Anyone who stops by on Friday knows that Organization is not my middle name (for the record, it’s Alyssa).
So trying to remember what media I’ve loved during 2007 is hard; as usual, I’m going to freestyle:
Meljean Brook had two amazing books this year: Demon Angel and Demon Moon. Wow. Brook writes intense, complicated, just insanely good books filled with terribly wonderful characters.
Not to be all sycophantic, but I also loved Jane Lockwood‘s Forbidden Shores. Who knew a menage a trois could be so fun? I really liked this one, and also Amanda McCabe‘s A Notorious Woman, which blends just the right amount of romantic angst, setting, and intriguing characters. Go us! (Note: I have Diane‘s Innocence and Impropriety yet to be read on the shelf, and I still haven’t read the Rules of Gentility, hence no props to them yet).
I continued my love for Elizabeth Hoyt with the Leopard Prince and The Serpent Prince. My biggest complaint about historicals these days is that they keep a distance between the reader and the story–not so Hoyt. Her writing is lively and fresh, and I love her flawed characters.
Although I didn’t love Lover Revealed and Lover Unbound as much as previous J.R. Ward books, I still devoured them like dark chocolate on a hot night. Yum.
This year, Myretta Robens introduced me to Julia Spencer-Fleming. The first book is In The Bleak Midwinter, and read this opening line: “It was one hell of a night to throw away a baby.” Wow. The series continues on, with a new hardcover slated for March, 2008.
Although their first collaboration was a DNF for me, I loved Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer‘s Agnes And The Hitman. Totally delicious, breakneck prose with crazy-fun characters.
Anne Stuart had two releases this year, only one of which I’ve read: Ice Blue. Not her best work, but still pretty damn impressive. Sign me up in the Stuart fan-girl list, for sure. I am saving Ice Storm for when I really deserve a treat.
Liz Carlyle‘s Never Deceive A Duke was up to Carlyle’s usual standards, which is to say the book was lush, dense, complex and compelling. I liked Never Lie To A Lady, too.
Of course, media means more than books (ha! See how clever I am?), so I have to say Eastern Promises was an amazing movie, not just for the nude Viggo scenes. I am loving the David Cronenberg/Viggo Mortensen collaboration (first in A History of Violence, now here), and Eastern Promises was easily the best movie I saw in 2007.
In music, Alice Smith‘s For Lovers, Dreamers & Me blew me away. She has as rich and soulful a voice as Alicia Keys, with some of the same earthy elements, but her soul is more elemental, less poppy. I can not stop listening to this record.
Also in music is stripped down hip-hop artist Lady Tigra, whose Please Mr. Boombox is excellent throughout, no fancy tricks or gizmos, just honest, basic beats with her skillful rhyming.
I know that once I publish this I’ll think of a baker’s dozen more media I loved this past year, but this was what sprang to mind this busy Friday morning. Thanks for sharing YOUR favorite media with us, too!
The Meljean Brook novels sound like a definite take a look! Loved Liz Carlyle’s latest, but then I love all of her books. Innocence and Impropriety is going to entrance you, trust me! I agree completely with you about A Notorious Woman! Haven’t read Forbidden Shores yet, but I will! Anna Campbell’s latest UNTOUCHED is just too perfect, but then so is CLAIMING THE COURTESAN! I ordered THE VANISHING VISCOUNTESS from eHarlequin as was suggested. Waiting on pins and needles for it to arrive. For those who like opera the debut album by Paul Potts, the humble cell phone salesman from Wales who won Britain’s Got Talent, is wonderful. A pure undoctored, unstudied tenor voice with just the right amount of pathos.
Wow, for freestyling you did great, Megan. I, of course, cannot comment on all the books I haven’t read! It is good to have you back, though.
Doglady, yesterday I saw copies of The Vanishing Viscountess at my local Borders Express. They should not be on the shelves until January, but there they were! Naturally I faced them out so the readers could see the hero-with-the-bare-chest.
eharlequin should do the trick nicely, though, and I hope you get your copy very soon.
I’ve watched the Paul Potts clips from the UK version of American Idol and it brings tears to my eyes every time! It is a testament to what can happen if you dare to go after your dreams.
Thanks to your husband’s review in “Marie Claire” I checked out the Alice Smith CD, and it’s great. 🙂 I always enjoy Liz Carlyle’s books, though I am several titles behind, and I just read Hoyt’s “Raven Prince” last night (it’s been on my TBR pile for months). Wow. Loved it. I want that hero for myself. 🙂
Thanks Megan, glad you liked it.
Jane
I would recommend Meljean’s books without hesitation. They take paranormal romance to an entirely other level.
I am going to order VV when I get some Xmas cash, yay! And Amanda, I am glad you liked Alice Smith.
Jane, is there another Lockwood title coming up?
I had to laugh at the visual of the Divine Miss G furtively facing the copies of VV out so the cover could be shown to its BEST advantage!! My order from eHarlequin has shipped so it should be here soon. Can you tell I am tracking it?? A friend sent me the Paul Potts video on UTube and it brought me to tears. His album is called One Chance and it brings a smile to my face every time I hear it. As you said, it is indeed a testament to what can happen if you chase your dreams.
And oh, geez, I meant to list Pam Rosenthal’s The GP as one of my faves this year, and spaced. Lame.
So, Pam, I LOVED YOUR BOOK.