The 2011 Lists Begin

Booklist, the review journal of the American Library Association, is always the first with their top ten of the year announcement. Yesterday the journal announced its top ten romances of 2011. In fact, there are eleven novels on the list, including three contemporaries, four European historicals, two American historicals (one of these an Inspirational), one fantasy, and one time travel. Eight are part of a series. According to the announcement, all eleven novels “feature smart, strong, and witty women . . . falling in love with men who truly cherish their wonderful, authentic selves.” [I think the antecedent of there is intended to be “women.”] Congratulations to all the authors who were recognized.

I’ve read seven of the books on the list and reviewed one. (The ones I've read are marked with an asterisk.)Since these lists are of necessity subjective, I was interested in what reader review sites thought about these books. I lacked the time and inclination to do an exhaustive search. I checked only sites that I visit, and some books were reviewed more widely than others. I did check for reviews of An Unlikely Suitor beyond my usual review range, but those I found did not use an alphanumerical rating system.

The List

Animal Magnetism* by Jill Shalvis (Berkley Sensation, contemporary)

All About Romance—B; Cheeky Reads—4 hearts; Dear Author—C; GoodReads—4.03/478 ratings; The Season—8; Smexy Books—C.

Call Me Irresistible* by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (Morrow, contemporary)

All About Romance—B+; Dear Author—B; GoodReads—3.92/2168 ratings; The Romance Reader—5 hearts; The Season—4 stars; Smexy Books--B

Cloudy with a Chance of Marriage* by Kieran Kramer (St. Martin’s, European historical)

All About Romance—D+; Dear Author—C-; GoodReads—3.33/184 ratings; Mrs. Giggles—70; Night Owl Romance—3.5; Smexy Books--C

The Counterfeit Bride by Nancy J. Parra (Avalon, American historical)

All About Romance—B-; GoodReads—3.57/7 ratings

How to Marry a Duke* by Vicky Dreiling (Hachette/Forever, European Historical)

All About Romance—C; Dear Author—D; GoodReads—3.87/306 ratings; Night Owl Romance—4 stars; The Romance Reader—4 hearts; The Season--9

The Lady of the Storm by Kathryne Kennedy (Sourcebooks/Casablanca, Fantasy)

GoodReads—3.76/123 ratings; Night Owl Romance 4.5 stars

Lord Langley Is Back in Town* by Elizabeth Boyle (Avon, European historical)

All About Romance—C; GoodReads—3.67/123 ratings; Night Owl Romance—4 stars;

The Naked King by Sally MacKenzie (Zebra, European historical)

All About Romance—B; GoodReads—3.75/118 ratings; The Romance Reader—3 hearts; The Season—7.5

Only Mine* by Susan Mallery (HQN, contemporary)

All about Romance—C; GoodReads—3.96/381 ratings; The Romance Dish—4 stars

The Return of Black Douglas by Elaine Coffman (Sourcebooks/Casablanca, Time Travel)

GoodReads—3.96/28 ratings;  Mrs. Giggles—80; Night Owl Romance—2.5; The Season—6.5

An Unlikely Suitor* by Nancy Moser (Bethany, American historical-Inspirational)

GoodReads—3.83/80 ratings

I made a note of this list. I’ll be looking for those that will appear in the weeks and months ahead. My personal list has a top thirty-two right now, and there’s still three and a half months of reading left in 2011 plus a goodly number from earlier in the year that are still on a TBR shelf.

How many of the Booklist Top Ten have you read? Do you compile your own top ten list? If so, what’s #1 on your list as of today?