Sunday, February 22, 2009

Instant TBR

The HaulAfter receiving all the great recs you guys made about how to spend my money at the bookstore, I printed out the list of comments and took a long look at them.

First I crossed out the titles that I'd already read (seven), that I already had on order with B&N.com (five), or authors who for whatever reason I will not read or no longer read (Who Shall Remain Nameless.) Once that was done, I took the rest of the list with me to BAM and started hunting them down on the shelves.

I spent an hour at BAM and then went over to Borders (which has a slightly better romance section.) Basically I browsed around and looked at the different titles, and if I wasn't sure I read a few pages. Some appealed to me instantly; others just weren't my cup of tea. Some I bought on impulse. A lot of the books on the list simply weren't in the store.

Between the two stores I picked up fifteen books, three of which I had planned to buy before I asked you all for recs (these I marked below with a *). The rest I bought for a bunch of different reasons, starting with the fact they were actually in the bookstore (can't buy what isn't there.)

What I hauled home, and why:

Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews -- Di, Shiloh and Booklover all mentioned the author, and someone who gets that many recs should be test-driven.

Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs -- I didn't know the new Mercy book was out, that's how oblivious I've been. I also thought I had this pre-ordered, but if I did I can always pass along the extra copy.

The Woods by Harlan Coban -- I haven't read anything by him in a while; I haven't been in much of a mystery or crime fiction mood, either. I'm sure Harlan will shake me out of it.

Kiss of Fate by Deborah Cooke -- I almost passed on this because it has dragons in it, and I'm not what you'd call a (cough) dragon lover. But I'm trying to be more adventurous, and evidently the dragons are shape shifters, so maybe they'll stay in other-than-dragon form. I can always hope, right?

Dogs and Goddesses by Jennifer Crusie & Pals* -- I did plan to buy this one anyway later on this month when the moon is waxing and I have a priest bless the house. Okay, if all of you could purchase Stay the Night with that radioactive pink cover, I can chance some bad luck and buy one adorned in evil yellow. But I'm putting a book cover around it tonight. Just to be safe.

Desire Unchained by Larissa Ione* -- Had planned to buy this in March but it's out early. Or I had the wrong release date written down. Or they ignored the author's laydown date. My head hurts.

My Wicked Enemy and Scandal by Carolyn Jewel -- Honestly I'm not sure how I ended up with two Carolyn Jewels; I only meant to buy one. Maybe Scandal jumped in my tote when I wasn't looking.

A Long, Hard Ride by Alison Kent* -- Another planned buy; and I bought all the copies they had at BAM because I know I'll need extras.

Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning -- I picked up this one because I liked the cover. Hey, sometimes I just like the cover. Amie's glowing rec also helped.

Dark Protector by Alexis Morgan -- I like books that have a doctor character in them. Also very well-written cover copy on this one.

The Book of Unholy Mischief by Elle Newmark -- Could NOT resist a book with that title, and PK's rec appealed to my inner "need something different" Bookeemonster.

Bad Penny by Sharon Sala -- I've seen her books but I don't think I've ever read her work, and she's been around for a while, so when Sasha recc'd her I thought it's time I give her a try.

Delicious by Sherry Thomas -- I almost didn't pick up this one because it's a historical romance, which I stopped reading some years ago after reading too many poorly-written knock-offs. It's been so long now I don't know who's writing what, so I'm hopeful this one will be different.

Fragile by Shiloh Walker -- Nice cover art, very decent premise, why not? (Don't tell her, but I buy all of Shiloh's books.)

I plan to read at least one book a day for the next two weeks or however long it takes me to demolish the stack, and then I'll report back to you on how it went. Thanks to everyone who helped me spend my money.

31 comments:

  1. Wow, one book a day? You're a fast reader :). I didn't have the chance to think on the recs, but I'll quadruple? Magic Bites. And Darkfever was good too.

    Can't wait to see what you thought of the others.

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  2. Guess it's too much to expect you to read a book by a male author, huh.

    *sigh*

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  3. Tim wrote: Guess it's too much to expect you to read a book by a male author, huh.

    I read lots of male authors -- off the top of my head, Kris Reisz, Stuart MacBride, Stephen King, Nathaniel Philbrick, Martin Cruz Smith are some of my favorites.

    Harlan Coban is also male author. :)

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  4. Also, Tim, don't feel you have to apologize for being snotty with me on my own weblog.

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  5. (((Lynn))) Thank you! Hope you like DU! And sigh...they ignored the laydown date. Was supposed to be out Feb 24, but it's been on the shelves since, oh, the first. Grr.

    I have about half of the books you bought -- but have only read one, Shiloh's. I'm now in a mad dash to finish my Rita books!

    Have a great weekend!

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  6. Lynn, can't wait to hear what you have to say about the books. Will you post for each one?

    I should have also mentioned Bonnie Edwards! She writes some hot stuff!

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  7. How fun. To read a book a day for two weeks sounds like heaven. I read (and write) slowly, so if I had a book pile that high, it would take me several months.

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  8. Larissa wrote: And sigh...they ignored the laydown date. Was supposed to be out Feb 24, but it's been on the shelves since, oh, the first. Grr.

    They did that to me on my last Darkyn novel, Larissa -- it was shipping and out on the shelves three weeks before the release date. It's frustrating, too, especially when it dilutes our sales totals, which are not recognized/counted by various entities until after the official release date.

    They should really let us run Publishing. We'd fix that in a heart beat. :)

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  9. Theo wrote: Lynn, can't wait to hear what you have to say about the books. Will you post for each one?

    Sure, if you guys are interested in my take. :)

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  10. Of course I'm interested! :)

    You can delete this post if you'd rather not publish it because it's really off topic, but I uploaded a few pictures of that Jacob's Ladder jacket my friend did for me. Unfortunately, I can't wear it anymore because I lost a lot of weight and now it just hangs on me.

    http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c27/nightsmusic/Misc%20Pics/none007.jpg

    http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c27/nightsmusic/Misc%20Pics/none006.jpg

    http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c27/nightsmusic/Misc%20Pics/none004.jpg

    http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c27/nightsmusic/Misc%20Pics/none005.jpg

    I love the combination of traditional patterns with the batiks. And it doesn't show well, but she did machine and hand quilting on it.

    Just thought you might want to see.

    :D

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  11. LOL--I'm all for us running publishing! I've got a list of things I'd do right now! :)

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  12. YA! I'm glad you picked up BAD PENNY.

    I enjoy the majority of Sharon Sala's books, especially the Cat Dupree books because she's my kind of heroine. It's the third book in the Cat Dupree novels. (I think it's the last one) and I really enjoyed them all. It'll stand alone too, so no worries that you've not read the others. Cat is a great character, and so is WIlson.

    I really want Bone Crossed, but haven't found it in stores here yet. I think I'llhave to order it online.

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  13. Anonymous2:02 PM

    Fragile by Shiloh Walker -- Nice cover art, very decent premise, why not? (Don't tell her, but I buy all of Shiloh's books.)

    Squee.... *G* Nope, i won't tel her, although since she's getting stuff ready to get her taxes done, she could use the boost. ;)

    Guess it's too much to expect you to read a book by a male author, huh.

    *sigh*


    Personally, I prefer a woman's way of telling a story... MOST of the time.

    People shouldn't be made to feel as though reading certain books is required, expected, whatever...at least not out of high school. i left required reading behind ages ago.

    However, I'm equally sure that one of my fave mysteries authors was somebody I picked up from a rec here by PBW. JA Konrath's a guy, right?

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  14. Ooooh! Alexis Morgan and Karen Marie Moning rock! Karen's Highlander series is awesome, and the movie rights to the Fever books have been bought, so you need to join us in clamoring for Kristen Bell as Mac!

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  15. LOL Dana -- Kristen Bell isn't curvy enough to play Mac but I know she's the running fav over on KMM's boards.

    Lynn -- I hope you enjoy Darkfever. The Fever world is so rich. (Her Highlander books are great romances and perhaps make the Fever world all that much richer.)

    I finished Stay the Night a couple weeks ago and loved it. I have such a hard time finding your books locally I'd almost ordered it online. Let me just say I'm glad it had the pink cover otherwise I might have missed at the store LOL

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  16. Anonymous5:03 PM

    Lynn,
    I must have missed the "recommend a book" posting. I don't know how either. Stupid job and school probably distracted me! Anyway, I love Karen Marie Moning's books. As Dana said, her Highlander series rocks and I love the Fever books. I would also recommend the following:

    Tate Hallaway's Garney Lacey series
    Jean Johnson's Sons of Destiny series (seven books have been released of the eight total; the eight comes out in I think April?)
    Shanna Swendson's Enchanted Inc. Series
    Any of the P.C. Cast books (Goddess Series or House of Night)

    Hope you enjoy your reading!

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  17. I read very quickly also. I read the entire Daryn series in 5 days. I was very interested in the books you chose, I have not read any of them. Once you finish please, I would love you opinion on them before I go and pick them up. I am desperatly seeking material to read before the next Kyn book is released in Nov.
    Thanks

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  18. The nice thing is that when you get hooked on Ilona's Magic books (and you will--how could you not?) the third will be out at the end of March so you won't have to wait.

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  19. Enjoy your book-a-thon! I could spend days browsing for books, if only... My option for books locally is Wally World and they have the crappiest selection I have ever seen. It's enough to make me cry.

    BTW...
    I have to say, I was very surprised when I read reviews for several books that I've read lately and enjoyed very much and these other people just trashed them! They take nit-picking to a whole other level. How do writers handle this?? My blood pressure would be through the roof.

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  20. Anonymous7:33 PM

    I would LOVE to hear your take on the books you picked up, Lynn. Please let us know.

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  21. Theo wrote: Of course I'm interested! :)

    Okay, you talked me into it.

    You can delete this post if you'd rather not publish it because it's really off topic, but I uploaded a few pictures of that Jacob's Ladder jacket my friend did for me.

    That's some beautiful work, and the heck with the topic. :)

    I've been experimenting more with batiks lately, although it's becoming harder to find the type that are purely abstract. I have a friend down south who does custom dye work, and I usually get together with her once a year to buy up half her stock. :)

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  22. Shiloh wrote: People shouldn't be made to feel as though reading certain books is required, expected, whatever...at least not out of high school.

    When it comes to authors, I don't think about gender, only quality of work. But if anyone wants to look over my track record, I do recommend and hand out books by male authors in other genres pretty regularly (gave out a bunch during the Christmas giveaways, and I just did Fred White's how-to last month), and Harlan was one of my buys this time around. I guess that's why I'm so amused by Tim's comment. I mean, come on, man, if you're going to insult me, do a little research first.

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  23. Dana wrote: Karen's Highlander series is awesome, and the movie rights to the Fever books have been bought, so you need to join us in clamoring for Kristen Bell as Mac

    I love it when a romance author sells a movie option. Go Karen!

    Kristen Bell was that girl who played Veronica Mars, yes? If so, she's a good little actress.

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  24. Good! I really do want your take on them all :)

    T tried doing some traditional batik dying and realized she just didn't have to room or the time. She did a few nice pieces but it was...messy, to say the least, and she has no basement so everything was spread all over the house. Her fascination with that didn't last long :P

    She's got a great eye for color though. I just do the very traditional designs, though I do like the paper piecing. That's kind of nifty :D

    And FWIW to Tim, I love the writing duo Preston/Child! They're one of the very, *very* few authors I have in hardcover. And their individuals are great too!

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  25. Sherri wrote: Let me just say I'm glad it had the pink cover otherwise I might have missed at the store LOL

    For that I will be grateful -- and thanks for investing in STN, Sherri. :)

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  26. Eugenia wrote: I have to say, I was very surprised when I read reviews for several books that I've read lately and enjoyed very much and these other people just trashed them! They take nit-picking to a whole other level. How do writers handle this?? My blood pressure would be through the roof.

    I can't speak for other authors, but I don't read reviews of my books. I get a lot of complaints from readers who think I should do something about the bad ones, or correct the ones that are inaccurate, but it's really none of my business. Reviews are written for the other readers out there, not for me.

    I also have a different relationship with my readership, most of which have been with me for almost ten years now. When they want to talk to me about my books, they know they can e-mail and (when possible) I'll get back to them.

    I think what authors should remember is that everyone is entitled to their opinion. However, expressing it does not mean they're also entitled to force the author to read it. :)

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  27. Karen W. wrote: I would LOVE to hear your take on the books you picked up, Lynn. Please let us know.

    Will do. I finished Desire Unchained about an hour ago, so Larissa will be the first book report.

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  28. Anonymous10:02 PM

    HI PBW,
    I was just thingking about his topic today.
    I wish I'd recommended a YA book -- Water Mirror by Kai Meyer. My daughter read it (the first book) about a year ago and just recieved the trilogy as a b-day present today. I really enjoyed the first.
    Also, I would like to hear your take on the books recommended, as well as the ones you've already pre-ordered. I believe it was through you that I first heard of the Patricia Briggs series anyway.
    Which brings me to my last point for the record. I do believe an overwhelming number of the recomnedations from the related post were for women authors. And you picked a bunch. I'm not really mathmatically inclined, but I really don't see a problem there. :)
    JulieB

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  29. Yup, Kristen Bell played Veronica Mars. There's no consensus on who should play Barrons--I think it'll probably have to be someone new. But I'm dying for the next installment!!! They're awesome books, I find your writing and Karen's writing similar in ways--definitely some of the best romance writing out there!

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  30. A) You read FAST!

    B) I think I want to throw up... *g*

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  31. And because I only finished it after the date you asked (and I also read it in the day) it is a book called Evermore from Alyson Noel(they copied, I know) but it is a beautiful book (even for your daughter who liked Twilight) and really orth it even the cover is beautiful. ;)

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