What are you reading October 24?

[Okie]

I'm starting this week with Maggie Stiefvater's The Scorpio Races.

[Cindy]

I'm re-reading Maybe This Time by Jennifer Crusie. I loved it the first time, and I'm loving it just as much the second time around.

[Kasey]

I started Sin and Surrender by Julia Latham last night. I usually like her League of the Blade series.

[Irisheyes]

Just finished Robyn Carr's Bring Me Home for Christmas. Another great installmant in the Virgin River series.

I also read Jane Graves Heartstrings and Diamond Rings. I liked it, but if you've never read her before don't start with this one. Start with Tall Tales and Wedding Veils. I liked that one a lot more. I'm going to glom her backlist. I really like her voice.

Off to find Toni Blake's Holly Lane.

[Dls]

I've been reading lilian Darcy. The first one I tried was so good I tried a few more which were not bad . Now i have 4 new books on my nook; Carr, Higgans, Thomas and Balogh. Decisions decisions....

[Monica]

I'm starting Eternal Flame, by Cynthia Eden. So far so good!

[Manda]

Continuing my RS marathon I finished IF YOU HEAR HER by Shiloh Walker last night. It's pretty dark romantic suspense, but was set in small town Kentucky, which I liked. And the heroine was blind--but was in no way pitiable because of it, which I loved.

[Janga]

I finished The Black Hawk, which I loved so much that I immediately reread sections. Jo Bourne is incredible. I think Elizabeth Hoyt is fantastic as well, but I had a big problem with the character arc for Charming Mickey. Anybody else read Scandalous Desires? I read Robyn Carr's Hidden Summit today and reread Loretta Chase's Isabella.

[Dls]

I've been holding off on talking about SD until next month since it's our monthly read. I didn't expect to like Mickey as much as I did....

[Janga]

Oops! I didn't realize it was our monthly read. I received a notice that the monthly read was Courtney Milan's Unclaimed. Can someone clarify for me?

[Kasey]

Because so many good book come out at once the Elizabeth Hoyt one is in December. Unless you all want to have two books up for November and pick another one for December. I would be okay with that.

[Irisheyes]

Just finished Holly Lane by Toni Blake. Awesome read and even better because it is a Christmas read. I loved it. I really loved what she did with Sue Ann and Adam. Took me completely by surprise because Sue Ann was the one happily married through the previous books in the series but the whole arc of the breakup and new relationship made perfect sense to me. I love when an author shakes things up, provides a HEA and has it make sense, especially character-wise. Loved Jenny and Mick's side story also :)

[Janga]

I loved Holly Lane too, Irish.

Kasey said:
Because so many good book come out at once the Elizabeth Hoyt one is in December. Unless you all want to have two books up for November and pick another one for December. I would be okay with that.Either choice is fine with me, but I think there will inevitably be months when there are several books we are all excited about released at the same time. EJ's The Duke Is Mine releases on December 27, as do new books from Julie Anne Long, Laura Lee Guhrke, and Robyn Carr, all of whom have enthusiastic readers in this group.

[Kasey]

If you scroll down on the home page...it shows all of are upcoming books. I know EJ's is in Jan. I think we have a schedule through March right now.

You're right. There are certain months were a lot of new books come out at once. That's why we kept EH's new one on the rotation and just moved it until December.

[Dls]

The book that isn't on that I would love to see there is Jo Bourne 's Black hawk.

[Manda]

It does seem like December is a bit late for the Hoyt since we have quite a few voracious readers among our ranks;) I like Kasey's idea of having two books for November. Then maybe we can find something else for December. Maybe a Christmas book?

We're just not going to be able to have every book we want as the book of the month. There are waaaaay too many release months like January with its eleventy billion fabulous releases for that. But there is nothing that says you can't start a thread about The Black Hawk, D. In fact, I encourage it! I know we do a lot of our discussions in this thread, but sometimes I'd like to have more in depth chat that feels possible in this thread.

[Dls]

Ok will do...as soon as I have read it!

In the meantime I just read Kristan Higgans new book. And I'm having my usual mixed reactions . On the one hand there are ao many things I love about how she writes. And each of her books goes a little deeper emotionally . On the other hand...why does she feel the need to always humiliate her heroines ? I realize she is looking for plot conflict bit there are so many other forms .
And I don't believe anyone says "holy Elvis ".
Also it's hard to believe that Posy is 33 and never had a serious relationship....
But this book feels like she is slowly moving towards being able to trust herself as a more serious writer . One day...

I also read Toni blakes new book . Didnt work that well for me.

On to Robyn Carr.

[Dls]

Oh and I tried Graves heart strings and diamond rings and couldn't get into it at all. But I read the teaser for Black Ties and Lullabies, got hooked and read thR book. I really liked it.

[Janga]

Dls, I usually like Jane Graves's books a lot: Tall Tales and Wedding Veils is a favorite keeper, but Heartstrings and Diamond Rings was meh for me. I really disliked her heroine's take on life for a single woman.

[Kasey]

Manda - I like the idea of starting a thread for some of the books that we can't fit into the monthly reads list.

When I change the books at the end of the month I can put up both Courtney Milan's and Elizabeth Hoyt's book for November. Does anyone have any good Christmas-y books they want to read for December then?

One that I saw in the store today was aA Winter Scandal by Candace Camp

[Irisheyes]

Janga wrote: "Dls, I usually like Jane Graves's books a lot: Tall Tales and Wedding Veils is a favorite keeper, but Heartstrings and Diamond Rings was meh for me. I really disliked her heroine's take on life for..."

I felt the same way, Janga. I like her voice and am going to get some of her older books (I'm on the lookout for Black Ties and Lullabies, DLS!), but HADR just didn't do it for me like TTAWV did.

[Dls]

Well, I just downloaded Tall Tales, so we'll see. Irisheyes, you can always buy an electronic version of BTAL, and read it on your computer with the B and N free reader.

I just went through all my pre-orders and while there are some books I'm really eager to read coming out, none of them are specifically Christmas books. One option might be for someone (Janga?) to offer some great old Christmassy books that we can pick between. Or I'm perfectly willing to wait for Hoyt until December--I will happily reread it so its fresh in my mind...

[Dls]

Oh, and I thought I had mentioned that I read Lord and Lady Spy, but I don't see it anywhere. I was really disappointed. But I would love to see someone write a book about how a couple dealt with repeated miscarriages...

[Irisheyes]

Dls wrote: "Well, I just downloaded Tall Tales, so we'll see. Irisheyes, you can always buy an electronic version of BTAL, and read it on your computer with the B and N free reader.

I just went through all m..."

Thanks, DLS :) I've got a Nook and I love it! I've been purchasing a lot of re-releases and books that are under $5, but I'm still struggling with purchasing an e-book for the same amount I would pay to actually hold the book in my hand (strange quirk of mine. LOL) I still frequent my UBS and walk away with 6-10 books for under $15 and feel a little more fiscally responsible than downloading current releases for full price.

In fact, I just picked up Black Ties and Lullabies yesterday and was going to start reading it today! I hope you enjoy TTAWV!

I'm all for picking out a few Christmas books to talk about in December! Maybe an historical and a contemporary! That would be fun.

[Janga]

I've recently reviewed new Christmas books from Robyn Carr,(Bring Me Home for Christmas) Debbie Macomber(1225 Christmas Tree Lane), Toni Blake (Holly Lane), and Sherryl Woods(An O'Brien Family Christmas), Christmas anthologies from Harlequin (contemporary) and Carina Press (steampunk), and an ebook reissue from Carla Kelly (Marian's Christmas Wish). I have read and liked Lady Sophie's Christmas Wish by Gwen Burrowes. Carla Kelly's collection of new Christmas stories, Coming Home for Christmas--a Harlequin Historical, will be released on November 15.


Among older Christmas books, Mary Balogh's Christmas Belle and A Christmas Promise, Diane Farr's Once Upon a Christmas, and Jo Beverley's Winter Fire are favorite historicals. My favorite contemporaries are hard to find. Lisa Kleypas's Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor may be one many of us have read or could find easily. Christie Ridgway's Must Love Mistletoe and Sarah Mayberry's Home for the Holidays are also good and should be available at UBS or library.

Or we could just do Christmas reads and everyone talk about their favorites. I'm also fine staying with Hoyt, although I will not reread it.

[Susan]

I slogged thru The Bride Wore Scarlet by Liz Carlyle. Damn, it took me 12 days to read that one. Although it is excellent, I just couldn't relate to it.

Then I read A Well Favored Gentleman by Christina Dodd. I know this is an older book, but it was new to me. Wheee, I flew through that in a day and can't recommend it enough!

[Dls]

Wow Janga that pretty much covers the ballpark!I am a huge fan of Marian's ChristmAs wish ; the new Kelly also interests me and I like Lady Sophie's Christmas Wish. The Baloghs and the Beverly would also be fun...

[Janga]

I love Marian's Christmas Wish too, D, and I think Carla Kelly deserves a wider audience.

Susan, A Well Pleasured Lady, the book that comes before A Well Favored Gentleman was my first Christina Dodd book. These two Fairchild books made La Dodd an autobuy for me.

[Dls]

I read Tall Tales and liked it, although not nearly as much as I liked Black Ties and Lullabies.
I also read the two Balogh re-releases that just came out; The Famous Heroine and the Plumed Bonnet.
Boy, there is no one like Balogh. I was fascinated by both of them. I wasn't quite sold on the HEA of the Famous Heroine--I mean, I believe the hero liked his wife and was very attracted to her, but not that he was head over heels for her. (And maybe we weren't supposed to believe that he was head over heels?) But I was fascinated by how the story played out. I also really liked the Plumed Bonnet--I did feel like she ended it a little abruptly, but it was classic Balough and well worth reading.

[Susan]

Susan, A Well Pleasured Lady, the book that comes before A Well Favored Gentleman was my first Christina D..."

Thanks for the recommendation. I'll have to get it now...

[Monica]

DLS:
I also read Toni blakes new book . Didnt work that well for me.

I haven't read this one yet. Actually I don't think I've ever read anything by Toni Blake... But I was thinking of picking it up. What was it about the story that didn't work for you?

[Dls]

Hi Monica;
Hm. Often when I don't like a book I can say exactly why, but this time its more that there wasn't anything that worked for me. Usually Toni Blake's characters click--for me, and with eachother. These two just didn't. They were not particularly appealing to me as people and I couldn't really see their appeal for eachother. I don't know that I can put it any better than that.

[Dls]

BTW, I just pre-ordered Manda's book on Barnes and Noble....

[Monica]

Dls,
Lol, I understand! Completely!

I'll have to see if Manda's book is availble for pre-order for the kindle!

[Dls]

I just looked at the books that are being released Tuesday. WOW. Black Hawk, the new Meljean Brooks, Coming HOme by Jodi Thomas, the new Sarah Mayberry...and three others. I am going to be lucky to get anything done!

[Janga]

I know! I have all those except The Black Hawk and The Comforts of Home, which I already have, plus Grace Burrowes’s The Virtuoso, Kieran Kramer’s If You Give a Girl a Viscount, Nora Roberts’s The Next Always, Cara Elliott’s Too Wicked to Wed, Kay Stockham’s Christmas in Montana (HSR), and Karen White’s The Strangers on Montagu Street on my list. There’s a repeat on December 27 when EJ, Julia Anne Long, Laura Lee Guhrke, Robyn Carr, Teresa Medeiros, Emily March, Raeanne Thane, and Gaelen Foley, all have new books releasing.

[Dls]

And then this long gap in between with relatively few books . sigh.

[Manda]

You guys are making my head spin. At least I know by the December 27th releases I'll have finished this darn book!

[Mrs.ColinBridgerton]

Dls wrote: "Ok will do...as soon as I have read it!

In the meantime I just read Kristan Higgans new book. And I'm having my usual mixed reactions . On the one hand there are ao many things I love about how s..."

Read and finished Until There Was You as well.
Usually I love her stuff, but the last few books, have been on the mixed emotion train as well. This one I had no problem with until the very end. Its was all so sudden and unsatisfactory. Also had a problem with the heroine practically begging the hero, and when she said "Pick me" I had a flashback of Grey's Anatomy.

I'm not sure if it was mentioned she never had a serious relationship, but that doesn't bother me, and I do believe it. Some people have serious issues so I get it. But she didn't strike me as the type with issues.

On the other hand, it was super easy to read and had me laughing at many points. So I would give it a 3.5 stars ;-)

[Dls]

I have put everything else aside and am rereading Jo Bourne's books, in order of Adrian's growing up, in preparation for Tuesday. I am amazed all over again at the quality of her writing...