Tag Archives: Sabrina Jeffries

Yes, It’s Time for Christmas Books

Barbara Vey -- September 10th, 2012

It now officially feels like autumn around here. Last night the temperatures dropped into the 50s and it smells like sweater weather. Even though we had an unusually hot summer, I’m always sad to see it come to an end. Oh, I like how pretty the trees look when the leaves change, but it’s such a short time until they’re bare and winter comes rolling in. And I really dislike cold weather more and more as the years go by.

The cooler breezes aren’t the only thing coming into my house lately. Christmas books have begun to arrive. I love reading Christmas books, but I especially like to read them when the tree is trimmed, evergreen and cinnamon candles are burning and I’m sipping a hot chocolate with whipped cream. It really puts me in the mood.

Next month the WW Ladies will let us know what they think of the Christmas books they’re reading. Some of the books I’ve seen so far are A Christmas Bride by Susan Mallery, My Kind of Christmas by Robyn Carr, Twas the Night After Christmas by Sabrina Jeffries, A Little Holiday Temptation by Janice Sims, Mistletoe Cowboy by Carolyn Brown and A Wreath of Snow by Liz Curtis Higgs.

The Christmas books start coming out in October, much like when the stores start putting out their Christmas stock. I’ve always loved to buy the little Christmas books to use as stocking stuffers, but even though I understand the reasoning in retail, I hate to see the seasons rushed. How about you?

I’m sure I just touched the tip of the iceberg with the Christmas books I mentioned, so please, let everyone know what other Christmas books will be coming out this year by posting the titles and authors in comments. I’ll put the list together and post it again when the WW Ladies write about their Christmas books.

Bottom Line: Maybe I’ll crank up the air conditioning, light some candles and put the burning Yule log DVD on to put me in the Christmas mood while reading some of these books.

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WW Ladies Book Club

Barbara Vey -- September 6th, 2012

8 Replies

It seem like I’ve been getting a lot of books lately that are reprints of old books. I’ve especially noticed it in audio books. I’ll start listening to a book about an author I’ve read for years and it just sounds different. I’m sure authors voices change over the years and with experience comes new ways of doing things. I recently listened to a Tami Hoag book and kept waiting for there to be a dead body somewhere, but it turned out to be a romance from the ’80s. So, you may see some older books read by the WW Ladies here more often.

joysann

Blood Seduction by Pamela Palmer

Read by joysann

Vamp City is a magically created alternate city laying exactly with Washington DC. Something about Quinn Lennox allows her to see glimpses of that secret city, and one day accidentally step through into it. It’s a deadly place for a human to cross into, a place where they serve as slaves, brutal entertainment and livestock. Quinn must find away to escape and lead what people she can out of there, all the while resisting the potent draw of charismatic vampire Arturo Mazza.

I’ve found another series I’m going to follow enthusiastically. A Blood Seduction is the first book, but there are more in the works, I hope, and I’m excited about it. It really grabbed me, and I hope Pamela doesn’t dawdle getting the next book out.

Ashley

Autumn Lover by Elizabeth Lowell

Read by Ashley

Elyssa Sutton never fit in London Society and she aches to be back in Nevada on her family ranch. However, when she returns after the Civil War, she finds both her parents dead and the ranch almost in ruin. Elyssa is determined to make the ranch her home but ruthless raiders are making it almost impossible til Hunter comes along with his own vendetta against these raiders. And so they join forces and fight for the ranch’s future…and their own.

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Autumn Lover is a fantastic historical western novel, definitely one of my new favorite genres. This is a classic tale of bravery, excitement, and of course, love. Truly an unforgettable , action-packed romance!
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joysann

A Lady Never Surrenders by Sabrina Jeffries

Listened to by joysann

The last of the Sharpe siblings to meet their grandmother’s ultimatum (wed within the year or all five will lose their inheritances), Lady Celia invites the attentions of a few suitable gentlemen, none of whom she’s interested in marrying. She’s a had an irresistible antagonistic battle-of-wits going with the Bowstreet Runner investigating her parents long ago deaths, and now she’s engaged him to investigate her potential suitors. But Jackson Pinter finds the task difficult as he longs to be the one to court her.

I’ve loved listening to the Hellions of Halstead Hall series and have delighted in the romances of the five Sharpe siblings. The premise is entertaining, the on-going mystery intriguing, and the different audiobook narrators, both women and men, along with Sabrina’s charming stories, have made the Georgian era historicals vividly entertaining. The story is not done yet, with another book coming out this fall.

Heidi

One Man Rush by Joanne Rock

Read by Heidi

Marissa Collins is a matchmaker with a goal. She must land hockey player Kyle Murphy for one of her top clients to be matched with. Kyle Murphy has one goal, the Stanley Cup. Both goals disappear when Marissa and Kyle meet. A new game emerges for the both of them, and that game is hot and sexy.

I couldn’t put this book down. It was a fun, fast and hot read. And hockey to boot! You can’t beat it!

Ashley

The Warrior Laird by Margo Maguire

Read by Ashley

Dugan MacMillian’s clan is threatened by a ruthless landlord who is threatening to kick them off their ancient family home. Dugan’s only chance to save his land is to go after a rumored buried treasure. And if that wasn’t hard enough he also has to deal with Lady Maura, who stole his only clue to discovering the treasure. If these two can start to trust each other and become allies they might just find the treasure but its proves to be very difficult with the past haunting them.

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A historical fiction novel loosely based on actual historical events, certainly makes this a wonderful book, now add a treasure hunt and some romance, and it equals perfection! The Warrior Laird is everything I could of wished for in a book! Beyond a doubt, it is a magnificent novel!

Bottom Line: A good book is a good book no matter when it’s written.

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Audio Book Readers

Barbara Vey -- February 18th, 2011

51 Replies

I have been absolutely giddy the past couple of weeks because Brilliance Audio has been sending me a ton of audio books. Now, I’ve always loved to read real paper books and will continue to do so, but there are times when it’s just not convenient. While driving a car, walking, doing dishes, and late at night when my eyes seem to give out and start watering so I can’t read the print. Today I want to talk about the readers on audio books.

I especially love listening to them with the lights out. It seems to really put me in that time and place and clearly let’s me understand how important the right reader is to a book. I started off with an older book, but new to audio, Jennifer Crusie’s Charlie All Night. Not sure how I missed this book in print because I thought I read them all. It was a contemporary love story about a young woman working as a producer at a radio station and the man who temporarily fills in as a DJ. Since I was focusing on the reader, I’d have to say Aimee Jolson did a fine job. It was clear what was going on and who was saying what. No strange dialects that take me out of the story.

Next up was the historical by Lisa Kleypas, Then Came You. There’s something I find so lovely about a British accent and Lisa’s story was fun, fascinating and exciting to listen to. She has a way with witty dialog and the reader, Rosalyn Landor, nailed it. I was completely enchanted and would definitely listen to it again.

Unfortunately, not so much with the reader for Victoria Alexander’s The Perfect Mistress. I have been reading Victoria for years and while the story was about everything I love in historicals, the reader, Jennifer Dixon, offered no change in her voice to alert me to which character was talking. I couldn’t tell if it was a man or a woman, so I spent a good part of the time thinking, “Wait…who said that??” It was very distracting and a disservice to the book. (Which has a gorgeous cover.)

I’m currently listening to Treachery in Death by Nora Roberts in my car. I already read the book, but I’m now listening to it because this reader, Susan Ericksen, is amazing in defining the characters and when she does Roarke’s Irish lilt, I swoon. It seems I make more car trips just to listen to the book.

At home I’m in the middle of How to Woo a Reluctant Lady by Sabrina Jeffries. Another favorite author, but I find myself somewhat put off by the reader, Sarah Coomes. I’ll admit that I’m no expert when it comes to the different British dialects, but while the story makes the characters out to be well to do, the reader’s voice sounds more Cockney to me. Sort of Eliza Doolittle before her transformation. I find the story fascinating, so I may also read the book later to see if it changes how I liked the book overall.

The best reader ever for me is Jim Dale who does the Harry Potter books. I always know exactly who’s talking. It amazes me how he can come up with a slightly different voice for each character. I read once where he works many hours getting just the right sound for that person. It works wonderfully.

Just like how different people like different books, others could love the audios that just didn’t do it for me or not care for the ones I loved. Once again, while I enjoyed all the stories (so please, read them or listen to them yourselves), I was concentrating on what I thought the reader brought to the table. But I’d love to hear what you think? Do you enjoy audio books? Does the reader matter to you? For authors: Do you listen to your books in audio form? Have you been pleased or disappointed about your books were interpreted (you don’t have to use your name)? Is it like when you have no control over the cover of your book?

A number of my readers are trying the audio books out, so you’ll be seeing their takes in the WW Ladies Book Club Blurbs. Many thanks to Brilliance Audio for making these available.

Bottom Line: My personal preference is unabridged audio. I want to hear every word the author wrote.

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WW Ladies Book Club Blurbs

Barbara Vey -- October 6th, 2010

32 Replies

Sabrina Jeffries, Donna Hill, Janet Mullany, Leanna Renee Hieber

Spending time at Lady Jane’s Salon is always a special experience for me, but even more so on Monday night when I was allowed to emcee the second half of the readings. The charming setting adds to the moment as authors pick their favorite passages to read aloud to the adoring crowd. Presenting that evening were Donna Hill, Janet Mullany, Leanna Renee Hieber and Sabrina Jeffries. With proceeds going to charity, Lady Jane’s Salon is the “must do” event held on the first Monday of every month in New York City.

Loretta

Deadly Little Secrets by Jeanne Adams

Read by Loretta

CIA Agent Ana Burton, placed on probation for prior handling of a case resulting in five vicious murders, is given an ice-cold l0 year old case to re-work. If you are into any of the following –algorithms, equations, search parameters, linked computers, decripting data or terminus city – this book is for YOU!

Author Jeanne Adams crafted a complex, death around each corner story, mixing in a sizzling love affair amidst international intrigue. As I read through the twisted, upside down, inside-out tale, it amazed me to discover that she very ably ironed out the details while untangling the hidden characters and created a captivating and provocative book.

joysann

Hot Southern Nights

by Dianne Castell

Read by joysann

Churchill McKenzie returns to Savannah after a sojourn in up north, and is happy to be working in the beautiful, historical public library. The only complication is that she crosses paths with the intriguing, sexy man she sent to prison on a robbery conviction years ago, but what if he really didn’t do it? Cal Davis just wants life to get back to something normal, work the races at the speedway, and avoid entanglements with gorgeous, sexy librarians, which can only lead to trouble.

Amusing and delightful, Hot Southern Nights has all the romance, heat and southern charm an HEA reader can want. I enjoyed the characters a lot, which made me really hopeful things would work out for them, and I laughed out loud at some of their situations. Dianne’s “Hot” books about contemporary southern romance have turned out to be pleasurable reads.

Edie

So Enchanting by Connie Brockway

Read by Edie

Francesca Walcott doesn’t believe her psychic gift is enchanting. Instead, it alienated her from her highborn family and was the cause of her early marriage to a fake medium who abandoned her after he was exposed by Lord Greyson Sheffield. Six years after the death of her husband, Greyson finds her in a Scottish village, the companion of a young woman whose life is being threatened. Mayhem, mix ups, and near-accidents ensue. So does the attraction between Fanny and Greyson, and a romance between Fanny’s headstrong ward and Greyson’s fashionable nephew.

Brockway’s quirky characters are delightful. Her pacing is perfection, as is her dialogue, and I never doubted the attraction between Greyson and Fanny. This Victorian romance really is So Enchanting.

Marsha

Dark Warrior Untamed by Alexis Morgan

Read by Marsha

Chief Talion Greyhill Danby and administrative assistant Piper Ryan thrown together in a shared office. Piper is a rebel and Grey is a sophisticate with a sexy English accent. Piper has a secret and Grey’s job as head of security for the Kyth Nation puts them on a collision course. Piper and Grey become caught between the desire to get away from each other and the need to get closer as their attraction builds. They must work together to defend the Grand Dame of the Kyths from attack.

Alexis Morgan’s spicy dialogue and romantic scenes kept me reading far into the night until I reached the delicious conclusion.

Heidi

Half Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel by Jeannette Walls

Read by Heidi

Lily Casey Smith is a woman ahead of her time. She broke horses at a young age, worked on a ranch in Arizona, learned how to drive a car and fly a plane, when most women were not expected to do much. She married later than most women and became a mother of two; including her daughter who is portrayed in The Glass Castle.

I was fascinated by Jeannette’s portrayal of her grandmother in this novel. During times of droughts, floods, the Great Depression and ranching life; Lily shook off the challenges and moved forward. It seemed to me that no matter what came into Lily’s path, she had the ability to keep moving forward. I had to keep remembering that this woman is not of my age, but my grandmothers age. Maybe people who are whining today about what they don’t have and who to blame, should take a look at Lily and see that you can achieve anything you want if you just keep moving forward.

Marjorie

Accidental Wedding by Anne Gracie

Read by Marjorie

A fall from his horse was the accident that brought Nash Renfrew into the life of Maddy Woodford. A peasant girl trying to support her younger siblings, Maddy nursed the handsome stranger back to health, not knowing he was an English diplomat to Russia and a member of the landed gentry. Suffering from temporary amnesia, Nash was won over by Maddy’s charms and, when his memory returned, he determined to make her his wife.

I was held captive with a fast-paced story, interjecting twists of plot and other surprises along the way. This is the fourth romance in Anne Gracie’s Devil Riders series, following her much acclaimed romance, To Catch a Bride. The setting is Bath, England, 1819.

Heidi

Murder in the Latin Quarter by Cara Black

Read by Heidi

The ninth mystery of the Aimee Leduc series finds her trying to return to a normal life, when a Haitian woman enters the PI office claiming to be her half-sister and in trouble. Aimee is reluctant to believe her, but is drawn to help her especially after she disappears.

I felt the twists and turns of this mystery as easily as I could see the Paris streets. I found it extremely creative how modern day the book takes us, especially after the death of Princess Diana in Paris.

Bottom Line: I’m interviewing Stan Lee at New York Comic Con on Saturday…any questions you’d like me to ask?

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RWA: The Rita Awards

Barbara Vey -- August 1st, 2010

56 Replies

Christine Merrill and Katy Lee

After all the parties on Friday, everyone is moving kind of slow. There’s still plenty of workshops and the remaining publishers offer up free books at their author signings (NAL, Sourcebooks, St. Martin’s Press, Grand Central). One of the workshops, Talking the Talk: Writing Historical Dialogue, was about giving tips for keeping character’s conversations from sounding artificial or antique. Tip…remember to be consistent and be careful of anachronisms because someone will catch your mistakes. Forsooth!

Jacqui Lyonelle, Kathy Crouch, Dawn Cartier, Devon Alexander

I was on a panel with author Rebecca York, Borders Romance Buyer Sue Grimshaw and Circle of Seven CEO Sheila Clover English. We discussed Successful Promotion: Saving Time and Money While Reaching Your Goal. Sheila’s best tip…Be consistent, be honest, be passionate. I couldn’t agree more.

Cassondra Murray and Dianna Love

Now it was time for the event everyone gets all dolled up for…The Rita Awards. First the Golden Heart is given out for unpublished romance fiction manuscripts and the Rita’s for published romance fiction novels. The emcee this year was Sabrina Jeffries who’s running gag was her trying to snatch a Rita from whoever was near. There were even some photos of her sneaking into Nora Roberts’ home for one of her’s because she has so many, it wouldn’t be missed.

Slides were shown of past Rita events and you could hear the oohs and ahs as people remembered when they happened. Because it was the 30th Anniversary of RWA, there was also a dinner this year (while everything was lovely…please…no more chicken for a while).

Now it was time for the awards. And the winners were:

2010 Golden Heart Awards

Young Adult Romance

Unchosen by Erica O’Rourke

Inspirational Romance

Unforgiven by CJ Eernisse Chase

Novel with Strong Romantic Elements

A Place at the Table by Patricia O’Dea Rosen

Contemporary Series Romance

Fake Fiancee, Real Love by Cat Shield

Contemporary Series Romance Suspense/Adventure

See Jane Run by Angela Platt

Historical Romance

Between Heaven and Hell by Jacqui Nelson

Regency Historical Romance

A Most Improper Gentleman by Elizabeth Beatty

Paranormal Romance

Bloodborn: Book One in the Light Blade Series by Kylie Griffin

Romantic Suspense

The Yard Man by G. Jillian Stone

Contemporary Single Title Romance

Songbird by Lizbeth Selvig

RITA Awards

Young Adult Romance

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Inspirational Romance

The Inheritance by Tamera Alexander

Novel with Strong Romantic Element

The Lost Recipe for Happiness by Barbara O’Neal

Romance Novella

The Christmas Promise by Molly O’Keefe

Contemporary Series Romance

A Not-So-Perfect Past by Beth Andrews

Contemporary Series Romance Suspense/Adventure

The Soldier’s Secret Daughter by Cindy Dees

Historical Romance

Not Quite a Husband by Sherry Thomas

Regency Historical Romance

What Happens in London by Julia Quinn

Paranormal Romance

Kiss of a Demon King by Kresley Cole

Romantic Suspense

Whisper of Warning by Laura Griffin

Best First Book

One Scream Away by Kate Brady

Contemporary Single Title Romance

Too Good to Be True by Kristen Higgins

Barbara Vey, Debbie Macomber, Barbara Bettis

Debbie Macomber was awarded the Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award. She looked lovely (and you’ll see why in the picture) as she talked about being dyslexic, starting her writing career on a rented typewriter and thanking all her agents (yes, she has several). It was announced that another Mrs. Miracle movie will be shown on Lifetime and Debbie will have her own line of yarn out soon. Amazing the empire that can grow out of writing a good story.

Nancy Berland and Lori Keizer

At the Sabrina Jeffries after party, I found out that I wasn’t the only one who wore matching outfits. Sabrina herself had a duplicate and so did Nancy Berland and Lori Keizer. I’m still waiting for Sabrina’s brother to send me the picture, but I thought we could play…Who Wore it Better?

Debbie Macomber

Barbara Bettis

Barbara Vey

AND

Nancy Berland

Lori Keizer

Vote in comments because blog won’t let me put in poll, sorry.

Bottom Line: Best thank you speech…”I’m going to Disney World!”

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