Of the same kinds, class, or nature

So I really like Amanda Quick/Jayne Ann Krentz/Jayne Castle and I have been reading the Jayne Castle books lately. And it made me realize that I don't hate paranormal romances as much as I thought I did. SO. Flist! I am going on a flight on Thursday and would like to download some books to take with me.

As I am not generally crazy about paranormal romances I kinda have a very specific idea of what I might like. To that end, if you know anything that fits into this category please let me know:

(1) part of a series
(2) actually a romance novel, not just a paranormal novel with romance
(3) paranormal, not supernatural - not a huge fan of werewolves, vampires, etc.
(4) set on a planet not earth or far in earth's future or an AU of earth where its totally normal to have paranormal super powers

Yes, I am picky, why do you ask?

Also, if you have any recommendations for any new historical romances with dukes, viscounts, ladies, lords, etc. let them fly!

I was not a fan of this book. It could have been so much more, but it wasn't.

There was so much sloppy writing in the book and so many things that had promise and went no where and so many things that were included but had no point. It was like she wanted to shove 20 books worth of material in one book and couldn't let a single thread go.

Anyway - my review and summary is under the cut. It's . . . interesting.

( Major, Major Spoilers )

Guess what I bought to read this weekend? The first free chapter online is PURE GOLD.

I am SO EXCITED. I loved these books so much. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

cbackson and I have been chatting about books and romance novels popped up. She listed some of her favorites, so I am listing mine (I'm not so good at putting into words why I like books, so sorry!):

(1) Georgette Heyer - I love all things Heyer, but if i had to pick a favorite it would have to be a three way tie between Frederica, The Grand Sophy, and These Old Shades. I also love Devil's Cub like a mad mad thing but the amazingly wonderful and complex story in These Old Shades edges it out. With Frederica and The Grand Sophy, Heyer just created two amazing women. I love Charles and Sophy. I think I got most of my Heyer rec's from tesserae_ and cbackson.

(2) Loretta Chase - I have never heard of her until rigel_7 recommend Miss Wonderful and I read that and was hooked. Today cbackson recommended Lord of Scoundrels and it may edge out Lord Perfect as my favorite. The thing I love about Loretta Chase is her heroines are smart and sexy and not afraid of being sexual. :-) Also, the hero in the Lord of Scoundrels is the perfect combination of idiot, grumpy, brooding, and awesome.

(3) Julia Quinn - Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever - hands down. Everything else she writes is fun, but I love that book.

(4) Susan Elizabeth Phillips - Breathing Room is my comfort book. It's the book I recommend to everyone. Once again it has a smart heroine (who has a few hang ups, but she's awesome) and a dark and brooding hero (I think I have a thing for those?) and they just work. I also love all of her newer books. The Chicago Stars and related series are just fun.

(5) Liz Carlyle - a few years ago reccea suggested smittywing get me The Devil You Know for my birthday and it was really good, but I didn't read anything else until I was stuck in an airport in Indianapolis and ended up desperate for a book and grabbing Tempted All Night. I *love* Phaedra and Trent. She's a little dark and twisty with her past and he's kinda a tool, but it just works. And that opened the floodgates and I have now read them all. :-)

(6) Stephanie Laurens - this one, I don't think I can pick a favorite book. I enjoy every book she has written (except The Ideal Bride which was utter crap) but I don't have one that stands out as the one I re read the most. I love Tony and Alicia from the Bastion Club (A Gentleman's Honor) or Honoria and Devil in Devil's Bride. I'm pretty sure I picked up my first Laurens book when I was a B&N in Florida with triciabyrne1978, catku, and vflick.

(7) Eloisa James - She can be hit or miss but I love Your Wicked Ways because Helene is awesome and Rees is kinda a tool but not in a totally unforgivable way. :-)

(8) Mary Balogh - Slightly Sinful or Slightly Scandalous Freya and Alleyne totally got the best stories of the whole Bedwyn series. Without spoiling, the end of Alleyne's book always makes me cry a little. :-)

(9) Jo Beverly - Elf and Fort's story (Something Wicked) is a go to re read. They are just so angsty and FUN. I've finished the Malloren's and I'm saving a bunch of the Company of Rogue books for my beach vacation in August. This was another excellent rec of rigel_7

( (10) Others )

And wow, this post turned into something MUCH longer than I intended. Is there anyone out there that I am missing that I should read? I'm sure I'm missing people from the list - I'm such an author completest. If I like one thing they write, I will read them all, the good, the bad, and the horrible. :-)

Books!
After all of the wonderful recommendations I ended up with a handful of Jo Beverly, Candace Camp, Loretta Chase, Meredith Duran, and Sara Lindsey books for my vacation in Florida.

Beverly was my favorite I read - My Lady Notorious (loved it!), Something Wicked (I had really liked Fort and Elf in the first book, so I skipped to their story - it was a very worthy story for those two), A Lady's Secret (also awesome) The Secret Duke (didn't love as much, actually), and An Arranged Marriage (loved! - I'm really looking forward to the rest of the Company of Rogues books)

I also liked Candace Camp a great deal - I read a Gentlemen Always Remembers and A Lady Never Tells.

I kinda hated the Sara Lindsey book (Promise Me Tonight). The heroine was a dumbass. I mean, yes, okay, sometimes these ladies forgive their men for things they really shouldn't, but in this case? They made the hero unforgivable! And pretty unlikeable actually. I think I will probably not pick up any other books by her.

I also snagged a Meredith Duran book from the grocery store in Florida when I ran out of books (Wicked Becomes You) not awful, but not good enough to pick up anymore.

I LOVED Miss Wonderful by Loretta Chase and I am much looking forward to the rest of that series.

I have also recently re read the Bedwyn series by Mary Balogh (always a favorite), the new Julia Quinn (Ten Things I Love About You), while a bit ridiculous at times was quite fun, and a Liz Carlyle. All in all, not bed.

Comic Books!
I have been keeping up with Second Coming and will reserve judgment until the end. I think underwhelmed is about the nicest thing I can say at the moment.

I am quite in love with the Avengers #1 and Secret Avengers #1! I have subscribed. I will probably also subscribe to the New Avengers. :-) I also subscribed to S.H.I.E.L.D.!

I picked up the Psylock trade (but haven't read yet) and caught up on The Fantastic Four (I'm though Masters of Doom). I also picked up the Emma Frost Origins (did not love).

I need recs! I'm going to Florida for a week, in two weeks, and I need books. A few things:

(1) It needs to be in paperback (I get hardcovers from the library and that usually takes a while)
(2) I like historical romance fluff
(3) Thinky things make my brain hurt
(4) Well done contemporary romance is good too

I have read everything by:
Eloisa James
Julia Quinn
Stephanie Laurens
Mary Balogh
Julie Garwood
Judith McNaught
Amanda Quick/Jayne Ann Krentz/Jayne Castle
Linda Howard
Elizabeth Lowell
Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Liz Caryle
Debbie Maccomber
Diana Palmer
Donna Andrews
Julia London
ETA: Georgette Heyer - I've read almost all of them!

I no longer care for:
Nora Roberts
Catherine Coulter
Jude Deveraux
Iris Johansen
Lisa Kleypas

I have tried and didn't really care for:
Sabrina Jeffries
Celeste somebody

Help!

I have been catching up on TV and books!

TV! This fall season we are watching:

Monday - House, HIMYM, and Gossip Girl
Tuesday - NCIS, NCIS: LA, and Fringe
Wednesday - Glee, CSI:NY, and So You Think You Can Dance
Thursday - The Office, 30 Rock, Community, Ugly Betty, Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, and Flash Forward
Friday - Numb3rs and Psych
Saturday - Merlin/Robin Hood (but I'm behind on episodes)
Sunday - The Amazing Race, Mad Men, and Brothers & Sisters

One week in - Numb3rs = disappointing. House, Office, Amazing Race, Brothers & Sisters = awesome. HIMYIM = every more awesome, Gossip Girl and Glee = MADE OF WIN, NCIS and NCIS: LA had very strong starts. CSI:NY - could have been a little better, the cliff hanger was kinda disappointing.

With Fringe, I liked the first, but not the second episode, and some times it's a little gross for me. Flash Forward is VERY intriguing. I cannot wait for more.

I've also been rewatching Grey's Anatomy from the beginning and I love it. I've also been watching old episodes of Las Vegas (omg that show is ridiculous!)

Books
Okay, who else reads Jayne Ann Krentz aka Jayne Castle aka Amanda Quick? Come on - I cannot be the only one! They are not good, but I love them. ALL OF THEM. Her Arcane Society kick is getting a little annoying, I would like new ones not connected to that 'verse, but I still read them ALL. The newest Jayne Castle book was called Obsidian Prey. I wish I was kidding. But no. I read it this weekend.

Ridiculous title? Check! Ridiculous Man on the Cover? Check! Man doing something pretty much unforgivable and being forgiven? Check! Heroine with super special abilities that are super rare and aweomse? Check! It was fantastic. At least at no point did they compare his . . . to a fossil. (oh yeah, she totally went there back in the 90s).

I found it today at the bookstore, so I read it this afternoon! I AM IN LOVE! She is so awesome. I LOVED HER! And Charles! He was so fantastic!

I read Cotillion last weekend and it was so good, and I was so happy at the end, and now this one! Two hits in a row!

Anyway, I'm SO glad I found it! I can't wait to read it again!

My dad is visiting and we went to Ikea today and nom dinner and yay! Good weekend so far!

I've been working my way through all of her books, and while the selection at Barnes and Noble has been hit or miss, but I've gotten quite a few that were excellent!

I still have yet to read the highly recommended The Grand Sophy, These Old Shades and Devil's Cub, though I look for them every time!

So far I find myself enjoying the books in which the heroine is a little older and the hero is a little grumpy. Except for The Corinthian I haven't cared for the ones where the main character is 17 or so and a nitwit.

I have read (and opinions): (with some spoilers, hence the cuts)

( Loved )

( Liked )

( Didn't Like )

I am hooked on books. Seriously. (also, wow that sounds CHEESY) BUT I mean it.

I am on a book binge. It started off innocently with Julia Quinn, just picked one up and it was good. Less than a month later? I've read her entire book list.

And then I saw Stephanie Laurens had a lot of books. That was 3 weeks ago. I'm 10 books in to her book list and I can't read them fast enough.

I want to read more. I keep having to stop myself ordering them all off of B&N.com.

And fanfic isn't doing it for me - I want my historical romance with dukes and lords and ladies and balls and society and dresses and just EVERYTHING.

It has been so long since I just ran through book lists - I did it in high school and college. I would pick and author and get all of their books from the library and gorge myself. I did it with probably 30-40 authors over the years.

And now I'm doing it again. The only problem is I keep picking authors that don't have hardbound books in the library and we don't have a good second hand store around here. Which means I'm actually buying them all new. Which is getting expensive.

I'm limiting trips to B&N and limiting the number of books I buy - but then I usually run out early in the week and go through withdrawal. It's a VICIOUS CYCLE.

It's probably a good thing I'm out of new books this week - I need to write my ronon_love story and I'm having a dinner party on Saturday that I need to plan dinner and dessert for.