It’s that time of year again, and for the compulsive reader on your shopping list, you can never, never, never go wrong with a book store gift card. No, really. It doesn’t matter that we have a stack of books on the bedside table, kitchen table, office and living room. We always need more.

Want to get more specific? If you or somebody you love loves romantic suspense, Shiloh Walker is putting out fantastic books right and left. The Ash trilogy offers a thrill a month, starting with If You Hear Her, and then in January she gives us spooky thrills with
The Departed
, which Santa brought me an early copy of. Perfect way to spend your holiday gift card!

The ever-luminous Marjorie Liu just released yet another astounding novel in the
Dirk & Steele series
. Perfect for the paranormal adventure lover who wants a happy ending along with dragons and pryokinetics.

Ilona Andrews, who just keeps getting better, has a new book out this month, too, in time for holiday gifting; Fate’s Edge is so fantastic the recipient will want the whole set and then everything else they can get their hands on.

Advance planning? I hear tell
PBW
has a new Darkyn novel coming soon to delight her readers. Nightborn doesn’t release until March, but since she’s also recently sold a steampunk novel and is enormously prolific, you’ll want to save room in 2012’s book budget. Also in March, watch for the latest from
Patricia Briggs
Alpha & Omega series.

Tired of holiday frenzy already and want some quick e-reading? Check out Fire & Ice by Portia Dacosta, now from Walk on the Wild Side Books, or the can’t-miss holiday anthology Holiday Kisses from Shannon Stacey, Jaci Burton, HelenKay Dimon and Alison Kent.

The best holiday present you can give me is to keep my favorite authors writing and publishing, so buy a book for yourself or somebody you love.