Year in Review — 2008

Year in Review

How many books did you read in 2008?

156 Books for 2008.

Down a bit from last year.

2002 — 288 books (Pre-Diva days *G*)
2003 — 152 books
2004 — 122 books
2005 — 178 books
2006 — 129 books
2007 — 226 books

How many in each genre:

Contemporary romance — 72 (last year this was 54)

Historical romance — 19 (last year this was 25)

Romantic Suspense — 7 (last year this was 5)

Paranormal Romance — 39 (last year this was 28)

Urban Fantasy — 1 (last year this was 0)

Fantasy & Sci-Fi — 4 (last year this was 0)

E-books — 70 (last year this was 51)

Anthologies —  1 (last year this was 4)

Young Adult — 0

Category Romance —

Harlequin Presents — 4 (was 18 last year)
Harlequin Romance — 3 (was 17 last year)
Silhouette Desires — 14 (was 17 last year)
Harlequin Historicals — 2 (was 4 last year)
Spice — 2 (was 2 last year)
Silhouette Special Edition — 1 (was 2 last year)
Harlequin Norturne — 5 (was 1 last year)
Loveswept — 0 (was 1 last year)
Superromance — 0 (was 1 last year)

Audio Books — 0

Women’s Fiction — 0

Mysteries — 0

Fiction (suspense, thrillers, non romance) — 1

How many books did you start and not finish because you didn’t like the story?

I don’t really remember stopping any that I had started.

How many of the books you read were 2008 releases?

102 were 2008 releases
6 were 2009 releases

Did your reading tastes change during this past year?

Read more e-books than last year, more paranormals, less historicals than in previous years and way less category books too. I think this was the least amount of category books I’ve read since I started keeping a log of my yearly reads on the computer and I started that back in 2002.

Are you making any reading resolutions for 2009?

I read way less than I expected…my goal for 2008 was 250 books and I only read 156 so for 2009, I’m going to make my goal 200 books.

Now it is time for your book awards for the year. (If you can, give us some feedback regarding your choices)

Best 10 Reads of the Year:

BE WITH ME by Maya Banks
THE SEDUCTION OF SHAMUS O’ROURKE by N.J. Walters
72 HOURS by Shannon Stacey
SOME LIKE IT WICKED by Teresa Medeiros
MIDNIGHT ENCOUNTERS by Elle Kennedy
PLEASURE UNBOUND by Larissa Ione
THE HEALER by Sharon Sala
DECEPTION by Sharon Cullen
GOLDEN EYES by Maya Banks
THE WALLFLOWER by Dana Marie Bell

Favorite Romance Author of the Year: Maya Banks, Jaci Burton, Lauren Dane, Sharon Cullen, Lara Adrian

Favorite Regency Romance: n/a

Favorite Historical Romance: SOME LIKE IT WICKED by Teresa Medeiros

Best Contemporary Romance: NOTHING PERSONAL by Jaci Burton

Best Contemporary Novel: THE SEDUCTION OF SHAMUS O’ROURKE by N.J. Walters

Best Contemporary Romantic Suspense: THE HEALER by Sharon Sala

Favorite Erotica Book/E-book:

SWEET SURRENDER by Maya Banks
TRI MATES by Lauren Dane
RIDING TEMPTATION by Jaci Burton
BY THE BOOK by N.J. Walters
SHOW ME by Jaci Burton
INTO THE MIST by Maya Banks
ENFORCER by Lauren Dane

Favorite Humorous Book: FOR THE LOVE OF PETE by Julia Harper, GO FETCH! by Shelly Laurenston

Best Category Romance: THE TYCOON’s PREGNANT MISTRESS by Maya Banks

Best Paranormal Romance: PLEASURE UNBOUND by Larissa Ione

Favorite Anthology: Only read 1. <G> HOT NIGHTS, DARK DESIRES by Eden Bradley, Sydney Croft & Stephanie Tyler

Favorite Other Genre: EVE OF DARKNESS by S.J. Day

Most Hanky Read: STAY WITH ME by Maya Banks

Most Luscious Love Story: A QUESTION OF TRUST by Jess Dee

Most Tortured Hero: Lucien Clayborne in ONE WICKED NIGHT by Shelley Bradley

Favorite Couple: Max and Emma in THE WALLFLOWER by Dana Marie Bell.

Most Annoying Hero and/or Heroine: Rodrigo Ramirez from FEARLESS by Diana Palmer.

Favorite Family: The Malorys by Johanna Lindsey, Shelly Laurenston’s Pride series, Cascadia Wolves series by Lauren Dane

Best Villain: Suzanne Carmichael from DECEPTION and REDEMPTION by Sharon Cullen

Book(s) with the Best Tension/Chemistry: MIDNIGHT ENCOUNTERS by Elle Kennedy

Best “New to Me” Author: Found 20 new-to-me authors this year…of the 20, my favorites were…

Sharon Cullen
Elle Kennedy
Dana Marie Bell
Lara Adrian (although I know she wrote as Tina St. John, I never read her stuff until I read her Midnight series as Adrian)
Linda Winfree
Alexis Morgan

Your Biggest Glom:

Maya Banks — 12 Books
Lauren Dane — 9 Books
Jaci Burton — 8 Books

Author others Love that you Don’t: Janet Evanovich and JD Robb (although I can read her as Roberts, I just can’t get into her books as Robb)

Biggest Disappointment of the Year: Probably going to get tomatoes thrown at me but my biggest disappointments were the last two hardcovers I read by Diana Palmer. She’s a comfort read for me but FEARLESS and LAWMAN were so similar that I could have been reading the same book with just different character names and the annoying thing was, all the misunderstandings could have easily been explained if they would have just sat down and TALKED to each other instead of assuming things.

Worst read(s) of the Year: Not worst reads but I don’t see what the fascination was/is with the Samantha Kane series. Didn’t do anything for me and it’s not a series I’ll reread. Maybe I’m just an oddball? *G*

Did you give up on any Authors this Year? Why?

Not that I can remember. *G*

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Books I Read in 2008

Here’s my list of books I read in 2008. My next post will break it down about favorite books, characters, etc.

1. KISS OF CRIMSON by Lara Adrian
2. KISS OF MIDNIGHT by Lara Adrian
3. MIDNIGHT AWAKENING by Lara Adrian
4. MIDNIGHT RISING by Lara Adrian
5. PHANTOM WALTZ by Catherine Anderson
6. SWAP by Jenesi Ash
7. BE WITH ME by Maya Banks
8. GOLDEN EYES by Maya Banks
9. INTO THE LAIR by Maya Banks
10. INTO THE MIST by Maya Banks
11. OVERHEARD by Maya Banks
12. RECKLESS by Maya Banks
13. SEDUCING SIMON by Maya Banks
14. STAY WITH ME by Maya Banks
15. SWEET SURRENDER by Maya Banks
16. THE TYCOON’s PREGNANT MISTRESS by Maya Banks
17. UNDENIED by Maya Banks
18. UNDERSTOOD by Maya Banks
19. CAT OF A DIFFERENT COLOR by Dana Marie Bell
20. SWEET DREAMS by Dana Marie Bell
21. THE WALLFLOWER by Dana Marie Bell
22. TEMPT ME WITH DARKNESS by Shayla Black
23. HOT NIGHTS, DARK DESIRES Eden Bradley, Sydney Croft & Stepanie Tyler
24. ONE WICKED NIGHT by Shelley Bradley
25. A PERFECT MATCH by Shelley Bradley
26. POSSESSED BY THE HIGHLANDER by Terri Brisbin
27. SURRENDER TO THE HIGHLANDER by Terri Brisbin
28. HIDE AND SEEK by Alyssa Brooks
29. NOTHING PERSONAL by Jaci Burton
30. DARE TO LOVE by Jaci Burton
31. PARADISE AWAKENING by Jaci Burton
32. RIDING TEMPTATION by Jaci Burton
33. RIDING WILD by Jaci Burton
34. SHOW ME by Jaci Burton
35. UNRAVELED by Jaci Burton
36. UNWRAPPED by Jaci Burton
37. LAST WOLF HUNTING by Rhyannon Byrd
38. LAST WOLF STANDING by Rhyannon Byrd
39. ETERNALLY by Maureen Child
40. A RANDALL HERO by Judy Christenberry
41. DECEPTION by Sharon Cullen
42. NIGHT SONG by Sharon Cullen
43. REDEMPTION by Sharon Cullen
44. ENFORCER by Lauren Dane
45. FATED by Lauren Dane
46. RELUCTANT by Lauren Dane
47. STANDOFF by Lauren Dane
48. SWEET CHARITY by Lauren Dane
49. TO DO LIST by Lauren Dane
50. TRI MATES by Lauren Dane
51. UNDERCOVER by Lauren Dane
52. WOLF UNBOUND by Lauren Dane
53. TRIAL BY FIRE by Jo Davis
54. EVE OF DARKNESS by S.J. Day
55. DON’T TEMPT ME by Sylvia Day
56. A QUESTION OF TRUST by Jess Dee
57. BLOOD TIES by Cathryn Fox
58. SUN STROKED by Cathryn Fox
59. LEAVING WHISKEY BEND by Dorothy Garlock
60. SHADOW MUSIC by Julie Garwood
61. HIGH NOON by Rebecca Goings
62. THE PRICE OF DESIRE by Jo Goodman
63. FOR THE LOVE OF PETE by Julia Harper
64. HOT by Julia Harper
65. STRANGER by Megan Hart
66. RACHEL’S TOTEM by Marie Harte
67. DEATH ANGEL by Linda Howard
68. PLEASURE UNBOUND by Larissa Ione
69. VOWS AND A VENGEFUL GROOM by Bronwyn Jameson
70. MY WICKED ENEMY by Carolyn Jewel
71. BEAST OF DARKNESS by Lisa Renee Jones
72. BEAST OF DESIRE by Lisa Renee Jones
73. THE COURAGE TO LOVE by Samantha Kane
74. LOVE’S STRATEGY by Samantha Kane
75. LOVE UNDER SIEGE by Samantha Kane
76. ACCIDENTALLY PREGNANT, CONVENIENTLY WED by Sharon Kendrick
77. HEAT OF THE MOMENT by Elle Kennedy
78. MIDNIGHT ENCOUNTERS by Elle Kennedy
79. LIFE ON THE REFRIGERATOR DOOR by Alice Kuipers
80. THE BEAST IN HIM by Shelly Laurenston
81. GO FETCH! by Shelly Laurenston
82. HERE KITTY, KITTY by Shelly Laurenston
83. THE MANE ATTRACTION by Shelly Laurenston
84. WHEN HE WAS BAD by Shelly Laurenston & Cynthia Eden
85. A HARD MAN TO LOVE by Kathleen Lawless
86. DANTE’s BLACKMAILED BRIDE by Day Leclaire
87. DANTE’s STOLEN WIFE by Day Leclaire
88. DANTE’s WEDDING DECEPTION by Day Leclaire
89. DREAM LOVER by Marilyn Lee
90. LOVE OUT LOUD by Marilyn Lee
91. NIGHT FALLS DARKLY by Kim Lenox
92. TYCOON’s VALENTINE VENDETTA by Yvonne Lindsay
93. NO CHOICE BUT SEDUCTION by Johanna Lindsey
94. THE C.E.O.’s CHRISTMAS PROPOSITION by Merline Lovelace
95. THE DUKE’s NEW YEAR’s RESOLUTION by Merline Lovelace
96. THE EXECUTIVE’s VALENTINE SEDUCTION by Merline Lovelace
97. RUNNING WILD by Sarah McCarty
98. SAM’s CREED by Sarah McCarty
99. TRADING FACES by Denise Belinda McDonald
100. TREASURE HUNTING by J.B. McDonald
101. BABY ON THE BILLIONAIRE’s DOORSTEP by Emily McKay
102. CLAIMING THEIR MATE by Paige McKellan
103. SEEING EYE MATE by Annmarie McKenna
104. THE STRENGTH OF THREE by Annmarie McKenna
105. TWO SIGHTED by Annmarie McKenna
106. SERVICING RAFFERTY by Janie Mason
107. SOME LIKE IT WICKED by Teresa Medeiros
108. EVERYTHING FORBIDDEN by Jess Michaels
109. DARK WARRIOR UNLEASHED by Alexis Morgan
110. BOUGHT: THE GREEK’s INNOCENT VIRGIN by Sarah Morgan
111. EDEN’S PASS by Kimberly Nee
112. FEARLESS by Diana Palmer
113. HEART OF STONE by Diana Palmer
114. IRON COWBOY by Diana Palmer
115. LAWMAN by Diana Palmer
116. FIRE’s TENDER KISS by Patricia Pellicane
117. PRIDE AND A PREGNANCY SECRET by Tessa Radley
118. TOUCH ME by Beverly Rae
119. THE DEVIL WEARS TARTAN by Karen Ranney
120. DANGEROUS SECRETS by Lisa Marie Rice
121. BOUND BY THE KINCAID BABY by Emilie Rose
122. SHATTERED BY THE C.E.O. by Emilie Rose
123. NICE & NAUGHTY by Jayne Rylon
124. THE HEALER by Sharon Sala
125. HUNTING MILA by Melissa Schroeder
126. SEDUCING THE SAINT by Melissa Schroeder
127. THE SEDUCTION OF WIDOW McEWAN by Melissa Schroeder
128. INSTANT ATTRACTION by Jill Shalvis
129. STRONG AND SEXY by Jill Shalvis
130. SUPERB AND SEXY by Jill Shalvis
131. ON THE EDGE by Shannon Stacey
132. 72 HOURS by Shannon Stacey
133. DAY BY DAY by Sandra Steffen
134. DRUI CLAIMING by Jory Strong
135. SATISFACTION GUARANTEED by Charlene Teglia
136. DAGGER-STAR by Elizabeth Vaughan
137. ALL WORKED UP by Eve Vaughn
138. BEAUTIFUL GIRL by Shiloh Walker
139. DRASTIC MEASURES by Shiloh Walker
140. FOR THE LOVE OF JAZZ by Shiloh Walker
141. ONE OF THE GUYS by Shiloh Walker
142. SILK SCARVES & SEDUCTION by Shiloh Walker
143. WHIPPED CREAM & HANDCUFFS by Shiloh Walker
144. BY THE BOOK by N.J. Walters
145. JACKSON’S JEWEL by N.J. Walters
146. A LEGAL AFFAIR by N.J. Walters
147. THE SEDUCTION OF SHAMUS O’ROURKE by N.J. Walters
148. DREAMS FOR STONES by Ann Warner
149. PERSISTENCE OF DREAMS by Ann Warner
150. GYPSY HEART by Sasha White
151. PRIMAL MALE by Sasha White
152. SEXY DEVIL by Sasha White
153. WICKED by Sasha White
154. BRANDED by Beth Williamson
155. NATE by Beth Williamson
156. WHAT MATTERED MOST by Linda Winfree

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