What’s in your TBR pile?

“If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” ― Stephen King

I was a reader way before I was a writer. Way before. Which has lead to piles and piles of books sitting around my house. In neat piles. I swear they’re in neat piles. Luckily my husband is an avid reader as well and his piles are bigger than mine.

So today’s Friday Five is a list of books in my TBR (To Be Read) pile. Mind you, this is just a small sampling of what’s awaiting me 🙂

1. The Many Sins of Lord Cameron – Jennifer Ashley

2. A Season of Seduction – Jennifer Haymore

3. This Duchess of Mine – Eloisa James

4. Along Came a Duke – Elizabeth Boyle 

5. A Week to be Wicked – Tessa Dare

So what’s in your TBR pile?

 

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My Five Favorite Heroines

For today’s Friday Five I’m talking about heroines. I like a heroine who is flawed, funny and overcoming a major obstacle that either happened in her past or she’s dealing with at the opening of the book. She also has to be strong enough to put her hero in place, but I don’t want her stronger than the hero.

So here they are, in no certain order:

1. Stephanie Plum – Janet Evanovich’s Plum series – contemporary. Stephanie’s humor is legendary and while she readily admits she doesn’t know what she’s doing, she still tries.

2. Laura Townsend – Catherine Anderson’s My Sunshine – contemporary. Laura is my favorite heroine of all time. After suffering a brain injury and losing her career, Laura must learn to cope with a new life.

3. Diana, Countess of Arradale – Jo Beverly’s Devilish – historical. Ms. Beverly picked a perfect heroine for her famous Rothgar. Diana is rich and strong willed enough to face down the formidable hero and the king himself.

4. Claire – Diana Gabaldan’s Outlander – historical. Outlander is one of my top five favorite books of all time so it makes sense that Claire makes this list. Although Gabaldan doesn’t consider Outlander a romance. Claire is a spunky 20th century woman who finds herself in the 18th century with a sexy Highlander.

5. Samantha Jellicoe – Suzanne Enoch’s Suzanne Jellicoe series – contemporary. Samantha is a thief who is caught by a sexy billionaire while she’s trying to steal from him. This is a five book series that I wish would never have ended.

So who are your favorite heroines?

 

Happy September 14th

Today on Friday Five I’m talking about today – September 14th

Sept 14th is the 257th day of the year. Why is today such an important day, you ask? Why, I shall tell you.

Today is:

National Cream Filled Donut Day. While I’m not a big fan of cream filled donuts, I am a fan of donuts in general. It’s been ages since I’ve had one because my hips and butt don’t appreciate when I eat them. My favorite donut is blueberry. I wonder if there’s a blueberry donut day?

 

Eat a Hoagie Day. A hoagie is also known as a sub. I love subs. Turkey, swiss, mayo, pickles and tomatoes are my fave sub ingredients. Hold the onions please.

 

 

National Anthem Day in the United States. A tribute to Francis Scott Key who penned the popular song that became the US anthem on this day in 1814

 

Pet Memorial Day. For all our furry (or maybe not so furry) family members that have passed.

 

 

 

On this date in 1752 England and America adopt the Gregorian calendar and had to skip Sept 3-13th. Imagine if it was your birthday that was skipped?

 

 

Now its your turn to tell me what your favorite donut is….

Top 5 Favorite Romances

Welcome to Friday Five where every Friday I list five of my favorite things then ask you to do the same. Today I’m listing my five favorite romances and discovered, after I wrote my list that all of them, except #5, are historicals. Huh. Figures my top five are the same genre I like to write.

Again, these are in no certain order:

1. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

 

 

 

 

I read this book over ten years ago and still, to this day, the characters have stayed with me. I just recently downloaded the Kindle version and when I get time, I’m going to read it for the third time.

 

2. A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux

I remember reading this book twenty-two years ago. Yes, that’s how old it is. But its timeless and, again, another book where the characters just stay inside you. This is more time-travel than historical, but still an excellent book.

3. The Bride by Julie Garwood

Julie Garwood’s historicals are comfort reads to me. I read them over and over when I’m feeling down, or can’t settle into a good book. I absolutely love every one of her heroes.

4. Lord and Lady Spy by Shana Galen

I just recently read this one and didn’t want it to end (the hallmark of a great book). I loved the characters and the fact they are married but didn’t really know much about each other. Some of my favorite stories are about couples who are couples before the book even begins.

5. Second Chances by Sharon Sala

When I first started even thinking about writing romance I knew I wanted to write emotion like Sharon Sala. This book is packed full of it. The journey these two characters take really spoke to me.

Okay. Your turn. Name five of your favorite romances. One… Two… Three… GO!

My Bucket List of Places to Visit

It’s time for Friday’s Five! This week I’m listing the top five places I want to visit.

(These aren’t in any sort of order. I’m not picky about what comes first)

1. Scotland – I picture lush green grass, hills and castles. I really, really want to see some castles. Oh, and men in kilts. Can’t forget the men in kilts. And I want to hear the accents. Sigh. The accents

2. England – Anywhere in England. I’d love to see an old English pub and more castles (do you detect a theme here?). I actually have family in England. Well, extended family. My brother-in-law hales from York, I believe but lives in the US now. Why, I don’t know when he can live in ENGLAND.

3. Paris. For the usual reasons. Because it’s a romantic city, because it has so much history and because I’m writing about it right now and would love an up close and personal look. I actually have an invitation for a girl’s weekend away with my SIL in Paris. Wish I could afford it 😦

4. Venice – Part of the book I’m writing now is set in Venice and from my research it sounds like a beautiful, romantic city. Plus I want to ride on a gondola.

5. The Mediterranean – Blue, blue water. White sands. If I had to pick one place, just one, to visit, this would be it.Okay. Your turn. Where would you like to go if you had the chance?