Top Pick: Claiming the Courtesan by Anna Campbell
One of the books I’ve been anticipating most this year. The heroine, Verity, is 
most infamous courtesan. When she up and leaves, her lover, the Duke of Kylemore, tracks her down, kidnaps her, and whisks her off to the highlands. I feel I should warn that this book is dark in nature at the beginning. Justin isn’t kind to Verity when the story begins. But even when he isn’t at his most likeable, I was drawn to him and I cared deeply about him (note: I love tortured heroes and Justin has a past that makes me cry).
This debut leaves no doubt that Anna Campbell is author to watch. CTC is an amazing, compelling story that is beautifully written. I’m very excited to read her next book.
Also Recommend: And Then He Kissed Her by Laura Lee Guhrke
This is my first LLG novel, and it definitely won’t be my last. A Victorian romance in which the heroine, Emmaline, a girl-bachelor who’s also an aspiring author, has it with her viscount employer when he rejects her book without so much as reading it. This was a sweet story, utterly charming and well-written.
Top TBRs: The Secret Passion of Simon Blackwell by Samantha James, The Leopard Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt, If You Dare by Kresley Cole
Oh the Anticipation: Lady Be Bad by Candice Hern (8/7/07), The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever by Julia Quinn (6/26/07), Beware a Scot’s Revenge by Sabrina Jeffries (5/29/07)
Paranormal
Top Pick: Lover Revealed by J.R. Ward
Anyone who has ever met me knows I’m a die-hard J.R. Ward fan. I was jumping so muc
h when I bought Lover Awakened last fall that I scared a bookseller. LR is the fourth in Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series. It’s the story of Butch O’Neil, the first human ever allowed into the world of the vampire warriors known as the BDB, and Marissa, an aristocratic vampire who Butch fell for hard and fast the moment he met her (in Dark Lover). I can’t really say much more without giving away series spoilers. I would highly recommend reading the BDB series in order: Dark Lover, Lover Eternal, Lover Awakened, and Lover Revealed. All of the books are incredible, and Lover Awakened is one of my favorite books of all time.
Also Recommend: The Dream-Hunter by Sherrilyn Kenyon
I am equally in love with Kenyon’s Dark Hunter series, of which this is a part of (though you don’t have to have read any of the other books to follow this one). TDH has romance, action, and adventure all wrapped up in one. Dr. Megeara Kafieri is an archeologist searching for Atlantis when she finds Arik floating out at sea. What she doesn’t know is that Arik is a dream god (to oversimplify greatly) and that he has made a pact with Hades – Arik may live for two weeks as a mortal man, but he must return to Olympus with Geary’s soul. This description doesn’t do the plot or characters justice, I’m afraid. All I can say is that this book is a must-read, especially if you’re a fan of Kenyon’s books.
Oh the Anticipation: Lover Unbound by J.R. Ward (10/2/07), Devil May Cry by Sherrilyn Kenyon (8/7/07), Tanner’s Scheme by Lora Leigh (8/7/07)
Contemporary
Top Pick: Dangerous Games by Lora Leigh
Leigh is an author I came across by chance last Thanksgiving and I’ve been buying up her backlist like there’s no tomorrow. Dangerous Games is the second story and first full-length book in her SEALs series (Reno’s Chance, Dangerous Games, For Maggie’s Sake). The book is about Clint McIntyre a Navy SEAL who’s on leave at home when he finds out his sister’s best friend, Morganna Chavez, is a DEA agent working under cover to bust up a date-rape drug ring. Clint’s determined not to let Morganna get hurt and he soon joins in the mission. Warning – this book, like all of Leigh’s work, is HOT and definitely not for the faint of heart. Can’t wait for Hidden Agendas, her next SEAL novel.
Also Recommend: A Man in a Million by Jessica Bird
I’ll fess up: Jessica Bird is J.R. Ward so it’s a guarantee I’m gonna love her books, and AM
IAM does not disappoint. The book is the story of Spike Moriarty, a bad boy who fell in love with boat racing champ Madeline Maguire when he first met her in From the First. It’s a classic tale of two people from different walks of life, but told in a way that feels new and fresh. Bird could probably write a grocery list and make it compelling, but Spike and Mad are two characters you will care about and cheer for.
Top TBRs: Ice Blue by Anne Stuart, Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas, Tongue in Chic by Christina Dodd
Oh the Anticipation: The Billionaire Next Door by Jessica Bird (7/31/07), Hidden Agendas by Lora Leigh (6/26/07), Safe Harbor by Christine Feehan (6/26/07)
And for all you lovely readers out there:
What recent releases are at the top of your TBR pile?
What do you think of the books that made my TBR list (assuming I survive through finals to read them, I’d like to know where to start)?
What upcoming books are you looking forward to the most?
****Please no book-bashing****
4 comments:
The only one on your list I have read is And Then He Kissed Her. I would say read it first. It's an incredible story with wonderful characters. The dialogue in this one is some of the best I've read anywhere.
I've heard really great things about Claiming the Courtesan but from what I understand it would be a giant leap into the dark from the Guhrke so you might throw something in between those two.
I haven't picked up an Leigh but you've convinced me that needs to change. Thanks for the rec and good luck with finals.
So far those are the only 2 historicals published this year I've had time to read. I have a ton in my TBR pile, though. And I hope this blog wasn't already too long, LOL.
CTC is dark, to be sure, but it was so amazing it definitely is my top pick. I can't wait until AC's Untouched comes out!!!! But I liked ATHKH so much I picked up She's No Princess. I definitely want to read more LLG.
I definitely recommend Lora Leigh, but I feel I should warn that her books are extremely HOT (just warning because I don't know were people's comfort level with heat lies). I love her Breed books especially. The first ones are only from Ellora's Cave, but now the new ones are being published by Berkely (The Breed Next Door in Hot Spell anthology, Megan's Mark, and Harmony's Way). The SEALs are also fantastic. Reno's Chance in the Honk if You Love Real Men anthology is my favorite of the 3 so far.
I could probably go on for pages, which I already did LOL. But I can say with certainty that any author who I put a link up for their website has never written a book I've read that I didn't love.
I just picked up Claiming the Courtesean last night. I had heard it had a bit of controversy surrounding it ie Campbell's book isn't too policically correct! What's funny is that 15 even 10 years ago bodice ripping, hair dragging, primordial love was all the rage. In this book that sorta thing inflames. I can't wait to read it.
Divineway, I know - it's funny how perspectives change, isn't it? I hope you enjoyed CTC. It's definitely a fantastic read. One of my favorites this year :)
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