Jill Shalvis is at it again, creating a story that makes you laugh out loud, ugly cry, sigh in pleasure, and believe in love even after her heroine begins her journey finding out that she is not the only wife of her recently deceased husband. That's right folks, Lanie Green's dead husband was a serial adulterer and Lanie decides that taking a job as at the Capriotti Winery might be the escape she needs, but she finds that her busy body boss Cora and her family is loud and boisterous and intent on bringing her into the fold, even kicking and screaming, and Cora's hot cop son Mark and his twin daughters who Lanie tries to keep behind her walls just keep banging on them. Meanwhile, River, a sad-faced pregnant 21 year old shows up  with her secrets, wanting to be Lanie's best friend and threatens to destroy Lanie's shaky happiness. I wanted to be a Capriotti by the end of the book. I'm a huge Jill Shalvis fan, and she just gets better with each book. Pick this one up, grab a box of tissue and prepare to be up all night reading!

JR Ward's Consumed (Firefighter #1)

JR Ward returns with a different kind of book, about firefighters not vampire fighters, but readers will be "consumed" with this story that includes her typical humor and amazing writing skills. Danny and Anne have a history both personal and professional (be sure to check it out in the prequel that Ward has released leading up to the release of this novel) that drives their conflict, but when it counts Danny makes a hard decision that haunts him and changes Anne's life and career, both find themselves in the middle of personal crises but come together to take down an arsonist before they are consumed by all the intended meanings of the title. It is a gripping story, and I cannot wait for the next book in the series.

RWA Here I Come...A Mother Daughter Experience...A Long List of Authors....

So, apparently I'm very behind. I had the best intentions of getting to read a lot of romance novels this summer, but I am studying for my last PhD exam before getting to work on my dissertation on the romance novel. Yes, I get to spend the next year and a half digging in to romance novel and writing academically on them. I'm SOOOO excited. My topic is masculinity in the romance novel and I will be focusing mostly on J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series for my dissertation (or at least that's the plan at this point). 

I have still been listening to Bella Andre's Sullivan series and just finished book number 5. Both books 4 & 5 were just as wonderful as the other three that I have raved about in my previous post and book 6 is downloading on my Audible app as I type this. 

My mom and I have been attending the Romance Writer's of America conference together for the past 4 years. It is one of my favorite trips of my travel filled summers and one we both look forward to from the minute it ends. It is great mother daughter bonding time over our favorite thing....romance novels.

My mother proudly dons a Happy Reader badge at the conference introducing herself to her favorite writers and finding new authors to add to her list of favorites each year. This 5th year takes us to Atlanta where we are looking forward to once again conviening with our favorites and finding new favorites. 

My mother is retired and gets to read every book she picks up at the conference while I stare lovingly at the bookshelves that are filled to the brim with the books I so desperately want to read, but have to pick one at a time and devour with the precious few hours I have to read for pleasure. I can't wait to make a dent in the shelves and fill you in on the amazing reads. For now I will leave you with the name I know you will love as much as I do. The ones the ones that come to mind when someone says "Can you recommend a romance writer for me?"

These are in no particular order. I love them all. I'm sure I am missing some. Follow me on twitter @ljass this week for updates from the conference #rwa13

Let me do this by genre if possible
Contemporary:  Jill Shalvis, Kristin Higgans, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Carly Phillips, Toni Blake, Bella Andre, Lori Wilde, Susan Andersen, Robyn Carr, Robin Kaye, Lori Foster, Vicki Lewis Thompson, Nora Roberts, Julie James, Victoria Dahl, Rachel Gibson, LuAnn McLane, Susan Donovan, Deirdre Martin, Kate Angell, Jennifer Crusie, Susan Mallery, Christie Ridgeway, Lisa Kleypas

Erotica: Lacey Alexander

Paranormal: J.R. Ward, Nina Bangs, Molly Harper, Gena Showalter, Rhynnaon Byrd, Jaime Rush

Historical: Sabrina Jeffries, Eloisa James, Lisa Kleypas

YA Paranormal: Gena Showalter, P.C. & Kristen Cast, Tera Lynn Childs

There are so many!!!! I know I am leaving off a lot of favorites, but there are a few to get you started. 

The next blog will be with mom's favorites when she arrives for RWA!!!!

Who are some of your faves? I will be doing several giveaways upon my return from the conference so make your favorites known in the comment sections. Maybe your favorite will be part of the giveways!!!! You never know!

Bella Andre Sullivan #3

I have a slight addiction these days with listening to Bella Andre's Sullivans series.  I have listened to the first three books and so far I am in love.  I mentioned the first two books in a previous post, but I did not include many details.

I would definitely start with the first book of this series The Look of Love.  Here we are introduced to the 8 siblings that make up the Sullivan clan.  This book centers around Chase Sullivan who is a photographer and Chloe Peterson a girl on the run from her abusive ex-husband.  Chase and Chloe's story is both touching and hot, and this story began my addiction to find out about the rest of the siblings.

The 2nd book, From this Moment On pairs Winery owner and eldest Sullivan brother Marcus with pop sensations Nicola (Nico) Harding.  Nicola has recently been hurt by a man and has trust issues. Marcus caught his girlfriend of two years in bed with another man.  Both are looking for a one night stand but get more than they bargain for.  As hot and touching as the first one and again I continued right into the next one.

The 3rd book, Can't Help Falling In Love, brings together Gabe Sullivan and Megan Harris in an unexpected way. He rescues her and her daughter Summer from a fire in their apartment.  Gabe doesn't date fire victims because he's been burned in a past experience, and Megan swears she will never date a man who puts his life at risk on a regular basis after losing her husband to a plane crash.  The heat between these two burns hot. 

Each book gives more information about the other siblings in the family. I am so excited after finishing this last one, I have downloaded number 4 and am ready to get to listening.  Eva Kaminsky is fabulous to listen to.

I'm trying to pace myself because I know I will be sad when the series is over!

Truly a Perfect Fit!

Carly Phillips Perfect Fit lives up to its title. I am in love with the town of Serendipity and all its wonderful cast of characters.  Mike Marsden has come to Serendipity as acting police chief while his father is undergoing cancer treatment and Cara Hartley is a police officer who knows she is a small town girl at heart. Her mother has been abused for years by her father and she spends time working at a shelter for abused women. Both Mike and Cara have their own issues with their pasts including a one night stand from the last time Mike was in town, but together they are a combustible combination that keeps the reader turning the pages. Mike has problems with staying put and Cara has seen enough abuse by a man that she is hesistant to give her heart away.   As usual when it comes to Carly Phillips' books, I couldn't put it down. I even read it during the commercials of the football games this past weekend, and if you know me, you know I take my football very seriously. 


I am so sad that the next book in this trilogy is not coming out until July. I can't wait to see what is in store for Mike's sister Erin!

So many books to choose from to read next....

I'm Back!

It has been a long time since I have posted to this blog, but I decided it is time to get moving again. I have finally had a little time to start reading and listening to my beloved romances again. I will be working on focusing some much needed reading time.

So I have been listening to audio books and reading books both print and Kindle versions:

Bella Andre's Sullivan series are my audio books of choice these days. I finished The Look of Love last week and have begun From This Moment On. I love the writing and the narrator of these audiobooks as well, and I can't wait to continue this series. 

Molly O'Keefe's Crazy Thing Called Love was wonderful. The history between the two characters adds an endearing quality to the book and that history is developed in its own chapterst throughout the book. I am a fan of any book that has sports in it as well. The hero is a hockey player and the heroine is a TV talk show host. I devoured the book in 2 days and will be recommending it to all. I'm a sports romance book nut, so this was right up my alley.  This book is being released on January 29th. 

Carly Phillips is one of those writers that I try to read as soon as the book comes out. I am a bit behind due to my studies, but I had the immense pleasure of reading her short story Fated last night, which is an introduction to her new trilogy addition to her Serendipity series (of which I am hoping to go back and read soon).  My whistle was defiinitely wet for more of this series by this story about Kate who is afraid to get hurt again and Nick who is trying to convince her that he won't hurt her.  I made quick work of this story last night and plan to start the first book in this part of the trilogy Perfect Fit tonight.  Stay tuned....

Only Yours by Susan Mallery

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Escape to Fool's Gold again and see how burns can heal!

Montana's story is a hit with this reader. I found myself not being able to wait to read this one after finishing Only Mine, and I was not disappointed.

This story touched me deeply and on many levels. I found myself weeping for Dr. Simon Bradley and what happened to him. While he may be a healer, it is his need to be healed that drew me in. He sees himself one way but Montana knows there is more. She is willing to risk her heart to show him what she sees in him.

What I love about Mallery's characters is that they feel deeply. This town that celebrate's its women and motherhood is a place we should all visit sometime. The people of the town may be meddlesome at times, but it is all with good intentions and they band together no matter what. I love that we are getting pieces of the triplets' mother Denise's story in this book as well.


I can't wait to see what is in store for Nevada.



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