Used Bookstore

I went to my favourite used bookstore yesterday and found out that after 25 years they are closing.  What am I going to do??  This is the absolute best store in the city.  There are only a handful of other used bookstores around and they either do not have a good selection, of books, lack a romance section, or are poorly organized.  This place was perfect, they had almost a whole room devoted to romance novels, every book was on a shelf and in alphabetical order.  I could spend hours looking through the shelves for the perfect summer read.  It was here that I discovered Nora Roberts, Lisa Kleypas, and Sandra Brown.

The first time I went to this store I was about 13.  I can even remember one of the books I bought (and still have), it was Heather Graham's "A Pirate's Pleasure".  Over the years I would go sporadically, but in my early twenties I often went about once a week, especially during the summer break.  After a while I found that I gravitated to certain authors and would only go to the bookstore when a new book might have made it's way to the shelves.  I am hoping that another book lover will open a similar store with the attention to neatness.  For now, perhaps my summer will include trips to other local used bookstores to see if anything can come close in comparison.  On a positive note, I received over $50 in credit for the books I took to the store yesterday and the books they have left were 50% off the sticker price (which is already 50% of the selling price).

Review - The Witness by Nora Roberts

Elizabeth Fitch is tired of living her life by her mother’s strict rules. So the minute her mother leaves for a medical conference, Elizabeth is out the door and headed to the mall. One new wardrobe, one new BFF, and two new fake IDs later, Liz finds herself at Chicago’s hottest nightclub. But before the night is over, Liz will be a witness to murder, when Alex Gurevich, the nightclub owner, is eliminated by two of his business associates. Twelve years later, Liz, now living as Abigail Lowery, has built a new life for herself as a freelance computer-security programmer in Bickford, Arkansas. Abigail’s first and only priority is staying one step ahead of the Russian Mob, who has never stopped trying to get rid of the one living witness to Gurevich’s murder. The only problem is that Bickford’s new chief of police, Brooks Gleason, simply refuses to let her live in peace, and nothing Abigail says or does seems to convince him that she doesn’t need his help (Amazon).

This is Nora at the top of her game.  In fact I think it is the first novel since Three Fates  that I really enjoyed and want to read again.  My attention was riveted from the first sentence to the last page.  The whole book could have focused on Elizabeth/Abigail in the first year or two after the murder and I still would have read it.  I found Abigail's character to be believable in light of how she was raised, what happened to her and how she had to live.  Although at times her mannerisms and social skills made me think she was a little Autistic.  Not sure if she was, or if Roberts portrayed her that way to show how stunted her upbringing was and the lack of social connections she had before meeting Brooks.  Brooks seems to be the typical Beta male lead, a take charge type of guy that does so while considering the feelings of others.  I did find him to be pushy and overbearing at the beginning with Abigail.  But I let that go, because she was so reclusive, if brooks wasn't pushy, there would have been no love story.

There were no unexpected twits or turns in this novel, but I enjoyed it all.

The Witness by Nora Roberts

Every so often I like to look up upcoming books by my favourite authors.  Today I decided to see if there was any information on Nora Roberts' hardcover for 2012.  I discovered that her next book is titled The Witness and will be released on April 17, 2012.  I have not come across a cover or the synopsis but I did find a description from Nora herself at her messageboard about the book:

Right now I’m working on the 2012 hardcover. As a teenager our heroine has her first rebellion and as a consequence witnesses brutal murder. This brilliant, socially awkward girl goes under the protection of the US Marshalls, but things go horribly wrong. Some 12 years later, with only herself to depend on, she’s still on the run. Until she meets the charming and tenacious local chief of police in the quiet area of the Ozarks where she’s trying to settle down.

I am looking forward to this book, it sounds like a classic Roberts suspense.

The Next Always by Nora Roberts

This one almost slipped by me!  Roberts' newest trilogy begins with The Next Always, which will be released November 1, 2011.  It looks like fact and fiction will be merging for this trilogy, which takes place in a family renovated bed-and-breakfast in Boonsboro, MD (Nora and her family have actually renovated a B&B in Boonsboro).  Following is the synopsis from Amazon:

The historic hotel in BoonsBoro, Maryland, has endured war and peace, changing hands, even rumored hauntings. Now it's getting a major facelift from the Montgomery brothers and their eccentric mother. As the architect of the family, Beckett's social life consists mostly of talking shop over pizza and beer. But there's another project he's got his eye on: the girl he's been waiting to kiss since he was fifteen...

Can I just say that I love the front cover of this book?  There's something very warm and romantic about the old stone building, the colours of the wood and the flowers.  If this is the front of the actual B&B I think I might need to take a road trip.  And talk about great free advertising for it!  If any fan of Nora's didn't know she owns a B&B in her hometown, they will now!  Seeing as how this book is about a mother and two sons, I wonder how many of Nora's fans will be asking her how much of her life made it into this book? 

I am looking forward to reading this book, I love a romance in a small hometown where people fall in love with someone they have known all their life, but never considered.  But, enough with the trade size!  I knew this would happen when Roberts' Bride Quartet came out in Trade.  I hate that size!  For one thing it is more expensive, and another thing, it is not comfortable to hold while reading.  I want the mass market book back for the trilogies!  I will definitely be borrowing this book from the library instead of buying it, even though Roberts is usually an autobuy for me.

Cleaning Bookshelves

I know I haven't posted in a loooooonnngg time.  I started a course in June and there are assignments due almost daily.  After I am done those, I do not feel like writing or reading anything else!  But, I finished a couple assignments early, so here I am. 

Do you ever get tired of seeing your bookshelves crammed with a ton of books?  I think I am getting to that point.  But, last summer I culled the shelves to take out books that I haven't reread in a couple of years.  I boxed the books up and put them away thinking that if I didn't want to read one of those books within a year, it would be safe to get rid of them. So now all that is there are my favourite authors.  But I am starting to get that spring cleaning feeling and want to get the shelves all nice and streamlined.  Problem is, what if a couple of months from now I suddenly have an urge to read Nora Roberts' Dream trilogy but they are no longer there?  I tell myself that I could just borrow them from the library, but what if the library doesn't have them? 

If I were to take out some books, I think that most of my Nora Roberts books would be gone.  I would just keep a couple of my absolute favourites.  I am finding that I do not return to read any of her books lately.  And I think it is most of her books that are taking up so much space.  But it almost feels like I am breaking up with an old friend!  I would have to keep all of Diana Gabladon's books and all of Johanna Lindsey's books.  Almost every year or two I return to read through their complete backlists.

Right now all the paperback books I have are stacked two books deep on the shelves.  Anyone have any suggestions on making the shelves look neater?

30 Days of Books - Day 25

A Character Who You Can Relate To The Most

The character that immediately came to mind was Naomi Brightstone from Nora Roberts' The MacGregor Grooms.  Naomi is a bookstore owner who is enlisted by Ian MacGregor to help him furnish his home library.  She is somewhat shy and still feels like the nerdy, overweight girl from high school.  

30 Days of Books - Day 20

Favourite Romance Book

What?  Just one book??  There is no way I can do that, so I am going to list my favourite romance book in different categories.

Romantic Suspense
Divine Evil - Nora Roberts

Contemporary Romance
Simply Irresistible - Rachel Gibson

Civil War
One Wore Blue - Heather Graham

European Historical
Tender Rebel - Johanna Lindsey

Historical Fiction
Outlander - Diana Gabaldon

Medieval Romance
Prisoner of My Desire - Johanna Lindsey

Renaissance Romance
Highland Outlaw - Monica McCarty

Urban Fantasy
Bloodfever - Karen Marie Moning

Viking Romance
Hearts Aflame - Johanna Lindsey

That's all I can think of.  I know I'm only supposed to list one, but it's my blog and I can do what I want!!

30 Days of Books - Day 19

Favourite Book Turned Into A Movie

My favourite book turned into movie is Nora Roberts' novel Montana Sky.  Montana Sky is one of my favourite romantic suspense novels and the movie for the most part does not disappoint.  I think it would have been better if it was a miniseries rather than a two hour movie.  Also, I didn't like how they changed the character of Nate.  In the novel he is a lawyer who is somewhat awkward around Tess.  In the movie he is a sheriff who is almost too stupid to believe.  I preferred the novel Nate and am not sure why they had to change him.

Review - Chasing Fire by Nora Roberts

Chasing Fire is Roberts' 2011 romantic suspense release.  Here we meet Rowan Tripp, a Missoula smoke jumper.  Smoke jumpers are elite firefighters who parachute into remote areas to combat wildfires.  Rowan is returning to Montana for the season with the death of her jump partner haunting her.  This season she meets up with rookie smoke jumper Gulliver Curry.  Rowan's rule of no fraternizing with fellow jumpers is forgotten with Gulliver.  But soon someone starts to blame Rowan for her partner's death and the fires of summer start to take on a sinister heat.

The good - Nora Roberts as always delivers a story with witty dialogue, humour, chemistry between characters, and a mystery that keeps the reader guessing.  I have to admit, I think I enjoyed the secondary romance between Lucas (Rowan's father) and Ella, a local high school principal, more than Rowan and Gull.  I liked Rowan at first, she seemed strong and capable without a harshness to her.  The mystery kept me guessing until the end.  I had the suspect narrowed down to two characters (A and B).  I thought it was character A at first but closer to the end, character B did a couple of things that made me think the story was going in another direction.  I was completely wrong, well-played Ms. Roberts, well-played.

The bad - Nora Roberts has gone from an auto-buy hardcover author to borrow hardcover at library and buy paperback to just borrow hardcover at library.  This book has not changed that.  I find that although her books are better written than most romance novels available, they have become very formulaic, starting with the heroine.  Roberts seems to favour three main female archetypes for her heroine.  This is really evident in her trilogies which usually features one archetype per book.  There is the nurturer who takes care of everyone and is protective of her charges.  A great example of this is Mia from Face the Fire (Three Sisters Island trilogy).  Next is the waif, she is the tender, innocent, damsel-in-distress that needs to be saved or shown how to save herself.  This describes Nell from Dance Upon the Air the first in the Three Sisters Island Trilogy.  Finally there is the crusader (Ripley from Heaven and Earth) who is strong, headstrong, independent and will take care of everything herself.  Rowan is the crusader, she does not want her friends to look out after her and will do everything herself.  Although I don't have a problem with any of these archetypes, I do get annoyed with them if they become too extreme.  I liked Rowan at first, but she became to harsh and bitchy at times.  When she was being interviewed by the police, I felt that she was way over the top in her reaction to them.  I get that she was annoyed about possibly being a suspect, but come on!  They weren't harassing her, they were just doing their job.

Roberts' story lines seem to have become formulaic as well.  Chasing Fire is no exception.  It involves a strong heroine, a romantic, wealthy (or financially sound) hero, a couple of chapters focused on an interesting or different career, and a murder.  Throw in a secondary romance and you have 450 pages of a story. I have found that for the last couple of books, I tend to skim the pages that focus on the career.  It at times feels like filler that I have read before rather than something that adds to the story. 

I will continue to read Nora Roberts' novels in hopes that the stories return to characters that are more fleshed out and stories that feel less formulaic.  She has the gift of storytelling and while this is not a keeper for me, it is still better than most authors out there.

30 Days of Books - Day 2

A book that you've read more than 3 times.
This was hard, and having looked over the list, I think it is only going to get harder to narrow down my choices each day.  Over my lifetime I have read hundreds, if not thousands of books.  Many I have read once and forgotten, but a lot I have read over and over again.  I think it all started with Cinderella. I have always loved to read and believe that a good book is like a good friend.  Some I have read for the first time to only finish it and immediately start again.  I did this the first time I read Nora Robert's Heaven and Earth.  

Ripley Todd just wants to live a quiet, peaceful kind of life. Her job as a sheriff's deputy keeps her busy and happy, and she has no trouble finding men when she wants them - which, lately, isn't all that often. She's perfectly content, except for one thing: she has special powers that both frighten and confuse her - and though she tries hard to hide them, she can't get them under control... Distraction soon arrives in the handsome form of MacAllister Booke - a researcher who's come to investigate the rumours of witchcraft that haunt Three Sisters Island. Right from the start, he knows there's something extraordinary about Ripley Todd. It's not just her blazing green eyes and her sultry smile. There's something else. Something he can detect, but she'll never admit. Fascinated by her struggle with her amazing abilities, he becomes determined to help her accept who she is - and find the courage to open her heart. But before Ripley and Mac can dream of what lies in the future, they must confront the pain of the past. For Three Sisters shelters centuries of secrets - and a legacy of danger that plagues them still...

This is one of my favourite Nora Roberts' series.  All three books are stellar, but the second one, Heaven and Earth, has just a little bit more oomph.  Ripley, although tough, shows some vulnerability.  But Mac just does something for me.  I think it is because he is smart, rich (shallow, I know) yet clumsy and awkward at times.  Throw in a picturesque island town, the supernatural, and I am hooked.  I return to this book at least once a year.

Friday Book Trailer

Not really a book trailer, it's chapter one of Nora Roberts' Chasing Fire audiobook.





There's little as thrilling as firefighting-at least to Rowan Tripp. The Missoula smoke jumpers are in Rowan's blood: her father is a legend. She's been fighting fires since her eighteenth birthday. At this point, returning to the wilds of Montana for the season feels like coming home-even with reminders of the partner she lost last season still lingering.

Fortunately, this year's rookie crop is one of the strongest ever-and Gulliver Curry's one of the best. He's also a walking contradiction, a hotshot firefighter with a big vocabulary and a winter job at a kids' arcade.

Everything is thrown off balance when a dark presence lashes out against Rowan, looking to blame someone for last year's tragedy. Rowan knows she can't complicate things with Gull-any distractions in the air or on the ground could mean the end-but if she doesn't find someone she can lean on, she may not make it through the summer. . . .


I picked this book up a couple of days ago (review to come soon) and am on Chapter 10.  So far so good.

New York to Dallas Synopsis - J.D. Robb

I decided this morning to see if I could find a synopsis for the next in Death book coming out this September.  And I did, the title is New York to Dallas, apparently a one time name change.   This mystery leads Eve back to Dallas:


Twelve years ago, Eve Dallas was just a rookie NY cop when her instincts led her to the apartment of Isaac McQueen, a man she discovered to be a sick murderer and paedophile, who was keeping young girls in cages. Now a homicide Lieutenant, Eve is one of the most distinguished officers in the city - and then she learns that McQueen has escaped from jail. Bent on revenge against Eve and with a need to punish more 'bad girls' McQueen heads to Dallas, Texas - the place where Eve was found as a child, the place where she killed her own abusive monster when she was only eight years old. With Eve and Roarke in pursuit of McQueen, everything is on the line and secrets from Eve's past are about to be shockingly revealed.

Books I Want to Read

Every once in a while I start to think about my favourite authors and with the help of the internet look up information on their new books.  Here are just some of the books I am looking forward to in the next year.

Lara Adrian 

The Midnight Breed series is about vampires and their mates.  The ninth novel, Deeper Than Midnight, is Hunter's story.  I have an idea as to who his heroine is, but it would be a spoiler for people who have not read Taken By Midnight.  The book is scheduled to be released June 28th, 2011.  I did not know until today that Adrian also writes under the name of Tina St. John - I need to read these books too.

Jean M. Auel

I had absolutely no idea until today that the sixth book of the Earth's Children series is coming out soon!  The Land of the Painted Caves continues the story of Ayla, Jondalar, and their daughter Jonayla.  The final book will be released on March 29, 2011. 

Rachel Gibson

 Gibson's newest book is another hockey story.  This time it's about wedding planner, Autumn Haver, and hockey star, Sam Leclaire.  The two spend a wild weekend together in Las Vegas and end up married.  Two years later they meet up again when Autumn is in charge of organizing an event for Sam's hockey team.  It sounds reminiscent of Rachel Gibson's early book, Simply Irresistible, which is one of my all-time favourite books. 

Kristan Higgins

Available on March 29th, Harper James runs into her ex-husband at her stepsister's wedding.  Somehow the two are forced to travel across country together.  If this book is like Higgins' previous ones, there will be a crazy cast of secondary characters working through their own issues.

Lisa Kleypas
Rainshadow Road is the second book in the Friday Harbor series.  It is due out in December 2011.  So far I have not been able to find the cover or synopsis for this book.

Johanna Lindsey

 This book takes us to the kingdom of Lubinia where the captain of the palace guards, Christoph Becker believes that Alana Stindal is not the missing princess but a pretender.  This book will be out June 14, 2011.

 

 

 

Monica McCarty
Monica McCarty is my new go to author for Scottish historical romance.  The next book in her Highland Guard series is The Viper.  This one tells the story of Viper or Lachlan MacRuairi.  It will come out October 25th, 2011.

J.D. Robb

Robb's 33rd novel brings back Eve Dallas, Roarke et al for another mystery.  This time the suspense involves dirty cops.  The book was released on February 22, 2011.

 

Nora Roberts

The Queen of romance's newest book will be available April 12, 2011.  This time Roberts' focuses on firefighting with her characters Rowan Tripp and Gulliver Curry.