Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Mo

Last year, I read every single book I checked out from the library. Every single one. This year, I'm lucky if I have the time to read any of them before the 3 week loan period is up. The problem is that I'm still checking out the same number of books, I'm just far busier now than I was a year ago.

Right this very minute I have seven books checked out from the library, all of which I want to read, but with a stack of review books and all of the books I own sitting in my TBR pile, the reality is that I'll probably only read one or two of these before I have to return them. (Most I can't renew because there's a waiting list.) So I need some help in choosing which of these seven books I should make the biggest effort for.

"A comedy of manners set in Victorian London: full of werewolves, vampires, dirigibles, and tea-drinking." I normally avoid paranormals, but the completely awesome cover of Gail Carriger's Soulless hooked me. Well, that and all the good reviews I read. When Blythe, who like me normally avoids vampires like the plague, told me that she really enjoyed this book, I thought that it might just be worth breaking my vampire ban for.

I heard about His Secret Agenda by Beth Andrews over on Wendy's blog, and it interested me for pretty much one reason only: the heroine is a former lawyer turned bar owner. This is so totally up my alley that I didn't even read the back cover blurb before borrowing it. Apparently the hero is some kind of undercover agent and he thinks the heroine is hiding something, which apparently, she is. Whatever. The heroine owns a bar. 'Nuff said.

Dirty by Megan Hart was also recommended by Wendy. I read Tempted by Hart a couple of weeks ago, and it was a nice change of pace from all the romances I've been reading. Wendy described the plot of Dirty as "a self-destructive heroine who wields sex like a weapon meets her match in the hero, a man determined to love her. Whether she wants him to or not...." Sounds great. Now, if only I can find the time to read it.

Stolen Heat by Elisabeth Naughton attracted my attention when fellow AAR reviewer Emma gave it a great review. I love Adventure Romances, plus my first few years of college were spent as an anthropology major, so an action-adventure romance featuring an Egyptologist heroine just screamed my name. I know this is part of a series, but I'm hoping it stands alone well.

I've read exactly one Mary Kay Andrews book before -- Savannah Blues -- and while I enjoyed it, I didn't love it. I'm not sure what prompted me to check out The Fixer Upper, other than seeing it on several people's Eagerly Awaiting lists. Of all the books on this list, this is the least likely to get read. But if I hear a great recommendation, maybe I'll bump it up on the priority scale.

I borrowed Never Love a Lawman by Jo Goodman because I've never read a Western (romance, that is), and I heard many good things about this one. Although it features a will-stipulation plot, I'm still interested. Who knows, maybe the author can sell it. Also, the hero is a sheriff named Wyatt, so that's got to be good, right?

Last, but not least, is Bad Moon Rising by Katherine Sutcliffe. This book also made Wendy's Top 16 list, which is what brought it to my attention. A romantic suspense set in New Orleans (+), featuring a disgraced recovering alcoholic hero (++), and a heroine who's a former prostitute (+++). How can I not read this book? It's got my name written all over it. At this point, this is the book that's leading the pack for my attention.

So tell me: Any books on this list that I absolutely, positively must make sure I read? Any I should just forget about, or save for another time?