Posted by Elisa Beatty Jan 6 2012, 1:54 am
It’s the New Year, a good time both for reflection and for looking ahead. That means it’s a good time for compiling “Best Of” lists.
Today, I’m asking other Rubies and our readers to share some of their picks for “Best Romances of 2011” and also for “Most Anticipated Romances of 2012.”
I’m not suggesting anything terribly organized—I’m way too mathematically challenged to create surveys or calculate rankings or anything at all involving numbers. Besides, after all the trauma of high school gym class years ago, I don’t really like competitions.
So let’s keep this simple: just mention a few books you really enjoyed from 2011.
And if you’ve got 2012 titles in mind that you’re really looking forward to, let us hear about those too.
My motive here is purely selfish: I’m always looking for hot tips on good reads. So when you mention books you’ve enjoyed or are eagerly awaiting, I’d love it if you’d share a little bit about what you loved about each book. If you don’t have time for that, titles alone will do.
In 2011, I read more than 90 books, and honestly enjoyed virtually all of them. But I did have some I especially loved.
I think it goes without saying for readers of this blog that many of the best books of the year were written by Rubies!! Lots of Ruby books made my personal favorites list—too many to mention them all (and I’ve got a teetering heap of Ruby books still waiting in my Kindle’s TBR folder!). But if you visit here frequently, you’ve already learned lots about those books. So for now, I’m going to try to be all classy and unbiased and stuff, and not mention Ruby books…at least until the comments section.
Among non-Ruby books, here are my top picks for 2011:
The Black Hawk is the story of Adrian and Justine, French-Revolution era spies from enemy nations (and also fabulous secondary characters in Bourne’s earlier books, which made The Black Hawk one of the most eagerly-anticipated books of 2011).
Bourne’s writing is glorious—better than lots of so-called “literary fiction”—and she has an unparalleled ability to immerse readers in both the physical and emotional worlds of her wonderful, complicated, soulful characters. The first love scene in The Black Hawk was so deeply felt and so emotionally real, I actually wept while reading it.
Which is not to say Bourne’s book is “heavy” (or sappy) in any way. Her voice is incredibly smart and funny, the action crackles along (full of wonderful political and criminal intrigue), and you’ll find yourself zooming to the end long before you’re ready to leave the world of the book. A terrific, satisfying, wondrous love story! DO NOT MISS THIS BOOK!! (But you might want to start with the first book in the series, the astonishingly good Spymaster’s Lady from 2008. Sigh!!!! I envy those of you who have the chance to be discovering Rita-winning Bourne for the very first time!)
In 2011, I also discovered the wonderful Lady Julia Gray series by Deanna Raybourn.
My, my, my these are excellent, captivating, sink-your-teeth-into-‘em books!!
Having come late to the party, I got to read all four books in the series at a gallop this summer (the first is 2008’s Rita-winning Silent in the Grave, and the official 2011 entry is The Dark Enquiry).
Raybourn has a perfect voice for stories set in the 19th century—elegant, aristocratic, and witty, with a deeply sensuous streak. There’s something ironical and acerbic and edgy about the way she writes, and yet there’s gorgeous passion. The stories are mysteries: beautifully constructed, clever mysteries that will genuinely keep you guessing right till the end. What fabulous movies they’d make!!
And best thing of all, her hero Brisbane is the sexiest damn thing ever to wear a waistcoat. Even though the books stop short of any explicit sex scenes, the sexual tension will have you fanning yourself with your e-reader. Woot! Bring on whatever Raybourne’s got planned for 2012!
To veer away from historicals for a moment, one of my other favorite reads from 2011 was Kristan Higgins’ latest humorous contemporary, My One and Only.
I discovered Kristan Higgins when one of her books was a giveaway at RWA Nationals a couple years ago, and I’ve since snapped up her entire back list (I’m saving her very latest, Until There Was You, because I just can’t bear not to have a new Kristan Higgins waiting in my TBR pile….I need it for an emotional rainy day!!)
The heroines of her books are quirky, lippy, funny, mildly neurotic single women who’ve had a rough time with love and who aren’t quite sure they want to risk their hearts again. Mostly, they live in small, quirky towns with big personalities, have sprawling complicated families, and usually have a really hard time figuring out which man is really going to make them happy.
Oh, but those men! And oh, but when the heroines finally let the truth dawn on them! It’s swoony, heartwrenching, stand-up-and-cheer romance!
My One and Only actually differs from the pattern a bit in that most of the book involves an inadvertent road trip that forces two ex-spouses to drive cross-country together…but the general dynamic is still the same. The books are full of outright hilarious moments, and then manage to sneak in and hit you with serious emotional wallops just when you’re least expecting it.
I really do laugh and cry when reading Kristan Higgins’ books….but they always lift my spirits wonderfully, and I wish she would write faster, because these are guaranteed feel-good books for me! Whatever she comes out with in 2012 will be on my Kindle in a heartbeat.
Some other big 2011 faves for me:
This is the very sweet follow-up to her debut, How to Knit a Love Song, and like that first book, centers on knitters who live in the small town of Cypress Hollow. In this one, Lucy, an independent bookseller, fights her attraction to a bad-boy ex-cop. The elements may seem familiar, but Rachael Herron’s voice is something special: very contemporary, but with touches of poetry; cozy and human but not syrupy; funny and particular without being “zany.” I find her books smart and life-affirming and genuinely heart-warming.
I can’t help pointing out that, instead of a book trailer for this book, Rachael (who’s a super creative person and the force behind the uber-popular knitting blog yarnagogo.com) wrote a song which she sung accompanying herself on the ukelele. And it actually sounds really nice. And you’ll see how totally adorable Rachael is. (Check it out on youtube here.)
The Cypress Hollow series books are also feel-good reads for me, and I’m delighted to discover book three, Wishes and Stitches, has recently hit the shelves! I just grabbed it for my Kindle and know it will be a great tonic against the dead-of-winter blues!
(I just discovered this actually came out at the very end of 2010, but I told you I’m not good at math: for me, it’s a 2011 book.)
This book skirts the line of being literary fiction (the book is set in a small British town, and much of it revolves around tensions caused by small-town racial and religious prejudice), but it has the sweet beating heart of a romance as a very proper former English officer falls in love with a seemingly unobtainable local widow.
A special perk for those who get a little tired of romances featuring twenty-somethings with rock-hard abs and thighs: the lovers are well past middle age, yet still feel all the pangs and electricity of hit-with-a-lightning-bolt attraction.
There are no clichés here, the emotions are very human and very real, and the problems the lovers are struggling against are a good deal more particular and intractable than in your average romance….which also means you get a great cast of secondary characters and some deeply funny satirical views of small town English life.
This is love as it feels in real life. It’s wonderfully written, and I turned the last page with a deep sigh of satisfaction.
I could go on and on, but I’ve got a grubby kid to put in the bath and some sleep tonight would be good.
Okay, so now it’s your turn: what were some of your faves for 2011, and what are you most looking forward to in 2012???
Okay, I said I’d wait til the comments section to mention some Rubies.
Since I’m primarily a Regency and historical reader, I hope other Ruby authors will forgive me for singling out a couple historical Ruby books as special favorites: Jeannie Lin’s gorgeous and emotional THE DRAGON AND THE PEARL, about truly star-crossed lovers in Tang Dynasty China, and Elizabeth Essex’s THE PURSUIT OF PLEASURE, a rousing, smart and sexy tale set in the very last bit of the 18th century. Yum!! (This is another very late 2010 release that I think of as coming from 2011).
I’m also going to sneak in major high fives for Darynda Jones’s amazing, hilarious, smokin’-hot FIRST GRAVE ON THE RIGHT, which blew me away with its fresh, no-holds-barred voice. (And SECOND GRAVE was just as good!)
Others that just plain make me smile are Liz Talley’s very funny and heartfelt Oak Stand, Texas books (*three* of which, starting with A LITTLE TEXAS, came out in 2011), Hope Ramsay’s awesome small-town LAST CHANCE series with their beautiful covers that make me want to move right in, Tamara Hogan’s literally rockin’ TASTE ME, and pretty much anything the funny and wonderful and super-prolific Vivi Andrews puts to paper.
Like I said, my Ruby TBR folder is huge, or I suspect this note would be LOT longer….can’t wait to read them all!!
Thank you so much for the mention, Elisa!!!! I agree with all of your choices! So many Ruby favs.
Elisa,
I read both Kristan Higgins. Liked them both but I loved UNTIL THERE WAS YOU. Great, unique hero! Completely funny but sexy, too. I don’t know how you’re saving it. I read those babies in a night. Or an afternoon if I feel like neglecting my children
Great blog, btw.
Aargh!!! I’m trying so hard to keep from reading UNTIL THERE WAS YOU, ’cause when I do, I’ll have no choice but to wait for a new one from Higgins….
Maybe I’ll cave anyway…it sounds so GOOD!!
I’m dreadfully late leaving my thanks (dratted deadlines) but wanted to thank you so much for the mention.
It means a great deal to me as our tastes are so very similar—the best book I read this year was also Bourne’s BLACK HAWK as well. I was completely swept away by the story and incredibly impressed that she did such a spectacular job with a hero some of us had waited four books to see in his own story. Sigh. Waiting very impatiently for her next right along side you.
Cheers, EE
Amen on all those Ruby books. Special Kudos go out to Darynda Jones for giving this NON-PARANORMAL reader a whole new experience. If anyone hasn’t read Hope Ramsay’s
Welcome to Last Chance, put it on your TBR list! It was heartfelt and funny–right up my alley. As for non-Ruby books, I loved Jill Shalvis’s Simply Irresistible and The Sweetest Thing.
And I know what you mean, Elisa, about not being able to keep copyright years straight. My TBR pile still has a lot of 2010 releases in it.
Oh, yes, the Jill Shalvis books were very good!! Someone who heard I liked Kristan Higgins recommended them, and I did indeed enjoy them!
Oh, for 2012, I’m very much looking forward to the e-pub debut of multi-Golden-Heart-winner Laurie Kellogg!!!!!
Oh, thank you, Laurie!!! I loved Hope’s book SO MUCH!!! And I love me some Jill Shalvis too.
I loved The Forbidden Rose too — Joanna Bourne is a goddess!
And I glommed all the Lady Jane Grey books by Joanna Raybourn this summer as well (did I start them before you, Elisa. I can’t remember…)
But my favorite books of 2011 have to be the “Un” series by Courtney Milan — Unveiled, Unlocked, Unclaimed, and Unraveled. Ohhhh, what unsual heroes! Total alphas without being remotely typical, with deep, deep wounds and weaknesses. And so smart too. Interesting, inventive, and believable heroines as well (though the she writes such great men that they’re who I remember most.)
Derrr… I meant, of course, to write “Deanna Raybourn.”
The coffee hasn’t kicked in yet…
Deanna Raybourn’s name is a tough one to spell correctly–with all those seemingly optional vowels, there are about half a dozen places to get it wrong (Deeana, Diana, Raybourne, Raeborn…I’m sure she’s heard just about everything.)
Oh, and I think I’d read THE DEAD TRAVEL FAST (her vampire-tinged novel), but you tipped me off to the Lady Julia Grey bundle which absorbed us both on our summer vacation!)
I bought the three-book “Silent in the…” bundle this summer and just this afternoon finished the third!
I liked them very much, as evidenced by the fact that I read the series straight through. I didn’t know there was a fourth! Very glad to hear that. I thought each was better than the last.
Oh, yes! Courtney Milan! Should have had her on my list! (May need to go make some additions!)
I gotta make a resolution to read more in 2012. Seems like I’m writing, reading school materials for homeschooling, or research books for writing. I can’t even remember a fiction book I read in 2011, which zipped by at warp speed. I know, gasp, that’s all sorts of wrong, I started writing because I was a reader! Oh, wait, maybe I read Ruby Sis Liz Talley’s book…or was that in 2010? I have all the Ruby books on my Kindle, and a bunch of others too, yes, I must make reading a priority again.
Thanks Elisa and Laurie!
I read a lot of great books this year. But there are a couple that really stick in my mind:
First and foremost are the books by Ruby Sis, Bev Pettersen. I simply adored her Jockeys and Jewels, and Color my Horse. Her characters were so real, and the setting — the backside of a race track — was so unusual and interesting. Bev really knows horses and horse racing, and her ensemble of characters — jockeys, grooms, trainers — are very interesting people. Really, if you haven’t read these books you need to drop everything and do it now. They have terrific characters and you learn something about horse racing at the same time.
I also loved The Queen’s Dollmaker by Christine Trent. This may be a 2010 release or earlier, but I read it in 2011 and loved every minute. It’s set during the French Revolution and it’s more historical fiction than romance. I collect dolls and so I loved all the details about doll making that were included in this book.
Finally I simply devoured Pat Rothfus’s much-anticipated The Wise Man’s Fear. This is not a romance, either. It’s a fantasy. And if you are a fantasy reader and have not discovered Rothfus, I recommend him highly. His hero is a bard and magician. The writing is literary. And his books sweep you away to another world that is wonderfully real.
Bev’s books are on my Kindle! I’ll be diving in soon!
Ooh, and the Rothful book sounds really good…(the TBR folder gets fatter and fatter.)
I’ve got Bev’s books on my Kindle too. I actually lost books when I switched out the Kindle 2 to the Fire. I thought I had them on my computer in my account, but I did something wrong and that DRV or whatever the heck it’s called wouldn’t allow me to download them again. I hate being challenged by technology. So I had to rebuy a lot of the Rubies books. Bev’s were two of them I had to buy twice
Count me as a Bev Pettersen fan as well. She has a great mix of characters and horses…love it! Makes sense since I love Dick Francis as well.
It’s been a tough year for me in regards to reading. I usually read like a maniac, but tight deadlines and the pressure to take part in social media really whittles my reading time down a lot, and because I’m writing romance, I try not to read too much of it because it tends to filter into my own writing.
I particularly like Darynda’s books. Like Laurie, I’m not a normal paranormal type, but I loved her heroine so much…she reminded me of myself, except thinner with mad skills. I also like Vivi’s psychic novellas – great fun. Anne Marie’s book gave me chills, Rita’s gave me thrills, and the rest I still have on my kindle or in a stack awaiting me. Shamed to admit how slow I’ve been. Oh, I read Jeannie’s first one, but that was last year. I have the Sword and Pearl, but haven’t read it yet. Read the first one of Hope’s and have the next two ready to go. That’s all the Rubies I’ve read to date. Sigh. I need more time. Oh, and I’m reading Addison’s Baby, It’s Cold Outside. (I read 4-5 at the same time)
Non-Rubies – well, I didn’t do much romance. I read Hush, Hush by Becca Patterson and Hunger Games trilogy. Trying to stretch myself into reading outside of historical and contemporary. I’m currently reading Shadowfever by Moning. I’m actually liking some of this paranormal stuff. Go figure.
I picked up Sherry Thomas’s historicals and liked them, and I read a Courtney Milan novella which was good.
In women’s fiction, I’m currently <3 Mary Kay Andrews' backlist. She's got a fun, Southern voice. Ummm…that's it, I think. Not very good for recommendations, but outside of reading suspense and lit fiction, that's all I got on the romance front.
Oh, yes–I read the Hunger Games trilogy last year, too. Borrowed them from my daughter, so they were hardback, not Kindle, and I pulled my favorites list off my Kindle. The first book absolutely blew me away…and the rest of the series was excellent as well.
I highly recommend them to anyone interested in writing emotionally intense action and suspense. Great lead female character, too!
Thank you SO much, Liz!!! Your books are def on my favs list for the year!!!!
Obviously I have to start with a shout out to Darynda Jones – fabulous! Other new discoveries this year were Kalayna Price and Christina Henry (fresh and amazing!). Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning was definitely the high point of the year. I also have to thank/curse a chapter mate for introducing/addicting me to JR Ward. Why did I wait so long to discover her?!?!?!!
Thank you, Christi!!!! And I am right there with on the JR Ward thing. Dang that girl!
Oh dear. I have several years’ worth of books in TBR, but some favorites from 2011 that come to mind:
- Darynda’s FIRST GRAVE, Addison’s BABY, IT’S COLD OUTSIDE, and Vivi’s THE SEXORCIST
- WHEN BEAUTY MET THE BEAST, Eloisa James
- DANGEROUS IN DIAMONDS, Madeline Hunter (Castleford!)
- JUST LIKE HEAVEN, Julia Quinn
- The entire House of Rohan series, Anne Stuart (dark, twisted fun)
- DREAMS OF A DARK WARRIOR, Kresley Cole
- LOVER UNLEASED, J.R. Ward (Yeah, I’m a complete hoor for the brothers)
- ARCHANGEL’S BLADE and KISS OF SNOW, Nalini Singh
- CHOOSE ME by Jo Leigh – a 2/2012 Blaze I read the last week in 2011 – subscribers get them early! One of my favorite category romances ever, and I’ve been reading category for almost 40 years.
In 2012, I’m looking forward to:
- LOTHAIRE by Kresley Cole. How in the world will she redeem this guy?
- TANGLE OF NEED, Nalini Singh
- LOVER REBORN, J.R. Ward
Thank you so much, RubySis!!!!
Great picks, Elisa!!! I have all of your picks except for one on my TBR pile. If only I read faster! And thanks so much for the mention! I cannot wait to finish what I started. After reading YOUR excerpt, wow. I was just blown away. Such crisp, strong writing. I really loved it!
As for me, I read and loved JR Ward, Jacqueline Frank, Jeaniene Frost, Gail Carriger, and all of my Ruby sisters!!! I have Anne Marie Becker’s Only Fear up next and Rita Henuber’s Under Fire. Can’t wait!!!!!
*blush, blush*!! Thanks, Darynda!!
Now I just have to finish the dang REVISIONS on the thing so I can get it submitted! That’s my master plan for the Winter Writing Fest!!
There were a lot of enjoyable Ruby reads this year—Liz, Hope, Anne Marie, Jen and Diane—so much talent. And, of course, I’ll add to the chorus of praise for Darynda’s books—Charley totally kicks it. Egged on by a Ruby blog, I picked up a Christmas romance, Leslie Kelly’s IT HAPPENED ONE CHRISTMAS. Loved it—cute, sweet and very happy holidays in a hot, sexy Blaze kinda way. Lastly, I loved Laura Spinella’s BEAUTIFUL DISASTER. I saw in the RWR that it won the Golden Leaf for best first book. It is definitely worth checking out.
Thanks for a great blog, Elisa. See you at the WWF!
Thanks Kelley!
I started the year, reading like a madwoman while watching over my DH, then life got really crazy. Sadly, the last six months my reading dropped off. But I did finish another ms.
I loved each and every one of the Ruby Sisters books I’ve read. This group of women are so talented and I know their stories are only going to get better. I still have a few on my RSS books on my kindle or bookshelf to read and I can’t wait to start them.
Non-Rubies: I couldn’t put down Brenda Novak’s ‘The Perfect Couple’. I know it’s pre-2011 title, but I finally got to it. ‘Promise Bridge’ a beautifully written historial by Eillen Schwab, who is a chapter mate. Really. This one will be on your keeper shelf. And the best holiday story I read was The Christmas Dog by Melody Carlson.
(Ruby books aside) The Appeal, The Magic Knot, Death Angel. I’m starting the year off with a bang and reading Finger Licking Fifteen now. On my to be read pile… The Associate, Sizzling Sixteen (of course), a couple more Sue Grafton. I love Kristan Higgins too. Love to read more. I love a little comedy, a little mystery, a lot of romance.
Gotta do this fast as I’m running out the door to see the new Mission Impossible film. Besides rubies? I can’t wait for the new Margaret Frazer’s Play of Treachery to come in the mail. I love the 15th century. I discovered Madeline Hunter this year, so she’ll always be 2011 to me. I was given a Jude Devereux and am enjoying it with it’s small southern town.
Whoops, it’s not Treachery. Will have to get the right title when it arrives.
Let’s see… some truly great books of ’11…
KISS OF SNOW by Nalini Singh
A LOT LIKE LOVE by Julie James
Victoria Dahl – brilliant, as always.
JUST LIKE HEAVEN by Julia Quinn
ELEVEN SCANDALS… by Sarah MacLean
The Hunger Games Trilogy.
Oh My Goodness – this is like being a kid in a candy store!!! naming favorte books read and those on your wishlist for 2012…
OK, I discovered and loved these new authors in 2011:
*Sarah Mccarthy ‘Hell’s Eight’ series (erotic westerns)
*Lauren Dane ‘Federation’ & ‘Phantom Corp’s series (erotic SFR)
*Ellen Connor – Nightfall, Daybreak, Nightfall (post-apocalyptic romance)
*MJScott – Shadow Kin (fantasy romance)
Old favourite authors:
*Nalini Singh – Kiss of Snow
*Kelly Gay – The Hour of Dust & Ashes
*Mel Teshco – Ice-Cold Lover
*Maya Banks – Sweet Addiction
Looking forward to in 2012:
*Jennifer McCormick – ‘B’ series (Bred & B Cubed), & No Limits
*Bec McMasters (no title but coming out this year, steampunk romance)
There are heaps more but these stood out.
I couldn’t begin to tell you what on earth I read this year, unless I just read it (the Lady Julia Gray series). I also read and enjoyed Christi Barth’s “Act Like We’re in Love,” and it speaks highly of that contemporary rom-com’s credit that I can recall specific scenes with perfect clarity. Baby brain, yo.
In 2012, I look forward to reading lots of Dr. Seuss!
Do you own an e-Reader? I swear my nook got me through the first year of my son’s life in one piece. The ability to read while nursing and flip a page with the barest movement of a pinky nail is beyond awesome. As is the ability to hit “buy” when it’s 2 a.m. and you are up with the baby yet again and you *deserve* book 2 of X series. I also use mine to do twitter and email while rocking the kids to sleep. I swore I would never be converted to eBooks but then I had Mighty Z who never slept and nursed round the clock.
I have a lot of Ruby books in my TBR, but I loved Ruby Anne Marie Becker’s 2011 Carina release–Only Fear. One of the best RS debuts I have read in a long time. In 2012, I can’t wait for Joan Swan and Tina Beckett’s debut novels. Of non-ruby reads, 2011 was the year I got an e-Reader and was the year of backlist glomming for me–1 click is so darn seductive. It was also the year of discovering smaller press authors–Carina and Samhain are now two of my favorite houses. This was also the year I discovered M/M romance–K.A. Mitchell’s 2011 release BAD BOYFRIEND was awesome as was Marie Sexton’s SINNERS & SAINTS. I ended up reading the entire back list of both authors. Also discovered Lorelei James (entire backlist read in 2011) whose 2011 release COWBOY CASSANOVA was awesome. I read Laura Griffin’s entire backlist as well this year–one of the brightest lights in Romantic Suspense right now. Also discovered Pamela Clare and read her entire RS backlist. Adored her 2011 BREAKING POINT. I adored all 4 of Courtney Milan’s 2011 releases, most especially UNRAVELED. Loved Tess Dare’s Spindle Cove series too. Jennifer Ashley’s THE MANY SINS OF LORD CAMERON was simply awesome and scorching hot as was Elizabeth Hoyt’s NOTORIOUS PLEASURES. Paty Jager’s unusual Native American romance SPIRIT OF THE MOUNTAIN was among the most unusual, lasting books I read this year as was Zoe Archer’s Space Opera Romance COLLISION COURSE.
I have to say that many of the books I read this year were disappointing. Maybe I’m getting old and jaded, but most left me cold. The Rubies never let me down, however. I adored Bev’s Color My Horse, for instance, and I know almost nothing about horse racing, yet I never felt lost or patronized. Excellent read. Second Grave gets a vote, too. Write faster, D! *G* I could go on and on about the quality coming from our little group; Vivi’s humor, Hope’s cozy, nosy small town stories, Diane Kelly’s OCD-about-her-manicure, gun-toting, tax fraud busting heroine (told in the first person, no less!), Kelly’s smack-you-funnybone-with-a rock, snarky heroines, AJ’s edge-of-your-seat suspense—- Well, you get it.
I can add a couple of Bond sister’s books to the list, too. Robin Kaye’s Domestic Gods kept me chuckling, especially transoirtung a NYC metrosexual in a town called Three Whore’s Bend. (He had surprising depths!) And Marilyn Brant’s A Summer in Europe, a fabulous story of self-discovery and awakening set in all the lushness of Italy.
Some of my favorite authors let me down this year, but I must say none of my writing sisters did!
That should have been transporting a NYC metrosexual TO a town. Cold fingers. Sorry.
Thanks for the plug, sister. You made my day.
Oh, I too love Robin’s books. She always makes me chuckle.
Thanks for the nod, Pat, and I am also a big Robin Kaye fan — she’s one of my critique partners so I remember staying up way past two in the morning brainstorming some of those stories set in Three Whores Bend.
Thank you so much for the lovely words! Your delightful review makes me want to go read them–and I already know what happens! Much appreciated, Elisa. Happy New Year!
Oh, how wonderful that you stopped by!! And thank YOU for writing that series! It was a true highlight of the year for me!
Holy schnookerdoodles!
How neat is it that Ms. Raybourn stopped by? I wonder if she knows we mentioned her a few days ago, too, as an example of a successful author who writes wonderful sensual tension but closes the bedroom door.
I didn’t, but thanks! I might write a full love scene if I can ever find a euphemism for male genitalia that doesn’t make me laugh out loud…
Actually, I have great fun writing AROUND the sex. Just feels more mysterious and interesting not to know absolutely everything about my characters. Thanks for the shout-out!