I am often asked what is the best book/romance book you have ever read? I have to giggle--"Besides my own??"

I like to read mysteries, thrillers, cozies, romantic suspense, contemporary and historical romance. Naturally, I have read books that have stayed with me forever. Was it because of an aahh Calgon take me away instance? Or did I finish the book and instantly, reread it?

Only two books had me instantly rereading:

A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Devereaux
Come to Grief by Dick Francis

Something about them had me wanting to experience the contents again. And to this day, I still consider them to be very special. And then there are books that I periodically revisit, such as:

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier.

I first read Rebecca at age thirteen. For me, the book isn't a romance, but a thriller. Yes, there's a nice meet between the hero and heroine, but more importantly, the death of Rebecca. And that Mrs. Danvers??? She played with the heroine's and our minds.

Then there are authors whose works I really like and will consume everything they write:

A, B, C and on mysteries by Sue Grafton
Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella
Thomas Lynley mysteries by Elizabeth George
Mysteries by Dick Francis
Romance by Emilie Loring
Crazy mysteries by Carl Hiassen
Mystery series by Julia Spencer Fleming
Romantic suspense by Mary Stewart
English romps by Georgette Heyer

and on. You avid readers know what I mean. One book by an author and you will probably read everything they've written.

Oddly enough, I don't have any books on my Christmas list this year which is okay because my six foot tall bookcase is loaded with TBR. I can't wait to discover a new author for my must read.

Do you have a book you read and instantly reread? What is your all-time favorite book? Perhaps you are in the mood for holiday stories? These Amazon best-sellers, which includes my romantic comedy short story, "Holiday Handbag Extravaganza," is available at e-retailers and: Amazon Labels: Beloved books, Contemporary romance, cozies, favorite books, historical romance, mysteries, romantic suspense, thrillers Kathy Ivan said...

I am always rereading my favorites. Those books that evoke an emotion, whether happiness at the HEA, sadness over the loss of a special character, and ones that make me think. Those comfort reads that have you coming back and finding another hidden gem inside that you didn't notice the first time you read them.

I love everything with romance, whether it be mystery, contemporary romance, or paranormal romance. I do tend to love a good paranormal romance. :-)

And books are always on my Christmas list (or at least a gift card to buy books).

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas, Vicki.

December 17, 2015 at 9:28 AM kathryn jane said...

I own two complete series, and re-read both over and over again. My favorite is the JD Robb, In Death series at over 40 books, and the other is Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series.

Besides those, I have and re-read Nora's Bride Quartet, and her much older Chesapeake Bay trilogy plus one.

And then, my favorite book of all time. Birthright, by Nora Roberts

I recently moved, and gave up boxes and boxes of books, only keeping the ones listed above.

December 17, 2015 at 9:42 AM vicki batman said...

Hi, Kathy! Thank you for pointing out emotion, happiness, HEA, sadness--it's our experience with those emotions that bring us back. I almost cried at the end of A Knight in Shining Armor along with the heroine. I'd forgotten about that. Maybe it is time for a reread. Merry Christmas to you, Kathy!

Hi, Kathryn! I've read many a Nora and have about two I really liked. I have all of Stephanie P too. I've kept many others, but over the years, some have lost their appeal and I've given them away too. It's hard to let go of our story friends, isn't it?

December 17, 2015 at 9:48 AM Sylvia said...

I still go back and reread my favorites whenever I feel stuck as a writer. I love anything by Kathleen Woodwiess, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Rachel Gibson or Julie James. It's not only the romance that I enjoy, but the characters. Give me an interesting, funny, zany character and I'm hooked. I keep saying we need more laughter in this dark world of ours. Make me feel and make me laugh.

December 17, 2015 at 11:01 AM Joanne Guidoccio said...

I also have eclectic tastes and enjoy reading cozy mysteries, women's literature, memoirs, historical fiction, and self-help books. Whenever I need a strong dose of inspiration, I will reread anything by Maeve Binchy, Louise Penny, Anna Quindlen, Jacquelyn Mitchard, Isabelle Allende, and Louise Hay.

December 17, 2015 at 11:15 AM Hi, Sylvia! I agree with you when I'm stuck, I read too. And as I've grown as a writer, I can look at their technique. It's very interesting.

Hi, Joanne! I've read all things Maeve Binchy! She had a way... At a conference, I had Light a Penny Candle in my arms and a woman stopped and said, "You'll need a hankie." Thanks for stopping.

December 17, 2015 at 11:17 AM Angela Adams said...

My all time favorite romance book is "Joy in the Morning" by Betty Smith. Several months ago I did a blog post about it and found a FB page for it. I also like to reread Robyn Carr's Virgin River series.

December 17, 2015 at 3:10 PM Hi, Angela! I've heard about Joy before, but can't remember if I read it or not. I'll need to check and make sure.

December 17, 2015 at 3:17 PM Melissa Keir said...

Jude was one of my first must have authors. I devoured all her books! I loved how she intertwined the families!

December 17, 2015 at 4:04 PM Linda Steinberg said...

My favorite classic romance is Jane Eyre. Gotta love a tortured hero.

December 17, 2015 at 4:19 PM Hi, Melissa! I've read a few other Jude Devereaux's books, but only this one really stood out. Maybe I should revisit???

Hi, Linda! I haven't read Jane Eyre in forever. Nor Wuthering Heights. It's funny how seeing the old movie renditions makes the heroes seem unrealistically tortured. Should revisit too!

December 17, 2015 at 4:24 PM Marsha said...

Great post, Vicki. Love that you're an Emily Loring fan. My mother read her and got me hooked in her books. I seldom re-read a book. I've lost the need to find out what happens next, I guess. But you and others have mentioned some of my favorite authors like Loring, Mary Stuart, Victoria Holt,Phyllis Whitney. More current folks are: Carla Neggars, Suzanne Brockmann. Of course, Linda Howard and Elizabeth Lowell.
I still have too many "real" books, but hard to let go. I'll share. :)

December 17, 2015 at 7:54 PM Liz Flaherty said...

I've found that my favorites change as the years go by. I inherited Emilie Loring loyalty, too, but I don't re-read them. I love Nora Roberts and Kristan Higgins, Mary Balogh and Muriel Jensen, but one favorite? Hmm..

Enjoyed your post!

December 18, 2015 at 6:08 AM All-time of this very moment - eek! I liked Nora Robert's Northern Lights a lot, though my imagined sequel kills off the heroine. A book I loved by a debut author, oddly enough, from Alaska a year ago was the Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey - loved it.

December 18, 2015 at 7:06 AM Mary Morgan said...

I always start off the New Year by reading any books by Jane Austen. It's a slow and steady process of reading. You can't rush Jane! Another fabulous re-read: "The Mists of Avalon" by Marion Zimmer Bradley. Not only do I love historical, but mythology, too!

December 18, 2015 at 9:22 AM Diane Burton said...

When I first read Knight in Shining Armor, I couldn't put it down. Seriously. I read it through the night. Love, love, love Stephanie Plum series, Mary Stewart, and Georgette Heyer plus anything by Jayne Ann Krentz/Amanda Quick/Jayne Caste and Linnea Sinclair. My all-time fav is Rebecca. It's fun reading the comments. I kept thinking, oh yeah, that one too. :)

December 18, 2015 at 9:33 AM Hi, Marsha! I may have mentioned this, but shall again, I like rereading now because I can study their writing. And yet, I still get the aha when I do.

Hi, Liz! I think I'm partial to E Loring because I first read them when nearly fourteen. I felt so grown up. She certainly did write a whole bunch. One year for Christmas, Handsome gave me many in hardback. Squee!

Hi, Lisa! I like Nora a lot too and haven't read Northern Lights. It does sound chilly. lol. The Snow Child title is very pretty.

Hi, Mary! Can you go wrong with Jane??? No!! I've not read the Mists book. Did you ever read the Arthur books by Mary Stewart? Yummm

Hi, Diane! LOL. RE comments: I agree! I've forgotten about some. There's a couple of Mary Stewart books that have me wondering why-why-why weren't they made into a movie? Thanks for posting.

December 18, 2015 at 2:29 PM Ashantay said...

Rereading favorite authors is like visiting friends you haven't seen for awhile. You remember why you became friends in the first place. (smiling) I love Jayne Ann Krentz/Amanda Quick, Nora Roberts' Irish Born Trilogy to name just two out of dozens of authors.

December 18, 2015 at 3:41 PM Hi, Ashantay! I agree. Kathy hit on the point about emotional connection and isn't that what we have with friends? Good author choice, too. Hugs!
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