Monday, August 9, 2010

Recommend Monday!

Good Monday all! How did Monday get here so soon? I've heard of leap years, this was like a leap week. Okay, enough with the bad comedy. Now you know why I don't write funny books!

I returned from Orlando last Wednesday evening. Had an absolute blast at the RWA conference. The hotel was wonderful and started to feel like home. Amazing customer service! And the conference was wonderful too. Went to some great workshops and saw some of my absolute favorite authors, along with some new favorites. I also got the CHANCE to meet with my lovely editor and agent, went to some wonderful parties and even got to spend time with Kara, one of the original Reece's Peeces! She's as lovely, witty and warm as she is online. Needless to say, the 2010 RWA conference is one of my absolute favorite conferences ever!

And of course I had to take some extra days to spend with Mickey and friends. I went to Universal Studios, The Magic Kingdom and Epcot. My favorite thing was Soarin' at Epcot. What a wonderful experience! Also loved the fireworks and parade. Such fun places!

Now it's back to work for me. Have some major revisions to do on SWEET REVENGE! I had added a subplot that my editor and I decided to put in a later book, so I've cut 11,000 words from it. Yikes! However, Jamie and Dylan and their story is in tact. Their love story is both SWEET and emotional and I think you're going to fall in love with both of them! I know I did.

There have been some questions regarding the main characters for the SWEET trilogy, so I thought I'd give you a heads-up on what's coming. As you know, SWEET REVENGE features Dylan Savage and Jamie Kendrick who you met in LAST CHANCE.

SWEET JUSTICE will feature Honor Stone, the FBI agent from SECOND CHANCE. And the hero is Seth Cavanaugh, a man who broke her heart years ago. Yes, it's a reunion romance and man do they have the sizzle!

The characters in SWEET REWARD have been a bit of a dark secret. I wasn't sure how they would play out but unless something changes, my plan now is to write about Jared Livingston and Mia Ryker. You met Jared in LAST CHANCE and Mia was the first LCR operative that Noah fired. She's not been in any of the previous books but is a bit of an LCR legend. I've heard both of these characters in my head over the last few weeks and I'm already loving them. I know some of you may have questions regarding Jared, but there's not a lot I can tell you right now. Hopefully soon though. Thanks for your patience! (:

Those are the SWEET plans. However, remember that plans sometimes have a tendency to change, so if you're keeping a list, use a pencil for now!

Though my week was supremely busy, I did get a CHANCE to read a great book. A recommended read from Mary and several others. True Visions by Joyce Lamb was absolutely fantastic! Thank you, Mary, for the recommendation. I'm putting Joyce on my auto-buy list and am looking forward to the second book in this new trilogy. I had the opportunity to meet Joyce in Orlando and she is delightful!

Whew! That's enough from chatty me. How about you? How was your week last week and what great books did you read that you can't wait to recommend? BTW, once these revisions are done and I'm finished with SWEET JUSTICE too, I'm thinking we need to put together another list. Maybe your top twenty recommends for the year or something like that? Be thinking about it and we'll revisit it in a couple of months.

But now, tell us what you're recommending today.

Hope everyone has a SWEET week. Stay cool, have fun and read some good books!

47 comments:

KayB said...

Good Rainy Morning,
I think you spoiled me Christy because I can't seem to get into other books. So I am stuck waiting for the SWEET "3" to come out.

Well have a great week I'm going to take a nap then deal with wet dogs and nasty fleas

Christy Reece said...

Hey Kay! Thanks for the kind words. I love that you're looking forward to my SWEET '3'!

Enjoy the day with your dogs. My girls are happily full from breakfast and taking their mid-morning nap.

Have a great week!

Hope said...

Christy,
WOW a top 20 list, that is going to take some thinking on, what a great idea. I am glad you had a great time at the conference and you are back and ready to write. I can't wait for the next set of books, I re-read the CHANCE books this week.

I also finished Dee Davis' series with Desperate Deeds. If you haven't picked up this series, I highly recommend it. I loved every one in the series.

I also tried a "fluff" book from Lori Foster The Watson Brothers. It was a book of 3 short stories each about one of the brothers. Sweet book, but really short and quick reads but wasn't something that kept me engrossed, I kept putting it down.

I have moved on to a new series and a new author to me. Sharon Sala's Blown Away followed up by Torn Apart. I am excited to try this series out, I will let you know how it all works out.

Have a great week everyone...can't wait to see what you have been reading, my "to purchase" list gets longer and longer with each Monday ;o)

Crystal (cmac) said...

Good Monday morning everyone!
Christy it is so nice to have you back to work. lol I love to know your writing because that is SWEET news to all of us patiently waiting for the next book.

I read No Regrets, No Control, and No Escape by Shannon K. Butcher they were great books! I'm so happy the series was so highly recommended on here. All three a must read!!
I also read Green Eyes by Karen Robards. It was also a good book I'd definitely recommend it.

Kay if you've not read the books by Shannon K Butcher I think you could probably get into them.

Aly I hope your kids have a great first day of school!!! I loved school so I always looked forward to that day!

Crystal (cmac) said...

Hope I loved those Dee Davis books also! Let me know how you like Sharon Sala's books. I've never read anything by her either. Have a good day!

Ronlyn said...

SWEET!! I can hardly wait!

And I hear you about Monday coming fast. I feel like I just left my work space and now I'm back. Blah. But, to be fair, part of my time warp is probably Nina Bruhn's fault. Yep, I blame her for sucking me in with her uber hot men and sassy women. I finished all 3 of her Passion of Danger trilogy this week. Now, I'm onto Lora Leigh's HEAT SEEKER which I admit has me a little confused. All the new idtentities and trying to remember who is who and how they are related....I'm sure I'll get it, but right now I do a lot of pausing to remember. Maybe I should make a list. Hmmm....

Ok, off to work!
xoxo
R

Aly said...

Woo Hoo! Lots of SWEET information this morning! You are so fabulous to us!

I am really looking forward to Honor and Seth's story since reunion stories tend to be the SWEETest! And my fingers are crossed for Jared and Mia!

I actually have spent the last few days doing a complete LCR reread! It has been absolutely fantastic! I currently am enjoying Cole and Keeley! An entire reread of the series is something I recommend everyone do!

Hope, I too enjoyed the Dee Davis series! Have you read any of her older stuff?

Crystal, I am so glad you enjoyed the Shannon Butcher books! They are on my Keeper Shelf! I can't wait to get those Roxanne St. Claire books out to you! My fingers are crossed that you will love them!

And yes, I am hoping the kids have a great first day too! Thanks! I don't worry about my 2nd grader at all but the Kindergartener is giving me heartburn! I haven't received a phone call from the school to come pick her up so I consider that a good thing :)

This week I am hoping to read Elisabeth Naughton's Entwined, Carly Phillips' Kiss Me If You Can and Erin McCarthy's Hot Finish.

krisgils33 said...

Last week I read If Looks Could Chill by Nina Bruhns. I admit I moved it up in my TBR because of what other readers here said and it was soooooo good. Way better than the first one, which I did like. I've got the next installment on it's way to me and I'll probably read it as soon as I get it.

I also read Mad, Bad, and Blonde by Cathy Linz, which was really cute...light and fluffy and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Lastly, Infamous by Suzanne Brockmann. Now, she is one of my all time fave authors, but this is the first book by her that I truly didn't like. I did finish it and some of the aspects of the story were intriguing, but it was just not nearly her best work. I had read some Amazon reviews before I read it, alot of which noted that her personal viewpoints are glaring in this book and I did notice them quite a bit (it was really obvious). That aside, I just thought the characters were flat and the story just ho-hum.

Christy, I am so glad you're back and plugging away. Selfish me doesn't know how much longer I can wait for more books by you!!!!

Hope said...

Aly - I haven't read any of Dee Davis' older stuff, it seems to be really had to get my hands on her earlier trilogy, I have found the 3rd book but I can't seem to find the first two, and I don't read out of order, so I will be patient, can't wait though, I really like her style.

Crystal (cmac) - I will let you know about Sharon Sala, I am always looking for a new author and this one was recommended to me by a friend, so....fingers crossed.

Ronlyn - be patient with that series, it truly is a good one, it did take me a bit to get used to all of the new identities but you will and it is worth it.

I have moved Shannon K Butcher up on my to be purchased, I have just heard to many good things about her series. She will be next :o)

Crystal (cmac) said...

Hey Kris
I have started Infamous and even though I'm just starting I can already tell my opinion is going to be the same as yours. Usually once I pick her books up I can't put it down. With this one I'm having a hard time making myself read it. So far it reminds me of Hot Target which out of all the TS series it was my least favorite even though I love Cosmo. Who knows....

Crystal (cmac) said...

Hope I'm having a hard time finding Dee Davis's older books myself. I'll probably end up buying them online. I don't know what I would do if I couldn't get books online I would be SOL for sure!! :)

Ronlyn said...

I have Sharon Sala in my TBR pile but I had to return one of the books to the library before I could read it. :-P Hopefully I'll get it back before too long.

And I too really enjoyed Shannon Butcher. She's great!

I have a couple of the other books requested (by Leigh) so I know I'm not starting at the beginning (don't hate me KK!). I'm hopeful I'm able to get it all straight before too much longer.

Luci said...

Hey Christy I am so glad you had a great time at the RWA. From the photos i have been seeing on FB, it was a blast! My friend Nancy came to say hi on my behalf at the RWA.

I was extremely busy this weekend as I moved book stocks from the shop to my home to concentrate on the online sales. Have been packing and unpacking books all weekend. So i just read a bit before i slept late at night to relax after a hectic day.

Finished JD Robb's Visions in Death and it was great, as usual with the 'In Death' books.

Am now reading Kimberly Fisk's Lake Magic. It was a rec from the SEP BB. Still in the beginning chapters but looks good.

Thanks for the info about the SWEET heroes/heroines! Love knowing who they will be. Cannot wait to get my hands on them :).

Deb said...

Since I had just finished all 6 of Christy's book in a month or so, I went in a somewhat different direction. I love Tess Gerritsen, especially the Jane Rizzoli series. Read her new one Ice Cold. TNT now has a television series based on Jane Rizzoli and Laura Iles.
Have to read something while waiting on Christy's next installment. Hope everyone has a great week.

krisgils33 said...

Ronlyn, I agree that you should stick with it. Lora Leigh's books are usually good and I think in the end it will be worth it!!

Crystal, thanks....it's good to hear I'm not the only one. I had a really hard time getting through it.

Jane said...

I reread a bunch of historicals last week including a couple by Madeline Hunter and Julia Quinn's "What Happens in London." Good luck with the revisions.

Nora said...

Hi, I am new here and having just discovered Christy Reece, I devoured all her 6 books in 1 week. I cant wait for the next set of trilogy to come out!!

Question about Jared though: He is married to a doctor..right? I guess Christy has to eliminate her from the pic. Although even before learning that Jared will have his own book, when I was reading Last Chance, I felt that Jared wasnt completely honest with his wife, as her didnt know about his background.

Christy Reece said...

Hey Hope! We might have to make it the top 50 instead. You guys read a lot and there are so many wonderful books out there!

I purchased Dee Davis's first book in this new trilogy and then ended up donating it to a sick friend. Now I have the second one but need to go back and buy the first one again before I get started on the series. (KK would be so proud!) I did read some of her earlier books and remember really liking her writing style.

Regarding Sharon Sala. She's been a favorite of mine for a long time. Once you read this trilogy, let me give you some more recommends. She's fabulous!

Have a great week, Hope!

Linda said...

Good Monday to everyone!
I finished reading another Dee Davis book, Enigma. I really enjoyed it. Thanks for the recommendation!

Christy, knowing that you are writing it and also using the name Jared for a main character is enough to make me want to read it! LOL

I love Cindy Gerard, Shannon K Butcher, Christine Feehan and Lora Leigh books.

P.S. Christy, I recommended your books to a lady I met in Barnes & Noble. She purchased it that day!

Vonne said...

Hi Ms Reece,

Linda recommended your books to me. I checked out your website and read the excerpts. I can't wait to start reading them!

Christy Reece said...

Yay, Crystal! Another Recommend Monday success story! Love it! And thanks for the recommend on Green Eyes. Is this a new one by Robards or an older book?

Have a great week!

Christy Reece said...

Hey Ronlyn! One more Recommend Monday success story. Yay!

Re: Heat Seeker. Is that Leigh's newest one? What series is it from?

Hope you have a great week!

Ronlyn said...

It's part of the Elite Ops series (book 4, but shhhhhhhh!, don't tell KK!!)

Christy Reece said...

Hey Aly! So glad you're looking forward to Seth and Honor's book. I love reunion romances too. Thanks for the good wishes on Mia and Jared. I'm really hoping I can pull it off. I think it could be so emotional. We'll see!

And thank you for rereading the first six LCR books. I love you! (:

I hope the young'ens have a great first day at school. What an exciting time for the family!

Looks like you've got some great reads lined up for the week. Enjoy!

Ida Brugler said...

Hello Christy,
sorry I have not been around alot had a lot of things going on.
Have not really got a CHACE to read any new books. trying to re read some old ones.

Crystal (cmac) said...

Hey Nora
Welcome to club! We are happy to have you around! This is the place to come for great recommends! I have certainly expanded my book collection!

Christy Reece said...

Hey Kris! I'm glad you enjoyed Nina's books. She's got lots of fans here! And very happy to hear you're wanting to read more LCR books! I just saw on the Random House website that they've listed the SWEET REVENGE release date as April 26. So not long now!

Have a great week, Kris!

Joyce Lamb said...

Hi, Christy!
Wow, thanks for the awesome words about True Vision! And thanks to MaryG for her enthusiastic recommendation. As coincidence would have it, I just started listening to No Chance during my work commute -- it makes me wish for a traffic jam so I can keep listening. And I hate sitting in traffic!!!
It was a treat to meet you in Orlando!
Joyce

Mary G said...

Gee Joyce I didn't know you are delightful, I just thought you were a great writer. Bonus LOL.

Christy, I'm so glad you enjoyed True Visions. Love the concept of the heroine having fun for both of them.That just amazed me. I mean technically beyond the loves scenes. No really.

Christy Reece said...

Hey Luci! Yes, RWA conference was awesome. Being with over 2000 people who share the same interests is so invigorating.

Wow, you have been busy. Hope your online business takes off like a rocket!

Regarding Lake Magic. I think several here have read it and loved it. Hope you do too.

Glad you're looking forward to the SWEET trilogy!

Have a great week!

Mary G said...

Hi All
Birthday GCs take the guilt out of book buying. I got:

Nauti & Wild - Jaci Burton/Lora Leigh
Deadly Fear-Cynthia Eden
Already read:
Shadows at Midnight- Elizabeth Jennings & by her alter ego
Into the Crossfire by Lisa Marie Rice. LOVED both.
Am reading:
Tease Me - Tracy Wolff (HAWT)
Hot Finish-Erin McCarthy.(HAWT & fun).

That was a good haul.

Note about Shadows at Midnight by EJ. I love alpha heroes but in this one he was in awe of the heroine's computer talents & intel stuff. She was instrumental againt the bad guys too. Love that.

Christy Reece said...

Hey Deb! Great to see you here!

I had the pleasure of meeting Tess Gerritsen at my publisher's cocktail party in Orlando. She's delightful and so very lovely. I've heard Ice Cold is great!

So glad you're looking forward to more LCR books.

Have a great week!

Christy Reece said...

Hey Jane! Oh, I love Julia Quinn and Madeline Hunter! There are so many great historicals out there now. Have you read Tessa Dare, Teresa Mederios, or Lisa Kleypas?

Thanks for the good wishes on my revisions. Have a great week!

Christy Reece said...

Hey Nora! Great to see you here. And wow, oh wow. You read all 6 LCR books in one week? That's amazing and wonderful but I so wish I could write as fast as you all read. I would be so prolific. (:

So glad you want to read more LCR books! Don't want to give away any spoilers on Jared, but you raise a very good point regarding his wife. Poor guy!

Thanks so much for coming by. This is a great place to get recommended reads, so stop by often. Hope you have a great week!

Christy Reece said...

Hey Linda! I'm glad you're looking forward to Jared's book. He makes an interesting appearance in SWEET REVENGE and I became instantly intrigued with him and wanted to fix his hurts. (:
I hope you love him when you meet him.

Thank you so very much for recommending me to a reader at B&N! That is so cool and you are so very SWEET!

Enjoy your week!

Christy Reece said...

Hey Vonne! Great to see you here. I'm thrilled you're looking forward to reading my books. I hope you enjoy them all!

This is a great place to get recommendations for some great reads. We love good books and love telling other people about them, so please stop by often.

Have a great week!

Christy Reece said...

Hey Ida! It's always great to see you here. And rereading books is one of my favorite past-times. Hope you reread some great ones.

Have a great week!

Christy Reece said...

Hey Joyce! I truly enjoyed TRUE VISION and am so excited that there will be two more books to look forward to! What's the release date for your next one?

Thanks so much for listening to NO CHANCE. I hope you enjoy it! It was great meeting you in Orlando. Hope to see you in NY next year.

Thanks for coming over. Feel free to stop by and let us know about your next release!

Christy Reece said...

Hey Mary! Wow, you did get a good haul at the bookstore. Don't you just love bookstore gift cards? I ask my hubby for them each year at Christmas and my b'day. He just looks at me like I'm crazy. For some reason he thinks I have too many books already. Sigh. Is that even possible?

Thanks again for the True Visions recommend! I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Have a wonderful week, Mary!

Hope said...

I have to tell you, I am really frustrated with my local BN bookstore. I went there to get the Shannon K Butcher series, nope, none there. So, I decided I would go for another from Recommend Monday and go for Pamela Clare, that was a no go as well. Sooooo, I ended up getting the beginning of the Troubleshooter series by Suzanne Brockmann, Unsung Hero and the Defiant Hero. Has anyone read this series?

Crystal (cmac) said...

Hope I have everyone of the troubleshooters series! I love them! There are so many favorite characters in that series, but Alyssa and Sam are my favorite. Next would probably be Nash and Tess (you'll meet them later in the series) Although I really like Nilson and Izzy too! Hmmm they are all good. Enjoy them!! I know I sure do. Your starting them just in time for the next TS book coming out early next year. (I think)Anyway have fun!!

krisgils33 said...

Hope-
sorry about B&N not having what you want. I find Borders has my kind of selections more often.

I have read all the Troubleshooters and Tall, Dark, Dangerous books by Suzanne Brockmann. Each and every one is on my keeper shelf...I just love all in both those series.

krisgils33 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Hope said...

That makes me feel better, thanks girls.

Jackie P said...

Hope, Borders if they don't have the book will ship it to your house for FREE.
@Nora, I get alot of great recomends from here.

I have been rereading some books by.....Christy Reece " Return To Me" and "Rescue Me" then the new book by Lora Leigh was good.

Ronlyn said...

what is the new Lora Leigh?

krisgils33 said...

Nauti and Wild just came out, it's a duo w/ Jaci Burton. Supposedly, the last in the "Nauti" series. Lora also has another one coming out this month (Renegade....another in the Elite Ops series). Both series are very good if you haven't read them.