Yay, we made it to Friday! Hope you've had a good, productive week. Are you planning some fun things for the weekend? My plans include writing, a bit of Christmas shopping, sending Christmas cards and sleep!
Yesterday's discussion about themes was great. So much fun to see everyone's preferences and tastes. We have a very diverse group here! And by the way, if you didn't get in a comment on a certain day, feel free to comment. I'll take count of each day's comments on the 20th. Until then, each day is open, but remember, only one comment per day will count. I'm gathering things for the package and am very excited about its contents. Hope the winner will be too!
Okay, today I'm issuing a challenge. Yep, just when you thought it was going to be a slow and easy day, I throw out a snag, but it'll be a fun one, so hear me out! I've noticed that several of us, including me, don't necessarily venture out into unknown territory in our reading. Though there are a few who have very eclectic taste, many of us stick with what we like. And there's nothing wrong with that, but let's have a little fun and see what kind of trouble we can get into.
I've read most sub-genres of romance, including romantic suspense, contemporary, historical, science fiction, paranormal, young adult, futuristic, fantasy and erotic romance. However, there's one romance sub-genre I've not tried and that's Steam Punk. I know almost nothing about it and am actually a little uncertain about it. Whenever I read something about the description, I always see the Will Smith and Kevin Kline Wild Wild West movie used as an example.
So, what's the challenge? Tell us a sub-genre you've never tried and give it a try. I have no deadline and will not check in and ask you if you've completed the assignment. This is just a fun challenge to get me and maybe you out of a comfort zone. Who knows, I may fall so in love with Steam Punk, I'll be writing it next year. Wouldn't LCR have fun with all those futuristic gadgets?
Anyway, what do you say? Want to join me in the challenge? If so, tell us the sub-genre you've not tried that you're willing to give a shot.
Okay, I'm headed over to Facebook for First Line Friday, so if you've not 'Liked' me yet, be sure to come on over and click 'Like' for some First Line Friday fun! And then, I'm headed back to West Virginia where Dylan is about to issue Jamie a challenge of his own. Mmm...
Hope everyone has a wonderful day!
Oh, D&J are so close to me, they really should pop by for a visit!!
ReplyDeleteI have never even heard of Steam Punk. I think I am going to have to check that out. I've read every other sub category at least once, I think, but I do like to stick to the type I enjoy!!
Going this afternoon to my daughter Amy's final wedding dress fitting. The wedding is in May. Then tomorrow we are going Christmas shopping and Sunday night is the church Christmas dinner, so I am going to have a full, fun weekend. And I will accept the challenge and read a historical. I think I read one 20 or so years ago and didn't like it, but I am sure they are much better now. After that I might try something else, who knows.
ReplyDeleteUmmm...do I even need to tell you Historicals? LOL! My goal is to read at least one -- and I am afraid if it is not Surrender Ronlyn may hunt me down -- by the end of 2010. That leaves me a whole 21 days left :)
ReplyDeleteKris, if you hear screams close by, ignore them. Dylan is learning that Jamie has a temper. (:
ReplyDeleteYay, a co-Steam Punk challenger! I'll let you know what I read!
I am with Aly, it is historicals...I read Lisa Kleypas (I think) her wallflower series when I had surgery last year. It was a good series but doesn't hold a candle to my military suspense and my cowboys. You heard me right, in my mind they are MINE...lol
ReplyDeleteDeb, how exciting about your daughter's wedding in May! Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteToday's historicals are different from the ones 20 years ago. However, Redeeming Love is an inspirational historical romance, so that would count. Hope you love it. Have tissues near by! (:
I'm going to read a paranormal book, since I've never read one and I never even look at them when I'm book shopping.
ReplyDeleteOooooKay! I accept the challenge and like Kris, I'll have to check out the Steam Punk b/c I do not know what that is! Otherwise, I think I've at least tried a little of most everything from Poetry, Classics, autobiographies, erotica, and on and on. Steam Punk -- can anyone give me a clue - a recommendation???
ReplyDeleteDeb -- WoW! Last fitting - bring the kleenex!! I had this honor 6 years ago and it was one of the most special moments in my life -- only behind the birth of that same daughter and the birth of her son and daughter. Enjoy!
And Aly, just DO IT!!!
Aly, Surrender is wonderful. And having Ronlyn hunt you down would be a scary thing. I heard she carries a super soaker around with her!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your historical challenge and when we've won you over with Surrender, be sure to read Ride the Fire and then about a 1000 others we can heartily recommend!
Hope, here're some of my recommendations for historical.
ReplyDeleteGarwood's Honor's Splendour, The Bride, The Secret
McNaught's Almost Heaven, Something Wonderful, Once and Always
Kleypas's Lady Sophia's Lover, Again the Magic
Clare's Ride the Fire, Untamed, Surrender
Okay, I'll stop! Enjoy!
Hi Christy, hi all
ReplyDeleteno time yesterday for stopping by but maybe I will go back to yesterdays theme as you told us the line will still be open, Christy.
This weekend our son comes home for christmas holidays (he is studying in the UK since september) and Iam real glad he is home again for some weeks.
Now - a genre I have never tried reading is western / western romance (although I like the John Wayne and James Stewart movies ), so are there any recommendations ? When they are available on amazon , then maybe I ´will try and order one
Alison, yay! I don't read a tremendous amount of paranormals, but two series I've enjoyed are: Christine Feehan's Dark series and Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark series.
ReplyDeleteBetcha' get lots more recommends!
Enjoy!
I keep hearing about Meljean Brooks "The Iron Duke".
ReplyDeleteTotally off the wall I hate tell all books. But I'm reading" Is It Just Me" by Whoppi Goldberg, laughed till I cried.
ReplyDeleteSteam Punk you got me on that one, never even heard of it so at a big loss
Allison,
ReplyDeletea great paranormal series is the "Darkover" series by Marion Zimmer Bradley , although it is not only paranormal but a bit of sience fiction as well. Its been years since I read one of them but I remember I really enjoyed reading them. If you are interested I can search my shelves for the titles of those I loved most.
I have actually only heard about Steam Punk a few days ago. I read a review about such a book although at the moment I cannot recall the author. That'd the genre I will try:). But you'd better set a deadline because I tend to procrastinate forever without one.
ReplyDeleteOkay I just read Jackie's post and The Iron Duke was the steam punk i read about so that is the one I will try.
Christy, I can't think of any romance genre I have not tried.
ReplyDeleteI read an excerpt of Steam Punk romance writer Gail Dayton;titled New Blood. It was a combination, victorian, furturistic science fiction and paranormal....I have read these types of books---before they got their buzz name! :)
I read Colby Core by Debra Webb last night. This was a really good book! The heroine is kidnapped as a teenager by a human-trafficking ring and held for 6 years.
....I should mention that the above story is a continuation of Colby Brass...which I have not read yet.
Ok, maybe my goal could be to not start in the middle or at the end of a series....
Love historicals - Hope you should try Pamela Clare's since you enjoy her romantic suspense books.
ReplyDeleteLove Julie Garwood's medievals too.
Elke,
ReplyDeleteA few years ago, Sandra Brown wrote two excellent westerns based on the Coleman family saga; Sunset Embrace and Another Dawn.
Oh man does it count that I tried historicals recently? I guess I can take this challenge. Does reading a book in first person count? Because everyone around here is insisting I read a few first person books. :)
ReplyDeleteI've never read steam punk,syfi, much paranormal or... oh my I am definitely a comfort zone reader! I stick to my usual. lol
Thanks to Jackie, I'm going with "The Iron Duke" to meet the Steampunk challenge!
ReplyDeleteAly, I think Surrender would be a great way to loose that horrid historical virginity that you keep holding on to. :)
ReplyDeleteHope, the McNaught and Garwood recommendations Christy gave you I second! When I tell you the one I want you to read it will be one of those for sure. I'll tell you when I am ready to accept your challenge! lol
I am a comfort zone reader too. I just realised that I have time travel romances in my piles that I cannot get myself to read. So i might try those for the challenge. I did read The Time Traveller's Wife before I started demanding that my books have HEA and i enjoyed it. After that I sort of have this prejudice against the theme that i need to overcome. I have a couple of Sandra Hill books and another couple of Janet Chapmen time travels.
ReplyDeleteHopey, Hope, Hope-
ReplyDeleteI thought we were SHARING the cowboys and military alphas...You promised!!!!!
I just saw another Steampunk that they are talking about "Souless" . Oh and Christy they tagged "The Iron Duke" with zombie too!
ReplyDeleteDoesn't my werewolf adventure count! I ended up buying all her books. :)
Crystal, the ones I wanted you to read are not in first person. And I read more than one of your Hoyt books. :(
Kris/Hope -- have ya'll read Kaki Warner's western series. Two books so far "Pieces of Sky" and "Open Country" with a new one due out in January, 2011, "Chasing the Sun." She's a new author but her writing is marvelous and she's getting rave reviews.
ReplyDeleteI am anxious to also read Kat Martin's new cowboy series. The first book in the "Against" series is entitled "Against the Wind" and releases on December 28th. The other two, "Against the Fire" releases on January 25, 2011 and the third, "Against the Law" releases on February 22, 2011. Contemporary about no-account Raines brothers in cattle country, Wind Canyon, WY. Probably something similar to R.C. Ryan's "Montana" series.
Steam Punk? I have never heard of that. I am up for the challenge and will be heading to the library tomorrow!!
ReplyDeleteWow, I'm loving all of these challenges you're setting for yourselves!
ReplyDeleteAnne, I think it's mentioned somewhere here about The Iron Duke. That's the one I'm going to try. It's getting great reviews!
Elke, I know there're several western romance readers here. You'll definitely get some suggestions. Enjoy your time with your son!
Jackie P. Yes, that's the one I'm going to try too!
Yay, Kay, glad to see you here! Yeah, I'm not a big fan of tell all books either. Glad you're enjoying it. Whoopi is hilarious and so talented.
Elke, thanks for the recommend on the paranormal. Never heard of Bradley. Will go looking for her books!
Luci, I hate to set a deadline I can't meet, so let's go for June 1. LOL I know that's six months away but I have 3 book deadlines before then. If you read it before then, let me know what you think!
ReplyDeleteLinda, how cool that you've already read Steam Punk before it got its name! And I adore Debra Webb, her books are wonderful and so is she!
Linda and Elke, I never ever do this, but I have to say this about Sunset Embrace and Another Dawn. The first one made me a Sandra Brown fan for life. The second one kept me from reading her for at least ten years. And even now, if I start thinking of why, I will get tears in my eyes. All I can say is, if you read them, don't get too emotionally drawn into them, like I did!
Crystal, it's kind of a different, so I'd say that counts. You going for Kleypas's trilogy? I rarely read first either, but I thoroughly enjoyed Sugar Daddy. Still haven't read the other two, but I plan to next year.
ReplyDeleteLuci, do you like Linda Howard? She has a wonderful time travel called Son of the Morning. A lovely, lovely, emotional romance!
Jackie, wow, The Iron Duke has zombies too? That's wild!
Oh, Anne, I love Kat Martin! I just saw that they're going to reissue Magnificent Passage, which was one of the first books I read by her. I love her historicals!
Yay, Tanya. Hope you enjoy your journey into Steam Punk!
I haven't tried steam punk yet either, but I do have a copy of Meljean Brook's "The Iron Duke." It's gotten rave reviews and I can't wait to read it.
ReplyDeleteFirst, just so we're clear. Christy, how DO you feel about Honor's Splendour? I'm not sure I can tell... :-)
ReplyDeleteAnd D's just now figuring out J has a temper? Really, really like that girl. :)
This challenge is a great idea! I have read a bit of just about everything, but I will hop on the Steam Punk bandwagon and give it a try. That will definitely be a new one for me.
Yay, Jane, hope you enjoy the Steam Punk!
ReplyDeleteLOL Kara, okay, I'll jump off my HS bandwagon. I think everyone's heard me...at least twice? (:
ReplyDeleteLooks like lots of us are going on the Steam Punk journey together. How fun!
I've tried just about every genre.
ReplyDeleteDoes reading a biography count?
I took my 74 yr old mom christmas shopping yesterday -- and it's hard to believe that an old lady with a walker could wear me out, but she did!
ReplyDeleteI just started reading the paranormal genre in the past year, and I wouldn't have considered it prior to that - does that count? I never read romantic suspense prior to this year either.
Not sure if I would like Steam Punk, but I have liked all the other recommends I've picked up on Christy's blog, so I probably would like that too.
I bought a cowboy romance yesterday - Montana Legacy. Can't wait to read it. Thanks everyone!
Better late than never! lol
ReplyDeleteParanormal? Hmmm... that sounds really interesting. Im with Alison on the challenge! Paranormal it is for me lol
What a great challenge : >