The Viscount Who Loved Me

This was my latest Julia Quinn read. I've decided that reading her can be extremely dangerous. I started it yesterday morning and ended up being late to work. Note to self: read Julia Quinn only on weekends.

Needless to say, I enjoyed the book: 4 out of 5. Anthony Bridgerton decides it's time to marry, and he sets his sights on the beautiful Edwina Sheffield. Her older sister, Kate, knows about Anthony's reputation as a rake, so she is opposed to the match. Unfortunately, Kate is attracted to Anthony, and he reciprocates her feelings.

The dialogue and humor really shine in this book. Kate and Anthony make a terrific pair. As I read about Kate's fear of thunder and lightning storms, I couldn't help but think about a quote attributed to Chekov: "If in the first chapter you say that a gun hung on the wall, it must without fail be discharged." Kate's fear of storms plays out in a big way, as does another event described early in the book. (I won't go into detail here to avoid spoilers.) I anticipated the former (and it didn't detract from the reading experience), but the latter scene surprised me. Looking back, I see that it shouldn't have, but in any case, I enjoyed noting Quinn's craftsmanship.

Anthony's realization at the end of the book did seem abrupt, but The Viscount Who Loved Me was primarily a fun, memorable read.

Alyssa

The Devil Earl

On Monday, I read The Devil Earl by Deborah Simmons. I was intrigued by the premise: Prudence Lancaster writes gothic novels and becomes inspired by the tall, dark, and handsome hero, Ravenscar, who is known as the Devil Earl. When his brother disappears, many people suspect that Ravenscar had something to do with his disappearance. Prudence doesn't believe this, and she embarks on a mission to save his reputation.

I enjoyed the first half of the book very much. This is the second of Simmons's books I read--the first was The Vicar's Daughter, which I would rate 4 out of 5. Simmons has a knack for bringing her characters to life, and I found that to be the case with The Devil Earl. About halfway through, however, the story loses steam. I was far more interested in the book when it focused on Prudence and Ravenscar and less interested when the mystery of his brother took center stage. In the end, I'd give The Devil Earl 3 out of 5.

Alyssa

Romance Reading: A History

The first book I remember reading is Pippi Longstocking, a book I received when I won a reading contest in first grade. After that, I read just about anything I could find. By the time I started high school, I was alternating classics with teen romances. Quite a combination, I know, but I had to read something light after my required reading for school. Right before I went to college, I got a summer job at a used bookstore, and suddenly I had access to thousands of books. This changed my world. I tried Regencies, historical romance, and series, and soon developed a list of favorite authors. Though I didn't have that job long, my enjoyment of romance novels continued.

For several years, I stuck with the authors I trusted, along with the occasional new-to-me author. Usually I'd stumble across a book at the used bookstore or library that seemed interesting. You can imagine how that turned out--in between the occasional treasure or the completely hideous read were several interesting books and a number of forgettable ones.

Last year, I discovered romance review websites, and my reading world changed again. I had access to reviews that discussed plots and offered ratings. I started reviewing books, and I tried other new-to-me authors. It amazes me now when I think that two years ago, I had never read a book by Nora Roberts. I also discovered authors such as Rachel Gibson, Justine Davis, and Suzanne Brockmann.

It's been a fun journey. I buy many more new books these days, but I've been more pleased with the results, which is more than I can say for years past.

Alyssa

My Top 100 Romances

At long last, my list of 100 favorites. It's the best I can do at the moment, but this list could change as soon as tomorrow. Whew! This was quite a task, but here goes:

1. Naked in Death, J.D. Robb
2. Immortal in Death, J.D. Robb
3. Glory in Death, J.D. Robb
4. Living Dead in Dallas, Charlaine Harris
5. Inner Harbor, Nora Roberts
6. See Jane Score, Rachel Gibson
7. Dead to the World, Charlaine Harris
8. Over the Edge, Suzanne Brockmann
9. Betrayal in Death, J.D. Robb
10. Club Dead, Charlaine Harris
11. Vengeance in Death, J.D. Robb
12. Holiday in Death, J.D. Robb
13. Night Watch, Suzanne Brockmann
14. Lord of the Storm, Justine Davis
15. Off Limits, Michele Albert
16. Nobody Does It Better, Jan Freed
17. Conspiracy in Death, J.D. Robb
18. Witness in Death, J.D. Robb
19. Prince Joe, Suzanne Brockmann
20. A Man to Trust, Justine Davis
21. Face the Fire, Nora Roberts
22. A Great Catch, Michelle Jerott
23. Love's Duet, Patricia Veryan
24. A Whole Lot of Love, Justine Davis
25. Portrait in Death, J.D. Robb
26. Remember When, Nora Roberts
27. Dead Until Dark, Charlaine Harris
28. Out of Control, Suzanne Brockmann
29. The Reluctant Cavalier, Karen Harbaugh
30. Gone Too Far, Suzanne Brockmann
31. Too Many Bosses, Jan Freed
32. The Defiant Hero, Suzanne Brockmann
33. It Must Be Love, Rachel Gibson
34. Purity in Death, J.D. Robb
35. A Suitable Bodyguard, Kathryn Shay
36. Undead and Unwed, MaryJanice Davidson
37. Summer Campaign, Carla Kelly
38. When He Was Wicked, Julia Quinn
39. The Ice King, Dinah Dean
40. Love, Come to Me, Lisa Kleypas
41. "Going Down," Donna Kauffman
42. Chesapeake Blue, Nora Roberts
43. The Tyrant, Patricia Veryan
44. Sea Swept, Nora Roberts
45. Rising Tides, Nora Roberts
46. Getting Her Man, Michele Albert
47. Bodyguard, Suzanne Brockmann
48. Whispers in the Woods, Helen R. Myers
49. Heartless, Mary Balogh
50. Impulse, Candace Camp
51. This Is All I Ask, Lynn Kurland
52. A Stranger's Kiss, Shelly Thacker
53. Her Secret Thrill, Donna Kauffman
54. The Wagered Widow, Patricia Veryan
55. After Hours, Vicki Lewis Thompson
56. Key of Knowledge, Nora Roberts
57. Behind Closed Doors, Shannon McKenna
58. Hunter's Moon, Karen Robards
59. Something Wonderful, Judith McNaught
60. My Dearest Enemy, Connie Brockway
61. Taking Cover, Catherine Mann
62. Lord Carew's Bride, Mary Balogh
63. Someone to Watch Over Me, Lisa Kleypas
64. Hero Under Cover, Suzanne Brockmann
65. "The Forbidden Daffodils," Mary Balogh
66. "The Nekkid Truth," Nicole Camden
67. The Only Way Out, Susan Mallery
68. The Edge of Light, Joan Wolf
69. Midnight Bayou, Nora Roberts
70. Loyalty in Death, J.D. Robb
71. Night Fire, Catherine Coulter
72. Lone Star Millionaire, Susan Mallery
73. Divided in Death, J.D. Robb
74. Visions in Death, J.D. Robb
75. "The Best Gift," Mary Balogh
76. Lord of Scoundrels, Loretta Chase
77. Just a Memory Away, Helen R. Myers
78. Imitation in Death, J.D. Robb
79. The Counterfeit Coachman, Elisabeth Fairchild
80. Guilty Pleasures, Laura Lee Guhrke
81. Ceremony in Death, J.D. Robb
82. Reunion in Death, J.D. Robb
83. Born of the Sun, Joan Wolf
84. "Touch Me," Shannon McKenna
85. Flight from the Eagle, Dinah Dean
86. Rapture in Death, J.D. Robb
87. Seduction in Death, J.D. Robb
88. Born in Ice, Nora Roberts
89. My Darling Caroline, Adele Ashworth
90. Acting on Impulse, Vicki Lewis Thompson
91. Bad Boys Online, Erin McCarthy
92. Judgment in Death, J.D. Robb
93. A Thing of Beauty, Casey Claybourne
94. The Mandarin of Mayfair, Patricia Veryan
95. By the Book, Nancy Warren
96. Undead and Unemployed, MaryJanice Davidson
97. "The Nutcracker Sweet," Nancy Warren
98. Room . . . But Not Bored, Dawn Atkins
99. Miss Chartley's Guided Tour, Carla Kelly
100. The Lady's Tutor, Robin Schone

I have some definite favorite authors, those with three or more titles on the list:

Mary Balogh
Suzanne Brockmann
Justine Davis
Charlaine Harris
J.D. Robb
Nora Roberts
Patricia Veryan

There are several with two titles:

Michele Albert/Michelle Jerott
Dinah Dean
Jan Freed
Rachel Gibson
Donna Kauffman
Carla Kelly
Shannon McKenna
Nancy Warren

This was an interesting exercise, even if my eyes feel a bit crossed.

Alyssa

Reading Marathon

I've been on a book-reading marathon, which started with When He Was Wicked. What I learned is that I shouldn't start a Julia Quinn novel in the evening. I ended up staying up to the wee hours of the morning. I loved it and rate it 5 out of 5. That sent me to the bookstore on Friday. I bought To Sir Phillip, With Love, which I read yesterday. I enjoyed that one very much also: 4 out of 5. I'm fond of stories that include exchanges of letters, so I loved the way this one started. I was incredibly moved by the scene where Phillip tells Eloise about his first marriage. I can tell I'm going to look for more of her books on my next bookstore trip.

On Friday, I read Justine Davis's In His Sights. I've enjoyed a number of her books in the past; in fact, three of her books are on my top 100 list. This one was a 3 out of 5. Rand is investigating a series of thefts at Redstone, Inc., and Kate is a suspect. Of course, they fall in love. The story wasn't bad, but it wasn't particularly memorable, either.

Here are my latest scrapbook pages:

In the Garden, Page 1
In the Garden, Page 2

Family Portrait, Page 1
Family Portrait, Page 2

Now I think I'll finish my list of my 100 favorite romances. I keep talking about it--now it's time to finish it.

Alyssa

Donna Kauffman

I finished my review of Night Play, which ended up being 4 out of 5. Fun stuff as long as you don't take it too seriously.

I just finished Bayou Heat, a Loveswept romance by Donna Kauffman. I enjoy her writing very much, and I count on her to provide a good read. Bayou Heat is no exception. The plot: Erin McClure goes to Louisiana to research the bayou. Her guide is Teague Comeaux. After a very unconventional meeting--she finds him injured and naked in her bathtub--they develop a friendly, flirting relationship that develops into something more. The copyright date is 1996. Kauffman has improved as a writer since then, but I still enjoyed reading Bayou Heat. I rate it at 4 out of 5.

The short story "Going Down?" from Bad Boys on Board (what a title!) is the first of Donna's stories I read. It's about two people who get stuck in an elevator. I enjoyed it so much that I started collecting her books. My favorite is Her Secret Thrill. In fact, this is one of the books on my top 100 list. I was drawn into the story from the first, and it was wonderful to the end.

I met Donna at an August book signing at Turn the Page bookstore in Maryland. I did a scrapbook page about the signing (which you can see in this blog; she is the tan woman in the bottom photo on the first page). She was gracious and friendly, though it was too crowded to allow much interaction. It was nice to meet someone whose work I've enjoyed so much.

Next up is When He Was Wicked, by Julia Quinn. It includes one of my favorite plot elements: seemingly unrequited love. I've heard good things about it, so I'm hoping for a terrific read.

Alyssa

Comfort Reads

I turn to comfort reads when I look at my TBR pile and nothing catches my fancy, when I'm having a bad day, or when I don't have much time to spare but still want to read. Comfort reads are those reliable books that you enjoy each time, even if you've read them a dozen times before. When I pick up one of these books, I don't usually start at the beginning and read it all the way through. Instead, I start with a memorable scene. I may read more scenes or I may stop with one--whatever works in the time I have.

Several authors qualify as my comfort reads: J.D. Robb, Rachel Gibson, Suzanne Brockmann, Charlaine Harris. I'm sure I left out a few names. I'll do individual blogs about each of these authors in the future, but for now, I'll simply mention that J.D. Robb's Witness in Death is today's comfort read. I'm a big fan of the In Death series. I read them more for the relationships than the mystery, and Eve and Roarke are particularly sweet in this installment. The dinner scene is perhaps my favorite moment with the couple.

Once I finish Witness, I'll turn my attention to something new. Ah, decisions. But for now, I'm just going to light a scented candle, settle into my book, and enjoy.

Alyssa

I've Moved

I wanted to have this blog at my domain, but I couldn't figure out how to get any of the other links to work. I have some skill with the Internet, but I'm not that savvy, apparently. In any case, I'm here now, where you'll be able to view individual posts, see archives, and leave comments.

I'm between books at the moment. Bubbles Ablaze isn't working for me; perhaps it's just my mood. I'm setting it aside for a while and will move on to something else.

Alyssa

Cleaning and Scrapping

I spent a lot of time cleaning this weekend. Getting things organized has been on my to-do list since I moved. In a previous blog, I mentioned that I am a packrat, so there is a lot to organize. I've been setting the timer to clean and sort in 15-20 minute increments. It sounds easy, but this is often the last thing I want to do when I get home from work.

Something I don't have trouble making time for is scrapbooking. I did several more pages this weekend.

Day at the Zoo, Page 1
Day at the Zoo, Page 2

A Merry Place, Page 1
A Merry Place, Page 2

I'm still working on my list of 100 favorite romance novels. I'm up to number 62 with no sign of stopping.

Alyssa

Locked Out

I took another day off work today, though that wasn't my original plan. I walked out of the house, locked the door behind me, and realized that I didn't have my keys. I was locked out of both my house and my car. Thankfully, I had my cell phone, so I called my mom, who (bless her!) drove to my house and called AAA so they could open my car door. From there, I would be able to open the garage door and get into the house.

At first, everything went as planned. My mom came over, called AAA, and we waited. They came after about half an hour, then tried for at least an hour to get into my car. The man had a number of tools, but none of them were working. In the meantime, the clock was ticking. I missed one meeting, and I was supposed to be having lunch with a friend soon. And the poor guy was still trying to open my car door. Finally, he had a friend come by with another tool, and that one worked. By this time, however, it was almost noon. I decided that after I had lunch with my friend, made a quick stop at the store, and drove to work, there would only be a few hours left in the day, so I called and said I wouldn't be coming.

Instead, I went to the craft store with my mom, met Lisa for lunch, ran some errands, and came home. It was a nice afternoon, though I hadn't planned to take another day off. I'll have a lot of work to do next week.

In other news, I finished Mind Game. The second half of the book was better than the first, but it wasn't good enough. I rate it at 2 out of 5. Next on my list is Sarah Strohmeyer's Bubbles Ablaze, which is third in a series. I checked the fourth one out of the library, so I've got to get reading. I'm also working on my next TRR review.

After reading an invitation on another website, I'm compiling a list of my favorite 100 romance novels. Generating a list of 100 favorites won't be too difficult, but I know I'll have trouble putting them in order. At any rate, it's an interesting project, and I'll post it here once I finish it.

I created several more scrapbook pages tonight. Along with the ones about the Shakespearean Festival, I scrapped some photos of my nieces and nephew. I've had the pictures for a while and finally did the pages. Other than a few out-of-control gobs of glue, I'm pleased with the way they turned out.

The World's a Stage, Page 1
The World's a Stage, Page 2

Enjoying the Lights, Page 1
Enjoying the Lights, Page 2

Alyssa

About Arlington

When I was in Maryland for a few days in August, I made a side trip to Arlington National Cemetery. I spent only a few hours there, and it was incredibly peaceful. I stopped at some of the famous sites, but I was particularly impressed by the rows of markers honoring the dead. I created some scrapbook pages about the trip.

Arlington, Page 1
Arlington, Page 2

In Memoriam, Page 1
In Memoriam, Page 2

Like any art or craft, scrapbooking is a process. The first set of pages (with the red, white, and blue color scheme) came together quickly. I spent considerably more time on the In Memoriam pages, though they look simpler. Color selection was the issue, but I'm satisfied--if not thrilled--with the results.

I picked up some developed pictures today: some from a trip to the zoo with one of my nieces; the other roll is from the Utah Shakespearean Festival. I'm planning to scrap with photos from the latter roll this weekend. I have some paper in mind that I think will be perfect. That doesn't always happen, but I appreciate it when it does.

In the meantime, however, I'm hoping to finish Mind Game. I finished my review of Don't Look Now. It should be posted sometime next week. I should also be getting a new package of books to review, and that's always fun. I love opening the package and seeing what's inside. And when I don't have review books, there's always my TBR list . . .

Alyssa

Back to Work

I went back to work today. It's amazing how staying home one day can put you so far behind. I am a writer and editor who works on catalogs, brochures, newsletters, etc. Lately I've done a lot of writing for the Internet, and this morning there were several web issues waiting for me. Fortunately, one of my coworkers had time to take a few of my projects so I could turn my attention to other pressing work. (Thanks, Katrina!) I'm getting caught up, but it's a process.

I'm still working my way through Mind Game. It shouldn't be so difficult; usually I will read a 358-page book in one or two days depending on my free time. I keep putting this one down, however. I'm on page 217, which means I should be able to give a detailed plot summary by now. Here goes: Nicolas, a telepath, has been sent to rescue Dahlia, who has telekinetic abilities. So far, they have escaped the initial danger, gone to rescue Dahlia's trainer, and engaged in a lot of mental lusting. Frankly, there's not much happening here. Mind Game has too much description and not enough substance to engage my interest.

Tonight I will turn my attention to my TRR review. After I finish it, Sherrilyn Kenyon's Night Play is next. This will be the first of Kenyon's books I've read, and it's part of a series. It should be interesting.

Alyssa

About Organization

I can't count the number of books I've collected over the years. I'm trying to sort them, but I have a hard time letting go, especially when I pay full price. It doesn't help that I'm a packrat to begin with. I moved into my first house last year and discovered that I have boxes of books that I barely remember reading. I must go through these boxes and decide what to keep so I can get things organized.

Used books are a little easier to let go. I frequent two used bookstores: one is 15 minutes away and the other is 30-40 minutes away. I've also started using my local library. Often I'll be intrigued by a book because of its plot or a book review. Now I search the library catalog first unless it's an author I buy automatically. I check out a book, read it, and make a decision about whether I want to buy a copy. I've saved a lot of money with this method. Still, I can say with honesty that I have too many books. Going through them will take time.

I have a considerable pile of books I'm waiting to read, sometimes called TBR (to be read). On Saturday, I resigned myself to the fact that I needed a larger bookcase for them, so I moved one upstairs. This has reduced the piles of books in my bedroom. I'm now using the smaller bookcases to hold my collection of audiobooks and the duplicate copies of books I have for my mini lending library. Now I'm hoping to make a dent in my TBR pile. This, too, will take time.

Alyssa

The Beginning

I've thought about starting a blog for a few months now, and I've decided to take the plunge. Books play a big part in my leisure time, so they'll be a significant focus. I'll also write about scrapbooking, one of my other hobbies, and whatever else comes up.

I took the day off work today. I woke up feeling tired, though "tired" is too mild a word. So I called in sick. I'm looking forward to taking a nap in a few hours. After making the call, I went back to bed and finished a book I started last night: Mr. Family by Margot Early. I made a trip to the used bookstore yesterday, and this was one of my purchases. It uses a modern spin of the mail-order bride theme in a Hawaiian setting. Though I don't know much about Hawaiian culture, it seems to be authentically portrayed in this book. The hero is compelling. I'd rate this book at 4 out of 5.

Speaking of ratings, I'm a reviewer at The Romance Reader website. I've been reviewing books for a little more than a year. I enjoy it most of the time, though there are weeks when work is so demanding that the thought of writing a review--or doing anything related to writing--is almost painful. That's not the case now, however. Summer tends to be the busiest time of year for me at work, and now that fall has arrived, I feel like I have a little more free time. I should finish a review in the next few days. The book is Linda Lael Miller's Don't Look Now. Despite its improbable suspense plot, I really enjoyed it. I particularly like the hero, Tony Sonterra, so I was pleased to learn that he and Clare (the heroine) will be the focus of two more books. The second in the series is available now, and I have it on hold at the library.

I've been trying to read Christine Feehan's Mind Game for the past week or so. I read about 20 pages or so and then put it down again, which is unusual for me. I'm just not getting into it. I'm hoping to finish it this week--I like to finish books that I start even if that means I have to skim the rest. I'm not planning to skim Mind Game, but I'm ready to put it behind me.

I spent much of the weekend scrapbooking. In August, I went to Maryland for three days to attend a book signing, then spent another three days in Minnesota to visit a friend of mine. I went to the Utah Shakespearean Festival over Labor Day weekend, so I have a number of vacation photos to "scrap," a term that confuses people who don't scrapbook. "Scrapping" is the process that starts with photos and ends with completed scrapbook pages. I did 6 vacation pages. I haven't scanned them yet, but I have scanned a few pages from the book signing:

Book Signing, Page 1
Book Signing, Page 2

Hope you enjoy!

Alyssa