Suz's Keeper Shelf

I'm an avid reader, too.
Here's a list of my all time favorite books and authors:
Love You More by Lisa Gardner
JR Ward's entire Brotherhood series! Yow!
The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins. (I LOVE these books!!!!0
Sea Witch and Sea Fever and Sea Lord by Virginia Kantra
The Wedding Dress by Virginia Ellis
The Photograph by Virginia Ellis
Here's to the Ladies by Carla Kelly
The Bride Finder by Susan Carroll
The Night Drifter by Susan Carroll
American Idle by Alesia Holliday
The Passion of Patrick MacNeill by Virginia Kantra
The Reforming of Matthew Dunn by Virginia Kantra
Libby's London Merchant by Carla Kelly
Miss Whittier Makes a List by Carla Kelly
Miss Billings Treads the Boards by Carla Kelly
Reforming Lord Ragsdale by Carla Kelly
Mrs. Drew Plays Her Hand by Carla Kelly
Mrs. McVinnie's London Season by Carla Kelly
Miss Chartley's Guided Tour by Carla Kelly
With This Ring by Carla Kelly
Summer Campaign by Carla Kelly
Marian's Christmas Wish by Carla Kelly
One Good Turn by Carla Kelly
Honey Moon by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Heaven, Texas by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
It Had To Be You by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Kiss an Angel by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
River of Fire by Mary Jo Putney
How to Marry a Marquis by Julia Quinn
The Proposition by Judith Ivory
Devilish by Jo Beverly

NOTE FROM SUZ: So you've noticed that I like Carla Kelly's books in particular, huh? I started reading her Regency romances on the recommendation of a good friend, and I've loved (LOVED) every single one of them. Do yourself a favor and check her out. Even if you don't care for Regencies. Really.

Back in 2000, I read Carla's book, LIBBY'S LONDON MERCHANT, and became convinced that this book is, without a doubt, The Best Romance Novel Ever Written. I loved this book. Everyone should storm to Signet in New York and insist that this book is reprinted immediately!!! (And hey, whatdya know? Good job. It was reprinted!)

LIBBY has kicked my former all-time favorite book, SHANE, out of its lofty place on my list -- where it sat securely since I first read it in high school. (But I still love SHANE. More about it later...)

More recently, JR Ward's incredible paranormal Brotherhood series has elbowed their way to the first place in my "books in an ongoing series" category. Gritty and oddly realistic (the heroes are vampires!), I eagerly await each new installment in this fabulously well-written series.

I'm also an SEP fan, although the four books listed above are my all time favorites. Frankly, I would look forward to reading Susan's grocery list. <g>

Susan Carroll's St. Leger characters are magical! I particularly love this series.

Mary Jo Putney, Julia Quinn, Susan Carroll, Carla Kelly... have you noticed that I like to read historicals?

As for non-romances, I'm a big fan of Robert B. Parker and William Goldman in particular. And I know they don't write novels, but I'm crazy about Aaron Sorkin (WEST WING, SPORTS NIGHT, STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP) and the Man, Joss Whedon (BUFFY, ANGEL, FIREFLY, DOLLHOUSE). I had the pleasure of having dinner with Joss -- one of the best nights of my life!

In fact, William Goldman's ADVENTURES IN THE SCREEN TRADE is one of the best books about writing that I've ever read. (I highly recommend it! Great tips on pacing!)

When I was growing up I read everything I could get my hands on by Alistair MacLean, P.G. Wodehouse, Donald Westlake and William Shakespeare...
I was also a big fan of Dorothy Dunnett's "Dolly" series, featuring a character named Johnson Johnson.

I'm also a World War II history buff. I love BAND OF BROTHERS by Stephen Ambrose, but my all time favorite military history is GHOST SOLDIERS by Hampton Sides.

And a more recent addition to my all time favorites list is ODD THOMAS by Dean Koontz. (Awesome book!)

Last but way not least, my (former) all time favorite book and still way up there on the list, is SHANE by Jack Schaeffer. Yes, SHANE. A little western written in 1949. It's a fabulous book. (And don't base what you know of the story on the movie, which doesn't come close to the book!!!)

To read why I love SHANE, click here for my review of SHANE at the All About Romance Desert Isle Keepers site.