Books I've Read in 2010

Even though it's not a competition or anything (I mean, who would I be competing against?) I feel like I'm losing in the book reading game. I've read 22 novels and 1 art book this year... for some reason I thought I read more than this. Anyway here's a list of everything I've read (that was published, I'll list all the fanfiction I read this year in another post and well that's much longer than this list - check out my 2009 fanfiction reading list).

I'm a big fan of GoodReads (feel free to friend me there) so all links go there.

	Not Quite A Lady (Carsington Brothers #4) by Loretta Chase Charlotte has a secret she's lived with for the past 10 years... this secret causes her to be an expert at avoiding marriage. Darius is a logical bachelor challenged by his over powering father to become more adult by restoring an old family home. This home is adjacent to Charlotte family property. Can you see where this romance is going? I'm sure you can. It was a pretty enjoyable read but dragged in the middle, almost causing me to put it in the "I'll finish later pile" but after some slow moments the story did pick up and finished well.
	Lord Perfect (Carsington Brothers #3) by Loretta Chase A fun quick regency romance read.
	Don't Tempt Me by Loretta Chase Kidnapped as a child, Zoe spent 12 years part of a harem in the middle east. An expert in the sensual arts, she finally escapes and returns to London and her family, causing a scandal. Enter childhood family friend the Duke of Marchmont who has a plan to save Zoe's risque reputation. Quick read.
	The Marriage Bed (Guilty Series #3) by Laura Lee Guhrke It keeps your attention but the plot is so silly, you just want to yell at the wife, "you just spent 8 years alone, go back to your husband already"...
	Vice (V series, #7) by Jane Feather What do you do when you accidentally kill your husband on your wedding night? If you are Juliana you run to London with no money, no contacts and hope you find a job. But suddenly you find yourself living in a bordello and “sold” to a Duke in a wild scheme that will actually make your life a lot better. This novel was a quick and easy read and will hold your attention. The only problem is I started to immensely dislike the “heroine”. Her decision making process left a lot to be desired and it got to the point where I had to side with the duke who “purchased” her. I know many historical romance readers like “strong willed” female characters, but how can you like a character that is stubborn to the point they continue to make silly decisions which always ends in harm’s way? As for the romance, I was a little disappointed the author did not take us on a “romantic journey”. Juliana and the Duke instantly lusted over each other, and love was barely mentioned, which I found odd. On the plus side, I did learn a lot about prostitution in Victorian London and the infamous red-light district of Covent Garden.
	Absolute Pleasure by Cheryl Holt Lady Elizabeth, the lonely spinster daughter of the earl has given up on the idea of marriage. Her recently re-married father has given all her responsibilities to his new wife and her life has reached a new level of boredom – until she meets the beautiful Gabriel Cristofore at the opera. This quick meeting immediately opens Elizabeth’s eyes and releases the passion which has remained dormant for so long. For the first two chapters I felt the author was taking extra liberty with her adjectives and angst and debated if I should even bother, but I’m one of those people that if I pick up a book I am compelled to finish. So I was pleasantly surprised when I found myself hooked around chapter six; Elizabeth and Gabriel were in full swing of their affair and it is a rather steamy affair at that! The novel does not provide much action but the “romance” keeps you reading to find out how the pair will eventually have their “happily ever after”. The end of the novel did leave one big unanswered for me, what happened to Elizabeth’s horrid step-mother? Did the earl annul the marriage? It’s a minor detail but I was so deep into the story I was rather curious how that subplot turned out.
	Strike Zone (Star Trek: The Next Generation #5) by Peter David ** spoiler alert ** I was thoroughly entertained by this novel. It was fast moving, fun and action packed! What more could you ask for in a Star Trek The Next Generation novel? Well, maybe a better ending, but I’ll get to that later. Warning: Minor spoilers The novel starts by introducing us to the Kreel, an unattractive alien race who are depicted as technology scavengers. They stumble across advance weapon technology on a deserted planet they consider within their territory. Now the Kreel have a century worth of animosity with the Klingons (who in return HATE the Kreel – they even spit whenever they say the name), who also stake a claim on the “deserted” planet (and the technology). Even though the Klingons are technologically superior to the Kreel, the Kreel manage to figure out some of the weapons and seem to have an upper hand against the Klingons. In order to solve this problem, the Klingons and Kreel decide to meet and come to a resolution and of course the Enterprise must be the vessel to facilitate this meeting. Meanwhile, our favorite 16 year old acting ensign Wesley Crusher (can you hear the sarcasm in my voice) is whining away that everyone calls him the “Brain Trust” and hates the fact that everyone views him as a genius. Sigh. But our boy wonder has a best friend name Jaal (who happens to be a beautiful elf like alien). It is revealed that Jaal has a genetic disease which gives him 6-12 months to live which causes Wesley to go crazy with this news and he vows to discover a cure. As the novel continues, we deal with major clashes between the Kreel (I began to hate them more and more as the novel went on), Worf gets a love interest (because we know humans can’t take the “lovin’” that is Klingon), Data and Dr. Pulaski bicker over her unease with androids, and I get even more annoyed with Wesley. The author’s writing style flows easily and his use of humor caused me to laugh out loud more than once. The story does play out as a typical TNG episode but with more subplots and the typical ending which leaves you asking, “Really? That’s what is behind all of this?”
	Power Hungry (Star Trek: The Next Generation #6) by Howard Weinstein Power Hungry plays out as a subpar Star Trek The Next Generation episode. If you are on a quest to read all the TNG novels (like myself), feel free to skip this one without any guilt. Another note: Riker and Deanna Troi are featured on the cover of the book, but Deanna Troi appears perhaps three times in the novel, which I found odd.
	Masks (Star Trek: The Next Generation #7) by John Vornholt Now, is it just me or does every Ambassador who is assigned to the Enterprise for a period of time up to no good? Or why does it feel like at least 80% of the ambassadors we encounter in The Next Generation are jerks. Seriously, Starfleet does a poor job of screening the applicants that go into the diplomatic branch. I enjoyed this novel... give it 3 out of 5 stars.
	The Captain's Honor (Star Trek: The Next Generation #8) by David Dvorkin, Daniel Dvorkin An uninteresting plot with mundane "new" characters, meanwhile the Enterprise crew lifelessly strolled about the novel doing nothing, seriously, nothing. A terribly boring book... totally without honor.
	A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood The novel follows a day in the life of George, a middle-aged gay English Professor in California. Throughout his pretty mundane day we gain insight on his view of life and see how he's dealing with the recent death of his young lover Jim. I found the novel at times very funny and insightful on the world in the 1960s. While reading this novel I couldn't help feeling that I was reading the more adult version of The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger. George's inner thoughts seem to echo some of the same thoughts of Holden Caulfield which I thought was interesting. A quick read that I think most people would enjoy.
	Mugglenet.com's Harry Potter Should Have Died: Controversial Views from the #1 Fan Site by Emerson Spartz and Ben Schoen Nice book for hardcore Harry Potter fans. The book discusses (both sides) numerous controversial HP topics such as: are the Slytherins too demonized? (I have to say yes), is the epilogue a letdown? (no, I don't think so), who helps Harry more on his quest: Ron or Hermione? (Hermione of course even if she broke his wand), which is the best book (toss up between GOF or DH for me), is Voldemort the most evil fictional character ever? (ever, no, but he did try to kill a baby and that's pretty evil), are the HP books for adults or children? (I have to say adults but for some reason those kids seem to like 'em) and MANY more Harry Potter debate topics. Feel free to debate these topics with me!
	Whitney, My Love by Judith McNaught Whitney, My Love is a fast moving story of betrothals, wrong assumptions, forced seduction and flimsy schemes, but I liked it. Whitney Stone is a spunky young woman who has a habit of doing things her way, until her father had enough of her disobedient ways and sends her to France with an aunt. While in France she acquires beauty, manners, grace and her witty conversation makes her stand out from the other woman looking for a husband, but Whitney is keeping her heart for her childhood crush (who never gave her the time of day). While in Paris, unbeknown to Whitney, the rakish Duke of Claymore sets his sight on dear Whitney and pays her father a large sum for her betrothal. Whitney is sent back to England where the Duke plans to keep his identity unknown so he can make Whitney fall in love with him. But! Whitney hates the Duke and has her mind set on marrying Paul, her childhood crush… and drama ensues. It’s a quick read with perhaps one too many wrong assumptions which drag the story out a bit but over all a good read.
	Gypsy Boy by Mikey Walsh A sad story of a boy growing up in a Romany (gypsy) family. Some parts were so terribly sad (abuse and rape) but the author tell his story with so much humor at times that it's hard to get the full emotion of all the horrible things that happened in his life. I enjoyed the story and it was a very quick read. By the way, the author is on twitter and his ridiculously funny in real life (well I mean via. the interwebs): http://twitter.com/thatbloodymikey
	Forbidden Fantasy by Cheryl Holt This was so silly.
	The Sartorialist by Scott Schuman Nice coffee table book.
	Endless Love by Scott Spencer ** spoiler alert ** After reading Endless Love I wasn't sure how I felt about it. The novel is an extremely painful tale of a boy in love; unfortunately this love is not the healthy kind of teenage love we are use to. The protagonist, David is obsessed with his girlfriend Jade and her family. He is fascinated by them and they become his entire world. Even though Jade’s family, the Butterfield’s accepts their rather mature relationship (to the point of sanctioning their love making in their own home), David is eventually banished from the house and contact with Jade for 30 days. This 30 day banishment was too much for David to bear, so he concocts a plan to confront the Butterfields which goes horribly wrong. We can possibly chalk up his plan to set a fire to their home as youthful recklessness without care to consequences but as I read further maybe the signs of mental illness (monomania, obsessive love, schizophrenia???) are apparent in David? Either way, David is charged with setting the fire and is separated from the Butterfields and his love, Jade. The novel continues as we read about David’s emotions and his struggle to get back to Jade and the Butterfields. The novel is captivating in the brutally honest way David expresses himself and you share the journey of his obsession with Jade. Often times while reading I wondered if David was an unreliable narrator, and at times doubted Jade’s feelings for him. Was this powerful love a product of his imagination? But as the novel continues you start to see David as he is, a troubled boy whose emotions control his life. Oh, I must note there is a rather graphic sex scene between David and Jade (they have intercourse while she’s on her period). I wouldn’t necessarily call this a “page-turner” but the story does suck you in and you can easily finish it in a weekend (despite its 418 pages).
	Killing Me Softly by Nicci French Killing Me Softly by Nicci French is a true page-turner. Immediately the novel pulls you into the intense love affair of Alice and Adam and you just devour the words to find out where this passionate love will lead. Alice is involved with Jake, her comfortable live-in boyfriend of some years when one day walking to work she locks eyes with a handsome stranger, briefly they exchange an intense staring session but eventually continue to their separate designations. Leaving for lunch Alice notices the stranger is standing in the same spot "as if he hadn’t moved since this morning." He tells her he was waiting for her and asks her to come with him – she does. They travel to his apartment via taxi without speaking and then engage in "obliterating" passionate love making. She leaves without knowing his name. And that’s how the story begins; Alice has a passionate love affair with a man who seems to worship her. Their love is obsessive and Alice’s normal world shrinks to just Adam, the stranger she locked eyes with on the street. Alice leaves Jake and sets up shop with Adam, the somewhat stoic mountain climber who only has eyes for Alice. The beginning of their relationship is made of the stuff people (well, me) day-dream about, the terribly handsome stranger is smitten by you, he pays rapid attention to your every word, he can’t keep his hands off you, he’s spontaneous, he always makes you feel loved and desired and you feel the same way. But then reality creeps in, how much does Alice really know about Adam? The novel takes you on a road where we find out more about Adam and the price that comes with an obsessive relationship. It’s a quick read which will surely keep you interested.
	Secret Smile by Nicci French Disappointing read, compared to Killing Me Softly (read this one instead) by the author.
	The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games #1) by Suzanne Collins The Hunger Games is simply great story telling. We follow our heroine as she is picked out of a lottery to compete in the Hunger Games, an annual fight to the death competition between children of the future world of post-apocalyptic America. This was my favorite book this year!
	Catching Fire (The Hunger Games #2) by Suzanne Collins Another great story in The Hunger Games trilogy. I just want everyone who reads this to know they should purchase book 3, Mockingjay, because once you are done reading this book (which ends with a cliffhanger), you will desperately want to find out what happens next. Save yourself the trouble and have book 3 waiting in the wings.
	Mockingjay (The Hunger Games #3) by Suzanne Collins An interesting ending to a wonderful trilogy.
	Catch Me When I Fall by Nicci French ** spoiler alert ** It was hard to read this novel because I did not like the main character, but after a while the reader will realize we probably don't like her because she's mentally ill (the reason for her ridiculous decision making) but then the book changes narrators and gives you an completely different feel. I would have to say this novel was an "un-even read"... at times I was sucked in but for 70% of the novel I was waiting for it to be over.

So what was your favorite book this year?