I’ve been a reader and lover of books all my life. I’ve read many different genres on and off, dropping off as life got busy and demanded my attention. However for whatever reason, I never seriously dug into the romance genre, maybe just a novel here or there.
Then one day in early January, 2009, while browsing the book section at Target, I spotted a copy of Twilight. It called to me. It said, “Come to me FV, pick me up. See what all the fuss is about. You know you want to, just touch me…yes that’s right, stroke my cover. Feel how cool and smooth I am. Take me home, love me, need me, worship me.”
I shook my head, and swallowed hard, then looked around to see if anyone else heard the beautiful silky deep voice that beckoned me. I was alone. My heart was racing. Biting my lower lip, I reached out and touched it. It was smooth, so smooth. I closed my eyes and stroked the hard, cool surface.
I heard a soft moan and my eyes popped open realizing the sound came from me! My eyes darted up and down the aisle as I jerked my hand back. I straightened my shirt and smoothed my hair. I quickly grabbed the dark mysterious lover book, tossed it in my red cart, and raced toward the check out. Hands shaking, I paid the clerk. She gave me a knowing smile and I shivered.
And so began my love affair with the Paranormal Romance genre. I found love in Edwards strong chilly arms, and realized the true pain of betrayal in the wake of the of the Midnight Sun tragedy. I cried, I sobbed, I mourned.
Then one day I woke up and said, “No more dammit! I will not lay in this bed and mourn what never was. I will move on. I will survive!” I leapt from my bed, grabbed my laptop and hit Amazon.com. Word on the street was Sookie Stackhouse could kick Bella’s ass with both hands tied behind her back and she wasn’t afraid to ride the big one either. *waggles eyebrows*. So, I placed an order for the True Blood Boxed set and moved on. “Edward who?” I snarled. I’ve got Eric and I like’em vintage.
Before I was halfway through the adventures of Sookie and her Bon Temps buddies, I knew I needed more. I needed it bigger, harder, faster, I needed the Black Dagger Brotherhood. Oh yes baby, bring on the bad ass, big, hard, blood sucking, sexy ass, brothers!! I promptly fell in love with Vishous and planned to run away and marry him. Then I remembered I’m married and he’s not real. Dammit. After BDB, there was no stopping me. I dug into the world of weres, vamps, demons, and valkyrie, with a vengeance.
Ok, ok, I’m being silly and I’m a drama queen, this I admit. 
But my revived reading libido wasn’t restricted to Paranormal Romance for long. I rediscovered the wonders of Historical Romance, and then eventually ventured into the world of Urban Fantasy, Erotic Romance, Contemporary, and even sampled some m/m romance. 2009 has been a wild ride and I mean that in the cleanest, purest way. *wink*
I got an iPod Touch in April, and discovered e-books. In June I got an iPhone and spent countless hours reading on that. (the iPod Touch is the gateway drug to iPhone you know.) Then in October, I graduated to a Kindle!
In August, I started FictionVixen.com and discovered a huge community of book addicted…er I mean book loving people just like me thus furthering my addition to books. It comforts knowing there are others out there like me hehe.
In 2009 I read approximately 152 books. I had a couple of re-reads but most everything I read was new to me. I rarely make New Years resolutions but I do look forward to 2010 and plan to keep going strong reading, blogging, tweeting, and hanging online with my bookish friends.
Happy New Year my friends. I’ll leave you with this:
“We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day.” -Edith Lovejoy Pierce
| Dark Protector (Paladins of Darkness, Book 1) | Alexis Morgan | 4 |
| The Color Purple | Alice Walker | 5 |
| The Time Traveler’s Wife | Audrey Niffenegger | 4 |
| Skin Game (Skin, #1) | Ava Gray | 5 |
| At Her Service (Swords Of Passion #1) | Cerise DeLand | 3 |
| Dead to the World (Sookie Stackhouse, #4) | Charlaine Harris | 4 |
| Dead and Gone (Sookie Stackhouse, #9) | Charlaine Harris | 4 |
| Definitely Dead (Sookie Stackhouse, #6) | Charlaine Harris | 4 |
| All Together Dead (Sookie Stackhouse, #7) | Charlaine Harris | 4 |
| Dead Until Dark (Sookie Stackhouse, #1) | Charlaine Harris | 4 |
| Dead as a Doornail (Sookie Stackhouse, #5) | Charlaine Harris | 4 |
| Club Dead (Sookie Stackhouse, #3) | Charlaine Harris | 3 |
| From Dead to Worse (Sookie Stackhouse, #8) | Charlaine Harris | 3 |
| Living Dead in Dallas (Sookie Stackhouse, #2) | Charlaine Harris | 4 |
| Dark Prince (Carpathians, #1) (2d Ed) | Christine Feehan | 3 |
| Dark Desire (Carpathians, #2) | Christine Feehan | 3 |
| Dark Gold (Carpathians, #3) (2nd ed) | Christine Feehan | 2 |
| Symptoms of a Broken Heart | Cory Cramer | 3 |
| Pack Alpha (Were Chronicles, #1) | Crissy Smith | 4 |
| Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander, #2) | Diana Gabaldon | 5 |
| Drums of Autumn (Outlander, #4) | Diana Gabaldon | 5 |
| Outlander (Outlander, #1) | Diana Gabaldon | 5 |
| Voyager (Outlander, #3) | Diana Gabaldon | 5 |
| The Fiery Cross (Outlander, #5) | Diana Gabaldon | 4 |
| A Breath of Snow and Ashes (Outlander, #6) | Diana Gabaldon | 4 |
| Fairyville | Emma Holly | 3 |
| The Assignment (Assignment, #1) | Evangeline Anderson | 2 |
| Heart of Darkness (Includes: Lords of the Underworld, #4.5) | Gena Showalter, Maggie Shayne, Susan Krinard | 4 |
| The Darkest Night (Lords of the Underworld, #1) | Gena Showalter | 4 |
| His Convenient Husband (Innamorati, #1) | J.L. Langley | 2 |
| Lover Unbound (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #5) | J.R. Ward | 5 |
| Lover Eternal (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #2) | J.R. Ward | 4 |
| Lover Awakened (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #3) | J.R. Ward | 5 |
| Father Mine: Zsadist and Bella’s Story | J.R. Ward | 4 |
| Lover Enshrined (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #6) | J.R. Ward | 4 |
| Lover Avenged (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #7) | J.R. Ward | 5 |
| Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #1) | J.R. Ward | 5 |
| Lover Revealed (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #4) | J.R. Ward | 4 |
| Gideon (Nightwalkers, #2) | Jacquelyn Frank | 3 |
| Jacob (Nightwalkers, #1) | Jacquelyn Frank | 4 |
| Shifter 3: Dedrick’s Taming | Jaden Sinclair | 4 |
| Shifter: Stefan’s Mark | Jaden Sinclair | 4 |
| Shifter 2: Claiming Skyler | Jaden Sinclair | 3 |
| A Million Little Pieces | James Frey | 1 |
| The Clan of the Cave Bear (Earth’ Children #1) | Jean M. Auel | 4 |
| One Foot in the Grave (Night Huntress, #2) | Jeaniene Frost | 5 |
| Destined for an Early Grave (Night Huntress, #4) | Jeaniene Frost | 5 |
| Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress, #1) | Jeaniene Frost | 5 |
| At Grave’s End (Night Huntress, #3) | Jeaniene Frost | 5 |
| The Minister’s Daughter | Julie Hearn | 3 |
| Utopia X (Bk 3): Exploring Savage Places | K.Z. Snow | 1 |
| To Tame a Highland Warrior (Highlander, #2) | Karen Marie Moning | 3 |
| Beyond the Highland Mist (Highlander, #1) | Karen Marie Moning | 3 |
| Dreamfever (Fever, #4) | Karen Marie Moning | 5 |
| Faefever (Fever, #3) | Karen Marie Moning | 5 |
| Bloodfever (Fever, #2) | Karen Marie Moning | 5 |
| Darkfever (Fever, #1) | Karen Marie Moning | 5 |
| Wolf Tales I | Kate Douglas | 1 |
| Three Days to Dead (Dreg City, #1) | Kelly Meding | 4 |
| Tempting Evil (Riley Jenson Guardian, #3) | Keri Arthur | 4 |
| Bound to Shadows (Riley Jenson Guardian, #8) | Keri Arthur | 4 |
| Full Moon Rising (Riley Jenson Guardian, #1) | Keri Arthur | 4 |
| Kissing Sin (Riley Jenson Guardian, #2) | Keri Arthur | 4 |
| Dark Needs At Night’s Edge (Immortals After Dark, #5) | Kresley Cole | 4 |
| No Rest for the Wicked (Immortals After Dark, #3) | Kresley Cole | 4 |
| Kiss of a Demon King (Immortals After Dark, #7) | Kresley Cole | 3 |
| A Hunger Like No Other (Immortals After Dark, #2) | Kresley Cole | 4 |
| Dark Desires After Dusk (Immortals After Dark, #6) | Kresley Cole | 4 |
| Wicked Deeds on a Winter’s Night (Immortals After Dark, #4) | Kresley Cole | 5 |
| Gobsmacked (Men of Smithfield, #1) | L.B. Gregg | 4 |
| Veil of Midnight (Midnight Breed, #5) | Lara Adrian | 4 |
| Midnight Rising (Midnight Breed, #4) | Lara Adrian | 3 |
| Ashes of Midnight (Midnight Breed, #6) | Lara Adrian | 4 |
| Midnight Awakening (Midnight Breed, #3) | Lara Adrian | 4 |
| Kiss of Midnight (Midnight Breed, #1) | Lara Adrian | 4 |
| Kiss of Crimson (Midnight Breed, #2) | Lara Adrian | 4 |
| Coming Undone (Brown Siblings, #2) | Lauren Dane | 5 |
| Laid Bare (Brown Siblings, #1) | Lauren Dane | 4 |
| The Devil Wears Prada | Lauren Weisberger | 3 |
| Bound to Please | Lilli Feisty | 4 |
| No Sex in the City: One Virgin’s Confessions of Love, Lust, Dating & Waiting |
Lindsey Isham | 3 |
| Nauti Intentions (Nauti, #4) | Lora Leigh | 2 |
| Wicked Pleasure (Bound Hearts, #9) | Lora Leigh | 4 |
| Wild Card (Elite Ops, #1) | Lora Leigh | 2 |
| Nauti Boy (Nauti, #1) | Lora Leigh | 3 |
| Nauti Nights (Nauti, #2) | Lora Leigh | 4 |
| Nauti Dreams (Nauti, #3) | Lora Leigh | 4 |
| Forever Yours | M.J. Smith | 3 |
| Mated to a Wolf (Wulf’s Den, #4) | Marisa Chenery | 2 |
| Undead and Uneasy (Undead, #6) | MaryJanice Davidson | 4 |
| Undead and Unreturnable (Undead, #4) | MaryJanice Davidson | 3 |
| Undead and Unwed (Undead, #1) | MaryJanice Davidson | 4 |
| Undead and Unappreciated (Undead, #3) | MaryJanice Davidson | 4 |
| Undead and Unemployed (Undead, #2) | MaryJanice Davidson | 4 |
| Undead and Unpopular (Undead, #5) | MaryJanice Davidson | 4 |
| Switch | Megan Hart | 4 |
| Kiss Me Deadly (Silhouette Nocturne) | Michele Hauf | 4 |
| Moon Kissed (Wicked Games, #2) | Michele Hauf | 4 |
| After The Kiss (Wicked Games, #2.1) | Michele Hauf | 4 |
| The Highwayman (Wicked Games, #1) | Michele Hauf | 4 |
| Honor Bound | Moira Rogers | 4 |
| Cry Sanctuary (Red Rock Pass, Book 1) | Moira Rogers | 4 |
| Kamikaze (Last Call, #1) | Moira Rogers | 2 |
| Sanctuary Lost (Red Rock Pass, Book 2) | Moira Rogers | 4 |
| Tequila Sunset (After Hours, #1) | Moira Rogers | 3 |
| Tequila Sunrise (Last Call, Book 3) | Moira Rogers | 3 |
| Becoming (Red Rock Pass Prequel) | Moira Rogers | 4 |
| That Old Black Magic | Moira Rogers | 3 |
| Sanctuary’s Price (Red Rock Pass, #3) | Moira Rogers | 4 |
| Deadtown | Nancy Holzner | 4 |
| The Notebook | Nicholas Sparks | 3 |
| Morrigan’s Cross (Circle trilogy #1) | Nora Roberts | 2 |
| Betrayed (House of Night, #2) | P.C. Cast, Kristin Cast | 4 |
| Chosen (House of Night, #3) | P.C. Cast, Kristin Cast | 4 |
| Untamed (House of Night, #4) | P.C. Cast, Kristin Cast | 3 |
| Marked (House of Night, #1) | P.C. Cast, Kristin Cast | 4 |
| Cry Wolf (Alpha & Omega, #1) | Patricia Briggs | 4 |
| Shared by Wolves | Rena Marks | 3 |
| Succubus Blues (Georgina Kincaid, #1) | Richelle Mead | 0 |
| Caught in the Act (Harlequin Blaze) | Samantha Hunter | 4 |
| Acheron (Dark-Hunter, #16) | Sherrilyn Kenyon | 5 |
| Fear the Darkness (Dark-Hunter, #12) | Sherrilyn Kenyon | 4 |
| Dragonswan (Dark-Hunter, Related Books #11) | Sherrilyn Kenyon | 3 |
| Kiss of the Night (Dark-Hunter, #5) | Sherrilyn Kenyon | 4 |
| Dance With The Devil (Dark-Hunter, #4) | Sherrilyn Kenyon | 4 |
| Night Play (Dark-Hunter, #6) | Sherrilyn Kenyon | 4 |
| Unleash the Night (Dark-Hunter, #9) | Sherrilyn Kenyon | 4 |
| Devil May Cry (Dark-Hunter, #13) | Sherrilyn Kenyon | 5 |
| One Silent Night (Dark-Hunter, #17) | Sherrilyn Kenyon | 4 |
| Sins of the Night (Dark-Hunter, #8) | Sherrilyn Kenyon | 4 |
| Night Pleasures (Dark-Hunter, #2) | Sherrilyn Kenyon | 4 |
| Dark Hunter Companion | Sherrilyn Kenyon | 4 |
| Dark Side of the Moon (Dark-Hunter, #10) | Sherrilyn Kenyon | 4 |
| Fantasy Lover (Dark-Hunter, #1) | Sherrilyn Kenyon | 4 |
| Seize the Night (Dark-Hunter, #7) | Sherrilyn Kenyon | 4 |
| Night Embrace (Dark-Hunter, #3) | Sherrilyn Kenyon | 4 |
| Kiss of Moonlight | Stephanie Julian | 4 |
| New Moon (Twilight, #2) | Stephenie Meyer | 3 |
| Eclipse (Twilight, #3) | Stephenie Meyer | 5 |
| Twilight (Twilight, #1) | Stephenie Meyer | 5 |
| Midnight Sun (Twilight, #5) (partial draft) | Stephenie Meyer | 5 |
| Breaking Dawn (Twilight, #4) | Stephenie Meyer | 5 |
| On the Prowl | Patricia Briggs, Eileen Wilks, Karen Chance | 4 |
| Faith & Fidelity | Tere Michaels | 4 |
| The Shack | William P. Young | 3 |
| Under and Alone: | William Queen | 4 |
| Where the Red Fern Grows | Wilson Rawls | 5 |
| Mary and the Bear (True Mates, #2) | Zena Wynn | 4 |
| Nikolai’s Wolf (True Mates, #3) | Zena Wynn | 4 |
| True Mates | Zena Wynn | 4 |
| Kept | Zoe Winters | 2 |
I’m over at The Book Vixen’s blog today chattin’ it up. Stop by and say hello!
About Sophia (FV)
Look at you – you have me cracking up during your post and then you end with that deep, thoughtful quote.
I like your chart too..very organized. I have chart envy.
ps – I'm glad I met you this year
Mandi, I think we're kindred spirits in the chart/organizational field.
It's been fun year and I look forward to you continue to lead me down path of smuttiness in 2010. I will follow you blindly. (I'm glad I met you too.)
I loved your post and wanted to tell you that my love of Paranormal started with Twilight as well! I felt the same way you did after I finished it. There was an emptiness because it was done. I wondered what else was out there to read so I also went to Amazon and read the suggestions from other readers. I can't remember what series I started with first, but I know one of the first was BDB and I was hooked on Paranormal since then! I am happy to have met so many wonderful people on Twitter that have a love for books as I do. Happy New Year FictionVxn!!
That's one of the funniest things I've read. And it's EXACTLY how I got back into my obsessive reading habit again. Who knew Edward and Bella would lead me into the The Black Dagger Brotherhood, The Midnight Breeds, The Darkyn, etc., etc., etc.
Bells-I think Twilight was the gateway for so many of us. Stephenie Meyer is the ultimate pimp LOL.
UniquelyMoi-Oh I love the Breeds! Did you get Shades yet? The Darkyn? What did I miss? I'm checking that out now!
I have to say Twilight started it for me too..from there, went to the brothers….
Mandi, I think Stephenie Meyer will have a special place in heaven…or hell. Hard to say which LOL.
FV, Yes I have Shades but haven't read it. I got caught up in historicals!
Darkyn by Lynn Viehl. I think there are 8 in that series and it's concluded but she just started a spin-off series called the Kyndred and the first book is Shadowlight. I really liked Darkyn. It's similar… vampires fighting to survive, but Darkyn has an interesting twist to it. I hope you'll give book 1 a try at least, If Angels Burn.
UniquelyMoi-Thanks for the rec! Sounds interesting. I'll add it to GR. Your blogger profile is private. Do you have a blog? Or are we already friends on GoodReads or Twitter? Refresh me…I have drain bamage.
You are SO funny! I love your post it made me giggle so much. But I'm just as addicted…or uhmm I mean just a huge booklover like you. lol
Great year in review of books you've read. Something about those hunky vampires just grabs you and won't let go!
KB-
"Something about those hunky vampires just grabs you and won't let go!"
Thanks for the visual! Something to cling to for the day. *g*
FV– Yes, we are friends on Good Reads (I recently unblocked my profile there) and Twitter followers as well. No, I don't have a blog and I've only started replying to other peoples blogs last night. These things take time. LOL I was thinking about starting a blog, but became intimidated. Decided to eat a burrito instead.
UniquelyMoi- OMG I think we're sisters…pass the burrito!!
FV- *passing burrito* It's machaca and oh, so delish! Have a little green sauce, too.
Ummm, you dribbled.
I love this witty side of you! You've got me hanging on your lips everytime and I'm really glad to have met you!
I didn't realise you were only blogging since August, seems like you've been around bloglandia forever 
Your reading list is really impressive… I'm printing it now… Thanks for your wonderful reviews and I hope you have a Happy New Year, hon!!
LOL you funny girl! Twilight started it for me too and Sookie was also my next step from their! Then I found Kelley Armstrong and Lora Leigh's breed series.
Did you read only books 1-3 and then 8 in the Keri Arthur series??
Aww, Janna, I'm so glad to have met you this year. You are the sweetest. I heart your blog too. There is not better man candy out there
ERR- I was going to stop by your blog today but first I must ask… where are the drool cloths?
Kindle Vixen-Yes, I was reading the Riley Jensen series when the pub asked me to review book 8. I was hesitant but I'm glad I did. I still plan to read the rest of the books, (I'm part way into book 4) it's a fav series. I was really sad about the ending of Bound to Shadows. *tear*
UniquelyMoi said…
ERR- I was going to stop by your blog today but first I must ask… where are the drool cloths?
I assume you're speaking to Janna. She has the best visual blog evah!!
FV- Yes, I told her that I have a problem every time I visit her site. I drool. It gets very messy.
I am in debt to you for taking me with you on the paranormal romance ride! You got me over the Edward lust with Sookie and BDB. Now I'm on a Cat and Bones trip. Will it ever end? I think not.
BV-Although we've know each other for a long time, I have to say it's been extra fun reading with you this past year. I'm so glad we bonded over Twilight. Another reason to thank Stephenie Meyer. xoxo
Ow, that's sweet, while I was getting ready for a New Years Eve party in Amsterdam you were talking about me overhere in your different time zone…
! LOL!
@UniquelyMoi: I think I have to start handing out tissues at the entrence of my place
@FV: Thanks sweetie! I think I can live perfectly with 'the best visual blog evah'…:D Although my goal for 2010 is to show that I'm not all looks but brains too
Psst! I have an award for you over at my blog
I love your blog, I too have left you an award on my blog.
You had me at "I’ve got Eric and I like’em vintage". I hear ya, sister!
I agree with you FV you are a drama queen – but I am liking it…
I can take or leave paranormalty – I have read it for too many years.. however I am loving the amount of books you have gotten through…
Ward lost me with the ghost Jane – up to that point she was a pin up for me….. Phury .. so freaking disappointing…
She does have some style though -her message board is fun..
Zena Wynn….. Drooling, lots… How hot are those books..
I am just starting on Moria Rogers – Crux is shaping up nicely…
Have a good day my dear…
E.H>
I'm seriously laughing my butt off right now. What a great post! I see a future for you as an erotic romance writer..
@Caitlin–Thanks, I'd be sure to write some funny (sexy) cheese! LOL It always cracks me up when I do these kinds of posts and people take me seriously. I thought it was like a given: Never take FV seriously hehe. Glad I gave a little giggle.