Wow, I haven't touched my blog in over 6 years and I'm still logged in! Good thing because I have no idea what my password is. In those 6 years alot has happened. I have 3 granddaughters, age 5, 3, and 7 months. My husband of 40 years retired last year. We moved to be closer to my daughter (and all those granddaughters). I volunteer at the Friends of the Library (where else!) and loving it. I babysit (too much sometimes) but I love that those cute little girls come running, screaming "Grammy!" I know that someday when they turn into teeny boppers they won't be that thrilled, but I appreciated it now. Our new house has a BIG yard and when (and if) the rain stops I'll be spending a lot of time outdoors. We want to do some traveling, but other than a road trip down the California coast last year, we haven't done much. Too much time was spent finding and buying a house, listing and selling our house and packing and purging 29 years of junk and junky furniture. It was exhausting. We'll get to the fun stuff soon.
I still read over 100 books a year, but I have thrown in a few mysteries and chicklit to go with my favorite romances. Maybe I'll try to write a book review once in a while just for fun. I miss all my blogging friends but we've all (mostly) moved on to other social media ways to tell others about books. I see some of my favorite bloggers on Goodreads and enjoy following them and their reading.
Reading now: The Coincidence of Coconut Cake
Renée Reads Romance
An avid reader of all types of romance - historical, paranormal, contemporary, romantic suspense - with some mystery and science fiction thrown in.
Saturday, April 08, 2017
Friday, December 31, 2010
HappyLight & Happy New Year!
I've wanted one of these Full Spectrum Lights for several years and finally put it on my Christmas list this year. And my son got it for me. This lamp uses Natural Spectrum light to help with the symptoms of "Winter Blues" and SAD (seasonal effected disorder). For years I've had a hard time dealing with the dark, gloomy winters we have here in the Seattle area. I have no energy and my mood is borderline depression. I blogged about getting one of these types of lights years ago but never got around to buying one. I thought they were a bit pricey and I wasn't too sure they would work. But this one was only about $50 at Costco so I thought it was worth a try. Also this one is small (only 12" high) and fits almost anywhere.
The package says that it emulates sunshine and will improve your mood and energy and help with your productivity and concentration. You're supposed to sit in front of the light (between 6" - 24" away from your face) for 30 - 60 minutes in the morning with your eyes open. They suggest reading or knitting or something or put it next to your computer while you work. I put mine on the small table next to my comfy chair where I read.
I've have used is now for the past two days and I think I can feel a difference already. I actually felt like doing stuff today. I put away all the Christmas decorations. Amazing! That usually doesn't get done until the last couple weeks of January. A promising start. We'll see how it goes in the next few weeks since they say you may not feel the effects for a month or so.
Recent reads:
Love in the Afternoon by Lisa Kleypas
This is the 5th book in the Hathaway series which tells Beatrix's story and is my favorite book in the bunch. I loved Beatrix from the very first book with her quirky animal menagerie which includes a hedgehog and a ferret and other creatures who need her special care. She has a way with wounded animals and a tender heart. Beatrix is the "baby" of the family and is now 23 y.o. All of her siblings are married and settled and she's feeling like she will never find anyone since she realizes how odd she is in comparison to most young ladies. Beatrix starts a correspondence with Captain Christopher Phelan who is fighting in the Crimean War. However, Captain Phelan thinks he is corresponding with his love interest, Prudence, Beatrix's friend. The letters are funny, charming, and touching at times. When Christopher returns home from the war, he is suffering very badly from guilt and what we would call PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). When he finds out that he has been exchanging letters with Beatrix rather Prudence, he feels betrayed and angry. I loved Kleypas' writing in LITA and thought it was one of her best efforts since Devil in Winter. Beatrix and Christopher were wonderfully drawn and made a perfect match. LITA is not a DIK but it comes close.
My Grade: B+
Monday, December 20, 2010
My Best of 2010
I have a few 2010 books that I still want to read so this is just a preliminary list. Only two were A reads, the rest were B+. I have only reviewed one of these books.
There are four more 2010 books in my TBR and a whole bunch more on my wishlist. I'd better get cracking and get some more read before the annual poll at AAR. I love to submit my yearly favorites for this poll.
I think my favorite of the year is Libertine's Kiss by Judith James. An unusual book with a great hero and heroine set in an unusual time period (Restoration Period) - also very HOT. James also wrote Broken Wing which is one of KristieJ's favorites.
There are four more 2010 books in my TBR and a whole bunch more on my wishlist. I'd better get cracking and get some more read before the annual poll at AAR. I love to submit my yearly favorites for this poll.
I think my favorite of the year is Libertine's Kiss by Judith James. An unusual book with a great hero and heroine set in an unusual time period (Restoration Period) - also very HOT. James also wrote Broken Wing which is one of KristieJ's favorites.
Author | Title | Grade |
Balogh, Mary | A Matter of Class | B+ |
Bourne, Joanna | The Forbidden Rose | A |
Carr, Robyn | Forbidden Falls | B+ |
Dahl, Victoria | Lead Me On | B+ |
Dreyer, Eileen | Barely a Lady | B+ |
Higgins, Kristan | The Next Best Thing | B+ |
James, Judith | Libertine's Kiss | A |
Robb, J. D. | Fantasy in Death | B+ |
Ross, JoAnn | The Homecoming | B+ |
Singh, Nalini | Bonds of Justice | B+ |
Total | 10 |
Saturday, December 18, 2010
AAR's Top 100 Romances Results
I'm meant to post this a couple weeks ago.
I was amazed to discover that I have read 92 out of AAR's Top 100. Of the 8 I have not read, 4 were written by Julie Garwood. Here's the complete list:
The Last Hellion by Loretta Chase
Honor's Splendor by Julie Garwood
The Secret by Julie Garwood
Ransom by Julie Garwood
Saving Grace by Julie Garwood
And Then He Kissed Her by Laura Lee Guhrke
The Rake by Mary Jo Putney
When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn
I have been meaning to try Garwood because CindyS is a huge fan and I know most of these are probably on her list. So maybe I'll dig up one or two of these and give them a shot.
In comparing AAR's Top 100 with my Top 100, I found that only 30 of my favorites appeared on AAR's list. I guess my tastes are a bit different. Many of the book's on AAR's list were pretty good reads for me but were not what I would consider keeper. For example I remember liking Lord of Scoundrels, but it didn't exactly "wow" me. Maybe I need to re-read that one. I'm a bit surprised and disappointed that there were no books Anne Stuart or Carla Kelly.
This was a fun activity for a book-aholic like me. Next time this poll comes up I'll do some re-reading and spend more time creating my list because I just kinda slapped this together at the last minute. I know my top 10 or 20 favorites is correct but the rest .... not so much.
I was amazed to discover that I have read 92 out of AAR's Top 100. Of the 8 I have not read, 4 were written by Julie Garwood. Here's the complete list:
The Last Hellion by Loretta Chase
Honor's Splendor by Julie Garwood
The Secret by Julie Garwood
Ransom by Julie Garwood
Saving Grace by Julie Garwood
And Then He Kissed Her by Laura Lee Guhrke
The Rake by Mary Jo Putney
When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn
I have been meaning to try Garwood because CindyS is a huge fan and I know most of these are probably on her list. So maybe I'll dig up one or two of these and give them a shot.
In comparing AAR's Top 100 with my Top 100, I found that only 30 of my favorites appeared on AAR's list. I guess my tastes are a bit different. Many of the book's on AAR's list were pretty good reads for me but were not what I would consider keeper. For example I remember liking Lord of Scoundrels, but it didn't exactly "wow" me. Maybe I need to re-read that one. I'm a bit surprised and disappointed that there were no books Anne Stuart or Carla Kelly.
Num | Title | Author | AAR Ranking |
2 | Pride and Prejudice | Jane Austen | #4 |
3 | Flowers from the Storm | Laura Kinsale | #6 |
8 | After the Night | Linda Howard | #55 |
9 | To Have and To Hold | Patricia Gaffney | #60 |
10 | All Through the Night | Connie Brockway | #90 |
11 | Naked in Death | J. D. Robb | #24 |
19 | Morning Glory | LaVyrle Spencer | #59 |
20 | Sea Swept | Nora Roberts | #74 |
22 | The Spymaster's Lady | Bourne, Joanna | #20 |
23 | Dream Man | Linda Howard | #47 |
27 | Not Quite a Husband | Sherry Thomas | #18 |
28 | Dreaming of You | Lisa Kleypas | #2 |
29 | Thunder and Roses | Mary Jo Putney | #88 |
30 | It Had to Be You | Susan Elizabeth Phillips | #15 |
40 | Sugar Daddy | Lisa Kleypas | #52 |
43 | The Duke of Shadows | Duran, Meredith | #94 |
45 | Cry No More | Linda Howard | #80 |
51 | Match Me If You Can | Susan Elizabeth Phillips | #42 |
52 | Passion | Lisa Valdez | #65 |
54 | The Madness of Ian Mackenzie | Jennifer Ashley | #10 |
55 | Paradise | Judith McNaught | #13 |
56 | The Serpent Prince | Elizabeth Hoyt | #44 |
65 | Devil in Winter | Lisa Kleypas | #3 |
66 | Heaven, Texas | Susan Elizabeth Phillips | #22 |
70 | Perfect | Judith McNaught | #45 |
73 | My Dearest Enemy | Connie Brockway | #86 |
74 | Welcome To Temptation | Jennifer Crusie | #36 |
87 | Slave to Sensation | Nalini Singh | #51 |
94 | See Jane Score | Jane Gibson | #50 |
95 | Slightly Dangerous | Mary Balogh | #7 |
Total | 30 | 30 |
This was a fun activity for a book-aholic like me. Next time this poll comes up I'll do some re-reading and spend more time creating my list because I just kinda slapped this together at the last minute. I know my top 10 or 20 favorites is correct but the rest .... not so much.
Tuesday, December 07, 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Top 100 Romances
I promised to post my Top 100 Romances that I submitted to AAR a few days ago. I procrastinated until the last minute. No surprise there. I used the list I made in 2007 and just updated and rearranged it a bit. Before doing this next time I should re-read some of them and take a little more time putting them in order.
I had a hard time figuring out how to put them in any kind of order. In general, my favorites are grouped at the top and everything else I just kinda stuck them in.
I had a hard time figuring out how to put them in any kind of order. In general, my favorites are grouped at the top and everything else I just kinda stuck them in.
Num | Title | Author |
1 | A Rose at Midnight | Anne Stuart |
2 | Pride and Prejudice | Jane Austen |
3 | Flowers from the Storm | Laura Kinsale |
4 | The Notorious Rake | Mary Balogh |
5 | Red Adam's Lady | Grace Ingram |
6 | Fallen From Grace | Laura Leone |
7 | Night in Eden | Candice Proctor |
8 | After the Night | Linda Howard |
9 | To Have and To Hold | Patricia Gaffney |
10 | All Through the Night | Connie Brockway |
11 | Naked in Death | J. D. Robb |
12 | Black Ice | Anne Stuart |
13 | Duncan's Bride | Linda Howard |
14 | Mrs. Drew Plays Her Hand | Carla Kelly |
15 | Truly Madly Yours | Rachel Gibson |
16 | Reforming Lord Ragsdale | Carla Kelly |
17 | Sunshine and Shadows | Tom and Sharon Curtis |
18 | Last Summer | Theresa Weir |
19 | Morning Glory | LaVyrle Spencer |
20 | Sea Swept | Nora Roberts |
21 | With This Ring | Carla Kelly |
22 | The Spymaster's Lady | Bourne, Joanna |
23 | Dream Man | Linda Howard |
24 | Heart of Deception | Taylor Chase |
25 | Breathless | Guhrke, Laura Lee |
26 | Heart of Fire | Linda Howard |
27 | Not Quite a Husband | Sherry Thomas |
28 | Dreaming of You | Lisa Kleypas |
29 | Thunder and Roses | Mary Jo Putney |
30 | It Had to Be You | Susan Elizabeth Phillips |
31 | The Surgeon's Lady | Carla Kelly |
32 | The Wives of Bowie Stone | Maggie Osborne |
33 | One Summer | Karen Robards |
34 | The Emerald Necklace | Diana Brown |
35 | Dance | Judy Cuevas |
36 | Lady Gallant | Suzanne Robinson |
37 | Nightfall | Anne Stuart |
38 | Joe's Wife | Cheryl St. John |
39 | Faro's Daughter | Georgette Heyer |
40 | Sugar Daddy | Lisa Kleypas |
41 | Wolf in Waiting | Rebecca Flanders |
42 | A Fine Work of Art | Shelby Reed |
43 | The Duke of Shadows | Duran, Meredith |
44 | Ride the Fire | Pamela Clare |
45 | Cry No More | Linda Howard |
46 | Out of Control | Suzanne Brockmann |
47 | The Phoenix Code | Catherine Asaro |
48 | The Windflower | Tom and Sharon Curtis |
49 | MacKenzie's Pleasure | Linda Howard |
50 | The Lady's Tutor | Robin Schone |
51 | Match Me If You Can | Susan Elizabeth Phillips |
52 | Passion | Lisa Valdez |
53 | One Good Turn | Carla Kelly |
54 | The Madness of Ian Mackenzie | Jennifer Ashley |
55 | Paradise | Judith McNaught |
56 | The Serpent Prince | Elizabeth Hoyt |
57 | The Libertine's Kiss | Judith James |
58 | Lady of Quality | Georgette Heyer |
59 | Anyone But You | Jennifer Crusie |
60 | A Debt of Honor | Diana Brown |
61 | Prairie Wife | Cheryl St. John |
62 | To Love a Dark Lord | Anne Stuart |
63 | The Monk Downstairs | Tim Farrington |
64 | Virgin River | Carr, Robyn |
65 | Devil in Winter | Lisa Kleypas |
66 | Heaven, Texas | Susan Elizabeth Phillips |
67 | Simple Jess | Pamela Morsi |
68 | Devilish | Jo Beverley |
69 | Skypirate | Justine Davis |
70 | Perfect | Judith McNaught |
71 | Bliss | Judy Cuevas |
72 | Winter Garden | Adele Ashworth |
73 | My Dearest Enemy | Connie Brockway |
74 | Welcome To Temptation | Jennifer Crusie |
75 | Sleeping Beauty | Judith Ivory |
76 | Libby's London Merchant | Carla Kelly |
77 | All the Queen's Men | Linda Howard |
78 | A Family for Gillian | Catherine Blair |
79 | Born in Fire | Nora Roberts |
80 | Caressed by Ice | Nalini Singh |
81 | A Much Younger Man | Dianne Highbridge |
82 | Slow Heat in Heaven | Sandra Brown |
83 | In the Midnight Rain | Ruth Wind |
84 | Menage | Emma Holly |
85 | Family Blessings | LaVyrle Spencer |
86 | Games of Command | Linnea Sinclair |
87 | Slave to Sensation | Nalini Singh |
88 | The Reluctant Heroine | Dawn Lindsey |
89 | The Nightingale's Song | Kathleen Eschenberg |
90 | All Night Long | Michelle Jerott |
91 | Kinsman's Oath | Susan Krinard |
92 | Upon a Wicked Time | Karen Ranney |
93 | Render Unto Caesar | Gillian Bradshaw |
94 | See Jane Score | Jane Gibson |
95 | Slightly Dangerous | Mary Balogh |
96 | Silk and Secrets | Mary Jo Putney |
97 | The Lone Rider | Lauren Bach |
98 | Texas! Chase | Sandra Brown |
99 | The Trouble With Joe | Emilie Richards |
100 | Heart Throb | Suzanne Brockmann |
Total | 100 |
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