My 2008 Top 10 List
Out of the 115 books I read in 2008, these are my top 10...uh...top 16 choices.
These excellent books had that special something – often indefinable – that really struck a chord. Long after I finished reading them, something about the story still resonated with me.
Sometimes it was in the way it was written – like Radical Cure by Olivia Gates. Just thinking about this book is an incredible adrenaline rush. The pacing is tremendous and I literally heard my heart pound against my chest when I finally put it down for a breather.
Many of these books had such a depth of emotion I found myself in tears just reading the words.
Some of them hid their emotions behind humour or brusqueness and I cried for them as well.
I waited for a couple of them for so many months and then when I finally held them in my hands, was afraid to read them in case the book didn’t live up to my expectations.
I notice my reviews on Amazon don’t always match what other reviewers think but, that’s okay because this is my list after all. These books are listed in the order that I read them:
Heaven Can Wait by Cheryl St John Harlequin Historical #240 – 1994
Buried Secrets by Margaret Daley Love Inspired Suspense #72 – Oct 07
The Marriage Wish by Dee Henderson - Steeple Hill – 1998
Radical Cure by Olivia Gates Silhouette Bombshell #80 – Feb 06
Frontier Courtship by Valerie Hansen – Love Inspired Historical #4 – Mar 08
Abbie’s Outlaw by Victoria Bylin - Harlequin Historical #750 – Apr 05
Of Men and Angels by Victoria Bylin – Harlequin Historical #664 – Jul 03
High Country Bride (McKaslin Clan) by Jillian Hart – Love Inspired Historical #11 – Jul 08
Masked by Moonlight by Allie Pleiter – Love Inspired Historical #9 – Jun 08
A Cowboy’s Honor by Lois Richer – Love Inspired #441 – Apr 08
A Soldier’s Promise by Cheryl Wyatt – Love Inspired #430 - Jan 08
A Soldier’s Family (Wings of Refuge) by Cheryl Wyatt Love Inspired #438 – Mar 08
A Passion Most Pure (Daughters of Boston) by Julie Lessman Revell Books 2008
Falling for Mr. Dark & Dangerous by Donna Alward Harlequin Romance #4044 – Aug 08
Her Wedding Wish (The McKaslin Clan) by Jillian Hart Love Inspired 447 Jun 08
His Holiday Heart (The McKaslin Clan) by Jillian Hart Love Inspired 469 Nov 08
And to the authors who poured their hearts into these books, I thank you.
-
These excellent books had that special something – often indefinable – that really struck a chord. Long after I finished reading them, something about the story still resonated with me.
Sometimes it was in the way it was written – like Radical Cure by Olivia Gates. Just thinking about this book is an incredible adrenaline rush. The pacing is tremendous and I literally heard my heart pound against my chest when I finally put it down for a breather.
Many of these books had such a depth of emotion I found myself in tears just reading the words.
Some of them hid their emotions behind humour or brusqueness and I cried for them as well.
I waited for a couple of them for so many months and then when I finally held them in my hands, was afraid to read them in case the book didn’t live up to my expectations.
I notice my reviews on Amazon don’t always match what other reviewers think but, that’s okay because this is my list after all. These books are listed in the order that I read them:
Heaven Can Wait by Cheryl St John Harlequin Historical #240 – 1994
Buried Secrets by Margaret Daley Love Inspired Suspense #72 – Oct 07
The Marriage Wish by Dee Henderson - Steeple Hill – 1998
Radical Cure by Olivia Gates Silhouette Bombshell #80 – Feb 06
Frontier Courtship by Valerie Hansen – Love Inspired Historical #4 – Mar 08
Abbie’s Outlaw by Victoria Bylin - Harlequin Historical #750 – Apr 05
Of Men and Angels by Victoria Bylin – Harlequin Historical #664 – Jul 03
High Country Bride (McKaslin Clan) by Jillian Hart – Love Inspired Historical #11 – Jul 08
Masked by Moonlight by Allie Pleiter – Love Inspired Historical #9 – Jun 08
A Cowboy’s Honor by Lois Richer – Love Inspired #441 – Apr 08
A Soldier’s Promise by Cheryl Wyatt – Love Inspired #430 - Jan 08
A Soldier’s Family (Wings of Refuge) by Cheryl Wyatt Love Inspired #438 – Mar 08
A Passion Most Pure (Daughters of Boston) by Julie Lessman Revell Books 2008
Falling for Mr. Dark & Dangerous by Donna Alward Harlequin Romance #4044 – Aug 08
Her Wedding Wish (The McKaslin Clan) by Jillian Hart Love Inspired 447 Jun 08
His Holiday Heart (The McKaslin Clan) by Jillian Hart Love Inspired 469 Nov 08
And to the authors who poured their hearts into these books, I thank you.
-
Anita, thank you SO much for including A Passion Most Pure on your list -- I am truly honored and really thrilled!! A blessed new year to you and yours.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Julie
Anita Mae, I'm honored to be on the list. Thanks and have a wonderful weekend.
ReplyDeleteMargaret
Thank you! I'm honored to see "Of Men and Angels" and "Abbie's Outlaw." "Angels" was the irst book I sold, the second book I wrote. The story was a gift from God. I know that for a fact, because I had no clue how to write a book. GMC? The black moment? I'd never heard of such things.
ReplyDelete"Abbie's Outlaw" is special for other reasons. It's the darkest story I've ever done, which gives it the best HEA.
Thank you again!
Best,
Vicki
Wow, that's quite a list. I'll have to check them out too. Thanks for the recommendation. I never know where to start.
ReplyDeleteThanks you! And it seems Nate was a hero that a lot of readers seemed to like so I'm thrilled it made your top list of the year. :-)
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to be on your list! Especially now that we've met and I have a face to go with the blog! Hope your 2009 is full of hope and promise and perhaps chocolate...
ReplyDeleteI am so honored to be on your list! I did pour my heart into Heaven Can Wait, so I love that your recognize that. It was written before Rain Shadow, but not sold until after. I had to cut 100 pages from it because it had a subplot of Franz and Annette's story. Maybe I'll go back and tell that some day.
ReplyDeleteNew Year Blessings!