I am still reading Pale Moon Rider by Marsha Canham. Also reading Tempted By Darkness by Shayla Black.

Still Reading How to Seduce a Texan- it's ok.  It's basically fluff with some sex thrown in- good for light reading.

I'm going to have a reread/skim of Black Ice because there's going to be a discussion at Racy Romance Reviews this afternoon.

Still reading: Eichler's MURDER CAN SPOOK YOUR CAT, and Teresa Medeiros' NOBODY'S DARLING.

I would have finished the Eichler today except I received an e-mail from my bookseller saying the order I put in for October books (yeah, I'm a bit late with that) had some duplicates in it. Oops. So I rummaged through my "recent purchases" box - she was right. She's a whiz, thank goodness she caught my boo-boo.

Gail

Early this morning, I finished Stranger by Megan Hart. I haven't decided if I like it or not. There are a lot of plot elements that are real turn-offs and the hero is alternately lovable and loathable. Additionally, it's 1st person POV and that's always something to be suffered rather than enjoyed.

SPOILER ALERT: the heroine spends the majority of the book having sex with another man, a paid escort (before she and the hero get together), she's a funeral director and there's a lot of narrative about death and grief (I recently lost my stepdad so maybe I'm not in a good frame of mind for this book), she deals with the death of a 4-yr-old (guaranteed tear jerker for all, including our stoic heroine), and the hero, who has unresolved issues with his own recently-deceased father, is a definite irresponsible beta who tends to drink way too much and way too often. What's not to like about this book?

On the other hand... Hart often writes difficult plot situations and lotsa angst. She incorporates situations and characters that aren't often encountered in day-to-day life, but if you relate your own life or someone you know to what your reading, Hart doesn't just touch that nerve, she aggravates it before she cauterizes it.

Colleen

I'm reading Cherish by Catherine Anderson.  I got sucked in early this morning but had to put it down to try to re-glue the binding so I don't keep tearing the book up before I finish it!  LOL   (don't worry, I don't post books that I have to perform surgery on...:)

Just finished "The Untamed One" by Ronda Thompson and I must admit, I'm not feeling the love here. They lust after each other but 3/4 through the book they still don't have (maybe I should say admit?) any affection for each other. I'm seriously debating whether I'm going to read the third book.

That Megan Hart doesn't sound up  my alley!

still reading Baking Cakes in Kigali...it's pretty good but I'm tired!

LOL, Susanna. Rereading my post about Stranger, I have to wonder what could I possibly like about this book. I tend to like books, movies, and art that evoke an emotional response. Some books are fun reads, some are more intense. Throughout most, you know there's an HEA coming, you're just reading on to see how they get there.

With most of Hart's books, Stranger included, the HEA isn't guaranteed. And her books aren't always pleasant to read; sometimes, they're downright depressing. But she does evoke that emotional response. And like an occasional good cry, that can be cathartic.

Colleen

I have been in a reading funk so I reread Jo Goodman's If His Kiss is Wicked and I still love that book!  Now I am reading Tempt Me at Twilight by Lisa Kleypas.  I'm about 1/4 of the way through and I am enjoying things so far.

Susan

I was just thinking about starting Stranger or Deeper.  I loved, loved Dirty and Broken.  Of course, I really really hated Tempted.  Hart seems to bring out those strong reactions.  I'm feeling sort of fragile today, maybe I'll just reread something.

I've been rereading this weekend too. Real life stuff has me too stressed to focus on anything new.

 Earlier in the week I did read A GENTLE RAIN by Deborah Smith. Written in first person alternating between hero & heroine. I enjoyed it. I'd call it a feel good book.

I'm working my way through Shelly Laurenston's Pride series.

HEATHER - I'm curious to hear what you think of the Pride series. I just recently got my bookholders on The Beast in Him (Book 2) but I'm on the long, long WL for the rest.

If these don't end up on your keeper shelf... I've got at least 2 or 3 books that are on your WL. '-D

Colleen

Oh, Jennifer!  I can't say enough good things about A Gentle Rain.  That was my best read of the year of whatever year that was.  I'd have to look it up.

Bronwyn it was released in 2007. I just got it after being on the WL for almost 2 yrs(no luck finding it at library or UBS). I actually think it was your comments that had me putting it on my WL. Thanks!

I also LOVED Broken and Dirty by Megan Hart, but I did not care for Deeper or Stranger at all.  Megan Hart really is hit-or-miss with me.

Just finished There's Something About Christmas by Debbie Macomber this evening.   Very light and easy reading.  Yesterday I finished Angels Fall by Nora Roberts and now I want to see the movie again.  I know that there are some die hard Nora Roberts fans out there and I have to say that Angels Fall was the first Nora Roberts book I actually liked.  I've ried to read some of her other books in the past and just didn't feel satisfied with them.  I guess it's because they were the shorter, serial books.  I really like this novel and will try another one soon.

I finished Patricia Brigg's Hunting Ground last night and I'm still feeling the love from it.  I absolutely adored it.  It was so good - I'd have to rate it as one of my top reads this year.

After reading that, I doubt my next read will be as good, darn it!

I read Sugar Daddy and Blue-Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas over the weekend and enjoyed both books. I've requested Smooth Talking Stranger from the library so that I can read Jack's story. Right now I'm reading Texas Men by Delilah Devlin - not bad - a llittle light erotica. I should finish that tonight. Not sure what I'll read after that - not sure what I'm in the mood for.

I took a break from historical romances and read He's No Prince Charming by LuAnn McLane.  But then went back to historical romance and began The Outcast  by Rosalyn West.  It's the first book of The Men of Pride County. Tugs at the emotions!

Margy

Colleen --  the first two I have are eBooks. I have The Mane Squeeze, but it's an ARC. I couldn't wait for the WL. It was movin' too SLOW. I know that when I'm done with these, I'm going to have to get the Pack series. I love her writing style. I recently read Hunting Season and that's what got me hooked.

I'm seconding Colleen's dissection of Megan Hart. I've only read one of hers, Tempted, and was left feeling incredibly depressed. But I liked it enough to try to get my hands on more of her stuff. Tempted was one of those books that gave me a nervous belly the entire time I was reading it. 

I finished The Watson Brothers by Lori Foster, which was just what I was looking for at the time, a light-hearted romp. I'm a big Foster fan, but I can only take her in small doses because her characters (especially in short stories like this one) are kinda shallow and often fall in love too fast. There's no good development for the romance. I know, that's hard to do in short stories, but it's never really bothered me with her up until this book. It was good, though, I really liked it overall. 

So now I've moved on to a Maya Banks I've had in my TBR for a while, Seducing Simon. I'm only a chapter in, but so far, it's OK. Over the weekend, I also got about halfway through a nightstand read, Seven Nights of Sin by Lacey Alexander. Very good, and very steamy!

Decided to read Seducing a Scottish Bride by Sue-Ellen Welfonder today.

GINA - It's been my experience that among erotic romance writers, Maya Banks (although I will have to reserve judgment on the Falcon Mercenary series that I've yet to get my hands on), Sasha White, Alyssa Brooks, Lacey Alexander and Shelley Bradley (when she's writing under that name) tend to offer the more shallow, light-hearted romps.

For deeper plots with 3-D characters, I load up on Megan Hart, Lora Leigh, Sarah McCarty, Shiloh Walker, and Shayla Black (Shelley Bradley's intense alter ego). Add to those Robin Schone, Cheryl Holt, Noelle Mack and Diane Whiteside for intense historical erotic romances.

As for Foster, I read and enjoyed the Winston Brothers / Visitation series, but she's just not my cuppa. By the time I got to Jamie, I was tired of it but persevered only because I'd already invested so much time... My sister labels her an instant buy, but then she also collects Joan Johnston and Johanna Lindsay (nary a one in my TBR) while she'll take a pass on one of my instant buys, Mary Balogh.

Lucky for all of us there are soooo many authors with soooo many different styles! '-D

Colleen