
Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison (Review)
A dragon shifter as old as the universe and a heroine who in the first few pages of the book, steals from him. It’s fun. And has some nice dark moments as well.
Archangel’s Blade by Nalini Singh (Review)
Dmitri is wicked…so, so wicked – and my favorite part? He stays wicked until the very end.
Science Fiction:
Aftermath by Ann Aguirre (Review)
This book totally blew me away. The way Ann Aguirre has developed her characters in this series and how she has created not only a “normal” hero for Jax to love but an alien one too, is amazing. Jax herself is one of my favorite heroines of all time. Highly recommend this unique series.
Historical:
Unveiled and Unraveled by Courtney Milan (book 2, Unclaimed gets high marks from me too) Amazing romances about three brothers. Smite, from Unraveled, moved me. If you are going to read one historical this year, I say it has to be Unraveled. (Review)
Pleasure Me by Monica Burns (Review)
This book is sooooo sensual. It also has a virgin hero, who has a secret.
Silk is for Seduction by Loretta Chase (Review)
The heroine owns a dress shop and woos a duke in the most romantic way. Such sweet and witty characters. Just adorable.
Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke’s Heart (Review)
The hero is “The Duke of Disdain” and the heroine is feisty and captures his heart. Such a romantic, witty book.
Heartbreak Creek by Kaki Warner (Review)
Kaki Warner writes the best western historicals. Heartbreak Creek is book one in her Runaway Brides series and has a heroine and hero that will crack you up. Also very romantic and some nice adventure scenes as well.
Scandalous Desires by Elizabeth Hoyt (Review)
Mickey and Silence! A river pirate and a woman who has lost her husband and works in an orphanage. Excuse me while I swoon.
The Black Hawk by Joanna Bourne (Review)
I have been waiting and waiting for Hawker to finally get his own book. We see him all grown up – and it was worth the wait. I adored Justine in this book too. I think Joanna Bourne writes the best historical spy books..and I’m dying for the next!
Great list Mandi!!!
HOW did Kiss of Snow not make it…that book was FIRE…I’ve read it cover to cover at least 4 times this year…not to mentio the times I just go back and read my fav parts…lol
I did like that one a lot :)
Hmm lots of books I have read, and another parcel of historicals I still have to read. Nice overview. I’ll wait with making mine till the weekend.
A few of these are in my TBR still. Better move them up!!
I would have never expected Le Douche to be on this list. you have surprised me.
Hurray for virgin heroes!
Great list, Mandi! So many of my own favorites from this year, The Reluctant Nude blew my mind, Silence & Mickey, Dmitri, Courtney Milan’s Turner series <3 also some ones I haven't read yet (I curse your name as I reach for my wallet…lovingly, of course). But my darling, you are wrong about 1 thing, we're getting more Barrons!!! 5-6 more books, don't forget! Squee!
True!! I just won’t believe it until they actually come out..LOL. I am excited for Dani’s books
I have read way too few of those
I really tried to get to the Fever series this year but couldn’t do it. It’s on my must read list for 2012!!
Loved the Courtney Milan books, and one of these days I will finally start reading the Joanne Bourne books!
Great list Mandi! I forgot about Butterfly Tattoo! Good choice! So many I have not read….just not enough time!
I’m not supposed to log online during the holidays and if my bf sees me I’ll be in trouble, but I have to comment on your list because this is my favorite part of the year!
OMG Mandi! I can’t believe you just read Butterfly Tattoo!!!!! That was the book that got me to try the m/m genre so it’s a special one for me. A great story, right? I think this was a great year for m/m which is why I had to separate m/m form contemporary romance, because m/m contemporaries were way better than mainstream contemporaries, at least this year, my original list was full of m/m…
I’m downloading The Reluctant Nude as I write this (as long as my Kindle allows ii because being in the middle of the woods is no good for the connection). I admit that I was a bit disappointed with Dmitri’s books, it was mostly the ending that kind of ruined the books for me, that’s why it didn’t make my list, the same for Kiss of Snow, the ending wasn’t up to par with the rest of the book…
Great list! Have a great New Year and can’t wait to see what 2012 will bring (lots of hot heroes, I hope ;-))
I didn’t love Dmitri’s end either..but otherwise..oh yes :)
I hope you love The Reluctant Nude!!!
I know – I was so late with Butterfly Tattoo..omg. That book will stick with me forever. So haunting and dark. LOVE.
Have fun on the rest of your holiday!!!
I’m glad I ordered the first in Ilona Andrew’s Magic Bites series. Her latest is on three out of four of you ladies’ best of the year list. I ordered it because of a short story I read in an anthology called Dark and Stormy Knights.
Yes – her books are so good. I will say book one is the weakest of the series..but get through it because the rest are really good