Favorite Books to Read
Is it just me or are the weeks (years) flying by? It’s week 25 and we’re off to another week of the 52 Week Blog Challenge Blog Hop.
There must be something wrong with me, or I’m trying to be too analytical when it comes to figuring out these topics. Does this mean what books I read over and over? Favorite books from my past? Favorite books I’d recommend? I have many favorites.
I prefer to read romance, but it isn’t the only thing I read. What’s wrong with a Happily-Ever-After? ❤ ❤
As a teenager, I read historical romance—my favorites then. I got hooked on Rosemary Rogers and Kathleen E. Woodiwiss.
Some old favorites from long ago written by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss:
- The Flame and the Flower
- The Wolf and the Dove
- Ashes in the Wind
- A Rose in the Winter.
The list goes on.
Some of my favorite books were written by Nora Roberts. Other favorites are written by John Grisham. Oh, I read a lot of self-published books in different genres by Indie authors I’ve connected with online or have come across. Many are favorites.
I don’t write erotic romance but I read it sometimes. One of my favorites was purchased by the cover alone while browsing books at Barnes and Noble. It’s called Submission by Cherie Feather. OMG. Today I might not think of it as a favorite. My reading style seems to change over the years. I should reread it to find out. 🙂 Another old favorite paranormal author is Christine Feehan. I say old favorite because I haven’t read anything by her for years because I can’t get back into paranormal.
My favorite New Adult book is Easy by Tammara Webber.
Today, my favorite western romance authors include Linda Lael Miller and Delores 
Fossen to name a few. When Delores friended me on Facebook, I about jumped over the moon. A favorite by her is Wrangled, but I have a long list of books yet to read. Louis L’Amour and Craig Johnson are favorite western authors. If Craig’s name is familiar, he wrote the Longmire books. (Longmire used to be a TV show, but is now on Netflix with the final season coming in September 2017.)
I can’t say I have one favorite by Linda because many of them turn out to be my favorite after reading. I’m reading book #1 in a new series right now. I’m inspired by reading Linda’s westerns because it puts me in the mood to write my own stories. Does that make sense?
It’s difficult for me to read, even a favorite book, without my muse, or characters, drawing me back to them. They’re a selfish lot, I suppose, because they want my attention. This prevents me from sitting down to relax and get lost in a story for long. Once I am lost in the western environment—an environment I love— I’m reminded that I have a book needing attention in the same environment. So, if I have to answer the question about favorite books, I’ve proven to myself that my favorite books are contemporary western romance.
I have favorite non-fiction books too:
- God’s Strength for This Day by Lloyd John Ogilvie
- Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing written by Mignon Fogarty
- The Emotion Thesaurus Series by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi
- Let’s Get Visible by David Gaughran
- Women Who Kept the Lights- An Illustrated History of Female Lighthouse Keepers by Mary Louise Clifford and J. Candace Clifford. (I’m from the state with the most lighthouses. How can I not be interested in them? I love lighthouses!)
- All my photography books are my favorites. (My hobby)
And last but not least, my own books are on my favorites list, too. Please don’t think less of me for admitting it.
I appreciate you taking the time to read.
You can visit the other participating authors by clicking BLOG HOP. We’re all romance writers in many different genres. I’m curious as to what favorite books we might have in common. ❤
Week 25 – MFRW 52-week Blog Challenge Participants
Books & Kindle image credit: Pixabay
Disclaimer: I don’t get any compensation for mentioning Kindle. I also read on iPad, and I don’t have any compensation for mentioning iPad, either.
Mary J. McCoy-Dressel 
29 thoughts on “#MFRWauthor ~A Reading Writer~ Week 25 Blog Challenge #AmWriting”
Meka James
I’ve read The Flame and The Flower. And I’ve read a few by Christine Freehan. I’m not that into paranormal anymore either and for a while some of her books started falling into a pattern. Not sure if that’s changed now since I’ve not read one in a few years.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Hi, Meka. When I ate up everything Christine Feehan wrote, I loved the books. I don’t remember why I stopped reading her, other than I no longer found interest. Hah, I wrote paranormal romance once–time-travel, and still have a vampire book on the back burner so far I’ll never find it–on purpose, and a very short ghost story based on true events. 🙂 Thanks for visiting.
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alinakfield
The book about lighthouse keepers sounds fascinating.
And can I say–I’ve never read Woodiwiss. It’s an omission I need to correct! Great post and great list!
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Thank you, Alina. Women who kept the lights were often women who took over the job when their husbands died. I’ve read a lot about women light keepers. I hope you like Kathleen Woodiwiss if you read her. Romance novels were a little different back then, but I loved them. ☺️
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storimom2
The first ever romance book I read was The Flame and the Flower:) I also love Ashes in the Wind, Shanna (though I never understood how she could fall asleep so quickly!), and The Wolf and the Dove.
Kenzie Michaels
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
I don’t remember the falling asleep parts, Kenzie. I’ll have to revisit the book. It won’t be a problem to revisit! 🙂 Thanks for reading.
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catherinewolffe53
My most favorite romance author is Kathleen Woodiwiss. I’ve read all her books and have multiple copies of most. Being from Louisiana, might be the reason my all time favorite is Ashes in the Wind. She lived not an hour’s drive from my hometown. But, her books were just the beginning. I could go on but there wouldn’t be room left to tell you how much I enjoyed you post. Isn’t it nice to find so much enjoyment in reading and sharing the love of reading with those who ‘get it’? Thanks for sharing, Mary.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Glad you liked the post, Catherine. Yes, it’s nice to find enjoyment in reading. What an escape. It was easy to love Kathleen’s books. I’ve read them all too. I remember how sad I was when I learned she’d passed away.
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catherinewolffe53
I was too. Like losing a dear friend.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
It was, and I didn’t believe it until I went to her website. Her books live on. I could be so lucky.
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Cathy Brockman
I happen to love westerns as well. It’s one of my favorite sub genres.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
You’re my kind of girl, Cathy! 🙂 I don’t know what it is about a cowboy, but I want to keep figuring it out. ❤ Well, that isn't true… I DO know what it is about a cowboy… EVERYTHING! I'm glad you stopped by. I'm slowly making my rounds.
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Cathy Brockman
Cowboys are freaking hot lol
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
You’re 110% right, Cathy! 🤠💖 ‼️
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davidprosser
I think the fact we’re authors is down to the fact that we’re readers first. Like any good reader you’ve varied your genre and found favourite authors but don’t necessarily write like them. I’m a fan of the Brother Cadfael stories by Ellis Peters but couldn’t write like her for toffee.
Have a wonderful weekend
xxx Hugs Galore xxx
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
David, sometimes reading in a different genre allows me to read with enjoyment instead of looking at the mechanics of the book in my genre. Yes, I do that sometimes. I believe in happily-ever-after, and that’s why I love writing about it, but I never said writing romance was easy to write. Fun and exciting? YES! ❤ Thank you for reading. Enjoy your weekend. Hugs!
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apuginthekitchen
I love a happy ending, whatever happens in the beginning and middle is forgotten when the ending is positive. Have you ever finished a book or movie with a bad ending? For me it leaves a sour taste and it’s downright distasteful. Lots of good recommendations Mary, hope you have a great weekend with a good book or three!!
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Hi, Suzanne, Yes, I’ve finished books and movies with bad/sad endings. Needless to say, I was devastated. I stopped reading a couple authors because I can’t take the chance of finding the same kind of ending. I need a happy ending even if it’s “happy for now.” Thanks for your comment. Have a great weekend, yourself.
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Teagan Geneviene
This makes for a wonderful reading list too, Mary.
I only want to read happy endings. 🙂 Life is full of the other kind, so when I read, I want happy. I’m just unsophisticated that way. 😉 Hugs.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Oh, me too, Teagan. That’s why I quit reading one author, though I do have some favs by him.
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Ed Hoornaert
Wow. You listed a veritable cornucopia of books — not one of which I’ve read, I’m sorry to say.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
LOL, that’s a good way to put it, Ed. I’m not surprised you haven’t read any of them. I have a weird assortment. I’m that way with music too. Country is at the top of my list, but you’ll also find a favorite Italian tenor sneaking in sometimes.
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D. Wallace Peach
Reading is such a pleasure and privilege, Mary. I try to read in my genre too, partly because I enjoy it, but also because I get such inspiration. Like you, my mind starts running back to my stories and characters and new ideas take form. Happy Reading!
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Reading truly is, Diana. I worry about my eyes as a reader and writer and how I’d cope without eyesight. I have moderate macular degeneration and dry eyes. Scary. Happy reading to you too. Enjoy your weekend.
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D. Wallace Peach
I worry about the same, Mary. My family has a history of macular degeneration. Take good care of your eyes. ❤
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
You, too, Diana.
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Helen Henderson
I think I’ve read some of L’Amour more than a dozen times. Found a couple of new authors to check out.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
I tried leaving a reply on your blog, Helen, but it wouldn’t take my Open ID login or WordPress. I mentioned that I love reading Louie L’Amour books, too, and liked your list of books mentioned. Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy your weekend.
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