Reading Pet Peeves

So I’m reading away the other night, totally engrossed in a really good book, turning the pages as fast as I can. When suddenly everything comes to a screeching halt and I’m ripped out of the story.

Why?

Because the author didn’t know her stuff. Didn’t do her research. And I caught it. I had to put the book down. Oh, I’ll finish it because I love this author and I love this book. But for right now I need to take a break from it because the mistake was something that shouldn’t have happened if the author had done the research needed. And it’s a simple thing to do. A quick Google search would have netted the correct usage of a word.

Note to contemporary authors: There’s a HUGE difference between jail and prison. The character, who happens to be a cop, would definitely know that difference, yet he used the wrong term and it pulled me completely out of the story.

So what is your reading pet peeve? What will make you throw the book against the wall and walk away from it?

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Watcha Readin’?

So what’s everyone reading?

I’m currently reading Linda Howard and Linda Jones romance, Running Wild. I love Howard’s romances and couldn’t wait to get my hand on this one. So far it’s everything I’d hoped it would be.

In book 1 of this steamy new contemporary Western romance series by two blockbuster authors, a cowboy and a woman on the run take a stand and fight for love.
 
Carlin Reed lives in fear, off the grid, moving from place to place. So Battle Ridge, Wyoming, a small town in the middle of nowhere, seems like a good place to lie low for a while. But after becoming cook and housekeeper to cattle rancher Zeke Decker, Carlin suspects that she’s made her first mistake. Rugged, sexy, and too distracting for his own good, Zeke is pure temptation mixed with something deep and primal that makes Carlin feel almost safe. Soon things are getting way too hot in the kitchen.

Zeke doesn’t challenge Carlin’s terms: cash, dead bolts, and no questions. It is easy to see that she’s a woman in trouble. Problem is, he’s so blindsided by his attraction to her he can’t think straight. Zeke tries to stay all business, no complications—but that game plan is sabotaged the second Carlin gets under his skin. And when her terrifying past follows her to the ranch, Carlin faces a heartbreaking choice: run away from the man she loves, or put him in the crosshairs of a madman.

I need to grow my TBR pile. Not. But I do like to hear about great books. Tell me what you’re reading.

 

Are you a one book person?

For two years I’ve been waiting for Ken Follett’s sequel to Fall of Giants. TWO YEARS! That’s a long time! But finally it came out and I’m so excited I can’t stand it. The problem is I’m in the middle of another book that I’ve been waiting to read (Maya Bank’s Never Seduce a Scot).

So now I have a dilemma. Finish Banks’ book or put it on hold and start Follett’s book.

Some people can read two and three books at a time, but not me. I’m a one book person.

What about you? How many books do you have going at a time?

 

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?

 

Comfort Reads

As a reader, sometimes I’m in the mood for a certain genre and sometimes I’m not. Paranormals (vampires, shape-shifters, etc), I have to be in a certain mood for. Romantic suspense–have to be in a certain mood for. Sometimes I need something new and fresh. And sometimes I need something comforting. Something I’ve read before and loved. A standby that will…well…comfort me.

My comfort reads are Julie Garwood historicals. Ahhh. How I love her heroes and heroines. They’re great stories I can fall into that I’ve read over and over and never get tired of.

<–My three favorites

 

So what is your comfort read?

Unique Book Cases

I’m not one of those people who think books are disappearing in this digital age. After all, we still use pencils even though we have computers. I definitely have a bookcase full of books as well as a Kindle full of books–I believe there’s room for all kinds of media. Which leads me to today’s post. Unique book cases. For some reason I was Googling book cases the other day and came upon a plethora of very cool ways to display your physical books. Here are a few I found and wish I could have:

Alphabet book case. How cool would this be in a classroom?

Staircase bookshelf. Except I would need a banister or I’d fall off the steps.

A book tree!

A Rubiks Cube bookcase! I so want these!!

Put a refrigerator in this for my diet root beer and I wouldn’t have to move all day!

I’m not really sure what this is. It looks cool but isn’t too practical. Plus I’d be afraid a book would fall on my head.

This doesn’t seem very safe. I’d feel like a gerbil on one of those exercise wheels. Come to think of it, maybe this is what I need 🙂

Now this is something I’d put in my house. Very cool!

Books I read in 2011

In 2011 I wasn’t as prolific of a reader as I’ve been in the past due to a family emergency that took me away from my books. But I did manage to get some books read and I’m pretty impressed that I managed what I did. As always, some spoke to me more than others and some I couldn’t finish at all. Good or bad, here’s my list:

Favorite newly-discovered-by-me author: Laura Griffin. I have finally found a romantic suspense author who “gets” police officers. I can so tell she’s done her homework. I didn’t have to throw one book against the wall because she put a safety on a Glock or had her characters say “perp” (a term police officers don’t use). Come to think of it, I think she did use that term once or twice, but I forgave her for it because all of her other research was spot on. If you like romantic suspense, definitely pick up a Laura Griffin.

Favorite non-romance: The Help. ‘Nuff said.

Favorite historical romance: Lord and Lady Spy by Shana Galen. Loved the interaction between the two main characters and loved how strong, yet how vulnerable they both were.

Favorite contemporary romance: Cover Me by Catherine Mann. Another good story with two strong characters.

Favorite non-fiction: In an Instant by Lee Woodruff. The story of Bob and Lee Woodruff and how as a couple they overcame Bob’s traumatic brain injury. It was a story I needed to read since I was going through the same ordeal with my husband. Very inspiring book that made me realize I wasn’t alone on this long journey.

What book spoke to you in 2011? What book didn’t? What favorite author did you discover? Inquiring minds want to know.

City of Thieves		David Benioff
The Final Detail		Harlan Coben
The Girl Who Played with Fire		Stieg Larrson
A Knight’s Enchantment		Lindsey Townsend
Rebellious Desire		Julie Garwood
Lady Isabella’s Scandalous Marriage		Jennifer Ashley
The Countess		Lynsay Sands
The Secret Duke		Jo Beverley
Bending the Rules		Susan Andersen
Outrageous		Christina Dodd
In Bed with the Duke		Christina Dodd
Mad About the Duke		Elizabeth Boyle
Memoirs of a Scandalous Red Dress		Elizabeth Boyle
A Knight to Remember		Christina Dodd
Sinful in Satin		Madeline Hunter
My Fair Temptress		Christina Dodd
The Making of a Duchess		Shana Galen
The Making of a Gentleman		Shana Galen
Captive of Sin		Anna Campbell
Blackthorne’s Bride		Shana Galen
Untouched		Anna Campbell
The Serpent Prince		Elizabeth Hoyt
The Seducer		Madeline Hunter
In An Instant		Lee Woodruff
Sizzling Sixteen		Janet Evanovich
The Soldier’s Wife		Margaret Leroy
The Help		Katheryn Stockett
Iron Lace		Emilie Richards
Letters From Home		Kristina McMorris
Heart of a Knight		Barbara Samuel
Lord and Lady Spy		Shana Galen
When You Dare		Lori Foster
Cover Me		Catherine Mann
Thread of Fear		Laura Griffin
Unforgivable		Laura Griffin
Untraceable		Laura Griffin
Snapped		Laura Griffin
Once Upon a Winter’s Eve		Tessa Dare
Unlocked		Courtney Milan