My Favorite Historical Romance Novels for 2012

I'm starting 2013 with a look back at my Top 12 Favorite Reads for 2012. It was a great year of reading for me and I discovered a lot of new authors this year.

Majority of the books I read this year were amazing and enjoyable but these 12 books that I have listed below stand out as most memorable, most breathtaking, most insightful, etc.

I am excited for 2013 and to all the new stories and authors I will discover.



1. Wicked in Your Arms by Sophie Jordan

2. Mad About the Earl by Christina Brooke

3. How the Marquess Was Won by Julie Anne Long

4. Mistress by Marriage by Maggie Robinson



5. Scandal Wears Satin by Loretta Chase

6. Thief of Shadows by Elizabeth Hoyt

7. A Lady's Lesson in Scandal by Meredith Duran

8. An Heir of Deception by Beverley Kendall



9. A Week to be Wicked by Tessa Dare

10. Pleasure Me by Monica Burns

11. An Introduction to Pleasure by Jess Michaels

12. Tempting the Bride by Sherry Thomas


To see 2011's list, click here.

My Favorite Historical Romance Novel Series for 2012

2012 was an amazing year for romance novel series.

First, after a year of waiting, Sherry Thomas released three books successively and two e-novellas (a happy thing for a Sherry Thomas fan like me).

Then, Julie Anne Long released the next installment in her Pennyroyal Green series and her Adam and Eve are just so, so, so lovable. Also Maya Banks' first foray into historical romance was incredibly successful and introduced us to swoon-worthy Highlanders and strong heroines. (I'm really glad that she started a new historical romance series, The Montgomerys and Armstrongs, and I look forward to reading it in 2013. ^_^)

Finally, there's Tessa Dare's brilliantly, wonderfully, cleverly funny characters, which include Colin Sandhurst (one of my favorite heroes for 2012) and a sheep named Dinner.

I had a hard time narrowing it down to 5 so I'm listing 6 and listing another 6 as special mentions because they are all just so memorable. (Elizabeth Hoyt should be in the Top 6 but she made my list last year so she's top of my Special Mention list. Same goes for Sabrina Jeffries, who completed her Hellions series in a most spectacular way.)

1. Sherry Thomas's Fitzhugh Family Series (complete)



2. Julie Anne Long's Pennyroyal Green Series (ongoing)



3. Maya Banks' McCabe (Highlander) Trilogy (complete)



4. Maggie Robinson's Courtesan Court Series (complete)



5. Renee Bernard's Jaded Gentlemen Series (ongoing)



6. Tessa Dare's Spindle Cove Series (ongoing)



Special Mention:
Elizabeth Hoyt's Maiden Lane Series (ongoing)
Sabrina Jeffries's Hellions of Halstead Hall Series (complete)
Kate Moore's Sons of Sin Trilogy (complete)
Beverley Kendall's Elusive Lords Series (ongoing)
Victoria Vane's The Devil DeVere Series (ongoing*)
Sarah MacLean's Rules of Scoundrels Series (ongoing)



To see 2011's list, click here.