National Year

 Of Reading

 

I have just realized, half way through the year, that this is the national year of reading.

 

Just to get into the spirit of things, I thought I'd keep here a record of what I am reading at the moment.  I know I should have started in January, but better late than never!  So let's get started!

 

 

This morning, I finished, Lucy Monroe's "Forbidden: The Billionaire's Virgin Princess" (publisher M&B)

synopsis:  Princess falls in love with her bodyguard.

verdict: let's put it this way.  There is another book, linked to characters mentioned in this story, and I have already got it out ready to read, to find out what happens next!

 

I popped into the library on my way to the doctors, and boy was I glad I had!  My appointment was thirty minutes late, and if I hadn't armed myself with a book, I would have been soo bored.

 

The book I picked up was Diana Gabaldon's "Cross Stitch", the first in a series of time travelling romances, which sound absolutely fascinating.  Now this is a big, thick book, 641 pages long in the edtion I have, so I won't be finishing it any time soon.  So far, it did its job of keeping me occupied while waiting for my doctor to see me, and did it so well that when I got home, I picked it up and tackled another few chapters.  The heroine has gone back in time, and I think we have met the hero and the villain already.  Will keep you posted. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

verdict: Completely unbelievable, and huge fun! 

 

My bedtime read last night was "The Billionaire's Blackmailed Bride" by Jacqueline Baird (yes, another Mills & Boon "modern").

Synopsis: Billionaire with huge chip on his shoulder tries to take revenge on family he believes has wronged his.

Verdict: Battle of the sexes with no holds barred. 

 

"The Sheik's Defiant Bride" by Sandra Marton.  This is the first in a mini-series about 3 arab alpha males finding love.

Verdict: A salutory lesson for those contemplating artificial insemination.

 

I have got through my "To be Read" pile, so I'm onto re-reads until my next parcel arrives from Mills & Boon reader service.

Re-read "Marriage on the Rebound" by Michelle Reid.

She always tells her stories well, and this one has been on my keeper shelf for some time.

 

re-read "The Millionaire Boss's Baby" by Maggie Cox.

synopsis: temp secretary goes to work in the Scottish highlands and fall for the laird.

Verdict: the romance grows gently in a completely realistic way. 

 

The huge gap from last entry does not mean I was not reading something every day!  No, I have been away on holiday.

I took a selection of books in my suitcase - I always try to read something a little different on holiday, usually including a thriller that both my husband and I can read in shifts, so that we can compare theories about "whodunnit".

This year, I took with me a copy of "Exiles" by Anita Burgh.  I have been wanting to read something by her ever since I met her at a writer's conference last year, and was not disappointed in this story.  It was about a writer, whose life in a French rural retreat is disrupted by the arrival of various family members.  As a writer, I totally empathized with the heroine's take on life, though as a romantic, I might have hoped for the happy ending to have involved a truly heroic man to come into her life.

 

I then went on to read "Hand in Glove" by Robert Goddard.  The twists and turns kept me riveted right to the very last page.

Meanwhile, my husband was hooked on "Just one look" by Harlen Coben.  He only reads about 3 books a year, and it takes a truly talented writer to make him sit and read the book until it is finished.  And then to urge me to read it as well. I don't know if it was because I had just enjoyed the Robert Goddard so much, but I didn't feel as enthralled with it as I'd hoped.  Maybe it is because I am not American, and it was hard to completely empathize with the characters...for example, the grading of school years could not convey the ages of the children mentioned in the story, and I have no idea what a Ford Windspear is (ok, it is some kind of car, but I could not picture it!).

 

Anyway, having finished all the books I brought with me, I went to the hotel's reading room, where I was thrilled to find editions of Mills & Boon novels in half a dozen different languages!

 

And I succumbed to one of those anthologies about office romances.  I had read one of them before, but it was a pleasure to re-visit the enduring theme of efficient secretary melting the rugged heart of her ruthlessly good looking boss.

 

Then, joy of joys, when I got home, there was a fresh carton of romance novels just waiting for me to dip into.    

 

Once I have dealt with the laundry...

 

I have realized I have a book-a-day habit...since returning from my holiday, I have read (from the Mills & Boon carton) The Italian's Defiant Mistress (India Grey), Parents in Training (Barbara McMahon), Adopted: Outback Baby (Barbara Hannay), Jared's Runaway Woman (Judith Stacey), Winning the Single Mum's Heart (Linda Goodnight) and The Homeless Heiress (Anne Herries).

 

In my defence, I hardly ever watch T.V!

 

I have been keeping up my book-a-day habit, even though I have not had time to write about it!

Since my last entry, I have read Mistress Against her Will, by Lee Wilkinson (a heart-warming story of lost love re-kindled), One Night with his Virgin Mistress, by Sara Craven (her hero this time is somewhat softer than she usually makes them!), and Prince Caspian, by C.S.Lewis (I went to see the film recently, thoroughly enjoyed it, and wanted to see how close it was to the original story.  Though they did not adhere strictly to the children's story, the ways in which they adapted it for the screen made it a better film)

 

Having read The Italian Boss's Mistress of Revenge, by Trish Morey, (which was utterly fabulous) I have almost run out of my month's supply of new Mills & Boon romances to read, so I have gone back to my keeper shelf the last couple of days.

Re-read: Contracted: A wife for the Bedroom, by Carol Marinelli.

Re-read: Bought: The Greek's bride by Lucy Monroe. Originally, this was one of 2 books that came out in consecutive months.  Now, as a re-read, I don't have to wait a whole month before reading the love story of the heroine's twin sister.  Only till tomorrow!  Hope it is a sunny afternoon, so I can get the deck chair out in the back garden again.

 

July 29th.

Had a bad couple of days on the writing front as I break out in a summer cold.  For some reason, getting ill robs me of my ability to concentrate...and so I've been lying about reading instead!  (Any excuse)

First off, Lucy Monroe's "Taken: The Spaniard's Virgin", the sequel to "Bought: The Greek's Bride".  This was a lovely story, that almost had me in tears in places.  A powerful piece of writing.  No wonder I had it on my "keeper" shelf.

After that, I went on to 2 new releases from Mills & Boon, "The De Santis Marriage" by Michelle Reid.  although the premise may sound a bit preposterous - a bride backs out of a wedding, so the groom picks her best friend to stand in so that the (very expensive) celebrations can carry on as normal, I went to a wedding recently where exactly the same thing had happened!  And both bride and groom seemed entirely comfortable with the arrangement.  Of course, in the novel, it all ends happily ever after.  I hope the same is true for the couple whose celebrations I attended last weekend.

"Greek Tycoon, Waitress Wife," is Julia James's latest release.  I always look forward to her stories with eagerness, and she does not disappoint with September's offering.  Oh, how I loved it when the hero discovered...but I won't give the ending away!  You'll have to read it yourself.

Finally, this afternoon I re-read Carole Mortimer's "The Billionaire's Marriage Bargain", whilst snuffling into a box of tissues. 

 

Since last updating this column, I have read 4 more books from my keeper shelf, dating from September last year.

and last but not least, "Innocent on her Wedding Night" by Sara Craven.

 

Right - I'm keeping up to date now! 

"Jed Hunter's Reluctant Bride" by Susanne James came out last September from Mills & Boon's Modern line.  I have re-read it, and remembered why it went on my "keeper" shelf.  The Boss finds out that strong-arm tactics don't always work when it comes to matters of the heart, and the Secretary discovers that not all forceful men are necessarily bad.

Heart-warming

 

Last year Mills & Boon "Romance" line brought out a trilogy called "Secrets We Keep" about 3 women who bonded on a charity cycle ride over the Himalayas.  The trilogy covered their individual stories when they returned home.  Then, I had to wait a month before I could dip into the next installment.  But now they have been on my keeper shelf for a while, I could read all 3 in quick succession, and get the full effect!

and

were each really moving without straying over into schmaltz.

 

I went to have my hair done on Monday, and picked up a book from the charity shop next door to the salon, because I went out in such a rush I forgot to take one with me.  (And I never like the magazines they have in there!)

I bought "Forbidden Captor", by Julie Miller,  (a Silhouette Intrigue) I have to say, the cover blurb did not do it justice - it was a gripping read, working well as both a thriller and a love story.

I wish I could write like that!

 

So far this week, I have read: The boss's Unconventional Assistant, by Jennie Adams, which is about a very colourful P.A. bringing light into her grumpy boss's life,

Inherited: Instant family, by Judy Christenberry, about a girl running from her past, taken in by an extremely trusting family...(and I probably would have benefited from reading prequels to this story, to get to know them all before plunging in at this point),

and Devil's Cub, by Georgette Heyer.  Sometimes, only a Georgette Heyer will hit the spot, and the Devil's Cub was my reward to myself for finishing, and handing in my current manuscript in good time! 

 

 August 22nd

"Italian Boss, Ruthless Revenge" by Carol Marinelli, does have an Italian boss as the hero, but I wouldn't say he was out for revenge, exactly.  Still, he is a mean, tortured hero who makes your toes curl (in a good way!)

"Rocky Mountain Man" by Jillian Hart is a historical novel set in the "Wild West", where men are manly and women tough as old boots.  Usually.  The heroine of this book is particularly sunny, in marked contrast to her dark and tortured hero. I kept on reading this until waaay past my bedtime...and at the end, gave a great big sigh of contentment!

 

Since last logging in, I have read another 4 romantic novels!  The first was "Mistress: Hired for the Billionaire's Pleasure" by India Grey, (which I thought was a rather misleading title).  Rachel is never really Orlando's mistress...although he does employ her to look after his son.  Anyway, nitpicking aside, this was a lovely, heartwarming and passionate story of two people struggling to overcome immense personal problems...brill!

"The Italian's Unwilling Wife" by Kathryn Ross was one of those books where I found it rather difficult to warm to the hero and heroine at first.  But by the end, I was rooting for them to work out their differences, it was so well written.

"Millionaire Dad, Nanny Needed" by Susan Meier is the 5th in a mini series called "The Wedding Planners" which is about how the women working for a wedding planning service each find their own Mr Right.  In Audra the accountant's case, a playboy comes along urging her to stop being so uptight, and have a little fun.  

and finally...

As a change from my almost constant diet of Mills & Boon romances, I have bought a couple of romances from a different publisher - Little Black Dress.      The first is "Wish you were here" by Phillipa Ashley.  The atmosphere of these "chick lit" books is totally different from what you would find in Mills & Boon novels, and sometimes I find it a bit of a wrench to dip into them.  But Phillipa is such a good writer, her characters so well drawn, that I got into this with no trouble at all.  And thoroughly enjoyed the story of a love reborn after circumstances rip the 2 young lovers apart. 

 

Then Came the End, by Joshua Ferris almost defies description.  It doesn't have a story.  It doesn't have a dominant point of view (i.e.no hero or heroine).  And yet it is a compelling read.  It is about a group of people who work in an office.  If you've ever worked in an office, you will empathize with each and every one of the characters, and understand exactly why they do the crazy things they do.  I'm not surprised this was picked by the Richard and Judy club.  The writing is extraordinary.  It is clever, but not in the self-conscious way that often makes literary fiction so unreadable.  If you want something different, this is it.

 

I've now read the other Little Black Dress book I bought - The Chalet Girl by Kate Lace.  A very well-written, entertaining, and moving read. 

 

Back to School for most of us!  Over the weekend I read "Housewife Down" by Alison Penton Harper - the result of a competition to win a publishing contract, set up on the Richard & Judy Show in 2004.  It was well written, but not really my cup of tea.  I think there's enough unhappiness to be found in real life.  I don't really want to read about a woman trapped in a miserable marriage for 15 years, then being even more miserable when she becomes a widow.  The story certainly left this housewife down. 

 

I bought 2 of these "Housewife" books, so I had to read the other one.  But I did not enjoy "Housewife On Top", by Alison Penton Harper any more than the first in the series.  So why did I keep on reading it, right to the end?  Because her characters are so well drawn.  You can't help wanting to find out what will happen to them!

 

It was such a relief to read "Miss Winthorpe's Elopement" by Christine Merrill, in which a shy heiress and a ramshackle Duke marry on impulse, and end up falling very satisfactorily in love.  Every so often I try to vary my reading diet, but this is the kind of fiction I really enjoy.  Historical Romance. From Mills & Boon.

 

Read: "Wanted: Royal Wife and Mother" by Marion Lennox from the M&B romance line.  Lovely story about 2 people overcoming their own pasts, and learning to put others before themselves.

 

"Rags to riches Bride" by Mary Nichols, which is a charming tale set in early Victorian days, features a woman trying to maintain her independence in a male-dominated society.

 

"The Rake's Unconventional Mistress" by Juliet Landon. I have read several of Juliet Landon's medievals, and thoroughly enjoyed them.  This is the first of her regency romances I have tried.  Set in 1814, in the preparations for celebrating the Peace (which only lasted until Napoleon escaped from Elba), in a girl's school in Richmond.  Lots of amusing references to publishing, and the premises ends up becoming the hq of Mills & Boon!

 

I bought a "Desire two in one" because it had a story in by Diana Palmer, whose work I have always really enjoyed before.  "Iron Cowboy" was set in a town (referred to by the hero as Outer Cowpasture) which is populated by characters she has written other stories about, all connected with various forms of law enforcement.

The other title in the book was "Seduced by the rich Man" by Maureen Child, a writer I have never heard of before, but whose work I will be looking out for in the future!  In fact, there is a kind of follow-on to this story, which will be out in Desire 2-in-1 next month, and I plan to buy it!   

 

From Mills & Boon's Romance line, just read "The Bridegroom's Secret" by Mellissa James which winds up the "Wedding Belles" series.  Julie the junior member of the wedding planners team gets engaged to a man down on his luck, and gets cold feet when he suddenly becomes wealthy!  A nice twist on the rags-to-riches type of romance, with a hero for whom I felt great sympathy when his fiancee and daughter dragged him to a funfair.  I, too, have never seen the point of parting with money to scare yourself silly and make yourself feel sick...

 

"Bedded by the Greek Billionaire" by Kate Walker, is a tale of seduction and revenge...the darkly brooding hero has never forgotten or forgiven the girl who inadvertently robbed him of all he held dear.

 

A bit of a gap in my reading schedule because I've been away, and I can't read on the train (travel sickness)  But while I was staying with Carol Townend, she lent me a copy of Louise Allen's "The Outrageous Lady Felsham" to read at bedtime.  And, er...it somehow got put in my suitcase so I could finish it at home!  This is book 2 of a series of 6 books about the scandalous Ravenhurst cousins, so if you've missed this one, I can thoroughly recommend getting hold of the next ones in the series.  Thanks Carol, for "lending" it, and thanks Louise for such an entertaining read! 

 

OK, so now of course I've had to read the next in the series about the Ravenhurst family by Louise Allen, "The Shocking Lord Standon".  All I can say is, wow.  Or should that be ouf!  Roll on the next outing for the Ravenhursts!!

 

 

My reading has seriously slowed down lately, as I'm going all-out to try to meet a writing deadline.  But last night I permitted myself the pleasure of wallowing in a lovely historical romance by Carol Townend.  "An Honourable Rogue" is set just after the Norman conquest of England, and links in with her earlier "The Novice Bride".  A perfect blend of accurate historical research which does not overshadow the charming love story.  I'm looking forward to the next in the Wessex Brides series...

 

I have read 2 books! 

Secretary Mistress, Convenient Wife by Maggie Cox, was lovely. It was so relaxing to sit and read a story, instead of wracking my brains trying to write one. 

And The Italian's Bought Bride by Kate Hewitt was so compelling I could not put it down.  I would like my stories to have this effect on my readers!

 

I'm on to the October releases from Mills & Boon "Modern" line now.

First up is a special release to celebrate the centenary year.  Each month the publisher is putting an extra bonus story in with one of their publications.  This month is a treat for fans of Penny Jordan.  "Virgin for the Billionaire's Taking" has an Indian hero - probably to coincide with the launch of sales to India, and includes a free bonus story, "The Mistress Purchase".

"Purchased: His Perfect Wife" by Helen Bianchin, is about a couple finding true love within a modern day marriage of convenience.

And "The Vasquez Mistress" by Sarah Morgan, is a fast-paced story about an Argentinian polo player with an immense amount of hang-ups who finds true love with a vet.

 

And now I don't need to feel guilty about putting the central heating on.  Though, while I was reading "At the Sheikh's Bidding" by Chantelle Shaw, I did not need to sit by the radiator.  There was enough heat being generated between the pages!  (I mean, the extremely vivid depictions of the desert...although there was some of the other kind of heat, too!)

 

Onto a re-read from my keeper shelf..."The Boss's Wife for a Week" by Anne McAllister.  Set in America, a self-made man finally notices his loyal P.A.

 

Two more from my "give it a second read" shelf.

"The Spanish Duke's Virgin Bride" by Chantelle Shaw, from September 07.  The title says it all!

"The Kouros Marriage Revenge" by Abby Green also from September 07 about a man and woman finding love the second time round, after ironing out the misunderstandings from their youth.

 

I have just indulged in an anthology of sheiks, from Harlequin, called "Hot Desert Nights" with contributions by Lucy Monroe, Louise Allen, and Kim Lawrence.  Nothing better on a rainy autumnal evening than curling up with a cup of hot chocolate, and a book that conjures up plenty of heat! 

 

I came across a regency romance that has been sitting unread since March!  "To Catch a Rogue" by Amanda McCabe tells the story of Miss Calliope Chase, and her determination to track down "The Lily Thief".  No, the thief is not stealing lilies...but antiquities.  (That would be a whole different story - along the lines of the Monty Python sketch "Your Life or Your Lupins"!)  Since Calliope is one of a bunch of sisters, I'm guessing there are going to be sequels to this story...

 

 

What are you reading at the moment?