Books you are looking forward to this summer

I was doublechecking release dates today for some of my favorite authors and looking up books to be released June, July, and August and got to wondering if anyone else has books they are dying to get for the summer? I have quite a few.

My top book is Sherrilyn Kenyon's DARK SIDE OF THE MOON
And Carly Phillips' HOT ITEM

Both come out in June and Jill Shalvis has one in June as well as Rebecca York.

Then in July I'm eager to get Cherry Adair's EDGE OF DANGER
Catherine Mann's BLAZE OF GLORY
Brenda Novak's DEAD SILENCE

and there's about 10 more I want

Then in August there's
Virginia Kantra's HOME BEFORE MIDNIGHT
Lori Handeland's MIDNIGHT MOON

Carly Phillips' CROSS MY HEART

Cherry Adair's EDGE OF FEAR

And Susan Sizemore's PRIMAL HEAT

Those are the main ones,but I'm sure I'll add more and that doesn't count the categorys I want. See why I have a little black book with releases for each month and what books I want or need, as well as older releases or authors to look for?

So what books are you looking forward to reading this summer? Any one book really the top book that as long as you get it, if it's great of course, you'll be happy?

WendyK

Reading and outside noise?

I'm curious of everyone. Are you a reader who must have complete silence to read and enjoy or do you prefer background noise? Doesn't matter if it's the radio or TV or the kids or whatever. Personally I can read anytime, anywhere. Doesn't matter if it's with noise or if it's quiet(although quiet with all these animals, 2 kids and a hubby is hard to come by anyway). I tend to get caught up in the book and can block out all other distractions with ease. I do it with TV or anything I'm giving my full attention to. I've heard people comment that they need to have complete and total silence in order to read. All I can think is where in the heck is there complete and total silence? Even living as far in the country as I do there is noise. The crickets, the whiperwils, the owls, the frogs, all that at night. During day you have birds of all kinds, dogs, cats, animals I don't care to name, the kids, cars, and any number of other noises going on. Especially if I am washing clothes, then the washing machine is making noise, so where do you find complete silence? I don't think I could read if it was all quiet. As it is if my kids get too quiet I know they are up to something or trying to hint something they've done, so noise is good.

But how do you all read? Do you only read at night before bed? Can you read anywhere or must you be in your favorite spot? Do you have a reading spot? Do you have noise or do you try to make it as quiet as possible? I wanna know where you read, how you read(by computer or pb), when you read, and how many distractions are around you when you read? I wanna know it all.

WendyK

author signing, Sherrilyn Kenyon

Sherrilyn Kenyon, Book signing

April 19, 2006

Charlotte, NC

I had the great pleasure of going to see Sherrilyn Kenyon in Charlotte, NC on Wednesday. It's the second time I've gotten to meet Sherri in person and she is always great. She's never given off the impression she's rushed or can't take the time with you and she's always smiling and joking. The signing was still going on after the store was supposed to close at 9pm. The line to see her was LONG but everyone was patient and having a great time. I got to meet up with some friends I've made online and it was great to see them in person as well. I wish I could attend more to these author signings but rarely do they occur close enough to me without me having to stay at hotels. I'm wondering how many fans also enjoy meeting their favorite authors in person and how they feel about those meetings. Are they shocked? Did the authors live up to what they expected or where they somehow let down? I have to say I love meeting with Sherri. The first time I meet her was in 2005 at a Luncheon in Ala. Or rather the first time I meet and talked with her. I did attend RWA's signing in NYC but honestly can't remember half the authors I meet that night. It was so busy and crowded and so many authors you had to hurry to do everything and while it was a blast I have enjoyed the smaller signings so much more. I have attended one other author's signing here in NC that was for Inspirational author, Don Brown. He's a great author and it was great meeting him as well. The smaller signings seem to allow for more one on one time. I look forward to doing more and hope to make many more author signings. Sherri told jokes, took pictures with everyone, was easy going and in general an outstanding person to meet. If I didn't already adore her work, I'd certainly adore her as a person. I'd suggest to anyone if they could attend an author signing to do it. It's great fun and meeting fellow readers is an added bonus.

WendyK

trying this one

Just trying to see if this works or not.

How about these?

I like this one better. What do you think?

testing these pics

Do we all like this photo?

WendyK

books that make you think

I just recently finished Vicki Hinze's HER PERFECT LIFE. It's an April Signature Select release and is about a woman, Katie Slater, who was a pilot in the war over Iraq. During a routine mission, her plane is shot down. Her co-pilot C.D. Quade is rescued, but she is believed to have died and left there. She's actually held prisoner for 6yrs before they know she's alive and get her out. Now her life is different than it was when she left. Her husband has remarried, her kids barely remember her and call this other woman mom, her co-pilot is feeling guilty for leaving her behind and she has no idea where her life is to go. She's got to deal with what happened as a POW and at the same time deal with a life that for her never changed. She held on to the image of family and her as it was. Added to this her mom who is no longer the way she remembers her. Nothing in her life is the same, not even herself. The book says: Does Katie have the strength to grow a new life--on her own terms?.

Now this book was good, but sad and at times I wanted to hit someone over the head. I wanted to shake the US government and at times her hubby. He was a jerk and everyone kept making excuses for him. I still don't get that part. He was a self-centered a$$, end of story. Now I'm wondering if anyone else has read this and what they think about it. Did it you make you think? It certainly gave me a lot to think about and makes me wonder how the woman on the front lines would take this same event in their lives? Could they handle it? If everyone read this book, would they view 'Nam POWs and other war POWs differently than they do? I have to say if you want a book that will have you thinking long after you turn the last page this is it. It's a good book. But it's not something for the ones who can't take truth with their fiction. While nothing is ever given in the great detail I at times want, enough was told to give a clear picture of what Katie endured and how it forever will change her life.

WendyK

I have discovered Anita Blake, again!

I was recently gifted with the first nine Anita Blake books by Laurell K. Hamilton. I say gifted, they were truly loaned to me. I read the first one, Guilty Pleasures, in 24 hours - big thing for me as I am doing so many other things during that time. I put off way too much to read this, but I was absorbed! See, when I read one of these out of order, I was lost and did not enjoy it, at all! I was ready to write them off completely. A good friend of mine convinced me to try again and I am so grateful! If you have not tried these, but like dark vampire stories, I highly recommend them. I am majorly crushing on Jean-Claude! This is the UK cover, but I think it fits better than anything else.

I'm Here But Don't Know How I Got Here

Hey guys, I'm here!

I hope I did this correctly! I love the look of the blog! And I know Livia prefers the other name, but I really think Five Ladies Readings is a way cool name!

Does this look better?

Does this look better to you Thia? We need to the others to weight in.

Wendy

The Look

Wendy, can we make the blog brighter? Can we do our own page or does it have to go up on the same page? This black and purple background is too dark and drastic for me. Am I am co-administrator or do I just tell you my thoughts? I love those pics on the side, btw - they are ones I think I have seen for the QCC and I have them both in my pics file!

Curious Thia

Just testing

Just testing