by Anne Gracie

So Christmas is over. The relatives and friends have gone home, you have a pile of leftovers in your fridge, you’re tired from all the preparation leading up to the festivities, the cleaning— because no matter how clean your house is, it has to be extra clean for all the visitors — and the cooking, the shopping, the sheer organization.

So now what do you do? Are you the kind who heads back out and dives happily into the post-Christmas sales — leaping into the mad shopping frenzy that follows the mad shopping frenzy that led up to Christmas?

Or do you prefer to savor the quiet, to let the family fend for themselves for a while — what are Christmas leftovers for, after all?— and curl up with a book.

I’m one hundred percent the curl-up-with-a-book kind. The post-Christmas sales are, for me, the equivalent of having a root canal just for fun.

So, right now, the TBR (To Be Read) pile is beckoning. So I wander across to check out what tempting morsel awaits me. . .

Hmm, the TBR is looking a bit small and lean and a bit shabby, actually. Mostly it’s books I started and didn’t finish. Not so tempting.

Poor little thing, I’ve neglected it shamefully in favor of all those frivolous time-wasters like shopping and cooking and cleaning. I haven’t fed it for ages.

But hey, there’s a stack of shiny new books coming out — the new Eloisa James, for a start. I have a new book out, too, on 3rd January — Bride By Mistake.

It’s a marriage of convenience story — with a twist. This is a marriage of inconvenience.

At the age of thirteen, in the middle of the Napoleonic Wars, Isabella was saved from a forced marriage to a man she hated when handsome young English Lieutenant Luke Ripton married her. Lieutenant Ripton, tall, dark, and as beautiful as an archangel. He placed her in a remote convent school, and left. She waited — like a princess in a tower dreaming of her prince — for eight years. Now those dreams have withered and Bella is taking charge of her life…

 

Here’s a short excerpt:

“I’m leaving the convent.” Bella’s announcement was followed by a stunned silence.

“Is he comi—” Paloma began.

“Nobody is coming for me, Paloma.” Bella glanced at Sister Beatriz, who was still asleep, and said in a lowered voice. “I’m leaving anyway.”

“I don’t believe you. What will you do? How will you support yourself? Who will protect you? It’s dangerous—”

“I will support myself, ” Bella said. “And I will protect myself. I won’t stay here, waiting forever for someone to rescue me. Life isn’t a fairy-tale.”

“Isabella Ripton,” said a voice from the doorway.

All the girls jumped guiltily.

“Isabella,” Sister Josefina repeated as she entered the door. She was the youngest and prettiest of the nuns, merry and lively and dedicated to her vocation. “Tidy yourself. Reverend Mother wants you in her office. You have a visitor!”

“A visitor? Who?” In eight years, Bella had never had a visitor.

Sister Josefina smiled. “Can’t you guess?”

Mystified, Bella shook her head.

“An Englishman.”

Bella froze.

Sister Josefina nodded. “Tall, dark, and as beautiful as an archangel.”

Bella couldn’t move a muscle. She couldn’t utter a word or marshall a single coherent thought.

“A very stern, very masculine archangel.” Sister Josefina sighed. And a blush rose on her cheeks.

         * * * * *

 There’s a longer excerpt here:

 

So I hope, when you’re replenishing your TBR pile, you’ll consider my book, BRIDE BY MISTAKE, in stores, January 3. And in the meantime, for those of you who don’t want to be out shopping but prefer to curl up with a book, here’s a little poem I penned, just for you:

 

‘Twas the lull after Christmas

And all through the house

Not a creature was stirring

Not even a spouse.

Leftovers are placed

On the fridge shelves with care

With instructions that

“You all can just graze from there.”

“Please do not disturb me

Unless there is blood.

‘Tis my time for reading

‘Bout a fictional stud.”

“Just leave me alone

With my books for a while

I’m a much nicer person

With the TBR pile.”

 

So  . . . are you out in the frenzy of the sales, or curled up with a good book? What’s in your TBR pile? And what books are you looking forward to reading in the next month or two?

I’ll send a copy of BRIDE BY MISTAKE to someone who leaves a comment.

 

Thank you for letting me visit.

All the best for the holiday season.

Anne Gracie

www.annegracie.com

guest bloghistoricals
By Authors, Berkley, Giveaways124 Comments on ‘Twas the lull after Christmas. . .

124 Replies to “‘Twas the lull after Christmas. . .”

  2. I’m definitely staying home with my books!:)
    On my TBR pile.. Follow my lead by kate noble! Forever & a Day by Delilah Marvelle!
    And I’m really looking forward to read Destiny by Carly Phillips! And Eloisa James’s latest!:)
    Thanks Anne! Happy Holidays!=)

  3. My house is an after Christmas Wreck! Your poem fits me to a T! LOL But I am curled up with my sons Kindle (he has a “mom” catagory on it because I have downloaded so many books to it) reading Eloisa James Winning the Wallflower! Trouble at the Wedding and The Duke is Mine are in my TBR when they are released in Jan. ….among many many others I fear I will never get to. Would love to read Bride By Mistake, its right up my alley…going in that TBR list for sure!

    1. Hi Rhiannon, a Christmas mess is a creative mess! 😉 Did you know the Season is giving away a kindle, so scroll down and enter the draw. Better still, get your son to enter, then you don’t have to reload any books. LOL

  4. I have been staying home shopping online spending my bookstore giftcards. I’m ready for the next blizzard. On my my TBR I’m reading Heartless by Diana Palmer.

    1. Hi JCP — those on-line stores are very seductive, aren’t they? Do you really need a blizzard? Maybe just a nice decorative bit of snow would do. Or rain. Or any kind of weather is a good excuse to read, I find.

  5. I’m looking forward to reading: The Tattooed Duke, The Duke is Mine, Trouble at the Wedding, Twice Fallen, How to Ravish a Rake,
    The Saint, and Bride By Mistake. There are too many to name. And those are just the historicals! Right now I’m reading The Sweetest Thing by Jill Shalvis. I received several gift cards to buy books with , so I’m ready to go.

    1. Sounds like you have a lovely collection lined up, Shelley. I only discovered Jill Shalvis this year — I like her blog, too. And I do like book gift cards or vouchers as presents.

    1. Kim (or is it Phan?) I love historicals, too, but I read pretty widely. At the moment I’m about to start on a Harlequin short series book by Jessica Hart. And then next is Nalini Singh, but before that was Balzac and the lIttle Seamstress. I like a bit of variety.

  7. Just downloaded the next in the Virgin River series, “Hidden Summit,” by Robyn Carr. Can’t wait to get a cuppa and settle down with it this evening! I’ve been working all afternoon, trying to clean up this wreck of a house I live in.

  8. *slaps forehead* Forgive me, Anne, I must have Christmas brain. I didn’t realise Bride By Mistake was out so early in January. Definitely one for my to-be-read pile.

    Like you, I couldn’t think of anything worse than the post-Christmas sales. I’m a terrible shopper as it is. Kicking back with a good book sounds much more appealing.

    1. Stop beating yourself up, Cathryn — when you become a published writer — as you have 🙂 — one of the things that becomes tricky is keeping up with the publications of all your writer friends. It simply can’t be done, so relax. There won’t be a test. 😉

  9. Yay! I’ve been waiting for Bride by Mistake. My TBR pile is ridiculously long, and to some may appear daunting, but to me just looks delicious. Trouble at the Wedding, The Duke is Mine, Sunrise with a Notorious Lord, Twice Fallen:Ladies in Waiting, and (of course) Bride by Mistake are just the tip of the iceberg. Not to mention How the Marquess Was Won which I’m starting tonight. *sigh* Why can’t we all just have all the time and money in the world to read everything we want???
    Hope everyone enjoyed their holidays and Happy New Year!!

    1. Sharon, I so agree. It would be so lovely if we could just drift happily from book to book. I like your list.
      I have sore wrists at the moment, so yesterday a friend came around to help me put up the second of two big new bookcases I’d bought (as flatpacks) and then we attacked the boxes of books that had been cluttering up my house. We emptied box after box, and then the question came, “What about these? ” and they reached for the TBD pile. I almost shrieked the “No!” LOL.
      Nobody touches my TBR pile except me. 😉

  10. I am definitely curl up w my books and sitting next to my mom that also curl up with her books . My next to read book is romancing the countess By Ashley march . Never read any of your books before but please count me ub for the draw because I heard a lot of good things about your books and would love to start reading your books. Cheers

  11. Honestly, I’m looking forward to 2012. I’m ready for 2011 to be over with. The insanity surrounding the holidays has worn me out. LOL. I just want to sit somewhere quiet and read for a few months!

    1. Then Stacie, do it. Just check out of tomorrow and hole up somewhere quiet with a book. You deserve it. The holidays do get crazy, don’t they?
      Thanks for dropping by. All the best for 2012.

  13. My tbr pile has some great looking romances in it, so I look forward to catching up on them this year. I’m out of the loop about new romance books coming out but this one has definitely caught my eye!

    I’m just starting one in my tbr pile (by his majesty’s grace) & i’d love to make Bride By Mistake one of my january reads. 🙂

  16. I have been staying away from most of the stores/shopping. Whoever invented gift cards has my undying gratitude! Now I don’t even have to worry about returning for “size” or color. The recipient can do whatever they want with their gift card.
    I have a variety in my TBR pile. I like all types of books. Romance is my favorite, but I like biographies, war stories, mysteries, etc.
    Best Wishes on your new release and have a very Happy New Year!!

    1. Hi Betty, I like my reading to have variety, too.
      I’ve been reading — in bits — the Jennifer Kloester biography of Georgette Heyer. Heyer was one of my favorite authors when I was a kid, and she still is a favorite comfort read. She’s also the reason I write regencies, so it’s wonderful to read this excellent biography of her.

  17. Love that you have a New Release! Can’t wait to read it!
    On my TBR pile I have Winning the Wallflower by Eloisa James
    To Wed A Wild Lord By Sabrina Jeffries

    1. Hi Maria, BRIDE BY MISTAKE has had some lovely reviews, so I hope it pleases readers as much.
      Thanks for dropping by. All the best for the giveaway.

  20. Anne!

    I just love the poem! I’m posting it on my fridge!

    I don’t tackle the mall BEFORE or AFTER Christmas. I buy nick-necks during the year, or online.
    My TBR will be growing by a lot of books that are coming out 1/3 (yours will top it for sure), but right now I’ve finished Nicola Cornick’s DESIRED and I’m in love wiyh Owen (the hero)!

    Here are some books on my Kindle TBR (and there are so many more on my shelf):
    THE FORGIVEN DUKE by Jamie Carie
    SECRETS OF AN ACCIDENTAL DUCHESS by Jennifer Haymore
    THE DRAGON AND THE PEARL by Jeannie Lin
    COMEBACK LOVE by Peter Golden
    HER GENTLEMAN THIEF by Robyn DeHeart
    ALL’S FAIR IN LOVE AND SEDUCTION by Beverley Kendall (although I want to read her other two before I get to this one)….

    And by 1/3 this pile will be PILED on, and on, and on….

    Wishing you a great joy in the New Year!

    Mel
    http://www.bookworm2bookworm.wordpress.com
    A Place for All Romance and Book Lovers!

    1. Hi Mel, I’m so pleased you like it. I enjoy doing imitations of famous poems or songs — the sillier the better.
      I also have Jeannie Lin’s latest in my TBR. I started out with Harlequin Historicals and I still love them. They have the most fantastic variety of settings.
      All the best for 2012.

  21. A very fun way to settle into the holiday week with an intriguing read! Thanks for sharing & the giveaway. Yummy cover & catchy title 🙂

  22. Traveling doesn’t allow much left overs, though, reading next to a window while it’s snowing, happens to be my favourite past time–when not working. The book I began late last evening, I couldn’t put it down, “Mistress by Midnight.” Such a great read. Sometimes I wish these books could go on and on…
    Anne, Good luck with “Bride by Mistake” and be safe during your touring. I’ve put your book on my to be purchase list. It sound wonderful. And I truly loved the new poem version. 🙂
    The best thing about Bev’s website, not only does she give you a chance to win books, we are introduced to new Authors. You, Anne Gracie have several books I’m very much intrigued with. All having great reviews from several readers. I’ve just purchase 2 of your books and plan to purchase the rest very soon. 😀
    Thanks Bev for inviting Anne! 🙂

    1. Mikki, thanks for your comment — I hope you enjoy my books. And yes, it was lovely of Bev to invite me. I really appreciate it.

      I love reading by a window, and if it was ever snowing outside, for me, that would be magical. It doesn’t snow where I live. But your comment reminded me of when I was a young teen and I’d travel by train up to stay with my married sister — 2 full days on the train, and I read and read as all kinds of wonderful views sped past me.

      All the best for the new year.

  23. I am so with you on the curl up with a good book instead of facing crowds! Bride by Mistake sounds very intriguing, a perfect way to start my post holiday downtime =)
    Hope you get a quiet New Years weekend, or maybe just a fun one!

    1. Hi Lexi — I’m pretty much working through the holidays — writing and blogging. I don’t mind, because the writing life allows me to take my holidays at a time that suits me, and when the crowds aren’t madding — or even maddening. 😉
      Have a lovely New Years.

  25. I am the stay home and read type. I am looking forward to reading How The Marquess Was Won by Julie Anne Long and Heir Of Deception by Beverley Kendall. When they come out that is. And now I have your as one I need to read. It sounds really good.

  26. Yep my TBR pile is growing – just have to find time to get back to it! Anne’s new books looks great – would be a perfect topper to my TBR stack!

    1. Hi Bec, I need to sort out my pile — I always put the newest books on top and some of the ones on the bottom are wonderful, I’m sure, but I never get to them.
      Thanks for dropping in.

  27. My one outing at the Post-Christmas sales has sent me back to my TBR pile. I bought the DVD of Cloudstreet – which means the copy of Tim Wintons book I had in my TBR bookcase is out and on my bedside table, and Chapter One is done. You have to read the book before you watch the movie! So Anne, there is a space in my TBR pile for Bride By Mistake if you are still looking for a new owner of your giveaway : )

    1. Hi Sharyn, I don’t do the draw, so there’s no point hinting at me, LOL. And as for reading the book before the movie, I’ve recently changed my mind on that one. Now I like to read the book after the movie (if I discover them both around the same time, that is.) The movie can never be as deep or layered as the book — the movie can’t show us thoughts or feelings nearly as well, so if I’ve read the book first, I often am disappointed in the movie. Now I’m trying it the other way, and hoping that the book will add more layers to the movie. Who knows?
      All the best of luck in the draw.

  28. The twist with this one makes it something I really want to read. I would love to win this book.

  29. I’m definitely staying out of the stores. Right now I’m reading Ashley March’s Romancing the Countess and then I’ve got a bunch of new books on my TBR pile from Christmas that I’m looking forward to reading. Among them is Gini Koch’s Alien Proliferation, Alison Chase’s Outrageously Yours and Most Eagerly Yours, Zoe Archer’s Devil’s Kiss and Amanda Bonilla’s Shaedes of Gray. I still have to pick up Eloisa James’ The Duke is Mine, I can’t wait to read that soon as well.

    1. Hi Barbara, I haven’t read some of those authors — Zoe Archer is the only one I know, and she’s great.
      Thanks for dropping by to visit.
      Good luck in the draw and for 2012.

  30. Congratulations on your new book BRIDE BY MISTAKE! The summary sounds really good and I can’t wait to read it. Is it part of a series?

    I’ve been staying in curled up with a book. Thought it would be better to let the crowd die down before attempting to hit the stores. I’m anxious to hit the bookstore for all the new releases, like Eloisa James’s THE DUKE IS MINE, Emily March’s LOVER’S LEAP, and Christy Reece’s SWEET REWARD.

    1. Hi Amber, yes, Bride By Mistake part of a series, but each book is a stand-alone read. The series is called the DevilRider series, and is about a group of young men home from the Napoleonic wars, and trying to settle again into peacetime life.
      The seeds for Bride By Mistake were sown during the war, when Luke was a young lieutenant of just nineteen. In those days the sons of gentlemen were automatically officers, no experience necessary. The assumption was they were born to command.
      Good luck in the draw.

  31. Hi, Anne!

    Great excerpt! And loved the “Twas the lull before Christmas” —

    Bride by Mistake sounds like an interesting read!

  32. Anne, I loved your post! Especially your poem! 🙂
    I’m definitely the curl-up-with-a-book type!! I did that today, along with some yummy chocolate candy I got for Christmas!

    Your new book looks really good, I love marriage of convenience/inconvenience stories!
    I actually have one of your books in my TBR pile, “The Perfect Rake”. I will have to read it soon!

    I hope you, and everyone had a wonderful Christmas! 🙂

    1. Hi Sandra, I’m glad you liked the poem and the post.
      The Perfect Rake was the first of my books with Berkley, and Gideon, the hero is a particularly naughty rake. He was a lot of fun, and he’s still a lot of people’s favorite hero. I hope you enjoy him.
      I’m very fond of a marriage of convenience story, myself.
      Thanks for dropping past.

  33. I like the sound of the short excerpt from BRIDE BY MISTAKE and will be heading over to check out the longer one.

    I try not to get wrapped up in the chaos of the holidays. We have been renovating an 1898 house and that is enough chaos for me. I do look forward to when we are done and I can decorate and put up the trees. I do enjoy celebrating, doing the big dinners, entertaining, and the decorating. I just need to clean up this mess first.

    No after Christmas shopping. I am a sucker for the marked down holiday stuff and I don’t need it right now. My TBR mountain is always calling. It never seems to get any smaller. It doesn’t help that you authors keep putting out all those wonderful books that I just have to have. I will kick back and read any time I can.

    Thanks for the smile with ‘Twas The Lull After…. Hope the remainder of your holiday is enjoyable and that 2012 is good to you.

    1. Hi LibraryPat, it’s lovely to see you here. Renovating old houses is a big job. I’ve got to do mine, soon (though it’s not over a hundred years old) and I’ve been putting it off. It’s always “when I’ve finished this book”, and that never stops.
      I hope 2012 brings you all you want.

  34. I really really wish I were curled up with a good book, but nope, gotta go to work! It’s okay, I made a nice little dent on the ol’ TBR pile while I could.

    I love the excerpt you posted, and I can’t wait to read Luke’s story! 😀

    1. Oh Julie, what a shame you have to work, but still, that pay packet is a pretty good thing to get.;)

      Thanks for the thumbs up on the excerpt and I hope you enjoy Luke’s story.
      Cheers!

  35. I really enjoyed your rhyme! I have a problem with the excerpt; it’s too short. 😉 I’ll have to follow the link to read more.

    I love staying at home, but today I trekked two hours to visit my sister and three nephews for a couple of hours. Since her city is also home to the nearest Wal-Mart, Target, and Menard’s, I went shopping for some necessities and some treats.

    1. hi Molly, yes, that’s why they’re called ‘teasers.’ It’s a cunning plan… 😉
      What fun to see your sister and the nephews.
      All the best in the draw, and for 2012.

  37. I ENJOYED READING YOUR POEM AS I DO YOUR BOOKS. I STARTED ON MY PILE OF BOOKS YESTERDAY. WITH SUCH A LARGE PILE, THE DIFFICULTY IS CHOOSING FROM MY SELECTION. I HAVE JUST ABOUT EVERY GENRE, EVEN THOUGH I PREFER HISTORICAL ROMANCE. I READ ABOUT FIVE BOOKS A WEEK. I ENJOY THIS READING IMMENSLY THAT I DON’T HAVE A TV, I RELY ON THE AUTHORS’ STORYTELLING AND MY ABILITY FOR IMAGINATION. AND THE BEAUTY OF THE COVER ILLUSTIONS.

  38. Well, my answer is both 😉 I do happen to brave the mall after Christmas. Most of the time I find that deals are better after Christmas. For example, today my parents and I went to a store that was going out of business. It was crazy and we spent more than 2 hours waiting online to pay. But it was worth it. We spent about $350 but saved more than $1500. And after I brave the mall, I like to go home and curl up with a good book or five.

    My TBR pile is pathetically small. It consists of only 3 books, To Wed a Wild Lord by Sabrina Jeffries, Viscount Breckenridge to the Rescue and In Pursuit of Eliza Cynster by Stephanie Laurens. I’m holding off on reading Stephanie’s book until I get the third book of the trilogy, The Capture Of The Earl Of Glencrae. With Sabrina’s book, I’m doing the same thing. I’m waiting till I get the last book in the Hellions of Halstead Hall, A Lady Never Surrenders. So I’m looking forward to those books. Other books that I’m looking forward to reading are My Ruthless Prince by Gaelen Foley and Sunrise with a Notorious Lord by Alexandra Hawkins.

    I’ve never read a book of yours before, but this one sure looks interesting!

  39. Hello Jane, thanks for dropping by. Reading is often my choice before TV — so much TV is grim and the rest, well I often get bored. I usually do some kind of craft when I watch TV. I’d much rather get swept away to another time and place. And I don;t interrupt myself with noisy and irritating adverts, either. LOL
    All the best for 2012

  40. I’m reading Kaki Warner’s CHASING THE SUN. This is in between downloading many new and previously published books on my new Kindle Fire. My husband gave it to me for Christmas to decrease my stacks of books TBR. Ha! Ha! As if I could ever completely give up a paperback. Your new book sounds like a good read…looking forward to reading it. If it’s as good as THE LAIRD’S VOW (Mammoth Book of Scottish Romance)I know I’ll love it. Thanks for the opportunity to win BRIDE BY MISTAKE.

  41. Hi Margaret, how lovely to get a Kindle for Christmas. I don’t have one yet.
    I’m so pleased you enjoyed my Laird’s Vow in the mammoth book of Scottish Romance. I loved writing a Scottish story — when I was a child we went to live in Scotland for a year, and even before that, on my dad’s side of the family we always considered ourselves Scottish, even though it’s been generations since any of us were born in Scotland.
    So thank you for your kind words about that story.
    All the best for 2012 and the draw.

  42. I grew up with the “unless there’s blood dripping, do not disturb” rule myself. LOL

    Luckily/unluckily, I didn’t have any family over for Christmas this year so it was the movies and pizza on Christmas.

    1. I thought a few people might recognize that rule, Infiniteh.
      Sounds like you had a very peaceful time. Hope there were some good movies on.
      cheers

  43. I don’t fanatically clean before friends & family arrive I clean after they leave. The house is once more mine. I would love to read BRIDE BY MISTAKE.

  44. i love when discount time, but if i really like the book, i will buy it even no discount time

    now i’m reading maggie robinson – mistress in marriage, so far, love it 😉

    so many book i want it and try to save more many to buy and hope i can spend some money to buy your book 😉

  45. I have been happily curled up reading and relaxing. Just finished Eloisa James short story “Winning the Wallflower” and am looking forward to starting Carolyn Crane’s third and final book in her Disillusionment series.

    No more shopping for me yet although I do need to make a few returns. Sigh.

    1. Hi Susan, I haven’t read that story by Eloisa James — I’ll have to hunt it up. She’s coming out to Australia to the annual romance conference here in August and everyone is so excited.
      Returns? My sympathy. I hate, hate, hate doing returns.
      Good thing you have some lovely books to come home to.

  46. Thought to ponder: Who are all these visitors and why do they never have the hosts over to their place? Let the hosts be the visitors for a change…..

    Loved the poem Anne! I am a veg-out type of person after the holidays! And there is always room on my ever growing TBR shelves for another book! And one that is already on my lists of books to buy es even better!

    I’m reading ‘Some Like it Wild’ by Teresa Medeiros…just getting into it and so far, very good. Just finished the first book in this series titled ‘Some Like it Wicked’ and that was excellent. But then I’ve never met a book by TM that I didn’t love.

    1. Hi Karen, Teresa Medeiros is a Living Treasure of Romance, isn’t she? I have a pile of her books on my bookshelves.

      Happy veging out and may all your visitors at least bring chocolate, books or something equally lovely and most of all — leave no mess!

  47. I have read all of your books so far and this one sounds equally as good. Haven’t been to the store yet but I plan to purchase a few mysteries and the rest romance ones.
    Happy New Year

    1. Aw, thanks for that, Joye, very sweet of you to say so.
      I’ve glommed onto a few new cosy mystery writers in the last year — most recently Rhys Bowen’s royal mysteries. Such fun.
      All the best for 2012

  48. Hello Anne,
    I’m hitting the bookstores (gift cards) and ordering books for my new Kindle Fire! Hopefully I’ll be reading BRIDE…
    Happy New Year!

  49. Great excerpt. Love the cover to Bride By Mistake. I have done some clearance sale shopping and have been reading since Christmas.

    1. Hi Crystal, I admire you, braving the sales — I suppose if you get some good bargains, it’s very satisfying. And if you’ve squeezed in some reading too, that’s the best of both worlds, isn’t it.
      Happy new year.

  51. Cute post! Loved the poem and the excerpt! My TBR list just keeps growing. I did go to town yesterday and it was a mess. Didn’t really buy much besides groceries, then got out of dodge. I am really looking forward to Kaki Warners new book Colorado Dawn, also Emily March’s new book.

    1. Hi Quilt Lady, thanks for dropping in. Don’t blame you for getting out of Dodge — that’s how that post-Christmas shopping frenzy feels to me, too. I know Kaki Warner, but I haven’t read Emily March, only a regency author called Emily May (Harl Historicals and highly recommended.)
      All the best for 2012

  52. I’m reading “The Duke Is Mine” right now. 🙂 I started reading it yesterday. I love it so far. I have a huge TBR pile because I work for a public library and the librarians are always recommending new books… Plus I read blogs like this, which give me even more ideas! I have no idea what I will read next, because the order of books in the pile is always changing!

    1. Hi Monica. My Duke hasn’t arrived yet — I’m still reading paperbacks, not e-books. Working in a library was my second choice for career — it’s still a kind of dream job in my head, even though I know a lot of it is about shelving books and cataloguing and saying “Shh.” 😉 But for a bookworm it’s a fabulous job. My eldest sister worked in a large public library when I was a kid and she brought me home a lot of the cancelled books — I still have those old Georgette Heyers and Mary Stewarts and Agatha Christies and many more kid’s stories — Call of the Wild, Kim and many many more. Like old friends on my bookshelf.
      Happy reading.

  53. Haha, what a cute poem. I can’t wait to read your new book. My own TBR pile is just growing and growing. I recently bought the collected works of Jane Austen and a Georgette Heyer novel so hopefully I can just dive into those soon!

    Take care!

    1. Hi Mina, which Georgette Heyer novel did you get? I was at a launch recently for the new Biography of Georgette Heyer and there were a few people there who hadn’t ever read her, so a friend and I were busy trying to find the best books to start with. It was such fun — other Heyer fans joined in, saying things like, “Yes The Quiet Gentleman is a lovely story, but not for your first Heyer.” LOL

      Another writer you might enjoy is Eva Ibbotson, who wrote wonderful romances set between the two world wars, and you get a delightful portrait of the crumbling European aristocracy. Look for her adult romances, strangely reissued recently as YAs. She also wrote a lot of children’s books, but these are definitely adult romances, though without explicit sex scenes.

  54. I’m going to start To Wed a Wild Lord by Sabrina Jeffries tonight, I’ve really liked her Hellions of Halstead Hall series. And then soon as I can I have to get my hands on How the Marquess Was Won by Julie Anne Long. Looking forward to reading your latest, too, Anne. One favorite theme for me is marriage of convenience romances.

  55. Anne:

    What a wonderful excerpt and oh, so true, poem, Anne. Bride by Mistake is definitely going to be in my TBR pile soon. The Duke is Mine and To Wed a Wild Lord along with a lot of others is on my TBR pile now. Haven’t read very much lately and it’s time to start doing it again. It will definitely make me a happier woman.

    1. Cathy, I really think having time and leisure for reading is a mental health issue. Before I was started earning my living by writing, I had a very busy and stressful job, and while most people veg out in front of the TV, I read. An hour or two in someone else’s reality and world and I emerged, refreshed and ready to dive back into the fray.
      Enjoy your reading holiday.

  56. Oh, I love the poem lol. I am doing more reading and we are eating leftovers although I do have to fix them and NO shopping lol. I’m still doing cleanup and guess I will until the tree goes down and there’s New Year’s to prepare for! My duaghter got me a book named The Red Tent that I just started.

    1. Hi Catslady, lovely to see you here. I’m glad you liked the poem. I think I’m almost on my last day of leftovers, here, and one big vacuum and dust and I should be right. The recycle bin went out on Tuesday and it was crammed full of paper, so I feel very virtuous.
      All the best for 2012.

  57. Cute poem! Like everyone else, my TBR pile has grown enormous so I first have to force myself to quit buying for a while until I can get that under control – and I better hurry because there are several new books coming out this year that I just must have! Sarah Macleans A Rogue By Any Other Name; Sabrina Jefferies A Lady Never Surrenders; Lyndsey Sands The Husband Hunt; Alexandra Hawkins Sunrise with a Notorious Lord; Julia London The Revenge of Lord Eberlin AND the Seduction of Lady X; Mary Jo Putney The Rake; and those are just the ones I have pre-ordered…need to make room on my ereader!!!!

    1. Wendy, what a lovely pile of books waiting for you — I think our tastes overlap quite a bit. Don’t you wish you could just head off on a lazy long cruise and just read and talk books all evening with like minded people?
      Thanks for dropping in.

  59. I haven’t had a lot of free time yet but when I do I will be curled up with a book. Your new book looks wonderful and I am looking forward to reading new books from Courtney Milan and Julie Anne Long.

    1. Hi Maureen, it’s great to see the success Courtney has had in going it alone in e-publishing. I have the new Julie Anne Long on order.
      Have a wonderful new year.

  62. I really enjoy your books and they are all on my keeper self. I can’t wait to read Bride by Mistake.

  63. I love your poem. It was adorable. I’m also hooked by the excerpt. I will have to track down this book on its release and read it.

    1. Oops…forgot to mention the TBR. I’ve been slowly whittling it down, but it’s still packed with a good amount of historical romance, regencies, and fantasy – a lot of Laura Kinsale, Marsha Canham, and Carla Kelly, not to mention N.K. Jemisin, that much-loved HTF The Windflower, and a bunch of other good stuff.

  64. I’ve finished my few Christmas returns – couldn’t face shopping for anything even with the sales. Now ready to cuddle under a blanket & start my winter reading season. Don’t know what I’ll pick from the pile first – I think it’s time for a Regency. Happy New Year to all!

  65. Anne –
    I love that Bride By Mistake is a story about a marriage of inconvenience. One thing I love about your books that your books always have that “ah-ha” moment when all the pieces fall into place at just the right time!

    I always look forward to those days after Christmas as it is a time my husband and I re-arrange the family room so the chair face the fireplace, the wood is stacked with care and our “winter” books are arranged in the bookcases for a long winter’s read. Old favorite “real” books are chosen for times of power outages and just-released books downloaded and favorite authors books are pre-ordered to down-load automatically on our Kindle to enjoy on cold winters nights.

    Since we live in New England for others this time of year may be one of inconvenience with the snow piling up outside but for us it’s a time to sit back, relax and enjoy a great book!

  66. TBR is much too much to count, mostly historical! 🙂

    Love your poem and your stories, thanks!

    Happy New Year!

  68. For the holiday, I curled up with many good books, I read a whole bunch of old Diana Palmer one, staying up til 3 and 4 am each night! 🙂

Comments are closed.