Mandi’s Top 20 30 books for 2010

I am listing them in order that I read them this year. Okay, so I told Tori to name her top 20 and then cheated and included 30 instead of 20. I couldn’t cut any. *clings to list*

Some are 2009 releases that I read this year, some I’ve grouped into series because multiple books in one series were released this year. Here we go!

Lead Me On by Victoria Dahl – Chase is one of the HOTTEST heroes I have read this year and I love Victoria Dahl’s style.

Elemental Assassin Series by Jennifer Estep – Spider’s Bite, Web of Lies, Venom. Gin is an assassin with no regrets and loves her “family.” I can’t get enough of her.

Ecstasy Unveiled and Sin Undone by Larissa Ione – One of my favorite series – sad it is over, but damn she gave us SEXY demons.

The Bride and The Buccaneer by Darlene Marshall – (2009 release) – Adored this adventure/romance book. Made me laugh too.

Crossroads by Moira Rogers – Sexy, amazing world, and great ending. Love Southern Arcana.

Pleasure of a Dark Prince by Kresley Cole – One of the best of the series. This series is a little hit and miss, but when it is a hit, I LOVE them.

Tigers and Devils by Sean Kennedy – (2009 release) Why did I wait so long to read this book. This makes the list of all time favorites. On my keeper shelf – total comfort read. AMAZING.

The Summer of You by Kate Noble – She writes the most romantic books.

Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs – Oh Mercy and Adam. One of my favorite UF series.

The Disillutionists Trilogy by Carolyn Crane – Mind Games and Double Cross – By far, my FAVORITE books of 2010. Such smart writing, great sexual tension, and not only a great world, but her characters are so unique.

Zero at the Bone by Jane Seville (2009 release) – Again, why did I wait to read this one? Great suspense and two heroes I grew to LOVE.

Lover Mine by JR Ward – What can I say? The BDB boys are my favorites. JM grew up and found his mate. I adore him. And Blay and Qhuinn – I need your HEA kinda like now.

The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker by Leanna Renee Hieber – Adorable is the only word that describes this series.

Vampire Mistress and Vampire Trinity by Joey W. Hill. – Erotic, BDSM, Ménage, and could not have been written better. Although these two are part of her Vampire Queen series, they can be read as stand alones. Very dark, very intense, and I LOVED them.

Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews – This series just gets better and better. Kate and Curran are two of my favorite characters.

The Forbidden Rose by Joanna Bourne – I felt like I could fall into her sentences and stay there forever. They are so wonderfully descriptive. I am greatly anticipating Adrian’s story next year!!!

Archangel’s Kiss by Nalini Singh – Raphael is the most intense alpha hero. Her world is so dark, violent and yet has such a beautiful romance.

Play of Passion by Nalini Singh – Her shifters rock. There is nothing sexier. Hawke’s book, Kiss of Snow is my most anticipated Paranormal Romance for 2011.

Downside Series by Stacia Kane – Unholy Ghosts, Unholy Magic, City of Ghosts – This is my second favorite series of 2010!!! A drug addicted heroine and a hero named Terrible. I can’t even describe in this blurb what this series did to me. Just read it ;p

Wicked Intentions by Elizabeth Hoyt – This historical just had that something extra that made it stand out. A lovely heroine and a dark hero – great start to a series.

Crown of Crystal Flame by C.L. Wilson – Perfect ending to one of my favorite fantasy series.

Killbox by Ann Aguirre – Sirantha Jax is a favorite heroine of mine. I don’t read a lot of sci-fi but this series is just amazing. With two books left in the series, I can’t wait to see how it all ends.

The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook – One of the most original worlds I have ever read. And a book that will make you think. Plus a hot romance – can you ask for more?

Trial by Desire by Courtney Milan – This book blew me away – When I met Ned in Proof by Seduction, I never expected to come to love him so much. Courtney Milan gives us such exquisite writing.

Bayou Moon by Ilona Andrews – How does this writing duo come up with their world and characters? Inventive, funny, romantic – a must read.

Backstage Pass by Olivia Cunning – The DIRTIEST book I read this year. True story. And I laughed, and laughed. Rock stars are hot.

Seven Nights to Forever by Evangeline Collins – Awesome beta hero/prostitute heroine. Swoon worthy.

Rebel by Zoe Archer – I love her Blades! Rebel just has an amazing storyline and one of the best couples.

Willing Victim by Cara McKenna – A different type of romance book, and it worked so well for me.

His for the Holidays Anthology (L.B Gregg, Harper Fox, Z.A Maxfield, Josh Lanyon)– one of the best collections of M/M romances I read this year!

Liberating Lacey by Anne Calhoun – (2009 release) the BEST erotic I read in 2010. And includes my favorite sex scene – for those that read it – when Hunter “plays” the cop. Rawr.

Honorable Mentions
Succubi Like it Hot by Jill Myles
In for a Penny by Rose Lerner
Frost Moon by Anthony Francis
Dead, Undead or Somewhere in Between by J.A. Saare
One Dance With a Duke by Tessa Dare
Skin Tight by Ava Gray
Open Country by Kaki Warner
Twice Bitten by Chloe Neill
Lady Isabella’s Scandalous Marriage by Jennifer Ashley

 

 

Tori’s top 22 book loves for 2010

Here are my 22 pimps…errr…I mean books I adored for 2010. Apparently I couldn’t narrow it down to just 20 either. I blame Mandi. She flaunted her 30 in front of me and like free donut day at Duncan Donuts-I have to go for it. :) These are not ranked numerically; meaning that I didn’t love the book listed first anymore then I loved the book listed last. I just listed them as I recalled them ’cause that’s the way I roll.

The Downside series by Stacia Kane–From the 1st sentence of Unholy Ghosts, I was hooked like a drug addict.

The Disillusionment series by Carolyn Crane–The whole premise of a hypochondriac becoming a super hero is hilarious and non stop fun in this series. Goooooooo Team KABOBS!!!!

Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews– Kate and Curran can do no wrong in my book. This series has everything a UF needs PLUS some hand sweating romance.

The Reapers Are The Angels by Alden Bell–Pat Conway meets Zombies. A novel of hope, redemption, and forgiveness.

The Iron Duke By Meljean Brooks–Steampunk pirates and krackens. Need I say more?

The Iron Fey series by Julia Kaiwga–A shockingly phenomenal YA that took my breathe away.

The Greyfriar by Clay & Susan Griffith–A fascinating alternative historic steampunk featuring evil vamps and strong h/hs.

Archangel’s Kiss by Nalini Singh–OooO smexy angels and hunters tangling in the sky and between the sheets. Yum!! Her Psi series also kicks some serious arse.

Blood of the Demon by Diana Rowland–An action packed pnr with an amazing heroine and her smexy demon lord. No emotional baggage here. TG.

Spider’s Bite by Jennifer Estep–I want to be Gin when I grow up. Srsly. This series gets better and better with each installment.

Kismets Kiss by Cate Rowan– A provocative and lush fantasy that calls to all romance lovers.

Sin Undone by Larissa Ione– Ione gave us some of the smexiest demon evah!!!

Touched By An Alien by Gini Koch–I srsly haven’t laughed this hard in awhile. I hear Alien Tango is even better.

The Fifth Favor by Shelby Reed–2 strong protags try so hard not to fall in love. It was a wonderful and emotional draining read.

Willing Victim by Cara McKenna–I walked out of my comfort zone with this one and was so glad. The premise is different but it totally worked for me.

In The Dark Of Dreams by Marjorie L. Liu– A hauntingly beautiful love story that swept me up and away.

Chimera-Rob Thurman–A funny and slightly creepy novel about a man’s love for his brother and the search to find him.

Twice Bitten by Chloe Neill–Baseball, bacon maple donuts, and smexy supernaturals. This series could only be better if I was a beta reader for Chloe. :P

The Missing by Shiloh Walker (even though this was published in 2008-it reprinted in 2010)-This story broke my heart with the emotional and physical journey our 2 protags went through. I wish Ms. Walker would make this a series. (hint-hint)

Catch Me If You Can by LB Gregg-My first m/m but certainly not my last. I love romantic erotica that can make me sweat & laugh and this author does both.

Lover Mine by JR Ward-Hello? It’s John Matthews HEA. An incredibly hot tear jerker that had me laughing, crying, and begging for more.

Crimson Moon by JA Saare–The characters and storyline scooped me up and held me hostage. I adored Emma and Caleb. The emotion between them was off the pages.

Honorable mentions:
Rebel by Zoe Archer
Queen Of Shadows by Dianna Sylvan
Haunted Lily by Sidney Fox
Jenny Pox by JL Bryon
The Madness Of Lord Ian MacKenzie by Jennifer Ashley (released 2009 but I didn’t read till 2010 so I’m counting it.)
A Wild Light by Marjorie Liu

We think 2010 treated us pretty well!! Do you agree? Are we missing a “must read?”