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I go through the exact same emotional attachments when I write. *whew* It’s nice to know it’s not uncommon among those who write.

At least now I know I’m not insane. Or at the very least I can validate my insanity

And I love rereading the books on my favorite list. As for my favorite highland hero...hmmmmm...that’s hard to say. I’ll have to stew about that one for a while

*makes a note to pick up books on the way home from work* Is it bad that I live 2 minutes away from a Books a million AND a small used bookstore.

I think not :D

I will definitely be picking up these two!  Thanks for the heads up, Teresa!  (((hugs)))

My “old friends” are always the Harry Potter books.  I’m just always entertained by them and Harry almost feels like my own kid.  I just ache for him and all that he goes through.  I know..sounds wierd!!

As for Highland Heroes....Jamie Frasier bar none!!  Those Outlander books are another set that I read over and over again.  They kinda make ya wish you could travel in time (but only if I could bring him back with me!). I always cry when I read them so I don’t know why I re-read them.  I know what is going to happen and I still cry!

HIGHLAND ROGUE by Arnette Lamb.
Lachlan claims five little orphans of the elite as his own. Juliet is the aunt of one of the girls and is searching for the girl and agrees to be the governess/tutor for the girls.

Wonderful, wonderful.
I miss Arnette Lamb.

I have read several of Nora Roberts trilogies one right after the other and when you have been with these families for three or four books, it is so hard to let them go.  I find myself really depressed once I finish the last one and I have to say goodbye to them.

I haven’t read a good story about a hot highlander in a long time.  I guess that means I’ll just have to pick up this re-release doesn’t it?  *sigh* The life of a reader is so hard.....*g*

brownone-

I looooove the Harry Potter books. I went a long time without reading them because I thought that they were just children’s books, but then my older brother shoved his copy at me and demanded I read it. I ended up completely falling in love with the entire world she created. I think that I’ve grown quit attached to all the characters. I’ll be so sad after finishing the last book!!

(though I totally see myself read all 7 straight through when I get my hands on that last book!)

I agree with brownone...Jamie Frasier/Outlander series.  Sexy and HOT in every appearance.

I love Highlander books by Lynsay Sands, Hannah Howell, Margaret Moore, Sue Ellen Welfonder, Lois Greiman and Terri Brisbin.

Jamie Fraser is THE reason I fell in love with Scotland Highlanders!  If he walked through my door I would gladly walk away with him..husband and children not withstanding. I read those books over and over again.

Teresa...I am definitely going to try out your books...I’ve loved every single book I have read by you. I have not been able to read too many of your older books and am slowly getting them together. You never dissappoint so I don’t have to worry about not liking them. Can’t wait to read these!

Yes I have “lived” books before.  I do that often.  I believe that’s part of the joy of reading. 

I also reread books now and then.  Mostly because I loved the story so much I want to revisit it and other times because I had too many distractions the first time through to enjoy it.

I have a confession to make before I close.  I lived WHISPER OF ROSES so much so that at one point I was ready to throw the book across the room never to be read again and send Teresa an email saying, “How could you!” Luckily, rather than throw the book and rant I kept on reading, got my HEA, and didn’t make a poo-head out of myself with one of my favorite authors.  In the end WOR made me even more of a Teresa Medeiros fan-girl than I already was! 

Jamie Frasier, hands down!  Jamie and Claire are so real to me . . . I have a very hard time disengaging from reading their books.  When I finished the series the first time, I started over again because I couldn’t let go.

I have to say Harry Potter too.  I was one of the many depressed folks at the end of book 6 . . . wanting the end of the story.

I am usually fairly obsessed with characters because that’s the kind of imagination I have, but sometimes it’s worse .  I just reread Eloisa’s Essex sisters quartet of books and had a very hard time letting go at the end.  I reread the last part of both TOAD and PFP and the extra chapter on Eloisa’s website and just wanted to know things:  like why was baby Cecily three years in the making (since it seemed pretty obvious there was no birth control being used with the unexpected wedding - not that they couldn’t have started) and why hadn’t Mayne told Josie he loved her (and when would he have if there hadn’t been the crisis) and . . . (sorry, I ramble).

I was just as obsessed at the end of TVWLM, Teresa. 

BTW, Teresa, in that second picture on your blog, the poor Hero has shrunk his plaid.  That’s the tiniest kilt I’ve ever seen

My verification is large87 - hmmm (thinking of the Large Hero with the tiny kilt).

Lynn

Yes, I am a chronic re-reader, and although I love love love the heroes, it’s usually the heroines I want to revisit. They really are people I want as friends! They’re spunky and smart and funny. What’s not to love?

And (OK, this might make me a sick, weird person) sometimes I’ll skip to the gut-twisting part—you know, where the hero does something so hurtful, the heroine has a painful revelation or something awful happens—and I’ll sort of re-experience that pain, then keep reading until I get to the happy part where the hero asks forgiveness and professes undying luurrve. It’s very cathartic.

And I agree with terrio, it’s hard to let go of characters you’ve come to know and love. I think that’s why romance readers love series so much. We get to revisit—and in a way, reread—the books and characters we loved so much the first time around, find out how they’ve fared since we last saw them, and then watch as the next member of the family falls in love!

Terrri, hon, our friendship isn’t THAT old. You remember (don’t you?) we met on the Levy tour. I helped you totter that last step off the bus then sprinted to get you a cool water? That was only ten years ago but then, they do say that time excelerates as you… ripen.

I have to admit, there’s a couple heroes I’ve written that I really wish I could go back and spend more time with, too. Maybe we should get together and write an anthology entitled “The Next Gen: Stories of our favorite characters’ progeny”

Ann in Il, Yes, losing Arnette Lamb was a great loss to the romance community, as both a writer and a friend.

And yes, Jamie Fraser and Harry Potter--two heroes I never mind revisiting!  I really want to re-read all of the HARRY POTTER books before the last one comes out. 

Thanks Andrea and Michelle!  I hope you enjoy the new/old ones

And Rhonda, I’m so glad you didn’t throw the book.  No matter what I may put my poor heroes and heroines through, you know I’m always good for a HEA!

Hey knitterlyn, that was the original stepback art for the ‘93 edition of A WHISPER OF ROSES.  Gotta love that mini-plaid, don’t you?  I always referred to the male model as “Not-Fabio” because he was...well...not Fabio.  I thought the most fun thing about that stepback was that it put Sabrina in the dominant position, something you rarely saw on romance covers

That’s right, Connie!  I remember now!  I’ve never seen anybody “sprint” so fast with a walker!

*swooning* Undoubtedly this is my all time favorite Highlander book.  Though I do re-read Julie Garwood’s Scottish books a lot too, but I never feel quite as emotional as Teresa makes me feel, dragging me to the edge--in her Last of the Mohicans fashion (I can totally hear the music!)--and leaving me to scream “NO!” as she totally breaks my heart into a million pieces.

Reissue!  How wonderful!  I think I’ll have to buy another extra copy--and maybe try to get my friend to read it.  She finally got into romances--via Harry Potter (strange huh?).  I would love to have her fall for Morgan too.

I can re-read Harry Potter frequently--so it’s the same for me.  Fall in love with the characters the whole time.

By the way, if you haven’t read Whisper of Roses--the “scene” with Enid and Ranald is worth the price of this book.  I die laughing every time I read it--and I know what’s going to happen.  I can practically quote the darned thing!

Characters you can’t let go of? Definitely Josie. I’m pretty sure Eloisa got quite a few emails from me saying I missed her *g*

Samantha Taggert from Sweet Liar.

Is there ANYone who doesn’t lust for Jamie Fraser? I think not. That right there is yum in a kilt.

I also really love Janet Chapman’s Highlanders.

And my all time favorite highlander. THE Highlander. Duncan MacLeod from the clan MacLeod. *swoon* Teresa, we need a picture!

My first initiation into historical romance was with Julie Garwood’s THE BRIDE, and SAVING GRACE. And I was hooked.  Then I went on to LADY OF CONQUEST....and oh that was probably about two-three hundred books ago.

I think all the highlanders are special because they are so fierce, yet can be gentle.  When you write a book set the twelfth century, it needs to be pretty rugged and I like that.

Off topic:  MsHellion, I was reading ONCE UPON A PILLOW last night and the heroine of the second story’s name is Helwin, and the hero called her Hellion.  I was wondering, is that where you got your screen name?

Prudence

Ummm Teresa.... funny you should ask that question… I know you are all sick of me saying this but… YOURS UNTIL DAWN by Teresa herself...... was the most “real” as if these people were walking around the streets today and Samantha was sitting at my kitchen table. So I gush about that one all the time as one of my all time favorites ...had me cheering for Samantha and at the end picturing everyone taking a bow because it was so so so so perfect!

My favorite Highland heroes are all of Julie Garwood’s… ;O). And Karen Hawkins’ heroes.

Prudence--no. I think I sorta commandeered it from a Catherine Coulter novel: The Hellion Bride.  Which I think was before the Pillow book.  I’ve been a hellion for about 10 years at least.  Or maybe a good dozen.  The definition always cracks me up:  a mischievous rowdy person.  Then it has my name right after it.

Well definitely Morgan is my favorite Highlander. I love the scene where Sabrina goes down to the dungeon to see him and he admits that his clan is basically broken-down and pathetic. Somehow that makes him even more of a hero.

Braveheart isn’t bad either, although I doubt he looked like a chiseled Mel Gibson in real life. But...you gotta love a guy that would have his entrails cut out for the sake of his country’s freedom

Oh, dear. The two whippersnappers are fighting again.

And so are Teresa and Connie.

BTW, Teresa, in a choice between raving lunatic and incurable egoist, with you, egoist is always going to win.

I’m so glad they’re re-releasing these—these books are two of your best. But then ... you knew that.

Ooooo...looks like I’ll be going by the book store. i love that price, it makes it very easy to pick one up for a friend and introduce them to an author or romance in general.

Characters that have become real to me? Ash Merrick from Connie’s McClarien’s Isle. I’ve had a crush on him since i first picked up that book. I call him my “fictional boyfriend” and if that’s not crazy i don’t know what is. My husband doesn’t mind. He says I can have as many ‘fictional” boyfriends as I want as long as he gets to watch as many Shania Twain videos as he wants. I think its a fair deal.

Favorite highlanders? All the heroes from Karen Marie Moning’s series...mmmmmm

I love books that you can lose yourself in and I love medieval books, esp the ones set in Scotland.

Prudence, my first re-introductory book back into romance was Julie Garwood’s ‘The Bride’.  I have to say I read that book and haven’t looked back.  Alec Kincaid will always hold a special place in my heart.  *sigh*

Kinley MacGregor’s Highlander books are SO good also.  Those MacAllister men are something else.  I have to admit, Ewan MacAllister is my favorite.  A tortured Highland Scot in a kilt, who could ask for more? 

Teresa, I have not read ‘Whisper of Roses’ I’m sorry to say. *hanging head in shame* You can be sure I’ll be heading out to get a copy of that and of ‘Thief of Hearts’.  I mean, can you really have too many hunky Scottish men in kilts running around?!? 

--dorothy

I am a champion rereader, and yes, rereading does feel like visiting old friends. In fact, many of my fictional friendships have longer histories than my real ones.

When I think of Scottish tales, I always think first of Patricia Veryan’s books, Dedicated Villain in particular. I love Connie’s McClairen Isle books too, and The Bride and the Beast, Teresa, is another favorite.

Terri - Two books (series) really jumped out to me immediately as I read your blog. First is the Black Dagger Brotherhood. I literally wept at the end of Lover Awakened (Z’s book). Not for Z but for Tohr.

I also was very involved in Elizabeth Vaughan’s last book, Warsworn. I remember clearly sobbing on the Metro ride home.

I also tend to get very wrapped up in TV shows. I remember being pissed at Meredith Grey for weeks after she slept with George on last season’s Grey’s Anatomy.

I’m a dork, I know it.

Oo, MaryKate, are we going to make you happy!

In March, we have JR Ward AND Elizabeth Vaughan blogging with us!

And, not to brag, I’ve read Elizabeth Vaughan’s arc—it is a wonderful wrap-up to the series! and JR Ward just sent me a copy of her arc. I told her not to, I’m finishing a book and I don’t have time to read and I knew it would be irresistable temptation, but she did it anyway.

So Scott offered to hide it from me.

He’s getting out of the hospital next week and they say in two to three months he’ll be back to his old self.

I was first introduced to Julie Garwood books in eighth grade.  At first, I thought my mom was crazy for getting me a romance novel.  Then I fell in love with the characters!  “The Bride” & “The Wedding” are two of my favorites.

Teresa, I have to agree with Laura T about the “Yours Until Dawn” characters.  I finished a Shannon Drake & your new sequel, but I couldn’t get the other book out of my head. Never have two protagonists seemed so realistic with their flaws, yet it was impossible to not like them.
If any characters could be brought to life, I’d pick Samantha & Gabriel.

I am embarrassed to say how many times I have read Devil in Winter and Where Dreams Begin. 

It’s kind of like standing in front of an open refrigerator door looking for something to eat.  The refrigerator may be full of good nutritious food but you still let out the moan “there is nothing to eat in this house” because what you really want is chocolate.  Devil in Winter and Where Dreams Begin are my chocolates. 

If I look at my TBR pile and I’m just not seeing anything that is drawing me I reach for DIW or WDB.  They never fail to make me sigh.

Highlanders - Jamie definitely, Karen Marie Moning’s definitely though lately I have developed a taste for Vikings.

Teresa, is there any room left in the asylum for me? I love reading and re-reading...and re-reading again.  I just ‘revisited’ Lisa’s Wallflowers last night, and the Essex sisters just the night before.  And I’m sure I should get some imagination miles credited for being a frequent Pemberley visitor. As much as I love picking up a good new book, an old favorite is always welcome.

Oh, and Prudence and AnneriAilin, Julie Garwood’s “The Bride” was also my first step into the romance genre!  I’ve since read through ALL of her Highlander books… I think Brodick Buchanan from “Ransom” and Gabriel MacBain from “Saving Grace” are my absolute favorite Highlanders.

Christina said: “And, not to brag...”

Oh, sure, it’s bragging, but believe me you, if I had the ARCs I’d be bragging to death too! ;oP

I don’t even know how you can concentrate with LOVER REVEALED in your house! I’m desperate for the next book, and March 6th seems as far away as ever!

I’m glad to here WARLORD wraps the trilogy up well. I’ve genuinely enjoyed every single moment of the series, and re-read the books regularly.

Both of those recommendations came from you, Christina, so thanks so much!

I almost never reread a book but I’ve dug out my copy of WHISPER OF ROSES and I’m now rereading it instead of working.  To all of you out there who haven’t read it, run to the nearest bookstore.

I have to get back to my book, um, I mean work.

What is up with the Scottish thing? I can’t get enough of them!!
I swear, I’ve read Morgan’s story (yea! Teresa) so much!
-I was obsessed with the MacKeltar twins from Karen Monings books, Lord, the scene w/Drustan and Gwen in the stone circle..(ahem)
-Thanks, too for the amazon links..so easy!
Can’t wait for JR Wards new book..great series, which I found thanks to this site!!

Aw thank you Ms. Hellion!  Maybe you can come to my house and recite the Enid and Ranald scene for me someday!  It’s been so long since I wrote it that I can’t even recite it by heart. 

Laura T, yes Gabriel in YOURS UNTIL DAWN remains one of my favorite swoonworthy heroes.  I had a hard time starting my next book because I was still aching a little for him...sigh… It means the world to me that he and Samantha “came to life” for you too. 

Miss_Annalee, there’s always rooms for another lunatic!  The more the merrier, that’s what I say!

Carolyn, I’m having the same problem today.  I need to be working but I’m also reading the ARC for Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ new book NATURAL BORN CHARMER for this Saturday’s book blog and I’m dying to get back to it!

Oh Christina, I didn’t realize you had an illness in your household.  I wish him a speedy recovery.  My hubby had major surgery in July and we went thru a 4 month recovery.....Everyone knew he was getting better when I kept complaining what an irritant he was becoming.  Best wishes from SC. 

Thank you too Coraloc! 

Was just pondering philosophical question of how we too, as posters on this board, become “real” to each other after awhile instead of just being photos and cardboard characters.  (Of course--some of us are more characters than others, right Xtina?)

Prudence, I’m awfully sorry about your husband, I can’t imagine how miserable it must be to have a husband recovering from a surgery for four months ... but that was a joke on my part. Obviously not a very funny one, but a joke.

See, Scott offered to hide the arc from me and I hurt him. Only I didn’t really because a) I love him and b) he’s 6 feet tall, big-boned, and builds the stone walls around our house which makes his chest and thighs the inspiration for many of my heroes. If he’s being a jackass (he’s a guy, what can I say?) I’ve been known to punch him. He thinks it’s funny.

Christina, Marykate, you have made my day!  Thank you so much for your comments.  I look forward to blogging with you all in March!

Beth
aka Elizabeth Vaughan

Obviously I’m not too bright today.....   Maybe I should get away from these darn databases and all these spreadsheets and take a walk a along the water. 

(And I love my hubby too, although he wouldn’t make for inspiration for a romance novel.  I’m not being mean, he’d tell you that himself.)

Can I say, so not fair!  I am at work without a book (except for the Atkins Diet Revolution) . . . I was going to be good and not sneak any reading in today and do my work instead.  BUT you guys are talking about so many books I love - Karen Marie Moning, Julie Garwood, Teresa’s books, Lisa’s books, Gabaldon (although I don’t need to dive in there right now), plus I need to figure out which books are in the most recent SEP series so I can be ready for her newest book . . .

This is torture - well, sort of.

Lynn

OH, and Elizabeth Vaughn’s series too.  Between today’s blog and yesterday’s blog, I’m going to have a huge list of books to buy and borrow.  Plus I want to read Stephanie Lauren’s Cynsters again in preparation for an end of February new book in the series.

No wonder the housework never gets done.

The two books that made me become a romance reader (and lover!) were Julie Garwood’s The Secret and Julia Quinn’s Dancing at Midnight.  I see those characters as family and I love to reread them.

I tend to make these kinds of connections to books that have some humor to them.  I feel like the Bridgertons are family and the Wallflowers are my girlfriends.

Cheers!

My favorite Highlander? Hamish Macbeth of course....

I hated coming to the end of After Midnight. I am so in love with that book, Teresa! All of the characters were so beautifully written.

A few Characters that feel like family..

Captain Mackenzie Calhoun and his crew. (Star Trek NF)

Stephanie Plum and friends.

Harry Potter and the gang.

Odd Thomas- Dean Koontz I cried at the end of this book. Koontz shouldn’t make you cry.

I can’t remember the names, but the couple from the Time Travelers Wife. I think I went through a mourning period when I finished this book. I didn’t want to read anything else for days.

Teresa - Whisper of Roses sounds amazing (I’m so hoping it [and Thief of Hearts] gets released in NZ).

Christina - I hope your husband is feeling heaps better soon, although I can’t believe you got him to hide the WARDen’s new ARC! Are you mad? How can you resist - you must have a lot of self control Ohhhh, the WARDen and Elizabeth Vaughan are here in March - YAH! I so can’t wait for both their books! ANd Nalini Singh’s second book is out then too - roll on March

Hmmm, as for Highlanders, I have to agree - Kinley MacGregor’s MacAllisters...especially Sin *SIGH* I have read the first Diana Gabaldon book, so I will agree with Jamie Fraser (not to self - must read the rest), and, of course, Connor Macleod!

orannia *who didn’t realise Julie Garwood wrote HIghlander books so is off to hunt for some*

My books are my friends and I like to visit my friends often.  Those I especially like to visit with are:

The Cynsters
Esme and Company
The Essex Sisters
The Bridgertons
The Effingtons

And I’m just getting to know Stephanie Plum and friends.  Steph’s a fellow Jersey girl - gotta love her.

Thank you for the McClairen’s thumbs up, you guys!

I’m going through mountains of paperbacks trying to decide which ones I MUST keep and which I can donate tot he women’s shelter. The women’s shetler , I;m afraid, is so far getting a show box . And that only half full.

Sigh. By the time I die, I’ll be one of those strnage women with corridor amongst the stacks of books.

*LOL* Ah, Teresa, you don’t want me to quote...I’ll start acting too--that’s what I do when I quote books.  Besides, who would play Ranald? *starts making up her list now of what really hot gyspy-looking guy could play him*

Book and movie characters do feel like old friends to me.  I can’t tell you how many books I love for their characters.  Usually series books do it for me because you get to know the characters so well. 

I must say I miss Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel because I watched them all the time.  They feel like old friends that have moved away.  Maybe I should go out and buy the DVDs.

I, too, will be one of those women that will have a house full of books.  I can’t seem to be able to part with any of them.  There’s a UBS close by that I always think I’m going to take some of the books that I liked less than others, but I can’t seem to be able to part with even one book.  *sigh*

Connie--I went to my local Border’s last night and bought two of ‘The Intellectual Devotional’.  One for me and one for my ex-mother-in-law for a birthday present. 

Christina--I STILL haven’t found ‘Candle in the Window’ anywhere.  I asked at Border’s last night and they don’t even have a listing of it being reissued.  I even told them that I had heard from the author personally.  Although they seemed impressed by that, they still couldn’t find any listing for the re-issued book. *sigh*

--dorothy

Um...Connie...after I read your Comment, I immediately thought about your local literacy organization...for some reason…

Dorothy, I am really enjoying my little nightly trips into intelligencia land!

Terri--my typos represent the whimsical side of my personality, that carefree, spontaneous, non-anal retentive, unMedeir-, er, non compulsive side.

Oh!  I thought you just had your fingers on the wrong keys!

The books I live through are the J.R.Ward books. I love the way the Brothers interact. It just feels like it is happening right here and now.

i agree - Sin MacGregor is one of my ALL time favourite heroes.

I love all my old Julie Garwood. i have read the HUNDREDS of times. My favourite are The Secret and The Prize.

Christina, anyt chance of bribing you to send the Vaughn ande WARDen ARCs my way? I will pretty much do ANYTHING for them.

(my word verification is how37)
)

Oops lots of typos.
They represent my “represent the whimsical side of my personality, that carefree, spontaneous, non-anal retentive” side as well

(actually I was so excited about the topic I didn’t go back and read what I had typed!!)

Colinfirth fan B free!

And be glad you don’t have Teresa sending you vicious cyber raps on the knuckles everytime you make teeny little mistake. My cyber hands are bloody pulps!

And she looks so *nice”, doesn’t she?

Thank you Connie!!

Must be those dimples ...

Yes but I could UNDERSTAND you, Colinfirth fan.  I’m still trying to figure out what a “show box” is and why it only half full

Well.... now that you mention it - what is a show box?
I assumed it was just some mid-west thing which ignorant west coasters like me wouldn’t know anything about.

Teresa - I have all of your books and have read them all and am now starting to re-read them.  I have been checking your site hoping that you have a new one coming out soon.  I was so sad when I reached the end of the stack.  Please keep writing more! 

(You won’t believe my word verification is theres83 - ok not exactly theresa and not how you spell your name . . but it is strange!)

Oh goody!  Another “family” to cozy up to.  I need to find the McClairen’s and pay them a visit, or two or three....

Yep! I’ve always talked about characters in books like they were dear friends that live just next door ever since I was a little girl. It’s still that way for me. Especially when it’s well written.

My favorite Highlander is Jamie Fraser of course but I do like quite a few others.

shoe box…

Connie, slinking away

WOOHOO......I was at Border’s and got both of Teresa’s books!!  I tell ya, Border’s loves to see me coming!!  lol

--dorothy

ps...I also asked yet again about Christina’s book ‘Candle in the Window’.  I’ll keep pestering until they’ll just want to shut me up. 

Dorothy, I’m getting the sneaking suspicion I got misinformation about CANDLE IN THE WINDOW and that it’s really out this month. Which makes me want to pound my head on a wall, because I told EVERYBODY about it. Let me know if it shows up the next time you’re there.

And thank you for checking!

What a great topic.  I’ve always been a rereader.  I just love a visit with old friends!  I have favorites that I could probably recite out loud if I wanted, but I’ll keep going back to them read them over and over.  One example...I’ve worn out my Julie Garwood Highlander’s and others so much that some of the pages are loose. 

A Whisper of Roses has been in my TBR pile for a while.  I’m moving it to the top of the pile right now.  I didn’t realize that I had a gem buried there!  I’m so excited that I’m not going to have to go out searching for it.  Major happy dance!

Christina, I saw Candle in the Window on the shelf at Walmart tonight - hadn’t seen it prior to that.  (The cover is very sweet.) I still haven’t seen the two contemporaries that were re-released.  I’ll have to hit amazon for those.

Lynn

Thanks AnneriAilin!  That’s my first official “spooting” of the books at a bricks-and-mortar store!

And thank you too Ithicca!  It’s posts like yours that inspire me to keep writing even on tough days. 

And of course CANDLE IN THE WINDOW has been on my treasured keepers pile for years but I think I’m going to have to buy the new edition just because I think the cover is so gorgeous!

Teresa, I can’t wait to read ‘Whisper of Roses’!!  I adored ‘Thief of Hearts’!!  But my heart will always belong to ‘Yours Until Dawn’.  I LOVED the twist that I did not see coming and Gabriel will forever remain in my heart!

As to Highlanders I adore, must I only pick one?  I’d have to say Julia Garwood’s The Wedding, The Promise and so many more!  And, of course, the Beast from Teresa’s own, Bride and the Beast.  What a deliciously tortured hero!  My kinda guy!

sorry to stray topic…

Connie--I feel your pain. Really I do. A few months ago, DH and I spent weeks organizing our house and getting rid of crap. I decided to be brave and get rid of half my library. *sob* A couple boxes went to friends and a couple more went to troops over seas. The rest? Still stacked in my office. I can’t let them go! So, don’t feel bad. You are definitely not alone.

Maybe we should start a support group. *g*

Oh my goodness, yes! Yes! Yes! On every single question, I get so sucked into a story that all the time. When I talk to my friend (whom I converted into a romance reader) I speak about the story and characters as if they’re real honest to god flesh and blood. I think that is the beauty of this genre, it’s so emotional that you can’t help but be emotionally invested on every single character you read.

And as for Highland lord, I’m actually not a big fan...I don’t know why, it just never really grown on me, not that that stops me from reading one every now and then, but it’s a rare thing.

Teresa,

I really liked “Whisper of Roses”.  It was my first book that I read that had a Scottish highlander character; but I have to say that “Thief of Hearts” was one of those books that just stayed with me.  I read it when we were on vacation at the coast.  I remember I finished it late at night, and then just went out on the deck to look at the ocean. It was an overcast night but I swear I could just feel how Lucy must of felt to see the Retribution come out of the mist.  What a great book!  Yours Until Dawn is still my favorite, but Thief of Hearts is a close second.

Thank you Santa! 

And Linda,
I can’t imagine a better setting for reading THIEF OF HEARTS!  I’m going to talk about the book a little next Monday.  Captain Doom still makes me swoon

Kind of late to the game, here, but like you, Sara, the first 2 authors to introduce me to the romance genre were Julie Garwood and Julia Quinn with The Bride and An Offer From a Gentleman.  They still hold a very special place in my heart.  Along with Julie’s Gabriel from Saving Grace.

I adore Julie Garwood’s THE BRIDE.  It’s one of my all-time favorites too.

I finished rereading WHISPER OF ROSES this morning (still not working!).  It really is a great book - I especially love the subplot of Enid “the bonny fat girl!”

I was sure I had read Whisper of Roses, but when I went to my Teresa Medeiros section of my books (between Eloisa James and Bettina Krahn) I couldn’t find it!  I’m going to have to order it from Amazon.  In the mean time I’ll re-read Thief of Hearts.

I have to tell you that WHISPER OF ROSES was my first ever romance novel to read! After that...I was hooked! I have read ALL of Teresa’s books, (and many others by various authors) and still to this day WHISPER OF ROSES is my all time favorite!! I love the story of Sabrina and Morgan. I have read that book dozens of times. It’s my favorite to re-read. And to answer your question Teresa, yes, when reading your books I do feel like the hero and heroins in the books are my personal friends. I always hate ending a book because of that reason!

Carolyn, should I feel guilty for keeping you from working???

Yes NcNan, you must order the book.  (I actually snuck over to your house yesterday and hid it so you’d be forced to order another copy.)

Thank you Del Rae!  You’re an angel!

Teresa, it was worth it!

Jeez, I had to go back to work today. Yanked out of my nice world of freedom while raising children!

Anyways Teri, all I have to say is MORGAN!

He is my yardstick.

Quite late to the party, but I realized today, browsing through the book at Borders that I read Whisper of Roses a while ago and liked it (for some reason, however, I thought it had something to do with being shipwrecked and stuck on an island… wonder what the title (or author) of that book was).  I picked up Thief of Hearts since I was there already, and as I’m evidently incapable of leaving a bookstore without a book .

As for characters who seem real, Aerin from McKinley’s The Hero and the Crown has always felt like a sister.  And Scottish heroes - James Fraser, as previously mentioned, and Ian Murray (both of them).

firefly, in my book ONCE AN ANGEL, Emily was tossed off a boat and ended up stranded on the tropical side of New Zealand.  Maybe it was that one?

Hi Teresa,
Just checking the blog and stopping by to say hi!
You know I luv ya! Glad you are doing well.