I read a lot. And my tastes are eclectic. Since I’m a romance writer, I’m currently making my way through AAR’s Top 100 Romances list. But since I’m also part of a literary book club, I’m making my way through the 2013 book club list, too. … And I love to talk about books — all books! Drop me a line if you’ve read any of these and want to chat about any of them. I’d love to hear from you. …
Here’s what I’ve read so far in 2013, but I haven’t had time to write the summaries yet. (Come back soon!) A LOT of books this year are books written by the Firebirds, my fellow Golden Heart finalists who are all launching their books into the world now:
* Crazy Little Thing — Tracy Brogan (Firebird)
* Highland Surrender — Tracy Brogan (Firebird)
* Sugar Springs — Kim Law (Firebird)
* Kissing Under the Mistletoe (A St. Helena Vinyard Novel) –Marina Adair
* Skin Deep — Anne Hjelle
* Love in Reality (part of The Blackjack Quartet) — Magdalen Braden (Firebird)
* Just One of the Guys — Kristan Higgins
* The Things She Says (Harlequin Desire) — Kat Cantrell (Firebird)
* Fools Rush In — Kristan Higgins
* Anchored (A Novella) — A.J. Larrieu (Firebird)
* A Moveable Feast — Ernest Hemingway
* The Best Man — Kristan Higgins (READING NOW)
And here’s what’s in my TBR pile:
* White Heat — Jill Shalvis. One of her earliest, earliest works, I believe. She admits on her website it’s not her best work, but still these early books are fun to read — very inspirational for newbie writers like me.
* The Blue Dolphin (Desert Heat Series) — Robena Grant (Firebird)
* With This Kiss: Part One — Eloisa James.
* With This Kiss: Part Two — Eloisa James.
* What Happens in Scotland — Jennifer McQuiston (Firebird)
* Outlaw in Paradise — Patricia Gaffney.
* Marriage with Benefits — Kat Cantrell (Firebird)
* Midnight Shadows (Love Inspirational) — Carol J. Post (Firebird)
* Simple Jess — Pamela Morsi.
* Montana Sky — Nora Roberts
* Moonrise — Anne Stuart
* Crazy People: The Crazy for You stories — Jenny Crusie
* The Wild One (The De Montforte Brothers) — Danielle Harmon
* Snow Day: A Novel — Billy Coffey
And not that you’re really going to go look at these lists from previous years, but I’m keeping them here for my own reference: 🙂
Here’s what I read in 2012.
Here’s what I read in 2011.
Here’s what I read in 2010.
And here’s what I read in 2009.
Change of Heart-Jodi Picoult. Kept me glued. A complex tale of loss, redemption and justice against the back drop of religious belief and the death penalty. Waiting on my nightstand is, The Tenth Circle.
Thanks for sharing, Sharon! Let me know how you like The Tenth Circle. You know, I’ve never read Jodi Picoult, but a lot of people have recommended. Have you read most of her books?
I discovered Jodi Picoult a little late in the game and then went back and read everything (thrift shops are great resources for older books). I think what I love most about her writing is her character development — lots of gray — her characters are flawed, even the ones you love. The other thing I love is nothing is really like it seems — just like life.
Dixie — Yes, I have a feeling that’s exactly what I’ll be doing — discovering her “late” in the game, and then going back and reading everything! I tend to latch on to authors that way: if I like them, I’ll read everything on their backlist. So which one would be a good one to start with?
Lavender Morning – the new Jude Deveraux was actually pretty good. I haven’t liked her past few books as well as all the beginning stuff (the Velvet series, Twin of Ice/Fire, Sweet Liar, Remembrance – I cried so hard when I read this book) – but it was getting back to the stuff I loved, so I would recommend it!
KristiBug — Thanks for this recommendation of the new Jude Deveraux. (Plus I’ll have to write down some of those others!) I liked A Knight in Shining Armor. Thought it was very sweet…
Reading GLITTER BABY now. I’m still reading but it’s a bit odd to me.
Crystal — I had the same reaction about GLITTER BABY. You can tell it was written years and years ago, huh? Sort of dated, plus it doesn’t have her usual humor. But I enjoyed it for the fact that it gave a cool glimpse into SEP’s growth and change as a writer. It made me feel it’s “okay” to grow and change! : )
Laurie, I loved the Gabaldon series and my favorite is Butterfly in Amber. I think that’s actually the second book but it’s my favorite.
I’m like Laurie. Once I read and enjoy a book, I’ll go out to find and read all the other books by that author. I loved Judith McNaught, and I’m wondering why she hasn’t written anything in years. I miss her stories. I’ve read most of Maive Binchy’s books, LaVerle Spencers, Catherine Anderson, Julie Garwood, Mary Balogh,Jude Deveraux, Stella Cameron, Kinsale, Klepas,Howard, Landis, Woodweiss, Williamson, Johnson, and who hasn’t read a few or all of Nora Roberts? I liked her “Born in Fire” series. But,…..the BEST books have been the Galbaldon books. I’ve read all six, and will anxiously be waiting for the next one. Has anyone read the book she wrote about John Gray?? I just love the historical romance books, whether it’s castles, the “ton” or western. (“Cherish” was my favorite western.)
I also find time to read other genres, N. Demille’s thrillers, Ken Follet, Jane Auel series, John Jakes, Michener, and Conn Iggulden’s Julius Ceasar series. Those were really good. Oh and I loved “The Other Boleyn Girl”. I just finished “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” book. Which I liked also. So I read “all over the place”. The author that always piques my interest but have never read is Jodi Piccoult. Can anyone suggest the best of hers to start with? Many (many)years ago, I started with Danielle Steele, but after a while they seem “okay” for me.
Has anyone read a book that someone kept recommending, and you felt like you’d pacify that person and read it, only to find out it really was a good book? That’s how the Iggulden series were.
Okay, don’t want to rattle on about books, but I just love to read and share !!!!
I’ve had you bookmarked for several months on my must read blog list and my illness and subsequent journey into the depths of my soul have kept me from doing anything outside of that for quite some time. I am off this week for yet another surgery and have devoted the entire week to napping, blogging, and reading. I am already enjoying your blog immensely and just have to say that I love your bookshelf. I began blogging this year after being diagnosed with breast cancer. I have found it very therapeutic to hang all my laundry out on the line, yet, I have been finding some things with WordPress that have bugged me. So, I started another blog at Blogger and bought the book Bloggin for Dummies. I agree. Some really neat stuff in there. Maybe I will pull that back out and surf some of those blogs this week as well. I have recently bought Twitter for Dummies. I guess as much of a techy as I would love to be, i must just be a dummy? Anyway, just thought I’d pop in while I have some down time and let you know I’ll be following along more avidly and have just added you on Twitter–although I’m not very good at it. Would love some feedback or lessons if you feel so inclined–screenname is cjheald and my blog is http://www.specificallyspeaking.wordpress.com
I’m looking forward to getting to know more about the writing process through you.
Hi, Christina! So sorry to hear about your recent journey with breast cancer. (Set you up with those folks on Twitter because I’m on there all the time with them for work, and I’ve come to really like them — helpful, inspirational women.) Anyway, glad you like blogging! I really love it, too. I checked out your blog — I’ll have to set aside some time when I can spend more time there reading everything! Looks good! I do social media for a living now, so I might put some more tutorials up here, but for now I have a couple of Twitter tutorials here on the blog (search for “Twitter 101” in my search bar beneath the Recent Comments). Let’s stay in touch!
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Hey Laurie! I totally dig the bookcase, but might I suggest you get a Kindle? I’m finding that I’m reading so much more often because of it. Whenever I hear about a book, I often think “Ooh, I’ve been meaning to read that, but I don’t have time to get to the store.” But with the Kindle, I can just do a quick search and download the book for around $10. Instant payment and instant delivery. 🙂
Ooh, Amanda — Well, I’m not a hard-sell on the Kindle, trust me. I do really want one! Chris was going to buy me one at Christmas, but I started going on and on about a Netbook instead, so he bought me that instead (at my request)! But Kindle is next on my list! (Although now, to be honest, I’m thinking I should’ve waited for the iPad … hmmm …) So how many books have you purchased so far????
Hmm, I’ve subscribed to the NYT blog and bought 3 books and 2 short research reports. I just wish I read faster!
Nice, Amanda! It will be interesting to see if you mostly purchase new books, or end up re-purchasing a lot of your old faves, too. I like the idea of having a lot of old faves to carry around with me, because I do like to reread books. And I especially like the idea of being able to buy a book whenever you want (in the middle of the night, even!). So I’m sure I’ll be a Kindle convert soon. 🙂
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