Friday, November 12, 2010

The Morning After....

by Jeanne Adams

I'm irked. You know, annoyed. And would you like to know why?

I didn't get to sleep until nearly 3:00 a.m. Was I blogging? Was I doing something serious, like emergency surgery or saving the world?

No. I was reading.

And all I have to say is DRAT NORA ROBERTS! I adore a riveting book, a story that keeps me immersed, but it's the morning after that's a killer. I have two sons and they, like most young boys, go to school. That means they need to be awake, fed and ready to go at an unholy hour of the morning. Which means I have to be up earlier than they are so that I can actually be human before I wake them up. Ugh.

That said, there are some authors, like Nora, that I should just know better than to even START after about 3 in the afternoon. Any later and I'm screwed, as far as sleep is concerned. And doesn't that sound vaguely naughty? Grins.

Mercedes Lackey does this to me too, as do every single one of our Banditas. Kate Carlisle, drat her, has kept me up with both her Brooklyn Wainright mysteries and her Silhouette Desire. I won't even START on Anna Campbell. I was smart enough to take Christine, Donna and Christie on various plane rides, which made the travel effortless and painless. Thankfully, I was smart enough to start Trish, AC, and Kirsten's books when I had time to read straight through, although I confess to reading Kirsten's book in the carpool lane, while stirring spagetti sauce, and while doing laundry. None of the laundry got folded until I was done, however. Grins.

Now, I do have a warning for you. A serious one. Do NOT read either Tawny's ultra sexy Blazes or Susan Sey's Money Honey on a plane or on the Metro/Subway unless you want every other passenger on the plane/train looking at you as you either blush madly or laugh out loud. And in my case, it was laughing VERY loud. Ha! I'm sure this will ber very, very true for Bandita Suz's forthcoming, fabulous, sexy debut.

I got three books last weekend when I went to Nora's husband's bookstore in Boonsboro, Maryland, about an hour north of DC. Turn the Page (http://www.ttpbooks.com/) books is a fabulous little store, and when there's a booksigning, the population of the town seemingly doubles, sometimes even triples. I bought three of her books, and one of Mariah Stewart's books, and another wonderful book by Camille DeAngelis.

Camille is a new author to me, I'll let you know how her book, Petty Magic turns out for me. So far, it's fabulous! I started it on the brief plane ride between DC and New York. I'm at the RWA Board Meeting in the most superb, happenin' publishing town in the world. Bandita Trish and I will check out the New York's Marriott Marquis for next summer's annual conference. That said, I won't be around much on Friday. I hope, as a famous New Yorker was fond of saying on Saturday Night Live, I hope you'll "Tawk Amongst Ya'Selves!"

For now, I need some sleep....but there's just a few more chapters......zzzzzzzzzzzz

What? Oh, sorry. Fell asleep. That's what happens when you get no sleep after a long night reading a fabulous book!

Who keeps you up late?

We often talk about fun new finds and favorite reads in the Lair, but which authors are your addiction? Who can't you resist?

Do you ever skip the dishes, dinner and sleep to read?

Let's talk "Auto-buy!"

Grins.

(I promise I'll stay awake!)

63 comments:

Deanna said...

Boy it's hot out there!

Deanna said...

Oh books ALWAYS keep me up late at night. Right now I'm reading a Bandita book - Anna Campbell. It's wonderful. It's so intense and so drenched in feeling that I have to stop, take a deep breath, calm down and then get back to it again, but I'm a glutton for punishment, I keep going back.

I read Tawny's latest recently and loved it. A quick, sexy, easy read.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hey Daz! People are gonna tawk about you and that rooster! Grins. :>

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Oooh, which Anna are you reading? And aren't Tawny's books delish?

Deanna said...

Me and that rooster might be parting ways soon. I'm going back to work soon and won't have as much time to spend on the blog circuit. :-(

I'm reading My Reckless Surrender. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the hero. The heroine, not so much.

Oh yes, Tawny's books are absolutely delish.

Helen said...

Whoo Hoo Daz have fun with him I do hope you have the AC on for him it is hot out here

Jeanne
I gotta say I have stayed up late many a night reading and burnt the dinner while cooking and reading at the same time LOL.
As you say any of the Bandits books will keep me up late and I have just finished Anne Gracie's The Accidental Wedding and WOW what a book I savoured every word and picked it up every chance I had this Devil Riders series is totally amazing.

I have so many auto buy authors my biggest problem is choosing what book to read next from the TBR pile LOL. I have just started Annie West's new one Passion, Purity and the Prince and I am loving it the only problem for me today is I have 5 grandchildren here at the moment playing with big water pistols out in the yard it is really hot today about 37 celsius and they are having fun and they are calling me back out there LOL

Have Fun
Helen

Fedora said...

Jeanne, I have skipped sleep for books many a time... alas ;) I do so need my sleep! Many of the Banditas' books fall into that category--all of you stop! Don't you know that I need my beauty rest??? Don't tempt me with your Blazes, Supers, Money, Honeys, Irish hunks, firefighters, cowboys, mysteries, scandals of all kinds, or all that!

No? Can't stop writing, eh?

Oh well, also Jennifer Crusie (even though I didn't LOVE her latest as much as some of her earlier books, I still couldn't stop), Sarah Mayberry, SEP, Ann Aguirre, Julia Quinn, Lisa Kleypas, Carla Kelly, Stacey Kayne, Lisa Wingate, Shelly Laurenston... that's just the tip of the proverbial iceberg...

How's the GR holding up in that heat, Daz? ;)

Jane said...

Congrats on the GR, Daz.

Hi Jeanne,
Besides the Banditas, some other authors who keep me up late are Stephanie Laurens, Pamela Clare, Barbara Freethy and Julie Garwood.

Christine Wells said...

Hi Jeanne! Had to LOL at the late night and early start. Boy do I know that feeling!

There are many authors who keep me up at night. Too many to name, but some, Banditas excepted, are Lisa Kleypas, Liz Carlyle, Madeline Hunter, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, C.S. Harris. I probably read *too* fast, you know? I really need to stop and savour these books. Getting into talky tapes now and I'm forced to listen to every word, which is really good for me, I think!

Deanna said...

Oh Fedora, the heat is vicious. I think the GR is starting to fade a bit. I might pour him a beer soon.

Sheree said...

Yes, I just can't put a book down sometimes which is why I like anthologies. That way I can make myself stop after reading a short story. I also have no problems stopping in the middle of an e-book because I have to read it on my laptop and it's too unwieldy to read in bed anyway.

Deb Marlowe said...

Have a great time in NYC, Jeanne and Trish!

Banditas excel at stealing my sleep! I think Money, Honey was the latest culprit, although I have several more Bandit books calling me from the TBR.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society did the same. Love that book! Sigh.

Now it's the wip keeping me awake...back to it!

pjpuppymom said...

3am. Huddled in the corner of the couch, book in hand. Fighting to stay awake and not miss a single word. Yep, I've been there, many times, and I can lay the blame for three of them at your feet, Jeanne.

In fact, most of the Banditas keep me reading late into the night. The most recent was Beth's Harlequin Superromance, A Marine for Christmas. Not only kept me up late but then had me awake in bed for a couple more hours thinking about it. Such a good book!

Rocki St. Claire's Edge of Sight is another one I couldn't put down. Also Anne Gracie's The Accidental Wedding, Kieran Kramer's When Harry Met Molly, Eloisa James's A Kiss at Midnight and Lydia Dare's The Taming of the Wolf.

Daz, if you're feeding him beer, no wonder he won't leave you! *g*

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Daz, you can't miss your daily blog tour! Say it isn't so! Grins. You'll just have to stop in here before you go to work. Kinda like Starbucks...

Reckless is fabulous! Be patient with the heroine, as she really finds her feet soon in the book. You'll adore her by the end. She's spunky.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hi Helen! thanks for stopping in on such a busy day! :> I am LOL at the image of the 5 grandkids with water pistols...grins.

Stay dry! (not likely, I think)

And ooooh Annie Gracie! Haven't read Accidental Wedding yet. *note to check and see if it's in the TBR mountain or if it still needs ordering...* Glad to know its good.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Fedora said: Many of the Banditas' books fall into that category--all of you stop! Don't you know that I need my beauty rest???

Hahah! Sorry, Fedora. It's an addiction, just like reading. More difficult than reading, but still, an addiction. :>

Gotta say, you're beautiful when you read, darling...heehee. See? There, no need for beauty sleep when reading makes you beautiful to US!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hi Jane! Julie Garwood. Yep, she'll keep me up too. :>

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Christine said: I probably read *too* fast, you know? I really need to stop and savour these books.

ahhhh, but they're so GOOD in one long gulp, aren't they? Which is also trouble for me. I'll blow through a fabulous book, then get up the next day, groggy and cranky, and read it again, so I'll get the bits I missed in my haste.

*Happy sigh*

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Oh, dear, Daz. You're pouring the Golden One a golden one? Eeek! Intoxicated Rooster Alert!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Mornin' Sheree! You said I like anthologies. That way I can make myself stop after reading a short story.

That is one really good thing about anthologies, isn't it? Those "Monster book of..." series (Historicals, romantic suspense, etc) are good for that. A nice sip of something good....

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Mornin' Deb! You're one to talk. You've kept me awake with your book. Grins.

I just got the Potato Peel Society not too long ago. Inherited it from a friend and want to read it. I've heard many good things about it.

Now I daren't start it...

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

PJ said: Fighting to stay awake and not miss a single word. Yep, I've been there, many times, and I can lay the blame for three of them at your feet, Jeanne.

Ahhh, what a lovely thing to say, PJ! I, however, am unrepentant. Heehee. Thanks for reading. You have some good "stay awake" books on that list!

I picked Beth's up, and meant to bring it to NYC with me, but somehow managed to leave it on my desk. I packed like an ADD drunk - not sure where my brain was. At least I have underwear....

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Well, dahlinks, I'm off to the Board Meeting....please, Tawk Amongst Ya'Selves!

I'll pop back in as soon as I can...

Caren Crane said...

Daz, more rooster droppings for you today? I hope he behaves (for once)!

Jeanne, I so empathize on the morning after phenom. Matter of fact, I'm having a little morning after today. I had yesterday off for Veteran's Day and stayed up FAR too late re-reading Anne McCaffrey's Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern.

I would like to say this doesn't happen often, but it does - especially with Anne McCaffrey! I've read the books before, but they still keep me up way past my bedtime! Maybe it's the thrill of the quiet house that does it? *shrug*

I don't think it will stop. Ever. I will always be compelled to stay awake by great fiction!

Caren Crane said...

Daz and Helen, I can't believe it's so hot so early in your Spring! We are just hitting the cold spells here. I am enjoying every cool morning! Stay cool and Helen, make sure you keep at least one eye on those grandbabies! :-)

Caren Crane said...

Jeanne, I hope you and Trish have a good day at the RWA Board meeting. And enjoy NYC! I did see a great $138 round-trip fare for this weekend. Wish the hubby and I could pop up there for our anniversary!

Christie Kelley said...

Jeanne, NOTHING keeps me up late. I am not a night person. The only thing that ever kept me up at night were my kids when they were young. And thankfully, both were sleeping through the night by 7 weeks.

My auto buys are all my bandita sisters but not much else any more. I get so many free books from conferences that I'm trying to explore new authors. Next up on my list is Jeannie Lin's Butterfly Swords.

Katt said...

Yes Nora, (of course JDRobb), Christine Feehan, Cherry Adair, Linda Lael Miller, Mariah Stewart, and a dozen more that I cannot pick up unless I have five hours to spare!
At least now as a grown up I don't have to use a flash light after lights'out is called!

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Hey Jeanne!

I have to confess to many of the Bandita's books keeping me up late at night...heheh, but then I'm usually at work and NEED to stay awake.

Now if it's auto buys you're talking about, Julie Garwood, Jayne Ann Krentz and Sherrilyn Kenyon are my crack! Along with Lorraine Heath and JR Ward.

Then there's reading both my critique partners, Jo Davis and Sandy Blair's books before they go to final submission to their editors! (Tough job, but someone has to do it! Lucky Me!) Those keep me up long past my bedtime, night or day.

Susan Sey said...

Hey, Jeanne! This is a great and timely subject as I just stayed up late (far, far too late) twice in the past two weeks reading Nora's Happily Every After & Jessica Andersen's Blood Spells. Both were totally worth it & I highly recommend them.

And I think it's so funny that you laughed hard enough to disturb your fellow passengers while reading Money, Honey! People have told me they thought it was funny but I don't think I'm a funny writer. When I try to be funny, I'm totally not. So I'm not trying, which means I'm just writing along and people appear to be laughing. Which gives me pause.

I try not to think about it. :-)

Your latest has just reached the top of my TBR pile, however, & I'm a little wary. Are you going to scare me, Jeanne? This wimpy heart of mine can only take so much dark, deadly, dangerous. I'll check back in on Monday to let you know if I was able to sleep at all.

hrdwrkdmom aka Dianna said...

Many, many times over the years I have gone to work bleary eyed and with my thoughts on the book that made me that way. I have so many auto buys now I have a hard time keeping up, and there are so many new to me authors that I am like a kid in a candy store.
All of the Banditas are an auto buy, Mary Balogh, Stephanie Laurens, Nora Roberts, Victoria Alexander, J.R.Ward, Hannah Howell and Kat Marting just to name a very few.

The last book to keep me up was the end of Nora Roberts bride series. I had waited a long time for Parker's story.

Janga said...

I remember staying awake all night to finish Mary Jo Putney's The Spiral Path and teaching an 8 o'clock class the following morning. I stay awake until the wee hours fairly often, but I rarely skip sleep completely to finish a book.

My autobuy list is too long to reproduce. I add new authors nearly every year and mourn those I delete from the list because they are no longer writing--writers like Kathleen Gilles Seidel, Julia Ross, Judith Ivory . . . And I stayed up way too late last night reading Happy Ever After, the last of Nora Roberts's Wedding Quartet books.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hey everyone, checking in really quick between meeting points to say hi. I see everyone is tawking...grins.

Susan, I can't promise you I won't be a littttttle bit scary, but it's mostly action rather than murder and mayhem this time...

I don't know though, I don't have much perspective on it. Someone else who's read Deadly Little Secrets can give you a more accurate assessment.

grins.

Cassondra said...

OMG. This could have been written about me.

I stay up all night with almost every book--as long as it holds my attention.

And then?

And then I suffer.

catslady said...

I have a horrible time turning the light off late at night lol. I try to end at a chapter but too many leave you hanging. If I can close it easily, it's not very good lol.

Cassondra said...

Helen said:

I gotta say I have stayed up late many a night reading and burnt the dinner while cooking and reading at the same time LOL.

Helen I have cookware that I love, and it never sticks. The only time I've ever stuck food to the bottoms of this cookware was...........when I was reading. :0/

Cassondra said...

catslady said:

I have a horrible time turning the light off late at night lol. I try to end at a chapter but too many leave you hanging. If I can close it easily, it's not very good lol.

Darn those writers who leave you hanging at the ends of chapters so you have to start the next one! Darn them!

Oh..uh...yes, I try to do it too. *looks sheepish*

Cassondra said...

In answer to Deb Marlow, Jeanne said:

I just got the Potato Peel Society not too long ago. Inherited it from a friend and want to read it. I've heard many good things about it.

I want to read that. That's such a great title. I keep forgetting to order it when I'm at the store. *goes to write it down and hopes she doesn't lose the note*

Cassondra said...

Sheree said:

I also have no problems stopping in the middle of an e-book because I have to read it on my laptop and it's too unwieldy to read in bed anyway.

See? I'm not going near e-books until I get an e-reader. I'm on my laptop all day long. When I go to relax, I'm not lugging this thing along.

Terri Osburn said...

Nora has kept me up many a nights beyond my bedtime. Right now I'm reading VENUS IN BLUE JEANS by Meg Benjamin and it is SO GOOD. She has a series out with Samhain right now and I'm so happy I can sail right into the next two or three books after this one. Highly recommend. Very Crusie-esque, which from me is the highest of compliments.

I read Susan's MONEY HONEY on the plane to Nationals this past summer and I know I kept making snorting noises. The other passengers just had to deal with it. LOL!

Cassondra said...

Jeanne said:

I'll blow through a fabulous book, then get up the next day, groggy and cranky, and read it again, so I'll get the bits I missed in my haste.

OH...I do this. The first time I read Ain't She Sweet I did this, then I read it AGAIN the next day. Three times straight through. I've done that with a Suz Brockmann book too. Those are the only ones I've ever read through three times straight.

Anna Sugden said...

LOL - been victim to that myself a few times lately. Your own recent Deadly Little Secrets for one!

There are quite a few authors who force me to read more than I intended - Banditas aside - JD Robb, Karen Rose, Lisa Gardner, Jess Andersen, Lorraine Heath, Liz Carlyle, SEP, PC Cast (Goddess Summoning, Maggie Shayne (RS's), CS Harris, Susan Mallery, Maureen Child/Kathleen Kane, Dee Davis, Cathy Mann, Deirdre Martin, Kate Angell, Dee Davis ... oh man the list goes on and on.

Cassondra said...

And speaking of staying up late, I got up to go to the bathroom last night, and squinted through the glare at the living room light still on. A meek little, "Am I keeping you up?" came from the general direction of the couch. (I can't see without my contacts so couldn't tell what was going on until I heard the voice.) Steve was still up, reading the last book in Stieg Larson's series. He read it all in one day. Now he can tell me if it was as awesome as I think it is, so I can read it. (He previews books so I know they won't break my heart before I invest in a trilogy.)

Nancy said...

Jeanne, the list of authors who keep me up late is too long to put here. Most recently, Jessica Andersen kept me up far too late with Blood Spells.

Nora has a way of doing that. The Sign of 7 trilogy, which I read just before National last summer, had me staying up late because the pages kept turning and then antsy about going to sleep because it was so scary in places.

BTW, we who hate meetings salute those of you who soldier on for the RWA Board.

Nancy said...

Christine--C.S. Harris, definitely. You and Fo put me onto Sebastian St. Cyr. I sometimes appreciate that and would sometimes like to throttle you for it when I can't stop reading. *g*

Nancy said...

Deb, I missed Her Cinderella Seasonw when it came out but have now scored a copy and am looking forward to reading it.

Nancy said...

Fedora, I just don't start Bandita books late in the day. Too risky in the sleep department.

Nancy said...

Terri, doesn't Susan have a great voice? I laughed just from reaidng her webpage excerpt.

Nancy said...

Susan wrote: Are you going to scare me, Jeanne? This wimpy heart of mine can only take so much dark, deadly, dangerous.

Jeanne wrote: Someone else who's read Deadly Little Secrets can give you a more accurate assessment.

Raising hand here to volunteer. I thought DLS had fewer outbreaks of mayhem but steadily rising tension. Still plenty of action but fewer high explosives. Does that help?

Hellie Sinclair said...

I'm always skipping something to read. *LOL*

Lately I've been kept up late with Kieran Kramer, Sarah Maclean, and Monica McCarty--all relatively new to me.

Oddly there was a non-fictional memoir called The Dirty Life by Kristin Kimball which was HILARIOUS and also sad and marveling in its intensity. I want to read it again actually.

And I loved staying up late and reading all weekend (or about a day and a half tops usually) the Harry Potter new releases when they came out. I got addicted late, but for books 5, 6, & 7 I was on pins and needles waiting for them to releases, then on pins and needles trying to read them as fast as possible. I would take time off work if necessary to finish the book. It was nuts.

Louisa Cornell said...

Oh Daz, you can't go back to work and leave the GR to his own devices. What mayhem would ensue!

How funny that you should write this, my fellow Duchesse! I sat up last night until two reading Mary Balogh's A Christmas Promise. I always drag out all of my Christmas historical romances this time of year to help get me in the Christmas Spirit - the REAL Christmas Spirit, not the commercial lunacy where I work.

Glad I was off today!

Of course anything by Mary Balogh is an auto-buy for me. As is anything by a Bandita. Soon you'll have your own Bandita Bookshelf !

Lorraine Heath, Suzanne Enoch, Karen Hawkins, Mary Jo Putney, Madeline Hunter, Sabrina Jeffries, Stephanie Laurens, Diane Gaston, Nicola Cornick. Shall I go on?

Oh and I just got Sarah MacLean's latest Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord.

And yes, we must all beat La Campbell for getting us hooked on the Sebastian St. Cyr series.

Funniest story from RWA Conference in Orlando. One of the girls in my hometown writing group had never read Anna Campbell. She got one at one of the book signings and started it that night after we got back to our room. We had a suite with two more of the girls in our group with a parlor in the middle. The three of us were sitting in the parlor and she was in our room reading. It was LATE, LATE, LATE at night. And she had wanted to go to bed. Suddenly from our room we heard "Damn that Anna Campbell!" Seems she couldn't put the book down! We cracked up!

Nancy said...

Louisa wrote: Suddenly from our room we heard "Damn that Anna Campbell!" Seems she couldn't put the book down! We cracked up!

LOL! I know the feeling well, Louisa.

Nancy said...

MsHellion, we read all the Potter stories aloud as a family. When the last one came out, the boy asked that we read it together, even though he had dispensed with bedtime stories long since.

We were about 200 pages from the end when he and his dad went out on an errand one Sunday afternoon.

They left me ALONE with it. And I couldn't resist. *sigh* Clearly it was all their fault.

Looking forward to the 19th? Are you going to a midnight show? We thought about it but haven't decided yet.

Hellie Sinclair said...

*grins* Well, I wasn't quick enough to get a ticket to a MIDNIGHT show. I have a ticket to a 1:15 AM show. Being I don't typically stay up that late anymore, and the movie ends around 4 am (a time of day I'm never up either coming or going), I imagine Friday is going to be interesting to recover from. But I'm VERY excited. *LOL*

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hey everyone! :>

Nancy, you said: BTW, we who hate meetings salute those of you who soldier on for the RWA Board.

Heehee. Well, it's been really productive, so it's worth it. Grins.

Wow, some cool books on the lists here!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Louisa said: And she had wanted to go to bed. Suddenly from our room we heard "Damn that Anna Campbell!" Seems she couldn't put the book down! We cracked up!

Ha! I knew I wasn't the only one, but it's kinda nice to hear it. Grins.

Kate Carlisle said...

Ah yes, Louisa ..."Damn that Anna Campbell" is heard on a regular basis throughout the Lair! Snork!

Jeanne, great post--and thanks for including me in that list of illustrious authors! I agree with so many of the names on your list. My latest late night obsessions were Susan Mallery's FINDING PERFECT and Laura Wright's ETERNAL HUNGER. I just couldn't go to sleep until I read to the very end of both of those. Loved 'em!

Others have mentioned my faves, Nora, SEP, Julie Garwood, Lisa Kleypas. Those and the Banditas books and so many more -- they all keep me reading into the wee hours.

Daz, congrats--I think! I hope you're sipping some of that beer and not just wasting it all on the Golden One!

pjpuppymom said...

Louisa said, It was LATE, LATE, LATE at night. And she had wanted to go to bed. Suddenly from our room we heard "Damn that Anna Campbell!" Seems she couldn't put the book down! We cracked up!

ROFL! Yeah, Anna's books have that effect on a lot of us!

Nancy said...

MsHellion, a 1:15 show? I know I couldn't do that. Although maybe being jazzed about it acts like an upper. Let us know how it works out.

Fedora said...

Susan, I kept making snorting sounds while reading Money, Honey, too--my kids demanded to know what was so funny. I had to read some bits aloud to them, but I know I didn't do it justice!

Nancy said...

Fedora, I'm glad somebody else does that read-aloud-to-the-family thing.

LilMissMolly said...

A few of Nora's have also kept me up late - the Key Trilogy and the Ardmore series - but that's about it. Julie Garwood's historical books usually do it for me. I don't think I've read any of hers that didn't make me stay up past my bed-time. ;)

Fedora said...

LOL, Nancy! I admit that sometimes I insist on reading aloud to them even when they DON'T request it... I'm not sure they always appreciate it ;)