These are books that might not be your number one best reads ever, but when you're feeling a little down, which books do you reach for? Which books cheer you up?
Here are three of my comfort reads:-
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I first read this book last year and almost immediately appreciated why so many people regard this as their comfort read. There's something incredibly satisfying about Elizabeth and Darcy's story. I'm looking forward to reading the remaining Austen on my shelf.
My remaining two picks are both short stories.
The Prince of Ebon Rih by Anne Bishop (from the Dreams Made Flesh anthology). Anne Bishop's Black Jewels books are probably my favourite books to dip into when I have a spare moment, with TPoER topping the list. It was so disappointing to read the main trilogy and not know anything about how Lucivar and Marian met and fell in love, so this short story really feels like a gift. It's got angst, humour, sex and a kindred wolf - I don't think you can ask for much more. :)
Alpha and Omega by Patricia Briggs (from the On the Prowl anthology). I love the beginning of the Charles and Anna series (so much so I have the limited edition from Subterranean Press on my bookshelf). My favourite moment being when Anna first takes her life back into her own hands by phoning Bran. She's been made to feel like she's nothing but she still finds the courage to do the right thing.
So what are your comfort reads? I have a copy of Dark Protector by Alexis Morgan to give away to one poster to this thread. Winner to be chosen by random number at randomnumber.org on Monday.
16 comments:
Oooh... comfort reads. There are many. There's the Mercedes Lackey short story in "Winter Moon". (I forget the title at the moment.) There's "Sorcery and Cecilia" by Patricia C. Wrede and Carolyn Stevermer. There's the Harper Hall trilogy by Anne McCaffrey. And "Summers At Castle Auburn" by Sharon Shinn. Or Lackey's "Serpent's Shadow" and "Phoenix and Ashes". There's so many others I can't list them all, even if I could remember them all...
I can't think of any comfort reads , I can think of comfort music though. When I'm feeling down I usually reach for my ipod , not really a particular book. But I do reread some books for that particular feeling that they give me when I read them , for instance Drawn Together by Z.A Maxfield , Family Blessings by LaVyrle Spencer, Nora Robert's Dream trilogy.
Hmmmm, for me it would be:
- The Alleluia Files by Sharon Shinn
- Ride the Wind by Lucia St. Clair Robson
And a very recent addition:
Dark Oracle by Alayna Williams
I must say I can relate to Anne Bishop being on your comfort read list as her short story 'Stands a God within the Shadows' ranks high on my reread list.
Oh comfort reads! I have quite a few, depending on my mood:
1) Pride and Prejudice or Persuasion by Jane Austen
2) Born Trilogy or Chesapeake Bay Trilogy by Nora Roberts.
3) Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas
4) Carton and Ash or Bareback by Chris Owen :D
I have that book, so no need to enter me in the contest.
Hmm. Carbon and Ash by Chris Owen. Bad Boys, Bad Boys by Mia Watts. Drawing a blank, but there are more!!
I have a few that are my go-to re-reads :
*Shades of Twilight by Linda Howard
*Where There's Smoke by Sandra Brown
*The Long Way Home by Z.A. Maxfield
*Faith and Fidelity by Tere Michaels
*Megan's Mark by Lora Leigh
*Now You See Her by Linda Howard
*Men of August series by Lora Leigh
*hugs*
Anna
Well if we're talking shorts I'd go for Fever by Kimberly Dean. A cute little erotic tale but I've read it a million times. Also, Winter Born by Sherrilyn Kenyon in the Stroke of Midnight anthology. A shifter story that just warms me.
Oh, well done on the Alpha and Omega short story. I thought it was just perfect. And I *so* want that special edition of it.
I'm going to join a couple of the others and say Sharon Shinn is definitely a comfort author for me. ARCHANGEL or MYSTIC & RIDER are the ones.
And then THE ROAD HOME or LIFE WITHOUT FRIENDS by Ellen Emerson White. DAUGHTER OF THE FOREST or SON OF THE SHADOWS by Juliet Marillier.
My favorite comfort reads are the Ophelia and Abby series by Shirley Damsgaard, the Eve Duncan series by Iris Johansen, and also the Alpha and Omega series by Patricia Briggs.
I have a couple...
I love the Heaven Sent series by Jet Mykles for qick little make me go ahhhh books...
For deeper books I prefer Christina Dodd usually her Governess books b/c they are your typical historical romance.
For Urban Fantasy I have to go with the Dark Hunter series by Sherrilyn Kenyon specifically Dance with the Devil.
A few of my comfort reads are my childhood fantasy.
Narnia
Lord of the Rings
and anything from Terry Pratchett, author of the Discworld series.
Valerie
valb0302@yahoo.com
in Germany
My comfort reads would be, Alpha & Omega, loved the short story and the two books that continue the story. I also re-read the Dragons of Penn books by Anne McCaffrey and if I am in need of a serious laugh, One For the Money.
Linda
Nicole - I'm sure I have the Winter Moon anthology in my TBR pile. I'm going to move it closer to the top.
Nastassia - I totally get the reaching for the ipod as a comfort thing too. And I have some Lavyrle Spencer on my bookshelf she's a good comfort read.
Sullivan - I think Anne Bishop's short stories are very good for just dipping into when you haven't got a lot of time to read.
Hilcia - I'm a recent P&P convert so am in complete agreement with you on that one.
Chris - I think my favourite m/m comfort read is probably Zero at the Bone.
Anna - love the early Linda Howards.
Tracy - Winterborn is a great choice from Sherrilyn Kenyon.
Angie - I just couldn't resist the Special Edition.
Stephanie - Looks like Alpha & Omega is a favourite with lots of people. I love how the relationship between Charles and Anna is developing and even though their wolves have bonded there's still a lot of things their human halves have to sort through.
Sarai - Dance with the Devil is my favourite of the Dark Hunter series. For me, I think, the series peaked with that book. It also introduced me to The Little Prince.
Valerie - I think returning to books we've loved growing up is a wonderful comfort read.
Linda - Loved the early Stephanie books, definite comfort reads.
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