Staples

Do you have reading "staples"? I certainly do and I had always assumed that they were about the same as everyone else. My SIL and I were chatting about our favorite books growing up and she had not read two that were on my "favorites of all time" list. It made me wonder if there were other people who had not read  them...or if there were other people with "staples" that I have never read.

I of course made her read them...and she loved them...of course ;-)

Here are a few of my favs. I read them until their covers fell off growing up and I still read them once a year or so...just because they are wonderful.

Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson

I didn't have a sister but still somehow related to this book. Just love it. 

Of course Anne of Green Gables!

Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George

My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George

I really wanted to give this a shot...

Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell

The Fledgling by Jane Langton

I dreamed of flight.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

I LOVE this book. Still do. Totally in love with Nat. Read it. Fall in love.

There a lot more...but this will do for now.

What were/are your staples? It's sharing time class ;-)

Hopeless

Hopeless romantic. That's me. And I've found a new fix.

Lynn Kurland.

She writes really fun and romantic books that are also clean. It's a miracle. Don't get me wrong. There's some dang good kissing but she keeps it clean. I've read two so far and really like them.

This is All I Ask

And One Enchanted Evening

She writes about historical Scotland and England with lots of medieval knights who are large, rugged, manly and gorgeous and totally besotted with the heroine. And what's bad about that? Nothing.

I'll let you know if i fun into anything objectionable but so far I highly recommend her books if you are looking for light, fun, utterly romantic stories that aren't rated R.

Warning: You will start dreaming about knights and Scottish lairds and it will possibly raise your expectations a bit too high in the "perfect man" department..

Giveaway!

Book giveaway over on my main page :-)

It's all about the kissing...sigh...

I'm constantly checking in with my Clean Reads group on Goodreads for new authors. Someone recently recommended Marcia Lynn McClure and I decided to give her a shot.

This is the one I ordered.

The Highwayman of Tanglewood (great title eh?)

A chambermaid in the house of Tremeshton, Faris Shayhan well knew torment, despair, and trepidation. To Faris it seemed the future stretched long and desolate before her-as bleak and dark as a lonesome midnight path. Still, the moon oft casts hopeful luminosity to light one's way. So it was that Lady Maranda Rockrimmon cast hope upon Faris-set Faris upon a different path-a path of happiness, serenity, and love. Thus Faris abandoned the tainted air at Tremeshton in favor of the amethyst sunsets of Loch Loland Castle and her new mistress, Lady Rockrimmon. Further, it was on the very night of her emancipation that Faris first met the man of her dreams-the man of every woman's dreams-the rogue Highwayman of Tanglewood. Dressed in black and astride his mighty steed, the brave, heroic, and dashing rogue Highwayman of Tanglewood stole Faris's heart as easily as he stole her kiss. Yet the Highwayman of Tanglewood was encircled in mystery-mystery as thick and as secretive as time itself. Could Faris truly own the heart of a man so thoroughly enveloped in twilight shadows and mysterious secrets. 

I loved it. 

Sweet, clean romances with lot's of adventure. Some reviews said that the books are a bit cheesy...but you won't mind, I promise. In fact, honestly, I'm a pretty cheesy person, so I like it :-)

And holy cow this woman know how to write the handsome, dashing hero who is the best kisser on the planet. 

Seriously. McClure's is known as the Queen of Kissing. And she deserves the title.  But the book is still totally non-offensive and clean. 

I liked this review:

Ok. This author is my favorite. I have read the majority of her books and I love them all. They are "clean romance". The kind you can read and still feel like you can chat with the pastor/bishop. This one is now my favorite of hers and- I hate to say it - The Highwayman has given Edward a run for his money. It's one of those "take me in your arms and kiss me" type of ones. So if your not in the mood for that - don't read this one. It was fabulous!!!

Yup, I'm addicted now. I will slowly be buying them all. If you want to borrow any, let me know...but be prepared for a new reading addiction.

September Reads

Don't judge. I've been in a novel/light/fun/escapism reading mood the past few months. Not much heavy or...real has made it into the pile of books on my bed. I've basically busted through Roben McKinley's and Patricia Briggs entire works...

- Deerskin by Robin McKinley

This one was very interesting. I like it. It took me awhile to buy it. I read a lot of reviews before reading a book to try and make sure it's not raunchy. The reviews kept talking about how the book starting off with a rape scene but that it's an amazing book so keep reading. I was leery. I read enough good reviews to give it a shot and I'm glad I did. It does have a rape scene but it's more emotional than graphic. It's nothing compared to Pillars of the Earth or that other one by Follett that everyone was raving about a while ago. I had to put those down there was so much graphic rape in them. 

Oops. Sorry. Soapbox. Done. 

I liked this story. Redeeming love, healing, happiness...

 - Sunshine by Robin McKinley

Interesting twist on a vampire love story. She doesn't pull any punches with the vamps. They are not insanely beautiful and they don't sparkle in the sun. But they are somehow still lovable. Her other books are all very clean and suitable for young people. This one is her first for a grown up audience. 

Actually though, it's almost like she forgot 3/4 of the way through that it's supposed to be a more grownup book. She chucks in a sex scene very randomly, totally could've been left out. 

Don't laugh. I liked the story enough that I did this:

I know. I'm a dork.

- Rose Daughter by Robin McKinley

Robin McKinley's second retelling of Beauty and The Beast. I actually like it even better than her first one. Wonderful story, fleshed out characters. I love Beast. 

- Beauty by Robin McKinley

Lovely retelling of Beauty and The Beast. 

- Raven's Shadow and Raven's Strike by Patricia Briggs.
Very entertaining. Strong heroine with a nice love story.

 

- Dragon Bones and Dragon Blood by Patricia Briggs

I liked this little duology. The hero is adorable, totally loved him. And i love dragons...so this was a no-brainer. 

 Okay. Preface -  I have really been liking Patricia Briggs. Fun fantasy stories without graphic sex or swearing. I wanted to read the Alpha and Omega series and was told I had to read the novella Alpha & Omega first. It's in On The Prowl with three other short stories. Alpha & Omega was good. DO NOT read the three other stories. I figured that the stories would all be similar. Not so. The second one was okay but a bit too graphic for my taste. The third was boring, I didn't get far enough to see if it was graphic...And the third...basically porn. This book went in the trash. I would say read Alpha & Omega if you can get it in standalone form but otherwise, skip it. 

The rest of the series I liked. 

OOHHHH! I did read a meaningful, useful book...with no werewolves, vampires, ensorcelled beasts or dragons...this month!

- Canine Body Language by Brenda Aloff

Loved this book. My dog trainer recommended it and now I recommend it as well. If you've ever wondered what you dog was trying to tell you...this is the rosetta stone. So interesting. I'm still learning but feel like I'm understanding my dog much better now.

Glass Houses by Rachel Caine

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


I finished this one...but will not be reading the rest of the series. It was fun and entertaining but too vulgar for me. Dropped the f-bomb several times. Oh well.



View all my reviews

How many copies of the same book can I legally purchase?

Cuz I think I'm hitting the limit.

The new found interest in creating my own book covers was inspired by an amazing marketing scheme by Penguin.

They are re-releasing classics with gorgeous new cover art. They are calling them the Classics Deluxe Editions and you can buy them all on Amazon. Just saying.

 

Okay this isn't one of the new Classics Deluxe...i just love it. I mean come on. All any of us want in all the Austin books if for them to just "Come on and kiss already!!!" Amen. 

Aren't they amazing? I'm in love and will soon own yet another copy of P and P, Persuasion, The Secret Garden, Wuthering Heights...

Not sure about this yet...

It could turn out to be another one of my odd ideas that doesn't pan out :-)

I recently started reading Patricia Briggs and really like her writing...but I can't stand the cover art. Weird, I know.

So I got the brilliant idea to make covers for them. I've made two now and have a better idea of how to proceed and how to make them easier to fit on the books.

I'm going to make some little plates with the name of the book and author tomorrow, but what do you think so far?

Original:




















New and improved:

No more skanky chick! (It really is weird, in the books the girls aren't skanky and there is no sex. Not sure what's up with the cover)

What do you think? I'll add more pics when I get the name plates added on.

But I like em!

Update -

Here they are with name plates. Not perfect of course, just getting an idea of how to proceed.

I won!!!!

I won!!! I started entering giveaways on Goodreads and I finally won! I don't actually know much about the book, hopefully it's not junk (still, it's free so...). I guess they will send it to me, i will read it and then I post a review on the Goodreads.
It's called The Woodcutter. Here is the rundown:

"Cinderella is dead and one of Odin’s hellhounds has gone rogue. The Woodcutter, protector of peace between the Twelve Kingdoms of Man and the Realm of Faerie, is charged with finding the beast and returning him to the Wild Hunt. Unfortunately, it seems the forces of evil have other plans.

Leaving his beloved wife and the comforts of his quiet home, the Woodcutter shoulders his ax and begins a journey to set things right. Instead, he finds a pixie dust trade raging out of control and a power hungry Wicked Queen who will stop at nothing to take over the world. The lives of Snow White, Rapunzel, and Little Red Riding Hood are at stake in this dark, fairytale mash-up—and the Woodcutter is the only one who can help them.
It is a race against time as the Woodcutter travels east of the sun and west of the moon, up beanstalks and down to the bowels of the earth to unravel a mystery that can only be described as Grimm."

I'm excited! I will post the review on here when I'm done.