I’m taking a break from the countdown today. It’ll be back tomorrow, and I’ll announce Friday’s winner then. I’ll be away today at the Maumelle Writer’s Conference, representing the Diamond State Romance Authors along with Shayla Kersten. I’m sure the literary types who attend will raise their eyebrows at our display of books, but hey, I never mind shaking things up a bit!
In place of my countdown, I invited one of the readers on my loop to talk about herself, her favorite authors, and what reading romance has done for her. If you like this feature, I’d love to have more readers take over my blog in the future! Be sure to let Brandy know you enjoyed it! ~DD
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There are just so many things I could write about, but when the pressure is on sometimes I have a hard time narrowing it down. So I thought about some of the ideas/suggestions Delilah actually threw out there; me, my life, what I get from reading books, my favorite books. She even mentioned that it did not have to be hers. But really if you know anything about me you know I’d have a difficult time talking about books without mentioning Delilah. I love her writing and stalk her regularly.
I’ve gone through a ton of ideas and I think have settled on one: My reading romance journey.
I’ve always read but was a mystery/thriller reader and bored with it all. I wanted a new author but had no idea where to start. I did get my husband reading Lee Child during my search though. Score for me. Now we could both read in bed at night.
I’d thought about romance and wanted to read it but again with no clue who to pick up or where to start. Talking about it with my friend Priscilla she offered to let me borrow a bunch of books. She reads romance and mostly historical.
She gave me a great combination of authors and genres to begin my journey. At least I think so. Julia Quinn (The Bridgertons), Sherrilyn Kenyon (Dark Hunters) and Lora Leigh (Men of August).
Really if you can’t find something to spark your love of romance in those then maybe it isn’t the genre for you. Just my opinion of course. Those authors made me want to read more. I searched the internet like a rabid beast starving for more food. One author led to another and another. Thankfully my book pusher, Priscilla, has an extensive collection of books and was willing to let me borrow to my hearts content. I read about a book a day, every day.
I knew the time was coming for me to branch out and find my own way through the romance community. Which I must say I have done very well in. My TBR closet is insane for a person who picked up her first romance about 2 or 3 years ago.
It was a natural progression after reading the Men of August series to head over to Ellora’s Cave.
The first book I bought on my own, with my own little research and interest was Janus’ Conquest by Dawn Ryder. It was a big step for me to take that leap and buy that book. Once I did though I was hooked. There are just too many books to search through on that site and I find something to peak my interest every time I go there. A search of cowboys actually brought me to my first Delilah Devlin book, Ride a Cowboy. (You knew I had to get her in here somewhere right.)
So that was how I started reading romance. I love my journey and think fondly on it.
Brandy W
Brandy’s blog
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Hey Brandy ..
love the post, glad you found romance and like you I started with crime fiction and move through a whole cycle of books..
But romance has always been there – from school days and through what ever else that I read….
E.H>
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Your book collection is amazing and for someone who just started reading romance a few years ago–it’s staggering.
Brandy, you have a keen sense of what’s good and I always take your recommendations. And I NEED to get Delilah’s cowboy series, you’re always pimping it 😆
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LOL I love the part where you are basically describing an addiction – starts with a little innocent pot and soon we are hooked on the H…. The Hot Hot Hot! And the journey continues! Enjoy it as I am!
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EH ~ I’m loving the romance genre. Looking back it was just obvious that I should have started reading it earlier in life. What girl isn’t looking for that HEA in some form.
Laurie ~ You know you have to read those cowboys. Delilah has a few more coming out at Samhain soon. I can’t wait.
Maggie ~ I am enjoying and what a great addiction it is. Really I could get into so much more trouble with other things. 😀
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what is your all time favorite book?
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Jennifer ~ I don’t know if I could pick an all time favorite. There are just so many that I love.
STAY WITH ME by Maya Banks
FANTASY LOVER by Sherrilyn Kenyon
The entire Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn
VOYEUR by Lacey Alexander
When it comes to Delilah’s books I have such a difficult time picking. UNLEASHING THE TIGER or JANE’S WILD WEEKEND. I adore her cowboy series.
You can tell I have a terrible time narrowing it all down. I am reading across as many romance genres I can and feeding that addiction.
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Hi Brandy! Great blog! I read my first Harlequin in 4th grade, and while I’ve branched out to mystery, thriller, and horror over the years, I always come back to romance.
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Lillie ~ I can see why you always come back. Heck romance can contain all of the other genres out there and with the HEA or HFN ending we know and love. And don’t get me started on some of that hot loving.
The desperate loving and emotions of a couple in danger. It makes it all the more exciting. 😉
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Brandy nice to see you here and thanks for sharing your story with Romance with us. I actually started reading the classics when I was in my teens. However, after several years of this Romance seemed like a freash change from the more serious geners and less stressful.
I have read it on and off since I was 17 but discovering Ellora’s cave several years back marked a change in my reading habbits. I am greatful to them for introducing me to DD as well as several other great writers. Thanks again 🙂
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Hi, Brandy! Thanks for sharing your journey–it’s always fun to hear how another book lover’s come to her addiction 😉
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Hi Rasha ~ EC was such a big discovery for me. Eventually I found MBaM and order a ton from them. At this point I have 8 pages on my ebookshelf. I have slowed down lately in the book buying but never fear my TBR pile is fairly big.
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Fedora ~ At least I know I share my addiction with some wonderful people. 😀 The people I have met through loops and blogs have all been wonderful and open-minded with some kick ass opinions.
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Hey, Brandy! I had the same kind of journey. I was a mystery/thriller reader when I found romance also.
And I have seen the book collection…it is astounding:)
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Brandy! Thanks so much for holding down the fort for me today!
And thanks to everyone who supported Brandy today!!
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Melissa ~ Plus the book collections is organized now. Will miracles never end. 😉
Delilah ~ I had fun hanging out here today. I know I enjoyed myself and I hope everyone else did too. Thanks for letting me play over here. 😎
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Brandy, Thank you for sharing your Romance Reading Journey with us. I must confess, I have never read one of Delilah”s books. As a newbie, which book would you recommend I start with?
Thank you, in advance of your response.
Marcia L.
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Marcia ~ I would go for Delilah’s cowboys first. They are delicious and make you want more and more.
So I would start with DOWN IN TEXAS followed by TEXAS MEN.
If you’re up for paranormal then I suggest the Altered States series, shifters. Delilah’s is the 4th book and I do recommend reading those in order. They are all worth it.
For menage and some m/m/f action JANE’S WILD WEEKEND. Delilah did a fantastic job with that entire book. The sex scenes are hot and the emotions of the characters jumped off the page.
I hope you enjoy her as much as I do.
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Hey Brandy, Great post. I’m a Lee Child fan (and a Delilah one) as well!
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Hey there Sasha ~ I read the first Lee Child book, KILLING FLOOR, then passed it off to Todd. He was hooked. I did get to meet Mr. Child not too long ago and was able to get GONE TOMORROW signed for Todd.
He was a very nice man to meet. Another fun author moment for me.
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Brandy, great story! Thanks for sharing it with us!