Wednesday, March 28, 2012

What (and Where) are You Reading?



A few weeks ago, I awoke to one of those days when I just want to crawl back under the covers.  You know the kind.  Low gray clouds, rain dripping from leafless trees and a chill in the air that you feel deep in your bones.  The perfect kind of day to surround yourself with a cozy blanket and escape into the pages of a great book.  I chose A Week to Be Wicked, a new historical by Tessa Dare that I'd been looking forward to for months. (Read my Top Dish review here.)









A few days later, the sun began a lively game of peek-a-boo with the clouds, temperatures climbed into the 70s and a gentle breeze lured me out of my cozy cocoon.  It was a perfect day to relax in the hammock with Paris in Love, a charming memoir by Eloisa James that we'll be reviewing next week.








This past weekend, temperatures soared into the 80s, dogwoods and azaleas burst into color and the sun returned in all its glory.  Time to slather on the sunscreen. haul out the lounge chairs and take my winter white body to the deck with a huge glass of iced tea and a fun, flirty contemporary.  I chose Animal Magnetism by Jill Shalvis.









Where are your favorite places to read?  Do your choices change according to the weather?  The season?  Your mood?  What are you reading these days?  Any recommendations?

Because I loved it so much, I'm giving away a copy of Tessa Dare's A Week to Be Wicked to one randomly chosen person leaving a comment today.  Good luck, everyone!


~PJ


43 comments:

  1. I love to read on the couch. Last week we were in the high 70s and this week we're in the 50s and the couch seems like a cozy place to read. I do like to read holiday themed books during the Christmas season.

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    1. I like the couch too, Jane. It's my comfort spot. I curl up there with a good book, my blanket and a dog on either side. ;-)

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  2. When it's cold out on the couch or in bed with a blanket. Once summer hits whenever i can i like to take a beach chair and hit the beach and read. It's very relaxing.

    Lisa B

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    1. I love reading on the beach. It's so soothing.

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  3. I love to read in bed, I had located and old bookcase bed sometime back and I circulate my tbr there. The weekends at my house are kind of crazy and I want the tbr close by. I snuggle up with my fuzzy blanket, a mound of pillows, a cup of ice perhaps some coffe and did in for the read.

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    1. Dianna, that sounds wonderful! I used to read in bed all the time but can't anymore. Three pages and I'm sound asleep! lol!

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  4. I read on my couch, its a lazyboy one so I set on one end with my feet up. I am reading Nanny and the Professor by Donna Fasano, its been really cute so far.

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    1. Quilt Lady, that sounds lovely! I have a big, comfy recliner that I like to read in because my feet are propped up (the knees squeal with delight) but the dogs take exception. Not enough room in it for all three of us. ;-)

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  5. I almost always read in bed because I like being cozy so I can fall totally into the book's fantasy world:) I havent had much free time lately but right now I'm reading Balthazar by Claudia Gray, which I checked out from the library and is due soon so I hope I can finish it!

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    1. Popped over to Amazon to read up on Balthazar and the Evernight series. Sounds interesting! Hope you're able to finish it before it's due back at the library!

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  6. When the weather is cool or cold I tend to retreat to my love seat in my reading room
    (converted nursery). I also read while I excersize on my Nordic Trac...I just don't do the arm workout. Lately, I've been on a historical romance bent.

    When the weather warms up I like to read outside, alternating between the shade and the sun. It's refreshing to enjoy the outdoors. I usually like to read contemps or cats when I'm outside. lighthearted or quick reads. Jill Shalvis, Rachel Gibson, Debbie Macomber, Susan Wiggs, Lisa Kleypas. Next up Christie Ridgeway

    I recently discovered Meriel Fuller's Harlequin Historical CAPTURING the CRUSADER. I do like this line of books. Love all of Karen Hawkin's books recently liked SCANDAL IN SCOTLAND and Vicky Dreiling's HOW TO SEDUCE A SCOUNDREL. Next up Elizabeth Hoyt

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    1. I used to read on the treadmill but found I was slowing down during ho-hum parts of the books. On the flip side though, I could really rev up both the feet and the heartbeat during the sexy bits! lol!

      I love Harlequin Historicals! Will have to check out CAPTURING THE CRUSADER.

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  7. when it's nice out I enjoy sitting outside on the enclosed porch reading -- fresh air, sunshine, gentle breeze, sounds of birds, kids, etc enjoying the day all just compliment a good book; when its cold & chilly curled on the couch or plopped on the floor with a cozy throw (or 2 or 3) is the place to be :)

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    1. I love reading on my porch, for all the reasons you listed.

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  8. I have a favorite chair that the grands call my reading chair. It's my usual spot for reading inside, I also love taking off for my favorite park and reading on a bench beside the river with birdsong as my playlist and sunshine sparkling on the water. Love your pics, PJ!

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    1. Your reading spot beside the river sounds delightful, Janga! Glad you enjoyed the pics. My camera stays very busy this time of year! ;-)

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  9. When its a cold or dreary day my daughter and I will curl up in her princess fort and read. We even have our "reading outfits" so everyone knows not to disturb us until we emerge. It's definitely one of my favorite places, helps put me in the mindset to immerse myself in the story I'm reading. On hot days we tend to take a picnic to the beach or Central Park, put on a Pandora playlist and I stretch out to read. Right now I am actually rereading Nora Roberts' New York to Dallas. It's part of her JD Robb, In Death, series. If you haven't read any than you definitely should!

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    1. Oh, Tiffany, that sounds wonderful! I love the princess fort and especially that you're sharing your love of reading with your daughter. And that you have "reading outfits!" How cool is that! :)

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    2. Yes! I took her to a literary event where she got to decorate her own shirt which blossomed when we got home so everyone has one now and our reading hats and bookmarks. It was a fun project for us all that we still use

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  10. I forgot to say that I'm reading The Witness by Nora Roberts today.

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  11. We have a couch in front of a big picture window in our living room. There is no television in the room so it's a good spot to read and nice and warm when the sun is shining.

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  12. I'm a in bed reader, its usually the only time I get to read. I probably get in half an hour before my eyelids are closing. I've also learned to take the kindle in the car with me and read while I am waiting for my sons practices to get over or for them to come out of school. In the summer time I will take a blanket out in my backyard and read while laying out in the sunshine. Hey these may not be the most beautiful places to read, but I am getting some reading in!

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  13. I'll be offline until this evening. Hope you're all enjoying a great reading day! :)

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  14. I LIKE TO READ SITTING IN MY FAVORITE CHAIR WITH MY 2 YORKIES SNUGGLED UP. BUT I WILL READ ANYWHERE I CAN OPEN A BOOK.. MARIE FORCE BOOKS HAVE MY ATTENTION RIGHT NOW.

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  15. I love reading a great book when I'm curled up and snuggled up all comfy and warm in bed. I also read a lot on the train during my daily commutes to and from work. My choice of reading location doesn't really change with the type of book or weather or season.Right now I'm reading Sophia Nash's Between the Duke and the Deep Blue Sea, and Miranda Neville's Confessions from an Arranged Marriage!
    PS No need to enter me in the giveaway-already have a copy of Tessa's fab/amazing book. :)

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    1. Lisa, I used to read on the bus when I lived in a large city. It's a great way to make a commute go by quickly. Luckily, my fellow bus riders figured out how I get lost in my books and made sure I got off at the right stop. ;-)

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  16. The weather never really influences my choice of books. As long as the books is good, I don't care what the weather is like. An exception might be reading a romance set during Christmas time. It's more difficult to get into the Christmas spirit during the hot summer months. As to where I read, I like reading in bed.

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  17. One favorite place to read is my bed. Some books I simply can't put down so I can read until I fall asleep and when I wake up, pick up where I left off. It's important that where I read, it's comfortable and quiet. I don't mind natural sounds though such as the breeze or the humming of the room.

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    1. Na, I have friends who can only read in complete quiet. Not me. I can tune anything out for a good book! :)

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  18. My favorite weather to read in is during rainy, cloudy weather and my favorite place to read in this weather is either my bed under the blankets or the couch also under a blanket.

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    1. Rosie, that blanket is important, isn't it? I have my favorite reading blanket that I drag from room to room like Linus. ;-)

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  19. Right now reading Threesome by Tawny Taylor, was in the mood for short erotic romance stories and it popped up free on Amazon today.
    Weather, mood and favorite place to read all play a role in choosing a book. Today was gloomy, finally rained a short while ago so sitting in living room on loveseat with my Tom Cat was my favorite Spot today when I got a chance to grab a bit of time to read.

    PJ, this post caught my eye before I knew you were doing a random giveaway. Just dropped in to comment not entering the giveaway though as it is not necessary for me to do so. (Thanks to your last giveaway have lots of "pretty" books to keep me busy!)

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  20. My favorite place to read is my office, it has the best light in the house and it's my lair. My choices don't really change, I'll read wherever I am and have a few minutes to spare. I read at work, at home, I read books on my iPhone whenever I'm waiting anywhere, it's very handy. I just finished reading Meljean Brook's Heart of Steel and Kristen Callihan's Firelight, both fantastic books that I highly recommend.

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    1. Thanks for the rec, Barbara. Both of those books had caught my eye.

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  21. I like to read in bed. I liked The Darkest Seduction by Gena Showalter.

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  22. Usually I choose a newer book to read. If nothing new than start with my TBR pile. Sometimes I go through spurts and will just read historical, paranormal, etc. Just depends on my mood. I am now reading Kandy Shepherd's Something About Joe. Then I am going to read Vicki Dreiling's How to Ravish a Rake & then Susan Donovan's I Want Candy. Those are my two newest purchases.
    Thanks for the chance to win. Love Tessa's books.
    christinebails@yahoo.com

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    1. I love Kandy's books but I haven't read SOMETHING ABOUT JOE. I'll have to check it out.

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  23. I read just about anywhere. I read while I am eating, if I am alone. I read while I am riding in the car. I always have a book on hand just in case I end up having to wait somewhere. I have had so much to do lately, I can't seem to justify just sitting down to read. (Breakfast and lunch do seems to be taking longer though). Come summer, I will be sitting out on the porch to relax and read. In the winter, I curl up on the sofa near the wood stove.
    Right now I am working my way through a shelf of Harlequin Intrigues. They are perfect for leaving in the car or keeping in my purse. I can work my way through these and make room for more books. I have such a large TBR pile and keep adding to it. I just finished two books by Donna Alward, A FAMILY FOR THE RUGGED RANCHER and PROUD RANCHER, PRECIOUS BUNDLE. I don't usually read the Harlequin Romance line, but these two books may change my mind. I know I will be reading more by her. She deals with Alzheimer's in one and the loss of a baby and postpartum depression in the other. She writes to the heart and had the tears flowing more than once.
    I just received DAWN COMES EARLY by Margaret Brownley and will start it tomorrow. It is Christian fiction and Ms. Brownley writes with a delightful sense of humor. Next up will be some Regency or Medieval romances. I need some men in kilts or Hessians and breeches.

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  24. I'm just starting Eloisa James' "Paris in Love" after finishing the Bella Terra Seriesby Christina Dood.
    I'm also an everywhere reader; I take a book or Nook or even my iPhone whenever I go out. I hate waiting in Doctor's offices so I ease the frustration with something to read. At home I read in bed; it's relaxing and helps me fall asleep. Finally, the corner of the couch in our family room seems to have adapted itself to my shape and is the most comfortable place to read. I'm not an outdoor reader because of some visual issues, but my couch corner overlooks a lovely view of my backyard and the hills beyond. That makes me feel as though I am outside and a part of the changing seasons. And yes, we do have seasons in SoCal!

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  25. I love to read in my garden during summer time. Sitting there and looking at all the lovely flowers and reading a good book is my kind of having a great day. :) I do have a hard time reading in public. I can't concentrate when so many people around me are talking.
    I just started Sarah MacLean's latest and really love it so far!

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