2010 Wrap-Up

I am a huge reader. I'm one of those author folks who believes you MUST read if you want to write. Then there's the part where I love to read (thank you, mom). So, I was pretty happy when this turned out to be a good reading year. Some years I read a lot of books that don't work for me. That didn't really happen this year. Oh, I had some clunkers. I even had some books that others loved and I didn't feel any spark at all. Some of the contemporaries I read this year fell flat for me. Not sure why. Maybe it has something to do with me writing contemporary romance, so I read along thinking how I would write it differently? Dunno. But here are some of my 2010 reading highlights:

Favorite historical romance: MARRY ME by Jo Goodman. Goodman wrote one of my favorite historical romances, NEVER LOVE A LAWMAN. I don't read much historical romance but I love Goodman. She took rape, disease and a whole host of other tragedies and delivered them in a way that was fresh and compelling in MARRY ME. Despite how it sounds, the book is not dark. There's something light and hopeful about it. Great hero. Great heroine. Happy reader.

Favorite contemporary romance (also favorite romantic suspense): NO PLACE TO RUN by Maya Banks. I love this series. It has a Band of Brothers feeling…and the guys actually are brothers. I started this one, #2 in the series, and couldn't stop reading. But a little admission: my favorite brother hasn't gotten his story yet. I am ridiculously excited to see what Banks does with Garrett, and I think his book is next.

Favorite erotic romance: LIBERATING LACEY by Anne Calhoun. I found Calhoun this year through Dear Author (I think). Writing erotic romance well is really hard. It's about emotion and plot, not just sex. Calhoun gets it and her books are a joy to read. We're in an anthology together at the end of this year, and I am so excited to read her contribution.

Favorite non-romance: STILL MISSING by Chevy Stevens. This was one of those books I saw and then tracked until it came out. It's dark and sad and, well, I wish I'd wrote it.

Favorite nonfiction: I had a bit of an alpine climbing obsession this year that started with a re-read of INTO THIN AIR by Jon Krakauer. It's one of those books I've read more than once. It grabs me from page one, even though I know the horrible end that's coming. This year I found more books on the subject, these by Ed Veisturs. He is an American climbing legend. I'd go so far as to call him a hero, and I don't throw that word around. His K2: LIFE AND DEATH ON THE WORLD"S MOST DANGEROUS MOUNTAIN kept me spellbound for days. I liked it so much, I went and found other books by Veisturs.

There you have it, some of the highlights. Fingers are crossed for a terrific 2011 reading year!