Best books of the year

Looking back over the year, I’m checking things over and making up my favourite lists. Best books, here goes.

*Favourite Historical:

My favourite historical book has to go to Mary Balogh’s The Arrangement. There just is something absolutely magical about Ms. Balogh’s writing. Classy, elegant and so absolutely delicious. I want to read that book all over again right now.

*Favourite Paranormal:

This one has to go to J. R. Ward. There’s something about the Black Dagger Brotherhood. I can’t recommend that series more. Absolutely amazing and kick butt awesome.

*Favourite Contemporary:

This one was hard. So hard. I loved, loved so many of the books I read this year. But my favourite has to go to Lisa Kleypas Smooth Talking Stranger. It’s just amazing. Amazing with a Capital A, if I was an English teacher I’d give it an A+, if I was a weather reporter, I’d give it 100% chance of enjoyment.

So hard to choose and there are so many definite keepers lining my shelves. What about you? What were those books that just made your top list this year?

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My favourite heroines

Looking back through books, I have to say the ladies I loved the most were the ones I could best relate to. Empowered women, or those who work for a living, those who love their pets were some of my favourites. And I certainly like a heroine who exercises.

Expecting the main lady in a historical to exercise is just simply silly. Back then, not only did women not exercise, they didn’t even study math or science–just in case it turned them into men. I even wonder if men worked out. Certainly not the way we do today, with a focus on fitness. They might have enjoyed riding or walking but not with the sole purpose of developing muscles.

But when I read a contemporary or a paranormal, I hope the lady of the book does more than waltz. I hope she can stand up for herself and not just in a literal way. I don’t want her to be ridiculously built or be a menace to people but if she can hold her own, all the better to like her.

Personally, I exercise when the mood strikes. I love my elliptical and I weight train but I don’t do it every day. Still, I like it enough that when I find a heroine that jogs, or one that lifts weights (I have never, ever read about a woman who lifted weights in a romance story but…here’s hoping), I can relate. In fact, I like her better for taking care of herself. 

Strong, healthy women are truly beautiful.

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