The Best of 2020 – Dabney’s list
Here, in no particular order, are the books I enjoyed the most this year.
The Searcher by Tana French
I’ve been stanning Tana French since reading her first book, In the Woods, although her last, The Witch Elm, wasn’t to my taste. I was worried that I might not love The Searcher either given that it too is apart from her wildly brilliant Dublin Murder Squad books. My fear was for naught. The Searcher is a meditative tale about Cal Hooper, an American cop who impulsively retires to a small Irish village and becomes entangled in a missing person case. French’s writing has never been better–even the rooks who haunt Cal’s yard have more personality than the leads of many a lesser book. The plot is a slow burn tour de force and you’ll ponder this story’s resolution long after finishing the book.
Buy it at: Amazon, Audible, or your local independent bookstore
Ten Things I Hate About the Duke by Loretta Chase
This is how its done. As Caz said in her DIK review,
It’s classic Chase, featuring a pair of well-rounded, likeable protagonists, oodles of sexual tension and prose filled with insight, a generous helping of snark and the author’s customary razor-sharp wit. It’s the best historical romance of the year, hands down.
So. Good.
Buy it at: Amazon, Audible, or your local independent bookstore
The Last Wolf by Maria Vale
Had you told me my favorite series of the year would feature wolf shifters, I’d have thought you didn’t know me at all. But, apparently, I love wolf shifter novels if they’re written by Vale. As I wrote in my review of Season of the Wolf, the fourth book:
Vale’s love story is sensual both in its depiction of the keen desire shared by Evie and Constantine and in the absolute joy the wolves feel for the wild. And though the quandaries they face are somber, this story–and series–brims with whimsey and hope.
If this intrigues you, I strongly recommend beginning with book one and reading the series as a whole. Vale’s world building and the Pack itself are riveting, singular, and damn worth your time.
Buy it at: Amazon, Audible, or your local independent bookstore
A Dangerous Kind of Lady by Mia Vincy
In her DIK review, Caz nailed all the things I love about this book. It’s funny, sexy, has just enough depth to be interesting but isn’t grim, and has leads that are easy to enjoy.
Buy it at: Amazon, Audible, or your local independent bookstore
A Touch of Stone and Snow by Milla Vane
While I didn’t adore this in the way I do the first book in the series, A Heart of Blood and Ashes, this is still a superb and riveting fantasy. Vane’s world-building is mind bogglingly detailed and her characters all feel singular.
Buy it at: Amazon, Audible or your local independent bookstore
A Rogue of One’s Own by Evie Dunmore
I loved everything about this book except its very unlikely ending but, hey, that’s OK. In romance, reality is not a requirement. The chemistry between Lucie and Tristan is exceptional and I simply swooned to see Lucie learn how to love. It was a good year for HR, in no small part to Dunmore.
Buy it at: Amazon, Audible, or your local independent bookstore
Heiress for Hire by Madeline Hunter
Heiress for Hire is Hunter’s best book in ages. The leads are grownups who treat each other with respect and care and the plot is intricate. The book is also quite funny without being jejune. I am looking forward to book two, Heiress in Red Silk, due out in April!
Buy it at: Amazon, Audible, or shop at your local independent bookstore
The Ruin of Evangeline Jones by Julia Bennet
When I interviewed Jones earlier this year, she shared that she wasn’t sure whether or not she’d get a contract to write a third book. It would be a shame if she did not. Both this book and its predecessor The Madness of Miss Grey are strong stories with unusual heroines. This book isn’t without its flaws but, honestly, I didn’t care. It was one of my favorite reads of 2020.
Buy it at: Amazon
An Heiress to Remember by Maya Rodale
This is on many a best list and for good reason. It’s worth reading just for how fun it is to learn about the female world of the Gilded Age department stores. It also has older, sane protagonists, and a satisfying denoumount. Read it–you’ll never see Macy’s the same way again!
Buy it at: Amazon, Audible or your local independent bookstore
Bench Player by Julianna Keyes
This might be my favorite read of the year which astonishes me because I loathe baseball. But, it doesn’t matter. This book is everything I want in a romance: smart, sexy funny, interesting, and featuring leads I could not wait to read more about. It’s Keyes’ best in my opinion–and yes, I’ve read Time Served.
Buy it at: Amazon
Stages of the Heart by Jo Goodman
Goodman rarely disappoints and here, all the things she does well are paramount. I learned so much about how early American train routes were chosen and fell hard for McCall Landry, ancompletely scrumptious hero.
Buy it at: Amazon, Audible or your local independent bookstore
I really enjoyed Bench Player, Ten Things I Hate About the Duke and Stages of the Heart. Mia Vincy’s book is on my tbr list (I found her two previous books excellent) and I’ve already bought Dunmore’s book, whose debut I also enjoyed. I’m going to have to check out Hunter, Bennet, and Rodale’s books – they all sound wonderful. I’m also intrigued by Vale’s shifter world now. I think the only shifter romances I’ve liked so far are Nalini Singh’s Psy/Changeling books, but you certainly make Vale’s shifters sound appealing.
Excellent list – many thanks for sharing it!
Thank you. I found the world Vale created to be fascinating.
Great list Dabney! I’m an HR fan and agree that this has been a great year for them. I agree with all those recommendations but particularly appreciate your including the Goodman in your list. She is well-regarded generally, and her books get good reviews. But she seldom makes “best of” lists and is nowhere to be found on AAR’s Top100 lists back to 1998 (which I can’t quite believe).
FWIW – Caz’s review of Stella Riley’s Midwinter Magic is turning out to be a wonderful experience. I’m slowly making my way through this Georgian series and really enjoying it.
I’ve read and enjoyed the Vale series as well, and have the Keyes and first Vane in my tbr.
A solid list – the Dunmore wasn’t to my taste and I have yet to read the French, but all of the rest of these scored an a to b from me.
Thanks!
I’m about halfway through the Loretta Chase book (great so far) and Julia Bennet was a big find of mine for 2020 (thanks AAR!).
I think Bennet has a wonderful style and a unique voice. She also has a very interesting Instagram account. I agree It would be an absolute shame if her contract was not picked up. When I see some other books in the same genre that are (IMHO) far inferior being published I can’t figure out the public’s taste. Bennett’s books are always enjoyable but never facile.
Also – I forgot we have a new Hunter to look forward to in April!!!!!!!!!!!! Yay!!!!!!!
Excellent list Dabney!
I still hope to get to the Vale books…I’m constantly pushing them back for something new and shiny, but they’re so well reviewed, it’s time to move them up and get down to a nice shifter binge! TJ Klune’s Wolfsong hit me much the way Vale surprised you – and it’s still my favorite Klune and shifter story.
I also loved the Vane, Vincy, Hunter and the Keyes & I think I’m going to read the Rodale. I opted to skip it when it was released because I haven’t been a big fan of this author, but so many great reviews have me rethinking it.
been looking forward to your list for weeks…Thanks…so many excellent HR to look forward to!!
Honestly, I am not in the ranks of those who thinks historical romance sucks these days. It remains my favorite genre and this year was full of great books in it!
still consider myself a baby romance reader…just had my one year anniversary…lol…and dipped my toe into a few of the other sub-genres…but HR will probably always be my first love …and I have found it behooves me to pay attention to your recs!!
Dabney was my first source for HR recs, too! So many wonderful books for you to read – I envy you!
I actually found buried deep within the wilds of the interweb a copy/paste of her 2012(ish) Ballin Bodice Rippers list…and I had read several…and knew our tastes lined up…so have definitely added the rest to my TBR!!
I need to redo that list–that’s a good job for 2021.
In the meantime, here is an abbreviated list published in 2012 at Dear Author: I also have a list at Amazon which includes many of my favorites.
ohhh excellent!!… have seen the dear author list…that is the one I have a copy of…Love the amazon list!! Thanks!
I didn’t know that!
“blushes”
I’ve been finding some great reads in HR as well. AAR helped me find most of the authors. I’ve just finished S.M. LaViolette’s latest release and I think it’s her best work yet. I really enjoyed it. HR will always remain my go to for romance genres.
Which one?
“A Portrait of Love” is the S.M. LaViolette book.
You keep thinking that it is going to fall into the trap of “The Big Misunderstanding” about 10 times but then the main characters actually have a conversation which fixes things- until the next problem of course.
It’s very hot and she fixed the problem I had with some of her previous books of it only being hot and not always personal/emotional. There are still flaws like people not sharing information for no good reason (or over sharing) and it does veer into a Victoria Holt novel for a while (but it kind of works in context).
I thought for sure things were heading one way for a supporting character but then it veered another and I was very happy. (Trying not to spoil). I really enjoyed the two main characters, particularly after they got together. You keep thinking the hero us going to be a complete idiot at times but then if he makes a mistake he corrects it. They actually listen and respect each other. I think you would enjoy it.