How do you know it’s the holiday time? By all the tourists who have flocked to my lovely city? By the fact that stores along Madison Avenue seem to be piping out the smell of gingerbread and pine needles? (Seriously, if you live in New York, walk by the Sony building on Madison--there’s Christmas Smell coming from the windows, it’s a little disconcerting.) By the Menorahs starting to show up in store fronts? Nope. It’s by all of the bazillions of “Best Books of 2009” lists!

Here’s just a smattering:

Salon’s Best Non-Fiction

The New Yorker’s Review Favorites

B&N

So, obviously, it’s time for: Tessa’s Top Picks of 2009*

*The Fine Print: This list is in no particular order and is completely arbitrary and subject to change. It is based solely on my current mood which is, I’ll admit, a little cranky right now. If you ask me again in a week, it might be completely different.

Not all of these books were necessarily published in 2009. I’m often a little behind the times, ask anyone. And, yes, many of these will be HarperCollins titles--it’s not actually out of company loyalty but the fact that I am quite lazy and getting Avon Romances does not require me to leave my desk. Also, Avon rocks.

MERRY, MERRY GHOST by Carolyn Hart
This is one of the best mysteries I have read all year. It infused me with so much Yuletide Cheer. Which is especially funny since I read an early copy in July.

MASTERED BY LOVE by Stephanie Laurens
I’ve already blogged about my extreme love for this book.

THE LEGEND OF THE FOUR SOLDIERS Series by Elizabeth Hoyt
These romances are so much fun and prove that you don’t have to have a “typical” hero to have a super hot and incredibly deep love story.

BEYOND HEAVING BOSOMS by Sarah Wendell and Candy Tan
I actually read this book cover to cover which may have been a bad idea… I had a lot of trouble reading romance novels for the next couple of weeks without having the Smart Bitch’s voices in my head.

THE HELP by Kathryn Stockett
Please go out and buy this book. It is incredible. A new modern classic...

THE ELEGANCE OF THE HEDGEHOG by Muriel Barbery
Another one that’s going to go on my new classics list. It’s so lovely and French.

DON'T TEMPT ME by Loretta Chase
I love how Loretta Chase is able to turn romance on its ear with her strong and incredibly interesting heroines. I just loved Zoe!

The Sebastian St. Cyr mysteries by C. S. Harris
I just discovered this series and have devoured four of them in the last week and a half. Anyone who enjoys historical mysteries should go out and pick one up! (Special thanks to Helen Breitwieser who turned me on to them.)

All of the books that I edited! Obviously.

Speaking of favorite things: I have 15 copies of an old favorite--Judith Ivory’s BLACK SILK. The first 15 people to leave a comment with their favorite (or least favorite!) book of the year get a copy! Think of it as my Chanukah, Christmas, Solstice, Kwanza present to you.