KINDLE – I know that reading from my kindle means generally I’m not buying from bookstores and this concerns me. A LOT. But I’m reading MORE and more consistently, which I believe is good for my writing, so I can’t argue with something that’s working. I have to admit I like not having stacks of books that leave me wondering, what I do with these now? Because then I fill my basement (and let’s face it, someday I’m going to have to CLEAN OUT said basement) or give them away – and that’s always hard for me to do. So they end up in the basement. “Nuff said.)
But over the weekend, something interesting happened. I read (and highly recommend, as in can’t stop thinking or talking about) Roxanne St. Claire’s HUNT HER DOWN, one of her Bullet Catcher books. I’m completely head over heels in love with Dan. It’s been a long time since I’ve been in love with someone else’s hero this way. I mean, I want this man for myself! So much so that although I own this book on Kindle, I purchased it in book form too. Has to go on my Keeper shelf.
I can definitely see myself doing this with other books that I read on the Kindle and then just have to own, to touch, feel and be able to go back and reread whatever I want whenever I want!
This is a GOOD thing, for authors and for book stores, right? I don’t know. Like I said, just food for thought. 
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AMERICAN IDOL – what do you all think of Ellen DeGeneres as the judge to take Paula’s place? Personally I LOVE Ellen and I hope she plays well off of Simon!
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Read any good books lately? I know Julie brought that up yesterday but I figure since we’re having a week of whatever topics (LOL) might as well ask again!
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I can’t wait for new Fall TV. In the interim I got hooked on HELL’S KITCHEN and MORE TO LOVE. More to Love’s season finale is next week. Any ideas on who the lady will be?
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Carly Phillips would like to take 100% credit for all her stories but the truth is, Carly’s strength is writing family, emotion, funky elderly people and animals. She couldn’t plot her way out of a paper bag, which is why she smartly found her plotmonkey pals early on in her writing career. Thanks to their support, Carly is now a NYT Bestselling author of 23 plus novels. Because writing doesn’t keep her busy enough, Carly is also a wife, a mother of one preteen and one teenage daughter, the primary care giver of her soft coated Wheaten terrier and an expert carpool mom.
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Hi :)
I love Gordon Ramsey!
American Idol with Ellen vs Simon? Awesome!
Thanks for the fun blog post Carly.
All the best,
@RKCharron
xoxo
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AI: To be honest I don’t watch American Idol…I know… some of my friends say I should be shot but I haven’t watched it. I have enjoyed the fruits of the show but still haven’t sat down and actually watched it.
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Stacy’s having trouble posting today (anyone else?) and asksed me to post this for her:
I tried posting twice this morning and both times the posts were eaten. Anyway, I’m still a fan of the feel of a book in my hand. So not a “green” concept, and I feel terrible about that, but there’s nothing like turning the pages.
I love Ellen too and think she would bring some much-needed humor to the show, really make it fresh, but it makes me wonder about her experience to be a judge on a show about the music industry. Perhaps her experience as a stand-up comedienne has something to do with it?
Btw, I posted an interview with the fabulous Leslie Kelly today, so I hope y’all wouldn’t mind stopping by. It was sooo much fun! She rocks.
http://www.trelainastarblazer.blogspot.com
Stacy ~
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Fantabulous interview Stacy. I could hear you both in my head. Imagine if it was life. Her answers were just so Les. You came up with some great questions too.
Peace and love,
Paula R.
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I love holding that book in my hand. Don’t know if I could replace that.
As far as Ellen, I think she will bring entertainment to the show but she will be like one of us, I hope. Bring her opinion without knowing the technical side of singing. Although she may get a hard time from the press if she downs someone’s singing – they’ll say she’s not in the business and has no right to judge. I’ll think she’ll be funny.
I watch Hell’s Kitchen faithfully.
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I hope Ellen will be real and honest not just always “nice”.
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Woohoo
Color me all kinds of happy. One of my favorite, most talented, most respected, most all around fabulous authors has fallen for…More To Love. (Kidding!) Thank you, Ms. Carly, for the very kind words (and DOUBLE PURCHASE!!) of HUNT HER DOWN. I’m so glad the story worked for you. I will admit here what I’ve told no one – I’m a little surprised by the consistently great response to the book because I remember reading the galleys and thinking, “Is this the clunker that everyone gets once in her career?” I think I was way too close, and had such high hopes for Dan as a hero. This would be the curse of a character who has been in the 6 previous books and gets sexier every time, and then gets *hurt* by a woman…and then has the weight of reader’s expectations on his (strong and broad) shoulders. Thank you – for reading, loving, and sharing your enthusiasm for the book.
Now can we talk More To Love? I know it’s a train wreck, a guilty pleasure, a seriously skeeved out concept that lowers the class and IQ of everyone who watches it. But…I. Can’t. Stop. I keep telling myself it’s a character study, it’s a microscope on a romance, it’s not a complete and utter waste of DVR space. But if that were true, wouldn’t I watch The Bachelor or The Bachelorette? I don’t. Have no interest. I watch MTL. And Luke is a LOSER. Boring, dishonest, dim-witted, uninspiring, cheesy, and the bottom of his feet were dirty when he got on the bed with Malissa. And yet I watch. Why? I wish I knew. That said, I hope he picks Malissa because he deserves someone as skanky as he is, and she is all that and more, IMO.
And, lastly, I will opine about Ellen on Idol. FANTASTIC DECISION!! The show needed an infusion of life and humor, Paula was getting old and dull, and when Ellen was on SYTYCD as a judge, she was flippin’ hysterical. I’m all kinds of excited about the new season.
My most anticipated show? Lost. I needs me some shirtless Sawyer.
THANK YOU for the fine pimpage and the support! Hope you like MAKE HER PAY just as much. (Whispering commercial: in stores September 29.)
xoxo
Rocki
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Rocki, SUCH a train wreck! Tali is the RIGHT choice. Malissa is as big a liar as he is, so yeah they probably deserve each other. telling that last girl he sent home “I can see my self married to you.” Asshole, LOL!
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I don’t watch AI, but my husband is really into it (and into music, he charts the contestants, performances, etc….it’s his DWTS, my obsession, although, I don’t chart it). He just looked at me like “what”? Ellen is so nice and supportive…okay, that’s probably like Paula…
Me, I can’t wait for DWTS, L and O (all of them!), Castle and I want to see that new Chris Noth/Juliana Margolis show (yes, I love politics). I love that all of my NBC shows are on earlier (because of Jay Leno’s show). I loved watching my guilty pleasures this week, MP, 90210 and ANTM (yes, I am in my late 30s and love those shows….they are my “brain dead’ shows). Although, the new shows are cutting into my reading time….
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I must admit, like Patsy, I don’t watch American Idol either. But I LOVE Ellen and I might have to start watching it because of her. She is too funny! I have never watched Lost, Hell’s Kitchen or More to Love. Obviously, I need to get out more.
At present I’m reading Jamie Sobrato’s “Made Me Look”. Just started it last night. LOVE it so far. I am entrenched in reading Blaze at the moment because that’s what I’m working on right now and I want to stay in a Blaze mind-set.
My mother sent me her copy of John Adams by David McCullough and Dearest Friend (about Abigail) by Lynne Withey. I LOVE historicals and I LOVED the John Adams mini-series on HBO. As soon as I finish this Blaze I’m diving in. Before that I was reading James Lee Burke novels–the man is a fabulous word-smith) and I read Finger Lickin Fifteen by Janet Evanovich–Hysterically funny! And I have a bunch of Linda Lael Miller books that I can’t wait to get my greedy hands on. I’ve never read Loretta Chase and I have Lord of Scoundrels on my shelf that I also can’t wait to read. I need to pick up a copy of Jeanne Stein’s latest Anna Strong book and I must get a copy of Tessa Dare’s books because of all the buzz about them…and of course now I have to rush out and get a copy of Hunt her Down.
Has anyone ever seen that movie “Lady in the Water”? It’s a really good story if you haven’t seen it. It came to mind because Paul Giamatti plays in it. He played John Adams as well.
Enough of my ramblings. Have a great day all
Cher
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Cher, If you like fiction Historicals, I can heartily recommend NOT QUITE A HUSBAND, by a relatively-new author (this is her 3rd), Sherry Thomas. It’s set in India & the heroine is a physician: obviously, not usual for 1897, though the relationship between H/h is set between 2 different time periods. Only neg. was continual use of Indian terminology & names of towns which wore on me. Thomas’ research must have been massive. This book is very different from most that you find, which is always a positive with me. Her lst book, PRIVATE ARRANGEMENTS, (which I also have but have not yet read) also was reviewed very well.
Patricia
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Thank you, Patricia for the recommendation. I have read Sherry Thomas before and liked her very much. I’ll check out this particular book. I’m with you when an author puts in too much setting “color”. I just want them to focus on the story.
Cher
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I’ve got a birthday coming up and a sneaky suspicion that I’ll get a Kindle (read: daughter ratted hubby out on what he’s getting me – LOL) but I’m not sure that I’ll keep it even though it sounds like the perfect solution to a TBR pile that keeps expanding into other areas of the house!
I’m on the computer 8-10 hours/day for work and then on my laptop in the evenings checking in on the social media scene and I’m worried about my eyes… Has anyone seen any studies, etc. of computer/Kindle usage on eyesight?
Also, any idea what percentage of books (by my favorite PlotMonkeys authors) are on Kindle?
Thanks for listening!
sharon
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Carly, Rocki’s Bulletcatcher books absolutely rock! I can’t wait to get to Dan’s story but being methodical, I had to start at the beginning and work my through…
My favorite TV show is LEVERAGE and it’s finale was on last night. Luckily, BONES, NCIS, and CASTLE all start soon!
Don’t do reality TV as a rule, though I do tune into DWTS and SYTYCD when I have time. I’m doing way to much procrastinating today. Must. Work. Now.
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Silver, I have to start from the beginning now and read all Bullet Catchers!
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Goodmorning, almost afternoon everyone. Chilly here this morning, bah humbug.
I to loved Roxanne’s Hunt her Down. I can’t wait until the end of the month to get Make Her Pay. I love the bullet catcher books. I have read all of Roxanne’s booksnks to an earlier blog here on Plotmonkeys, I got hooked on her books.
Carly,
I don’t think if I had a Kindle I would buy the book.
I do like my books so no Kindle here yet. Maybe it will be helpful someday because of the need for larger fonts.
I all for Ellen on idol.
I wish I could be home to see finals next Monday. I hope the Texas tenors
win. No TV at camp. Oh well.
As for books I have read lately and would recommend :
Fade to Black
Pitch Black Leslie Parrish
Black at heart
Hunt Her Down Roxanne St. Claire
Mackenzie’s Legacy Linda Howard
Out of the Light into the Shadows Lori Foster/Erin McCarthy/LL Foster
Heat Seeker Lora Leigh
I am currently reading Christine Feehan’s Dark Slayer love her books but this one is dragging a bit.
Next I read LL Foster’s Servant the Kindred while waiting for Make Her Pay.
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Roxanne thanks for the bookmark.
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I am still out on the Kindle. One of my patients was in the other day with one and I couldn’t believe how big it was. In this case, size is a problem
I just finshed reading Hunt Her Down, Black at Heart, Slow Burn, Texas Heat and Her Last Line of Defense. Now I am working on The Cowboy and The Lady.
Have a great day everyone. It is going to be in the upper 90′s here today.
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I’m one of those weird ones who’s never watched a single episode of American Idol! But I do absolutely adore Ellen so I might just start watching it in order to see her. Then again, isn’t it up against Lost? If so, absolutely no way…lol…like Rocki, I am jonesing for some shirtless Sawyer. And for (finally) the answer to 4 years worth of questions!
I don’t have a Kindle and am not sure about it. I love the idea of it but don’t know that I want to be totally tied to Amazon.
That said, I’m very excited that Harlequin is releasing much of my backlist in eformat on September 14. A bunch of older books, including Temptations and all my HQN and Harlequin single titles–including Killing Time, which is one of my personal favorites of any of my books.
Stacy, thanks again for the interview, it was great fun!!
PS: Anybody watch Top Chef? A local guy is on it–Bruce and I were going to go to his restaurant for our anniversary, but I looked at the menu and changed my mind. I’m way too picky an eater…lolol!
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Where is this restaurant Leslie? Whats the place called?
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Elisa, it’s called Volt and it’s in downtown Frederick–not far from you! The owner and his brother are both on Top Chef this season and are both apparently doing quite well. (The brother owns a place in CA.)
I am just such a pain in the butt in terms of what I will eat. Not one bit of seafood of any kind–which takes out a huge chunk of any restaurant menu. I also won’t eat lamb or any kind of exotic or game meat, don’t like mushrooms at all, rarely eat tomatoes, not a big onionn fan.
like I said…a pain in the butt.
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I agree, when I read something amazing in ebook, I tend to buy it in print, but I give the print one to my sister-in-law. I keep the ebooks as keepers, these days.
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I like Ellen; think she is very funny. She will probably keep Simon in line; dont know if he will like that. I wonder if Ellen will be serious enuf for the show. She doesnt know much about music so in that respect dont know how well she will fare.
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I miss out on AI because the show goes up against Biggest Loser and the result show will be up against Lost. I don’t plan on missing a single episode of the final season of Lost. I’m ready for all of the new fall shows. Biggest Loser comes back on Tuesday(9/15) and Castle comes back on 9/21, which I think is the premier week for ABC. Still checking when the rest of my shows come back.
I’m reading Dream Warrior by Sherrily Kenyon(still). I have a Sony reader and I still buy “real” books. I’ve even bought some of the books on my reader so I could put them on my keeper shelf too. I love my reader, but still want to feel a book in my hands sometimes, so I buy both types of books.
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I was tempted to watch More To Love but resisted! American Idol is not on my watch list either but I do think Ellen will be great on the show. I’ve seen the show once or twice!! When it is on I think it is on opposite something I already watch but could not tell you what!!
Kindle vs books! At this point I can’t afford a Kindle so books it is. That said I can’t imagine not having a book in my hand. The Kindle is probably great if you do much traveling. When I take a trip it is always hard to decide to what books & how many to take. Traveling by car means no limitations but air travel is another story!!
The new TV season will be starting soon, yea! I am so ready for new programs especially Dancing With The Stars.
So sad to hear that Maks & Karina broke up. Love that show! Someone mentioned the new program The Good Wife, that should be interesting. Hopefully it won’t be on opposite something I am already watching.
The new Bulletcatcher book is definitly on my “I want” list along with Leslie’s 3 books and a few others! So many books so small a budget!!
Such is life!
Have a good day all.
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That’s what it’s called, “The Good Wife” (Thanks, Donna) and Chris Noth is easy on the eyes, so even if it’s bad, it’s good :)
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Hey Carly, I finally got the chance to get online. A full day of meetings and this evening, I have Day student orientation. Oh where has the summer gone.
Anyway, I didn’t know that Ellen was joining the judging panel for AI, thank you for giving me the heads up on that. It should be interesting to see how she interacts with Simon.
I have read several really great books recently…Jessica Andersen’s Keepers of the Final Prophecy series with the third one, Skykeepers, being my favorite. I am on a Colleen Gleason kick as well. Currently, I am reading The Bleeding Dusk. Also started Gena Showalter’s The Darkest Whisper. Reading some Blazes and some regular contemps. All the books that I have read so far are all keepers for me. Black at Heart finally came in the mail from Amazon today, and I will be doing a re-read of that one too. I will probably start it tonight. I love the feel of a book, and I just couldn’t think of reading electronically. The smell of the book and the feel of the pages make it such a special experience for me. I know, it sounds kind of crazy, but it is much easier for me to lose myself in a book, than when I am reading on a screen. I have 3 of the 7 Bulletcatchers books right now, and I can’t wait to get to a book store to pick up the other four.
On another note, today has been a good day for me!
Peace and love,
Paula R.
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Well I don’t watch AI either. But Ellen is hilarious. So I am probably thinking she will bring some humor to the show.
I can’t wait for my favorite shows to start…. Grey’s Anatomy, Criminal Minds, Numbers, NCIS, CSI: Miami, NY, and good old original CSI. I like that Survivor show as well. All that back stabbing is true drama.
On my reading list is:
Karen Hawkins “Talk of the Town”
Leslie Parrish’s 2 CAT Books
Diana Peterfreund “Tap & Gown”
Waiting for the 3 rd Lucky Book of Carly’s….
Nora Roberts book
However I have a big bag of books to read…. too many to list.
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I too cannot wait for fall tv!! Especially all three of the CSI’s!!! Also can’t wait for the new season of House! Another fabulous show!!
I too love Hell’s Kitchen! I love anything with Gordon Ramsey…I love watching his show on BBC America, The F Word!!
Not too keen on Ellen being a new judge on American Idol. I watch it sometimes and then sometimes I don’t. It depends on my mood! LOL!!
I actually haven’t had time to do much reading. *GASP* I know! Shame on me!!!! I’ve been so busy with work, working on my WIP’s, working on coordinating the volunteers for the brat fry at my daughter’s school. And because I can’t say no….grrrr…I am now on the planning committe for my 20th high school reunion…..I should just learn to keep my mouth shut! LOL!!!
Have a happy Friday everyone!!
Michelle
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Carly — I can’t believe you got hooked on MORE TO LOVE. Of course, being the realty TV junkie that I am, I’m watching, and yes, like Rocki said it’s just one of those trainwrecks you HAVE to watch. I really like Tali, but he deserves Malissa. BTW, did you see Malissa’s blonde haired, tattooed sister? Talk about one scary chick!
I”m not sure about Ellen as a judge on AI. I LOVE Ellen, but after seeing her guest judge on So You Think You Can Dance, I hope she’s not all fluff and no substance for the contestants. She really doesn’t know anything about singing or the music industry, so for me it was a really odd choice!
I’ve also been watching Top Chef, Project Runway, Leverage, Hung, Dark Blue, and starting this week, the new season of So You Think You Can Dance!
Rocki — I’m in the middle of HUNT HER DOWN and I think it’s one of your very best books. Anyone who loves a good romantic suspense with a hunky hero and steamy sexual tension (and sex scenes!), you HAVE to read this one!
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I’m one of those who will purchase the print version of a book if I like it enough reading in ebook form. I primarily purchase Blazes as ebooks because I’m too impatient to wait the 6 months it takes for them to be released in NZ after the US release. I currently beginning to look at ebooks more as a result of not being on the way Mills and Boon releases the Harlequin titles – most Desires and all Blazes are released in dual title books and while that’s fine if I like both stories often I only want one of them.
However, it is still not possible to purchase a dedicated e-reader in NZ (Kindle or otherwise) so I still get tied to my computer using ebooks which is a bit off putting. I’ve been told that the reason we still can get the readers here is something to do with DRM.
As for what I’m reading, I recently re-read Leslie’s Night Whispers and I’m currently re-reading Flashpoint and Flashback by Jill Shalvis. I need to sort out ordering a few of the books on my to buy list. I know that Kate Angell’s Sliding Home is definitely in the list that I need to purchase. A lot of my reading is re-reading at the moment because I’m in the midst of essays that are a large percentage of the current semester’s marks so the academic reading is taking most of my time – but the romance is great for givng my brain a break.
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I do have some e-books but nothing can surpass the feeling of walking into your neighborhood store and being surounded by the sight and smell of books. You head to the shelfs where your favorite authors live and gently caress each spine until you find her newest book. The spine has not been broken and you just know you are the first person on this planet to read the wonderfull story inside. You buy the book and head for home to be seen only after you have read the entire thing.