If You Had To Choose...

Obviously, reading is something I think about maybe a little too much. Sometimes my husband catches me gazing at my bookshelf and likes to make fun of me. Usually I have a reason--I'm trying to decide which books to take to someone who's asking for something to read, or I'm trying to decide what I want to read next. Plus, they're just so beautiful... :-)

Anyway, if you had to choose your top five favorite books--of all time, or over the last year or two--which ones would make your list? I'll narrow it down for you--they have to be fiction, and they can't be Double Take because I'll know you're just trying to win a prize if I give one out. :-)

I honestly don't know if I can do this. Just five? So if you have more than five, feel free to go a little overboard. :-) Maybe you guys will add to my must-read list.

Happy Valentine's Week

I kind of short-changed Betsy's darling book the other day when I climbed on my soap box. So let me add a few more things. Betsy is one of the hardest working writers I know. I'm pretty sure she's a publisher's dream--meeting deadlines early, being flexible, able to come up with ideas for suggested projects fast and doing all her homework. Plus she's sweet, fun, loves pink, blogs reguarly and has a strong online presence. AND she's photogenic. :-)

I'm going to say that's all because I was once in a critique group with her. I'm a great influence. Unfortunately, you all know how bad at blogging I am, so I guess I can't take ALL the credit. :-)

Now, there was only one book left at Walmart the other day when I was there, so I've decided to make sure at least one of you has an opportunity to own an autographed copy of A Valentine's Wish. The rest of you can get it off amazon or something. :-)

So, to enter your name in the pot for a free book, leave a comment telling me one thing you love about your own personal hero. (a.k.a. husband or boyfriend or dream guy) :-)

Hope you had a fantastic Valentine's Day! (And if you didn't read about Betsy's book before, go back a couple posts and check it out!)

Betsy's Book

I read a cute Valentine's Day story the other day that just happens to be written by my dear friend Betsy St. Amant. This girl loves polka-dotted shoes, God, and her fireman husband (I'm assuming not in that order. hehe), and she's nicknamed The Writing Machine. By me. :-) Love this girl, and A Valentine's Wish is almost as fun as she is.

"Unemployed. Single. And out of brownie mix." With that for a first line, how could you resist? Warning: this story WILL make you crave chocolate. Here's a summary of the book:

Unless youth pastor Andy Stewart finds a suitable wife fast, he'll lose his job. Yet the woman of his dreams is his best friend. And Lori Perkins is still smarting over a failed engagement, so he can't just declare his love. His plan: he'll be her secret admirer and woo her anonymously with flowers and chocolates. And then, when romance is on her mind, Andy will confess his Valentine's wish--to spend his life with her. There's just one little problem. Lori seems to think her secret admirer is someone else!

To learn more about Betsy, check out her website (which my brilliant hubby designed) at http://www.betsystamant.com/. And, of course, you can buy her book on Amazon. Treat yourself to a nice Valentine's present to go with that box of chocolates. :-)

The Critic's Take

This just in...The dreaded yet much-anticipated day has come. My husband finished reading my book. :-) He's been reading it on the sly when I'm not at home, and Saturday he finished. I didn't believe him. I quizzed him on a scene I knew I hadn't talked about before. He got it right, and gave me more details. Still didn't believe him, but it's true.

Jason read Double Take. All the way through.

He doesn't read romance. He doesn't read fiction, period. If he's going to take the time to read a book, it's going to be something he learns from - about leadership, computers, marketing, and God. But he promised that when one of my stories made it to actual book format, he'd read it.

Well, Double Take has a couple computers in it. I'm trying to do some marketing to sell the book. And it's got God. So... ;-) It must have had enough of something in it, anyway, because he finished it.

His comments: "I got a little frustrated at you because I couldn't find a good spot to put it down. Things kept happening." "There were times when I forgot I was reading something written by my wife." And, from his Twitter account, "I am impressed!!"

I still don't think he's going to make a habit of reading romantic suspense. In fact, he took it to work one day to read on his break, but ended up hiding it. lol. So his masculinity is still secure. But my most feared critic did read my book and he didn't hate it. He still loves me. And I didn't even know he was reading it. Gotta love the guy. :-)

My New Best Friend

Come to find out, I've been wrong about when the Steeple Hill book club members receive their books. Instead of getting Double Take one month ahead of my book hitting the shelves, it appears they get it a full TWO months in advance. So Wednesday I was surprised to find an email waiting for me from a reader. (Sign up for my newsletter if you want to know what she said. And if you want to know how to win a free book. Yes. It's called bribery.) It was a nice note and such a great encouragement. Someone other than my mom likes my book! :-)

Then I met my new best friend. lol. Her online name is Jessicue, and she read Double Take last night in one sitting, then reviewed it on a forum on my publisher's website. Here's what she said:

This is a new and first time author for me. I started reading it right after the Steeple Hill Chat Thursday night. My first thoughts were wow a book based on another book. The main Character Cole sees the book he is reading playout right in front of his eyes. WOW! The heroine in this book looks just like the girl on the cover of the book Cole is reading.Rather trippy I would say. The screenplay that was acted out in this book was unbelievably suspenseful. I loved the fact that I couldn't find the Villan. I give this book a 10!!!! Kenzie lived a complete nightmare in this book....
I can very easily say I can see this book turning into a movie. Yes that is right I said I could see this LIS book turning into a movie. This was an awesome read! If I didn't subscribe to LIS monthly* Jenness Walker would have just moved to my must buy author list.
Jessiecue

Thanks so much, Jessiecue. You made my week.

Now...I guess I should work on writing something other than a blog for people to read, eh? :-)

*This is the Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense book club, which automatically sends you all of the monthly releases from that line.

Scared

Today's pick of the week is the novel Scared, by Tom Davis.

This is a story about a photojournalist who travels to Africa to save his career. It ends up changing his life. And the book might change yours. Now, this is not a light read, and not one you will want to loan to your 10-year-old. It's not going to make you laugh, and you probably won't smile, either. It deals with poverty and AIDS and disaster and violence...but it also deals with hope. It felt so realistic I had to keep telling myself it was fiction. The thing is, though, much of it is based on fact. And it's going to leave you longing to make a difference in the world around you. It's a truly powerful book. Don't miss it.

So...have you read a novel that's changed you?

Beloved Old Books

Even with the most beloved grandparents, extended visits can get boring at times. But that was never a problem. In New York, I'd swipe all my relatives' Louis L'Amours. In Virginia, I'd rummage through my grandfather's basement, picking up the old hardcovers to find a something that looked remotely interesting. And I found a few prizes. Thought I'd pass them along, just in case you want a change in your reading. Check them out, if you get the chance!

To Have and To Hold, by Mary Johnston (1900 version) - This is the book I would rewrite if I ever did a historical. Unfortunately, I saw somewhere that someone beat me to it. Regardless, once you get past the 1900 English and the swooning women, the story is amazing. Pirates, bets, mail-order brides who aren't what they say they are, sword fights, panthers, Indians, shipwrecks...This book has it all.

Prisoner of Zenda, by Anthony Hope - The first chapter is hard to get through, but it's a great read from there on. (And a quick one.) More sword fights. A stand-in king. A beautiful princess...

Knights of the Range, by Zane Grey - A great Western. Humor, gunfights (of course), a beautiful ranch owner, and two good men fighting for her heart. Gotta love it.

Scarlet Pimpernel, by Baroness Orczy - A classic. What more can I say?

By Right of Sword, by A.W. Marchmont - Love at first sight and sword fights...I can't remember much past the first scene, but apparently it was good all the way through. If we weren't through with a book by the time our visit was over, my grandfather would let us take it home with us. I finished this one too soon, so I made my brother start reading it, so it could go with us.

There you go. Some of my favorite old books. Try 'em out--they may become yours as well.