Try some; it's good.

Wherein I ramble about books, movies, music, TV shows, my life, and occasionally, hot emo boys.

Thursday, September 13, 2007

T13

13 Keepers

These are all books that made my heart clench for various reasons as I read them. That's what a keeper does, makes me feel something. Sadly I no longer have eleven of them, as I lost them in the flood. I'll set about replacing them as I can.

1. Archangel by Sharon Shinn
2. Sunshine by Robin McKinley
3. Seize the Fire by Laura Kinsale
4. Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie
5. Once in Every Life by Kristin Hannah
6. Son of the Morning by Linda Howard
7. Autumn Rain by Anita Mills
8. Once in a Blue Moon by Penelope Williamson
9. All Through the Night by Connie Brockway
10. Bliss by Judy Cuevas
11. Finding Home by Bonnie Dee and Lauren Baker
12. Mad World by Pepper Espinoza
13. The Dream Hunter by Laura Kinsale

What makes a book a keeper? Well, I'm talking about that here. And running a contest as well, so you might want to stop by and lend your thoughts to the discussion. This one closes at Saturday midnight, so don't miss out on the chance for a free book.

What titles are keepers for you?

Labels: Thursday 13

Written at 8:18 AM by Ann Aguirre.

37 comments

37 Comments:

Darla said...

The Kinsales and the Crusie are on my keeper list, too. I haven't read any of the others. I'm putting them on my list of books to look for, though--thanks for the recommendations!

8:35 AM

Angela/SciFiChick said...

Pretty much any book that I remotely enjoy is a keeper for me! lol
BTW, a book of yours is in my TT today.

8:42 AM

Ann Aguirre said...

I just saw. I went over there, my jaw dropped open, and then I scared the cats with my squeeing.

8:48 AM

Lisa Andel said...

The Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. Still say they are the best "feel good" books I've ever read. And I've read them several times.

8:51 AM

Kat O+ said...

I haven't read those Kinsales, but I want to! Also the Crusie. I've been meaning to try McKinley for ages, but I just haven't gotten around to it, yet. And I think I might look out for Archangel, too, because I've heard good things about it.

And then there are books that I keep because of a chapter, a scene or even a line. :-)

9:08 AM

Carrie Lofty said...

Early Elizabeth Lowell books, lots of Susan Wiggs, Outsider by Penelope Williamson, and a toally awesome Cajun white slavery one from the early 90s called Santana Rose by Olga Bicos.

9:10 AM

Ann Aguirre said...

Those are my "mac and cheese" books, Lisa. I still love Evanovich because I always know exactly what I'm gonna get.

Kat, I highly recommend all those books my list. Other people might rate Flowers from the Storm higher than The Dream Hunter, but I'm such a sucker for heroine in man-drag. It just kills me when the hero is all full of these conflicting urges. He's drawn to his young page, and he doesn't know why. It just cracks me up!

9:11 AM

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

I list my keepers on my Library Thing widget on my sidebar. It's an eclectic list, to say the least.

As for YOUR list, drat you, woman. I've added 12 new books to my wishlist today. I'm coming up on 1300 books on that sucker! I give up; I'll never read them all!!

10:02 AM

Samara Leigh said...

I haven't read any of those. Thanks for the recommendations. I've been meaning to read a Jennifer Crusie book for a while.

10:19 AM

Ann Aguirre said...

If I was writing a longer list, a number of books by Gaffney, Wiggs and Williamson would've made the cut. But I had to stop at 13.

10:33 AM

Cassandra said...

Awesome list of keepers!

I would also add Pale Immortal and Garden of Darkness by Anne Frasier, and Perfidia by Elspeth McKendrick.

Awesome books!

10:43 AM

Ann Aguirre said...

Never read Anne Frasier, but I am dying to read Perfidia. I'm gonna go add it right to my Amazon cart while I'm thinking about it.

10:47 AM

Marianne LaCroix said...

Oh yeah...SOn of the Morning. Good one. A friend suggested that one to me. Hot stuff!

11:07 AM

Ann Aguirre said...

I was so irked when I saw Linda Howard had used that title. It was the title I chose for one of my WIPs. I had to buy it (determined to hate it! since the woman had stolen MY title), and of course, I loved it to pieces. Sigh.

11:17 AM

Zee said...

Hmmm, some of those are on my list, too. I'm one of those stuck on the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. For a way, way, way back series I've kept Wild Swan by Celeste de Blasis. Also kept a lot of Mary Balough (I know, I know... tame. But I'm intrigued with her story arcs). All time on my re-read list? Shogun (the book, not the miniseries). I have over a 1000 books, so don't get me started. ha ha... Thanks for the others on your list -- here's to discoveries!

11:41 AM

Nicole said...

I have 'Archangel' and 'Bet Me' on my to-be-read lists, but I haven't actually read any of these! Wow. I need to get crackin'.

My Holly Lisle books are keepers for me, as well as the Kelley Armstrong & Lynn/SL Viehl books I have. In all these cases it's partly because of the stories, and partly because the authors are some form of online mentor. Makes it extra special.

Happy TT!

11:47 AM

Christine d'Abo said...

I'm like Angela. I don't give up any of the books I get. That said, a book that makes me want to reread it has to have lots of emotion, vivid characters and a great plot. Not asking for much am I!

12:20 PM

yh said...

I'm not an avid reader, but I enjoyed reading your list :) Maybe they're something to check out next time I'm in the library.

12:29 PM

Joely Sue Burkhart said...

I *totally* agree with Son of the Morning. LOVED IT. I've read a few others on your list but they're not on my keepers.

1:15 PM

Gina Ardito said...

God, yes, to Son of the Morning. I haven't read any of the others.

1:22 PM

Elle Fredrix said...

I have an huge keeper library.

Bet Me is absolutely one of my all time fave. I've just started rereading some old Linda Howard too.

Ahh, books!

2:02 PM

Amy Ruttan said...

My keeper library is HUGE. I'll have to check out the ones on your list. I haven't read any of those.

2:24 PM

julia said...

Every one of my Jo Beverley's, but especially 'Devilish' and 'Secrets of the Night'. Every one of my Julianne MacLean's, but especially 'Portrait of a Lover'. My Amber series by Roger Zelazny. Most especially my Saint Germain series by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro.

2:27 PM

Ann Aguirre said...

Oooh, you know what Zelazny I'd love to see made into a movie? Lord of Light. I think it'd be brilliant.

3:05 PM

Wylie Kinson said...

My keeper shelf isn't very big. Is that bad? But I moved countries twice and couldn't lug all the books so had to purge :)
JR Wards are on my keeper shelf - as is anything by Nelson DeMille, Dennis Lehane and Harlen Coben. And Robin Rotham's Alien Overnight.
I'm going to check out some of these you've listed.

4:26 PM

L said...

Duuuude, someone needs to sit me down and tell my crazy self why Archangel is so good.

I have it, I read it, and I think it's a great fantasy, but that it's not something I'd re-read over and over.

I'm going to cheat and use your topic for my TT.

Well, it's not really cheating...

It's on the intawebs.

5:04 PM

Ann Aguirre said...

Partly, it's her world-building, and partly it's her writing. Her use of words is just so yummy I could eat it with a spoon. Plus you get a very touching romance as well.

Melty sigh. I wish I had it. I'd read it RIGHT NOW.

5:10 PM

Xakara said...

I have so many books that are keepers I wouldn't know where to begin.

I'm sorry you lost so many. May you get the chance to replace them and gather new ones as soon as possible.

~X

5:32 PM

Christine said...

Thanks for posting that list. I'm always on the look out for great new books to read.

5:59 PM

L^2 said...

I have a lot of keepers (pretty much any book I really enjoy), but I've never read any of the ones on your list. Maybe I'll have to check some of them out.

Thanks for visiting my TT! :-)

6:01 PM

Denise Patrick said...

Almost any book that I finish with a *sigh* is a keeper. But, I have most of Amanda Quick's and Julia Quinn's. I just love both of them.

Thanks for visiting my TT!

6:48 PM

Lulu said...

Great list...can't say I've ever heard of any of them though. I'm going over to check out your giveaway.

Thanks for visiting my site and complimenting my new blog design!

7:23 PM

Jenny McB said...

I went through a stuff cleansing last year and most of my books went to the library for their book sale.

I did read another Crusie book, can't remember the title, but I have read most of Jude Deveraux, Nora Roberts and will read most anything.

8:07 PM

Ann said...

I have hundreds of keepers. I'm in the process of weeding my collection, in fact. Thanks for the list, and the books in the comments, several sound interesting. Have a great weekend.

9:36 PM

Cora Zane said...

My house is a black hole for books. I do have ones I favor over others.

My top of the deck keepers are probably Lord of the Dark Sun, by Stobie Piel, and A Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood.

Kind of an odd combo, but I've read them both multiple times, and I keep going back.

11:04 PM

Buck Naked Politics said...

I don't know any of those titles. I must be blogging too much.

12:08 AM

Tink said...

I know some of the authors, but none of the titles. Yay, book tips!!!
Thanks for visiting my IJmuiden TT. Sorry I'm this late for my return visit!

8:34 AM