Read a Good Book Lately?
Can you imagine a life without books? I can’t. Nothing makes time fly like a good book. When I’m waiting for an appointment, I never have to worry about watching the clock if I have a book on hand. Books relax me. They teach me new things and take me to faraway places. They make me laugh and cry and cringe and sigh. It’s all subjective. Right now I am reading New Moon by Stephenie Meyer. My sixteen year-old daughter and all of her friends are crazy about Edward Cullen. I wanted to see what all the hype was about so I finished Twilight and moved on to the second book. I am almost finished with New Moon and I have to say it has been frustrating…waiting for Edward to pop back into the story…and it took way too long for him to arrive, IMO! I still have another 50 pages to go, but so far I’m giving this book a 6 out of 10. Despite the low score, I must admit, Stephanie Meyers did a good job of keeping me reading, turning the pages, eager to find out what the heck was going to happen. And isn’t that what it’s all about?
To be perfectly honest, I was never interested in reading books with vampires until I judged a contest and one of the entries happened to have a vampire protagonist. I loved the story! That experience taught me to never say never when it comes to what type of books I’ll read. Anything goes!
This year I plan to read a lot of Noodler books. I think I’ll try a little bit of everything…Trish Milburn’s A Firefighter in the Family would be a good place to start. I’ve read most of Terry McLaughlin’s stories. I love her humor. I must read Diane Gaston’s Mysterious Miss M, especially since that book happens to be on the Romantic Times list of 1001 books we must read before we die! My daughter and I love Stephanie Rowe’s young adult books. I think I will broaden my horizons with Jill Monroe’s hot and spicy Primal Instincts. The Bride Price by Anne Mallory looks good…Sebastien Deville has waited his whole life for revenge…what’s not to like? And after a hectic day, I think I’ll sit down and read Merrillee Wren’s Mommy’s Hometown Hero. And if I read a little faster maybe I’ll finally get to read M. J. Fredrick’s Hot Shot, Lee McKenzie’s With This Ring, Maureen Hardegree’s More Sweet Tea, Esri Rose’s Bound to Love Her, Janet Mullany’s Dedication, Dianna Love’s Dead After Dark Anthology and Colleen Gleason’s When Twilight Burns! And this list doesn’t include books by Sandy Blair, Tori Scott, Anna DeStefano, Jennie Lucas, and others. To be Continued…
How about you? Read any good books lately?
Picture: Daughter Brittany reading
Labels: be good to yourself, books, reading
posted by Theresa Ragan @ 3:42 AM
32 Comments:
I'm listening to the audio book of Blue Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas and it is AMAZING. I hadn't read her before, but I plan to glom her backlist, and I have her new one on my wish list!
I'm reading Jill Shalvis's Instant Attraction right now, and I bought CJ Lyon's Warning Signs. I loved the first book in the series.
Delle's new book is out today at Samhain, and so is my friend Meg's, so those are on the list, too!
Theresa -
I'm envious. I have another two weeks before I can settle into a book again and it's killing me to wait b/c I have some you've listed yet to read. All great books.
M. J. - More good suggestions...and we can add your HOT SHOT to that list as well. Glad to hear it's out in paperback now.
Oh, I feel horrible. Did I forget to add all of Delle Jacob's fabulous books?! Delle, you're on my list!!! I will get to all of these!
And Mary, I've never read Lisa Kleypas but I've heard lots of wonderful things about her books.
I've read all of Susan E. Philip's books, too. Does she have anything new out?
Dianna, I hear your pain. I hardly read at all in the past few years but I'm realizing now that I just need to carve out fifteen minutes or so. AND bring a book with me whereever I go! Fifteen minutes does turn into thirty and then forty-five though and then nobody gets dinner! :)
Mary, I have never tried an audio book. I have a friend who swears by them. Did you have to get used to "listening"? I could see myself getting distracted.
Hi Theresa~
I just stopped by here and here you are--cool! I, too, am reading Twilight. I'm just getting into it, and like it very much. This is my first venture into Vampires. Also, I just started Luann Rice's, Light of the Moon. It's great so far. She goes for a trip into France and I wanted to see how Ms. Rice handled the language thing since I have a story in Austria...
Hugs,
~C
Hi Caroline! How does Luann Rice handle the language barrier in her book? Can her main character speak the language at all?
Thanks for coming by!
Theresa,
I have a funny story to share about audio books. My parents like them for long car trips. One such occasion, must have been during peak vacation time, the only audio books left in the library were classics. So my mother chose Great Expectations. They got so into the story, they missed their exit off the interstate and had to back track! :)
Oh my gosh, you must try audio books! I drive all day long for my job, from school to school, and am never without them. It is amazing what I've learned about sentence structure and pacing (and tags) from listening to a book instead of reading one.
I'm listening to Nora Roberts Sister's Trilogy now. We have three Harry Potter's on CD, and Janet Evanovich, and books like Junie B Jones for younger ears.
It's very icy here, no school today, so we're going to have a movie marathon. We've been blessed (knock on wood) to keep electricity.
Delle, happy print release day! :)
Mo and Gillian, I think you've convinced me to try an audio book!!
Gillian, have fun watching movies today. I hope you have a nice fire going too! And popcorn would be nice. :)
I'm only on page 40. I believe she's only used French once....
When I'm riding on the bus, I'm reading John Grisham's The Pelican Brief. I don't mind being interrupted while reading it. At home, I'm currently reading Merrillee Whren's Mommy's Hometown Hero and enjoying it! And I'm waiting for Delle Jacobs' Aphrodite's Brew to show up, as I have been notified that it has been shipped. :-)
~Judy
I'm reading the Royal Seduction Series by Michelle Celmer. I'm loving this series! The tension is great and I get to escape to a Palace when I'm reading. What more could I ask for? With all the sick kids I could use a nice place to rest for a while. ;)
Oh and I love Audio books as well. I have Patricia Cornwell's Book of the Dead and James Patterson's Step on a Crack on my MP3 right now.
I listen when I'm cleaned and driving. It helps the time go by faster and I can tune out the kids. ;)
I read some contemporary goodies to start off the year, like The Someday List by Stacy Hawkins Adams; Gotta Keep on Tryin' by Virginia Berry and Donna Grant; and The Stand-In Groom by Kaye Dacus.
But the one that has stuck with me and keeps making me think is Havah The Story of Eve by Tosca Lee. It's a fictional account of what Eden might have been like and what Eve's life might have been like after she made that fateful decision. Fascinating and thought provoking.
Judy, I loved The Pelican Brief. I have read most of Grisham's books and I loved The Firm.
Thanks for stopping by, Misty. Sounds like everyone listens to audio books but me! I have never tried James Patterson.
Patricia, you have already done a lot of reading this year. Good for you!!
Oh, and Patricia, the story of Eve does sound fascinating. Thanks for sharing!
Just so you know, Theresa, you're not the only one who doesn't listen to audio books. :-) I'll try The Firm next.
~Judy
I love audio books. I drive 45 miles a day, and they really help. I did get a bit distracted listening to Agnes and the Hitman during the love scene! That scene was HOT!! Audio books are a good way to reread favorites, too. I have the Harry Potters, some older Noras and some older Jennifer Crusies.
Dianna, yes, Hot Shot will be out in paperback next month! Nothing like getting to hold that baby in my hands!
Susan Elizabeth Phillips does have a new book...What I Did For Love. I can't wait for that one, either!
All I've been reading lately are my CP's manuscripts. I just finished Candis Terry's latest--wow! It's headed out on submission this week and my fingers are crossed and double-crossed for her.
I've also been reading books on dog training for our new puppy...but I don't think that falls into the romance genre, does it?
:)Becky
Hi Becky! My fingers are crossed for Candis Terry too! Good luck, Candis!
And I think dog training books count as reading material! LOL Good luck with that! It's like having a brand new baby. :)
I recently reread Pride & Prejudice in preparation for our Washington Romance Writers meeting. Kathy Gilles Seidel (Keep Your Mouth Shut and Wear Beige, May 08), who is also an Austen scholar, led us in a discussion. What fun.
I'm also reading the books I'm judging for the RITA contest so I can't talk about them! But I really liked one I didn't think I'd like.
When I had a day job I listened to audio books and, because I checked them out of the library, I listened to books I would never have picked up off the shelf. I was so well read then!
Not all audiobooks are created equal. The reader has to be good and not all of them are!
Diane, I get my audio books at the library, too. That's how I ended up listening to the Lisa Kleypas.
And you're right about the reader. I love Suz Brockmann's books, but can't listen to them because the reader she uses sounds like Casey Kasem.
I love James Patterson's books, even his Young Adult books are good!
Listening to books lets me do two things at once. I can listen and work at something that needs doing around the house or driving somewhere. If I'm needing that escape, but can't sit down to read. Then it allows me that time, along with blocks out the kids playing around me.
I'm also reading the Twilight Series. Love it and the movie! :D
Diane, I bet that was a fun discussion! I just read Pride and Prejudice for the first time a few years ago. I really enjoyed it.
Misty, I had no idea James Patterson wrote young adults books, too.
Do the authors get to choose who their readers are for the audio books? Sounds like maybe it depends...
Ladyhawk,
Cool that you're reading my book. I'm glad you're liking it. I've gotten some great reader comments about that book.
Right now I'm reading Marley and Me. I did one of those book chain letters. I hate chain letters, but I thought it's about books so why not? I never really expected to get any books, but I sent one of my own to the next person on the list. Can we say promo!? Well, surprise, surprise. I got two books in the mail. One was Marley and Me. I was going to read it quick, then see the movie. Well, I never read anything quick. Too many other things (like a proposal that I got off to my agent today. Yay!!!) to do. So the movie has come and gone at our local theater, but I'm thinking it won't be as good as the book. I'm almost done. I haven't gotten to the part where the dog dies, but I'm sure I'll cry. That's what I want to do when I write--touch readers' emotions.
I have a ton of Noodler books on my TBR pile. I've already read a quite a few Noodler books, and there hasn't been a bad one in the bunch. And yes, if you haven't read The Mysterious Miss M, it is a must read.
A Firefighter in the Family is terrific! I loved it! And try Dianna's great stories in the anthologies with Sherrilyn Kenyon. Great writing!
And I think they should add Scandalizing the Ton to the list of books you should read along with The Mysterious Miss M. Loved 'em both.
Delle's book is SUPPOSED to be here ASAP! I can't wait.
I just finished When Twilight Burns by Colleen Gleason. I loved it and the last line put a smile on my face so you can guess where I fall in the Max / Sebastian debate!
I haven't tried audio books, but I buy them for a friend of mine because her job requires her to drive long distances.
Louisa -
Thanks for the sweet note on my urban fantasy novella in Dead After Dark. I had a lot of fun with those characters.
And thanks for visiting our blog.
Yep, he does. The Maximum Ride Series. I've listened to the first book and I'm going to catch up with the series this year. It was really good.
I'm looking forward to sitting down and reading a good book. I have one sitting on the nightstand that I have almost finished but I have no idea what the name of it is or who the author is. It must not be that book because I started quilting when I have free time. And i don't have much free time...with work, the grandkids, the hubby, etc. Right now I am at a conference in another city but luckily i am just the "help" so while they are having the speakers I can do things like this. Couldn't get away with a book or cutting out fabrick but i can blog and read email and surf the web! This is relaxing for me...
Hi Sally, that's probably not a good sign if you don't remember the name of the book! Hope you get more free time soon!!!
Wow, Louisa! You've somehow managed to squeeze some reading into your busy schedule. That's great!
I am excited to hear all the new books I can read and I especially loved the picture of Brittany.
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