Best of 2011
Hiatus interruptus! I forgot to post my Best List. I’ve only got five this year, which causes me deep reading shame. I used to read a book a day. Since I started writing, that number has trickled down to one a week on average, or one a month when I’m super-busy (like now). Every year my resolution is to read more.
Watch out, 2012. I’m going to read so hard and last all night! I’ll wear down my kindle button! I’ll keep going until my eyes are crossed! Yeah!
Ahem. I’m on deadline, and having a bit of book withdrawal. Sorry.
1. Best novella
“Kitten-Tiger and the Monk” by Carolyn Crane, from Wild & Steamy. I love Crane’s Disillusionist series and can’t wait to read Head Rush, the finale. The series is unlike anything else I’ve ever read, and the novella is an additional, exceptional departure. Just as mind-blowing, but more tender and romantic.
Speaking of unique, Meljean Brook is another highly innovative author and her Iron Seas story, also in this antho, is great. She wrote my favorite novella of last year.
2. Best erotic romance*
Holy hotness, Eve Berlin can write a story. Pleasure’s Edge delves into romantic psychology and delivers more than just toe-curling BDSM scenes. It’s beautiful, emotional, and classy. If you want to read about gorgeous, intelligent people having hot, dirty sex (and falling in love), pick this up.
3. Best historical*
Butterfly Swords by Jeannie Lin. I loved, loved, loved this. A warrior princess falls for a vagabond barbarian in Tang-Dynasty China. Amazing writing, unusual setting, sensual love story. It made all of my happy places happy.
4. Best YA
Sister Mischief by Laura Goode. Funny and heartfelt coming-out story featuring Esme Rockett, a lesbian Jewish hip-hop lover at an uptight Christian high school. Hilariously excellent! I reviewed it here.
5. Best contemporary
Good Girls Don’t. Victoria Dahl seems to make my list every year. I adore her stories, her characters, and her smokin hot love scenes. The secondary plot between Luke and his coworker, Simone, is really touching. Dahl’s world is refreshingly sex-positive and subversive. In this one, Good Girls Do. Oh yes they do.
*these are from late 2010
This is my list. Feel free to agree, disagree, make your own recs, or praise my good taste. Lurking is also allowed. I love my lurkers. Hope you had a great 2011!!
Holiday Hiatus
My older daughter has a birthday next week and I’m trying to finish a book. I’ll be too busy to blog for most of January, I imagine. Time is flying so fast!
Happy Holidays and have a wonderful New Year!!
Merry Risky Christmas!! (Giveaway)
I’m behind on my shopping and decorating and cards! I need to update my web site and write a lot of words! But before I get all bah humbug and crack under stress, why don’t I give away some books? I have 10 print copes of RISKY CHRISTMAS in my Santa bag, ready to go. Leave a comment this weekend for a chance to win. I’ll mail them out next week and hopefully they’ll arrive before Dec. 25th.
Holiday Secrets by Jill Sorenson
After witnessing her husband’s murder eighteen months ago, Leah is in hiding and has no plans to celebrate Christmas. Though she tries to resist, her handsome new neighbor awakens long-buried feelings of attraction…and brings a killer to her door.Kidnapped at Christmas by Jennifer Morey
Chloe is a struggling artist and thoroughly bored with her life—until a rugged FBI agent pulls her into a fast-paced adventure…and a sizzling love affair! The only damper on their mistletoe madness is a vengeful mobster who won’t stop until they are both silenced…forever.
Book Signing Tonight!
I almost forgot about this in the Holiday shuffle. I have a book signing tonight (Wed. 12/14) at 6:30 at the Oceanside Barnes & Noble. RISKY CHRISTMAS, my latest release, is set in Oceanside. My fellow RWASD/Harlequin authors Teresa Carpenter and Judy Duarte will be joining me. Hope to see you there!
Book News
My latest deal was announced in Publishers Marketplace, so I guess it’s okay to share:
Jill Sorenson’s AFTERSHOCK, trapped by an earthquake-collapsed overpass in Southern California, a female EMT faces danger from aftershocks as well as a bus of escaped convicts, to Stacy Boyd at Harlequin Romantic Suspense, in a nice deal, in a two-book deal, for publication in 2013, byLaurie McLean at Larsen/Pomada Literary Agents (World).
laurie@agentsavant.com
Aftershock will be released by HQN in January 2013. I’m so excited to be working on a single-title romantic suspense with Stacy Boyd, who has edited all of my category novels. She also bought my first book, Dangerous to Touch.
Yay!!
Holiday Links
It’s December already! How did that happen?
I’m hard at work on my current project, which I hope to finish by the end of January. Yikes! I might be a little scarce around blogland for the next two months.
Before I sneak away, let me share a few links:
1. Giveaways. Check out this holiday party at Marie Treanor’s. Lots of books up for grabs, including a print copy of Risky Christmas.
2. Discussions. I love it when readers talk about my books. It’s like, my favorite thing ever!! Liz at Something More has made a connection between category romance (Stranded with Her Ex) and silent film. Both have big emotions, grand gestures, necessary shortcuts. This kind of post is especially interesting to me because I adore film studies.
Mandi of Smexy Books is also talking about shortcuts. She mentions my holiday novella in her post Unconvincing Declarations of Love. The love declaration is probably the most important scene in a romance, so I appreciate knowing what works (and what doesn’t) for readers.
3. Reviews. All About Romance has given Tempted by His Target a B+! I’m on a roll at that site. All of my recent releases have had A or B grades there. *pats back*
4. Mantitty. I guess this could be filed under “discussion.” Two author-bloggers, two different takes on shirtless men on romance novel covers. Smart Bitches is against. Joanna Chambers is in favor (I think).
For the record, I like sexy covers with lots of skin. Men, women, everyone get naked!
XXX
Jill
Thanks!
The Friday night booksigning was great fun! It was so nice to meet Maya Banks and catch up with HelenKay Dimon. Thanks to everyone for coming out and buying books. I really appreciate it.
While I was there I picked up several of Maya’s books, along with HelenKay’s charity anthology, SEAL of My Dreams:
All proceeds from this collection will go to the Veteran’s Research Foundation. Check it out!
Events!!
Tags: maya banks, passion and prose, rwasd, signing
Hello out there!
I don’t do a huge amount of appearances/booksignings but I have a couple of events coming up that I’d like to share with you.
1. Friday, Nov 18 at 6pm in Oceanside, CA:
Barnes & Noble booksigning with MAYA BANKS! I’m so excited to meet Maya. She wrote me the nicest reader mail about my debut novel, Dangerous to Touch. I was thrilled when she blurbed Tempted by His Target. Yay!!
2. Saturday, Nov 19th in San Diego:
Romance Writers of San Diego Annual Literacy Event Again, Maya Banks is the featured speaker. Every year our chapter does a huge raffle for literacy and we donate proceeds to READ San Diego.
3. Saturday, Feb 25th in Long Beach, CA:
Passion and Prose is a big event for “romance readers and the writers who love them.” Keynote speakers are Christina Dodd, Meg Cabot and Gail Carringer. The list of participating authors is amazing. I love that this event supports WriteGirl, a non-profit organization devoted to supporting disadvantaged and at-risk girls. I’m honored to be a part of it.
If you can make it to any of these events, I’d really appreciate it! I love to meet readers in person.
xoxo
Jill
The Lady’s Secret
Happy release day to Joanna Chambers!! Her debut novel, The Lady’s Secret, is available now at Carina Press. *confetti*
Former actress Georgiana Knight always believed she and her brother were illegitimate—until they learn their parents were married, making them heirs to a great estate. To prove their claim, Georgy needs to find evidence of their union by infiltrating a ton house party as valet to Lord Nathaniel Harland. Though masquerading as a boy is a challenge, it pales in comparison to sharing such intimate quarters with the handsome, beguiling nobleman.
Nathan is also unsettled by Georgy’s presence. First intrigued by his unusual valet, he’s even more captivated when he discovers Georgy’s charade. The desire the marriage-shy earl feels for his enigmatic employee has him hoping for much more than a master-servant relationship…
But will Nathan still want Georgy when he learns who she truly is? Or will their future be destroyed by someone who would do anything to prevent Georgy from uncovering the truth?
I’m excited about this book for so many reasons. It features one of my favorite setups: a heroine in disguise. The hero begins to suspect that his valet isn’t quite what “he” seems. It’s delicious! You’ll love it!
I got a chance to read an early draft of this project, before Joanna got her first publishing offer. We know each other from blogging, and made an agreement to exchange manuscripts for feedback. She gave me some awesome advice about The Edge of Night. I hope I did the same for The Lady’s Secret.
Thanks Joanna!
My reading tastes don’t always match the “popular opinion,” but I think that this book has a really wide appeal. It’s a quintessential historical romance, elegant and nuanced and beautifully written. Give this a try–you won’t regret it.
Exciting News and Giveaway!
Hello, fine friends. I’m giving away 10 copies of Risky Christmas on Goodreads. To enter, go there and click the button. If you’re not on GR, you’re missing out! It’s like a giant library with readers chatting about books nonstop. They do a ton of giveaways.
I have other good news. Stranded with Her Ex has been nominated for a Reviewer’s Choice Award by RT Book Reviews. I’ve never been nominated for an award before! This is TOO EXCITING OMG.
RT called Stranded “one of the best books of the year.” They said nice things about Risky Christmas, too: “These novellas are sure to put readers in the holiday spirit.” You can check out my author page to read the full reviews for all of my books.
Thanks readers, reviewers, and RT!!
Have a great weekend.
XOXO
Jill
