Monday, May 30, 2011

Recommend Monday

Happy Monday and Happy Memorial Day!

This is a day we've set aside to honor and remember our fallen soldiers. Their ultimate sacrifice ensured our freedom. They have my most sincere admiration and deepest gratitude. And to those who have served, both past and present, my heartfelt thanks for your service!

What's everyone doing for your long holiday weekend? Are you grilling? Got something special to read?

I'm not grilling (I'm hoping for a plate to come back to me from my mom's) and I'm not reading either. However, I am writing! Only a few weeks left before Jared and Mia's story, SWEET REWARD, is due. And wow oh wow, I can't decide who's torturing me the most, Jared or the elusive villain! I'm just glad that Mia is a strong woman! Wish us luck as we traverse through danger and delight. (:

Did you happen to notice that the back cover blurb for SWEET REWARD is up? Let me know what you think! Also, I got a sneak peek at the cover. And all I can say is, "Get read to drool!" Oh man! I love it! Hope to be able to show you within the next week or so.

SWEET REVENGE copyedits are done and winging their way to NY. I'd almost forgotten how much I love that book. Dylan and Jamie took me on a quite a ride but as I reread their story, I'm so glad they did. This book is so much fun. Even as I was reading it for about the tenth time, I continued to be surprised by it. I love it when that happens.

The Heart of Dixie Readers Luncheon is this coming Saturday in Huntsville. There's a signing after the luncheon that's open to the public, so if you're in the area, come on by and meet some of your favorite authors. Here's the link for information and a list of attending authors: http://heartofdixie.org/luncheon.html I can't wait to see some of my favorite people and meet new favorites too!

No current recommendations from me today, but I am looking forward to the release of Karen Rose's new book, You Belong To Me, on June 7. I know some of you have already read it and loved it. Her books are autobuys for me!

So, what great books are you recommending today? Are there any upcoming releases you're particularly excited about? Let us know so we can put them on our list!

Hope everyone has a spectacular day and a fabulous week!

Happy Reading! Happy Grilling! Happy Eating!


34 comments:

Becs G said...

I just finished Hush by Cherry Adair - the first in her lodestone trilogy and really really loved it. Need a recommend myself!

Sheila (Bookjourney) said...

Grilling sounds good - Minnesota weather has been so poor this year I had not even thought about that!

I just returned from BEA on Saturday and I am still a bit tired from that adventure - but what an adventure!

Carla Swafford said...

We'll probably grill some chops today. Actually, the best way to cook them.

I just finished Kristina Douglas's THE FALLEN: RAZIEL. The hero is...yum. This is a debut of a new series. Kristina is also known as Anne Stuart and you know how much I love her books.

I'm looking forward to SWEET JUSTICE!

Christy Reece said...

Becs G, I agree! Hush was fabulous! I can't wait to read the next one in the series.

Hope you get some great recommendations here.

Have a great day!

Christy Reece said...

Hey Sheila! Hope your weather gets better up there. We're at a sultry 93 today. Great grilling weather.

BEA sounds like such fun. I hope to be able to go one year. Glad you enjoyed it.

Have a great day!

Christy Reece said...

Hey Carla! Oh, that sounds fabulous. And I love Anne Stuart too. Will add that to the list. Thanks for the recommend!

So glad you're looking forward to SWEET JUSTICE! And be sure to let us know the release date for your debut book, Out of the Shadows. Can't wait to read all of it!

Have a great day. See you Saturday!

krisgils33 said...

Busy weekend here. Although my daughter was at a sleepover and she was gone from noon on Sat until 8 pm on Sun, much to my husband's dismay, we got alot of chores done (you know, the stuff around the house that just never seems to go away!!). Sadly, we didn't get everything done. Today, I'm taking the little one shopping for the second time this weekend....still searching for some shoes for next month's national dance competition. It's about dance, right?? Kills me that they need super fancy outfits for every day of the week.

I finished the Emily March trilogy set in Eternity Springs. I liked the second one the best (Colt and Sage), I would highly recommend that one. But since you need the whole thing and the others weren't that bad, I would recommend the entire trilogy. I know there is at least one more coming out, Sarah's story, which definitely sounds interesting.

Christi said...

I spent the weekend reading the Kowalski family trilogy from Shannon Stacey...OMG, I loved those books!!! Contemporary romance + a fabulous family dynamic = PURE FUN! LOVED these!!

Carla, book 2 in that series is supposed to be out next week, I think. I loved that first book....it's setting up a good series!

Have fun writing, Christy! Is it August yet?!?!

Christy Reece said...

Kris, hope you and your daughter find the perfect shoes! And yay for getting projects done!

Emily March's series is on my TBR list. Looking forward to reading it soon.

Have a great day!

Christy Reece said...

Oh Christi, those sound wonderful. Will add them to my ever growing list!

And thanks for the good wishes. Hate to wish my life away, but I wish it was August too. (:

Have a great day!

KayB said...

Finished Hush, a book on Fibro and on Yoga.
It's been raining and now it hot and muggy here so we are in the air and relaxing. Lite fruit salad for supper and then tomorrow off to see the WWE superstars, Barney's and my gifts to ourselves.

Maria Ringler said...

I wish I was grilling today but we have a horse in the last race at Chester today and it is going to be HOT!
As for books I just finished reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett. It was a great book! The movie comes out in August. I love a book when the characters really get you and you can't stand some and just love others.
Emily March's open ended series is awesome. As is Mariah Stewart's. Right now I am reading Redemption by Laurel Dewey.
Have a great day everyone.

Hope said...

Happy Monday everyone!! I think we will be grilling this afternoon and popping in a movie. I have been all about the movies this weekend, we saw the new Panda movie on Friday night and I went with a few girlfriends to see the new Bridesmaids movies (which was hilarious). Tomorrow, I am treating myself to a spa day, it is my birthday week after all lol.

This week I finished a few pretty okay books and two that I loved. The two that were just okay, were new-to-me authors. I didn't hate them, but there were some inconsistencies that kind of bugged me. I loved the story lines though. Finding Hope by Katie Reus and One Night Stand by Cindy Kirk.

The two I loved....Summer in Sonoma by Robyn Carr....loved loved loved this book. And then there was Fool for Love by Marie Force. Took me a bit to get in to it, but once I did, I loved it. Can't wait for the next one.

Hope you all have a wonderful day and have lots of great BBQ (and enjoy the sales while shopping, lots of those here)

Mary G said...

Happy Memorial Day to my Americam friends & relatives.

Christy - you've had a very productive week. Have fun with Kara.

Had a beta read so I only read one book. I had this in my TBR pile forever & decided to go for it - The Kept Woman by Susan Donovan. It was so funny & good. I was pleasantly surprised. I going to look for more of hers.

Crystal said...

Hey everyone.... HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!!!!

Christy I hope your week is absolutely fabulous with many many words written! I can't wait to get to know Jared better!!

Last week I read Midnight's wild Passion by Anna Campbell and Loving a Lost Lord by Mary Jo Putney both were good historical reads.
I started another book that I got half way through and couldn't make myself finish it. I have been strongly encouraged to finish it that is is worth my time so I will be giving it another shot this week. I hate leaving a book unfinished so we'll see how it goes.
I also reread Run To Me.... LOVE that book! Looking forward to reading Gabe's story again for book discussion!!
I feel like I am forgetting something, but can't seem to trigger what book it was.
Good luck this week Christy! I sure wish I was headed to Huntsville to see you, hopefully in November I'll be able to make it.

Elke said...

Hi Everyone,
no long weekend here in Germany - but we will have it next weekend - thursday is a legal holiday and friday our office is closed and my husband is home for a long weekend.YAY! His birthday is on saturday and we invited some friends for dinner. Hopefully the weather will be warm enough for grilling.

Christy the cover blurb for SWEET REWARD is a tease - lots of questions come to mind and no answers till December grrr - but I guess thats the whole purpose lol.

Last week I read Christy Ridgeways "Crush on you" and I must confess I liked the the secondary characters
Gil and Claire better than the two main characters.
I am not sure if I will buy the next book "then he kissed me" - has anyone already read it and can you recommend it ?

I also read two short stories by Lori Foster and Susan Donovan , which I really enjoyed (the short story "Ready Sett Jett" by Lori Foster was just the apetizer for a new series - the first book "When You Dare" is already out and I wonder if I should order it.

Next on my reading list is Meryl
Sawyers "Death Door " .

Hope , enjoy your spa day and "Happy Birthday To You!"

Have a wonderful week everyone!

Hope said...

Elke, When you Dare rocked. I have already pre-ordered the next one, highly anticipating it. So, of course I recommend you order that one!! Thanks for the b-day wishes, I can't wait to get my hair done, it has been way to long.

Christy Reece said...

Hey Kay, wow, that's an eclectic list of reading.

Hope you and Barney enjoy your WWE adventure!

Have a great day!

Christy Reece said...

Hey Maria, good luck to your horse in the race!

I downloaded The Help several months back but haven't gotten to it yet. Will try to do that before the movie comes out. I've heard such fabulous things about it.

Thanks for another endorsement of Emily March's books and I adore Mariah Stewart! Redemption sounds interesting. Will have to check that one out.

Have a great day!

Elke said...

Mary G,
as you liked "the kept woman" - maybe you will like as well "the girl most likely to... " , "knock me off my feet" and "take a chance on me" - I read them some time ago and I remember that I really enjoyed reading them.

Jackie P said...

I haven't done much reading but I did read a paranormal by Lisa Rennee Jones "Legend of Michael" that was pretty good. I got in another Jill Mansfield "Rumor Has It" and I a starting a Julia Quinn Historical, PLUS, I grabbed on the freebie Kindle list "No Good Deed" by M.P. McDonald and it is grabbing my attention.

Whenever you guys start talking about a book or series and as I call it the blog starts vibrate about a book then I will pass it on to my friend Mama Gayle. She went nuts over the Emily March and Roxanne St.Claire new series. She loved them.
Hope you have an AWESOME Birthday Hope!!!!

@Elk SEP was in Germany again, book touring and I thought of you but didn't find out until after Monday's Blog and didn't know how to get ahold of you. Kara, reads the Christie Ridgeway books and recommends them alot.

@Crystal I am planning on trying to make the November signing too!

ShellyE said...

I just finished book 1 in a series by Dianne Duvall called Darkness Dawns. I really liked it! Been having relaxing weekend and loved the finish of the Indy 500!

Elke said...

Jackie,
thank you -I knew about SEPs tour in Germany.I checked out her tour dates but unfortunately when she was in Hamburg (which is the closest city to where I live) I couldn´t make it because I had to work and couldnt take a day off. But I hope her tour was a great success.

Unknown said...

Happy Memorial Day all. To that is an oxymoron if I have ever heard one. I know we are happy that so many people gave their lives for our freedoms but I don't see how we can be happy when we remember all the gave for us. Well that is my deep thought for the day.

I can't wait till for new book Tuesday. I have Lisa Jasckson and Nacy Bush's book on pre-order as well as the second one of Sharon Sala's Blood Series book. Next month out comes Quinn by Iris Johensen. I have been obsessing for the book since i finished Eve.
I have not been able to get into a new book for awhile so hopefully with the new releases coming out I can get into some serious reading.
Happy reading all.
Sarah

Alison said...

Happy Memorial Day All!

Its been a quiet weekend here in Houston. We just got back from vacation so we've been catching on chores,YUCK!

I did get the chance to read some good books during my vacation... I read an really enjoyed Tracker's Sin by Sarah McCarthy, Fool For Love by Marie Force, Tempt Me Tonight by Toni Blake, Midnight's Wild Passion by Anna Campbell, 10 Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn. I think that's all of them!

Have a good week everyone!

Christy Reece said...

Hope, I so love the movies and never ever go anymore. Yay you for enjoying yourself with two of them. Sounds like your birthday week is off to a great start.

Thanks for all the recommends. You have been a busy woman!

Hope your massage is awesome tomorrow and your birthday on Wednesday is all you could want for your special day!

Christy Reece said...

Hey Mary G! The Kept Woman sounds great...love that title. Will have to look that one up for sure.

Have a great week!

Christy Reece said...

Thank you, Crystal! I'm looking forward to knowing more about Jared too. (:

Looks like you had good luck with historicals last week. I may have asked you this already, but have you read any Andrea Kane historicals? If not, I'll send you a list of my favorites. They're wonderfully romantic. (:

So glad you enjoyed your reread of RUN TO ME. Hope you enjoy reading NO CHANCE again too!

Wish you could come to the Huntsville readers luncheon too, but that would be fabulous if you could come to the one in November. I'll post more information about it in a few months.

Have a great week!

Mary G said...

Hi Elke
I know you're asleep by now. Thanks for the Susan Donovan recs.

Chrosty
The Kept Woman surprised me a lot.
I read a recent review & decided to give it a try. It's hilarious. A sexy hot guy running for a senate seat needs a new image. Single mom is hired to be his love interest. Whenever he's near her he feels a"buzz". It was great watching him fall for her.

Christy Reece said...

Hey Elke! Enjoy your long weekend next week and happy birthday to your hubby!

LOL Yeah, the SWEET REWARD blurb is definitely meant to be a tease.

I've heard the new Lori Foster series is fabulous. Sounds like the anthology story was a great appetizer! Enjoy!

Have a great week!

Christy Reece said...

Hey Jackie, hope you're feeling lots better!

Looks like you've had good luck with your reads. LOL Love those Kindle free reads! Tell Mama Gayle hey and I'm glad she's getting some good recommendations!

Yay, so glad you're planning on coming to the September signing!

Have a great week!

Christy Reece said...

Hey Shelly! Oh, Darkness Dawns sounds awesome. Am going to check that one out for sure.

Have a great week!

Christy Reece said...

Sarah, I love new book Tuesday too! Even when I don't have time to read, the knowledge that new releases are on the shelves gets me so excited. Hope you find some good ones!

Have a great week!

Christy Reece said...

Hey Alison!

Wow, looks like you did lots of great reading while you were off. I can't think of anything more relaxing than lying in the shade with a good book and maybe sipping one of those drinks with the umbrella in it. Ahhh, sounds wonderful.

Hope you had a good time. Welcome back!

Have a great week!