Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Books to make you feel really, really good


When I am deep in a manuscript I try to read against type for two reasons: (1) so I don’t let another author’s voice bleed into mine and (2) to give my brain a rest. I want something that’s a great combination of hot chocolate and Jack Daniel’s-soothing and biting. (I know, I know, but it works for me.)
I read a lot. When I get in bed at night after writing all day that’s my time to relax and transport myself. I collect a lot of authors but there are three that are better than hot chocolate, Jack Daniel’s and tranquilizers for me, because I lose myself in the wonderful writing and it smooth’s out the wrinkles of the day.
I found Marie Force’s McCarthy’s of Gansett Island series when Book #1, Maid For Love, was free on BookBub (hint-a great sales tool). I have since bought every book in the series and have the latest one on preorder. Marie tells the stories of the wonderful McCarthy family on an island similar to Block Island off the coast of Providence, RI. Meet the hot men and the women they love. There is nothing boilerplate about these stories. The people are real and you will fall in love with them. As much as I love finding new authors, I reread these books‑at least parts of them-over and over.
With more than 1 million ebooks sold since Maid for Love debuted in 2011, the New York Times bestselling McCarthys of Gansett Island Series has become one of the most beloved romance series available today. Yes, indeed. Check her out at https://marieforce.com
Along the same line is the Wild Irish series by Mari Carr. I bought the first book because she’s a friend of mine and I like to support my friends. Little did I know I would fall head over heels in love with the Collins family and become as addicted to them as I am to Marie Force’s McCarthy family.
The stories center around the traditional nursery rhyme, Monday’s Child.
 Monday’s child is fair of face,
Tuesday’s child is full of grace,
Wednesday’s child is full of woe,
Thursday’s child has far to go,
Friday’s child is loving and giving,
Saturday’s child works hard for a living,
But the child who is born on the Sabbath day,
Is bonny and blithe and good and gay
Each story is built around one member of the Collins family. They each have unique personalities and very unique needs. But what ties them all together is their total commitment to family and to each other. Again, I find myself rereading them, or parts of them, over and over because they make me feel so good.
Find Mari at http://maricarr.com
And for a total change of pace I am totally in love with Debra Webb’s Faces of Evil series. These stories center around former FBI agent Jess Harris, back in her home town of Birmingham, AL after her career implodes, and police chief Dan Burnett, her once and present love. Debra really knows how to make these two characters come alive, convey their battles and challenges and their struggle to find the basis for their relationship in the conflict of their jobs and past history.
Another reason I like these books is because Jess and Dan are in their forties. They’ve seen a lot of life, they come to this with a lot of baggage and they take they relationship seriously. Although each book has its own thriller story, there is a continuing thread about the deranged stalker plaguing Jess and the bloodthirsty trail he leaves for her to follow. You will not be able to put these books down.
So what do you like to read? Leave me a comment, tell me what book is at the top of your TBR list and you might get it as a surprise!
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2 comments:

  1. Seems like books set in family situations are getting popular. I've enjoyed Franzen's 'Corrections' and 'Freedom'. Both works examine family dynamics, but Freedom perhaps a little more engrossing because there wasn't much to like about any of the characters in 'Corrections'.

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  2. Thanks for the recommendations, Desiree!

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