Yes – I have been having one of those weeks, you know one of those weeks when you just can’t settle and nothing holds your attention for any length of time. So in true E.H spirit I do what I normally do, I reach for the comfort reads.
These are the books that make me smile, the books that I know which page has all the good stuff and they are the books that makes me sit at the edge of my seat despite the fact that I have read some of them at least three times.
Here are some of my comfort reads plus what I said about them. Do you have any “go to books” that just hits all the spot when you need it to?
Like Coffee and Doughnuts
Elle Parker
My first book by this author, and i like what i have read. Not only were the characters likeable, but enough of my fantasies were all rolled up in Dino to really enjoy his style. Seth with his bouncy personality and attitude is that adrenal rush that makes the book a page turner. I will be adding Ms.Parker as one to watch – I like her style. © E.H>
Buy HERE
Feathers on the Floor
Gene Valleau
Feathers on the Floor brings together two protagonists that are at a phase in their lives where they are ready for a change. Mitch has bottled up his feeling of loss, hopelessness and regret over the loss of his wife for so many years, he is now scared witless to make the first move when he becomes attracted to Julia. Since the loss of his wife, he has not had anything to hope for and nothing he wished for as much as he wished Julia would accept him as apart of her life.
Julia on the other hand, a psychiatrist, has closed her eyes and her mind to what was happening right in front of her eyes during her marriage, always making compromises and thinking things would get better. When the chance of a new start presents itself, she is bogged down with self doubt and worry for her children. When she decides to get her feet wet, the results are explosive. © E.H>
Buy HERE
Car Wash
Shawn Lane
I love this book – not for the fact that it has a great plot or even a wonderful setting, but simply for the fact that Ms. Lane really does know how to add that little bit of magic to her books and her protags are not people who you can simply hate or even love for that matter. I really identified with them, I felt for them and more over I was pissed off right along with them for any wrong done.
The other thing about this book was just the name had the Rose Royce song Car Wash – going through my head for days on end. This was a feel good book through and through and I am feeling so good. © E.H>
Buy HERE
Heart’s Blood
Juliet Marillier
The storylines were suited to the time, there was no big drama – it was treachery, unfair play, power play and some neat scenes of rolling back the years to give me a look at the past, to see how it stacked up against the present and made me dig deep down for that hope for the future.
If you like books that will stand the test of time, about characters that refuse to die, gothic in it’s feel – dark and malevolent in it’s evil but with a pace that suits the time, creeping, crawling and then in the clear light of day you can’t look away – this is the book for you. © E.H>
Buy HERE
Surviving With Love
Rebecca J. Vickery
SURVIVING WITH LOVE is one of those reads where everyone in the story –yes even the baddies – got show time. It was nicely done, I thought it made everything more personalised – more real somehow.
I was also constantly amazed that the author gave me everything I could have hoped for, for the two protags, made them jump through as much loop as I would have and literally burst my pessimistic bubble about how they could not be all that and more.
I was dragged through a whole range of emotional highs and lows, but I also have the most fantastic laugh as well with some of the not only comical situation, but the author gave little bits of humour here and there that really broke up the angsty tension of the book.
There was a level of honesty to this book that was frighteningly direct, rude at times and sometimes downright scary – all in all, there was no coyness to any aspect of these people. I love it. © E.H>
Buy HERE
30 Speak To Me:
Oh I have those times often. Where the focus you need for a new book is just not there. I love how you say you know which pages have the good parts. LOL It's so true.
I have to say some of my faves that I go to are Chris Owen's Gemini (not to everyone's taste), Ally Blue's Catching a Buzz and Eros Rising, KA Mitchel's Hot Ticket, Jordan Castillo Price's Striking Sparks (I swear if that book was paper the pages would be worn thin) and most anything by Drew Zachary but I like Canadian Shots because there is a short story set in almost every province/major city in Canada and I can pick and choose what I'm in the mood for, kinky erotica or sweet romance.
Most of my comfort reads tend to be shorts. Seems even seeking books I know, I can't focus on long ones and not mystery types like the first one you noted (which I thought was great), I just like to settle down with a relationship book and get mushy and relaxed.
I completely sympathise. Sometimes you just want to disappear into your keeper shelf and curl up for a while.
My fav m/m books for this are the Heaven Sent Jet Mykles books, or the Lord and Master books by Jules Jones. I also love some of the stories in the Sindusty anthologies and will re-read them when I want to do some comfort reading.
With m/f comfort reads I go back to my historicals: Slightly Dangerous by Mary Balogh, Suddenly You or The Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas and Outlander by Diana Gabaldon.
or I dip into my classics like Pride & Prejudice and Jane Eyre.
There's something just so heart-warming about re-reading a book you know so well you could almost read it backwards.
Hey honey... Wow, it is amazing what we reach for when are just "done" with reading for the time being. My comfy reads are rather... not like most, lmbo!
I will reach for Lissa Matthews (anything), Joey W Hill (Vampire series), Amanda McIntyre, Cassidy Hunter.... Yea, some weird combination, but hey... we all can't be a like, lmbo!
I hope all is well honey!
@Tam..
If it's comfort read - I have to mark all the good stuff... sometime all I really need is a good sex scene more than a comfort read..
Owen and Mitchel are fun read for me as well and of course Zachary has fire engine sex - how canI resist...
Happy day hon..
E.H>
@Jenre...
Lord and Master - Jules Jones is rating very highly for me as well.
You make me think of some of the books that more often than not have me sitting by the bookshelves for hours.. Wide Sargasso Sea, Peyton Place and some historicals that I just love, Johanna Lindsay and Rosalyn Alsobrook to name a few..
There's something just so heart-warming about re-reading a book you know so well you could almost read it backwards.
Well said and I agree.
E.H>
@Cecile..
I just picked up Lissa Matthews on your rec the other day - I am hoping to read it soon...
I know of your love for Hill for McIntyre and I am so thrilled their current work is still a must read for you..
P.S. Take good care of Thomas...
E.H>
I so hear you EH! I might have a bazillion new books laying around but my comfort reads are always very close by and I pull them out often!
hugs!!
@Blanche..
You really do need to get husb to finish up that bookshelf..
Comfort reads are just the ticket for me today...
E.H>
I don't think I have any specific books that I reach for but I do have a sub genre or two that go for if I'm needing a pick me up. Don't laugh at me but I'll grab a cowboy romance for some feel good reading. I don't know why but cowboys pick me up. Hey! I said don't laugh at me. BTW, you've made me want to read Car Wash. Heading over to the ebook store.
@FV
Don't laugh at me but I'll grab a cowboy romance for some feel good reading.
I can relate - recently I find myself reading alot of Contemporary Western myself.. Linda Lael Miller, Sadie Callghan, Loreli James and I just finish that Carolyn Brown series as well...
There's just something about a man on a horse and of course indoor plumbing does makes a hell of a difference...
Are you reading any western now?
E.H>
So you got Marillier up there, interesting, I have found all her books really, or a tad depressing (well Daughter of the Forest was great but it still made me cry)
(KC quickly adds all books to her goodreads to read shelves)
I can reread The Strongest Shape by Tessa Cárdenas, although probably not a comfort read more like a jump start my heart type of read ;)
@Blodeuedd..
I have found all her books really, or a tad depressing
That's one of the thinks I love about her books - it's the hard work and the journey that her characters go through..
It's was a hard time - so not much to be happy about... I am waiting for you to break down and read it...
I did love Daughter of the Forest as well - although I read that after... have you read Carol Berg?
E.H>
@SHB
I know about you and The Strongest Shape...
You are obsessed with that book... as long as it kick start something for you - I am good.
E.H>
Ah, look, there's my boy, Kev. I'm glad he is a comfort read for you, EH. People seem to either love that book or are completely indifferent and I am glad you are one of the former, lol.
My comfort reads are With Love and Without Reservations by J.L. Langley, anything by Jayne Ann Krentz (or her other akas), and The Dark Horse and The White Knight by Josh Lanyon. Don't know why but I just love those particular Lanyon books so much.
@Shawn..
How could I not love Kevin - he is KING OF THE HILL... Loads of attitude, what's not to love.
I know about your love for Jayne Ann Krentz, I would have bet money on you having something by AM Riley on your comfort read list...
E.H>
I'm right there with you EH I often pick up new books and have to put them down and leave them where they lay, not because they arent' good books. It's just my mood or fatigue.
And, yes I turn to my comfort reads. Snowbound by Larissa Ione, Wicked Burn by Beth Kery, Wild Wicked and Wanton, & Nothing Personal by Jaci Burton, just to name a few.
They bring us warmth and comfort which is what is important.
I love your "comfort" banner. ;)
L
@Lea..
It's just my mood or fatigue.
I know this feeling - it is something that keeps me from reading.... LOL
I know all YOUR wicked comfort read. I also just re-read a Jaci Burton the other day. She does have a fun style...
E.H>
(I like your comfort banner, too!)
I loved Like Coffee and Doughnuts! I can totally see why that would be a comfort read.
@Val..
I do so like Dino - I always read the scene where he is dancing Sway.. I love that it..
E.H>
My comfort reads are on my bookshelf closest to my bed for easy accessibility :)
That Shawn Lane book looks good - I'm off to check it out!
@Patti..
Yes I am a "by my bedside" hoarder as well..
Carwash is a fun fast read... Enjoy..
E.H>
I don't have any specific books that I read as comfort reads. I'm not much of one for rereading.
I hate having those weeks like the one you've described. When they come around, I just go from book to book until something grabs me.
@Eyre
I hate having those weeks like the one you've described
As a reader - these times are quite distressing for me - I tend to flutter around and do loads of silly things that just feels like I am wasting my time - that could be spend reading...
I just read a thriller - so the day wasn't a total wash-out...
E.H>
I definitely have those weeks. Elle Parker's book is one of my comfort reads, too! (Although I just realized it has the same cover guys as Life After Joe by Harper Fox - really, the pattern matching thing is a curse.)
I love comfort reads..brings out the warm fuzzies :)
I turn to Dark Lover by JR Ward or Revealed by Kate Noble. Now that I've typed that it makes me want to go pick them up :)
@Chris..
Dino seems to be quite a popular guys...
(Although I just realized it has the same cover guys as Life After Joe
and again I say - Is no cover model safe from you..
You even have me doing it now...I look at a book and start thinking "How many covers have I seen him on"
E.H>
@Mandi..
I turn to Dark Lover by JR Ward or Revealed by Kate Noble.
Ward does well in the comfort read department as well -I love that scene with Rhage and Mary in her Living room... too sweet.
E.H>
Yes! *pumps fist in air*
Yes! *pumps fist in air*
Good Lord
I have been added to the Hive - without even realising it...
E.H>
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