2011 A look back list. The Best and the Not So Great:

The Best Books of 2011:

I can’t pick a best so I’m going to list some of my favorite releases of 2011 they are all about equal in my eyes and have different qualities that make them awesomeness all around. These are in no particular order since I love them all equally. 

*To make any of these lists the book had to be published in 2011

Kiss of Snow – Nalini Singh: Click here for review

Dreams of a Dark Warrior – Kresley Cole: Click here for review

Dark Taste of Rapture – Gena Showalter: Click here for review

Archangels Blade – Nalini Singh: Click here for review

Dragonbound – Thea Harrison: Click here for review

Eternal Rider – Larissa Ione: Click here for review

The Darket Surrender - Gena Showalter: Click here for review 

Touch if You Dare – Stephanie Rowe: Click here for review

Great Hexpectations – H.P. Mallory: Click here for review

Real Men Will – Victoria Dahl (CR) Click here for review

Funniest of 2011:

Dark Taste of Rapture – Gena Showalter

Is this even a surprise? Gena Showalter is seriously one of the funniest authors out right now. She can effortlessly integrate laughes into all of her books. And this one is no exception.

The Darkest Surrender - Gena Showalter

Would be a very close second. Strider turned out to be pretty damn funny and its not surprising that Kaia was a bunch of laughs as well.

Dreams of a Dark Warrior - Kresley Cole

Dreams of a Dark Warrior had a slightly more serious tone then some of Kresley Coles other books, although with Regin leading the way there were laughs to be had in this book as well.

Eternal Rider – Larissa Ione

I laughed so hard in this book in places I literally cried. Larissa Ione with her sarcastic wit never fails to make me laugh, even though her works tend to the darker side. She knows just where to place something to make you burst out laughing. Love it. 

Favorite Heroine:

*This does not include the lead character for entire series. Ex: Cat – Night Huntress Series

Regin: Dreams of a Dark Warrior – Kresley Cole

For those who read the Immortals After Dark series how could you not love Regin. She is the prankster of the Valkerie and makes Demons eat hubcaps and radios. She is always has a smart ass comment to make and is a renowned swordswoman. She is my type of chica! She gets my vote.

Favorite Hero:

*This does not include the lead character for entire series. Ex: Bones – Night Huntress Series

Hector: Dark Taste of Rapture – Gena Showalter

Oh Hector how I love you. All muscled, aggressive, tattooed, tortured soul type and a virgin to boot. The number of ways I could have helped you rid of that particular problem. You are hotness personified, literally, since you have difficulties controlling your fire. Lol

There were so many great heros this year it was really hard to pick one but Hector won out. It was probably the combo of tattoos and the virginity that pushed him into the winner circle. LOL

Most Alpha Male:

Dragos: Dragonbound – Thea Harrison

Is there a bigger alpha male then Dragos? He is the head of all the Wyers and is the most powerful person in this world that Thea Harrison wrote. Also he is possibly as old as time itself, which creates a whole lot of arrogance.

Ares/War: Eternal Rider - Larissa Ione:

He's War for heavens sake and one of the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse. Need I say more?

Unexpected Greatness:

Archangels Blade – Nalini Singh

I didn’t expect to love this book as much as I did. I enjoy the Guild Hunters series but it is not yet a favorite series. And let’s face it in previous books Dmitri was a total dick. But we saw a new side to our reluctant hero Dmitri in this book. I came to love him and Honor and now I’m loving this series more, it’s got great potential with the Seven.

Favorite Contemporary Romance:

Real Men Will – Victoria Dahl

I know I write a Paranormal blog, but I loved this book so much I’m sharing it on this list. It’s a part of the Donovan Brewery series and I so didn’t expect to like Eric’s book so much as he was the quietest and most serious of the Donovan family. But like they say, “It’s the quiet ones you have to worry about…” This book was seriously HOT! I highly recommend this book as well as the series. It’s the last of three and I recommend reading the first two before this one.

Biggest Disappointment:

Lover Unleashed – J.R. Ward:

It’s been since March and I am still mad about this book. Mad that I spent 17 bucks on it, mad that I wasted hours of my time on it, mad that I can only remember um like 1 scene from the entire what 700+ pages (I have a Kindle we don’t have page numbers, so that’s a guess). J.R. Ward has made a name for herself with the Black Dagger Brotherhood, the brotherhood is much beloved by the PNR community. I myself have enjoyed most of the books and was really looking forward to Payne’s story. But this wasn’t Payne’s book it was V’s book and he was my favorite brother until J.R. Ward again made him look like a pansy a$$ nut case. This is the 2^nd time she has ruin V’s story for me. And poor Payne was basically neglected. Then she introduced us to the bank of Bastards as the new villains, and really I didn’t get the point of them. Their bastards and they hate the brotherhood, who cares! And Qhuay! Don’t get me started on Qhuay, is she dragging this out long enough for you. ERG!!!

Biggest SnoozeFest:

Where Demons Fear to Tread – Stephanie Chong

I didn’t even finish it. It was boring and predictable. The heroine was so perfect she was seriously boring. Even the bad boy demon couldn’t save this book.

Least Likeable Character Male or Female:

Serena St. Clair: Where Demons Fear to Tread – Stephanie Chong

Oh little miss perfect, you were so perfect and such a worrywart that I just could not like you at all. In fact, I stopped reading this book because I couldn’t relate to you in the slightest bit. You are a yoga instructor with no vices who is all about purity of mind and body. You had no life even when you were human; definitely boring in your predictability.