Day 5 of Smugglivus

Who: Kmont from Lurv a la Mode

Kmont in one word: cool. We love her very in-depth reviews of Romance (mostly paranormal), Fantasy and SCi Fi . Her sense of humor is of that kind that makes one fall of the chair with laughter. This is another blog that is a MUST visit every day. Oh, and I 2009, Kmont will be running her own reading Challenge. You can sign up here.

Kmont, folks:
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It’s always difficult for me to pin down absolute, die hard favorite reads. If I had a do-or-die ten minutes to decide before a daring escape from some disaster, I’d never be able to make a choice…except for one that’s stayed in the forefront for most of ‘08. I made a list of faves for my blog and even that I have to take with a grain of salt. But here it’s almost 2009 and all I can think about still is Rain Tairen Soul and my next reading meal of him.

Cue the melodramatic, Fey emo sighs.

For me, Wilson’s work embodies what I love most about the romance book industry: It’s ability to adapt and welcome new horizons. No, fantasy romance in and of itself isn’t new, but, in my opinion, the very fact that Wilson’s genius with her Tairen Soul series was recognized in the form of publication gave me a spark of renewed interest in romance reading, something refreshing and unique to nom, nom, nom onto.

For anyone not familiar with the rambling I do over at Lurv, my reading roots are based deeply in mainstream fantasy and science fiction, two loves I’ve returned to slowly this year. And I always enjoyed more the ones that featured a small romance aperitif. Love is essential for me and reading; small doses or large, it enhances my reading experience like no other element.

With Wilson’s Tairen Soul epic, I felt that my love of reading had come full circle. Here was a clear love of fantasy and all it entails to pull a work of fantasy off: epic-scale adventure, relentlessly vindictive evil, an unsurpassed love and one of the richest worlds I’ve ever seen it all housed in. The Tairen Soul series is the whole package and I’ve never been more in love with a set of glued-together pages as I have been with these books.

So naturally I started thinking that Rain and I were meant to be together.

Hey, don’t look at me like that – it’s not as crazy at it sounds! I mean,

1) I love cats. Ha! See there?

2) I have no cat allergies. Double ha!

3) Through my extensive romance sub genre reading, I will bring to the Fey and Tairen new ways to fight the evil mages: plasma guns and space jumpers from Linnea Sinclair’s and Ann Aguirre’s scifi worlds; crazy Valkyrie warriors from Kresley Cole’s IAD series; voluminous Victorian gowns, perfect for the stay-at-home Fey moms and wives to hide weapons under as the creepeee eeeevol draws near (a la Gleason’s Gardella series). I don’t think we’ll need any help from the erotic romance section –these Fey men’ve got that part down pat.

4) I’m very forgiving and can get past Rain mistakenly believing that Ellysetta Baristani was his truemate. Even though they’ve slept together. In front of the entire romance reading community. Many, many times. What can I say, he’s an exhibitionist.

5) I’ll forgive the romance community for seeing my Rain naked. This once.

Maybe Kim Lenox could knit one of Asher’s sweaters for my Rain’s sweet, tight buns? But that wouldn’t be a sweater – a swutter, maybe?

Anyway, those are just a few of the reasons that Rain and I are perfect for one another.

What? Why does everyone look so sad? I’m happy — we’re happy!

Of course, that was all in fun and love for one of the best books of 2008. Without further gilding of the lily, I simply give props to one of the best authors to be published in 2008. Here’s to many more from C.L. Wilson.

It was hard, but eventually I was able to get past Rain to realize that 2008 was a great year in books: Ann Aguirre’s first two Sirantha Jax books were A-ma-zing (and her publishing schedule through 2010 has me grinning in frenzied reader lust); Kim Harrison hit another Cincinnati Hallows home run with book 6, The Outlaw Demon Wails; Charlaine Harris proved there is no such thing as a slump in her Sookie Stachouse series with From Dead to Worse, still going strong at eight books long. Newbies had their share of the spotlight too and two I enjoyed most were Ione’s Pleasure Unbound and urban fantasy writer Devon Monk for Magic to the Bone.

I have to pause here long enough to thank Thea and Ana, both of whom were a tremendous influence to my reading this year, not to mention what still waits in the TBR pile (Yes, I swear I’ll get to Orphans of Chaos!). We don’t always agree by The End, but man if these two haven’t helped put a dent in my pocketbook. The good kind. Thanks to them I discovered fresh and fun new-to-me authors like Lisa Shearin, Rachel Caine and oh hell – the list is just too long. Suffice to say, the year wouldn’t have been as fruitful reading-wise without their awesome reviews, author interviews and insight. So thank you, Smugglers!

2009 is already shaping up to be a busy reading year. Besides the usual reads, I’ve initiated a reading challenge, Year of the Category, so that’s 12 books right there. I’ve got another list in the making – and 29 books long so far — that will be posted in January of must-reads. Any of the authors named here already, naturally I will be following up with their upcoming work with absolute relish. Some top new ones in the mainstream market I’m interested in though, are:

1) Ghostland by Jory Strong

2) Darkborn by Allison Sinclair

3) Mark of the Demon by Diana Rowland

4) Red-Headed Stepchild by Jaye Wells

I don’t know how I’m going to get all these books read, but it’s all about the love, baby. And since we’re all book lovers here, bring it on 2009. I do believe we’re ready.

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*Ana frantically adds books to 2009 TBR list*

Next on Smugglivus: CJ of the Thrillionth Page