2009 Reading Recap

How many books did you read this year? 179

What were the different genres of books and how many of each did you read?
Historical romance total: 20
• Victorian: 5
• Regency: 8
• Harlequin Historicals: 9
• Traditional Regency: 1
• Scottish: 3
• Western: 3
• Historical Paranormal: 2
• Medieval: 7
• Love Inspired Historical: 1 (Inspirational Romance: 1)
Contemporary category romance: 30
• Harlequin Presents: 18
• Harlequin Romance: 7
• Silhouette Romance: 3
• Silhouette Desire: 8
Contemporary Romantic Suspense: 4
Paranormal Romance: 52 (most read in a category) Contemporary: 50, Historical: 2 , Silhouette Nocturne: 5
Interracial Romance: 14
Young Adult: 11 (2 Romance, rest horror or fantasy)
Children’s Books: 2 (horror/fantasy)

Various Themes
• Vampire: 25
• Witch: 10
• Wizard/Sorceror/Warlock: 3
• Faery: 7
• Werewolf: 13
• Mythology:
• Greek Mythology: 2
• Norse Mythology: 1
• Demon: 7
• Inspirational Fiction: 1
• Urban Fantasy: 8
• Fantasy: 12
• Horror: 12
• Non-Fiction: 1
• Literary Fiction: 0
• Classic: 2
• Classic Horror: 3

What were the top ten books that you read this year? Arghhh!!! So many good ones. I don’t know if I can list 10. I’ll cheat and just say that all the Ghostwalker books made my best of the year list. Some others:
• Trolling Nights by Savannah J. Frierson
• Lord Loss by Darren Shan
• Taming the Beast by Heather Grothaus
• Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews
• Moon Called by Patricia Briggs
• Tempting Faith by Crystal Hubbard
• Dracula by Bram Stoker
• The Lord and the Scorpion by Shiree McCarver
• Sin’s Doorway and Other Ominous Entrances by Manly Wade Wellman
• Mountain Wild by Stacey Kayne
• Cry No More by Linda Howard
• Wolfsbane and Mistletoe by various authors
• Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
• Lover Avenged by JR Ward
• Fire and Ice by Anne Stuart
• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
• Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles


Were there any books you did not like? Why? I didn’t care for The Sultan’s Bought Bride by Jane Porter (did not like the heroine), and Taming the Texas Tycoon by Katherine Garbera. I thought the hero was a jerk and completely unworthy of the heroine.

What is your top favorite book and why? Probably a tie between Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte and Twilight by Stephenie Meyer, Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles, and the Ghostwalker books by Christine Feehan. They both blew me away and were hours of wonderful entertainment. I was blessed to have read so many good books this year. It’s really hard to just pick one.

What are your reading goals for next year? To read more books (try to get to 200 again), to read new genres and new authors. To read off my bookshelves and weed out some books I don’t have to keep.

Did you read any books out of your normal routine? I read more classics this year, and a lot more fantasy (big pat on the back).

Any new genres that you got into this year? What books got you into this type of reading? Fantasy. Some short story anthologies got me interested. Also urban fantasy opened the door for me to immerse myself in pure fantasy again after about 20 plus years away from the genre.

Who is your favorite new author? Christine Feehan. I can’t believe I waited so long to read her. She writes some delicious heroes, and I can say that I haven’t read a heroine by her I didn’t like.
Did you glom any authors this year (meaning: read as many of the author's books you could get your hands on)? Christine Feehan-- I read 23 of her books.

Some other new authors that I enjoyed and want to read more of:
• Simone Elkeles
• Rae Lori
• Michael Moorcock
• Olivia Parker
• Savannah J. Frierson
• Shiree McCarver
• Courtney Milan
• Kat Richardson
• Karen Chance
• Darren Shan
• Patricia Briggs
• Lara Adrian
• Ilona Andrews
• Sheri Lewis Wohl
• Georgette Heyer
• JA Konrath
• Rick Riordan
• Stephenie Meyer

Favorite hero and why? Has this changed? My favorite hero is still Sebastian Ballister, the Marquess of Dain. I have added some new favorites such as Rochester from Jane Eyre and William White from Courtney Milan’s story This Wicked Gift, and Garret Daines from Mountain Wild by Stacey Kayne, and Rehv and John Matthew from the Black Dagger Brotherhood, and also all the Ghostwalkers by Christine Feehan, and Edward Cullen from Twilight, and Timothy Capshaw from Trolling Nights.

Favorite heroine and why? Has this changed? My favorite heroine is still Jessica Trent from Lord of Scoundrels, but I’ve met some really great heroines this year such as the Ghostwalker heroines and Drake sisters from Christine Feehan, and Jane Eyre.

Any authors you decided to 'fire'? Why? No authors got fired this year.

What was the most unique storyline you read in a book this year? Lord Loss was very unique and different. It was story that kept me on my toes.

Any book you liked that you were surprised that you liked? I was surprised at how much Jane Eyre resonated with me. I had heard it was a good book, but I found out how much it truly meant to me.

Any book you expected to love but were disappointed by? Not really.

Favorite couple and why? Did this change? My favorite couple is still Dain and Jessica. But I really like the Ghostwalker couples.

Anything else you want to tell us about your reading this year? I am very happy that I got to read so many good books this year. I hope I read even more next year. And thanks Christine Feehan for giving me many hours of enjoyment during a rough year spent mostly on the road and staying in hotel rooms, with your awesome books!!!