Since it is the middle of the year, and I am slightly obsessed with making lists, I thought it would be fun to visit my favorite reads of the first half of 2010.
These are in no particular order.
Spiders Bite and Web of Lies by Jennifer Estep – This series has fast become one of my favorite UF series out there. Dark, violent, and sexy – I can’t wait for Venom in September.
Crossroads by Moira Rogers – Paranormal romance at its best. Read book one, Crux first to get the full experience. Really love this world Moira Rogers has created. And they write dirty sex –score!
Pleasure of a Dark Prince by Kresley Cole. This book made me a Kresley Cole super fan girl. She writes the sexiest scenes, combined with the craziest humor. Love her.
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Tigers and Devils by Sean Kennedy – This is a 2009 release that I finally read this year. After the Adrien English series by Josh Lanyon, I think is my favorite m/m romance book. It’s on my Kindle, it’s in print on my bookcase, and it will always be on my favorite list.
Mind Games by Carolyn Crane – So far, this is my favorite book I have read in 2010. Such a fresh, unique book. I still find myself thinking about it all the time. I also look for creepy faces on apartment buildings and toll booths. Hubs is concerned.
Lover Mine by JR Ward – HEEEYYY-OOOOOO. This book makes me scream like that. Or maybe I’m just watching too much World Cup. I lent this book to a friend and she just returned it yesterday. I might sleep with it under my pillow tonight. And every night.
The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker by Leanna Renee Hieber – Absolutely adorable. How can you go wrong when the hero, Alexi Rychman is based on the super smexy Alan Rickamn. Le Rawr. (<—I roared in French) Moving on…
Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs – I honestly think everyone needs to try this series (Moon Called book one) *cough* I’m lookin’ at you Fiction Vixen *cough*
Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews – Holy Cripes this book was awesome. Ilona Andrews has the best imagination and can write sexual tension and romance so darn well. I heart the beast lord Curran..dare I RAWR again?
Honorable Mentions:
The Bride and The Buccaneer by Darlene Marshall (2009 release)
In For a Penny by Rose Lerner
Dead Undead or Somewhere In Between by J.A. Saare
Zero at the Bone by Jane Seville (2009 release)
Vampire Mistress by Joey W. Hill
The Forbidden Rose by Joanna Bourne
One Dance With a Duke by Tessa Dare (favorite kiss of 2010)
Goals for the rest of the year:
1. Read a Lisa Kleypas contemporary (Julie is threatening me ;)
2. Read the first Harry Dresden book by Jim Butcher
3. Have dirty sex with Barrons. Wait, what?
4. Read Touched by an Alien by Gini Koch because I have seen sooo many great reviews for that one.
I think those four goals are doable. *clears throat* Fine – three of them are. I might not get to the Jim Butcher book ;)
Did I miss anything? What book have you read these past six months that I MUST read?
LOL! I just got the Kate Daniels series as ebooks yesterday! I'm curious to see what the fuss is about. Same goes for Mind Games which is still on my TBR pile.
Thanks for the list, Mandi!
Hey Mandi! I agree about Mind Games…My top 2 books so far are Mind Games and Soulless/Changeless–I am clumping those 2 together and eagerly waiting for the sequels for both series. September!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Doesn't Packard remind you of Barrons?
Sarah – I always tell people – Book one in Magic series is kind of slow but stick with it. Bk two on gets very good!!
Penny – Oh yes, Changeless. That should have made my honorable mention list.
Packard definitely reminds me of Barrons…I am dying for the next book!!
Great list! Loved Mind Games and Crossroads – also Touched by an Alien was awesome! (btw, I'm giving away Crux, Touched by an Alien, and Magic Bleeds over at my place)
I want to read the first Harry Dresden book this year too – hubs loves them :) Am frustrated that the only place that sells Dead, Undead or In Between seems to be Amazon (I want a print copy) – have been trying to be a good girl and not order books, 'cause you know I'm going to order more to get the free shipping!
Fantastic list! I've read a few and the rest are on my TBR list!
I love your list! As for your goals, I think we'd all like to do #3.
Patti – Awesome giveaway!! I want to read Alien mostly because of you!
It's hard to get the print books when it is from a smaller publisher. I really want that book in print too…
Smash – Cool!
Buckeye – LOLOL!
Wait – it's not available in print? What have I been waiting for?!? Am going to get it now *eyes 1click* Thanks :)
No..it IS in print…I was just saying, sometimes it is hard to find the print version. But I believe Amazon sells it. I only have it on my Kindle.
Great list Mandi. Lover Mine, Magic Bleeds and Mind Games make my list too. I'm planning on reading the first Patricia Briggs book next. I can't wait!
And yes you do have to read Lisa Kleypas (Mmm Jack…) and I too want to read Touched by an Alien primarily thanks to Patti! lol
Your list makes me wonder what my goals should be…
Julie – I must read about Jack!!! :)
Everyone needs goals…..haha
I loved this post Smexi. Loved the part about Barron. I think that is a goal that a lot of us Barrons lovers want to accomplish. LOL!
I am still thinking about Mind Games too. I don't what it was about that book that makes me think of it so. I think I'm going to do a quick re-read.
I still have to read Spider's Bite/Web of Lies. The books are staring at me right now and saying "read us please!"
Such a great list and I almost pulled out my hair and chomped off all my nails waiting for Lover Mine and Magic Bleeds.
Bells – I'm glad I have you to wait for books with. Like – SHADOWFEVER!!! Keep me sane Bells!!!!
Shadowfever! Barrons! I don't think we're going to make it Smexi! *bites nails* We need to read something else to keep our mind off of it. Let's contact Larissa Ione and tell her we need Sin Undone STAT! lol
Waves hi! We have a lot of the same favorites so far. And #2, 3(snickers) & 4 are on my list to-do also!! How awesome is that?
OMG!I've got to get my hands on some of those books. YOU MUST read The Lords of The Underworld books by Gena Showalter. And I just read Gaelen Foley's Knight Miscellany books, I know, they're old, but AMAZING – Lord of Fire is on my historical top ten for sure.
Bells – oooh..Sin Undone…SO READY for that book!!
Donna – Cool!! We will have to compare notes!!
Dani – I know..I can't believe I don't read Showalter..for the only reason that I don't know where to start and there are too many books. I know I would love them though if I did read them.
I own Lord of Fire but have never read Gaelen Foley…..darn it..don't make me add another goal ;) LOL
Wow honey, you are on a roll!!!
Popping in to say hi to ya!!!! Hope all is well honey!
Mandy, I think The Lords books are a great way to jump into Gena's books, start with The Darkest Night, The Darkest Kiss and The Darkest Pleasure. With Gaelen Foley, you should read The Duke, The Lord of Fire, The Lord of Ice (the firts 3 on the Knight Miscellany,), she's a great writer, always makes my cry, her Ascention Trilogy is great too. Please put them all on your agenda…
I'm cheating and checking my Goodreads 5 star shelf.
Enlightened Little Boy Lost JP Barnaby *discreet cough*
Truth in Dark Amy Lane
Tere Michael's Duty & Devotion
::chants:: Lover Mine Lover Mine Lover Mine!!!!
Jane Jameson Series by Molly Harper
I blame Carolyn for every time I drive past a tool booth and see some freaky face in the window looking at me like it wants to kill me.
Hi Mandi!
This is awesome!!!
Loved Spider's Bite & Web of Lies, Pleasure of a Dark Prince (IAD is one of my faaave series), Lover Mine, Silver Borne, and Magic Bleeds!!
The only reason I have not tried the others is lack of time. Mind Games by Carolyn Crane is the BIG one I am dying to read and haven't. I think I might buy it today. :P
Hi Cecile :)
Dani – Yes ma'am..I'm making myself a note right now. I think I have all those Gaelen Foley's..and a few of the Showalters..so I am set!
KC – I swear I am reading Little Lost Boy…*hangs head*, Oh and Amy Lane *hangs head further*. LOVE Jane Jameson series.
KB – for reals….freaks me out!
Pamela – Can't wait to hear your thoughts on Mind Games :)
Mind Games is going to be one of my favorites of the year Mandi. It was just such a unique, thrilling, gritty yet fun read. I've got Patricia Briggs in the stacks but just haven't gotten to them yet.
Excellent list – & post!
Looking forward to what your overall favorites of the year will be.
What a coincidence, dirty sex with Barrons is on my to-do list too. I am so glad to see Crossroads on your favorites list. That book was awesome. We share some of the same favs! Great minds and all that I guess. hehe.
Great list, Mandy!
I've been meaning to ck out Spider's Bite and Crux. I've heard such great things about them.
LOVED Tigers and Devils, too. Simon was just great!
I really hope you get to Harry D and will you be reading LK's Sugar Daddy, my all time favorite contemp? *bounces*
Hope you get to:
M/M: ZA Maxfield's ePistols at Dawn. (Not a new release, but one of my fave m/m reads this year.)
YA: Demon's Lexicon series by Sarah Rees Brennan
Contemp: Double Play by Jill Shalvis
PNR/UF: Ann Aguirre's Hell Fire
LMAO at your goal #3…
Lea – You and FV must read Briggs! :)
FV – haha…get in line!
Renee – Yes..maybe I will read all three of her contemps! I just moved Demon's Lexicon to my bedside table and I've read first couple chapters…I like! Oh yes – Jill Shalvis..I have her on my Kindle.
Loved Blue Diablo..must read Hell Fire (I kind of forgot about that one!)
Chris – hehe
This list is great – but what about Archangel’s Kiss? That has been my favorite of 2010. Soooooo good!
Mono – I know!! I had it guest reviewed here and I ended up not reading it….but I will!! That is goal 5!!! Because I have heard only amazing things about it and I loved the first book. I can't believe I forgot about it!
Great list! Tigers and Devils is on mine too. Others on my list so far are:
– More by Sloan Parker
– Inland Empire by James Buchanan (released in 2009)
– Sinful by Charlotte Featherstone
and a few more.
I think all your goals are doable, you just have to believe in it (or dream about it) ;)
I wanna read those :D
It has been a pretty good start to the year, I have read some awesome books for sure.
Nods head looking at Spider's Bite – PoaDP – Tiger And Devils is waiting on e-reader – Lover Mine *sigh* read that one twice already!
My personal gems are also: Shiloh Walker – BROKEN. Lisa Valdez – PATIENCE and The Deviations series by Chris Owen & Jodi Payne.
Love your list! I would add the Vampire Academy series and Lord of the Underworld series to it. If you haven't read them, go an do so. They are so good! Richelle Mead has 3 great series out now if you haven't checked them out: Dark Swan series, Vampire Academy series and the Georgina Kincaid series. Lords of the Underworld isalso a great series by Gena Showalter. I's great for those that love the Black Dagger Brotherhood series!
Look, Mandi, if anyone's going to have dirty sex with Barrons, it's going to be me, so lay off, okay? ;)
I think you should read Simone Elkeles. She's my new favorite author.
ERR – I really want to read More :)
Blodeuedd – It has been a good year:)
Leontine – Oooh..Loved Broken!!!
Paromantasy – I really, really need to read both of those authors!! I've read a couple from Richelle Mead and have really enjoyed them.
Heidenkind – LOL..and yes, I actually have Simon Elkeles in my TBR…
My top ten so far are(in no particular order):
Lover Mine By J.R. Ward
Beast Behaving Badly by Shelly Laurenston
Serpent Moon by C.T. Adams and Cathy Clamp
Demomfire by Kate Douglas
Spellbent by Lucy A. Snyder
Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs
Master of Fire by Angela Knight
Naked Dragon by Annette Blair
Atlantis Redeemed by Alyssa Day
Catalyst By Anne McCaffrey
That last one is actually a sci-fi, but I like her books a lot. Sci-fi is about 20% of my reading, the rest is paranormal romance and urban fantasy.
Have a couple others in my TBR from the first half of the year that will make my top ten list, but reading time for the last couple months has been limited.
Fantastic list Smexy – I love it! So agree with you about Tigers & Devils! That was such an aamazing book.
If I could, I'd add two books to your list – By Degrees (JB McDonald) [I love books that speak to me on such an intimate level] and Amy Lane's Keeping Promise Rock. Both absolutely fabulous IMHO :)
Beth – great list. Shelly Laurenston and Lucy Snyder are in my TBR.
I have actually not heard of Serpent Moon nor Naked Dragon. Thanks so much for the recs!
Orannia – Funny you mention Amy Lane – KC, from Smokin Hot Books was RAVING about her yesterday. I ended up buying one of her books…but it was Truth in the Dark. I will def keep trying her out!
Mandi you are great. Always make me laugh with your comments. I have no idea what I was reading before finding your blog. Thanks for the list and the love of the brothers!!!
I have been so super busy that I haven't been able to follow my FAVORITE book site (aka.. yours) in months. But after laughing so hard that I had tears, literary tears, running down my face from your post. I have declared to my hubby and small children that "I will be back every day even if it's midnight before I go to bed." Needless to say my children didn't even pause playing and my hubs now thinks I've lost my mind.. but I will be strong! Thanks for the laughs. :D
Thanks Jackie :)
And thanks Anonymous..whomever you are ;) Glad I could make you laugh..haha.
Great list! Totally agree with you about the Jennifer Estep books and Mind Games, and have Magic Bleeds on my wishlist. Am losing interest in the BDB books. Haven't read the others and will need to check them out!
And you really, really need to read the Harry Dresden books! :)