I review many types of stories but there are some I like to read a whole lot more than others. One genre that’s always been a challenge for me is historicals, so you won’t see a lot of historical books on my list because I suck at reviewing them and I’m usually only interested in the stories and not the datelines, which just about sums up why I suck at reviewing this genre since dates are so important in these books. 🙂 I know my limitations, believe me, which is why the guest reviewers on the site have such varied tastes – I wanted to ensure that every type of story was reviewed here because I know that our readers are not one dimensional. I’m sure by now you have probably figured out by the types of stories I review that I love sports, action/adventures, humour, fantasy, science fiction, paranormals, murder mysteries, contemporaries and a bit of horror so I’m not doing too badly.
This year there were many terrific books released and it was even more difficult than last year for me to pick a winner. More than half of my Top 10 or Top 12 (two were ties) were series books and one was a sequel. The top 2 were a toss-up so I decided to cheat and go with a tie since there was no clear-cut winner. As usual I included a list of Honourable Mentions, books that could just as easily have made it into the Top 10 or Top 12 they were that good and very little separated them from those at the top. Now I have to make that Top 11 since it seems I can’t count. 🙂 Justacat informed me that I only have 11 books in my Top 12 (are you now totally confused) so I added a book to my Honourable Mentions that I wanted to all along but thought I had too many.
1. Fish & Chips (tie) by Abigail Roux and Madeleine Urban. There is no doubt that this book was the turning point in this series. Fans were either going to move on, or be enthralled by the growth of Ty’s and Zane’s characters and their relationship. Like all great writers Urban and Roux realized they had to fish or cut bait at this point and they gave us what we wanted and needed – in spades. Fish & Chips is a wonderful mix of romance, adventure and humour and the characters absolutely glowed. They were flawed, sarcastic, got on each other’s last nerve, and were so realistic I could imagine them walking in the door at any minute. Here is how I summarised this book:
Fish & Chips is book 3 in this series and is more than a worthy follow-up to Sticks & Stones. The story takes readers on a journey that gives us more than just a glimpse into Zane’s and Ty’s budding new relationship, it busts it wide open as they realize how much they want to mean something more to each other than the hot sex. We also get an up-close and personal look into the addictions that drive Zane and pose a real threat to any hope he has of getting Ty to commit to something long term in the romance department. He had to face the fact that he would always be an addict.
F & C gives the series a new level of excitement, suspense and tension, and the emotional vulnerability of the protagonists will grab fans by the throat and not let go until the very end. Fish & Chips had many highs but for me one of the most enjoyable elements of the book was the deepening of the romantic relationship between Ty and Zane, to the point that I was moved to tears as they showed how much they really cared for each other as they are at last open and vulnerable and make it clear who is the most important person in their lives. Of course being who they are this state of euphoria didn’t last all that long, because there was always a crisis or an argument, but while it lasted it was so beautiful you would be hard pressed not to be moved.
Is it any wonder that this book is my joint No. 1 for 2010?
1. Life in Fusion (tie) by Ethan Day. This writer’s books are a joy to read because he’s really off center and his characters reflect his twisted view of life and joie de vivre. Life in Fusion, the sequel to Sno Ho, exceeded all of my expectations and rocked on all levels.
LiF is that exceptional sequel that makes the original, wonderful as it is, seem like a springboard to something that’s so much better, and eclipsed it. Ethan Day’s characters are difficult to describe because they are just as unique as their creator and the first time you read a book by this author you’ll be hooked just like the rest of us. LiF is an excellent example of the magic this writer weaves through his characters. We met Boone and Wade in Sno Ho where they parted after a week of wild sex when Boone was dumped by a former BF and Wade showed how much he wanted Boone in his life. Life in Fusion opens immediately after Boone said goodbye to Wade and he’s having panic attacks about moving to Summit City, Colorado in 6 months to be with Wade.
If I were to summarize Life in Fusion I would say that it’s Boone’s journey into adulthood over the course of several months. All the characters who touched his life and helped him find out who he really is were incidental to that journey, but he had to travel part of the road alone. The train wrecks that happened, while they were hilarious, at times were poignant and moving. The best parts of this book are the characters, and if some of them were larger than life that’s because Ethan Day doesn’t appear to believe that his characters should be ordinary, therefore he imbues them with personalities that I have never seen in other books. Purists or critics may feel that the author invites disaster with so many unusual (some would say crazy) 🙂 people in his books, but somehow here he created a world and a wonderful slice of life in LiF that will keep you entranced and amazed. I think this is Ethan Day’s piece de resistance.
3. Mind Fuck by Manna Francis. This is without a doubt one of the most fascinating and intense stories that I have ever read. Mind Fuck is book I in the Administration series and is set in the near future dystopia of New London. I’m not sure whether this book should be classified as science fiction or urban fantasy, but it definitely is not a romance (at least yet yet) and it’s quite possible that you may end up not liking any of the main characters, but what awesome writing from the brain of Manna Francis!
Mind Fuck is a mind blowing tale and Toreth, the main protagonist, is a compelling figure whose job gives him almost unlimited power to arrest and torture those that the Administration feels are threats to its objective of global domination. The plot is the stuff of dreams if you like futuristic stories, and even if you don’t, because the characters are so wonderfully drawn and incredibly flawed that you are sure to be fascinated by them and the story.
This not to be missed book is dense with detail and shows how corrupt and morally bankrupt the Administration and a large percentage of the characters are as they served their own personal agendas. (This book is available as a free download from the author’s site)
4. Sticks & Stones by Abigail Roux and Madeleine Urban is the second book in this series and Ty and Zane are spending a short holiday with Ty’s parents in the
mountains of West Virginia. Zane had not recovered fully from their last case, and both men recognized that things were not right with their professional and personal relationships and they both hoped that this trip could help repair what was wrong so that they could be partners again.
Sticks & Stones is a revelation and a game changer between two characters who had gone through so much but found that there was still a long way to go. This book is a great deal about Ty’s emotional journey – being open and admitting his feelings for Zane who also experienced his own epiphany. These two men who were bisexual in Cut & Run had a lot of personal baggage to resolve. This story is a study of human nature as the two characters’ layers are revealed and their motivations explained, and I think that readers will get a real sense of who they are at this point in their relationship.
5. Fires of Ballian by ML Rhodes is boook 3 of the Draegan Lords series.
When you have high expectations about the sequel to a much loved and highly anticipated series, most of the time they are never realized and you end up disappointed because the author didn’t deliver. In the case of Fires of Ballian M.L.Rhodes met and exceeded my expectations. Her writing is brilliant, the tension is electric, the characterizations are superb and the world building is incredible. What more could any fan of this series want? Her imagination is the reason why fans kept clamouring for her to finish this latest book so that they could lose themselves in a world that was so awe inspiring it took their breath away. Some series grab you by the throat and never let go – this is how these stories have impacted me since I first read The Draegan Lords. Fires of Ballian continued my love affair with this world and the characters that have enchanted me from the very beginning.
Book 4 of this series has not been released and there are many unanswered questions. Like every other fan I wonder if Byram will achieve his wish for world domination in a new campaign that promises to be the greatest yet, or if the draegans will be be victorious. This series has had so many thrills and chills I can’t wait to see if the author can surpass the excitement of the previous books and bring it to a satisfactory and exciting conclusion, not just for fans of action/adventure, but for romance readers as well.
6. Blood Heat – Dangerous Ground 3 is Josh Lanyon’s third book in his wonderful adventure series with Taylor and Will, Special Agents for the Department of
Diplomatic Security. Here’s how I began my review:
Whenever I start a new book by Josh Lanyon it’s like a box of dark chocolates because I know that when I taste it, behind the delicious rush as it hits my tongue will be the bittersweet, melting, rich flavour that is orgasmic. Blood Heat, the third book in the Dangerous Ground series is definitely the darkest chocolate.
Special Agents Taylor MacAllister and Will Brandt have been partners for 3 years and lovers for 4 months. They are still getting used to being lovers, working out relationship issues and a few other grievances. Their major issue? Will had been offered and was considering taking a prestigious job in Paris which Taylor feels will be the end of their relationship. He believes strongly that Will should give up the promotion, even though he understands what it would mean to him to lose it.
If you’re looking for a romance where the love was exquisitely portrayed you don’t have to look any further than Blood Heat. This couple had never been very open about their feelings or demonstrative about their affection for each other, at least not at the same time, and it was no secret that they found it difficult (especially Will) to express their feelings. In Blood Heat all the emotions are on the surface and the barriers are down as they face the real possibility of 2 years apart, should Will accept the assignment.
Blood Heat is as much a tender love story and kick-ass adventure, rolled into one incredible package.
7. Talker by Amy Lane is neither part of a series nor a sequel and it’s a story I can’t forget.
Tate “Talker” Walker has spent most of his life hiding his scars under a bright punk facade, and until he sat next to Brian Cooper on a bus, it worked. But Brian has spent his whole life being the invisible man, and he’s used to looking below the surface. What he sees in Talker is a fragile and lovable human being.
Talker is not a lighthearted story but I would urge you to read it because you will be moved by Tate who had suffered so much rejection in his short life that he had no feelings of self worth. Brian was determined to show him how much he was loved.
Great characterizations are what I look for whenever I pick up a book, even more than a wonderful plot with all the bells and whistles, and in Talker Amy Lane excelled with two well drawn protagonists who were very different but recognized that their greatest need and gift was each other. This story will move you on all levels and your heart will ache for Tate, a damaged and broken man, and Brian who made him whole.
8. Driftwood by Harper Fox. If you love adventure, if you want to read a story that will enchant and excite you, if you hunger for wonderfully flawed characters with
whom you will fall in love, and a location that reeks of atmosphere, Driftwood serves up all this and more, in spades.
Driftwood is Harper’s second novel. All Dr. Tom Penrose wants is his old life back. He’s home after a hellish tour of duty in Afghanistan, but while the village is the same, he isn’t. His grip on his control is fragile, and it slips dangerously when Flynn Summers explodes into his life. The vision in tight neoprene nearly wipes them both out in a surfing mishap—and shatters Tom’s lonely peace. Thus begins an adventure and romance set in Cornwall. I never knew that the Cornish coast was so wild, rugged and beautiful. The location was so much a part of the story it seemed alive – talk about atmosphere! Harper Fox achieved something that few authors are capable of doing well – she made the location into another character in her book.
The pace started off at breakneck speed and never let up so I had to buckle myself in for this incredible ride. The book was the stuff of dreams if you love adventure, with crisis piled on top of crisis, the good guys and the villains fighting to the death. WOW! There is so much packed into Driftwood that you will need to read it more than once to get the full breadth of the story.
9. Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Lynn Lorenz is another standalone story that touched me. This book is set in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and is about two dissimilar men (except for their financial circumstances) who will break your heart and make you love them despite yourself.
Scott is a “skinny white kid” according to Tony’s description, who is barely ekeing out a living in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina took its toll on the city in 2005. New Orleans is devastated and the people who remained there were in the worst circumstances possible, like Tony who hadn’t had anything to eat for 2 days because he couldn’t find work and was looking to score by robbing someone since he wasn’t going back to selling his body in order to eat. No selling drugs for him either. Scott was in a slightly better situation than Tony because he had a job at Tiffany’s Waffles and Wings where he bussed tables and waited on the customers. He even had a small bank account with a few dollars set aside for a rainy day.
Breakfast at Tiffany’s is a story about how people cope with losing everything except their self respect, living among rats and cockroaches, and doing just about anything in order to put food in their bellies. All of the “things” that we take for granted such a nice home, a job, food on the table, good clothing, hot water for a shower, loved ones, are all denied these “refugees” in their own country who are raped and robbed, not by “terrorists” but by their fellow citizens who are looking for quick fixes to their problems. This story is also about being thankful to find a job that pays $2 an hour because it helps to restore your sense of pride in yourself. Tony and Scott are wonderful three dimensional characters and Lynn Lorenz portrayed them not as objects of pity, but as people who would make anyone proud because they did their best not just to exist but to thrive.
10. Dear Mister President by Adam Fitzroy (tie). The married President of the United States has a relationship with another man, apparently with the consent and approval of his wife and daughter.
Is it possible for the President to continue in office in the glare of the world press?
This story was imaginative and engrossing and hit all of my hot buttons because I love political intrigue. When USAF Colonel Chad Ryan accepts a new job on the White House staff he is soon making friends with the First Family – and with charismatic and troubled President Douglas Ford Kearney himself. They have scarcely begun to explore their feelings for one another, however, when it becomes apparent that their relationship is under threat from enemies both within and without.
The blurb is great and the story is even more exciting. 45 year old USAF Colonel Chadwick Ryan had saved the President’s life by taking a bullet meant for him 6 months ago. As payment for his bravery, when he recovered he was offered the position of Deputy National Security Advisor, replacing the current incumbent who was retiring. When Chad met President Doug Kearney he realized that he was attracted to the 56 year old President who was not only married to a very beautiful woman 15 years his junior, but had a teenage daughter. Their feelings for each other soon escalated and when the Vice President found out the prose was simply delicious. 🙂
10. Wishink Well – Jordan Castillo Price (tie) This is book No. 10 in the Petit Morts series and is, without a doubt, one of Jordan Castillo Price’s most innovative and imaginative stories, maybe the most imaginative, as well as the most moving, poignant and sympathetic. In fact I think the plot and execution are brilliant. This is part of the blurb –
Dying with dignity. Passing on one’s own terms. Approaching the end in a caring, nurturing atmosphere. There are plenty of reasons people check in to Hospice House…but Eddie Flynn’s just there for the morphine.
Wishink Well reveals to readers of the Petit Morts series something that we have probably always suspected, that Chance is more than just someone who could help out in a pinch in situations where he was able to get potential lovers together, or ensure that a crook got his comeuppance.
I think that Jordan’s brain went into overdrive in the characterizations and plotting of this story and I was sucked into Eddie’s imaginary world, or maybe it was his reality that I was living. I don’t know, but it sure seemed real to me. Some readers may not ‘get’ Wishink Well which would be a pity because it’s so different and very creative, and while it does require the suspension of disbelief, what a wonderful story this is from that fertile brain of Ms Price. You may think due to the subject matter that this story would be depressing, but on the contrary it’s uplifting and entertaining and Eddie was very funny. His mind was not always full of death and dying, sometimes it was quite the playground.
Honourable Mentions
A Vintage Affair by Josh Lanyon
Resistance by LM Turner
Strawberries for Dessert by Marie Sexton
The Dark Farewell by Josh Lanyon
Sno Ho by Ethan Day
His for the Holidays anthology
Stirring Up Trouble by Z.A. Maxfield
The One That Stayed by T.C. Blue
Duty & Devotion by Tere Michaels
Son of a Gun by A.M. Riley
More by Sloan Parker
Out of My Mind by M.L. Rhodes
One Less Stiff at the Funeral by Sean Kennedy
Baymore’s Heir by Lynn Lorenz
Not Knowing Jack by K.A. Mitchell
L.A. Heat by P.A. Brown
Out on the Net by Rick R. Reed
Blessed Isle by Alex Beecroft from the Hidden Conflict anthology
Soothe the Burn by T.A. Chase
I’ll Be Your Drill Soldier by Crystal Rose
Trust Me If You Dare by LB Gregg
Interesting list, Wave, and even more interesting that I’ve only read one of the books in your top list and only have 3 others on my TBR pile.
You’re right in saying that all the guest reviewers have different tastes and I think that’s one reason why this site is so successful as each of us are aware of our own strengths and likes/dislikes.
Here’s to another great year of reviews in 2011 :)!
I agree, Jen. I was thinking about that as she mentioned the tastes thing and that we do have a really good mix of folks with such varying tastes. I’m just happy if someone takes the paranormals and creature features so I don’t have to. 😉 Seriously, I can’t give them the credit they probably deserve because I just appreciate them. Like Wave, my reviews for them suck.
Hi Jen
When I looked at the list yesterday I realized how different our tastes were. I have given up on historicals, I think. lol
I love series books as you can tell, and the others on my list captured my love of great characterizations.
Thank you for all your hard work Jen, especially this year when you pitched in even more than you have in the past. Here’s to more books and more reviews in 2011. 🙂
Fab list, Wave. I read half of your top 10 and several on your h.m. and agree wholeheartedly. And there are some I probably won’t get to because they are out of my “like” zone for sub-genres.
Hi Lynn
We are a very diverse group aren’t we? lol I know that paranormals are not your ‘thing’ like historicals are difficult for me, although I try. 🙂
I think you might enjoy some of the standalones especially Breakfast at Tiffany’s if you haven’t read it.
I stayed up all night because WP was kicking my ass and the formatting is still not right. Oh well.
Thank you so much for being so great, especially this year Lynn – I do appreciate you.
I love reader variability. While I’ve read most of the books on both your lists I found I liked several of your “honorable mentions” much more than your top 10 list. Not all because I think The Administration series as a whole is phenomenal and I adored Talker.
Just goes to show how each person reads something different. Great list.
Hey Kassa
Isn’t it great to know how different we are? That’s what I love about all the guest reviewers on this site. It would have been awfully boring if we all loved the same books – I would pity the people who checked out the reviews – same old, same old. lol
Thank you Kassa for all your hard work this year – I really appreciate your contribution.
Excellent choices. I have read 10 of those and have a few in my TBR. We are going to be doing a special Petit Morts week at Brief Encounter in a couple of weeks so that should be fun. Hopefully some more people will discover a great series. I haven’t read the last 5 yet, I’ve been overdosing on Christmas, but they are up very very soon.
I loved Talker and am looking forward to Amy’s sequel. May we all have many more books to love in 2011. 🙂
Hi Tam
Reviewing those Petit Morts books all at once just about killed me. lol. I love this series and Wishink Well is definitely my favourite so far because it’s so offbeat.
I’m really not looking forward to reviewing Talker II because Amy has told me a little about it and I’m already girding my loins. 🙁
Thank you, too, for all your hard work in making us laugh all through this year Tam.
Great list, Wave. I’ve read 12 of them and they’re all tops on my list, too. Five more are currently on my TBR – looks I’ll be adding a few more to my ever-growing TBR. 🙂
Happy New Year, Wave and all who make this site one of the best! I hope 2011 brings everything awesome your way! 🙂
Hi LC
I’m so glad to find a reader who understands my love for these books. I know I’m strange and different but my brain just loves great series and wonderful characterizations.
Thanks for the good wishes and right back at you.
Great choices, Wave!
I’ve read quite a few of these and generally agree with you. Right now I’m reading Life in Fusion which is great.
Happy New Year and may 2011 be the best year ever for you! 🙂
Hi Lily
Thanks for all your hard work in 2010. I’m so glad you are enjoying LiF because I really love that book and the zany characters. 🙂
Happy New Year.
Wave, this is an excellent list. Your reviews definitely influence my reading choices; this is a good thing! I’ve read 12 of the books on your list, 2 more are in my e-reader, and 2 are on wish lists ready to be purchased with gift cards. Thank you for your hard work and your terrific reviews. 🙂
Hey Patty
A reader after my own heart. lol. I hope you pick up a few more of these books that you haven’t read. You need to read the reviews of the HM’s because some of them might not be to your taste – serial killers, one inivolves a rape, etc. so check them out.
Thank you for supporting the site and I look forward to seeing more of you in 2011. Happy New Year.
Wave,
Wow. It just goes to show you that right when I think I’m on top of my game there are still so many books that I’d planned to read at one time and still haven’t gotten to yet. I’ve read about 50% of your list and HM’s and the rest (with the exception of one) are all in my TBR pile. The only one I’m not sure about is Mind Fuck. I’ve considered starting it several times, but it is so daunting, lol. You know how nervous action makes me….
I just wanted to add my thanks for accepting me into the family and say that it has been wonderful so far 🙂
Hi Cole
Welcome again to this madhouse which gets crazier every day. Kassa, Lynn, Lily, and Jenre are a steadying influence but sometimes the boyz seem to hold sway. lol. Feliz and Val also try to help stem the tide when they can. 🙂
Books never go out of style so you have time to pick up the ones you haven’t read.
Mind Fuck is intense and it took me a couple of years before I decided to read it, and when I did – WOW, what a trip. However, again, I’m not sure it’s your cup of tea from what you have reviewed to date but we all need to stretch.
Happy New Year.
I’ve read most of the books on your top 10 list and quite a few of your honorable mentions and I agree – those are all excellent books. Plus, I’m planning to buy myself some New Year gifts, so I’m going to catch up with the things I missed. XD
But, I’m really, really glad Administration series was included in your list – it’s amazing and I will love it forever. I would never believe it was possible for me to like a sociopath like Toreth so much, but there you have it.
I’m looking forward to another awesome year around here. Happy New Year, Wave!
What a great list Wave. I’ve read about half of your top 10 and almost all of your HM’s – so I’m not too out of touch for once! Just reading the titles on your lists put a smile on my face remembering how much I enjoyed each book – some more than once.
Also thank you Wave for inviting me to join your virtual family. It’s been a very entertaining year for me, although maybe a questionable one for you! 😉
Happy New Year everyone!
Hey TJ
It’s my pleasure to have you as part of the team. You survived — so what can I say? Except that I hope you’ll stick around for a long, long time.
I love all of these books even though they are so different. My brain must be wired strangely. lol.
I don’t know about “questionable.” I have even more fun than you guys as I’m sure you can tell.
Happy New Year Tj. 🙂
Hi LadyM
Thank you for dropping by. My list is eclectic I admit, but then so are my tastes. I know that Aunt Lynn is your favourite reviewer 🙂 and the reason this site is so successful I think is because the readers and the guest reviewers have such diverse tastes.
I bought the other 5 print books in The Administration series and I hope to review at least two of them next year because I’m now quite fond of Toreth, if you can believe it. lol.
Happy New Year Lady M.
Hi Wave,
I’ve never really commented on your site before, although have bought plenty of books based on the reviews from you and the others. However, I feel compelled to write with regard to Manna’s Administration series, as it is one of my all time favorites! I read all the stories on her website, and then when she published them in print-bought all of them, if that doesn’t speak volumes!
Everyone, you NEED to read this! And, Wave, Toreth does grow emotionally (and make you like him even more) as the series go on.
Thanks Nancy for the nice words about Toreth. I already started reading Quid Pro Quo which has a few short stories and I love them. This is definitely an outstanding series. As I mentioned, I have all the books released todate in print up to First Against The Wall so I do intend to read and review the other volumes. 🙂
I hope now that you have “broken the ice” that you will comment on the reviews at least. The guest reviewers work very hard on behalf of the readers and they like to know that there’s somebody “out there”. 🙂
Happy New Year.
Wave,
Can’t wait for your reviews. And I do very much appreciate all the guest reviewers, I’m sure there are a lot more readers of the site out there that, even though they don’t comment, feel the same.
And, hmm, I should rephrase–Toreth does show emotional growth as the series goes on(“mature” is too normal a word for him!)
Nancy
I will try to do Quid Pro Quo next month and maybe schedule the others every 2 months or so after that. :).
Maybe you could comment to Sirius (comment # 24) who wanted an opinion on how graphic and frequent the torture scenes are in MF. That would give her another opinion. Thank you.
I did a post almost a year ago on lurkers and many of them commented about why they lurk, but then they went back into wherever lurkers go (although a few of them did stick around). lol. I know they read the reviews because I see the hits.
Whenever I do a blog post there are literally up to a hundred comments and almost ten times as many hits on the post, so I know that they read them. I just wish more of them would comment on and venture an opinion on the reviews b/c the guest reviewers spend a lot of time reading the books and writing the reviews, for their benefit. 🙁
Hi Wave,
great list. according to it, our tastes in books are quite similar when it comes to characterization. I’ve taken on the habit to often buy books only because you love them and hardly ever gone wrong…
Happy New year to you and everybody at the site, and hooray to great books and reviews in 2011!
Feliz
It’s such a pleasure to have you as a guest reviewer on the site because your perspective is unusual and certainly different. Even the books you request are sometimes “strange” lol.
I hope I don’t lead you astray in the future because sometimes my tastes are quirky. lol
Have a wonderful New Year Feliz.
Hi Wave,
Thanks for your list. I give you credit with being able to compile a top ten out of so many great titles (though I have no trouble agreeing with F&C and LiF being at the top). I have read well over half of the titles you mention, have The Draegen Lords series on my Kindle but haven’t “gone there” yet, have the Petite Mort series on my TBR list, and also see a few “new to me” titles. Strange, I’ve looked at “Mind Fuck” a few times and passed it over but I’ll add it to the list, it sounds like I’ll need to be in the right mood for that one! Like you, I have a pretty eclectic taste, however I LOVE historicals 😉 My fave historicals released this year were Wages of Sin by Alex Beecroft, Lover’s Knot by Don Hardy (plus I love the Cornwall setting) and Counterpoint by Ruth Sims (Counterpoint being one of my all time favorites this year).
Hey, is that you that Josh dedicated “All She Wrote” to, I must have missed that until I started the book yesterday 🙂
Hi Dianne
Thanks for dropping by.
I really like historicals – I just can’t review them properly. I did review a few and the authors seemed to love the reviews – a couple were Alex’s because I love her characters. Captain’s Surrender made my list last year and you just reminded me about Blessed Isle that I reviewed as part of the Hidden Conflict anthology. My brain is probably so ‘wired’ in the future that the past (other than a few books) doesn’t have the same impact for me. But then that’s why we have Lynn, Leslie, Jenre and sometimes a few other guest reviewers who love the genre. 🙂
Yes, Josh did dedicate All She Wrote to me because he knows how much I love mysteries. That was the reason I was unable to review it. However, Lynn did such a great job on the review he might request that she review the next one in the series. lol.
I’m so happy that I was able to recommend a few books to you that you enjoyed and I hope to continue doing so in the future. Happy New Year.
What an honor to make your top 10, Wave! This ends a rather challenging year on a high note for me. Thank you 😀
Hi Jordan
I’m sure you suspected that Wishink Well might make my list because I loved the book so much. The best part of the story was how creative you were. You gave us a really unusual story. The downside is that some readers might not appreciate the things I love about the book, but that’s okay – they have your entire backlist. 🙂
Happy New Year Jordan.
Interesting list with a few I haven’t read yet. Several books that I loved in your top ten, especially Driftwood, Talker, The Administration Series, and Fish and Chips (and Sticks and Stones).
Hi Nolagal
We try to make it interestng on this site. If you checked out the guest reviewers’ list yesterday you would have seen how diverse their tastes are as well. We’re certainly a United Nations when it comes to taste, but that’s what makes us somewhat successful – we offer a wide range of opinions.
So glad you liked some of the books I recommended. I really loved them all and
if you liked 50% then I’m doing okay.
Happy New Year.
I loved the other reviewers’ lists as well. My TBR pile will certainly be growing.
I certainly loved over half. What’s interesting and wonderful (at least I think so) is that you also have books I hated in your tops. That’s why I’ve grown to love this site so much. I love finding new authors and discovering which reviewers share my tastes and quirks.
Wow, Wave, I’m flattered down to my toenails to be held in such high esteem along with such strong authors. Thanks so much!
Hi Madeleine
How nice to see you. 🙂 I’m sure you knew how much I loved this series so it shouldn’t be a complete surprise that F & C was tied for No. 1 and S & S is standing strongly at No. 4. Mind Fuck would have been a tough book to beat.lol.
Thank you for coming by, and please give my best to Abigail.
Have a very happy New Year’s celebration.
Great list Wave! I have either read or added every book on your list to my TBR file. I think your top 10 would be mine too….if I could add about 20 lol! Thanks for all you do for us Wave and I hope you have a wonderful New Year! 🙂
Hi Elaine
I hope that you enjoyed all of the books tht I recommended, or at least some of them. 🙂
You’re very welcome and have a Happy New Year.
I’m with Madeleine– I’m flattered and honored to be here–thank you for letting me into your e-reader!
Hi Amy
You’re quite welcome. Talker is now one of my favourite characters. I’m girding my loins for Tallker II – I don’t know whether I should be drinking or taking drugs. 🙂
Wave, I’ve read 6 of your 12 and 11 of your 20. I think that’s better than our usual average, isn’t it? 😉 Now I see why you were having such a hard time creating this list the other day–there’s entirely too much brilliance there!
I have to thank you on two fronts here. First, thank you for creating such an amazing site. I don’t remember how I stumbled upon this place, but I’m so glad I did. You all have led me to read some of the best, most addictive writers out there. Second, I can’t say thank you enough for letting me join this crazy little family. It has been a pleasure and an honor. I hope I can do you proud. 🙂
Happy New Year to all the Jessewave readers, reviewers and especially the writers. May 2011 be filled with love, laughter, peace and prosperity for you all.
Hi Buda
Wow. More than 50%. That’s great, considering how much you love angst and how much I don’t. lol Aren’t guys supposed to hate angst and women the reverse?
I should thank YOU Buda for working so hard under the most trying personal circumstances. I do appreciate each and every review you write because so much thought goes into every one to be sure that you’re looking out for the readers and making the right recommendations. We love the authors but we write the reviews for the readers.
As for the fun, you guys bring your own joy to this crazy online family and I do appreciate everything you do to make this job seem like such fun. I’m glad you stumbled on to the site, whatever state of inebriation you were in at the time. 🙂
Happy New Year and I hope that 2011 is way better than 2010.
I read 17 of those on your list, 8 are from your top 12. I can’t believe that I forgot to mention Driftwood in my list.
Hi Ingrid
I keep telling you that you should be reviewing because you read so many more books than I ever could. lol.
I’m so happy that our lists co-incide and I hope that next year I will continue to give you more opportunities to spend your money.
Happy New Year Ingrid and thank you for always supporting the site.
Hi, Wave. Loved your list, with all the Honorable Mentions. If I were going to do a list, I could never stop at 10 either. I tried to pick my 2010 Number 1 and just couldn’t do it, bogging down in whether one published in 2009 that I think I read in 2010 counts (or if maybe I did read it in 2009), and whether I should put extra weight on a book because it comes from a dependable favorite author or if each book must stand on its own merit. *Rolling my eyes at waffliness* lol
Thanks for posting this and the separate lists from each of the reviewers. It’s great that together there is a real mix of tastes and views. Interesting to see books I really like scattered on nearly every list, together with books I didn’t care for on the same list. Still hunting for my doppelganger reviewer, who I can be certain will match my tastes exactly.
Thanks to you and to all the other reviewers who post on the site. Happy New Year!!
Cary
Thank you for those very astute observations about matching tastes. You will never find a reviewer who will love everything you love and vice versa, but if you agree with 50% of his/her recommendations then you’re home free.
The best feature of this site is that each reviewer has definite likes and dislikes and we all review different types of stories. That makes for a wonderful bonanza for the readers because they can always find a book they will like reviewed here. I’m still looking for a YA reviewer since Leslie took time off to write and a YAOI reviewer to replace Kris. 🙂
The key is to check out several reviews before you buy a book, but even then, with the varying ratings and tastes you still take your chances. lol.
Happy New Year Cary. 🙂
You put M.L. Rhodes’ at number 5? I’m shocked, shocked…………but I guess I’ll just have to deal with it. Maybe I drank too many marguaritas and pina colatas tonight. yum
Tomorrow will be a brand new year. yippee See y’all on the other side!
It was a short book? lol.
I loved all the books on my list and at times it was a toss up John.
I’m so glad you had a great time tonight (or was that last night)? See you later and happy new year.
Happy New Year Wave and every reader and reviewer of this wonderful site! I love historicals and sci fi and fantasy equally heeee, and I loved so many books on your list and your honorable mentions.
I have heard a lot of great things about Administration series, how could I have not, but I am still hesitating to start reading them, so maybe you can help, I know they are excellent, but I cannot stomach hardcore torture scenes. How hardcore those scenes are and how frequent they are in your opinion? Thanks again :0
Hello Sirius
Happy New Year. I knew we had something in common if you love fantasy and sci fi. I do like historicals but I prefer them to be of the ‘lite’ variety rather than too serious, plus I know I suck at reviewing them except maybe for Alex Beecroft’s books, 🙂 so I leave them to Jenre, Leslie, Lynn and whoever else requests them.
For you I’ll do a quick re-read of Mind Fuck to see if the torture scenes are really graphic (I don’t think so, but it’s been a few months). I’ll email you in about a week or leave a comment on this post. 🙂 I’ll also ask LadyM to leave an opinion for you.
Thank you Wave 🙂
Hi Sirius,
Wave asked me to leave a comment to you as well with regard to the Administration series.
I also haven’t read Mind Fuck in a while, but it definitely was not too graphic or hardcore (I would’ve remembered for sure, and would not have love it as much, since I have “ick” issues with too much torture or BDSM)
The contents are very original, you would not think that you’ve read similar plots before. (I believe that Manna wrote these stories in the late 1990’s/early 2000’s, but they remain fresh and different!)
You should have no problems, go read it, you’ll be glad.
Thank you Nancy, I guess I have no excuse to not check out these series anymore lol. As I told Wave, I love sci fi and fantasy and I have heard many good things about them, but the idea that one of the guys seems to torture people for a living scared me off a little bit 🙂
Happy New Year, Wave!
Thanks for all the book recs on your site this year – you’ve all helped me to spend my limited pennies wisely and pointed me in the direction of some fantastic authors 😀
I was glad to see I’ve read half of your top ten. I obviously have been paying attention!
Hi Jo
Happy new year to you.
If you read (and I hope enjoyed) 50% of my Top 10 then I’m not doing too badly. 🙂 Isn’t it amazing the different tastes of the reviewers on the site? I think that difference reflects the tastes of M/M readers generally, which is a good thing.
Thank you for supporting the site Jo and much success with your writing.
Wow…Wave, I’m honored and thrilled More made your list of honorable mentions, especially among such talented authors whose work I adore. Such a great list of books.
Thank you for all you and your reviewers do to share your opinions and love of books with readers and to support the genre. As both author and reader, I greatly appreciate your time and efforts.
Happy New Year!!
Hi Sloan
Happy New Year and you’re quite welcome.
I’m sure you know from my review how much I love More. This book is most deserving of being on my list of Honourable Mentions. 🙂 The guest reviewers and I may not always see eye to eye with the authors, but we sincerely support them and the genre. Thank you for appreciating the hard work that goes into writing our book reviews. 😉
Have a great 2011 Sloan.
Happy New Year Wave!
I ditto everything Josephine said! I liked all the books I read from your list and now I have a list for when my fav authors are between releases!
I just wanted to say thanks to the reviewers for there hard work and for their faithful amusing commentary. I also wanted to thank the authors that take time to comment regularly on this site. With finite pennies to spend I will spend money on books from authors I have an emotional tie to vs one I know nothing about. I have bought numerous books from regular bloggers that I would have past on otherwise. It’s like going to friends’ concerts or plays. I have found new favs!
HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL!!
Hi Reggie
Always happy to serve. 🙂 the guest reviewers work very hard to make sure that their reviews are on the money and are for the readers, although we love our authors.
We all understand that no one has a neverending source of cash and every dime spent on books should be spent on something worthwhile.
Happy New Year.
Okay, Wave, help me here because I think I am losing my mind: am I reading something wrong or are there only actually 11 in your top “12”? I’m asking only because now I’m worried that all of us out here might be missing out on hearing about one of your favorites! (I’m counting, according to your numbering, 1,1,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,10, which adds up to 11 total, right?)
Anyway, out of the 31 (as I am counting them!), I’ve read 24,and most of the others are on my TBR; most of those that I read in 2010 would at least be on my “would re-read” pile, and many are also on my “favorites of 2010” pile. I am a huge fan of the Administration series – read that in its entirety many times before it was published and before I even started reading m/m published fiction seriously. I highly recommend you read all of it – the way the author weaves all the bits and pieces together is nothing short of masterful, though unfortunately it’s difficult to appreciate a lot of the tiny details unless you read it all at once, and more than once (I know from the hardcore Manna fans that there’s plenty I’ve missed). Toreth is an amazing character; his evolution throughout the series is so subtle (which is the way it should be, otherwise he wouldn’t be himself), but still meaningful, and really masterfully written.
Anyway: thanks so much for making this possible. I regularly recommend this site to friends who are just starting out in the m/m fiction world (many of them slash fans, who have read fanfiction but not published fiction) and looking for guidance. It’s a wonderfully maintained site with a great standard of review and also a fabulous community, and while I know there are many who contribute to its success, ultimately we have you to thank for it.
Ha, ha, ha Justacat. Damn, I can’t count. What else is new? You are absolutely correct. There only 11 books in my Top 10 or Top 12. *giggle* That is so funny I’m splitting my sides laughing. That’s the reason this site is on the edge. So okay I have to rewrite my intro. 🙂
I do intend to finish The Adminstration series but I can’t do it all at once since I have problems with my eyes and can’t read too many print books within a short period of time. Eyestrain and all that.
I’m really happy you enjoy the site and all the reviews and fun things we do. I hope you checked out the Guest Reviewers Top 10 lists (at least they can count) 🙂 They have some fabulous recs. Thank you for recommending the site to others – we all appreciate that.
Happy New Year. I’m sending you my cheque book to balance. lol.
Okay, well, I have to admit I’m glad I wasn’t losing it – I kept counting over and over to see if I could be missing something, especially since no one else commented (I read through every single comment to be sure)! Okay, so most m/m readers aren’t necessarily math people, lol! I guess that means you don’t have a 12th book for us, though…?!
I have definitely checked out the Guest Reviewers’ Top 10 lists (and hey, some of them are only Top 2 or Top 3 – but it does look like they all counted right! ;-). There are some reviewers whose tastes align more closely with mine than others, of course (in my case Kassa is probably the best fit), but I always read all reviews, and it’s always interesting to see what others enjoy. I’ll try to make more of an effort to comment, just so the reviewers know that.
The Administration is difficult to read all at once, no matter the state of your eyes, especially when you have other reading obligations (and I guess you have to read the print versions for reviewing purposes). They are not to everyone’s tastes – like the Infected books, in fact! – but from a writing perspective, they are really remarkable, in a class by themselves.
Thanks again! 🙂
Another thought/suggestion: how about a dedicated post for readers to post in the comments their “top 10” lists for the year? I seem to recall doing that last year (posting mine I mean, and seeing others post theirs) – it might have been in the comments to your top-10 list, but I don’t really see people doing that here in a systematic way (or in the guest reviewers’ top 10 post), and it would be nice to have a single place to be able to find them – sometimes I get ideas from what other people like, even things that aren’t reviewed here.
Just a thought!
Hi Justacat
I just did. If you check the site you will see a new post and you can do the honours by starting it off with your recommended reads for 2010. 🙂
Hello Wave
I’ve been busier than a glory-hole-troll working the public restrooms at a Cher concert the past few days, but I had to stop by and say thank you once again to you and everyone else here at the site for including my books on your lists, and for all the very kind and much appreciated support over the past year.
I really can’t thank you enough!
Ethan
This picture makes me want to scrub my eyes with Javex bleach. lol
You’re welcome Ethan. I loved LiF and Sno Ho and Lynn, your favourite, loved another of your books.
Don’t worry, my accountant is trying to figure out a way to bill you for all of this free publicity. 🙂
Wow…and I was so sure that glory-hole-troll comment would cover my bill? It even rymed!! : )
Just sent off the manny for my short! I felt really great for about ten minutes, before I took another gander at my Homo-do list. I should have been a little more specific last night when I went to bed wishing I’d find myself staring at something long and hard! Gah!!
Interesting selection and many of them of are favourite writers of mine. Josh Lanyon couldn’t write a bad novel if he tried. I’m reading Fish and Chips right now (page 94 – 3:30 a.m.;) and loving every word. Wonderful characters!
Besides some of your choices, I would have added the novels of the following writers to my Top 10 2010 List – Wren Boudreau, Tere Michaels, Libby Drew, James Allen, Katie Allen, Charlie Cochrane. I’d add Jane Seville but I think Zero at the Bone was 2009, wasn’t it? Anyway, everything by those writers are “can’t put down” reads and I anxiously await their next novel.
I’m probably the only reader who really didn’t like Talker or the Administration series though. Not my cuppa.
Hi MaDonna
Thank you for your llist. One of the rules is that we can only have books on our list that we actually reviewed and the only Tere Michaels’ book that I reviewed was in the Honourable Mentions. I think two of her books were in the Top 10 last year. I didn’t review Zero by Jane Seville – Kassa did and it was in last year’s line-up. As for the others, the only book I reviewed by the authors you mentioned was by Katie Allen and I ran out of room at that point. 🙂
Did you check out the Top 10 list for all the guest reviewers? It should be a few posts down.
The Administration series is tough and unless you like that kind of story (a mix of sci fi, urban fantasy and possibly other genres) this would not be your kind of book. However I love the characterizations and the plot. As for Talker – what can I say? Different strokes? lol.
If you’re loving F & C and you’re only at page 94 you’re in for a treat. Happy reading.
Mind Fuck sounds like just my kind of book. I’ll have to give it a try! 🙂
Anita
I really hope you like Mind Fuck. It’s definitely one of the books I re-read and I love it more each time. If you do get the book which is available free on the author’s site, please let me know if you liked it (or not). 🙂
Hi Wave, :wave:
Thanks again for the recs. I just finished Dear Mr. President. I noticed from the chat board I could order it from Rainbow ebooks. Loved it! Also loved Mexican Heat which you gave me a swift kick to read. It was great and you were right (of course) it was a perfect stand alone book. I didn’t feel cheated- great book! I did get Dragon Streets but haven’t read it yet.It looks fun though! 😯
No response needed, just wanted to say—
THANK YOU VERY MUCH! :sendoutlove: