Mary Kay Andrews Since I did movies and music, I figured I should choose my favorite books of 2011. As previously stated, I didn't have much time for new music and movies last year, but I did do a good bit of reading. I started the year reading mysteries and crime fiction, and while I love my crime authors (Slaughter, Ellison, Cornwell, Gerritsen, etc.), by summer, I needed something a little lighter. I'm a sucker for Southern fiction, but there is just not as much of the good stuff as I'd like there to be. I can't do straight up romance and sadly, much of it falls into that category. (I do love me some chick lit, though.)
Between trips to South Carolina, I visited the local used book store and found a copy of Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews. I'd actually remembered this book from when I worked at large chain bookstore during college, and it had been a big seller. At the time, it wasn't my thing, but I've grown up a little bit. I bought it, brought it home, and I couldn't put it down. I ended up ordering most of the rest of MKA's books on Amazon and reading those, as well. Savannah Blues is still my favorite, but I poured over those books like nobody's business.
I've always felt like there was a type of Southern fiction out there that didn't get written, which is, in part, why I started trying to write it myself, but Savannah Blues fits into it very well. Right now, I'm reading her latest book, Summer Rental, which is really good, too. Next up, I'm planning to read the mystery series written by the same author under her real name, Kathy Hogan Trocheck.
So, while Savannah Blues wasn't released in 2011, it was my favorite book I've read this year, and as far as MKA's books go, Summer Rental, which was released in 2011, is quickly becoming one of my favorites, too. Frankly, you should just check out all of her books!
JT Ellison
My favorite book actually released in 2011 was Where All the Dead Lie by JT Ellison. As I mentioned, I love mysteries and crime fiction, but I'm really picky about what I read. I don't want to say anything bad about anyone, so I'll just say I don't enjoy the way some people write or an overall lack of character development. Obviously, I'm in the minority, because these authors sell tons of books. Anyway, I discovered Ellison a couple of years ago when I saw a mutual friend conversing with her on Twitter. Her books are set in Nashville and that alone was enough to convince me to check them out. (See above: love for Southern fiction)
I've mentioned her here before, so I'll cut right to the chase: this is one of the few book series I've read that gets better as it matures. If I had to put her books in order according to which ones were my favorites, I'd more or less just line the series up backwards.
When I heard what the book would be about, I was cautiously optimistic. I was really intrigued by the supernatural element and the exploration of Taylor Jackson's (the main character) relationship with a male character who was not her main love interest. However, the book is set in Scotland, and I seem to have a love/hate relationship with books set in the UK. Let me just say, I started reading this book one day and stayed up most of the night finishing it. I loved almost everything about it, but I think my favorite part was the setting. I've never really had a desire to go to Scotland, but now, I'm so there the first chance I get.
If you haven't checked out the Taylor Jackson series, I highly recommend it. And while the last few books were my favorites, I would definitely start at the beginning with All the Pretty Girls, but I have some kind of OCD when it comes to reading a series in the order it was written. (No, really, I accidentally read one of the last Rizzoli and Isles books by Tess Gerritsen, not realizing it was part of a series, and I can't even bring myself to start from the beginning now without hyperventilating at the thought.)
So, those are my favorite books of 2011. Maybe my goofy little bluegrass book will be someone's favorite of 2013? Hey, a girl can dream! Speaking of, I've got some editing to do. This concludes my "Best of 2011" series of posts!
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