So how big a to be read pile of book is too big? I have had friends tell me that mine is way too big. Someone even accused me of having an addiction to just buying books.

I have to agree with my friends who say my pile is too big. I counted it last year and I had over 100 hard covers and trade paperbacks and 850 mass paperbacks. I’m probably down to 75 hard cover and trade paperbacks, but about 825 in mass paperbacks. I’m constantly reading but not as fast as my favourite authors release books. However I have to say that about half the books I currently have in hand were given to me by friends or at conferences. A large portion of my other books were purchased at used bookstores.

As for the friend who said I had an addiction to purchasing books, I don’t agree. However if I had to have an addiction I’d much prefer one that will educate and entertain me than any other form of addiction

I still plan on reading all the books I have on hand. It’s going to take some time but I’m up for the challenge.

So how large is your to be read pile and what are people saying about it?

This past weekend I went to see My Sister’s Keeper. I brought my Mom with me. I had read the book while she hadn’t. I can see why some of Ms Picoult’s fans are upset over the ending of the movie. Most of the movie stayed true to the book, with the exception of the ending. Personally I prefer the book’s ending to that of the movie.

Also I found that Brian and Jesse’s characters were under developed in the movie. Jason Patrick played the role of Brian, the father. He seemed to be arm candy for most of the movie, while in the book his plays a heavier role. As for Jesse his character is more interesting and believable in the book.

I have to say I had reservations about Cameron Diaz play the role of the mother. I’m so used to seeing her play comedic roles that this is quite a departure for her. All in all she pulled it off.

Now do I recommend the movie? Yep, but I still recommend the book more.

It’s funny I read a few older books lately. One of them was an anthology of Barbara Delinsky’s romance titles from 1982-1983. Now it’s not that long ago but boy have we ever changed in a lot of way. I don’t just mean in the way we dress but in what we write about.

I noticed that Ms Delinsky’s never was descriptive in her sex scenes. Maybe authors didn’t have the freedom and/or encouragement they have nowadays to describe everything. Her writing still left me feeling that the Hero and Heroine having sex was more than just getting it on.

Something else I noticed was the omission of pregnancy precautions and condoms. It’s not like they didn’t exist back then. AIDS also existed back then, but it was also something that no one talked about. Now it’s imperative to have a condom in a sex scene if the couple isn’t trying to have child. Its funny but it hit me as being careless, not having a condom mentioned in the books with potential of consequences.

Does this mean I’ll stop reading books that aren’t from this century? Heck no. Those were some of the best books I’ve read in a long time.

Some authors have all the luck and some really don’t where covers are concerned. If you think a cover doesn’t matter, you are dead wrong. You can have the biggst and best marketing for a book but if you have a bad cover BN, Chapters-Indigo and Borders will refuse to carry your book.

I have to say as a reader covers make a huge impact on me. If a cover grabs my attention I’ll pick it up and read the back blurb, no matter who the author is. About 50% of my book purchases of new authors to me are because I picked up their books in a bookstore because their cover caught my eye.

Here are two examples of great Historical Romance covers

I have to say I love the cover for IF HE’S SINFUL. They have given the reader some good eye candy. It is sure to grab the attention of readers. Ms Grasso’s cover for MARRYING THE MARQUIS is just as great. I love the fall colors, it gives it more of a tender feeling. I’m looking forward to both winter releases.

As for my cover, I’ve heard from booksellers and readers that they love it. However they don’t like the back of it. The print is too dark to be read easily. My publisher said they might be changing that with my next print run.

So has a cover influence you into purchasing a book you had no intention of purchasing in the first place?

The first Christy Ridgway book I read was a contemporary published by Avon. Well it looks like Ms Ridgway has moved on from Avon and in with Harlequin. I finished reading RUNAWAY BRIDE RETURNS.

This is the story of Izzy and Owen. They met and married during a wild weekend in Vegas. The day after the wedding Izzy ran off. Now Owen a firefighter is hurt and Izzy is back to help him and to get an annulment. Owen suffers from survivor’s guilt since the fire that injured him took the life of a fellow young comrade. While Izzy has to deal with her itchy feet not feeling the itch to move on, but can she depend on Owen being there when her own family had never been. Together they overcome their trust issues and find a strong bond fuelled by love.

I truly enjoyed this book. I can’t say it was the best book I ever read, but it did kept my attention and me wanting more. I do hope that we will see more from the other characters in the book. I believe Bryce, Owen’s brother, deserves a book of his own.

I just finished what I consider to be one of the best books of 2009. IF HE’S WICKED is a wonderful historical romance that will make you fall in love with romance books.

IF HE’S WICKED will make you wish for your very own wicked man. This delicious historical romance is filled with suspense and paranormal experiences to entice all readers. This is a new series from the author who has brought us wonderful medieval highland stories.

I have loved Ms Howell’s work for years. My favorite book of hers is HIGHALND WARRIOR, Fiona’s story. How could I not love a heroine known as Fiona of 11 knives and who takes on a hero almost twice her size? Chloe, the heroine from IF HE’S WICKED, is almost just as good, but I hate to say HIGHLAND WARRIOR is still my favorite. However I do have a new secondary character and that’s Anthony Chloe’s step-son. Did you know he has “pretty hair”? I have to say I loved reading about the men’s reaction to that comment and never tired of it throughout the book. LOL

Well done Ms Howell IF HE’S WICKED is definitely a keeper even if it didn’t kick HIGHLAND WARRIOR off the top rank of your books. I look forward to the second book in this new series

Hey everyone,

I got another fabulous review for Deadly Secrets. This one came from Manic Readers. Here is what they had to say.
 

“Deadly Secrets was a very entertaining mystery-romance. It kept me guessing who the murderer was all the way until the end of the book and you won’t believe who’s the accomplice… Deadly Secrets is a story I would recommend for most anyone to read and I commend Ms. Burke for donating proceeds to the American Breast Cancer Foundation.” Victoria Lyn, Manic Reader.
 

For the full review click here

Have you ever read a book that everyone raved and thought was fabulous, but you didn’t? I read a book this past week that friends recommended, a previous book from this author was made into a movie that I loved. However her new book, I simply couldn’t get into. I have rarely found a book that I didn’t like, but this book is on the border.

Now I kept asking myself why I didn’t like it. Was it because I had enjoyed the movie or her previous or because so many people raved about it that I put unrealistic expectation on this book? At this point, I’m not sure.

There are only two words that can describe this book “Holly Crap”. It’s such a good a book. I could barely put it down. NIGHTKEEPERS is the introduction of a new series by Jessica Andersen. Some might recognize her name since she’s a well known author from Harlequin. However her new series is nothing like her medical suspense’s.

In NIGHTKEEPERS you are introduced to Strike the up and coming King and Leah his love and maybe Queen in the making. Then there are the other younger Nightkeepers. I have to come together, become a team and save the world.

Well in this book they don’t do all that. Then what would happen with the rest of the series? However they do learn to come together as a team and find their own inner balance.

Ms Andersen’s voice is darker and edgier in this book which blends really well with the story. I found this book captured my attention but kidnapped my imagination from the first page and held on until the last sentence. I want to know more about each couple and more about Rabbit. He’s mourning the loss of a father who never truly loved and wanted him. He’s also finding his own balance and purpose he is a hero in the making. It’ll be great to see him grow into it through out the series.

The only bad thing I can think of is that I’m ticked off that I don’t have the second boo in the series so I can dive into right away. I’m going to be stopping by a bookstore today to pick up a copy of DAWNKEEPERS. If you haven’t read NIGHTKEEPERS do yourself a favor, run to your local bookstore and pick up a copy right NOW. I swear you’ll be thanking me later.

I had a wonderful week of reading. I wish I could say I read more than one book but I would be lying. I finished the latest in Victoria Pade’s series Northbridge Nuptials, HOMETOWN SWEETHEART.  I just love this series. Lucky enough I started to read it right at the beginning. I hate picking up a book mid series and then having the horror of not finding the beginning of the series.

Well this time around Neily Pratt got her turn at romance. She’s the social worker in Northbridge. She’s been taking care of Theresa Hobbs Grayson who ran away from a nursing home to come home to Northbridge. The poor dear suffers from a form of dementia. Ms Grayson’s grandson, widower Wyatt Grayson, comes home to take care of her.  Sparks fly between Neily and Wyatt. They both have to overcome past relationships in order for this one to work.

I truly enjoyed reading the books. However I didn’t love it as I have others in the series. It might be that I wasn’t quite in the mood for this book, but I am still looking forward to more in this series. I hear that the next book will be about Wyatt’s sister.