My Top 5 favourite reads 2011

When USA TODAY asked me to list my top 5 favourite reads of 2011, I had a momentary panic.

I read so many great books this year, how to choose only 5?

After much teeth-gnashing, I did it.  Then again, these books were stand-outs for me so when I really put my thinking cap on, it wasn't so difficult to choose after all.

So here are my top 5:

1. How to Bake a Perfect Life by Barbara O'Neal
(lush, evocative, made me cry & I rarely cry with books!).

2. Call Me Irresistible by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (never want to put the book down, love the characters, the humor, the warmth).

3. The Goodbye Quilt by Susan Wiggs (realistic, character-driven, tugged on my heartstrings. And made me bawl.).

4. Dancing Backwards in High Heels by Christine Darcas (fascinating real-life dilemma any woman could identify with, thoroughly enjoyed it).

5. Red-Hot Renegade by Kelly Hunter (exotic locale, well-developed characters, sizzling tension).

You can see other author recommendations on the USA TODAY Happily Ever After blog.

Weekend Book Club: Call Me Irresistible

My life is manic.
I rush around all week, school runs, taekwando, swimming, basketball...this week throw in orthodontist, doc and surgeon, and you get an idea of how hectic I am.

I also have 4 deadlines in 3 months.

So when I say I read Susan Elizabeth Phillips CALL ME IRRESISTIBLE in 2 days, you know I've sacrificed precious sleep to do it.

Like all her books, I couldn't put this down.
She is the queen of small town romantic comedies, her characters so real you feel like you know them personally and are still thinking about them long after you've finished the book.

Here's what Publishers Weekly had to say:

Phillips crafts a laugh-out-loud and romantic story with panache that mostly makes up for some gaping plot holes. Onetime PGA star and smalltown mayor Ted Beaudine (met in 2005's Fancy Pants) is about to marry Lucy Jorik, the daughter of a former president, when she's persuaded to break it off by her best friend, Meg Koranda (2008's Glitter Baby), the aimless daughter of Hollywood royalty. Everyone in Wynette, Tex., loves Ted, but Meg feels Lucy deserves a passionate partner, not a god of self-control. After the disaster of calling off the wedding at the last minute, Meg's parents cut her off, stranding her in the hostile town. As Meg finds her own path and helps Ted discover his heart, the townspeople stoutly (and hilariously) defend their golden boy. However, some readers may not appreciate that Meg's good deed is punished so often and severely en route to happiness.

If you're a fan of SEP, you'll adore this book.
If you're not, read this book and become one!

What are you reading this week?

Weekend Book Club

I'm an avid reader.

And I know for a fact many of you are too.

So how about we start our very own Weekend Book Club?

Chat about what you're reading this week, any recommendations, whatever! Let's just have fun.

For me this week, it's one of my favourite authors, Susan Elizabeth Phillips.

'What I Did for Love' is another stellar book, filled with snappy dialogue, richly drawn characters and a plot that keeps you turning pages.

The highlight for me was Bram, the hero, who totally played up his cad image with a guaranteed heart of gold beneath. He made the book for me, and had me smiling throughout.

So over to you. What are you reading this week?

Another brilliant read

Another brilliant read by Barbara Samuel (who now has equal status as my favourite author alongside Susan Elizabeth Phillips.)

A PIECE OF HEAVEN features an American Indian hero, complete with acne scars and paunch, and she makes him sexier than sexy!
Luna, the heroine, is an alcoholic.

The way Barbara weaves a beautiful tale around these characters (along with a host of fabulous secondary characters) made me never want to put this book down.

If you haven't read Barbara, you absolutely have to.
The way she layers emotion and brings characters to life is nothing short of brilliant.