What are you reading?

[Ruth]

Oooh! That's one of my all-time favorites. What a woman!!

[Tammy]

I think it's going to be one of mine too -- you're so right about her!

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Gotta Have My AS Fix!]

Lord of Scoundrels is my favorite book!

[Tammy]

I'm thinking it's going to be one of mine, as well. Some of the parts have made me laugh out loud -- the things they say to each other crack me up. Have you read any other Loretta Chase books? Are they any good?

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Gotta Have My AS Fix!]

I've read The Last Hellion and Mr. Impossible (awesome), Captives of the Night, Miss Wonderful (both kind of disappointing), and Isabella/The English Witch. I buy all her books b/c of how much I loved LOS. I have quite a pile now. I also love her short story in Three Times a Bride.

[Nilofer]

I also loved the short story, if I've got the right one - was it something like "The Mad Earl's Bride"? That was the first Loretta Chase I'd read, and it led me to read her others, which I've also loved. And Lady Danielle, thanks for your post about the Atlantis series. Will try LOTU when I get the chance!

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Gotta Have My AS Fix!]

That's it, Nilofer. It is a very good short story. You're welcome regarding the LOTU. I hope you like them!

I'm finished my October Scare Fest reads and slowly reading .

[Tammy]

@ Danielle, how is the Kinsale book? I've never read any of hers, but this one looked good.

In the last little bit I've read Lord of Scoundrels, Breathless, re-read One Dance with a Duke, and have just started Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord.

Wow! Lots of historicals! I also started Dexter Is Delicious, just for something a little bit different ;)

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Gotta Have My AS Fix!]

Tammy, it's very good. The style is a little more like a classic historical book than a modern-published HR. The love scene had some good steam, but the storytelling doesn't focus on the sex or the attraction between the couple. It's more about their relationship as friends who love each other deeply and the issues they are dealing with in their lives. It's pretty funny, and I like the descriptions of small-town English life. I love the hero and the heroine, although they are frustrating me on their unwillingness to go after what they want-each other. I think that would turn off some readers. It's taking me a while to read for a number of reasons. I'm not sure, but I think you might like it.

[TJ]

Hello ladies! Since I have now fallen in love with Anne Stuart, I've been told (thank you Tammy!) that I deserve the honor of enjoying this group! I have already found more books I want to read, just by lurking for a few days!

Now, down to business, If I were to try a Kinsale book, which one would be the best to start with (ei. make me fall in love with her?)

[Tammy]

Lady Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "Tammy, it's very good. The style is a little more like a classic historical book than a modern-published HR. The love scene had some good steam, but the storytelling doesn't focus on the sex or t..."

That does sound good, Danielle --

Tammy (hi!) I bet you would like this one too, based on Danielle's description.

[Arch]

Welcome Tammy.

[TJ]

Why thank you, Arch!

[Tammy]

I just got Shadow Dance on ebay for next to nothing (yay!) and discovered that an obscure small town branch of our local library has a copy of A Rose at Midnight.

I wonder: would the fees if I "lost" the book be less than the $20 I'd pay amazon for a used copy....

[TJ]

AGH! you are a lucky one! I have been searching for some of Stuart's old ones and can't find any for less than $20.00! I've gotta learn your tricks on e-bay...

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Gotta Have My AS Fix!]

Welcome Tammy! Glad to have you. You might like Lessons in French. My other favorite Kinsales are:

Seize the Fire
The Shadow and the Star
The Prince of Midnight

[TJ]

Thanks, Danielle, I am now on my way to check them out. I'm sure you will see which ones I can find!

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Gotta Have My AS Fix!]

You're welcome, Tammy! Happy book-shopping!

[Nilofer]

Lady Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "Welcome Tammy! Glad to have you. You might like Lessons in French. My other favorite Kinsales are:

Seize the Fire
The Shadow and the Star
[book:The Prince of Midn..."

The Shadow and the Star is one of my favourites of Kinsale's books - the hero was just amazing, and the Japanese details intrigued.

But Flowers in the Storm is my all-time favourite, of all romance books ever! A story of a sudden marriage between two people who couldn't have different backgrounds:

***SPOILER ALERT****





A wealthy Duke, who is a mathematical genius in between his scandalous liasons, suffers a near-fatal stroke, is presumed mad by his family and marries in haste a Quaker woman, strong in her beliefs, each needing the other.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Gotta Have My AS Fix!]

Nilofer, I still have not read Flowers in the Storm. I hope to rectify that soon!

[Tammy]

Just read The Serpent Prince and Sins of a Wicked Duke.

Really liked both of them -- especially SoaWD. Nothing really deep about it, just a light, enjoyable romance with a "darkish" hero and a heroine with a backbone.

The Serpent Prince reminded me a bit of Anne Stuart - in tone and setting. Not as well done, of course, but I enjoyed it. Have any of you read the series?

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Gotta Have My AS Fix!]

I have not yet read those, Tammy. Both on my list.

[Tammy]

Hi everyone, just finished The Last Hellion and now reading Into The Fire.

[Tammy]

Just finished Into The Fire and started Let Sleeping Rogues Lie - I'm not sure what to think yet, (besides pretty unbelievable in terms of storyline) but I've never read this author before so I'll keep going.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Gotta Have My AS Fix!]

I am reading . It has an Anne Stuart vibe. I liked KMM's Highlander books, but she's taken it to a new level with the Fever series.

Tammy, sorry you were underwhelmed with Into the Fire.

[Tammy]

Oh no, Danielle, don't be sorry! The heroine just rubbed me so wrong I went off on a rant. I quite liked the Hero -- I'da been in the back of that Caddy with him in a second!

It had quite a 'harlequin' feel to it for me, except that it was a bit steamier than I remember them. AS got her start in categories, right? Maybe that still comes through in some of her contemporaries.

I'll be watching for your review of Darkfever -- that series seems to be everywhere but I haven't read any of that author's work.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Gotta Have My AS Fix!]

Tammy, I have a feeling you'd like Darkfever. It's urban fantasy, and so well-written.

Personally, I love AS's Harlequin books. I think they are still the best HQN's I've read. Her standalones kick up the sex and violence, and antihero quotient a bit from the series books, although the hero in Now You See Him... is pretty edgy ala the Ice heroes.

[Tammy]

I haven't read any of her Harlequins, although it looks like if I decided to start it would take me quite a while to plow through her backlist!

I find it quite interesting how different they are from her historicals. And I'll still pick up her books wherever I can find them, because even if the heroine drives me bonkers, the whole tone of her books, the men, and the steamy scenes are what keep me reading them.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Gotta Have My AS Fix!]

I read on one of her blog posts that she writes everyday heroines. I think she tries to make them non-remarkable for a reason. I feel that she is trying to convey that you don't have to brilliant, incredibly beautiful, or special to have someone love you. And, I think it's interesting how that ordinary heroine is able to crack the shell of a man who is on the edge of moral oblivion.

One thing I love about her contemporaries is the wit and the dialogue. I've found that many contemporaries don't do that well to my taste.

[Tammy]

I hadn't thought of it that way, Danielle - the contemporary version of her on-the-shelf spinster character.

You're right about the wit -- that is a constant in all of her books, and one of my favourite things about her.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Gotta Have My AS Fix!]

Oh that's a good way to describe it, Tammy. Very good parallel with the on-the-shelf spinster.

You'll find her wit is particularly evident in her Harlequin books, because they are less edgy.

[TJ]

Just had to give a huge THANK YOU LADIES for recommending Laura Kinsale. I LOVED "Flowers in The Storm"!! It is now at the top of my very short list of best books in the world!

Hey Tam, I 100% agree with Danielle on the Karen Marie Moning books, she is a strong all-time favorite of mine. Her "fever" series is some of the best urban fantasy out there and her historicals are wonderful... c'mon girlfriend give 'em a chance :D

[Tammy]

Ok, ok -- onto the tbr they go!

[Love love]

I've just started . It's been a little while since I've read one of her books and felt it was time for one of her great heros. =)

[Tammy]

I hope you go from this one right through the series, Noelle -- they are fantastic!

[Tammy]

Picked up Lover Mine today, going to start reading it right now...

[TJ]

Tam,
Have you read the other Blackdagger books? I'm not sure Lover Mine will be what it should if you haven't

[Tammy]

I have read all of them up to this one, but I have to say that I'm not real impressed so far with LM. I've been slogging through but I feel like it's just to get to the end more than out of any sense of enjoyment.

Maybe I should have re-read Lover Avenged first before I started this one, I have a real sense of "wha..?" (as in "what the heck is going on here?").

Have you read this one?

[Cindi]

I just finished a book by a male author . It was his first novel and written like an Indiana Jones screenplay. I mentioned in my review that it would have been a 5-star book if Anne Stuart or Karen Rose would have written it. Those incredible women writers need to get on the ball and write more books!!!

[SmittenKitten]

I'm reading two Anne Stuart books this month... just finished The Devil's Waltz, which I LOVED... and now I'm working on Black Ice.

[TJ]

SmittenKitten wrote: "I'm reading two Anne Stuart books this month... just finished The Devil's Waltz, which I LOVED... and now I'm working on Black Ice."

I just finished The Devil's Waltz and LOVED it too! (sigh!)

Tammy wrote: "I have read all of them up to this one, but I have to say that I'm not real impressed so far with LM. I've been slogging through but I feel like it's just to get to the end more than out of any se..."

I've read all of them UP TO Lover Mine. I just wasn't that into Xhex and John Michael being a couple so haven't been able work up enough interest to read it. I look forward to what you have to say when you're done!

[Bekah]

Finally got in the mail today!!!! I'm so excited! I held it to my breast like it was gold.

I don't know why but this book has been eluding me and eluding me and eluding me and I've just wanted it soooooooooooooo bad...

now I have it and it better be damn good!!!

[Arch]

lol Bekah.

[Cindi]

It is, Bekah! No sleep for you tonite, right?

[Bekah]

I'm not gonna start it right away...Its sitting next to me and i'm just gonna enjoy staring at it and enjoying the fact that I now own it!

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Gotta Have My AS Fix!]

Bekah, I loved that book. I know that it's not for everyone though.

[Tammy]

Hi everyone, since I last checked in I've read and

Night Fall was really good -- and a surprise for me, after reading . Night Fall's heroine was much more substantial than I was expecting, and the hero wasn't really bad at all, once you figured out what he was up to.

I would recommend Night Fall to anyone who hasn't picked it up yet.

[Tammy]

@ Bekah, how was Ritual Sins??

[Tammy]

I'm reading a Patricia Gaffney -- . After a bit of a slow start, the story has started to draw me in. The writing is almost as compelling as , I'm looking forward to getting back to it.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Gotta Have My AS Fix!]

I read , and I loved it. It was my last finished read of the year. Nice way to close 2010 out!