KB's Best in Eye Catching Books Covers for 2010

Just a few book covers from this year that really caught my eye and are some of the best out there... because I say so.

And something to look forward to for 2011... I really can't stop staring at this droolworthy cover. If any cover can help sell a book, it would be this one:

What were some of your favorite eye catching covers from 2010?

Katiebabs' Official Best Books of 2010

That time of year has come once again! Sound the trumpets because one of the most important end of the year reading lists is about to be announced. I give you KB's official best books (and some duds) of 2010.

*cue screaming crowd*

This year alone, I've read close to 270 books that range many genres. From this amount, I have given myself the task of picking my personal top 20 reads, including specific best of categories, where I'll always have an honorary mention. Sometimes not only one book is worthy of the mention, but a runner-up, and in some cases a third.

By the middle of the year I was worried that I wouldn't have enough books chosen to pull together a top 20 list because the majority of the books I've read were so ho-hum or "meh" for me. But I overcame and was able to pick those books that really blew me away.

Also my categories are a different this year because instead of just sticking to romance, I expanded my read horizons.

The amount of debut authors I read this year was incredible.

Out of my top 5 picks, only 1 is labeled as a romance. My top 5 personal gems in these genres are:

Steampunk Romance
Literary Fiction
Women's Fiction
Fantasy M/M
Urban Fantasy

So, without further ado... KB's best books of 2010

Overall Favorite Read: The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook
Honorary Mention: (Tie) Feed by Mira Grant and Mind Games by Carolyn Crane

Favorite Contemporary: Room by Emma Donoghue
Honorary Mention: Precious and Fragile Things by Megan Hart

Favorite Historical: Nine Rules To Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean
Honorary Mention: (Tie) The Forbidden Rose by Joanna Bourne/ Promise me Tonight by Sara Lindsey/ Jazz Baby by Lorelie Brown/ Seven Nights to Forever by Evangeline Collins

Favorite Paranormal: Demon From the Dark by Kresley Cole
Honorary Mention: (Tie) Blood of a Demon by Diana Rowland and Archangel’s Kiss by Nalini Singh

Favorite Urban Fantasy: Mind Games by Carolyn Crane
Honorary Mention: City of Ghosts by Stacia Kane

Favorite Science Fiction: Touched by an Alien by Gini Koch
Honorary Mention: Enemy Within by Marcella Burnard

Favorite Young Adult: Sing Me to Sleep by Angela Morrison
Honorary Mention: Enlightened: Little Boy Lost by J.P. Barnaby

Favorite GLBT Book: Lord of the White Hell Part 1 and 2 by Ginn Hale
Honorary Mention: Enlightened: Little Boy Lost by J.P. Barnaby

Favorite Debut Author: Carolyn Crane
Honorary Mention: (Tie) Gini Koch, Lorelie Brown, Sara MacLean, Courtney Milan and Lila DiPasqua

Favorite Hero: James Archer from Seven Nights to Forever
Honorary Mention: (Tie) Terrible from City of Ghosts and Mencheres from Eternal Kiss of Darkness

Favorite Heroine: Mina Wentworth from The Iron Duke
Honorary Mention: (Tie) Georgia Mason from Feed, Kitty Kat from Touched by an Alien and Chess Putnam from City of Ghosts

Favorite Sex Scene:
City of Ghost: Sewer and bathroom loving between Chess and Terrible.
Honorary Mention: (Tie) Eternal Kiss of Darkness: Mencheres and Kira Graceling levitation underground Disney cavern sex.
Mind Games: Justine Jones and Otto Sanchez find the cucumber hotub scene.

The Top 20:

1. The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook
2. Feed by Mira Grant
3. Room by Emma Donaghue
4. Precious and Fragile Things by Megan Hart
5. The Lord of the White Hell Part 1 by Ginn Hale
6. Mind Games by Carolyn Crane
7. Double Cross by Carolyn Crane
8. City of Ghosts by Stacia Kane
9. Sing Me to Sleep by Angela Morrison
10. Shalador’s Lady by Anne Bishop
11. Archangel’s Kiss by Nalini Singh
12. Changeless by Gail Carriger
13. Song of Seduction by Carrie Lofty
14. Demon from the Dark by Kresley Cole
15. Pegasus by Robin McKinley
16. Jazz Baby by Lorelie Brown
17. Blood of the Demon by Diana Rowland
18. The Forbidden Rose by Joanna Bourne
19. Enlightened: Little Boy Lost by J.P. Barnaby
20. Nine Rule to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah Maclean

And a spare… Touched by an Alien by Gini Koch

There's always one book that really sticks with me after I finish reading. My top 5 are all examples of this, but I would specifically like to recommend Jazz Baby by Lorelie Brown. Jazz Baby takes place in the early 20th century during the prohibition era. There are not too many romances or books that I know of that are written during this time. How many books can we read time and again set in Regency England? It gets boring after awhile.

I commend Lorelie for writing a very atmospheric story with a wonderful romance. This is one debut author who I look forward to reading in the future and one I urge you all to try. Jazz Baby is a perfect romance for any romance reader.

And I cannot forget my top 5 less than thrilling reads aka KB’s worst for 2010:

1. The Passage by Justin Cronin – Wannabe, but it fails Lit-Fic vampire apocalypse dreg
2. Spellbent by Lucy Synder- Two words- “Jizz Kids”
3. I Spy a Wicked Sin by Jo Davis- Have read better erotica on Literotica
4. Backstage Pass by Olivia Cunning- I know this is a book that is a big crowd pleaser, but I just couldn’t get over the first initial introduction where the heroine still wants to have sex with the very drunk hero. Plus the sex act she does on him with her mouth to his ass within hours of meeting really grossed me out. Drunken rimming on a polluted stranger who may or may not have showered in days is so not sexy for me. Blerg.
5. And Falling, Fly by Skylar White- I have no clue what I read. So very confusing.

I thank each and every 255,000 of you that have visited this year for my reviews, author and book pimpage, wacky discussions and most of all, your overall support.

As a reader, reviewer, blogger and now an author, I hope more people will continue to get the word out about those authors and books they love, as well as those they don’t. Because a world without writers and books would be a very cold and lonely place indeed.

See you in 2011 for more wacky adventure from this eccentric redhead and her lovable sheep Mho. *Cheers!*

Feed Book Review *Mira Grant*

The last book published in 2010 I’ll be reviewing this year is one that was an all-encompassing reading experience for me. If not for The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook, Feed (Newsflesh #1) by Mira Grant would have been my favorite book for 2010. And the funny thing about it was that originally I had no interest in reading Feed. The reason was because of my bias against the author.

For those who aren’t aware, Mira Grant also writes under Seanan McGuire, and writes the popular October Daye series. When I first read, Rosemary and Rue, I was less than pleased, and because of that, when Feed was published back in May, I didn’t even take a second glance at the book. But then Thea from The Book Smugglers reviewed Feed, and when I went to NYC Comic Con and met Mira/Seanan, who was absolutely lovely and wonderful to me, knowing my harsh opinion about Rosemary and Rue. She was a total doll and was so excited to have met me. I was embarrassed to say the least, because of my review of Rosemary and Rue. But she graciously signed Feed and gave me a copy, smiling the entire time.

A week or so later I started reading and Feed and was blown away. Fan-freaken-tastic doesn’t even cover what type of book Feed is. Feed is not just a take on the zombie apocalypse myth, but a political thriller. Feed is a hybrid of the movies, 12 Monkeys, 28 Days Later and Dawn of the Dead. This is also Mira’s ode to bloggers and the freedom of the press. Set during the American presidential primaries in the distant future, this is a political narrative on society and humanity, where the landscape isn’t as bleak as it sees.

Feed takes place in 2039, 25 years after the events where cancer and the flu have been eradicated. (For some reason there isn’t a mention of HIV or AIDS being cured, which I assume has been as well). Because scientists were able to create a vaccine against the common cold, they foresee that mixing the two viral strains together would cause an infection of mass destruction. This virus called Kellis-Amberlee (which is explained in great detail throughout the novel), turn humans and large mammals into mindless, flesh eating zombies we have come to recognize in books and movies. Humanity has found a way to survive, and through science and technology, the citizens of the Unites States, including other countries live safely most of the time, but must always be aware of the dangers surrounding them.

Georgia Mason, along with her brother Shaun, are bloggers who are in all ways news reporters. Mainstream media is no long trustworthy, based on their coverage of the initial zombie attack, and because of that, bloggers have risen up and taken over. Along with Buffy, their lead camera and video tech, they do their best to report the world around them. And all their hard work has paid off because the Mason siblings have been invited to be the exclusive bloggers and cover Senator Ryman’s road to the White House during the primaries. They go on the campaign trail with him and try to uncover if the man in the public eye with all his promises of hope, is the same man in private.

Georgia thinks this will be pretty easy going, that is until an enemy of Ryman’s attacks him where it hurts. Not only does this shadowy villain use the killer zombies as weapons, but there also maybe something more unsettling going on that could unleash another apocalypse and ruin mankind forever. It’s up to Georgia, Shaun and Buffy to find the truth knowing they could become collateral damage themselves.

Mira’s world building in Feed is bar none, one of the best I’ve ever read. Every detail mentioned is very intricate, as if you were reading a very researched newspaper article. Many would say this is just another zombie horror novel. How very mistaken they are. The zombies are used as a catalyst to propel this story in ways you would never expect. The zombies are more background noise if anything, and when all is said and done, not an integral part of the story. What is very important is the character of Georgia and her view of things. She is the heart and soul of Feed, but yet, as a reader, you aren’t allowed to really connect with her on a personal level. This may irk some readers, but it makes sense since Georgia is more of an observer, a reporter who jots down everything she sees and leaves it up to the audience to decide what’s right and wrong. Only when she interacts with her brother Shaun, and in some ways with Ryman, does she step outside that impersonal box she has built around herself. And I can’t help but see Georgia as an asexual character. Her sole purpose is to report the news where she has no other desires. Food, sleep and sexual urges are non-existent when it comes to Georgia.

There are some sly moments of humor as well. A perfect example of this is the names of our main characters.There’s also great commentary on pop culture in general, as well as current events ranging from politics and most importantly terrorism. Because Georgia and Shaun are so involved in their work, their relationships with their parents and others are very strained. At one point, these two almost end up dying, and yet there is no mention of their parents rushing to their side or even contacting them.

There came a point where the tension and drama was so thick and intense. Mira ups it up a notch and does something so unbelievable shocking. It’s her way of grabbing the reader by the throat and shaking them. When I read this, I had to put down Feed and take a few breaths and mourn over the loss I just read. This was the punch to the gut Mira needed to do in order to make Feed shine. The outcome of this event will leave you speechless.

The best possible compliment I can give this book and the writing talents of Mira Grant, is that if Edward R, Murrow, one of the greatest American broadcast journalists was still alive, he would embrace Feed for its message. George Romero, the godfather of the zombie apocalypse, would stand up and cheer. Feed is, hands down, one of the best zombie stories I’ve ever read, behind Richard matheson Matheson’s, I am Legend. (Orbit)

Final Grade: A *I really should lower this a grade for what Mira does to a poor, defenseless cat. But I can forgive her… as long as she gives me the sequel, Deadline ASAP. ;)*

A few other Feed reviews:
Miss Geeky
My Friend Amy
Seattle Pi

NJ Snowpocalypse Has Landed

New Jersey was hit with a a major snow storm on Sunday, causing everything to come to a standstill on Monday. I took pictures of before and after.

Before Snowpocalypse on Sunday at 2pm...

Front Yard

Back Yard

After Snowpocalypse on Monday at 8am...

Front Yard: Note my poor little Saturn snowed in

Back Yard

Me before I started shoveling for 2 hours. See how I could lift my arms? I now have Gumby arms.

How was the Snowpocalypse of 2010 for you? What a way to close out the year!

It's a shame I didn't have time to make this: From Io9:

My First Author Reading, First Book Nomination and an Ugly Confrontation

I'm very pleased to announced that on Monday, January 3rd I will be doing my first author reading in front of a large crowd *bites nails* at Lady Jane's Salon in New York City.

Lady Jane’s Salon is Manhattan’s first reading series devoted to romance fiction, founded by romance authors Maya Rodale, Hope Tarr, Leanna Renee Hieber and blogger Ron Hogan. On the first Monday of every month at Madame X in Manhattan  you can hear your favorite authors read from their latest works. Admission is $5.00 or one gently used romance novel. Cash bar. Proceeds to benefit organizations that support women in need.

Along with myself, HQN Historical romance author of everything naughty Delilah Marvelle and Wild Rose Press and World War II author Lisbeth Eng will read as well.

This is also extra special for me because I will be one of the first to read a GLBT romance at the Salon and will be reading from The Prince's Groom. Plus Mho will be coming along, and not only will he have some fun promo swag to give out, but there will be a raffle to win a print copy of my best selling romance- The Princess's Bride:

Your chance to win a copy of The Princess's Bride! (Also free post-its and magnet calenders promoting my hot F/F and M/M love! )

I was asked back over the summer to read at Lady Jane's, and was so very honored by the opportunity. I guess you can say, for me to read in public is a form of validation for me as an author.

Ever since I became published, I have questioned myself more than I should. I was shaken up a few days ago when a person confronted me at the gym, accusing me of not being a "true" author. This older gentleman and I happen to take the same cycling classes and we will share pleasantries and so forth. Last week he noticed my T-shirt my mother had made me for my birthday with the cover of Lovestruck on it and the phrase- "Best selling author." The man pointed out my T-shirt and asked what I wrote.

I went into great detail explaining the genres I write and where I publish. Instead of this man nodding and just smiling and saying, well isn't that nice, he did the exact opposite. He proceeded to tell me in great detail that I had no right to call myself an author. I've taken the backdoor way of getting published and only when I have an agent and actually publish with a "traditional" publisher, as in a New York publisher, then I have the right to call myself an author. He also said a few choice words about what I publish and how it's fluff and drivel, among a few other things.

Now I don't know if this person has tried to get published in the past and failed or has some sort of bias with what I write and with epublishing, but before I could lose it in front of him, I simply walked away. I have to admit his opinion did upset me.I know there will always be critics, especially those who feel that authors who epublished are not real authors.

I also know that some will see my books and roll their eyes thinking it's crap, fluff and total bull shit that has no real meaning. I also know that as a blogger becoming an author, some believe I have no right to be published, as if I'm overstepping my bounds in some way. There will always be those who turn their noses down at you. I learned this long ago and have tuned them out. But some days I do wonder what role I'm playing. Am I truly an author or just playing one and failing at it?

I went home after this confrontation filled with anger and sadness.And yet, I sat down and continued working on my current project, which for all it's drivel and fluff is something I'm quite proud of.

And then something amazing occurred. I tend to check my Amazon rankings from time to time. Okay, I won't lie, I check my sales everyday. I'm in the top ten best selling Lesbian fiction for the Amazon Kindle for The Princess's Bride, as well as in the top 100 for best selling ebook Erotica and Print Erotica.

Not only that, but then The Romance Studio announced their 7th annual Cupid and Pysche Awards. The CAPA's given are by The Romance Studio for excellence in romantic and erotic fiction.

Lovestruck, my very first novel and a F/F romance at that, was nominated in the Contemporary Erotic Romance category among such well known authors as Maya Banks and Lauren Dane.

What does this prove? In the big scheme of things, probably not much, but at least I know that people are reading my books, whether they feel they're drivel or not.

I think I'd rather listen to those positive influences in my life and ignore the others one who are right there to put others down.

If you're in the NYC area and having nothing to do next Monday night, why not come down and listen to some authors read from their books? Plsu, you'll have the chance to cuddle with the world famous Mho Fho and take pictures.

Hope to see you at Lady Jane's Salon!

WTF Or Not? You Decide and Loopy Mho Fho Guest Post

Here comes the good old WTFckery...

1. WTF covers never get old...

High sugar plum fairy?

Octopus woman's face portrays extreme boredom

Bad use of blue hair dye

2. I take a page from Chris at Stumbling Over Chaos's Misadventures in Stock Photography post:

3. Christmas has come and gone, but a giant pooping elf remains. From Donuts and Desires:

"In Catalonia, as well as in Spain and in most of Italy and Southern France, traditional Christmas decorations consist of a large model of the city of Bethlehem, similar to the Nativity scenes of the English-speaking world but encompassing the entire city rather than just the typical manger scene. The caganer ... is often tucked away in a corner of the model, typically nowhere near the manger scene. Possible reasons for placing a man who is in the act of excreting waste in a scene which is widely considered holy include:

* Tradition.
* Perceived humor.
* A fun spectacle, especially for children.
* The Caganer, by creating feces, is fertilizing the Earth. However, this is probably an a posteriori explanation, and few cite this reason for including the Caganer in the Nativity scene.
* The Caganer represents the equality of all people: regardless of status, race, or gender, everyone shits.
* Increased naturalism of an otherwise archetypal (thus idealised) story, so that it is more believable, taken literally and seriously.
* The idea that God will manifest himself when he is ready, without regard for whether we human beings are ready or not.
* The caganer reinforces that the infant Jesus is God in human form, with all that being human implies.

4. People will live in the most strangest houses. Looks like some sort of alien house hive. From Yahoo Real Estate:

Futuristic Ensculptic House
Minnetrista, Minn.
List Price: $194,000

Nicknamed the “mushroom house,” this 1969 dwelling is made of chicken wire, burlap and polyurethane, and features curved walls with round windows.

5. I dare any of you to eat this. From Marketing Magazine:

Burger King creates festive brussel sprout burger

"The Sprout Surprise Whopper, is based on the fast food chain's original sandwich, but contains brussel sprouts and emmental cheese. Paul Rowland, culinary development manager at Burger King UK said: We believe that taste is king, and as such, we wanted to create a recipe that would challenge existing sprout perceptions, and genuinely make sprouts a flavour to be reckoned with."

WTH is emmental cheese?

6. Every Christmas, we end up getting this Carvel snowman ice cream cake to celebrate my mother's birthday, which happens to be on Christmas. The main reason is because of the strategically placed mittens which look like boobs. My own personal little Cakewreck worthy cake here:

Blue snowman boobies!

7. Perfect for those who need a quick getaway after they tell their boss off and quit.

8. For those who like to stay really warm this winter- a $4 million stove. From LA Weekly:

"The stove is two-and-a-half feet tall and was designed by sculptor Joseph Michael Neustifter, an artist whose traditional Bavarian works grace the walls of over 80 churches. Each stove takes approximately two months to produce. The Huraxdax stove is available in cast iron, silver and gold. The gold version of the stove weighs in at 260 kilograms and is priced in excess of $4 million."

9. This is seriously some sick WTFckery here. From Dead Serious News: (Thanks to @BinahtheBold)

"A 38 year old female mortuary worker is being held on $250,000 bond after becoming pregnant by one of her clients-a dead man. The alleged crime took place at the Mourning Glory Mortuary just outside of Lexington, Missouri. Police have charged Felicity Marmaduke with desecration of the dead and necrophilia.

According to a statement made to police by Marmaduke, the alleged victim experienced a post mortem erection while being bathed. Being alone, Marmaduke straddled the dead man and proceeded have sex with him. Much to her surprise, the alleged victim came to orgasm after several minutes.

In a bizarre twist, Marmaduke plans to sue the dead man’s estate for child support."

10. And your Regretsy WTFckery has a nice country feel to it. Count me as one who "beliveves".

And if you have the time, stop by the Love Romance Passion blog where Mho talks about his favorite heroines from 2010 that he'd love to  place in his harem of lovely ladies and snuggle with. Here's a small taste of what to expect...

Chess Putnam from the Downside Ghosts series by Stacia Kane:

Chess Putnam needs some sheep love in her life ASAP! How Chess can still stand after all the drugs she takes, pops, snorts and rolls in, puts my own secret drug past to shame. *munches on homemade brownie* She’s a kick ass ghost busting chick who really needs a sheep partner like me. Chess and I would strut the dangerous streets of the Downside Hood (me in my bright purple pimp hat and cane) as we keep the world safe from psycho ghosts. But I know Chess will never love me body and soul because she’s gaga for Terrible, a 6’4, brooding bowling shirt wearing, drug mogul enforcer (WTF is up with his name BTW? Good thing he’s not called Doodle or Buggy). I think it’s because he has a car that plays punk rock music, and I only have a Honda that plays Barry Manilow CDs. Or perhaps it could be that I’m barely 2 feet tall and can’t have fun in a sewer with Chess as Terrible did when he… *zips lips*

Enjoy this week's finest in WTFckery!