What I'm reading & loving... author(s) of the moment

Blake...  by "rant" I just meant a long rambling hyper post.  Sometimes I let my crazy off it's leash a little too much.    That's when those tranq darts need to come out. 

Orchid....  lol...  I intend to use this thread in a POSITIVE way.  It's not meant for my angry ranting, though maybe I will end up having a little of that going on.  I don't like to say "avoid this author because they have regularly disappointed me or rubbed salt in my ick factors".  So we might still need a place to discuss the fidelity topic if we want.  I don't know whether I want to bite into the fidelity debate at the moment, it's a big thing to get into, and when I do talk about it, I want to make sure I'm in an open state of mind because otherwise I'll start sounding extreme, as if the H/h should both be virgins so their sexual histories can't cause the other person pain or embarrassment.  (Man, does it suck when a heroine runs into his gloating and interfering ex-lovers?  People can't be mature and move on nicely can they?) 

I definately see this thread as a companion to the keeper thread, it's definately another way of giving recommendations.  But instead of one particular book, it's going to disect the style of an author.  I'll be reading a few books by the author that week and collectively say "this is the best thing about this author, this is why I kept reading books by her".  It is more personal, more subjective, and about my personal reaction to the style.  People's tastes may be different from mine.  It's a more open-ended kind of recommendation, not about a particular book necessarily, but what appeals to me.

.... so I read another Patricia Wilson book before I went to bed.  "Perilous Refuge".  It was good in many ways, and it handled an "other woman" plotline really well.  The other woman was rubbing in that she was the hero's lover, and the hero was LETTING her hang around his house with his parents, and it was bothering me: why would the hero let his ex-lover hang around his wife?  But once it got cleared up it made sense: the woman was just a friend of the family and he hadn't ever been with her, she was just a pest.  That made me appreciate that hey, the hero isn't hurtful, stupid, or naive about putting two of his lovers in the same room.  The book failed the test of time though when it comes to custody issues and careers for women, so I wouldn't really highly recommend it. 

*waves hello*  Mmm, yes, wish there were more KH books to be had.  I still have only read that one "Wife for a Week" book, which I thought a keeper.  Haven't read "Bedded for Diamonds" yet, I've kept myself busy with other books, soon I'll order the ebook and let you know what I think of it.

On the topic of Kelly Hunter though...  I think Susan Napier is a bit similar to KH.  There's humour in both styles and both keep you on your toes with surprise twists.  Have you read much by SN?  She's my fav HP author.  I haven't read a book by her yet that I've found icky, and I've read 28 of her 35 (and a half) books.  7 and a half more to go.  I hope I can get my hands on them all eventually.  Older ones are harder to find copies of.  

Christa!  "Secret Admirer" is the one with the virgin hero.  *chuckles*  I had so many fav scenes in that book.  I was just choking and gasping at some of the provocative things the hero said to needle his heroine! 

And really...  I was telling someone else...  that Susan Napier has this fetish for shocking opening chapters...  it's really a drawing point for me.

Secret Admirer... the H/h and another woman are trapped in an elevator together, and the heroine is burning up with heat and shame, wearing a fur coat.  The hero yanks her coat open and BAM! she's only wearing rosebud panties and he gets a shocking eyeful. 

Tempt me Not... the heroine's trying to convince the hero she isn't sleeping with David, the boyfriend of the hero's sister.  She gets caught with David fixing her dress/legs.  And then she drops a bomb on the hero, she's not David's lover, she's his "mother" (well, stepmum). 

In Bed with the Boss...  the boss has been in love with the widowed heroine for years, now she's taken off her rings and getting over her grief.  He's so pleased.  Then she drops the bomb that she's resigning and getting engaged to his business rival.  The hero goes apopoleptic. 

I could name more, there's other shockingly delightful openings.  Such fun premises.  If you have buy any of her older books let me know and I'll pull up my review, I love to chat about 'em.  Good luck finding the Secret Admirer book.  :)

Oooh.  Spanish Billionaire, Innocent Wife was definately a keeper for me.  The first keeper I've noted from Kate Walker.  In general, I really like the way KW weaves the emotions in her characters, good storytelling.  In specific, SBIW was an intense read that I got caught up in from the first chapter til the end.  The feelings of grief and passion just swirled and simmered and grew.  Mmm. 

Trish Wylie...  I loved the humour in "Her Bedroom Surrender".  I thought the couple in "At the Billionaire's Bidding" were truly in love and I could see them going the distance.  I also just recently read (haven't blogged yet) "The Bridal Bet" (an HR by her) and I really liked it.  Friends become lovers story, really well-written, deep history between them. 

Liz Fielding....  I've read books by her, but I haven't read enough of them recently to form an opinion.   

Actually, you know, I've thought about it for a minute after stopping the shrieking...  and I realize there is a logistics problem here.  If we get the book and play "pass it on" we're going to run into a problem.  Am I the only one here who is a selfish woman who will probably find the books keepers and cry a little at the idea of parting with them?  I've never done a book swap before, I'm quite a hoarder when it comes to books.  (my poor closet, and my two book shelves, and my books even invade my desk, and rest in boxes under my bed.  Slightly obsessed no?) 

I think we need a clear release date for NA, then I'd feel happier about passing on the book!  *grin*  Knowing that the day is coming when the books will be available to purchase in NA.  Is there anyone you can ask/harrass about that Kelly?  Maybe get it released as an ebook? 

Kaelee.. Wife for a Week is about Hallie Bennett, sister. 

Just for fun, let's look at a fav scene from WFaW.....  

Fav Scene:

‘Oh.’ She stared at him and all of a sudden the hand on his crotch stilled.
‘You’re leaning on your elbows,’ she said.
‘So?’
‘So if your arms are there, my hand is—’
He watched her eyes grow round and her cheeks grow rosy with no little satisfaction.
‘That’s not your arm I’m patting, is it?’ 

*snort of a laugh* 

Other authors...  I've got a few books coming my way, just four this time, 2 Sandra Martons, 1 Anne Mather, 1 Miranda Lee.  I'm looking forward to the SMs, they are 4 star rated on RT. 

I'm kind of having a "committment problem" the last few days.  And by that I mean, I am heavily heavily skimming books, but not wanting to commit to reading them start to finish.  I don't know why I'm doing that.  Maybe it's because I've been too hyper?  An excuse for not reading some of them is that in skimming I saw some of my ick factors, but a bunch of them don't touch my ick factors so there is no reason for me to pass them over at the moment.   I'm weird. 

Oh, a Presents this time?  I read lots/most of the books in that line, so I'll probably read this one.  (I'm a little hard to push towards the "medicals" normally but we'll see since this one is an HP)   Curious about what makes the difference between the HP and HMR line, does this story focus a tad less on the medical career/emergencies and a tad more on the passion and personal conflict?

And hey Amy, monopolize all you please.  I made three posts in a row yesterday myself.  I need to be taken down with a tranq dart sometimes when I get excited and chatty. 

Kaelee, I don't know about your hubby, but you put a thought in my head...  maybe the cover should have a hero in holey faded black jeans.  You can improve on perfection with strategic holes and the rugged look.