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Thursday, January 07, 2010

Last Year's Resolution


Last year, I posted my New Year's Resolution on this blog, which was to try a bunch of new writers during 2009 -- authors with only one or two books out and authors who were new to me. It was part of my send good vibes out into the universe thing, as I'm a new author and am hoping that readers will take a risk on my books as well. So, ater a year of trying out some new faces-- or should I say pens-- these are some of the best ones I found:

Jay Asher's 13 Reasons Why: The narrator receives a box of tapes (yes, tapes and not cds) on his doorstep one day. He opens them to find there are 13 of them, one for each person on the list. Each tape lists a different reason why that person helped cause the suicide of the girl he liked-- in the girl's voice. A whole new way to reach out of the grave, I suffered along with the narrator as he tried to figure out what he'd done to hurt her so badly that he'd earned a place on her list.



Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl's Beautiful Creatures: the newest major YA from Little, Brown and a hell of a book. One of my favorite lines comes from the prologue: "There were no surprises in Gatlin County. At least, that's what I thought. Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong. There was a curse. There was a girl. And in the end, there was a grave." Oooh, it still gives me goosebumps.



Kristin Higgins's Just One of the Guys: A dear friend of mine loaned me this book and I really liked it. I admit to being put off by the little dogs on each of her covers (I'm a big dog kind of girl) but once I got beyond that, I fell in love with the characters-- and of course, have since gobbled up her other books as well.

Sherry Thomas's Not Quite a Husband: I know, I know. You've all heard me wax on about this woman and her fabulous books at one time or another, but seriously, if you are a fan of steamy, intelligent historicals with kick-ass heroines, she is the writer for you. Of her three books, this is definitely my favorite.

Julie James's Practice Makes Perfect: If you like romantic comedy, this woman is for you! I found her with her first book, Just the Sexiest Man Alive, which was absolutely fabulous. This second book, however, is one of my all-time favorites and probably my favorite book from this year. When two lawyers-- with an old enmity and an even older attraction-- vie for the same partnership, the result is disastrous and fall-on-the-ground funny. I can't tell you how much I loved this book.

Jill Sorenson's Crash Into Me: I picked this book up because it takes place in my old stomping ground, the shores of La Jolla, California. I read the book in one night because I couldn't put it down. Jill does a fabulous job of creating two damaged, flawed characters who find each other against the odds-- and her secondary romance is just as intriguing. A beautiful book that I really, really enjoyed.

Beth Kery's Daring Time: This is a fabulous contemporary turned historical turned time travel erotic romance. I've become a fan of Beth's over the last year, but this book is my favorite of hers. The plot is intriguing and the love scenes are some of the hottest I've ever read-- there's even a time-travel through the mirror one ...

Lauren Dane's Laid Bare: This book has a gorgeous cover and Lauren is such a fabulous lady that I had to pick it up. And I loved it. It was a beautiful, completely realistic love story with a heroine who survived hell and managed to come back from it to find her HEA.

So, how about you? What new authors have you read this year that you loved and can't wait to tell the world about? I'm all about the recommendations.

14 comments:

Patti (@TheLoveJunkee) said...

That's a great resolution - I actually joined a new author challenge to "force" myself to try new authors. I like your pics - I loved Laid Bare, Just One of the Guys and Practice Makes Perfect and have these authors are now autobuys for me. Beautiful Creatures is on my want list.

Michele L. said...

Oh I love your list! This blog is the greatest! I have found so many new authors this way. I just recently started reading a book by Kimberly Lang called THE SECRET MISTRESS ARRANGEMENT. It is a fantastic love story! I haven't read the whole story yet but almost finished it last night. Kimberly is a wonderful writer.

I am also starting a journal this year to record all the books I read. I have never kept track before of the amount of books I read in a years time. It sure would be fun to see how many and the amount of different genres. I like a lot of different style books!

Tracy Wolff/Tessa Adams said...

Oh, Patti, you'll love Beautiful Creatures. Talk about an incredible teen-age hero. I've been reading a ton of YA --I just sold my YA novel, so I've been looking at the genre-- and that book is all kinds of awesome.

Michelle, I have that in my TBR pile-- I'll drag it out tonight. What a great idea about the journal! Maybe I'll do that, too, as I read a little bit of everything (in case you hadn't noticed from my blog ;)

Fedora said...

Awesome list, Tracy! Some of those are on my list, too! My most recent new-to-me rave is Ann Aguirre/Ava Gray. I'm so anxious for the next installments in her Jax/Skin series...

Pat Cochran said...

I recently read a new-to-me author's
book named A Christmas Wedding. It
was especially great for me because
it centered on an older couple who
were closer in age to me. Not a lot
closer, but closer still! LOL

Pat Cochran

Tracy Wolff/Tessa Adams said...

Pat, I'm not sure if you're teasing me or not. That was my book-- I wrote a Christmas Wedding. It was actually my very first novel. And I'm thrilled you liked it.

Fedora, waving madly! I'm a fan of Ava Gray too.

Unknown said...

It you like the western romances try Elaine Levine's Rachle and the Hired Gun. This is her debut books and I loved it. I set up half the night reading it. Best book I read in 2009, my sister thought so too.

Pat Cochran said...

Just teasin', Tracy! But I did
very much enjoy your book!

Pat Cochran

Jane said...

This past year I discovered Kylie Brant and Christy Reece for romantic suspense. For historicals I would recommend Tessa Dare and Lori Brighton.

Tracy Wolff/Tessa Adams said...

I thought you were, Pat, but the neurotic author in me just had to check--LOL!

Virginia and Jane, thanks for the recs!

Laurie G said...

New authors that I would recommend: Abbey Greene, Sarah Mayberry, Luann McLane, Sherry Thomas and Victoria Dahl.

Old Favorites: Jill Shalvis, Alison Kent ans Susan Mallery.

Unknown said...

Hi Tracy, that was my resolution last year too!!! I did find several new authors that I liked. I really enjoyed Kate Angell, Jill Shalvis, Susan Mallery, and Heidi Betts. I will now watch for new books from them. Thanks, Sue

Linda Henderson said...

I'm always on the lookout for new to me authors. I found Marta Acosta, Clare Willis and Charlene Teglia and I'm glad I did.

Julie James said...

Hi Tracy! Thanks so much for including Practice Makes Perfect in your list! Possibly your favorite book of the year... wow, I'm blushing here. Truly, I'm honored. :-)

Julie