Lindsey’s Best Reads of 2008

Yesterday we shared our #1 picks for 2008. For the rest of the week we’re each going to share what is simply the best of what we happened to read this year – regardless of the book’s original publication  date. Why leave off a great book just because we didn’t get it read within a few months of release? 

My best of the year lists always feel incomplete – both because they’re a reminder of how little I’ve gotten around to reading and how lazy I can be about keeping track (though Goodreads is helping!). Still, counting quality over quantity, this list reminds me that 2009 was a great reading year. 

Favorite Fangirl Reads
I love these authors, I live for their new releases, so what were the chances they wouldn’t make the list? Obviously LETTERS TO A SECRET LOVER by Toni Blake, DUCHESS BY NIGHT and WHEN THE DUKE RETURNS by Eloisa James (and I’ve already got a Best of 2009 spot earmarked for Jemma & Elijah!), and MISS WINTHORPE’S ELOPEMENT by Christine Merrill top my list. I devoured all four of these books within hours, and each one reminded me just why it is I’m such a fangirl of these talented authors.

Where Have You Been All My Life?
My promo project with the Contemporary Single Title RITA finalists prompted me to check out some of their books. And thank goodness! I’d been missing some amazing authors.  CATCH OF THE DAY and JUST ONE OF THE GUYS by Kristan Higgins and MAKE ME A MATCH and THE SEXIEST MAN ALIVE by Diana Holquist all totally knocked my socks off. Those RITA judges sure know how to pick ‘em. 

Lindsey likes Paranormal?
Who knew? Certainly not me. But in spite of my every expectation, two paranormal titles wormed their way into my heart and onto my list. HOTTER AFTER MIDNIGHT by Cynthia Eden and PLEASURE UNBOUND by Larissa Ione helped my broaden my romance horizons. 

Reading. It’s not just for romance anymore. 
It’s true. I do sometimes read things besides romance.  Like graphic novels. WANTED by Mark Millar and J. G. Jones was one of my best for this year. Way better than the movie (though the movie did have James McAvoy). 

Worth the Exorbitant Ebay Prices
I came to romance late, so sometimes I have to do a little  legwork to catch up on all those great books I missed over the years. I’m slowly but surely tracking down old Mary Balogh Regencies, and this year THE NOTORIOUS RAKE was one of my best OOP finds. I also finally read and adored Toni Blake’s (writing as Toni Blair) OCTOBER MOON – a romance that takes place within twenty-four hours, and is still totally charming and believable. 

Just as Good the Second (or Third… or Fourth…) Time
Even with a towering TBR, sometimes you’re pulled back to your keeper shelf. I don’t really track my rereads, but two that I know I enjoyed rediscovering this year were FAIR GAME by Diane Farr and TALLIE’S KNIGHT by Anne Gracie.  

With so many great books to choose from- new releases, stuff in the TBR, titles from the keeper shelf – how do you decide what to read? Join us all this week for more Vagabonds favorites!