Monday, January 17, 2011
Word of Mouth Right Again
I don’t review books. Probably harkens back to all those years of doing book reports in school. If anything feels like homework, I don’t do it. The fact that the book I’m reading right now has moved me to break this policy should tell you how good it is.
Another thing I don’t typically do is read Harlequin Super Romances. NOT because I’m one of those who derides Category Romances, but simply because I’ve never gotten into them. It’s the classic “So many books, so little time.” Short shelf life combined with my overwhelming TBR stacks means they rarely make it on my radar.
But as we often say, word of mouth is the most powerful form of promotion. When that word of mouth is coming one of my most respected friends, I take notice. A few months ago, I followed Janga’s advice and picked up a Meg Benjamin book. I’ve since read Ms. Benjamin’s five book series and am anxiously awaiting book six.
And thanks to Janga, I’ve found another new author to glom.
Karina Bliss is the author of no less than seven Super Romances and I have a feeling I’ll be hunting up the other six once I finish this one. WHAT THE LIBRARIAN DID is simply wonderful. A perfect example that anything is possible in a story if you write it well enough. Here’s the blurb from her website:
Is Rachel Robinson the only one on campus who doesn't know who Devin Freedman is?
No big deal except that the bad-boy rock star gets a kick out of Rachel's refusal to worship at his feet. And that seems to have provoked his undivided attention.
Devin, the guy who gave new meaning to the phrase 'sex, drugs and rock 'n roll'.
Devin, the guy who somehow becomes wedged between her and the past she's kept hidden for years.
It's up to this librarian to find out first-hand just how 'bad' he really is. Because her secret - and her growing feelings for a man who claims he's bent on redemption - depend on his turning out to be as good as he seems.
Which is really, really good.
Yes, you read that right. The heroine is a librarian and the hero is the much-maligned, oft considered irredeemable, rock star. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve heard the silly rule “You can’t sell a rock star hero.” Ms. Bliss proves this to be utter bunk, and boy does she do it with style.
It goes without saying that Devin Freedman is hot. Really, really HAWT. I mean, he’s a rock star, this is a given. But beyond that, he’s sensitive, suspicious, forgiving, generous, self-deprecating, funny, sweet, confident, and vulnerable. All this and a sexy dragon tattoo. Be still my heart.
And Rachel Robinson is not your typical librarian either. She dresses in 50s retro clothes, something that drives Devin crazy, and has a soft spot for outcasts and lost souls. She also has a pretty big secret that eventually blows up in her face, collecting several of those closest to her in the fallout.
This story includes a well-known Romance Trope that I typically avoid. Even in this, Ms. Bliss wins me over. There’s humor that made me laugh out loud, and heartbreak that made me ache for these characters. Scratch that, for these people. They are real and practically dance off the page with life.
This book was released last March so you’ll have to find it online, but I promise you, it’ll be worth the effort. I haven’t even gotten to the end yet, but I have every faith Ms. Bliss will have me sighing with satisfaction while hating to say goodbye to Devin and Rachel. Thank you, Janga. Once again, I owe you.
Your turn. Read any good books lately? Found an author that made you like something you didn’t think you liked? Let’s keep this ‘word of mouth’ thing going.
Another thing I don’t typically do is read Harlequin Super Romances. NOT because I’m one of those who derides Category Romances, but simply because I’ve never gotten into them. It’s the classic “So many books, so little time.” Short shelf life combined with my overwhelming TBR stacks means they rarely make it on my radar.
But as we often say, word of mouth is the most powerful form of promotion. When that word of mouth is coming one of my most respected friends, I take notice. A few months ago, I followed Janga’s advice and picked up a Meg Benjamin book. I’ve since read Ms. Benjamin’s five book series and am anxiously awaiting book six.
And thanks to Janga, I’ve found another new author to glom.
Karina Bliss is the author of no less than seven Super Romances and I have a feeling I’ll be hunting up the other six once I finish this one. WHAT THE LIBRARIAN DID is simply wonderful. A perfect example that anything is possible in a story if you write it well enough. Here’s the blurb from her website:
Is Rachel Robinson the only one on campus who doesn't know who Devin Freedman is?No big deal except that the bad-boy rock star gets a kick out of Rachel's refusal to worship at his feet. And that seems to have provoked his undivided attention.
Devin, the guy who gave new meaning to the phrase 'sex, drugs and rock 'n roll'.
Devin, the guy who somehow becomes wedged between her and the past she's kept hidden for years.
It's up to this librarian to find out first-hand just how 'bad' he really is. Because her secret - and her growing feelings for a man who claims he's bent on redemption - depend on his turning out to be as good as he seems.
Which is really, really good.
Yes, you read that right. The heroine is a librarian and the hero is the much-maligned, oft considered irredeemable, rock star. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve heard the silly rule “You can’t sell a rock star hero.” Ms. Bliss proves this to be utter bunk, and boy does she do it with style.
It goes without saying that Devin Freedman is hot. Really, really HAWT. I mean, he’s a rock star, this is a given. But beyond that, he’s sensitive, suspicious, forgiving, generous, self-deprecating, funny, sweet, confident, and vulnerable. All this and a sexy dragon tattoo. Be still my heart.
And Rachel Robinson is not your typical librarian either. She dresses in 50s retro clothes, something that drives Devin crazy, and has a soft spot for outcasts and lost souls. She also has a pretty big secret that eventually blows up in her face, collecting several of those closest to her in the fallout.
This story includes a well-known Romance Trope that I typically avoid. Even in this, Ms. Bliss wins me over. There’s humor that made me laugh out loud, and heartbreak that made me ache for these characters. Scratch that, for these people. They are real and practically dance off the page with life.
This book was released last March so you’ll have to find it online, but I promise you, it’ll be worth the effort. I haven’t even gotten to the end yet, but I have every faith Ms. Bliss will have me sighing with satisfaction while hating to say goodbye to Devin and Rachel. Thank you, Janga. Once again, I owe you.
Your turn. Read any good books lately? Found an author that made you like something you didn’t think you liked? Let’s keep this ‘word of mouth’ thing going.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Books by the Crew
109 comments:
Well...I just started the newest Cherry Adair, Undertow...and I'm really enjoying it. After hearing Ms. Adair speak, I was very impressed by her but uncertain of getting involved with an author who has so much energy and a career plan of such detail. She's inspiring, but also a bit intimidating...at least to me!
But! I'm really digging this book. The hero is intriguing and I can see the other two books in my future. Three brothers, don't cha know! And all set in the Caribbean... ;-) Modern day Caribbean, but that is cool!
Janga is a modern day Goddess and prophet, always happy to share her wisdom and insight for books and writing.
Unlike Nietzsche who climbed up the mountain to declare that 'God is Dead', Janga already knows that God Lives, and is climbing the mountain to publish a book. A book that is so perfect that no publisher has yet had the vision to buy it. Oh what fools these publisher be!
Seriously Janga, like Terri I also owe you.
I have just finished Robyn Carr's 'Moonlight Road' (Virgin River 10) and about to start 'Promise Canyon' (Virgin River 11). I can still remember the feeling of awe when I finished 'Virgin River' (Virgin River 1) and I owe it all to the Prophet Goddess for recommending this fabulous series. :D
If anyone hasn't visited 'JustJanga' get yourself over there now and feast your mind .... pronto!
Bosun, I am totally with you on this one. 8)
"When Janga speaks, pirates listen." :)
I'm going to try to find this book, because I have complete faith it's worth it. And I love how many times that "no rock stars, no sports heroes" rule gets blasted. I always LOVE those books.
I'm reading a Cherry Adair book right now, and it's a contemp with a smidge of paranormal. Hot hero, but I've managed to set it down a couple days ago without going manic to get back to it. LOL
Q, mark your calendar for Feb. 3 -- I won a contest to have "Jack" from Jack's Bar in the Virgin River series visit my blog! I haven't read all the books -- in fact, I think I started in the middle, but I love those stories.
My recommendation. Mmm. Oh, my fave lately was Kris Kennedy's two medieval books. I'm not a fan of that era, but her characters were definitely my style -- hot and witty. LOL Another author was raving about one of the books one day on Twitter as she was reading, so I had to give it a try -- SO glad I did.
Chance - Cherry is such a force, in person she makes you want to both hug her and bow to her. LOL! I've seen so much buzz about that book, I may need to hunt it down.
I did finish this Bliss book last night. PERFECTION! If I could write even a tenth of the emotion this woman packed into a 250 page book, I'd be satisfied. So. Freaking. Good.
Q - She's is good, isn't she? LOL! We could just follow behind her reading on her trail, only I know I could never keep up with her! Janga as Goddess Prophet. That's the perfect name for her.
Donna - Are you reading the same new Adair book Chance is reading? Or did you find one from her backlist? It is intimidating to come up against a backlist that substantial.
You and Hellie have both raved about these Kennedy books. That settles it, I'll be downloading them tonight.
Terri, I'm reading a different Adair book -- I got it from the library, which is where I try authors that I'm not sure I'm ready to commit to. LOL It's where I found Robyn Carr actually (and it's why I started in the middle of the series).
The one I'm reading is called Night Secrets, and the heroes are part of some super secret paranormal thing called T-FLAC. I think it's from 2008.
I hope you like the Kennedy books. There are so few books I get absorbed in, forgetting to analyze as I go, and hers did that for me. :) I follow her on Twitter and I love when she tweets about struggling with writing -- because her books make you think otherwise. :)
Today is a good day for reading. Snow is pouring down again, and I'm feeling a little under the weather. I was hoping to get a lot of writing done, but. ..
Forgot to say, sorry to hear you're not feeling well. There seems to be a couple bugs going around and the things are coast to coast!
Donna - Have you checked out the T-FLAC website? Talk about uber-high-tech! And I follow Cherry too. Did you know she has an adorable English accent? Makes those tweets even more fun when you hear them in your head that way. LOL!
I don't typically read anything but Contemp when I'm writing because the language will bleed over. I'm weird that way. I once wrote a blog while watching a Jane Austen movie and it all came out sounding very prim and proper.
Anywho, I'll see if I can download them but I might not read them until I finish these revisions.
Terri, I don't think I'm sick, just a little "off". LOL My sinuses are giving me hell today.
And that's too funny about what bleeds over for you. I can't read 1st POV when I'm writing it because I don't want it to sneak in. And I prefer to read historicals when I'm writing contemp and vice versa so that I don't get influenced.
Now I'm off to check out the T-FLAC website! Speaking of websites, I like Cindy Gerard's and Roxanne St. Claire's -- it fits their romantic suspense books and Roxanne has pics of who she thinks her heroes look like. YUM. LOL
I vote that we get that on our official pirate t-shirts: When Janga speaks, pirates listen. *LOL*
I have put a hold on this book at my local library, so I should be reading it soon. You know us well--or Janga does--how much we pirates like those who break the rules, but also breaks them in style!
I still owe Janga a huge one for setting me on Marsha Moyer's Second Coming of Lucy Hatch series.
My current "word of mouth" recommendation is anything by Monica McCarty. And I didn't think I'd like it because I hadn't liked a Scottish novel in years. And notably in Scottish novels, it's always some highland laird who kidnaps the daughter of his enemy (or his enemy's fiancee or sister) and it all works out. Still...even though that's pulled a time or two, it works.
Donna - Have you thought about your own website? I'm not overly artistic so I've given it a little thought and only managed to freak myself out that I've no idea what I'd want it to look like.
Hellie - Wonder if we could get that shirt on Cafepress?!
I haven't read a book set in the Highlands since I can't remember when. How many are we talking here? I need to know what kind of commitment this will require.
She usually writes trilogies. The series I'm on--the Highland Guard series--is supposed to be around 10 books, but she's currently written 3.
Don't talk to me about commitment. You just said you read FIVE of Meg Benjamin's books and were frothing at the mouth for number 6.
Terri, I've been futzing around trying to come up with a tagline before I commit to a website -- I feel like once I have that, I'll know what kind of theme I want. I've bought two domain names to use (my name is used by a photographer in Texas -- LOL), and I look at different web designers' sites to get a feel for what they can do.
I want to emphasize that my stories are fun, funny, witty, lighthearted, sexy, romantic -- but haven't decided how to put that into a sentence or phrase. LOL I've had a few ideas but nothing that has the right zing just yet.
I cackled uproariously at the commitment comment. Chance said the same about the Suzanne Brockmann books. LOL (I'm gonna get a t-shirt that says, "I told you so", because it can be used in so many instances. LOL)
And speaking of Ms. McCarty, wonder when my free book will get here? That's something to look forward to!
NO idea why there's a ? in there.
Donna - Sounds like you have a blog topic and then we can all help you throw around ideas!
My tag line is "Healing broken hearts one book at a time" but I've no idea if that will stick or how it would translate to a website.
This book sounds awesome - it's totally going on my Kindle list.
I read Cynthia Eden's Deadly Fear (http://www.cynthiaeden.com/books/) recently, and really enjoyed it. It's romantic suspense, super sexy, and all about profiling serial killers. The next one in the series is a FBI profiler who falls for a (female) firefighter while looking for a serial arsonist. Yummy :)
I'm going to have to put Suzanne Brockmann down for a read, aren't I? Which one is your favorite?
I didn't say I wouldn't commit? Just wanting to guage the level is all. And when I started the Benjamin books, there were only three. I think. LOL! Maybe four and the fifth just came out last month.
Don't forget, I still have SIX to glom from Karina Bliss. LOL!
*ignores the Brockman convo*
I used to love reading RS and at some point, I just stopped. I think those books require too much energy from me. LOL! Before you say all I have to do is sit still and read, think about it. This Bliss book was so full of emotion, I felt wrung out be the time I get to the end. A good wrung out, but still.
RS books have such fast pacing and constant movement and surprises and chases and bullet flying! I'm exhausted just writing about it.
The other exhausting thing about RS is that you often have to try to remember clues, or hang on to information that you think is going to be important later. It's definitely a different type of reading experience, that (often) requires more participation, rather than just going along for the ride.
Exactly! It can still be a fun ride, but you need a nap when you finish the book. Maybe before!
Can't even imagine how hard that is to write and keep everything straight. LOL! You're a better woman than I, Hal!
This book sounds great. I saw it when I was searching Kindle books the other day. Maybe I'll check it out. :)
I just read three of Pamela Clare's books, finished Naked Edge this past weekend and they were fabulous.
I like RS because of that fast pacing and constant movement, but I'm kind of a wuss. So if the material is presented TOO scary for me or too disturbing, I can wimp out and put it down. Getting too far into a serial killers head, etc, can keep me up at night.
But I love when there's a bad guy and the h/h have to band together to save their lives and their souls. The dire circumstances.... such drama and angst.
"Unsung Hero" is first in the Troubleshooters series - I'd start there with Suzanne Brockmann. I've read a couple of her older category romances, and wasn't quite as impressed as I was with the Troubleshooters series. They are much more thriller/plot heavy than romance.
Can’t even imagine how hard that is to write and keep everything straight.
I think that's an issue for all of us, but yeah, it gets overwhelming sometimes. This MS I'm working on, every main character has a cover identity and a real identity, and each are lying about some stuff but not other stuff. I have whole charts about who's lying, who's telling the truth, which names go to which characters........no wonder revisions have turned into such a bitch!
Hellion, I hate to make recommendations, on anything, because it's almost a guarantee that the person will hate it. LOL But if I could only have one series to read for the rest of my life, I would definitely pick Suzanne Brockmann's books. She has at least three stories going, per book, and it's such a great community of folks -- funny, sexy, heartbreaking and tender. You also get to see the characters experiencing things over more than one book, which I like for some reason. LOL
As for my favorite. . .if you don't mind reading out of order, Out of Control, and Gone Too Far, are the two I've read twice. :) You'll want to go back and read all of the Sam and Alyssa storyline that you've missed tho.
Terri, I wouldn't exactly call it romantic suspense. It feels bigger and richer than that.
Donna - I wasn't referring to Brockman as the RS, but the one Hal mentioned. I avoid Brockman simply because I KNOW they are awesome and many and I'm frightened of getting sucked in. Happened to me years ago with Jo Beverly's Rogues series and I became obsessed about finding them all.
If I did into to the Brockman's, I might not come up for years!
off topic - but I have a phone interview for a really, really good job in 2 minutes.....wish me luck!
Hal - Thank heaven for charts and graphs. Holy Hell that sounds complicated. But awesome when you get it finished.
Marn - That's another I avoid but will likely get to before Brockman. Pamela's books sound sooooo good. And you know she's pretty much lived the stuff in those books. Which makes me want to read them even more.
*Scratches Marn off beta reader list*
GOOD LUCK!!!!
Thanks, guys. You're making me blush.
I do love hearing that my recommendation has introduced someone to an author whose books I love. Karina Bliss is one of the best I've encountered at creating truly contemporary characters with the kind of messy lives made up of mistakes, heartbreaks, joys, and love that readers recognize. There's a scene in her Christmas novella "Kiss Me, Santa," where the heroine, who is divorced, puts her child on a plane to spend Christmas with his dad because she knows her son needs time with his father and then is overcome with missing her child. It's just a bit, but it left me in tears because I knew from family experience how many parents were living out variation of that scene during the holidays. Terri, she has a new one out now, Here Comes the Groom.
Q, you know how much I love Robyn Carr, who was an autobuy for me well before her success with Virgin River. Hellie, I pine for a new book from Marsha Moyers. Donna, I think Kris Kennedy is wonderful. I'm not a lover of medievals either, but The Irish Warrior was one of my top 12 for 2010.
I just finished Kristan Higgins's not-yet-released My One and Only, and it's my favorite by her--a reunion story that made me laugh and cry. I'm reading another reunion story today, Maggie Robinson's Mistress by Midnight.
Good luck, Hal!
Donna - These books do sound like something I'd like. I just send Unsung Hero to my Kindle. :) Thanks for the recommend. :)
Good luck, Hal!
Ter - don't count me out! *pouting* I read everything. I was just saying what I liked about RS. :) And I'm certain I'll love anything you write.
I thought "What the Librarian Did" was very good too but I liked Bliss' latest, "Here Comes The Groom" even more. You will love it. It packs a weighty emotional punch.
Sarah Mayberry, who also writes for the HQ SuperRomance line, is a favorite. "The Best Laid Plans" & "Her Best Friend" were amongst my 2010 favorites.
Meljean Brook's, "The Iron Duke" and Kathryn Kennedy's, "The Fire Lord's Lover" were two reads that stretched my reading boundaries and I loved them both!
Hal, good luck! And I nearly swooned reading all the stuff you have to keep track of in your books. LOL
Marn, hope you like it. And can I just say how jealous I am of everyone getting "instabooks". LOL One of these days I'll be doing that too, and I'm sure my e-reader will be bulging with all the books I won't have time to read!
Janga, that is a lovely depiction. I'm definitely adding that to the list.
Whew!! That's done. I HATE phone interviews - I can never tell how they're actually going. But I *think* it went okay. Thanks for the good vibes!!!!
Janga - I still have other recs from you to get to, but I will get to them. You're a lover of the story and that's why your recommendations are so reliable. I plan on adding all the Bliss to my Reader and maybe we could get her on as a guest to promote the new one. Hmmmm...might have to send off an email.
*Puts Marn back on the list*
You can't freak a girl out like that. I am pretty much the OPPOSITE of all you raved about up there. LOL!
I actually like to read romantic suspense when I'm writing my books, which are NOT romantic suspense. LOL However, it really does give you an idea of how to keep the tension up there and sustaining it, which every writer needs to know how to do. Obviously it's at a different level, but it's still very educational. :)
That reminds me, we have Maggie Robinson hopping aboard ship once again next month. Though she might be donning her Margaret Rowe disguise. LOL! Always a fun time!
Terri, I remember a couple years ago when Suzanne Brockmann did a talk/signing at the local B&N for her last book. She lives near here, so it was a good place for her to have it. Anywho, I'd just read a couple of her books by then and enjoyed them, but I was kinda rolling my eyes at the tons of fangirls there--they were squeeing about characters as if they were real people, and they would re-read the series before a new book came out.
Now I'm almost as bad. LOL
I've never done a phone interview but that must be nerve wracking, if easier to dress for. I'm sure you did great and I'll keep my fingers crossed.
I have to say, having instant access to a book after buying it is spoiling me. I've only bought a couple e-books (I'm generally too cheap *g*), but there's something about choosing a brand-new book and being able to read it *right then* that's awesome. Don't even have to drive home from B&N!
I noticed Hellion's suggestion of Monica McCarty, and I'm glad I did. Lachlan in Highlander Unchained is kilt worthy.
I'm enjoying H.P. Mallory's urban fantasy and paranormal stories. I purchased Fire Burn And Cauldron Bubble for my NOOK, and since reading it, I puchased her other two books. Toil And Trouble is the second book in the Jolie Wilkins series, and To Kill A Warlock begins another series. I'm hoping tht Mallory will give Sinjin (one hot vampire from the JW series) his HEA.
I'm thinking of beginning the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning. Anyone read any of the books in that series?
Donna - I love when an author is able to invoke that sort of fan-love. Even more reason she'll have to wait until I'm closer to retirement and have more time on my hands. LOL!
Hal - I don't like to pay too much for books either, but I think I paid as much for the Bliss eBook as I would for the paperback. That seems wrong to me, but now I don't care. LOL!
Marn, I've seen a lot of people mentioning that series but I haven't read any. I'd like to hear what you think about it.
You know, I should just go READ. LOL I'm really in the mood now.
Sorry, Scorpio, you must have gotten hung up on the moderation deck! The new one is even better? Really? Damn. And now two more SuperRomances to look for. I should have known this blog would add to my lists. LOL!
Misty - I don't do paranormal so the others will have to help with that. But I've heard nothing but good stuff about the Moning books.
Oops, sorry -- I said Marn, when I meant MistyJo. Give me a minute while this caffeine infusion heads towards my brain!
Scorpio, I've heard good things about Sarah Mayberry too. It's a good thing I can't do instabook buying. LOL And Fire Lord's Lover was fun--I'm looking forward to the next book. :)
Wow! Almost every new to me author over the past 10 years has been a recommendation. I can't remember the last time I picked up a book off the shelf just because of the cover or back blurb.
The big ones:
Wasn't real thrilled with contemporaries a while back and the ladies at Sqauwk Radio raved about someone named Susan Elizabeth Phillips and her new release Match Me If You Can. OMG! I felt like I hit the lottery.
My sister gave me the Three Sisters Island trilogy from Nora Roberts. Another windfall. I struck the motherload with this one. Not only did she write contemps but series (which I was finding out I loved) and a lot of them were already out and readily available.
Didn't really want to read Women's Fiction cause I was afraid I'd wind up with a really depressing kind of Oprah's bookclub read with no love story or relationship included. Janga raved about Barbara Samuel/O'Neal and so I made the leap. I absolutely LOVE every book by her I've read. Not depressing at all and some hot loves scenes too.
And Q, I definitely feel the Virgin River love. I picked up the first at the library and was half way through when I ran out and bought it. Then stalked my local stores waiting and prodding for the next two! I hadn't been that crazed since JQ's Romancing Mr. Bridgerton was released (JQ was my one of my first big romance reader obsession!).
Must be going around, Donna! :) My sinuses are giving me trouble today too!
Sending good vibes, Hal. I did a phone interview once a million years ago for a job in another state. It was very short, just a kind of feeling me out kind of thing. I was pretty nervous though cause I sound 10 years old on the phone. LOL I got asked to fly out to Santa Monica, CA, though, for a face to face and eventually got the job!
I forgot to say that I've read that Karina Bliss book, Ter, and liked it! I'll have to look up that Christmas one that Janga was talking about.
I'm also very jealous of all you e-reader owners! I can't wait. I was waffling between the Kindle and Nook. I finally settled on the new color Nook and was at a party Sunday with someone who owns an Ipad and was trying to talk me into that. Quite a bit of an investment on that one, though!!!
Irish - I'm still amazed I didn't find SEP or Lisa Kleypas until I found the BB. No idea how I missed them.
I love my Sony Reader, but I can't quite do the insta-stuff that the Nook and Kindle can. I have to be hooked to my laptop to download books, but it's still pretty quick and easy. At least I don't have to leave the house!
Wow! So many books I'm sure I won't read! But I can say I've heard they're great! I haven't gotten a bad lead from you pirates yet. And I can make that Janga button... ;-)
Backlists scare me. When I started Simon R. Green's first Nightside book I had no idea I'd find myself buying 10 books in the next week! Then hunting them down in paperback so I could share them with my sis, who doesn't own an e-reader!
Some people love having a list to choose from if they find someone they love. I worry about finding I love them and going glazed as I obsessively read nothing but their stuff for as long as it takes...
Chance - I have made the mistake in the past of reading too many books by the same author in a row. As much as you can love something, you still need a break now and then. I love chocolate, but I still couldn't eat it everyday with nothing else.
Loved What the Librarian Did, thanks Janga! Talked it up so much we will be reading it in my romance book club next month. Two other authors that I really like that may not be as well known as they should be are Cindy Miles. She writes breezy time travel romance that just leaves me with a smile on my face. Her first book, as far as I know, is Spirited Away. It has medieval knight, ancient curses, and a well rounded heroine. What's not to love. The other great surprise I found just browsing my library shelves is Mary Stanton. Defending Angels is the first in her series Beaufort & Company mystery series.
Her main character is a lawyer who represents people who have died and are appealing their "sentences." The series is clever and entertaining and has just the right mix of whimsy and reality. Though not a romance there is some interesting chemistry between the heroine and a police detective that shows a lot of promise.
Irish, I have an Ipad - the school where I'm working on my MFA gave them out to all students last semester. It's not something I would have ever paid for my on my own, but it's a fun toy. I have the Kindle app on it, so I have the functionality of a Kindle and use their store and instant download. If you think you'll do a lot of e-reading, or you're not somebody who would use an Ipad as your primary computer option, I'd go with a Kindle or Nook instead -- the backlight screen on the Ipad is just as obnoxious as reading on a laptop
Beth - You're the other one who had good things to say about this story. Though I think I was already reading when I saw you'd liked it. Who knew a library could be so hopping?!
Oh yeah, I guess you did. :)
Hal - They GAVE them away? Really? That's wild.
Well, they *said* they were giving them away. Then a nifty little $300 "technology fee" showed up on the bill, that they're now charging every semester. So I'll end up paying more in the long run than I would have if I'd gotten it on my own. I also get free tech support, but I'd rather have just not gotten one at all, to be honest.
But I must say, it's a fun toy. I don't know why they gave them out, since it has in no way contributed to my education, but I have lots of games! lol.
Aha! Not so free after all. Maybe they got them at a giant discount and had to do something with them. I'm still not sure why I'd need one when I have a laptop. I'm not all that into games. :)
Beth, I love the Stanton books too and don't understand why they're not more widely read. The premise is really out there, but she makes it work. I also love Carolyn Hart's Bailey Ruth Raeburn ghost books. I wish she'd write another.
I do love the idea of a lawyer who defends dead people. I may have to look those up as well. Such a unique twist.
I find I use it instead of my laptop, with just about everything but straight-up writing. I have a keyboard attached so I can write emails, comment on blogs, check websites, etc.
But yeah, it's pretty redundant to have both an ipad and a laptop, to me.
Beth - you have a romance book club? That sounds awesome! I'm in a book club that reads more literary/mainstream titles, which is a nice change of pace (since that's about the only time I don't read romance!), but I'd love to sit down with a group of romance readers each month who'd all read the same book. Such fun!
Did that post twice? Dratted possessed Wordpress....
Hal, I agree about the book club. I'm in one that does literary/mainstream and women's fiction but that's not really my cup of tea. I wish I could find a romance one too.
I love chocolate, but I still couldn’t eat it everyday with nothing else.
Don't be silly. I could always eat chocolate!
Beth - The premise of a lawyer defending the dead sounds wonderful... Must put this author on my 'look for' list.
I fixed it, Marn.
I could never do a bookclub. I hate the idea of others deciding what I read. And even making the reading a "have to" is too much for me.
I have issues with authority. What can I say?
I am a pirate after all...
I have issues with authority. What can I say?
I am a pirate after all…
This cracked me up. I just skip bookclub the months where I think the choice was a crappy one *g*
My library has a few different genre specific book clubs - Romance, Mystery and the Civil War. It is very nice being able to discuss romance with fellow romance readers. Oh and that reminds me that one of the members of my book club is the author Gail Barrett. I would definitely like to see her get more attention. She is a Golden Heart winner and her Cursaders trilogy is really good.
Teri we are much more flexible than that. We all decide together what we want to read next and there is no pressure to read something you really don't want to. We have found that even if you don't read that month's title there is still a lot to say. :)
Beth - You're going to have to move this bookclub further south! Only about four hours, can you do that? LOL!
We can Skype you in :)
I've been to a literary book club a couple times. The first one was not my cup of tea, but the 2nd one was much more relaxed.
I'd love to find a book club that read romance novels. Double score if they also wrote, because then you could analyze the writing and technique--get different POV of what worked and what didn't.
The closest I've ever come to this is if a bunch of us have read the same Lisa Kleypas book and we start raving at the same time on the Yahoo group or here.
You realize we could start a book club on here, right? We have these Sundays we're trying to figure out what to do with. What if we used one or two for this? Heck, we could give ourselves two or three months to read the book if necessary.
But...but...no hotties? Hey, I know everyone wouldn't mind losing a Sunday a month to a bookclub. I wouldn't!
And it would be hilarious if we did it via skype! We'd all have to wear hats...
And eye patches.
Beth - Just hearing that suggestion gave me palpitations. LOL! I get verklempt at the idea of joining something. No idea why, but it's probably why I don't even join the PTA.
LOL, this is why I keep checking in on you guys every once in a while. I never know for sure what ideas you'll come up with. :)
I thought of the same thing, Ter. We could do a book club here.
I say we pick a book, read it, pick a destination and book our flights! Whaddya say!!!!
You could use a handpupper with Skype, Terri...to represent you... ;-)
I don't have Skype. Otherwise it sounds fun. We definitely need to figure out something to do about our Sundays. *LOL*
I like Irish's idea, so long as we pick someplace warm.
Handpuppet. I don't want to know what a handpupper is. So shut up! LOL!
I was just about to ask what a "handpupper" was. LOL! I was afraid to google it!
Kiddo says there's some free video chat thing through Facebook. She and her friends use it. I'll have to see if this would suffice for a virtual meeting of the pirate minds.
That phrase alone should strike fear in the heart of the internet.
I'm like you, though, don't like to be told what to do! I feel the same about book reviews too. Smacks too much of homework to me. I absolutely love reading them but would rebel if I had to do them. Especially on a regular basis. I give all of you that do it a lot of credit.
Maybe it's that Catholic rebellious gene rearing its ugly head again! LOL
This might finally get me to join Facebook! Which, of course, would send my 15 y/o right over the edge!
Irish - Great idea! Is there anyplace warm at this point? In the Northern Hemisphere?
Could be the Catholic thing, but I would probably be this way without that upbringing. :)
;-)
A handpuppet.
Oh, 2nd, don't give me ideas.
Mine will be a kraken!
I'm trying to visualize how you could get everyone up on your screen at the same time. I'm picturing the TV wall at Wal-mart or Target with a different face on each screen! :)
Now I want a kraken puppet...
http://www.firetheimagination.ca/images/productImages/orig/Octopus_Hand_Puppet.jpg
Donna: Q, mark your calendar for Feb. 3 — I won a contest to have “Jack” from Jack’s Bar in the Virgin River series visit my blog!.
How exciting! Will Robyn Carr be answering questions?
Will you be interviewing her?
I will be making super-human efforts to get there. :D
2nd Chance: But…but…no hotties? Hey, I know everyone wouldn’t mind losing a Sunday a month to a bookclub. I wouldn’t!
If there was agreement on the book, it sound a good idea. Could even discuss a pirate MS?. I would be happy with a blog posting devoted to comments. Not sure I could commit much time though.
I might be able to cope with the odd hottie poking his nose in ... to put you all in the right mood! *grin*
http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2011/01/wolves.html
Oh, this made my Tuesday. BROUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!
I'm in. A virtual book club sounds fun.
Terri!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I want that handpuppet! WHERE DO I GET IT!!!!!
Oh, god. Well, I'm at home, I can go to Hyperbole and a Half without fear of laughing hysterically at Starbucks and being carted away to the looney bin... Here goes!
How the hell should I know? LOL! I just went to Google images!
Hellie - Those are the most EEEEEVVVVIIIILLLLL children EVER. OMG! That is horrible. LOL!
Oh, lord. Benny. Poor, poor, Benny. I can see him, years later, trying to explain it all to his therapist.
Here you go.
http://www.thefind.com/family/info-octopus-puppet
Yes, evil children. Maybe Benny grew up to make horror movies. About little girls who are really evil wolves...
Terri - Another reason you are perfect. PUPPETS! WEEEEEE!
I just ordered the finger puppet one... I may have to get the bigger one, but thought I'd start small! ;-)
I'm perfect, huh? Thanks. I don't hear that nearly enough.
The finger puppet? LOL! That is starting small.
Don't worry, Q, I can't commit for too much more than that either.
Yeah, but easier to goof off with and pack and take with me to my signings and prop on something and... I'm thinking about this way too much! LOL!
Can I be the reader who says, "But this is an octopus. Krakens are squids."
You know, squids...instead of FICTIONAL sea monsters.
I'll add something to him to make him more krakenish... And yes, you would be the reader to be particular! LOL!
Besides, maybe that is what kraken look like! So there!
MY kraken is something between an octopus and a squid...so maybe I can just add two extra long tentacles with flipper looking things on the end to MY finger puppet so he looks like MY kraken!
How about that. Over 100 comments. I need to do more blogs on reading. LOL!
Well, everybody reads!
Read any good books lately?
Weeeeell ... I just got this book. It's called ... "The Art of the Tart".
No.
It's not an instruction booklet on how to be a wanton woman. It's about tarts as in desserts. You guys are going to make the sit in the corner now aren't you? Until I come up with something more Piratecalish.
Uhmmm ...
How about I was out of the regular wine, so I put champagne in my meatloaf?
*slash*
Sigh. I know ... Julie goes overboard again.
Post a Comment