Its that time again! So, what was your favorite July read? Don't hesitate to name your worst read as well.

Well, I re-read A Kingdom of Dreams and as always I loved it!! The other one that I'm really loving even though I'm still listening to it, is Dragonfly in Amber.

What about you?

Because of you, Gigi, I started a “~ Favorite Reads of 2011 ~” in my challenge post folder. See what you started!

July Favs, of the 22 books I read this month, that made that list:

Best Fantasy
Dragon Bound, by Thea Harrison ★★★★★ PB 7/22 “buddy read”



Romantic Suspense
Die For Me, by Karen Rose ★★★★★ PB MiL audio 7/18



Cozy Mystery
Crocodile on the Sandbank, by Elizabeth Peters ★★★★★ PB 7/6



Inspirational
The Art of Racing in the Rain, by Garth Stein ★★★★★ PB 7/8



Best Audiobook
The Bride, by Julie Garwood ★★★★★ MyiLibrary audio 7/30



Fast, But Exceptional
The Tenderfoot Bride, by Cheryl St.John ★★★★½ PB 7/29

Lol!! Lisa, that's a great idea. So, I'll happily take the blame for that one! Lol Have you read Linda Howard? How would you compare Karen Chance? I've never read her, but I'm trying to branch out a bit.

Good morning. I went through my July reads and out of the 27 books read the below stood out to me:



(book #3 in the Lucy Valentine series) by Heather Webber. I love this series. I'm all caught up now, but I want more. It's a fun group of characters and interesting plot premise (at least to me).


by Shelly Laurenston. I'm in love with the heroine, Blayne. She's like one of those out of control firecracker that you know will end up in the bushes and setting it on fire, but you can't help but watch it burn. lol Bo, the hero, isn't anything to pass over either.


by Nora Roberts. Read this on audiobook and really enjoyed it. The premise was a little darker, so more thriller than romance, but I thought it was great! Kicking myself for putting it off for so long.


(#2 and 3 in the series of In Death) by J.D. Robb. I have become addicted to this series, and I hope it lasts as I know there is something like 74,588 books in this series. ;-) Eve took a while for me to really like, but I've been loving Roarke from the beginning. Biting my nails for the library to send me #4.

This was apparently a good month for me and Nora, having loved 3 books of hers this month. (Though I just finished another one for an August challenge and thought it was just about awful.)

Oh, Lisa Kay,
sounds like a book made for me. On the TBR list and on the waiting list for the audio from my library.

I've owned
forever, but haven't gotten around to it. I know it's well loved by a lot of people here. Wonder why I can't hit the play button on it already.

Heather wrote: "Good morning. I went through my July reads and out of the 27 books read the below stood out to me:


(book #3 in the Lucy Valentine series) by Heather We..."

Heather, I love the Naked in Death series. I have to get to book 2. I'm so slow! I'm going to have to look into Shelly Laurenston. I keep hearing good things about her books!

Well, I've added Karen Chance, Shelly Laurenston and that Valentine Series book (that looks really good Heather).

I'll be checking out more Shelly Laurenston books for sure! Not sure yest which one I'll be checking out next though.
And I love Lucy, Gigi. She's just one of those characters you want as a best bud and her hero, Sean, is very yummy.

Gigi wrote: "Have you read Linda Howard? How would you compare Karen Chance? I've never read her, but I'm trying to branch out ..."

Gigi, LOL! Glad your shoulders are broad enough to carry the blame! :) I love Linda Howard!! I have found a few of her books I haven't read, which really surprises me, as I thought I had covered them all. I'm doing a few "re-reads" via audio. I have yet to try Karen Chance, but I almost caved and bought one of her books at the bookstore yesterday; I've been reading good things about her books.

Heather wrote: "Lucy Valentine series, by Heather Webber...Shelly Laurenston...In Death series, by J.D. Robb."

Love the Lucy Valentine series; so cute & fun. I've been hearing good things about Laurenston's
in other groups; I may have to try that one, even if it isn't at my library. **sigh**

Love the In Death series - I'm "reading" them again by listening to them - excellent narration!!! Loved Eve from the beginning and Roarke is to die for. **sigh**

My favorites were two romances,
and
, and two non-romances,
, a sci-fi/fantasy story that was excellent, and
a great collection of short stories that were reminiscent of old Twilight Zone episodes.

Heather wrote: "Oh, Lisa Kay, sounds like a book made for me. On the TBR list and on the waiting list for the audio from my library..."

I had to wait a
long
time for this book from my library - and it was worth the wait!

About
- I'm a firm believer in reading/listening to a book when you are ready and not b/f. Otherwise, I won't enjoy it. When you want to go back to medieval Scotland for a visit, then you'll be ready, LOL!

Those all look interesting Kit★, I may give The Hostage Bride a try. I haven't read a Jane Feather book in quite awhile.

I'm a big fan of Shelly Laurenston! I have all her Magnus Pack and Pride Stories series on ebooks, I'd be happy to lend out.

Have added the Valentine series to my wishlist. Was surprised to see I already had the Karen Chance, so have moved that further up my TBR shelf!

Lisa Kay wrote: "Those all look interesting Kit★, I may give The Hostage Bride a try. I haven't read a Jane Feather book in quite awhile."

If'n ya do, lemme know whatcha think. She's an author I've only recently 'discovered', but I like the 3 that I've read by her a lot, I'd like to try more by her. :)

Okay, Kit★! I have you marked as the person who recommended the book to me. Does that make any difference when I write a review? Does anyone know? Does this alert the recommender? I know it does when the person first selects the book, but what about when a rating is entered?

I don't know? I've never tried filling in the "recommended to or by" boxes...

I read a few good ones in July, nothing outstanding, but all of the below rated 4 stars from me:

Chick Lit:
by Emily Giffin
Paranormal:
by Laurell K Hamilton
Contemporary:
by Shannon Stacey
Mystery (non-romance) but I've developed a crush on the protagonist, Jack Reacher:

I've been in a reading slump for the last couple of months, so I tend to do a lot of rereading when that happens. However, new to me books that I enjoyed in July (and have started to reread) were
and
.

Yea! CaroB, my library has the audio of
. Added it. Everyone seems to like Jack Reacher. :)

Sandra J wrote: "I've been in a reading slump for the last couple of months, so I tend to do a lot of rereading when that happens. However, new to me books that I enjoyed in July (and have started to reread) were ..."

I love love love Agatha Christie! or would that be loved? Is she still with us?

Dame Agatha Christie, (15 September 1890 – 12 January 1976)

Hey, I just read that Agatha Christie wrote romances under the name Mary Westmacott. I didn't know that. Never read any either.

Isn't the internetdom a wonderful place? I'll have to try a Mary Westmacott title one day... I don't know that I'd approach it the same though :-)

I didn't know that either. I'll have to check the library for Westmacott. If it's old and a mystery, my library probably has it.

Sandra,
Was Veil of Night: A Novel good? The reason why I ask is becuase Linda Howard's last few have really disappointed me. I think since Death Angel, the spark of a LH has been missing. I've read all of her books as she was an all-time favorite of mine, but I haven't read Veil of Night yet because I think it might read as a lack-luster copy of To Die For.

I enjoyed it because I liked her heroine who reminded me somewhat of Jaine from
. That said, it's not one of her best; but it was a quick pleasant read. And, thank God, no serial killers! I took it out of the library since I had read such mixed reviews.

Sandra J wrote: "I enjoyed it because I liked her heroine who reminded me somewhat of Jaine from . That said, it's not one of her best; but it was a quick pleasant read. And, thank G..."

Thanks Sandra J. I have it on audiobook, but haven't gotten around to hitting the play button. Maybe next month.

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