Thursday, July 5, 2012

It Might Be Summer Where You Are...


Everyone in the northern hemisphere is talking about, and enjoying, summer. I feel like a fraud writing about my favorite summer read when it’s the middle of winter in New Zealand.

So I’m going to talk about what I love doing on a cold winter’s Sunday afternoon.  Sunday afternoon, when the rain is sleeting against my window and the wind is trying to lift my roof off, I settle down on the couch with my small quilt blanket that mum made me, the heater is on and I make myself a cup of tea and treat myself to two chocolate biscuits. Then I settle down with a book and start to read.

Sometimes I read a paper book, rare for me these days I’m afraid, as it’s quicker and cheaper here in NZ to buy my books on Kindle. Plus, I have to buy most romance books from Book Depository in the UK because NZ does not get more than 5 or 6 romance novels a month.

I love my kindle. The immediacy is the key. Plus being long-sighted, small print means I have to wear my glasses to read, while a Kindle with the bigger print setting means no glasses required. This makes snuggling up on the couch more enjoyable when I lie on my big reading pillow.

My latest reads are two historical romances and a Desire HMB by Olivia Gates. I love reading historical, no surprise there I suppose since I write historicals. I love reading them because I love a bad boy and in the male dominated 1800’s this is easy to find. The rakish lord with the virginal miss is my favorite, especially if she has a brain!

I read two books this weekend, both made me automatically go to the author’s website to look for when their next book would be released. That is how I know I’ve read a good book. I want, and must have the next one-NOW.

On Sunday I had a fun weekend hiding from the howling southerly gales and rain. I read Emma Wildes January release, Twice Fallen. I loved the book. Surprisingly, I loved the secondary romance more than the main H and h. Once I had completed her book I committed the fatal sin. I read the introduction chapter of her next book –OMG—it was so good! Then to my major disappointment it isn’t released until September. How could she do that to me? WORSE-because I live in NZ, I’m unable to pre-order for my Kindle. So I’ve had to make a diary note to buy it when it is released. Bloody Signet! Emma, can you please get them to change that policy.

The second book I read was Gaelen Foley’s, My Ruthless Prince. Gaelen is probably my favorite author. She writes beautiful, engaging characters that I can re-read again and again. She has a fabulous marketing ploy, one that I use in my books. Her epilogue is the sample of her next book and once again I have to wait until October!

So tell me, do you read the sample chapters at the back of books? Do you love an epilogue that gives a sneak peak of the rest of the story? Do you go and pre-order a book or do you simply forget about the author and perhaps look at her next book once it is released? 

I’ll give away a copy of To Wager the Marquis of Wolverstone, book two in my Wicked Wagers trilogy in eBook format to one commenter. Drawn Sunday 8th July, open internationally. 

5 comments:

Judith Ashley said...

Hi Bron,

Thank You so much for reminding us that the Northern Hemisphere is Not the center of the world.

Actually, I do read the sample chapters at the back of books. I also like the sneak peak epilogue. And, I'll also admit to reading the last chapter, well maybe just the last couple of pages, when the story bogs down a little or is too intense to see if it is worth it to keep reading.

But no, I don't pre-order a book. I will make a note to look for it when it comes out.

BTW, I love the pictures!

Paty Jager said...

Bron, I've always been intrigued by the opposite seasons. Fun to read your post about it.

I do like to read and write epilogues and I read sample chapters in the back of books. I've read books before where I enjoyed the secondary characters better than the main H & H. In that case, if it's series, I look for the book with those characters as the main characters.

I've never pre-ordered a book.

Anonymous said...

Enjoyed reading your post, and it is always good to get a reminder that the world is a large and varied place. I love both prologues and epilogues--I disagree with editors/critics/and others who say that is lazy writing; I prefer it and consider it finished writing. Polished and stylish. Having said that--I'm bad. If I perceive something as an unrelated sample chapter, I don't always (don't usually) read it. Don't know why, and may start now that I know some readers are being tricky and offering double-duty material at book's end. I seldom pre-order, but I always have specific authors in mind and watch for their new works.

Mary D said...

I always read the sample chapter and the epilogue. I like how the epilogue gives me a complete ending to the story and I like seeing what is coming next by reading the sample chapters. I have never pre-ordered a book. I try my best to remember what is coming out next with my favorite authors.

Naomi Baltuck said...

Fun post, very informative. I look forward to reading more of your blog.