I’m the kind of person who packs three books when I go away for the weekend. There’s the book I want to read, there’s the back-up book (in case the first book fizzles) and there’s the book I should be reading. I also usually bring a PEOPLE magazine, but that’s a different story. (And don’t look at me that way. I’m merely reading the PEOPLE for the news, although recently I picked up a STAR and was shocked – shocked – by the trashiness of the articles. I may have to switch.)
Ahem. Where was I?
Oh, yes, reading. I like to read. I think most authors do (I can’t imagine wanting to write if you don’t like reading.) I’m one of those horrible people who often have more than one book going at a time. At the moment I’m reading a vintage A.A. Fair paperback, Beware the Curves, which I found at my parents’ house and Karen Rose‘s latest, Count to Ten (in my own defense, I’d started Karen’s book a couple of weeks ago and then misplaced it. V. frustrating.) Other books I’ve read recently are:
Claiming the Courtesan by Anna Campbell
And Then He Kissed Her by Laura Lee Guhrke
If This Bed Could Talk, an Avon Red anthology by Liz Maverick, Kimberly Dean, & Lynn LaFleur
Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay, followed immediately by
Dearly Devoted Dexter, by same
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
What Mrs. McGillicuddy Saw! by Agatha Christie
The last I probably read for the millionth time. Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, and P.G. Wodehouse tend to be comfort reads for me.
So tell me what you like to read; your comfort reads, and the books you read over and over again.
I got lazy. It is easy for me to add links at home. So all authors shall be linked to later. You know if you are lazier and can’t google *g*.
Elizabeth, firstly congratulations on your brilliant success (we were Golden Heart finalists together only a year ago)! I recently picked up a Dorothy L Sayers I hadn’t read for years called Clouds of Witness. When I first read those books, they were so wonderful, they became something of an obsession with me. But there’s so much great new stuff to read, re-reading seems to go by the way a bit. But re-reading the DLS (was going to put COW but that looked a bit prejudicial) reminded me of just how much I loved those books. I want a clone – one to read and one to do everything else I need to do. I still think Peter Wimsey is one of the greatest characters ever created.
I was just looking for a copy of “What Mrs. McGillicuddy Saw!” yesterday for my 13 yo daughter. I thought it was time she read it! *G*
As You Desire by Connie Brockway was wonderful. Promises Linger by Sarah McCarty was wonderful (don’t be fooled by it being epub and it’s way different from her erotica titles). Of course I’ve been enjoying The Raven Prince, again, so I’ll be ready when I get The Leopard Prince. I’ve only had 3 books so far this year I rated an A and these were them.
I’m a Ward fan, too. Suzanne Brockmann, Linda Howard… I’ll stop… I could go on way too long.
I’m hailing from Kuwait so I’m hoping DH finds The Leopard Prince at the PX… They won’t be selling it in Kuwait City. Otherwise I’ll head over to Fictionwise. I hate buying an ebook when I fully expect it to be a keeper.
I love Kathleen Woodiwiss. It’s timeless, epic romance that feeds my history soul. Julia Quinn always makes me smile. Nora Roberts gives me real characters and great friendships.
And since you mentioned Wodehouse, I have to mention Douglas Adams. There’s nothing like the misadventures of Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect to make a bad day turn around. I mean, really, when have I had it so bad that I’ve been trapped outside a Vogon airlock in that fragile thirty second period before I asphyxiate? My world just doesn’t seem so bad. 😉
I like to read paranormal and historical romance, mostly. I also like fantasy/urban fantasy and mysteries (with a romantic element).
My favorite comfort reads are Elizabeth Peters (especially her Vicky Bliss series) and Lindsey Davis mysteries. More recent reads that I turn to when needed are Lord of Scoundrels and As You Desire. I re read Lisa Kleypas and JR Ward too.
Hey, Anna! Lord Peter Wimsey has got to be one of the hottest detectives ever created. Did you know his middle name is Death? Really! If I thought I could get away with it, I’d name MY hero Death.
I started reading Agatha Christie at about your daughter’s age, Alecia. Are you saying you can BUY a paper copy of TLP at the PX in Kuwait??? That’s so cool!
I used to listen to the radio version of THE HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY, Lawson. I think part of the reason I love PG Wodehouses is that the world is so sweet. The worst thing that ever happens to Bertie is that his Aunt Agatha’s coming to luncheon and he’s gotten engaged to some girl again.
And I loved Peters’ Vicky Bliss books, Devon! I think Peters was a bit ahead of her time with that series.
I’ll check in again later…
My comfort reads are the older Linda Howard books and Susan Elizabeth Phillips. Recently I have had good luck with reader recs for authors I’d never tried. In fact that’s how I came to read THE LEOPARD PRINCE was an online reader/blogger review.
Elizabeth–I recently read on fellow blogger Marg’s site that Peters is writing a new Vicky Bliss. No more detail than that though.
“I started reading Agatha Christie at about your daughter’s age, Alecia. Are you saying you can BUY a paper copy of TLP at the PX in Kuwait??? That’s so cool!”
Oh, no. I’m only saying I hope I can. The (small) PXes here carry a few romance novels. I have no idea how they choose what to stock but I can’t count on peanut butter there, much less an author I want. I know they don’t have mainstream romances in the stores out here on the economy. I’m only holding out on buying the eBook because I want to try a little longer to get a print copy. Wish me luck! :^)
Hi Elizabeth, I’m like you, always have more than one book on the go (including the one I should read), or I did until my baby was born. Much less time for reading now and it KILLS me! Congratulations on the success of your ‘Prince’ series.
Oh, Devon! Fantastic news about more Vicky Bliss mysteries. I love VB and of course John is one of the best heroes of all time. How can an utter coward and a thief be so darn sexy? Night Train to Memphis is one of my favourite comfort reads.
I love Wodehouse too and I also read Loretta Chase and Mary Balogh over and over as well as Georgette Heyer, my ultimate comfort read. Great post, Elizabeth!
Great news about Vicky Bliss, Devon. Of course she must be, what? Sixty or so by now? 😉 Good luck with finding TLP in paper, Alecia, and thank goodness for e-readers!
Another fan of Agatha Christie here! I started reading her at 12 yo. She was my first favorite author and several of her books have been confort reads for years. I still keep all of them and some related too. I hope your daughter enjoy her books Alecia, I loved them when I was in my teens, and reread some of them a lot of times.
Now, I read mostly romances and so most of my confort reads are romances. There are some favorites authors with many wonderful reads like Mary Balogh, Liz Carlyle, Candice Hern, Heather Cullman, Suzanne Brockmann, Kathryn Shay, J.R.Ward, etc. I have been lucky and have read a lot of great books. The Raven Prince is one of them, definitively a keeper.
Actually, Elizabeth, I think Loretta Chase beat us to Death for a hero. I’m pretty sure Dain in Lord of Scoundrels (which I might have read once or twice – snort!) is actually Sebastian Guy De’Ath Ballister. I’ve always wondered if that was a sly reference to LPW. And you’re right about him being hot – I had/have a HUGE crush on him! There’s something about that brain…
Lord Peter Wimsey (and Dain, never noticed that) are two of the best heroes ever. When I was 12 there was a PBS Mystery series of “Strong Poison”, and I was just floored. Wimsey was so witty and intelligent and urbane, and the way he totally fell for Harriet Vane from afar, and worked so hard to prove her innocence…sigh. I was glomming Sayers for ages after that.
Well, darn, Anna, there goes that hero name! 😉 ‘Course JR Ward has kinda cornered the market on over the top hero names these days…
Thanks for the great discussion, ladies!