Monday, April 25, 2011

April 26—Another Super Tuesday in Romancelandia




Almost every Tuesday I have at least one new release on my TBB (To Be Bought) list, but every once in a while there is a Tuesday with a flood of new releases. I call these days Super Tuesdays, and they thrill my reader’s heart and wreck my book budget. 

April 26 is a Super Tuesday.  My TBB list has twelve titles. Four of these gems I’ve already read, but that makes no difference. They were all books I enjoyed, three by autobuy authors and one by a new author who looks to be headed toward autobuy status. As much as I appreciate the free eARCs I receive from publishers via NetGalley, I need permanent copies of the books I love. Why else do we call them “keepers”? 

Here’s what’s on my Super Tuesday shopping list:

1.     Midnight’s Wild Passion by Anna Campbell
This is one of the books I’ve already read; it was a five-star read for me. Antonia is a wonderful heroine, and Ranelaw won my heart against the odds. I know I’ll reread it. You can read my full review at The Romance Dish.

2.     Any Man of Mine by Rachel Gibson
I’ve already read and reviewed this one too. A reunion romance and a terrific addition to Gibson’s Chinooks Hockey series, AMOM is book I recommend to all Gibson fans. To those unfamiliar with the series, I’ll add that you don’t have to be a hockey fan or to have read the other Chinook books to love this one. You can read my full review at The Romance Dish.

3.     Dangerous in Diamonds by Madeline Hunter
DID is the final book in Hunter’s Rarest Blooms quartet. The first three books have made this my favorite Hunter series, and that's saying a lot because I have two other Hunter series on a keeper shelf. I've been eager to discover the truth about Daphne’s past since Book 1. I can’t wait to read this one.

4.     Defiant by Kris Kennedy
I’ve said several times already that Kris Kennedy made me a reader of Medieval romances. I thought The Conqueror was wonderful, and The Irish Warrior was one of my top reads of 2010.  Both combined compelling bits of history, characters I found totally engaging, and lucid, graceful prose. I expect the same from her latest and look forward to spending a few hours in 13th-century England.

5.     Cloudy With A Chance of Marriage (Impossible Bachelor #3) by Kieran Kramer
One of the things I enjoy most about being a romance reader is that I’m never forced into an either/or choice; I can always choose both/and. Lighthearted historical romance fiction is always part of my reading choices, and, based on the first two books in her Impossible Bachelor series, I think Kieran Kramer is among the best in this subgenre. I also love self-made heroes and see too few of them, and therefore, I’m particularly looking forward to Stephen’s story.           

6.     A Turn in the Road (Blossom Street #8) by Debbie Macomber
This seems to be the season for road books, and Macomber’s contribution to the bounty is definitely a good read. I especially liked the three generations of women and the twist Macomber gave the romance element. You can read my full review in last month’s post here on some of the road books I’ve been reading.

1.    


      Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart  by Sarah MacLean
MacLean’s Love by Numbers series has been a winner for me. I enjoyed Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake. (I’m still hoping that MacLean will write Benedick’s story.) I thought Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord was even better. I eagerly anticipated Juliana’s book, and she is as magnificent a heroine as I expected. I’m not as impressed with Simon, but others have raved about him. And even with reservations about the hero, I recommend the book. You can read my full review at GoodReads.

2.     Heartache Falls (Eternity Springs #3) by Emily March
I was excited about Emily March’s Eternity Springs series from the time I read the earliest promo, and the first two books have been terrific with lots of interesting characters, a strong sense of place, and perfect balance between the heroine’s journey motif of women’s fiction and the H/H relationship of romance. I’m particularly looking forward to this one since the H/H are empty nesters. I love seeing central characters who give lie to the idea that life and love end at 39.

3.     Touch of a Thief by Mia Marlowe
If someone asked if I liked romances in which the hero or the heroine is a thief, I’d say no instantly. But after some thought, I’d remember favorites such as Connie Brockway’s All Through the Night, Anne Gracie’s An Honorable Thief, Julie Anne Long’s To Love a Thief, and Nora Roberts’s Honest Illusions and admit, as I usually am forced to do, that it all depends upon the writer. Touch of a Thief sounds like a book I’ll enjoy. I find the idea of a jewel thief to whom stolen jewels “speak” intriguing.

4.     Nowhere Near Respectable (Lost Lords #3) by Mary Jo Putney
MJP is one of my never-fail authors. I’ve already reread Loving a Lost Lord and Never Less than a Lady so that all the details about Kiri and Mac from the earlier books will be fresh in my mind. I love the idea of pairing a beta hero with a heroine who is strong, confident, and an expert at hand-to-hand combat. I’m also eager to see more of Lady Agnes.

5.     Face of Danger (Guardian Angelinos #3) by Roxanne St. Claire
I am a self-confessed wimp who rarely reads today’s romantic suspense, but I make an exception for Roxanne St. Claire’s books. She always gives me characters that I like and in whom I believe. I’m already interested in this heroine because of what I’ve seen in the first two Angelinos books. I’m really looking forward to reading Vivi’s story.

      When Tempting a Rogue by Kathryn Smith
This one is a don’t-miss for several reasons. It’s the conclusion to a series, it’s a second chance at love story, and it’s the last book Kathryn Smith will be writing under that name. She’ll be writing steampunk and paranormal as Kate Cross and Kate Locke. I wish her well, but I’ll miss the historicals.

Have you read any of these new books? What's on your TBB list for this week?


11 comments:

pjpuppymom said...

That's a wonderful list, Janga! I've read a few of the books on your list already and am eagerly anticipating others.

MIDNIGHT'S WILD PASSION: I agree! Loved this book! I was so sure I wouldn't be able to warm up to Ranelaw but he won my heart too.

ANY MAN OF MINE: Haven't read this one but I always enjoy Gibson's hockey stories. Can't stop thanking you for turning me on to these books!

DANGEROUS IN DIAMONDS: Terrific series and, like you, I'm eager to discover Daphne's secret.

DEFIANT: I've been a fan of medievals for years. So glad Kennedy's writing has brought you over to these wonderful books.

Kieran Kramer's first two books were an absolute delight and I'm looking forward to her new one!

I read ELEVEN SCANDALS, etc. last week and LOVED it! Juliana is such a wonderful heroine!

HEARTACHE FALLS: These are the books Emily March (Geralyn Dawson) was meant to write. The first two have gone straight to my keeper shelf and I have a feeling this one may join them there. Can't wait to read it!

FACE OF DANGER: St. Claire is an auto-buy for me and the Guardian Angelinos books are, in my opinion, the best writing she's ever done. I can't recommend this book highly enough!

Mary Jo Putney has been an auto-buy author of mine for many years. I haven't had a chance to start her new series yet but hope to soon!

Anonymous said...

I have so much work to get done today so I can buy all these books I *need* to read! LOL

@BookEmDonna

Janga said...

Thanks, PJ! I love these Tuesdays when the most difficult choice is which book to read first. Next Tuesday is almost as good. I have eight titles on that list, including new ones from Wendy Wax and Karen White. I know you love their books too.

Janga said...

Donna, I try to use reading as the carrot so that I'll meet my writing goals. But I admit sometimes I cheat. LOL

Manda Collins said...

Great list, as always, Janga! I'm looking forward to quite a few of these myself. Though I am spending some time playing catch-up on all the ones I missed while I was working on my book. I've got a lot of ground to cover.

And can I just say how much I love that image of the bookshop? I want to go there in the worst way! It reminds me of what I imagined Docia's bookstore in Konigsburg would look like:)

irisheyes said...

I've already read Dangerous in Diamonds by Madeline Hunter and it was fabulous. There is something niggling at me that is preventing me from making it a 5 star read but overall I really enjoyed Daphne and Castleford. I absolutely loved the interaction between all the gentlemen in the series. It was one of the high points of the book for me.

Any Man of Mine by Rachel Gibson, Defiant by Kris Kennedy, Heartache Falls by Emily March and Nowhere Near Respectable by Mary Jo Putney are all on my list.

I have to wait on the Emily March book until I read the first two. Kris Kennedy has been on my TBR pile for a while now. I'd like to read her first two also, but I don't think that is necessary. Her books aren't a series, are they, Janga? I was a huge medieval fan for the longest time and now I've been having a hard time getting back into them.

And of course, Rachel Gibson and Mary Jo Putney are auto buys for me. I'm looking forward to visiting the Chinooks and The Lost Lords again!

Janga said...

Thanks, Manda! And I'm not surprised that our lists have books in common. If you omit your romantic suspense titles and I omit my women's fiction titles, I bet our lists are very similar. :) And I must add that I'm really looking forward to the time when I can include How to Dance with a Duke by Manda Collins on my TBB list.

Janga said...

Seven out of twelve--that's a lot of commonality, Irish. I'm glad that you liked Dangerous in Diamonds. This has been such a strong seies for Hunter, and I'm always pleased when strength is sustained throughout a series.

I think you'll really enjoy Kris Kennedy's books, and you can read them in any order. She's the first writer who has ever become an autobuy for me on the basis of Medievals. And you're going to love the Emily March books. Three starred PW reviews says a lt about their quality.

Janga said...

Manda, I meant to respond to your comment about the book shop painting. I love it too, and now I'll always think of Docia's shop when I see it. Lovely!

The artist, Sung Kim, paints scenes that I think can stir the imagination of any romance writer. I look at them and dream.

Check this link and scroll to the bottom of the screen to see what I mean.

http://www.paintinghere.com/
painting/Book_Shop_28129.html

Quantum said...

I'm now using a natty piece of software called 'surfulater' for collecting web pages and have a folder there for 'Just Janga'. This week's blog together with all the fascinating comments is now in my collection! *smile*

I feel a bit like the tortoise chasing the hare as I try to keep up with you guys. My initial idea was to just taste the cream, but I am learning that there are gallons of cream in this genre. Accepting my limitations, I think I will try the 'Lost Lord' series next as I have really enjoyed Putney's 'Guardian' series.

As a member of audible (audio books), I also buy 2 audio books/month and am toying with the latest Catherine Anderson and the latest 2 Virgin River books. I don't have to decide until May 9th though... thank goodness!

PS
I have most of Kiri Te Kanawa's CD recordings Janga. If your article about her is available, I would love to see it! *smile*

Janga said...

Q, I'm flattered that you are collecting my blog posts. :)

If you liked MJP's Guardians, I think you'll like her Lost Lords too. Just remember the Lost Lords are straight historicals. Love is the only magic in this series.

My article on Kiri Te Kanawa is in a four-volume reference book that has just been released. I don't think it's readily available yet. I can send you a copy, although the information is probably already familiar to you. It's just a short biographical piece.