Thursday, March 01, 2007

My AAR Ballot

Last year (2006) was not my best year in terms of reading lots of keepers, only 5 in the A or A- range. I ended up changing my grading of two books while filling out my AAR ballot. I upgraded one book because I realized that it had an unforgettable H/H. I downgraded another book because I had a hard time recalling anything about it other than the fact that I know I had enjoyed it.

Best Romance Novels


Best Romance
My vote: Devil in Winter, Lisa Kleypas
Winner: Lover Awakened, JR Ward

Favorite Funny
My vote: Sex Lies and Online Dating, Rachel Gibson
Winner: Lord Perfect, Loretta Chase

Most-Hanky Romance
My vote: Crossroads Cafe, Deborah Smith
Winner: Lover Awakened, JR Ward

Most Lucious
My vote: The Raven Prince, Elizabeth Hoyt
Winner: The Raven Prince, Elizabeth Hoyt

Best Erotic Romance
My vote: All U Can Eat, Emma Holly
Winner: All U Can Eat, Emma Holly

Best Cabin/Road Romance
My vote: Cold As Ice, Anne Stuart
Winner: Lord Perfect, Loretta Chase

Best Debut Author
My vote: Elizabeth Hoyt
Winner: Elizabeth Hoyt

Best Buried Treasure
My vote: Crossroads Cafe, Deborah Smith
Winner: Jacob, Jacquelyn Frank

Guiltiest Pleasure
My vote: All U Can Eat, Emma Holly
Winner: All U Can Eat, Emma Holly

Author Most Glommed
My vote: (left blank)
Winner: JR Ward

Best Medieval/Renaissance
My vote: The Silver Rose, Susan Carroll
Winner: The Silver Rose, Susan Carroll

Best European Historical
My vote: Devil in Winter, Lisa Kleypas
Winner: Devil in Winter, Lisa Kleypas

Best American Historical
My vote: A Reason to Live, Maureen McKade
Winner: A Reason to Live, Maureen McKade

Best Contemporary
My vote: Crossroads Cafe, Deborah
Winner: Drop Dead Gorgeous, Howard

Best Romantic Suspense
My vote: Cold as Ice, Anne Stuart
Winner: Cold as Ice, Anne Stuart

Best Alternate Reality
My vote: Slave to Sensation, Nalini Singh
Winner: Lover Awakened, JR Ward

Best Chick Lit/Woman's Fiction
My vote: (left blank)
Winner: Hot Dish, Connie Brockway

Best Short Story
My vote: (left blank)
Winner: Hot Toy (Santa, Baby), Jennifer Crusie

Best Characters

Most Tortured Hero
My vote: Zsadist, Lover Awakened, JR Ward
Winner: Zsadist, Lover Awakened, JR Ward

Strongest Heroine
My vote: Sascha, Slave to Sensation, Nalini Singh
Winner: Bella, Lover Awakened, JR Ward

Best Hero
My vote: Sebastian, Devil in Winter, Lisa Kleypas
Winner: Sebastian, Devil in Winter, Lisa Kleypas

Best Heroine
My vote: Evie, Devil in Winter, Lisa Kleypas
Winner: Evie, Devil in Winter, Lisa Kleypas

Best Couple
My vote: Sebastian & Evie, Devil in Winter, Lisa Kleypas
Winner: Benedict & Bathsheba, Lord Perfect, Loretta Chase

Best Villain
My vote: Lover Awakened, JR Ward
Winner: Lover Awakened, JR Ward


Looks like we have agreement on 12 of them. And even though my other picks didn't make it as the number one favorite, most of my choices appeared somewhere in LLB's extended results that list the top 10 or so vote getters. So overall I had a pretty good all around year. I still want to read Lord Perfect and KristieJ loved Bone Deep and The Panther and the Pyramid so I have put those on my list. Now onward to 2007 books.

5 comments:

CindyS said...

Wow, you did really well!

CindyS

Rosario said...

Oh, yes, you did! 12! I'm impressed.

So you really, really liked Crossroads Café? Good to hear, I liked the review at Mrs. G's site, but while I tend to agree with her on what we like in general, she and I not always see eye to eye about particular books.

ReneeW said...

CindyS: Gee, thanks. I think I did better than last year.

Rosario: Loved Crossroads Cafe. Highly emotional and you must read with a box of tissues handy. Yeah, Mrs. G and I rarely see eye to eye. She's too harsh but I agree with her this time.

Kristie (J) said...

Boy you really nailed it this year didn't you. I have all the winners but not all of them read. I really do need to read the Deborah Smith book. I've heard wonderful things about it. It's not in the stores here - but I can order it online (and not to rub it in, but get free shipping too *g*)

Rosie said...

I don't do the ballot thing at AAR...don't know why, I just don't. As you know I'm a big fan of CROSSROADS CAFE and am so glad you liked it too. I salivate for each of Deborah Smith's releases. Not all are as good as CC, but she has written some gems.

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