Lost or Overdue?

Painted Ladies - Robert B. Parker

2011-07-24T20:00:00.000-07:00

I finally broke down and read Painted Ladies by the late Robert B. Parker. Started 7ish on Friday night and finish around midnight (give or take a break or two!). It was classic Spenser. Iffy client, convoluted case and Spenser's innate need to set thing right in the end. Anyone expecting anything new or different - this is not for you. Spenserphiles will find the comfort of sameness and uniformity. I missed Hawk in this story, but love the small references throughout to the many characters that have lived in Parker's writing. A Spenser novel feels comfortable - like a chat with an old friend. I delayed reading this one, in denial of the loss of a great and honest writer. I WILL eventually read Sixkill, just not soon. A friend told me of another of his friend's who says if he never reads Sixkill, there will always be another Spenser. Rest in Peace Mr. Parker, you did well.

Embarrassment Abounds!

2011-03-28T17:47:00.001-07:00

How does one let their blog lapse for well over two years? Busy travelling the world? Writer's block? Amnesia? Soap-Opera Coma? I wish I had one of those great excuses. I have simply been lazy. and distracted. and busy. with life.

But I plan to change that beginning NOW! I have read so many great books - romances, mysteries and even some non-fiction and I am eager to tell you all about them!

I hope you tune in and enjoy the posts - I won't call them reviews, as I will rarely write about something I didn't enjoy! So these will all be recommendations!

Carla

Lady Morgan looks at the Regency

2008-07-09T16:35:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderfully witty colleague here at the library a while back, who was writing the next great novel. In the meantime, to our amusement, he wrote an episodic romance featuring various members of our department as characters. His weekly installments consisted of five lines of type across the bottom of our Monday work schedule. Being inordinately fond of Regency Historical romances, I became his heroine, Lady Morgan, who was enamored of the roguish Don Juan Salinas. The story ended upbruptly with no conclusion, despite our whining requests for an ending!

Everyone knows that a real romance must have a HAPPY ENDING! It's a fantasy world, in which life promises chocolate and roses and the love of a handsome man - not dishes, laundry and your beloved in his faded boxers! So bring on the happiness, but for me, bring on the castles and country houses; the ladies' pelisse and gentleman's greatcoat; the dukes and the duchesses! Since the age of 13, I have been firmly and fully addicted to Regency Romances - starting with the prolific novellas of Barbara Cartland; the requisite Georgette Heyer works and to the writings of today's best. While acknowledging that the Regency is not for everyone, I know a good many readers who want nothing else. Below you will find an extensive list of authors writing some of the finest work in the genre. Some, as noted, have written in other genres and sub-genres. Some may no longer be available via the Library - if so, try Interlibrary Loan or your local used book dealer. The first half of the list contains the individual titles in 4 series by 4 authors who I consider to be the BEST OF THE BEST. If forced to choose only one - I would go with Jo Beverley, whose revolutionary writing changed the face of the Regency romance - spawning the birth of the Regency Historical Romance (more detailed, indepth story with adult plot and characters).

If you are a fan, I hope the list brings you a new author. If you are a 'newbie' - try one of my favorites.

Jo Beverley
Company of Rogues Series
· An Arranged Marriage
· An Unwilling Bride
· Christmas Angel
· Forbidden
· Dangerous Joy
· Forbidden Magic
· The Dragon’s Bride
· The Devil’s Heiress
· Hazard
· St. Raven
· Skylark
· The Rogue’s Return
· To Rescue a Rogue
· Lady Beware

Mary Jo Putney
Fallen Angels series
· Thunder and Roses
· Petals in the Storm
· Dancing on the Wind
· Angel Rogue
· Shattered Rainbows
· River of Fire
· One Perfect Rose
· Devil’s Bride
· A Rake’s Vow

Stephanie Laurens
The Cynster novels
· The Promise in a Kiss
· Captains Jack’s Woman
· The Lady Chosen
· A Gentleman’s Honor
· A Lady of His Own
· To Distraction
· A Fine Passion
· Beyond Seduction
· Scandal’s Bride
· A Rogue’s Proposal
· A Secret Love
· All About Love
· All About Passion
· On a Wild Night
· On a Wicked Dawn
· The Ideal Bride
· The Truth About Love
· What Price Love?
· The Taste of Innocence
· Lost and Found
· The Perfect Lover
· Where the Heart Leads

Eloisa James
The Duchess Quartet
· Duchess in Love
· Fool for Love
· A Wild Pursuit
· Your Wicked Ways

Additional Regency Historical Authors:
Note: Each of these authors have written Regency Historical Novels in the style of Beverley, Putney, James and Laurens, but they may also have books in other sub-genres as well.

Victoria Alexander
Adele Ashworth
Mary Balogh
Elizabeth Boyle
Connie Brockway
Candace Camp
Liz Carlyle
Loretta Chase
Casey Claybourne
Nicola Cornick
Catherine Coulter
Heather Cullman
Jacquie D’Alessandro
Christina Dodd
Suzanne Enoch
Jean Ross Ewing/Julia Ross
Marjorie Farrell
Julie Garwood
Diane Gaston
Tracy Grant
Danielle Harmon
Karen Hawkins
Lorraine Heath
Sabrina Jeffries
Emma Jensen
Nicole Jordan
Julia Justiss
Katherine Kingsley
Laura Kinsale
Lisa Kleypas
Johanna Lindsey
Julia London
Julie Anne Long
Judith MacNaught
Kat Martin
Cathy Maxwell
Kasey Michaels
Anita Mills
Amanda Quick
Julia Quinn
Karen Ranney
Deborah Simmons
Mary Spencer/Susan Spencer Paul
Elizabeth Thornton
Gayle Wilson

Summer Reading

2008-05-20T17:50:00.000-07:00

I am gearing up for some serious, un-serious summer reading. I plan to devour as many romances and mysteries as I can check out in three months. I hope you all are ready to do the same! Start your summer by stopping in the nearest Library location and signing up for Summer Reading Club the first week in June. Irving Public Library has something for every age - Adult; Teen and Childrens.

If you caught my movie review below, you know I am re-introducing myself to Jane Austen through the PBS video series. Once I started, I remembered some great contemporary companions and follow-ups:
The Jane Austen Mysteries by Stephanie Barron
(Jane Austen as protagonist)
1) Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor
2) Jane and the Man of the Cloth
3) Jane and the Wandering Eye
4) Jane and the Genius of the Place
5) Jane and the Stillroom Maid
6) Jane and the Prisoner of Wool House
7) Jane and the Ghosts of Netley
8) Jane and His Lordship's Legacy
9) Jane and the Barque of Frailty

Mr and Mrs Darcy Mysteries by Carrie Bebris
(Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy as protagonists)
1) Pride and Prescience
2) Suspense and Sensibility
3) North by Northanger

Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict by Laura Viera Rigler
(woman obsessed by Austen novels time-travels to Regency England and has to rely on her book knowledge to get by.)

There are others - these represent some of my favorites. To me, Jane Austen is an old friend, someone who never lets you down and always lifts you up! Give them a try!

In the next few weeks, I will be posting some read-a-likes and author lists for a variety of historical romances - check back!

April Showers - pour it on!

2008-04-23T11:29:00.001-07:00

Having just realized a month has past since my last post, I was reflecting on what's been going on and it's been a crazy, busy month! April brought the annual Texas Library Association conference, engagement news, Mid-Term exams and Hockey Playoffs!

Texas Library Association - what a great week! This year's conference came to Dallas, so I saved on lodging expenses, but I spent a fortune in parking fees. Oh, to own a small corner lot in downtown - what a cash cow! I had the fabulous good fortune to share a meal with many Young Adult authors as a member of the Young Adult Round Table Executive Board. My tablemates for the evening were author Will Weaver (Claws, Full Service) and his publisher rep Jeanne McDermott from Farrar, Straus & Giroux. We had a wonderful conversation and enjoyed the evening immensely! Thursday I convened a panel of male YA authors and totally flubbed the introductions - I introduced their publisher and then started to walk off stage without introducing the authors! Yikes. I was embarrassed and everyone got a laugh. The panel was incredible - these guys REALLY know their stuff. They were hilarious - giving some real insight into how and where they get their ideas. Overall, as always, I loved conference. (I am weird that way!) It's one of the best parts of this business - just being surrounded by books and book people.

Engagement News! My youngest daughter and her young man have set a wedding date - to coincide with my parent's 50th anniversary - June 17, 2010. A long way off, but Em plans to personally construct every invitation, table decoration and thank you note! She's quite the scrapbooker - so I foresee perfection from her! I, however, am using the time to find a perfect Mother's dress and reading wedding planning books. I am currently on Weddings for Dummies by Marcie Blum (395.22 BLU) Two more must sees: The New Book of Wedding Flowers by Joanne O'Sullivan (745.926 OSU) and Weddings by Martha Stewart (395.22 STE) Remember - there's a book for everything!

Mid-Terms - let's just say - I am not on academic suspension! Actually fared well, considering the craziness around me!

Hockey Time in Texas - Doesn't have quite the ring of "Hockey Night in Canada", but it will work! My beloved Dallas Stars have advanced to the 2nd round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and I am so excited. My oldest daughter and I were able to take in Game 4 of Round 1 - what a great game! If you haven't become a hockey fan - now is a great time to check out a game!

So now I am looking forward to May and more Hockey, Finals and the break between classes to READ. I will have 2 weeks of uninterrupted, unredeeming, totally blissful romance and mystery novels! Send me some suggestions!

Hey Batter, Batter!

2008-03-31T13:40:00.000-07:00

Oh happy day! The Texas Rangers 2008 Baseball season starts today. I am a true baseball fan - I love the sounds of the game, the smells of the ballpark and the fabulous opportunities for people watching. (Try it sometime, it's better than TV!) My love of the game started around age 13, courtesy of a boy I had a huge crush on. His family had season tickets and his Mom, ever the matchmaker, invited me to a game. The boy told me to watch the game and don't ask silly questions. In the 5th inning and ball careened off the homeplate fence and landed in my lap! I was able to meet Jim Sundberg and get the ball signed. At that point, I was hooked.

You say you can't afford the tickets? Try reading a great baseball book! I have a few that I like to read on rain-out days! Box Socials and Shoeless Joe by W. P. Kinsella are the cream of the crop. Michael Chabon's Summerland and Frank Deford's story collection Casey on the Loose are also good. One of my favorite picture books for children has a baseball theme too - Just Like Josh Gibson written by Angela Johnson, illustrated by Beth Peck.

And for you visual types , I have an annual, ongoing "debate" with a co-worker on the BEST baseball movies. He likes the Bad New Bears (chuckle) and I vote for the classics - Bull Durham, Major League and Field of Dreams - so chime in with your votes, comments, critiques and help us create the definitive list!

Play Ball!

So Many Books, Never Any Time

2008-03-21T07:43:00.000-07:00

I love my job. There, I've said it in print. I know, only weird people love their job! But I do...well except for computer complaints, smelly patrons, and crying babies. All part of the daily life in a public library. Their happy counterparts are little old ladies (and gentlemen) who love to read and teens who are discovering reading for pleasure. My favorite question in world? "Can you help me find a book to read?" Nirvana! It's like a great detective mystery and treasure hunt all rolled into one. Like the movie? You will love the book! Read all of your favorite author? Let's find a new fav! You tell me what you've read recently, what movies/tv you like, what you find humorous....you're walking out with a book! My only complaint - it's like being diabetic in a gourmet chocolate shoppe! You can have only a small portion, so choose wisely. Every trip in the stacks yields an old title I've been meaning to read. Every stroll past the new books display, at least 5 books are calling my name. Even the Harlequins in Walmart seem to know me! Every selection, catalog or library journal that passes my desk adds more to my "To Be Read" List. (Sort of like a Bucket List only longer!) So, what am I reading now? Nothing! I SHOULD be reading a text on Women in Texas at the Turn of the Century. But I am secretly lusting over a new romance title that just came in....

Lost or Overdue? Can I get back to you on that?

2008-03-17T13:40:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my Blog! This may be an experiment in lunacy or better than therapy! After lurking in the blog world for awhile, I decided to take the plunge. And my first big obstacle came in the form of the box labelled " Blog Name". Yikes. You mean I have to name it myself? So, I skipped down and completed the other boxes and then thought, "I can be clever, can't I?" Lots harder than it sounds. So what defines me most - my girls, books, my relationship with God? And then -aha- lightbulb moment (as Oprah says)! Lost or Overdue. That's me in a nutshell. Usually late, never on purpose. Often lost, but a great sense of direction. Feel free to join me! I'll try to stay on the path, but you know the by-ways are were the most interesting things are.